On Saturday, June 11th, Rick and I were accompanied by Freda Cruse Phillips of Exploring Stone County and our friend, Beau, on a sneak-peek of our 2011 Fall Road Trip. While visiting several of the trees we plan to visit during the Fall event, we were able to use an increment borer that Freda had brought to get core samples from a couple of them. Our goal is to find enough evidence that these trees are indeed old enough to have been fashioned at the hand of Izard County's early Native-American inhabitants that we can generate some interest among a few biologists and historians. If we can prove these trees are as old as we think they might be, we may also be able to prove the route of an ancient Indian trace right here in Izard County. It would be a significant achievement. The EIC Crew has high hopes that these are what we think they are and that they do form a trail. But despite our hopes, we realize it is just as possible these trees are either land boundary markers or even storm-damage survivors. The samples are still being prepared for our "analysis" at this time and we should be able to take a good look at them within the next week or so.
Also on the 11th, Warren Smith, Rick, Bo Elrod, and I began the process of stripping the 150+ year build-up of dirt and debris from the logs of the Old Lunenburg Saloon. By this past Sunday morning, working at different times, that crew along with Jim, Junior, and my youngest son, Logan, had managed to finish cleaning the nearly 50 logs of the old tavern. It was a big step on the way to having the building restored and ready for visitors! It won't be too long until folks who come to Lunenburg will be able to stand before...and sometimes even go into...the very place history tells us the name for the town of Lunenburg was adopted!
On Saturday, September 25th, a group of around a dozen hearty individuals with a desire to see one of Izard County's historical treasures preserved met at the site of the Old Lunenburg Saloon to dismantle the old relic and move it to the grounds of the Lunenburg Community Center where it will be rebuilt and restored. For many years, people have talked about the need to preserve this important piece of Izard County's history and culture and on Saturday, a very big step was taken to finally follow through on the talk. Although the task of actually getting the building moved has now been accomplished, the hard work lies ahead as the logs are to be repaired, replaced, and preserved before the work begins on reconstruction.
While the repairs are being made and replacement logs sought, the Lunenburg Community Center Association will begin raising money to pour a concrete slab which the Saloon will eventually rest upon, buy the materials for the authentic cedar-shake roof, for period-style furnishings, and for any other costs created by the project...including upkeep of the building.
We hope you or your business will support this effort to preserve Izard County's history by donating to the Lunenburg Community Center Association. You can do so by contacting Roger Harvell at: 870-368-3618 or via e-mail at: rogerh48@earthlink.net
It is unknown exactly when the old Lunenburg Saloon was erected. The town itself, originally called "Rocky Bayou" can be dated to at least 1820 and legend has it that the opening of the tavern occurred soon after the first business, a trading post, began operation.
Because of its early importance to the Izard County community, it is imperative that this unique structure is preserved. That's why The Lunenburg Community Center Association along with EIC has decided to dismantle the old relic which was donated by its current owners, Will and Pam Willbanks, and relocate it on the grounds of the existing Lunenburg Community Center (The old Lunenburg Schoolhouse).
This weekend, Jim, Bo, and I along with Roger Harvell prepared the building for dismantling by tagging the logs for reference when it is re-erected at it's new site. The logs will be stored until we can clean them all, restore those that need restoration, and replace those that cannot be salvaged. Once repairs have been made and replacements fashioned, a slab will be poured and the building will be restored complete with a period cedar-shake roof. The building will be moved on Saturday, September 25th, 2010.
EIC is proud to be a part of this important project and hopes that the community will get involved as well by helping the Lunenburg Community Association fund the project through donations and sponsorships.
If you would like to help us dismantle and move the saloon, join us at 7 AM next Saturday at the old Smith-Tate home near the bridge at Lunenburg!
A Reminder that we'll be having our second meeting to plan the moving of the Old Lunenburg Saloon from near the old Smith-Tate home to its new location on the Lunenburg Community Center grounds.
We'll be setting up committees and need all the help and skills we can get!
Join us at the Lunenburg Community Center tomorrow night, August 10th, at 6PM!
Let's save this important historic building, Izard County's first saloon!
NOTE
We promised our e-mail subscribers an article covering our awesome journey as we've built Exploring Izard County this weekend. We're sorry to say that we'll miss our deadline but want you to know the article is in the works and will be worth the read once it's published sometime over the next couple of days!Stay Tuned!
I know that this is a common claim people make around the world, but to me the Ozarks of Arkansas truly is God's Country! This site will be dedicated to showing anyone interested--Sunday motorists to fair-weather cyclists--some of the hidden treasures in the county they drive through.
Over the past several years, with the explosion of the popularity of custom car-clubs and motorcycle enthusiasts, Izard county has seen a parade of people from outside the area coming to enjoy the panoramic views from the comfort of their chosen mode of pleasurable transportation. Many, I'm absolutely sure, drive by sights that are easily accesible and not far off the highway never even knowing those sights are there. This blog will give anyone searching for information before they visit the area a way to know where some of those places are.
Ozarks Schoolin' Donation Box
Lunenburg School Donations
Send Donations to:
Lunenburg Community Center
HC 77 Box 510
Melbourne, Ar 72556
C/O Mary Loggains (Secretary)
