1856 - 2006

Pocahontas Sesquicentennial

Event Descriptions

Click An Event To View Its Description

ACT III:
This dance troupe from Little Rock performed here for the grand opening
of the Eddie Mae Herron Center in 2004 and we are so pleased to host
them again. Their interpretative dance and acting portray the slave
experience in a way that draws the audience in to the act. Their talents are
vast and varied and their performance should not be missed. See them at
Overlook Park for 3 performances on Saturday, September 23: 11 am,
1pm and 3 pm

ALL-CLASS REUNION:
Everyone who attended school in Pocahontas and Randolph County is
invited to a reception upstairs at the Old Courthouse at 4:30 pm on
October 6. Even if you did not go to school here... .crash the party!

BAR-B-QUE COOK-OFF:
Believe it or not: Pocahontas was named county seat of Randolph County
at a great big Bar-b-Que. This event, set for all day on Saturday,
September 23 at Riverfront Park, was included especially to commemorate
that part of our founding! Teams will compete for big prize money and
we hope to make this an annual event to celebrate Pocahontas' birthday
each year. Hear the story of the significance of the Bar-b-Que at the Town
Social on the first Thursday.

BEARD CONTEST:
Come to the New Courthouse on Friday, September 22 at 6 pm and see
judging of the longest, the ugliest and the best kept beards in Randolph
County! Prizes and bragging rights will be presented!

BIG PARADE:
Starting at 6 pm on Thursday, September 21, the parade will begin at
Pocahontas Junior High School and proceed down Thomasville (Hwy 90)
to the New Courthouse. It will be a parade of decorative floats, a Grand
Marshall, period costumes, theme entries, horses, carriages and bands.
The entries will be judged and the grand prize winner will receive
$500.00.

BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL:
This has been an annual event sponsored by the Randolph County Music
Theater and brings some of the best bluegrass musicians in Northeast
Arkansas. The festival will kick-off with Gospel night on Friday,
September 29. All day Saturday you might find pickers picking just
about anywhere around the Court Square or at Riverfront Park. Don't
miss the program on Saturday night beginning at 6 pm at what we call
the Old Imperial.

BOOK SIGNING AT THE MUSEUM:
Come to the Randolph County Heritage Museum on Saturday, September
30 at 2 pm and get your books autographed. Local authors will be there
to discuss their publications and to autograph books for you.

BUGGY RIDES:
Each weekend, walk from the Court Square down in front of the Old
Imperial and to the Parking lot across from City Hall. Climb into the
buggy and back in time. Relax and enjoy a buggy ride through the
streets of Pocahontas passing local spots of beauty and interest. Relax and
enjoy yourself.

CANOE, KAYAK AND CARDBOARD BOAT RACES:
Races will start on Saturday, October 7 at 10 am and end at 6 pm.
Spectators will watch...... and cheer from the banks of the beautiful Black
River at Overlook park... ..Or, participate in the events. Registration forms
are on the website or can be obtained at the museum store. Grab your
paddle..................and don't turn over!!!!!
Canoe/Kayak Application HERE.
Cardboard Boat Application HERE.

CITY BUS TOURS:
Bus tours of Pocahontas are not new. Some class reunion groups started
these several years ago and they were a complete success..... everyone
enjoyed them and got a chance to see the old and new in Pocahontas.
These tours will be offered at 10 am and 2 pm each Saturday and will
begin in front of the New Courthouse.

CIVIL WAR BATTLE RE-ENACTMENTS:
Travel back in time. The Friday night cannon firings will be the prelude
to 2 battle re-enactments which will take place on Saturday the 23rd and
Sunday the 24th. Each battle will be narrated and viewing will be
educational, as well as exciting. Throughout the first weekend, visit the
encampment and talk with the soldiers and their families. All participants
will be in character and can demonstrate what life was like during this
trying time in our country's history. Sutlers will be selling wares, soldiers
will be preparing for the battlefield and families will be providing support
for their men-folk. Come in costume yourself............unless you fear
being put to work in the camps or on the battlefield!

