PEA RIDGE — For probably the entire lifetime of nearly everyone now living in or around Pea Ridge, the white block building on the downtown school campus has stood across the campus from Webb’s Feed & Seed, serv- ing several generations of Pea Ridge School students in a variety of ways. The Pea Ridge Historical So- ciety is currently engaged in a project to preserve and renovate this fine old building, to further extend its long years of service, recommissioning it as the Pea Ridge School Heritage Center, and offering it for the benefit of the com- munity as an extension of the Museum, as a meeting place for civic clubs and other local organizations, for family reunions, birth- day celebrations, and so on.
To raise funds for the Heritage Center Renova- tion Project, the Historical Society is appealing to all former students of the Pea Ridge Schools, and to members of the wider community for support and financial help. A special account has been established at Arvest Bank of Pea Ridge to receive do- nations toward the renova- tion. Every donation, large or small, is appreciated and valuable to the success of the project. To contribute, please make checks pay- able to “Pea Ridge Histori- cal Society” and notated for the Heritage Center Renovation. Donations may be made at Arvest Bank, or mailed to the Pea Ridge Historical Society, P.O. Box 276, Pea Ridge, Ark. 72751-0276.
The interior portion of the renovation project has already progressed well along through the summer months, and the current push is to complete needed repairs and repainting on the outside of the building. The project will include removing old deteriorated paint, replacing or repair-ing decayed siding and trim on parts of the building, sealing windows and walls against the weather, replac- ing at least one exposed rafter and repairing rafter ends and priming and painting all exterior block and wood surfaces. The renovation project is esti- mated to cost about $5,000.
The School Heritage Center is open for visi- tors on the days when the museum is open. Cur- rently, the regular hours are Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visitors may also call to arrange a tour by appointment. For a visit by appointment, contact Mary Durand at 586-5574, Marcia Cothran at 451-8256 or Jerry Nichols at 621- 1621. The center currently offers these several dis- plays: “The Outlying Rural Schools of Pea Ridge,” “The Pea Ridge College,” “Pea Ridge College Band and High School Band His- tory,” “Pea Ridge Athletic Teams and Cheerleaders,” “Pea Ridge School Shop and Vocational Agricul- ture,” a photo gallery fea-turing Pea Ridge School groups and scenes from across the years.
During the 1920s and 1930s, the Heritage Build- ing served as the High School Shop and Vocation- al Agriculture Classroom. During the 1940s, 1950s, and until 1964, the building was the school’s hot lunch room, providing hot lunch- es for students in all grades for the entire school. After 1964, after the opening of the new eastside elementa- ry school, the white block building became a general classroom building, then housed the school’s art program under the leader- ship of Mrs. Wanda Roe. Office space was added for a high school counselor, and eventually, with the creation of the S.E.E.K. program to spur excel- lence and advancement in student academic ac- complishments, the build- ing became the S.E.E.K. program’s headquarters.
The School Heritage Center is dedicated not only to preserving the story of early Pea Ridge
and it’s schools for the benefit of members of the community, and to remind former students of their educational experience and heritage in Pea Ridge, but also to partner with the school district in teaching local history to today’s stu- dents, and strengthening an awareness and appre- ciation of the roots from which our community has sprung and grown across some 180 years.
I want to thank you in ad- vance and in anticipation of your generous support for the School Heritage Center Renovation. Everything you do to help is greatly appreciated. Come visit the building, see the current displays, and learn more about plans for the future.
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Editor’s note: Jerry Nich- ols, a native of Pea Ridge, is an award-winning col- umnist, a retired Methodist minister with a passion for history. He is vice president of the Pea Ridge Historical Society. He can be contacted by e-mail at joe369@centu- rytel.net, or call 621-1621.