South Sebastian County Historical Society

10/23/2026

***QUIZ***
In 1914, labor tensions turned violent when the Mammoth Vein Coal Mining Company announced plans to make Prairie Creek Mine No. 4 an open shop, prompting opposition from the United Mine Workers of America. Violence followed in the mining communities, including gunshots fired into miners’ homes on July 12 and July 15. Just two days later, a battle between union miners and company guards left two employees dead and the mine destroyed.

Which Sebastian County mining town was the target of the July shootings?

Pictured: Coronado Coal Company – Prairie Creek Mine No. 4 in Sebastian County; 1913

10/22/2026

Scenes from the past, Hackett, circa 1920

10/21/2026

We had a great time hearing from the Night Terror Collective on Monday night.

10/20/2026

While traveling on Highway 96 you may not realize that you driving over one of the largest underground coal mines in Arkansas. Located near the Highway 10 intersection, this massive three-square-mile complex is made up of three interconnected mines, the Fidelity, Greenwood 1, and Greenwood 2. Discovered in the late 1800s near Greenwood, this high-quality semi-anthracite coal became highly sought after for train engines and industrial fuel, prompting massive commercial expansion. Investors bought local mineral rights for $2.5 million, establishing large-scale operations and created the town of Liberty. To extract the steeply sloped coal, hundreds of miners worked in grueling conditions. Ultimately, the entire mining operation came to an end when the mine completely flooded; because pumping the water out was deemed too expensive, the field was abandoned, leaving a massive subterranean lake five times the size of the Greenwood city reservoir.

10/19/2026

***ANSWER***
The Public Works Administration (PWA)!
While many people think of the WPA when they think about New Deal programs in the area, it was actually the PWA that funded the water tower. The PWA specialized in large-scale, heavy infrastructure jobs that were managed by private contractors. In the 1930s, Hartford was a bustling center of coal mining with a population of 1,210. As unemployment hit hard, local leaders secured a $28,480 grant and a $35,000 loan from the PWA to build a modern waterworks and provide badly needed jobs. Work began in February 1936 on a 75,000-gallon well and nearly 35,000 feet of pipe, and by July, the Chicago Bridge and Iron Company was authorized to install the Horton-style steel tower at the corner of Pine and First streets.

10/16/2026

***QUIZ***
Take a look at our historic Hartford Water Tower. Built back in 1936 by the Chicago Bridge & Iron Company. The Water Tower was funded by one of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s famous New Deal "Alphabet Soup" agencies. Which specific program built our water tower?

Put your answers down in the comments.

10/15/2026

Scenes from the Past. Meat market at Huntington; circa 1890s. From the UA Little Rock Center for Arkansas History and Culture

10/14/2026

Mark your calendars for Monday, October 19! The Night Terror Collective will be sharing their supernatural investigations and exploring how they intertwine with our local history. Don't miss it!

We follow Jason Walker and Rosy Page from the paranormal group Nigh...

10/13/2026

Willie Blount Wright Heartsill, better known as W. B. W. Heartsill, was an important figure in the history of Sebastian County during the late 1800s and early 1900s. After the Civil War, Heartsill became involved in farming and local government, serving as a postmaster from 1885 to 1889. He became a leader in Arkansas’s farmers’ movement, working to organize farmers and laborers who wanted a stronger voice. In 1892, he ran for Congress as a candidate of the People’s Party, also known as the Populist Party, which advocated for reforms to address the concerns of the working class. Heartsill later became the leading officer of Arkansas’s Knights of Labor. He was elected to the Arkansas House of Representatives in 1906 and served additional terms in 1908 and 1912, continuing to support organized labor. Heartsill died in 1913 and was buried in Greenwood’s Liberty Cemetery.

10/12/2026

***ANSWER***
The answer is none other than the legendary Henry Norwood! After settling in White Oak Valley he became an absolute pillar of the community. Known for his incredible wisdom and versatility, he was a highly sought-after mountain hunting guide, a local veterinarian, a peacemaker, and a deeply respected mentor.

Tim Mulvihill (UAFS Research Station) & Jami Lockhart (Computer Services Program)