October 15, 2025: TIMES PAST compiled by Sue Ann Jones
This photo of Gamaliel, Arkansas, just south of Bakersfield, is thought to have been taken in the mid-1950s. When it was originally posted on Facebook by Anita James Hartlein and shared by Bakersfield resident Micheal Mahan, one commenter noted that online sources said the road, looking north in the photo, was renamed State Highway 101 in 1941 and was paved in 1953. The Stinnett store is just out of view; the Gamaliel post office now stands on this site.
Ozark County News
Oct. 31, 1895
On Friday, October 25, at their residence ten miles north of Gainesville, Mr. Elisha Luna and wife, Mrs. Eliza Luna, celebrated the 60th anniversary of their wedding. There were about 400 people present. Of those present, the children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren numbered 124. . . .
Elisha Luna was born in Lincoln County, Tenn., May the 19, 1819. His wife’s maiden name was Eliza Gray. She was born April 2, 1819. They were married October 25, 1835. They had born to them 17 children, the first dying in infancy. The other sixteen children (11 boys and 5 girls) all grew to manhood and womanhood, married and are all now living except one son, James F. Luna, who died a few years ago in this county.
Ozark County Times
Oct. 8, 1915
James Farel, who has charge of the mill at Dawt, was transacting business in this city Saturday.
Dr. H. E. Pace, wife and baby, spent a few days the latter part of last week with the doctor’s parents at Flippin, Ark.
Luna – Cleo Luna is making molasses at E. L. Luna’s.
Tom Luna and family visited at E. L. Luna’s Sunday.
Oct. 16, 1925
Your attention is called to the publication of the financial statements of the five banks of the county in this issue of the Times. [Editor’s note: The banks of Bakersfield, Dora, Gainesville, Hammond and Rockbridge are included.]
Oct. 10, 1935
Ad – New Bus Schedule. Little Rock to Springfield. Through fare only $5.10. Two buses each way daily. Round-trip fares are double one-way fares, less 10 percent. Minimum fares 25 cents. ... Carl Johnson, Agent.
There was a big turnout at the Old Time Fiddler contest at the school house Saturday night, and everybody enjoyed the program. ... There were four entries in the fiddler contest. They were: J. W. Hale, J. R. Willhoit, Loyd Trantham and Charley Foster. Foster was the winner and drew the $5 prize.
Mammoth – A bountiful dinner was set at C. M. Dry’s Sunday in honor of Mr. Dry’s 74th birthday, Walter Dry’s 43rd and his son Eugene’s 9th birthday.
Oct. 11, 1990
The Kelly-Miller Circus is coming to Gainesville on Oct. 15. Showtimes are 4:30 and 7:30 at the Saddle Club grounds.
The fun starts early in the morning when the trucks arrive between 6:30 and 7:30 a.m. and the animals are fed and watered. Then the roustabouts start setting up the big top with the help of Nina, the circus performing elephant.
Oct. 12, 2005
Starting Oct. 1, Baxter Regional Medical Center, along with all other hospitals in Arkansas, became completely smoke-free. A state law prohibits smoking on all hospital-owned property.
Caney Mountain Conservation Area report, Fallis Frazier, manager – If success is measured by whether you harvest a deer or not, then the managed archery hunt at Caney Mountain Conservation Area Oct. 1, 2 and 3 was a dismal failure. If, on the other hand, you count the camaraderie of friends, camping out and absorbing all the sights and sounds of the great outdoors, then perhaps to most it was a huge success. Out of 100 chosen in a random drawing, 67 showed to participate in the hunt. Of these, only two filled their tag.