GRAVETTE — An historic landmark in Gravette tumbled this past week when a backhoe removed the long-standing concrete entrance columns in Capt. Field Kindley Memorial Park.
The columns, which were erected in 1923, have been deteriorating and will be replaced “to as near replica as possible,” according to Mayor Byron Warren.
The columns were erected at the northwest corner of the park through the efforts of the Civic Improvement Club, a group which purchased the then “Covey Park” in 1920.
Almost immediately following their purchase of the land, the club, a group of Gravette ladies, unanimously confirmed, “The club is to be known as the ‘Captain Field Kindley Memorial Park,’” according to the club records.
The Gravette News Herald reported at that time, “Our community has this opportunity of creating a permanent monument to our ace.”
Kindley was a leading air ace in World War I. A book about his exploits, by retired Air Force officer Jack Ballard, was published about two years ago. A copy is in the Gravette Public Library.
The July 20, 1923, issue of The Gravette News Herald described the memorial: “The memorial forms the entrance to the park at the northwest corner. The structure is to be 45 feet long and includes two 10-foot posts, 3-foot square, upon which will be mounted large light globes. Connecting these posts, on either side of the entrance, will be 8-foot posts with large tablets bearing the name of the park to whom dedicated, etc.” A bronzemarker was added sometime later.
After several letters were stolen off the marker, it was removed and now rests in the Gravette Historical Museum. A granite replacement will be a part of the new entrance structure.
Similar original columns on the southeast entrance of the park remain in place.
Hopefully, the new entrance structure will be completed in time for the annual Gravette Days Celebration August 11, 12 and 13.
News, Pages 8 on 07/13/2011