CIVIL WAR RIVER WALK MEMORIAL:
This is one of the Sesquicentennial Committee's permanent gifts to the
community. Visit Overlook Park and first see the Civil War Memorial
Marker placed by the Sons of the Confederacy. This marker summarizes
the activities in Pocahontas and Randolph County during the Civil War.
Then take a walk along the river and read the 6 markers which describe
significant locations in the county and important events of the war which
happened here. The markers include excerpts from diaries from men who
were stationed here during the war. Stop a while, watch the river flow by
and relax on one of the benches that accompany each marker. The
benches were custom designed and built by the Agri students at
Pocahontas Junior High. These students spent their spare time working on
this project which has proven to be an integral part of this special gift to
our community. Dedication of the Civil War River Walk Memorial
will be held on Saturday, September 23 at 9:30 am and will include full
military honors.

CLOGGING PERFORMANCE:
Come and enjoy a dancing phenomenon that has arisen in Pocahontas:
Clogging. Marilyn's Cloggers are talented, entertaining and fun and they
put on a great show. Their enthusiasm is contagious and their
participation in the Sesquicentennial is priceless. They will perform on
Friday, September 29 at the new Courthouse right before the play and on
Saturday, September 30 on the Court Square at 4 pm.

COURTROOM SCENE: THE HANGING OF MR. CHEVERIE?
This mini-play/mock trial is a fun presentation by the Randolph County
Bar Association. The lawyers will put on a trial based on a true crime
committed here in 1901. A jury will be selected from the audience and it
will deliberate and hand down a verdict. Will it be the same "sentence"
that Mr. Cheverie got in real life Pocahontas in 1901? The upstairs
courtroom in the Old Courthouse will be transformed into its close-to-
original form.............the same place the trial would have been held !
Watch the trial on Saturday, September 23 at 10 am, 2 pm and 4 pm.

FAMILY FUN DAY:
Saturday, October 7,2006, is a great day of celebrating hometown life.
Overlook Park will be bursting at the seams with activities for the whole
family. Bring everyone to participate in games, relay races, pet contests,
face painting, balloon twisting, dunking booth, inflatable jumpers, hula
hoop contests, cake walks, karaoke, clogging, horseshoes..... and much,
much, much, much, much, much, much, much, much, much, much,
much, much, much, much, much, much more!. Come early and plan to
spend the whole day!

FOUNDER'S CEREMONY:
Meet descendants of our town's founder, Ranson Bettis, at the dedication
of the Founder's Memorial at Masonic Cemetery on Friday, September
22 at 10 am. We have cleaned up and renovated the burial site of Mr. and
Mrs. Bettis, their daughter Cinderella and her husband. Governor Drew.
This will be a lasting tribute to the father of our town and his family.
Bettis and Drew descendants will be present for the dedication of this
lasting memorial. (By the way, a big question for the descendants will be:
Ranson or Ransom???)

HOMECOMING LISTENING PARTY AROUND THE COURT SQUARE:
Friday, October 6, is Homecoming at PHS. Schoonover Stadium will be
packed to the gills with little extra room for the hundreds in town for the
Sesquicentennial. So.............what better way for all of the "extras" in
town to participate in the hometown and home school excitement than to
gather on the beautiful Court Square, set up grills, bring a picnic or buy
supper from the vendors and listen to the game broadcast on KPOC (or
maybe watch a simulcast by Suddenlink cable company). All the while,
the crowd can mingle, reminisce about the old days when the square was
bustling on Friday and Saturday nights and visit with old friends. Bring
your lawn chairs and enjoy!!!!!!!!!!!!!

HOMETOWN LEGENDS CONCERT:
On the final Saturday night, the Hometown Legends Concert will feature
the music of native sons Bill Rice, Billy Lee Riley, Gary Gazaway and
Robert Bowlin. While we remember Bill Rice on stage at the Rand
Theater and Gary in the PHS Band and Robert picking the banjo at Rotary,
they and Billy Lee Riley who was bom here, have achieved national, if not
international fame in the music industry. Bill Rice is the most awarded
songwriter in the history ofASCAP with hits performed by Elvis, Reba
Mclntire, Hank Williams Jr. Mickey Gilley and many others. Billy Lee
Riley recorded for the legendary Sun label and influenced many of the
Rock and Roll legends. He will perform with another northeast Arkansas
Legend, Sonny Burgess and the Pacers. Gary Gazaway, aka El Buho, is
a trumpet player with an international following and has played with
Stevie Ray Vaughan, Joe Cocker and Phish. Robert Bowlin, known as
Bill Monroe's last fiddler, played with the father of Blue Grass for several
years and has played with Kathy Mattea, Maureen O'Connor, Tom T. Hall
and others. He is a masterful performer on guitar, fiddle and banjo.
Topping off the evening will be performance by local southern rocker,
Mike Gray and his band. Electric Hillbilly. Tony Spinner of the classic
rock band, Toto, will be featured with Mike. This will be an event to be
remembered; Seating will be available in front of the "stage" or bring
your lawn chairs. Either way, sit back, relax and take in some truly great
music!
 6:00 pm: Bill Rice
7:00 pm: Gary Gazaway/El Buho Project
9:00 pm: Billy Lee Riley and Sonny Burgess
10:00 pm: Robert Bowlin Bluegrass
11:00 pm: Mike Gray Electric Hillbilly

