Previously, I posted some pics of the statue of Popeye in Alma, the Spinach Capitol of the World. Then on to Mountainburg and the dinosaurs in the park, Artist Point, and points north.
Incorporated in 1872, Alma sits in the middle of "prime real estate" for those that enjoy the out-of-doors and like to hike, bike, fish, hunt, camp and canoe. It is located at the south end of the Boston Mountain Scenic Loop, in the Arkansas River Valley --- 15 miles from Fort Smith and 45 miles from Fayetteville.
From about 1890 to 1920, the economic base was based on cotton, strawberries, hay, and livestock. These gave way to spinach, mustard greens, a variety of beans, and tomatoes. Strawberry farmers were particularly hard hit as the crop spread to other parts of the country, such as Texas. This, combined with the availability of easy access to the rails for shipping, drove down the prices. For a few years, potatoes picked up the slack.
The economy was largely agricultural until the introduction of the canning industry. By 1987, Alma called itself the "Spinach Capital of the World" because the Allen Canning Company based in Alma canned more than half of all the spinach canned in the US, about 60 million pounds annually. (It should be noted that Crystal City TX also considers itself the Spinach Capital of the World.)
Erected in 2007, the cast in bronze statue of Popeye sits atop a fountain holding a can of spinach. It is the centerpiece of Popeye's Garden Park.
In the early 20th century, coal was mined in the area and natural gas was discovered. Alma sits on the eastern edge of the western Arkansas gas fields and provides the area with a cheap source of energy.
Outlaws Bonnie and Clyde, the Barrow Gang, committed a variety of crimes in Arkansas, including kidnapping and robbery, but their gravest crime occurred in Alma. On June 23, 1933, after robbing a grocery store in Fayetteville, the gang ran into Alma Marshal Henry D. Humphrey and Crawford County Deputy Ansel “Red” Salyers on Highway 71 north of Alma. They killed Humphrey before escaping.
In 1974, independent fundamentalist pastor Tony Alamo established a compound in nearby Dyer but soon began buying businesses in Alma, at one time owning as many as 29. His followers worked at the businesses for little or no pay. Though his Alamo Western Wear and Alamo Restaurant did attract visitors, the town was concerned with the amount of influence he was having on the community. In 1991, federal agents raided the compound and arrested Alamo on tax-related charges. Though freed in 1998, he did not return to the area.
While waiting nearly 20 minutes for a train to pass, I had the opportunity to snap a shot of the old train depot area that meant so much to the economy of the area and the red caboose that is now the office of the Chamber of Commerce.
The City of Mountainburg has been a landmark for travelers for many years. Today, it is known for their Dinosaur Park. Mountainburg claims 631 people live within the city limits, but 5000 to 10,000 residents in the surrounding hills and valleys call Mountainburg "home."
Between 1817 and 1828, the land around Mountainburg was included in territory assigned by the government to the Cherokee. After the Cherokee were removed to Indian Territory, white settlers claimed the land. One of the first landowners was George Dyer. Another was Samuel Caswell Vaught, a German-American veteran of the wars with Native American tribes in the southern states and territories. Vaught was the father of 7 sons, 4 fought in the Civil War, 3 for the Confederate army and 1 for the Federal army. Local historians claim that half of the long-term residents of the Mountainburg area are Vaught's descendents.
Mountainburg was a stop on the Butterfield Overland Express route that was established through northwestern Arkansas in 1858. By that year, the community already had a grist mill, a sawmill, a store, and a hotel. It also had a primitive one-room school house. A Masonic lodge was built in 1874. In 1876, a post office was opened and the St. Louis–San Francisco Railway (the Frisco) came through the community. The city incorporated in 1882.
The Masons built the Amrita Grotto Country Club between Alma and Mountainburg in the mid-1920s; it later burned. A Presbyterian church was organized in 1927 and began a mission school for children and adults. During the 1930s, Fort Smith and Crawford County officials began to develop a source of drinking water, also planned to be a recreational area, in the Ozark National Forest near Mountainburg. Works Progress Administration (WPA) workers were involved in the creation of the lake and surrounding facilities. Lake Fort Smith became a state park in 1967.
School consolidation closed rural school districts in the county but enlarged the Mountainburg School District, now serving over 700 students.
Woodcarver Ivan Denton and writer Skip Hays, along with other writers and artisans have adopted Mountainburg as their hometown.
The one thing I did notice traveling thru the mountains were the huge school complexes setting in the 'middle of nowhere!' Driving thru 'wide spots in the road,' with a church, a small general store with a gas pump, a couple of homes, not much else...then 5-10 miles out of town...the schools, huge new schools!
It was also, while driving the scenic loop, I saw the first military convoy I have seen in years (well, except for when I was around Fort Hood, TX!) I stopped counting at 60 vehicles. Must be summer camp time for the Reserves!
Another site that fascinated me, and I wondered where he came from and where he was going, was a bike rider on the road, on the hills, riding down into the valley and peddling back up the mountain. It made me tired just thinking about it.
I didn't know there were so many ways to arrange trees, sky, water, roadway. Beautiful drive! The stop at Artist Point was breath-taking! I understand why so many artists choose that place for the mountain view.
Next stop Winslow to see the famous Gibson baskets and then Fayetteville. My plan was to stop for the night in Fayetteville, but you know "The best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry...." and I went on to Rogers for the night.
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