True Confessions

Butch Class of 60: Now, folks, I know there have GOT to be more episodes in our collective lives that deserve, that need, to be confessed. A cleansing of the psyche, so to speak. These four or five little minor league confessions haven't even scratched the surface. So, fess up out there. Let's hear some juicy, heartfelt confessions. You don't even have to use your name or the names of the innocent.
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Recognizing that confession can cleanse the soul, Peach Fuzz offers a forum for those seeking pardon for childhood offenses. Although we cannot offer divine forgiveness, we believe that fessing up, spiced with a dash of wisdom-with-age makes for good humble pie. You can rank the severity by sending us the Offense # and from 1-5 rotten peaches. (Oh one more thing... play nice. Don't confess for anyone else).

1. I was so ashamed that I was a part of this so many years ago... There was a very nice preacher that made a talk for about 15 or 20 minutes... seein' as tho we had no teacher with us that day in the bleachers, Mr. McClure's homeroom class ...disrupted the whole program by moving about in the bleachers, pea-shooting wads of paper, laughing and talking.

2. When I got married I was just 19 and I got so many nice gifts from people in town but moved right after the wedding and lost the book with the list of gifts, addresses. I did not send thank you notes to everyone who sent gifts. I have lived with this guilt almost 40 years and want to apologize.

3. I would stoop to anything to get to go the movies. I lied to my mother & told her Splendor in the Grass was a nature film. I lied to Margie & told her Psycho was a comedy. She went into the bathroom & threw up & wouldn't come out until the end. I abandoned her & watched the rest of the movie. She was scarred for life.

4. Back in the summer between 9th and 10th grade, I went to Baptist Church Camp at Siloam Springs, Arkansas. Danny Gestring and I got a ride back from camp as far as Wynne with some girls from there. A couple of weeks later, we heard that those same girls were at the Methodist Church Camp on Bear Creek Lake. Apparently, these girls really liked church camps.

You know we had to get down to Bear Creek before the weekend. Neither one of us could get a car, but I did have access to my Dad's delivery truck for a little local running around. This truck had a cover on the back to protect the groceries we delivered to our customers. "Ford's Food Center" was boldly printed on both sides. On Thursday afternoon (do you remember when most stores closed in FC on Thursday afternoons in the Summer?), we took the top off to protect our anonymity, left it in Danny's side yard, and lit out for Marianna and the promised land.

In a rented a boat and motor, we found the camp across the lake and went ashore trying to act like we belonged. There were Methodists everywhere, mostly of the female persuasion, and all wore the same camp T-shirt. Well, of course Butch and Dan the Baptists stood out like....like Baptists at a Methodist Church Camp. We started asking anyone within reach about the two girls from Wynne. Before we made contact, a "grownup" escorted us back to our boat and watched closely as we motored out of sight. Did we do good, or what?

When we got back to the truck, it wouldn't start. I cranked it till the battery died. No luck. Now, I'm beginning to fear for my future. A man parked next to us offered us a PULL back to Mariana. Do you remember that the road out to Bear Creek was gravel? In midsummer it was really dusty, too. When we got back to Marianna, the man dropped us at the service station on the corner. The cab of the truck had about two inches of dust inside, about four inches in the bed and maybe an inch or two on Danny and me. There we were, stuck in Marianna with a truck that wouldn't run, nasty as coal miners, and it was getting dark. That was bad enough, except, did I mention that my Dad didn't know I had taken his truck out of town?

My prospects in life were dwindling rapidly. Then, suddenly, out of the darkness came my hero. Well, actually it was Tommy Devazier and Buddy Shoemake in Devazier's little Chevy coup with the extra loud mufflers. Not exactly two guys who were on my hero list at the time, but they were from Forrest City and they agreed to pull me and my lame truck back to FC for $10. We had an old and badly frayed rope in the truck. It broke four times and got shorter each time a new knot was tied. Most of the trip was made with about two feet between our bumpers.

