Hempstead County Historical Society News

Hempstead County Bicentennial Meeting February 4

HCHS Administrator — Tue, 05 Feb 2019 00:00:00 GMT

The Bicentennial Committee will meet on Monday, February 4 at 6pm at the community room of Tailgater Burger Company in downtown Hope, Arkansas. The building is located at 101 South Main Street in Hope. Public is welcome to attend. Questions email hempstead200@gmail.com

Time Capsule Deadline December 31

HCHS Administrator — Fri, 28 Dec 2018 14:54:13 GMT

Last call! Now is the time to send your letter to the future for the time capsule. Fill out a form at the Hope Chamber of Commerce or download a form and turn it in at https://hcb.wildapricot.org/page-1075220.

Passport Deadline December 31

HCHS Administrator — Fri, 28 Dec 2018 14:52:11 GMT

Just a few days let to complete your passport and get a bicentennial token. Great weekend ahead to get it completed. Again if you can't find a stamp you can take a selfie to prove you were at the sight. Pick up a passport at the Hope-Hempstead County Chamber of Commerce or Lagrone Williams Hardware. More information online at https://hcb.wildapricot.org/Passport.

Souvenirs For Sale

HCHS Administrator — Wed, 19 Dec 2018 17:22:29 GMT

Now is the time to get a great Christmas gift that has a local connection. To celebrate the 200th anniversary of the formation of Hempstead County, Arkansas, the Hempstead County Bicentennial Committee has souvenir T-shirts, silver coins and bowie knives for sale. Orders are being taken for commemorative silver coins at $50 each and Bowie knives for$500.
Proceeds from the sale of the souvenirs will go to help fund projects being completed by the committee. Souvenirs are available for purchase at the Hope-Hempstead County Chamber of Commerce or Lagrone Williams Hardware. You can also purchase online at www.hempstead200.com.
All products for sale or printed by the committee are made by people and businesses of Hempstead County.

Hempstead County Bicentennial Meeting

HCHS Administrator — Tue, 11 Dec 2018 00:00:00 GMT

The Bicentennial Committee will meet on Monday, December 10 at 6pm at the community room of Tailgater Burger Company in downtown Hope, Arkansas. The building is located at 101 South Main Street in Hope. Public is welcome to attend. Questions email hempstead200@gmail.com

Bicentennial Parade December 15

HCHS Administrator — Fri, 07 Dec 2018 04:41:30 GMT

Now is the time to enter a float parade. We would like to see floats from all the different communities of the county. Contact Ben Brazzel to enter at ben.brazzel1975@gmail.com.

Southwest Arkansas Arts Council Bicentennial Poem Contest

HCHS Administrator — Tue, 06 Nov 2018 04:42:51 GMT

The Southwest Arkansas Arts Council is sponsoring a Bicentennial Poetry Contest in conjunction with the 200th anniversary of the formation of Hempstead County.

Poems should have either an historic theme or be a combination of past, present and future literary view of Hempstead County (which when founded was part of six area counties). The contest is open to any citizen of Southwest Arkansas and all entries will be put on display at at the Arts Station in Hope at 200 E. Division Street.

Winning poems will be selected in the following age categories: 18 and over; 14-17; 10-13; under 10. Poems may be in any form, including free verse to haiku to limerick and any other style. Prizes will be award for the first place winners in the four categories as well as a Best of Show award.

To enter, poems can be sent to SWAAC13@gmail.com, no later than Dec. 7, or mailed to P.O. Box 1004, Hope, 71801. There is a limited of three entries per person.

Hempstead County Bicentennial Meeting

HCHS Administrator — Tue, 06 Nov 2018 00:00:00 GMT

The Bicentennial Committee will meet on Monday, November 5 at 6pm at the community room of Tailgater Burger Company in downtown Hope, Arkansas. The building is located at 101 South Main Street in Hope. Public is welcome to attend. Questions email hempstead200@gmail.com

Hempstead County Bicentennial Travelers

HCHS Administrator — Mon, 05 Nov 2018 16:58:40 GMT

Hempstead County Bicentennial Travelers!

We congratulate all of those who have visited all 20 stamping sites in the Hempstead County Bicentennial Passport Program!

Sandra May, Hope
Lillian Anderson, Hope
Sawyer Dixon, Hope
Julia Bobo, Hope
Lydia Bobo, Hope
Haskell Morse, Springhill
Ricky Clayton, Fulton
Jerrelene Clayton, Fulton

You still have time to complete your passport by December 31, 2018. Again if you can't find the stamp you can take a selfie of yourself to turn in. Click the "Passport" tab for more information.

