El Dorado Insider Spring 2023 - 26

Take a cinematic tour at
the Gallery of History.
O
ver its 47 years of serving the public, the South
Arkansas Historical Preservation Society has
been known to change its name a time or two, but
its mission of saving history has never faltered.
Today the Society's campus includes the John
Newton House Museum, the free public archives, and the
Gallery of History Museum. The Gallery of History houses
the Union County Sports Hall of Fame, the Michael G.
Fitzgerald Entertainment Collection, and the Murphy USA
Exhibition Gallery, which features rotating local and traveling
exhibits.
Without the determination and drive of Rachel Rowland
McKinney, none of this would have been possible. In
1977, seven local couples, including Henry C. and Rachel
McKinney, Jr., each donated $2,000 to purchase the John
Newton Home, an 1849 Antebellum house, from the Garrett
Estate. The South Arkansas Historical Foundation, Inc.,
was organized partially to coordinate efforts to restore the
Newton House, which can be found on the National Register
of Historic Homes.
" Peggy Cyphers and I started the restoration, " McKinney
was fond of retelling, noting that over the years, dozens of
people assisted with the restoration project by contributing
time, labor, money, furniture, and fixtures to the house.
Funds for the initiation of the renovations were raised by
selling off items that were in the house when it was first
purchased by the Historical Foundation.
26 El Dorado Insider
The first official fundraising event at the house was Mrs.
McKinney's legendary chicken spaghetti dinner, served with
small loaves of bread. The first event hosted for the members
of the Historical Foundation was a pioneer-style dinner
served on tables made from sawhorses and featured Mrs.
Rachel's fried chicken, black-eyed peas, slaw, and cornbread.
Once the Newton Home restoration was complete,
McKinney, Cyphers, and the foundation continued their
mission by establishing the South Arkansas Mayhaw Festival,
an annual block party held on the grounds of the Newton
House on the first Saturday of May. One of the highlights
of the festival is the Mayhaw jelly sale and the jelly is made
on site by volunteers with Rachel's recipe. The festival also
showcases Union County's musical roots and features free
museum tours as well as local food and craft vendors. The
31st Mayhaw Festival is scheduled for Saturday, May 6, 2023.
In the 2010s, Judge Edwin and Diane Alderson, along
with board members of the South Arkansas Historical
Preservation Society, expanded the campus to what exists
today, and our mission has always been the same: to create
a visual narrative of South Arkansas culture and history
in a safe and interactive manner for the education and
amusement of our patrons.
In truth, we strive to be the most " Un-Museumy " museum
in the states and invite you to come and take a walk in the
footsteps of history. p
El Dorado Insider Spring 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of El Dorado Insider Spring 2023