He dropped the truck and the two "nasty boys" at City's Service Station around midnight. I called my brother, Charles, who came to pick us up. Overnight, the guys at the service station literally hosed out the interior of the truck and cleaned out all the dust. They found the loose coil wire that stranded us.

Next morning, Dad wakes me up with, "Hey, where's the truck?" Truthfully, I replied, "I had to have it towed to the service station last night after I couldn't get it to start when I got ready to come home." He never did find out about our little adventure. I realize that this doesn't qualify as a really, really bad thing, but I still haven't told my Dad. He might whup me good.

5. When I was in high school, my mom always expected me to have my room clean every day before I left for school... one morning during homeroom the whole school heard this announcement over the intercom from the office, "P_____, please come to the office, P____ , come to the office." Everyone in the class looked at me and asked, "What have you done now?" ...the only reply from me was "I don't know!" I knew I had done something, I just didn't know what! As all eyes glazed at me, I gathered up my books for my first period class and headed for the office. I felt like I was about an inch tall. I must have looked like I had just been caught with my hand in the cookie jar! I was all sweetness and innocence when I arrived at the office, Ms Montgomery told me to have a seat and wait for Mr. Hawley, he wanted to talk to me. About that time I looked up and through the front window I saw my mother's '57 Ford heading down the street in front of the school! I couldn't imagine what could have been coming next! Mr. Hawley summoned me from his office and I went in. He said "P___, your mother just came by to give me an excuse for you to leave school---go home and make your bed!" ...My mother had driven all the way to my school to advise the principal that I had to go home to clean up my room! ...I walked home, about 6 blocks, made up my bed, hung up my clothes, and walked back. From then on I always had my bed made before leaving for school.

6. In the Summer of 65, the DBS high school sorrority came in the middle of the night and kidnapped a bunch of girls around town to pledge. An annual traditional hazing event. We all ended up at the Fogg's house on Dillard & Forrest St. for a bunk in party. A girlfriend and I snuck out and walked the entire length of Forrest St down towards Stuart Springs and back... as the sun was coming up... talking about life. Smack down the middle of the street. Barefoot. In our nightgowns.

7. Okay, Butch. How about some petty theft. When my girlfriends and I were waiting one year for it to get late enough to deliver DBS bids, we happened to notice two great big vinyl Tony the Tiger signs at a service station on Washington Street. For some reason we thought that sign was really cool. Before you know it, one of the girls(I don't remember who) pulled a pocket knife out of her purse. We climbed up on top of the car and cut down one of the Tonys, rolled him up and made our getaway. The tiger ended up on the basement wall of our friend Annette's house where we got together for bunking parties often. We always feared that someone (an adult) would discover it down there and turn us in. By the way, Annette was completely innocent. She had nothing to do with the theft and wasn't even with us that night. I'm really ashamed at how childish and disrespectful we were of someone else's property. But, that tiger did look good on the wall. Hopefully, the statute of limitations has expired on our crime. B.J. Class of '68

8. Okay you guys--here goes another attempt to make you laugh! I'm not sure of the year, but I do know that I was in junior high so it could have been '57,'58 or '59. (Let's hope it was '57 cause I was so young and would hate to have been any older--It may have even been the fall of '56)! I was walking home from school--we always walked, no one had a car in those days--what would we done with it? Me, Gylinda Bounds and two or three thers were walking together down Washington Street towards my house on Fussell. We always passed the creek close to the Moncrief's house--(I'm laughing now)--this creek always had such a loud, rushing water noise coming from it and we stopped at the banister next to the sidewalk. Well..........I didn't always stop by the "little girls room" before walking home.......and didn't stop by that day........when we got to the creek, we stopped, and I had the most horrible feeling!!! You know the kind.......rushing water.......and I had on a dress!! (We weren't allowed to wear pants or jeans!) I think I began by crossing my legs while I was standing by the banister........then I grabbed my books in front as though they were slipping out of my grasp, catching them and pressing them just in the right place......I was all but holding myself by the time I straightened up!! I began to walk fast so I could get across the street and into the back door so no one would see me rush to the bathroom! Everyone was laughing at me....the sight of a girl not quite a teen, (if it was the fall of '56, I was only 12), running with both legs crossed, doubled up with books grasped just below the belt, shoes filling up...socks getting a good soaking....was too much for them to bear (is that the right "bear"?), anyway, 3 or 4 girls followed me, laughing so hard, they also had to stop at my house, but they had to wait for me.....we had only one bathroom!!