LIVING HISTORY EXHIBITS:
On Saturday and Sunday of the first weekend. Overlook Park will be
brimming with history. Historical enactors such as mountain men,
trappers, keel boat travelers, Native Americans, 19th century law
enforcement officers and story tellers will set up camp. They will be in
costume....... and in character. Stroll through their camps and talk to
them about the way it was many, many years ago in our countryside.

MILITARY BALL:
Come and see the civil war era officers, infantrymen and ladies dance
period dances such as the Virginia Reel, all decked out in their formal
uniforms and evening attire. Music will be provided by the 52nd
Regiment Tennessee String Band, one of the foremost Civil War dance
bands in the South. Everyone is invited and welcome to attend. Keep in
mind that the first hour or so will be more like a performance of period
dances........to be viewed by the audience. After that, everyone should
grab a partner and hit the dance floor! The ball will start promptly at 7 pm
on Saturday, September 23 at the New Courthouse.

MUSEUM GRAND OPENING:
On Friday, September 22 at 2pm, come to the ribbon cutting and
reception which marks the grand opening of the Randolph County
Heritage Museum. A Bettis/Drew descendant will speak about her
family member who happens to be our town's founder. She will also
share some other family research findings and some of her families'
thoughts about this grand event.

MUSICAL HERITAGE CONCERT:
On Saturday, September 30, the Pocahontas Sesquicentennial Musical
Heritage Concert will present a musical tribute to the late Robert
Palmer, the Arkansas native and frequent Pocahontas visitor with family
ties who made an international mark through his work as the first pop
music critic for the New York Times. The concert will feature
performances by celebrated acoustic blues musician Guy Davis, Arkansas
blues legend CeDeIl Davis and a Big Band Tribute to the Swing Era with
the Arkansas Jazz Orchestra, an 18 piece big band under the direction
of Walter Fowler. The blues portion of the concert will feature Delta
style blues and the Big Band will play classics by Count Basie, Duke
Ellington, Glenn Miller, Tommy Dorsey and others and will include
vocalist Lisa Ahia. There will be seating available in front of the "stage"
but bring your lawn chairs if you prefer!
5:30 pm: Lectures and Talks
6:30 pm: Guy Davis
7:30 pm: Guy and Cedell Davis
8:00 pm: Be-Bop Combo
8:30 pm: Ozark Jazz Orchestra

NIGHT CANNON FIRING:
Join us after the play on Friday, September 22, at Riverfront Park and
Baltz field for a truly spectacular experience. It is better than fire-works!
See the Civil War enactors fire the cannons they use in battle into the night
sky. A sight... .and sound... ..to remember!

1940s CLASSIC MOVIES AT THE OLD IMPERIAL:
This will bring back many memories of growing up in Pocahontas. The
Imperial Theatre was the center of our social lives for generations. It was
a place for dreaming of faraway places, a window into the world outside
Pocahontas. It was a place to laugh and cry, a place to see all of your
friends, a place for first dates. During the second week of the celebration
we will be showing 3 classic movies.............one has Johnny
Weissmuller (guess what that one is) and the other two are comedies, one
starring Cary Grant and the other starring Jimmy Stewart. All were
previously shown at the Imperial and some of you might have seen them
there. The first will be mainly for children on Saturday, September 30 at
12 noon. The second will be on Sunday night, October 1 at 7 pm and
the third will be on Tuesday night, October 3 at 7 pm. Yes, popcorn
will be served! And, instead of admission for a dime or 25 cents, they are
all free!!!

OLD FASHIONED BRUSH ARBOR CHURCH SERVICE:
Pocahontas Ministerial Alliance will sponsor an old fashioned brush arbor
Church service down at Overlook Park. Everyone is invited to this non-
denominational service...................like our ancestors attended! Bring
your Sawn chairs and your Bible on Sunday, October 1 at 3 pm.