HHS EAST Lab Students Complete Documentary on Education in Hempstead County

HCHS Administrator — Tue, 23 Oct 2018 04:33:26 GMT

A team from the Environmental and Spatial Technology program at Hope High School presented the Hope School Board with a Hempstead County Bicentennial Year research project Monday night that offers insights into the development of public education in Hempstead County.

HHS EAST instructor Adrienne Ware introduced students Jacqueline Culley and Drake Mason, who collaborated with Elizabeth Bamber and Jackson Bowlin on the project for almost a year in developing a final oral history CD and accompanying overview. Ware said the students were approached through the Hempstead County Bicentennial Year Committee to compile the project. A copy of the project will be included in a bicentennial time capsule that will be buried at the new Hempstead County Courthouse during ceremonies in December.

Mason and Culley presented a copy of the project to Board President Willie Buck during the meeting.

“Two Hundred Years of Education in Hempstead County” spans the range of public education in Hempstead County from its earliest days in local Roman Catholic Church parish schools to today through a series of oral history interviews and accompanying research.

“We had to learn completely new technology to us; we had to learn how to use microfilm,” Culley said. “And, we had to learn how to use SARA’s card catalogue.”

She said the team took two field research trips to the Southwest Arkansas Regional Archives in the Historic Washington State Park to develop a starting point and other critical research.

“For this project, we interviewed a lot of people, like former and current Hempstead County educators and other people,” Mason said.

In response to questions from the board, Mason said he was surprised to learn of the beginnings of public education in the county through parochial schools.

Mason said that he and Culley completed some details of the project after Bamber and Bowlin graduated in May, 2018.

“This project is different from anything we had ever done,” the project statement says. “We had to learn how to research and pay attention to detail.”

The approximately 40-minute CD-based video includes a two-part introduction, 10 individual interviews, and a concluding segment. The video is available on YouTube at https://youtu.be/v6i9ybhaVnQ

HCBC T-shirts for Sale

HCHS Administrator — Tue, 09 Oct 2018 00:40:13 GMT

To celebrate the 200th anniversary of the formation of Hempstead County, Arkansas, the Hempstead County Bicentennial Committee has souvenir T-shirts for sale. Proceeds from the sale of the shirts will go to help for expenses of the bicentennial celebration on December 15 and the other projects being completed by the committee. Shirts are available for purchase at the Hope-Hempstead County Chamber of Commerce. You can also purchase a shirt online at www.hempstead200.com.

Shirts were made by Southern Printing of Hope, Arkansas. All products for sale or printed by the committee are made by people and businesses of Hempstead County.

The Hempstead County Bicentennial Committee seeks to promote events and celebrations around this significant year for Hempstead County. For more information and updates concerning the Hempstead County Bicentennial visit www.Hempstead200.com or email Hempstead200@gmail.com. On Facebook visit “@Hempstead200”.

HCBC Time Capsule

HCHS Administrator — Fri, 05 Oct 2018 03:56:20 GMT

To celebrate the 200th anniversary of the formation of Hempstead County, Arkansas, the Hempstead County Bicentennial Committee is sponsoring a time capsule. As part of the County Bicentennial being celebrated this year we are offering an opportunity for you to send a one page "Letter to the Future" on a provided form. These will be placed in the Time Capsule for future generations to see fifty years from now in 2068 and look back on what Hempstead County life was like in the year 2018.

People and organizations are encouraged to write anything you would like people in 2068 to know. All of the letters will be microfilmed by the Arkansas State Archives and then placed in the time capsule. Every citizen of the county can turn in one sheet of paper. The standard letter form can be downloaded online at www.Hempstead200.com or picked up at the Hope-Hempstead County Chamber of Commerce. All letters must be mailed or turned in to the Chamber of Commerce by November 3.

Each community in the county is also being asked to donate some artifacts or items representing their communities that will also go in the time capsule. Contact your local mayor for more information.

Hempstead County Bicentennial Meeting

HCHS Administrator — Tue, 02 Oct 2018 00:00:00 GMT

The Bicentennial Committee will meet on Monday, October 1 at 6pm at the community room of Tailgater Burger Company in downtown Hope, Arkansas. The building is located at 101 South Main Street in Hope. Public is welcome to attend. Questions email hempstead200@gmail.com

Passport Stamps Update

HCHS Administrator — Mon, 01 Oct 2018 04:05:11 GMT

Just a reminder if you are unable to find a stamp at its location, you can take a photograph of yourself to turn in with your booklet. New stamps have been ordered to replace missing stamps at some of the locations. Questions email hempstead200@gmail.com.