DOUBLE CLASS REUNION 67- 68

Mailers were sent in Dec 2006.

If you did not receive one, email us and we'll let the reunion committee know.

Guest speaker is Harold Horton
July 20-22, 2007
Double Reunion Blowout!
1967 ... 1968

Updated Addresses needed!

Please help your reunion organizers

send your mailing address to:

forrestcitymemories@yahoo.com

Nan Class of 65: Couldn't you add 1965 to that reunion? We made 40yrs last year and did not have one. We were a fun bunch and still are so why not include our class? '65 is when it all began anyway...we paved the way for all the rest. Enjoying your blog and thanks to Walter F who is of the class of '65 and one of the coolest people from that school, I found out about it. However, he has never shown up for a class reunion. If you want to see him you have to go hear George Jones. Thanks and continue with the fun!

Bogie Class of 62: Hi Folks! Just a note to let you know that the class of '56-'57-'58 here in Greenwood, Ms just had a reunion this summer. My husband, Don, is a member of the GHS class of '58. They really had a great time and I learned a bunch from them. I plan to take my ideas to our next reunion planning meetings when we start having them next year. I made up a little "booklet" of the ideas, do's and don't's, banners, food, activities, etc. and will be glad to share it with you if you'd like. There are a great deal of fun "stuff" they did that we've never tried and I think it would be a good idea to look at their reunion for a little guidance. Let me know if you'd like and I'll be in FC next month and will be glad to put a booklet together and bring it with me.

Local Talent

THE ESQUIRES
.....We've heard them...and can verify it...they're real...Forrest City's version of the Beatles... a sharp-looking trio of local youngsters who produce musical sounds quite similar to the rocking, rolling rhytms of the famed group from England.

..... The local lads, who call themselves "The Esquires," performed for members of the local Rotary Club today at noon. The trio consists of Walter Ferguson, Talley Turk and "Pud" Eldridge...and they do a pretty creditable job of imitating the British boys...including the hair styles (beatle wigs) and facial expressions.

.....The boys are students at Forrest City schools, and whether it was actually planned this way, we can't say. But their appearance at the Rotary meeting followed a program of a more serious nature of last week. That program featured FCHS science and math instructor T.G. Bratton and he told the Rotarians some interesting facts pertaining to the latest methods in the teaching of higher mathematics.

.....Since today's program was obviously quite a change from the more serious one of last week, FCHS Superintendent Bill Irving, also a Rotarian, could not resist the temptation to stand before the group and exclaim:

....."Now let us hear from those who would argue that we don't offer a varied curriculum in the local school system."

..... No one challenged him.

Sports: Vintage Spectators

And now Peach Fuzz takes a moment to pay tribute to the unsung gladiators of the Mustang games. Butch's story below reminds us of the hard lessons of young men in training... for spectator sports, that is ... you remember them, the usual suspects... our hometown rascals always ensured that we neither took ourselves too seriously nor allowed our egos to inflate on the playing field.

Butch Class of 60: This is about sports. At least there was a sporting event going on when this little adventure happened. During a high school B-Team basketball game (I think it might have been our senior year, not sure), the score was close and the Mustang B-Team was working hard. Late in the game, with the score tied, the other team scored to go ahead.