OLD IRON COLLECTOR:
You won't believe the extensive collection of "hit and miss" engines,
working pumps and everyday farm stationary power engines. They will
be operating throughout the day. You will see Fairmont, Witte, Monitor,
IH and many, many more. The display will be at Overlook Park
throughout the weekend.

OPEN HOUSE AT BRTC:
Black River Technical College will host an open house on Thursday,
September 28 between 10 am and 2 pm. Visitors to the campus will see a
special WWII exhibit prepared by BRTC for the 2nd weekend of the
Sesquicentennial. There will be readings of "Letters from Home" and
musical presentations throughout the day. If you haven't taken a close-
up look at the BRTC campus, this is the time to do it. You will be
favorably impressed. The college is a true asset to our community.

OUR AGRICULTURAL HERITAGE:
Do not miss the incredible agricultural history exhibits and events which
are taking place at City Park and the Community Center on Geneva
Drive throughout each weekend of the Sesquicentennial. See a thorough
description of the Agricultural Heritage program elsewhere in this
program.

PASTOR, CHOIR AND DINNER ON THE GROUND:
On the very last day of the celebration, Sunday, October 8, at 12 noon,
come to the New Courthouse lawn with your lawn chairs and your
family's dinner. We are having an old fashioned preaching, singing and
dinner on the ground. Hear a sermon by a noted pastor from St. Louis
He and the choir have local ties.......... some grew up here and we are so
glad to have them home. If you don't have enough fried chicken in your
"dinner" basket, you can trade some of your potato salad for extra
drumsticks with one of your neighbors. This will take some of you back
to the old days when this Sunday activity was common............ and fun!

PERIOD CHILDREN'S GAMES:
Bring the kids to the Court Square on the first two 2 Saturdays at 10 am
and 2 pm to give them the experience of childhood from a different time.
The planners have researched games and come up with several from the
1800s and early 1900s to teach the children. The children will learn and
play games that their ancestors played. Prizes will be given and we
guarantee the kids will have a great time. By the way, why not show up in
period attire............ ..maybe like Tom and Huck and Becky!

PERIOD DRESS REVIEW:
See the fashions of the time. You will be amazed with the detail in which
the ladies of today emulate the dress of the ladies of the Civil War Era.
You will delight at the beauty of the formal attire and wonder how
wearing the camp dresses compares with today's jeans and t-shirts. Enjoy
this fashion show and the models and their attention to period details.

PINK TEA:
This event, mostly for the ladies, will be a demonstration presentation of
how southern ladies might have entertained one another. Everyone is
invited, but you must bring a dainty teacup and it would be most
appropriate for you to "dress" for the event. Otherwise, it will be a
performance that an audience would enjoy watching. The tea is set for
Saturday, September 23 at 2:00 pm at the New Courthouse and proper
reservations are required because seating is limited to 60.

QUILT SHOW:
Visit the Historic Promberger House at 514 Man- Street and view quilts
of our heritage. Anyone can enter a quilt for display and they will all look
beautiful displayed in this truly unique setting. The Quilt Show will be
open on Friday, September 29 and Saturday, September 30 between 10 am
and 5 pm. You won't want to miss it!

RECEPTION AT THE WINGS OF HONOR MUSEUM:
What better way to honor the contribution the town ofPocahontas made to
the Walnut Ridge Air Base activities during WWII! So many of our
citizens worked at the base and worked to help the troops stationed there.
The Wings of Honor Museum at the base is having a reception to honor
Pocahontas and to help us celebrate on this second weekend of the
Sesquicentennial. It is only a short trip on south 67 to the base where you
can tour the impressive museum exhibits as well as reminisce with those
who might have worked at the base way back when. The reception will be
held on Friday, September 29 between 4pm and 6 pm.

RURAL LIVING EXHIBIT:
The Eddie Mae Herron Center will sponsor and enact this event on
Saturday, September 30 at Overlook Park. Come and sit a while and visit
with the ladies while they quilt and mend and talk about life before Wal-
Mart and television. Participate by trying out the scrub board. You
will be in awe of your ancestors when you realize what they did to
accomplish what we take for granted today.

SEALING OF THE 100 YEAR TIME CAPSULE:
On Sunday, October 8, at the New Courthouse, at the conclusion of the
day and the conclusion of the celebration, do not miss the final event. A
100 year time capsule will be sealed and buried. We hope that the media
does not publish a list of the capsule's contents for snoops throughout the
next century to read...... ..we want to surprise the residents ofPocahontas
100 years from now when they open our gift for them! You've got to be
there for this finale and imagine what our descendants will think in
the year 2106!!

