Editor,
Regarding Vernon Tucker’s article “The Community Camel,” AMEN!
Dear Mr. Vernon Tucker,
I’m 86 years old born in Eureka Springs, Ark., March 27, 1930 – I’ve written fan letters twice in my life and they have both been to you (this is my second). You speak to my soul! How precious is your gift to say what I wish I had the talent to say!
I don’t think you can make a dent in the preconceived notions of the leaders of our “city” (not community anymore) but I thank you for bringing such precious memories back to me – when the mayor and city council worked without pay, worked because they loved their community – my dad, George Head, along with Warren Keck, Brittin Baker – had square dances in the basement of the Auditorium every Saturday nite, summer, winter, year ‘round, to make money to support the volunteer fire department – they made enough to buy a new truck.
It was all about making things better, not “different.”
I’ve never ceased to be amazed by the people who move here because they “love the laid back” living, then after being here a few years, decide they know a better way for the city to operate. Take a seat on the council and do nothing but talk! It’s laughable and pitiful at the same time.
I remember when the farmers came to town in wagons and pick-up trucks, parked on the courthouse lot (on Saturdays) and sold homegrown produce. The best corn, tomatoes, green beans, melons, eggs – that was before we had to have parking meters of course.
We had a “Sale Barn” for buying and selling livestock.
We had appliance stores, shoe repair, laundry, dry cleaners, 10¢ store, bakery, small restaurants with home cooking, car dealers, furniture stores, shoe stores, dress shops, drug stores (3 of them) Loy Hess at the Rexall, Bela Pendergrass – Pendergrass Drug, and Mr. Porch – Porch Drug, and 4 doctors had offices downtown.
Thank you for reminding “the powers that be” that some of us live here because it’s home. We stay home on “diversity weekends” and our families with little ones can’t visit from Tulsa on those weekends – it’s all about “political correctness,” which I’m too old to observe!
Loved your article – please don’t wait so long to jog my memory, I promise I won’t write an “epistle” the next time!
Genevieve Bowman
Thank you, neighbor!