The Mustangs took the ball inbounds and Giles Riffey started bringing it back up the court with at least 30-40 seconds to go. Plenty of time to run a play and take a good shot. A few Mustang "fans" up in the top part of the bleachers (where the guys usually hung out) started a countdown (a bit early). Five-four-three... Well, ol' Giles got caught up in the cadence and forgot to check the clock. He jacked up an ill-advised and poorly aimed thirty-footer well before the other Mustangs had made it back down court. It clanged off to the side and was rebounded by the opposing team. They dribbled out the clock to win by two.

After the horn sounded, the "fans" were still howling with laughter at Giles's "decision." Well, sports fans, Coach Devazier was the B-Team coach and he wasn't happy. If you remember, the stands were elevated about ten feet above the floor and, unless they were needed, the bleacher seats would fold back against the wall creating a blind spot when viewed from above.

Coach Devazier's head appeared out from under that area. His eyes were burning holes in every guy up near the top of the stands, memorizing every single one of them. To say the least, the laughter died suddenly and every male in the area moved quickly to another area. As soon as he could get his team off the court, Coach Devazier came up into those stands two steps at a time.

Now folks, all I can say is, I was not one of those who did the countdown. However, I did laugh and I did scatter along with the others when Coach Devazier made his visual inventory. He was sure I was one of the "clowns" involved in the countdown and grabbed me by the collar while he questioned me in a particularly un-teacher-like manner. Apparently, either I convinced him I was innocent, or he was after bigger fish and I survived. The area was strangely empty during the rest of the season.

Bogie Class of 62: I wish I could "spin" a yarn as good as my old friend Butch! I'll give this one a whirl---do you girls remember when PE was a requirement and we all had to "dress out" every day--even if we "didn't feel like it"? Ms Smart would call roll and you were to simply say "here" or, if you "didn't feel like it" you were to say "on the list"!! Anyone remember what "on the list" indicated?
P.S. The gym was split down the middle on the days we had to stay inside for PE. All the guys would line up on the center line to see who would be "on the list" that day. Holy Cow!! We dreaded roll call!

Sports: Vintage Baseball

Peach Queens

Bogie '62 (Feb 07) Here are two more Peach Queens and Kings. Top photo is Claudina and John Durrett, close friends of my mom and dad in the '70's and '80's. Lower photo is Charlene and "Bo" Crutchfield. Charlene was my dad's first cousin, as her mom, Nona Johnson, and my granddad, Dr. J.A. Bogart were brother and sister. Both of these photos were taken at my mom and dad's apartment, at the Walker apartments, on Washington St. Both couples are deceased now, along with my mom and dad. But they all enjoyed each other's company so much--coffee never had it so good! Charlene and "Bo" lived in northern Tennessee but came "home" often to see their old friends and relatives, while the Durretts lived in the same apartment building with mom and dad. Those apartments would "buzz" most of the time with folks in their "golden" years sitting around the dining table solving all the world's problems! Especially on a Saturday morning, Forrest and Pauline, John and Claudina, Bob and Nell, and Bea and Stinnett kept the coffee hot and didn't break up the party until it was all gone! My husband, Don, our two girls, Paula and Candy, and I would visit on weekends and that Saturday morning had to be the highlight of the trip! They were filled with history, especially my dad, and, naturally everything they did in their day was the only way to do it in our day--I only wish he were still here to share all the memories he had of FC--after all, he was part of this community from 1906 until his death in 1986 at the age of 87. We did live in LR when I was a little kid, but J.A and Nellie along with Nall and his family were still here--and that made us very much a part of this city!