TEEN TOWN and SOCK HOP:
During the entire third weekend of the Sesquicentennial, the upstairs of the
Old Courthouse will be transformed into Teen Town. Maybe it won't be
exactly as some of you remember Teen Town in the 1950s, but it will be
chocked full of school days memorabilia......... ..pictures of many of us
who grew up here attending PHS and St. Paul's. On Saturday night,
October 7, a Sock Hop is planned with a disc jockey, cokes and popcorn.

THE POCAHONTAS PLAY: "NO HISTORY HAPPENED HERE"
A tongue-in-cheek title for this original play written by Dr. Jan Fielder
Ziegler, directed by Jon Crabbe, with music direction by Joniece
Trammel. The story is told by a series of vignettes acted by a local cast.
It tells of selected events related to the history ofPocahontas and
Randolph County, some historically accurate and some almost mythical. It
educates us about our town with wit and humor. It is the 2006 version
of the Pocahontas Pageant you may remember from the 1956 Centennial
Celebration. This play will be staged on Friday, September 22 and Friday,
September 29 at 8 pm at the New Courthouse. Seating will be available
but feel free to bring your lawn chair.

THURSDAY NIGHT OPENING CEREMONY AND TOWN SOCIAL:
Each Thursday night of the celebration everyone should come down to the
New Courthouse lawn because we are having birthday parties for
Pocahontas. Each week we will have music and birthday cake, and
speeches and songs! The speakers will tell about Pocahontas in the
past... ..what was it like here between 1856 and 1906 or 1906 and 1956 or
1956 and 2006. It will be entertaining and filled with lots of laughs. Each
week you will experience a true celebration of hometown living. You will
be oriented to the whole week-end slate of events, too. Bring out the
whole family for each of the 3 Town Socials on Thursday nights.

TRIBUTE TO A "PUZZLING" LEGEND:
Don't miss this event at the Old Imperial on Saturday, September 23 at 11
a.m. Lee Keith is the pen name of someone from our town who is truly a
legend among "puzzlers" of today and of days gone by. A special cross-
word puzzle is being dedicated to this mystery person and will be
presented at the event by master puzzler, Judge Vie Fleming of Little
Rock. We will also see a screening of a Puzzler Film Documentary. This
will be a special tribute to a very special person! Puzzling, isn't it?????

USO CLUB:
Did you know that the upstairs of the Old Coarthouse was a social club
for military personnel during WWII? It was similar to a USO club. It had
music, social events, letter writing stations and snacks. It was, for some, a
home away from home. During the second weekend of the celebration
when we focus on WWII, the same upstairs will be transformed into
what it once was. It will have memorabilia and special activities related
to the war years in Pocahontas.

VETERANS HONORS AND DEDICATION OF VETERANS MEMORIAL:
AT 2 pm on the last Sunday, prepare yourself for a veteran salute that
will be moving and poignant. When you see the number of local veterans
standing with their branch of service while the branch theme song is
played, you will be proud of the contribution our county made in the
service of our country. The new Veterans Memorial will be unveiled
and local military hero, J. Loftis Johnson, (Lt. Col. Ret.) will be the
keynote speaker.

VINTAGE AIR PLANES:
Our own airport in East Pocahontas will be visited by at least 3 vintage
world war airplanes, A Boeing PT17 Stearman Bi-Plane, A North
American AT6 Tesan and A North American T28 Trojan. We might
even get a P51 Mustang and a B25 Mitchell Bomber but these two were
not confirmed at print time. Visit the airport anytime on Saturday,
September 30 to view these planes and talk with the pilots. There will be
a hospitality room at the airport for visiting with the pilots and getting
your questions answered.

WALKING TOURS:
Each weekend, walking tours will be given on Saturdays at 9 am and 3
pm and on Sundays at 2 pm and 4 pm. Stroll the streets of downtown
Pocahontas and imagine what they were like in the early years as your
guide tells you of the history of our town. The tours will be divided into 2
parts so that you can stop and pick up the second half on another time or
day. One tour will begin on the south steps of the old Courthouse and the
other tour will begin in front of the Old Imperial Theater. You will be
surprised when you hear about the Missouri Swamp Fox capture and see
the site of the invention of the Wonder horse and see the exact view
Ranson Bettis saw from his front porch! Delight with us in our town's
history!