Back in the late 1800s, two city fathers faced off about what to call the town that was growing up around them. Blackburn Henderson Berry and Dr. Arthur Baker cogitated about what name was best – Berryville or Bakersville – but came to no conclusion.
In the end, it was decided by a coin toss.
That coin was tossed again on August 8, 2026, when Berryville celebrated its birth with a Founders Day Ceremony in the Berryville Community Center, honoring 13 organizations and entities that had contributed to the growth of the city for 50 years or more.
Who knew Berryville was once the stage for nearly every star that ever graced the boards of the Grand Old Opry, or that guns belonging to nearly every famous outlaw of early times were on display right by the Berryville Square?
There was a lot to discover as honorees took turns talking about their support of and involvement in the life of a city over the years.
The awardees included Kings River Title, Carroll County Fairgrounds, Carroll County Country Club, Berryville Public Library, Town and Country Lanes, Cosmic Caverns, Saunders Museum, Luther Owens Park, Rotary Club, Lions Club, Odd Fellows, American Legion and Ashley Lodge #66.
After a welcome by Mayor Tim McKinney, Master of Ceremonies City Director Dean Lee took the microphone and led the packed room on a walk through the past as honorees came forward to accept a recognition award and talk about their part in Berryville history.
Not everyone in the room had been aware of the fundraising work many of the honorees had done, bringing amounts totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars over the years into the Berryville economy and community projects. Co-host Jamie Hussey asked each one to comment and there were plenty of laughs among the stories that resulted.
As the Odd Fellows took the stage, Lee remarked after introducing them, “You guys look like a jail lineup,” to which one replied, “We apologize to the jail.” Not many people know that the Order of the Odd Fellows’ mission is to “visit the sick, relieve the distressed, bury the dead and educate the orphan” and that the Berryville group once owned the cemetery and sold it to the city for one dollar.
These were the tales that were told one day in a city built around and for those who live in it and are intent on leaving it in better shape for those growing up in it.
The event closed with a re-enactment of that famous coin toss between Berry and Baker. A specially designed coin was produced for the occasion and Mayor Mc Kinney offered to throw in his name if the toss resulted in a draw.
On hand for the toss were Blackburn Henderson Berry’s descendant, Clay Berry, and Arthur Baker’s descendant Janis (Baker) Usrey. When the coin landed Berry side up, McKinney exclaimed, “Well I guess we’re good for another 100 years or so!”
Indeed they are, judging by the steadfast intent that produced a community center, a county senior center, a public swimming pool, a high school, a new library and kids who are proud to serve others.
The Founders Day Celebration was filmed and can be seen on Facebook at The City of Berryville, AR.