Mildred Williams
center: Edith Clanton
bottom: Alice Harrison
May, 1994



Top: Juanita Samply
Bottom: Euginia White--this lady was my grandmother's nurse in the '50's and came to our house on Fussell St. to give Mamaw a shot whenever needed. When you think about it, this would be out of the question for today's medical professionals.
Bogie




Top: Anna Mae Rice
Bottom: Mildred and Jim Williams (a Peach King)
May, 1993





top: Nell Taylor, Werdna Tyson and Pauline Bogart.
center: Flora Walker and Nell Taylor
bottom: Pauline Bogart and Donna Devazier.
May, 1993. Bogie












BelowStanding: Pauline Bogart and Thelma Gray, seated: Norma Hodges.
August 21, 1981. A little "coffee clatch". Some of the worlds most immediate problems have been solved once again by ladies around the kitchen table drinking coffee!
Bogie














Bogie: This lovely lady (right) was a friend of the Dr. Bogart family. Anyone recognize Miss Vergie Moore--later known as Mrs. Jack Porter? (This is written on the back of the photo recovered from one of those perverbial "photo boxes" with no history attached.) She was really a beauty. Comment 8/10/06: I think I goofed! The photo of Virgie Moore should read Vergie Porter later to become Mrs. Jack Moore! Oh Well! The notation on the back of the photo is incorrect--I knew it couldn't have been Me! Ha!
Left: Another lovely lady--Ms Allie Bea Proctor, a receptionist at the Bogart Clinic in the '30s. The photo was taken by "Alley" of Forrest City. I don't remember this photographer, but I've seen a lot of photos done by them.

Lin: In one of Bogie's posts, she mentions Virgie Porter and ponders whether or not she is really Mrs. Jack Moore. Well, Virgie Porter was the mother of Virgie Abel and grandmother to Donna, Rosamond and Jimmie Abel. Virginia Moore was a Price from Little Rock.

Rosamond Abel Crawley: The photo in question about Virgie Moore Porter will now be solved! Since she was my grandmother, I'll tell you the real story. She was born in Forrest City, Arkansas to Frances Louise Williams and John William Moore. Thus she was a MOORE from Forrest City. She married John Rosamond Porter (Jack) who was born in West Helena, Arkansas. She was the mother of Virgimai (Mrs. James H. Abel), RoseMarie (Mrs. Bill Lofton), Frances (Mrs. Milard Chism), and Helen (Mrs. Bob Teeter). Virgimai and Frances raised their families in Forrest City. Their children are Donna, Rosamond, and Jimmy Abel and Larry, Harry, and Pat Chism.

Bogie Class of 62: Thank you so much for the info on Virgie's photo!! It seems the info on the back of the photo is correct after all! This photo is signed "Ole Pal", "Dutter", by her--I seem to remember my mom, Pauline Bogart, telling me that "Dutter" is a pet name for my uncle, Nall Bogart. Would like to know for sure.

I was just a small child, around 4 or 5 years of age when, while visiting my grandmother, Nellie Bogart, in the old home on Fussell St., Nall was home ill--he had a heart condition that took his life at a very young age. I had asked my grandmother for a coke and she was getting one for me from her "ice-box" when Nall came up behind me and scared me to death! He had on house shoes and made no noise. He told me at that time that "If your grandmother had wanted you to have a coke, she would have asked you!" Needless to say, for a kid my age at that time, I was scared of my uncle Nall until his death and have never gotten over that remark. Everyone in the family told me that it was due to his illness that made him seem so mad and sad all the time.

I think that the whole city loved my grandparents and Nall also. He was a doctor and practiced with my grandfather in the clinic on Izard St. in the '30's. He then went into the Army and served as a medic in WWII until his heart attack during the Burma Campaign. I'm not sure but I don't think he was able to practice after the war.