Hempstead County Bicentennial Meeting

HCHS Administrator — Tue, 11 Sep 2018 00:00:00 GMT

The Bicentennial Committee will meet on Monday, September 10 at 6pm at the community room of Tailgater Burger Company in downtown Hope, Arkansas. The building is located at 101 South Main Street in Hope. Public is welcome to attend. Questions email hempstead200@gmail.com

Hempstead County Bicentennial Meeting

HCHS Administrator — Tue, 07 Aug 2018 00:00:00 GMT

The Bicentennial Committee will meet on Monday, August 6 at 6pm at the community room of Tailgater Burger Company in downtown Hope, Arkansas. The building is located at 101 South Main Street in Hope. Public is welcome to attend. Questions email hempstead200@gmail.com

Hope-Hempstead County Chamber Coffee

HCHS Administrator — Wed, 27 Jun 2018 15:30:00 GMT

The Hempstead County Bicentennial Committee will be hosting the Chamber Coffee on Wednesday, June 27 at the Hope-Hempstead County Chamber of Commerce in downtown Hope, Arkansas. All are welcome to attend. Event is from 9:30am--11:00am.

Hempstead County Bicentennial Meeting

HCHS Administrator — Tue, 05 Jun 2018 00:00:00 GMT

The Bicentennial Committee will meet on Monday, June 4 at 6pm at the community room of Tailgater Burger Company in downtown Hope, Arkansas. The building is located at 101 South Main Street in Hope. Public is welcome to attend. Questions email hempstead200@gmail.com

Passport Available

HCHS Administrator — Thu, 17 May 2018 04:27:41 GMT

Hempstead County Bicentennial Passport booklets are now available at the Hope/Hempstead County Chamber of Commerce and museum sites in the county. Get your passport for free and go to all 20 locations in Hempstead County and received a commemorative coin. The Passport program will end December 31, 2018. Questions email hempstead200@gmail.com.

Locations to pickup passport include:

Clinton Birthplace Home
Historic Washington State Park
Rick Evans Grandview Prairie
Hempstead County Clerk's Office
Hope/ Hempstead County Chamber of Commerce

Hempstead Bicentennial Committee Meeting

HCHS Administrator — Tue, 08 May 2018 00:00:00 GMT

The Bicentennial Committee will meet on Monday, May 7 at 6pm at the community room of Tailgaters Burger Company in downtown Hope, Arkansas. The building is located at 101 South Main Street in Hope. Public is welcome to attend. Questions email hempstead200@gmail.com.

Hempstead Bicentennial Committe Meeting

HCHS Administrator — Fri, 30 Mar 2018 04:26:33 GMT

The Bicentennial Committee will meet on Monday, April 2 at 6pm at the community room of Tailgaters Burger Company in downtown Hope, Arkansas. The building is located at 101 South Main Street in Hope. Public is welcome to attend. Questions email hempstead200@gmail.com.

Bicentennial Committee Meeting

HCHS Administrator — Tue, 06 Mar 2018 00:00:00 GMT

The Bicentennial Committee will meet on Monday, March 5 at 6pm at the Southwest Arkansas Arts Council Depot building in downtown Hope, Arkansas. The building is located at 200 East Division Street in Hope. Public is welcome to attend. Questions email hempstead200@gmail.com.

Bicentennial Facebook Page

HCHS Administrator — Mon, 29 Jan 2018 06:35:18 GMT

The Hempstead County Bicentennial Facebook page has been developed. Go online to like and follow the page to keep up with Hempstead County Bicentennial information and fun facts. It can be found at @Hempstead200.

Hempstead County Bicentennial Souvenier Items

HCHS Administrator — Mon, 15 Jan 2018 06:25:06 GMT

Souvenir items with the Hempstead Bicentennial logo are now for sale at the Hope/Hempstead County Chamber of Commerce and Lagrone Williams Hardware in Hope. Money from the sale of the items go to support the efforts of the Bicentennial celebration.

Bicentennial Committee Meeting

HCHS Administrator — Mon, 15 Jan 2018 06:22:12 GMT

The Bicentennial Committee will meet on Monday, February 5 at 6pm at the community room at Tailgaters Burger Company in downtown Hope, Arkansas. Public is welcome to attend. Questions email hempstead200@gmail.com.