May 20, 2026: TIMES PAST compiled by Sue Ann Jones
1960s Gainesville Sale Barn The 1958 Times Past item below reports the sale of the Gainesville Sale Barn, shown here, from Ray Wallace to T. D. Crawford. The photo is taken from an advertisement in a mid-1960s Gainesville High School Bulldogger; the ad says sales were held every Wednesday. The building was located next to Lick Creek on the east side of Highway 160, roughly across from what is now 160 Pitstop auto repair on First Street. The sale barn closed in March 1971 after the state bought the land for right of way to build the current Highway 160. A Times article reported, as the building was being demolished, that its arena had seating for 250 buyers and its stock pens could hold 1,500 head of cattle or livestock. The sale barn’s yearly total sale averaged 30,000 head, the article reported.
Bakersfield Boomerang
May 24, 1902
A tornado or hurricane crossed the mouth of the Bryant last Monday evening about six o’clock, destroying several fences, barns, mills, dwellings and stores. ...
A house on Mr. Patillo’s farm which was occupied by the family of C. G. Beard ... was all blown away except the lower floor under which the family had taken refuge.
The top story of John H. James’ house was torn off, John Kirkland’s barn was blown down and several miles of fencing on the A. B. James farm blown down.
At Hodgson’s Mill, a store building was lifted off its foundation and moved about three feet.
The old Friend Mill was blown out into the mill pond, and the store house and other buildings occupied by Tom Henry were blown down.
Ozark County Times
May 26, 1916
The Baptists will dedicate their new church at this place on Sunday. There will be dinner on the ground. ... The dinner will be spread in the courthouse yard.
May 24, 1934
Walter Hartley, 35-years old, bank robber [from Mountain Grove], who escaped from the jail here on Saturday a week ago, taking the sheriff and a prisoner with him, was shot four times in three fights with officers. He died Friday afternoon in the car in which the officers were bringing him to town, 40 minutes after he had been shot down the last time. He made a desperate fight, refusing to be taken alive.
May 24, 1945
We are told by Dr. and Mrs. M. J. Hoerman that their new office building will be open to the public for inspection Sunday, May 27, from 2 to 5 p.m.
Construction was started last October on the lot where the Judson Luna family lived for several years. ... It is a beautiful building made mostly of brick and is quite an addition to our little city.
May 22, 1958
T. D. Crawford of Midway, Arkansas, has purchased the Gainesville Sale Barn from Ray Wallace and conducted his first sale here yesterday. Crawford is a former resident of Ozark County and is the son of Johnny Crawford, a merchant of the Howard Ridge community.
May 26, 1966
Anna Marie Collins, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Hollis Collins, was the valedictorian, and Cynthia Hall, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Windell Hall, was the salutatorian for the 1966 senior class at the commence exercises held at Dora High School Friday.
Gainesville will change over to daylight savings time this coming Sunday, according to the announcement made Wednesday by Mayor Joe L. Ebrite.
A poll of merchants in town made Wednesday morning resulted in 25 stating they approved of the change while 13 opposed the change and preferred to remain on standard time.
May 29, 1991
The 224th Maintenance Company of the National Guard out of Mountain Home will be welcomed home with a parade on Saturday, June 1. A number of Ozark Countians are with the 224th, including SSgt. Randall Vaught, Sgt. Johnny Nelson, Sp4 Brad Kyle, SSgt. Walter Goode, Sgt. Jerry Orf, Sp4 Lowell Baxter, Sgt. Curtis Cooper, Sgt. William Colbert, PFC Matthew Colbert and Sp4 Butch Winslow.
The Ozark County War Memorial was dedicated on Memorial Day. ... A crowd of spectators stood on the street in the hot sun and listened as Rev. Larry Garfield, president of the Ministerial Alliance and pastor of Theodosia United Methodist Church, asked God’s blessing on the dedication.