Butch Ford Class of 60: On this past October 6, I attended the wedding of my niece, Ashley Chism, daughter of my sister, Maribeth and Harry Chism, in Gatlinburg. It was kind of unique in my experience as it was conducted at a chapel on a mountaintop. I say "kind of unique" because Ashley's little sister, Brooke, got married a couple of years ago at a chapel on Mt. Petit Jean. These girls love the mountains. They DO make great locations for the wedding party and guests. We (Linda and I) shared a great cabin with my brother, Charles, and his wife, Ann (Heustess). Ann and Charles are both graduates of FCHS, class of 1957. Great fun was had by all, especially the "party" after the wedding at Maribeth and Harry's cabin. Food and refreshments were plentiful and good. It was at this party that I met (again) Harry's mother, Frances, for the first time since Maribeth and Harry got married years ago. We talked about the photo in the blog and the confusion as to the name and lineage of the lady in the photo. Mrs. Chism is a fine and gracious lady. It was such a pleasure to talk with her. Also, I must admit that when I first read the blog comment from Rosamond Abel Crawley about the lady in question, I thought she had left a typo in her text - I thought Virgimai must have been Virginia. Then as I read the rest of it, I saw it again. Maybe once, but not twice. Then I remembered the pronunciation. It was the lady I always thought was Virgie May. I don't remember ever seeing Virgimai's name in print. Back when I went to First Baptist, before 1963 - when I got married, it was James Henry and Virgie May Able. I remember both of them and Donna clearly. I remember Rosamond, too. I think she and Maribeth were the same age. I think they took dancing lessons at the same time. I guess one never gets too old to learn stuff. This blog is one of the most "funnest" things I have done in a while. That's ONE of the most.

Alma Mater

Mike D. Class of '60: Does anyone out there know who wrote the words to the Alma Mater- "On the City's Northern Border, Reared Against the Sky"?

Sula Class of '68: I remember in Jr. High in music class learning that it wasn't an original (tune or words) and there was talk of a contest for someone to write a new one. I tried my hand at it and wrote one but never submitted it. Due to lack of participation I think it fell through. But sure enough, here's what I found when googling the first line:

"On the city's northern border,
Reared against the sky
Proudly stands our Alma Mater
As the Years go by.
Chorus
May it ever be our watchword."Conquer and Prevail."
Hail to thee, our Alma Mater
Dear old Wofford, hail!
(2nd verse omitted)

Wofford [Carolina] shares the tune to its alma mater with many other institutions of higher education, including Cornell, Vanderbilt, Birmingham Southern, and the University of North Carolina. The lyrics are credited to Dr. Keener C. Frazer '20, who went on to become a distinguished professor of international law and political science at the University of North Carolina. However, the oldest version of the alma mater in print is found in 1923 Wofford Journal, with the first line "On the city's western border." This apparently was simply an editing error, as the 1925 Bohemian has the present reference to the northern border. In fact, in those days, Wofford was on the city's outskirts. In the 1960's, many area colleges began replacing their traditional alma maters with more original tunes. A professor and student at Wofford wrote a new alma mater in 1966. This proposal never passed the Student Government Association, as it had strong opposition from the alumni, students and The Old Gold and Black."

Sports: Vintage Football

1922 High School



from St Francis County Museum Website (See Links)

Champions 1993-34


Number #63 front row right is Walter Ferguson, Sr.
The paper doll guys at the bottom are Faye, Parker, Bridgforth and Wright. Picture by O'dell. Now we are wondering ...Champions of what? Or could "Champions" have been the name of the team?...because in the next photo you'll see that the FC football team was not always the "Mustangs" -- it was the "Thoroughbreds"-- or at least it appears that way...

Thoroughbreds 1935

We believe Walter Ferguson, Sr. is now #55 front row to the left of football boy. Paper doll guys are Burns, Frye, Frye, Hulen, Gross, Parker, Tatum & Wright.

Our beloved Coach Bill Irving (affectionately known as "Bull") appears here, who later became Superintendent of Schools. Husband of Mary Ann, dad of Etta (Class of 68) & friend to all.

These valuable photos are being shared with you thanks to the love, trust & generosity of Walter Ferguson, Jr.

Mustangs 1959
Butch Class of 60: The following is a retyped clipping of the Mustangs beating Conway in the opening game of an undefeated season.
Conway Toppled by Forrest City
Conway, Sept. 11 (1959) - Quarterback Donnie Kessinger directed the Class AA Forrest City Mustangs to a 20-6 victory over Conway before an opening night crowd of 2,500 here Friday. Kessinger, a loose, long-strided runner, scored one touchdown, Jim Finch, a combination end-fullback, scored one and halfback Roy Hall got Forrest City's third TD. Johnny Simmons, the game's leading ground gainer, accounted for Conway's TD with a 66-yard scamper in the third period.

