April 2, 2025: TIMES PAST compiled by Sue Ann Jones
This photo of the former ferry that operated on Lake Norfork south of Bakersfield is a postcard that was shared by Ozark County Historium genealogist Rhonda Herndon from the collection of her uncle, the late Dale Herndon (1918-2014), who worked on the construction of Norfork Dam, which impounded the lake in the late 1940s. Two ferries originally operated on this section of the lake. One connected Highway 101 south of Bakersfield and Highway 412/62 in Arkansas, and the other carried traffic east- and westbound as Highway 412/62 crossed the lake. Both were replaced with bridges that were dedicated in 1983.
Ozark County News
March 27, 1890
When Jailer Hogard and Deputy Conkin went to the jail Monday night, several prisoners were almost ready to escape. A tunnel had been cut under the wall, and in another half hour, there would have been a general jail delivery. …
It makes us all feel bad when they make fun of our jail, but as Dr. Clayton says, we would get a heap madder if our jail was worth anything.
April 8, 1897
Hawk Walker has built an addition to his house by enclosing a portico in the southeast corner of the house. He did the work himself and, being an amateur in the business, overlooked the most important part of the work.
On the porch he enclosed sat a large goods box of about 20 bushel capacity. He enclosed this monster of a box. After he finished the job, he remembered that he wanted to take the box to the barn, but lo! The door was not a fourth large enough to let it pass. Hawk is undecided whether to turn the box around and use it for a bedroom or take the house down to move it out.
Ozark County Times
April 5, 1912
Oak Grove items – Henry Davis has a new yard fence which is quite an improvement.
J. W. Thompson hauled two loads of wire from Noble to build fence.
Decator Shelton is building a lot of wire fence.
Lilly Ridge items – John Newton went over the road and repaired the phone line Wednesday.
The singing at Jack Patterson’s was well attended. There were about 65 people there.
Dormis items – Lawrence Harrison of Gainesville was in this part this week inquiring the way to Moscoe Brown’s, also hunting people with defective teeth which he wished to repair.
Moscoe Brown went to Dawt Sunday to help move Chas. Colvins back to Mammoth Springs, Ark.
Dawt items – Willie Colvin was down again this week doing some barber work. He runs a portable barber shop and does first-class work.
Pontiac items – S. C. Turnbo left here last Friday for Protem. He will go from there to Broken Arrow, Okla.
Longrun items – R. S. Griffith, D. O. Wallace and Dick Sallee went to Beaver after wheat.
April 2, 1926
A short-change artist visited this city last Friday but succeeded in working his trick on only one of our businesses places, the McDonald store, where he got $5. Officers were put on his trail, but the culprit made his escape.
Noble items – Laura Feemster has a new washing machine.
Several attended the charivari of Monroe Warrick and wife.
Pleasant Grove items – Willburn Dunnegan and Cledia Rose left Tuesday for California.
Mr. and Mrs. Mearl Pettit have returned from California.
Verda May Rose has been staying with her grandmother.
April 8, 1951
Lilly Ridge items - Singing will be held here Thursday night, the 19th. Our leader, Alfred Gaddy, and Henry Gault and boys from town and Oba Dean and many others. Everybody feel welcome and come.
Dr. Pace was buried here Tuesday.
Susan Kathleen has arrived at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Charley Brown. Mrs. Brown was formerly Betty Jane Patterson of this place. They now live at West Plains.
April 7, 1977
At the district Music Contest held in Springfield Saturday, Gainesville students won one first place, five second places and one third place.
The first place award went to Beccie Farmer for a vocal solo. This qualifies her for competition in the state music contest to be held in Columbia on April 29.