Between the cold weather and a large number of our patrons having the flu or flu-like symptoms, library usage is down. Sure hope everyone is on the mend soon.
The library is beginning to receive calls asking for Federal & State Income Tax booklets. We have not received any since I have been the librarian and from what I am reading, libraries will not be receiving copies this year. Don't know where they can be obtained but when I get that information I will post it on Facebook and in the library and put it in my column. If any of you have any information on this please share it with me.
When I have nothing to write about I search the internet for some interesting facts and here is what I came up with this week:
Wal-Mart was founded in Arkansas by Sam Walton. You probably knew that.
A person from Arkansas is called an Arkansan. Probably knew that as well. The toothbrush was invented in Arkansas. I didn't know the remainder of these. The singer Johnny Cash was born in Kingston, Ark. Fourteen meteorites have been discovered in Arkansas. One of every five Confederate casualties at the Battle of Shiloh in Tennessee on April 6-7, 1862, was from Arkansas.
The oldest National Cemetery in the U.S. is located at Fort Smith. Frontier Judge Isaac C. Parker and World War II hero William O. Darby of Darby's Rangers are among the notables buried there.
Joseph T. Robinson served as congressman, governor, and U.S. senator from Arkansas -- all in one year (1913). Robinson Center in Little Rock is named in honor of him.
The name "Trail of Tears" comes from an 1831 article in the Arkansas Gazette. When a group of Choctaw Indians passed through Little Rock, the chief told a reporter the forced migration was a "trail of tears and death." The term "Trail of Tears" later became associated with the 1838-1839 removal of the Cherokee to Oklahoma.
In the 1920s, Little Rock was home of the Climber Automobile Manufacturing Company which built approximately 200 four-cylinder, 40-horsepower cars and 100 pickup trucks. Only two Climbers are in existence today, both of which are housed at the Museum of Automobiles atop Petit Jean Mountain near Morrilton.
Next time I will try to write some interesting facts about Pea Ridge.
Now that winter has descended upon us, follow us on Facebook to learn of any weather related closing of the library. If you don't use Facebook, call the library at 451-8442 to find out if we are open before venturing out. Stay safe -- see you at the library!
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Editor's note: Peggy Maddox is the librarian of the Pea Ridge Community Library. She can be reached at the library at 451-8442 or by mail at P.O. Box 9, Pea Ridge, AR 72751. Library hours are 1 p.m. until 8 p.m. Monday and Tuesday; 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday. The library web site is www.pearigecommunitylibrary.org and e-mail is [email protected]. The Pea Ridge Community Library has a Facebook site.
Editorial on 01/14/2015