County historical society meeting held at Gravette

Photo by Susan Holland Steve Mitchael, chairman of the Gravette historical museum commission, was speaker for the quarterly meeting of the Benton County Historical Society. The society met in the museum annex Sunday afternoon. Mitchael presented several items of Gravette history, the museum’s history, its exhibits and programs offered. He outlined some of the commission’s future plans. The program was followed by dedication of the parlor stove in the historic Kindley Home, recently acquired for the home by members of the Bella Vista Questers chapter.
Photo by Susan Holland Steve Mitchael, chairman of the Gravette historical museum commission, was speaker for the quarterly meeting of the Benton County Historical Society. The society met in the museum annex Sunday afternoon. Mitchael presented several items of Gravette history, the museum’s history, its exhibits and programs offered. He outlined some of the commission’s future plans. The program was followed by dedication of the parlor stove in the historic Kindley Home, recently acquired for the home by members of the Bella Vista Questers chapter.

GRAVETTE -- Members of the Benton County Historical Society held their final quarterly meeting of the year in Gravette last Sunday. Several members of the society, as well as members of Bella Vista Questers Chapter #949, gathered for the meeting in the museum annex. The society's president explained that the organization normally meets at its building in Bentonville but, as the group grows, they are trying to branch out and involve more persons by meeting at museums throughout the county.

Steve Mitchael, chairman of the Gravette Historical Museum Commission, was speaker for the meeting. He presented a short history of Gravette, outlining significant historical facts and information about the town's founder, E.T. Gravett, and early businesses.

He gave a brief history of the museum and explained how it was started in 1995 to house a model train layout of the city built by Gravette barber Johnny Varner and several volunteers. The museum commission purchased the historic Kindley Home in 1999 and in 2002 received a grant from the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program for renovation of the building. Another smaller grant received in 2010, along with several cash donations, allowed the commission to begin work on building the annex which now houses most of the museum inventory. An addition was begun in 2015 to display the old flat bed press from the Gravette News Herald and a replica of Johnny's Barber Shop.

Mitchael told about the many special events the museum sponsors, including "My Collections" exhibits, a model railroad show, quilt shows, an annual Dutch oven cook off, Christmas events, an annual tour by second graders on the last day of school and many lunches and dinners as fundraisers. This year the museum also sponsored a flea market and began operating a "selfie" booth which is taken to several area activities. The booth has a museum backdrop and persons may have their photo made there. All proceeds go back into the museum.

Mitchael pointed out several of the museum's significant exhibits, including World War I and World War II memorabilia, a large collection of Gravette High School class pictures and school annuals, Gravette Shelling Plant and Gravette Medical Center displays, memorabilia from World War I air ace Field Kindley and civil rights reporter Al Kuettner and an old wooden phone booth from the Hotel Gravette. The museum has in its inventory bound copies of newspapers back to the 1890s and school board minutes dating back to 1947.

Mitchael named the 13 members of the museum commission and recognized those who were present. Museum bylaws have recently been revised to allow one of the museum commission seats to be a one-year position for a high school student. These young members have given invaluable help to the commission and have provided insight into what programs and services might appeal to young museum goers. Last year's high-school-age commissioner was awarded a scholarship from the commission at the end of his term.

Mitchael read a list of organizations which the museum has partnered with in order to reach its goals. These organizations have helped with funding, physical assistance, inventory and technical advice and many have participated in joint programs with the museum. He said the museum has acquired an old log cabin which was dismantled and is in storage awaiting restoration. The commission hopes to be able to erect it on a lot across the street from the museum and to acquire the old home economics building on the adjoining lot for a future meeting place.

The historic Kindley Home is the centerpiece of the museum property. It has been restored and furnished with period furniture. Members of the Bella Vista Questers Chapter have been instrumental in acquiring several items of vintage furniture. Connie Fetters, president, and several other members of the chapter were present. They went to the Kindley house after Mitchael's program and dedicated the new parlor stove they recently acquired for the home. Both the Kindley Home and annex were open for tours following the dedication.

Community on 12/14/2016