Arkansas Ties

Capital Hill Colored School located in Little Rock, Arkansas.

Arkansas School for the Blind was located in Little Rock.

Arkansas Industrial University, ca. 1880, now known at the University of Arkansas.

The Kidnapping of Witt Stephens – 1939

Perry Lee Williams of Sheridan robbed eight (8) banks, escaped the electric chair for a murder in prison, was shot to pieces during a jailbreak, and spent nearly fifty (50) years in prison. In 1939 at the age of 17 and armed with a .22 pistol, he walked up Highway 187 north of Sheridan looking for a rich man to rob. After turning down a few rides with “poorer” people, he spotted a new Ford, its driver in a suit and tie. The driver was W.R. “Witt” Stephens, the future utility and investment magnate from Prattsville. Williams pulled his gun and eventually took $63 and the car from Stephens.

A short time later Williams was arrested in Hot Springs for car theft, brought to Sheridan and sent the following day to Cummins Prison. Later when Williams was released from prison, Witt Stephens arranged a job for him at the Gas Company in Pine Bluff and tried to help him out over the years. Williams died in 1995 with memories of his past and Stephens is said to have later told his son, “I really knew I could sell when I talked him out of killing me.”

Source: Grant County Museum.

External Links:

• Grant County Museum
• Stephens, Inc

Little Rock University, ca. 1880, as seen from the river.

Old lithograph depicting the “Big Rock” across from “Little Rock.”

Today Desmond stumbled upon the Main Street Bucket List project and sent me some photographs to share.

I love this interactive art project at the corner of Main Street and Capitol Avenue and wish I was with Desmond.  Apparently it was started in June as a collaboration between the Downtown Little Rock Partnership, the Main Street Revitalization Committee and the City of Little Rock. The idea was the brainstorm of Julianne Dunn, a Clinton School graduate, and Dean Skip Rutherford who thought it would be great in downtown Little Rock.

The words “Before I die I want to…” were stencilled onto boarded up windows on the old Boyle building painted with chalkboard paint and each Tuesday entries are erased and start over.  In July a new statement or question will be put up.

This is funny…”Travel lots of places with my girlfriend Kelsie Louise and my daugher Ro and a maybe a man servant.”  hmmmm…..

So here is mine….Before I die, I want to hot air balloon over the Ozark Mountains.
If you are downtown, stop by, show your support and write in your wish.

Texarkana, Arkansas, ca 1893

July 13, 2011 (Little Rock, AR) A monument dedication service recognizing the first black educator in Little Rock and the first Grand Treasurer for Prince Hall Masonic Lodge will take place at the Historic Oakland-Fraternal Cemetery on Monday, July 18th, at 10:30 am.

The monuments will recognize the historic significance and contributions of Asa L. Richmond, his family and Charlotte Stephens. All were born in slavery and became important figures in post Civil War Little Rock. Asa was a contractor and builder, who served on the City Council, and the school board. Charlotte Andrews Stephens was the first black schoolteacher in Little Rock. She started teaching at age fifteen. Charlotte is buried in a lot adjoining the Richmond family. Her father William Andrews was at one time a business partner of Asa L. Richmond.

The Prince Hall Masonic Lodge will conduct the dedication of Asa’s monument. Three of Asa’s great grandchildren will attend the ceremony. There will be a program about Asa Richmond and his family at the Arkansas Studies Institute, 401 President Clinton Avenue, Room 124, at 1:30 pm. These events are partially funded by a grant from the Black History Commission of Arkansas.