Forrest City relied on 13 players. Conway used 15. The Mustangs scored early. Phil Hickey ran 36 yards to Conway's 35 and Hall raced to the 23. Kessinger galloped around left end to score standing up from the 18. He then ran to the other side for the extra point. Penalties hampered the Mustangs in the second quarter. Neither team mustered a threat in this period. The third quarter was all Conway's. Jim Turnery returned the kickoff from the 14 to the 44. And on the first play Simmons broke through center to score. Ronnie Roach's conversion try was wide and Forrest City led by 7-6. The Wampus Cats got another drive underway after Turner's interception of Hickey's pass at Conway's 22. Conway marched to Forrest City's 23 before being halted.

Forrest City went on the offense in the fourth quarter with Kessinger, Finch and Hickey registering the yardage. Finch scored from the three to climax a 77-yard drive. And Kessinger once more ran the extra point. The ponies struck quickly for their third touchdown. Hall intercepted Jim Sanders' pass at mid-field and returned to the Conway 30. Finch carried to the 11 and Hall skirted right end to score. Kessinger's kick failed. The Cats put together their best sustained drive of the night in the last few minutes. They took Kessinger's kickoff and went to Forrest City's 16 as time ran out. Simmons accounted for 139 yards of Conway's 256 from scrimmage. Turner had 67. Hickey was Forrest City's leader with 75 yards. Kessinger got 53. (Statistics below)

Colts 1956: Jr High

Butch, Class of 60: This program is from the Forrest City vs Marianna junior high football game in the Fall of 1956. The Colts won 28-14. Notice the weights of the players. Everybody is little and scrawny except ME. I'm the fat guy at 200. Jerry Fong is the biggest player for Marianna. I sat next to him in freshman orientation at Arkansas State.

Old Homes

Warren Home c. 1911 Izard & Hill Nicknamed the "Big House" (said BIGhouse), built c. 1906, was home and gathering place of many family members (Warren, Snyder, Rolfe, McAuley) and host to many social events over the years. 5 fireplaces, 2 stairways, 8 bedrooms, 8 baths, 2 kitchens, rose garden, peony garden, library, summer porch, servant house. Sold to National Bank of Ark & demolished c. 1964.

Bogart Home 1918 Fussell & Washington
Bogie: This photo was taken of the Bogart home about 1918. My Grandmother, Nellie Bogart was a "whiz-bang" in the flower garden! She always had the most beautiful flower gardens and set the pace for those around her. Actually, the home, built in 1915, was set in the country for a short time. It was just about this time of the century that FC started moving north away from the rr tracks. The home sat on the NE corner of Fussell and Washington. My dad, mom, sister and I moved into the home in 1955--I was in the 6th grade. We had moved here from Little Rock and I had never known about some of the things I was about to learn when we made that move! The telephone man came out to install the phone and was packing up-getting ready to leave when I called out to him and told him he wasn't finished!! He forgot to put the dial on the phone!! In LR, we always had dials on the sets! He explained to me that I was in a different city now and we do things different here. I thought I was ruined! No dial?? How was I going to call LR? I soon learned. Thank goodness, dial phones came in shortly after that! Only one of the many adventures of moving for me!

Cars & Roads: Early 20th Century

If you get your glasses out and look real close, you'll see that this is an auto from the '20's for the Forrest City Fire Dept. Asst. Chief. The lady in the photo is a mystery. I dug this out of some old photos that my uncle, Nall Bogart, had and that I fell heir to. She may be a friend of his--maybe someone out there knows her?
Bogie 8/8/06


Bogie: This is a great car--don't you think? Behind the wheel is my grand- dad, Dr. J. A. Bogart, Dr. P.P. Bogan to his left, David Webb behind Dr. Bogart, and my dad, Forrest Bogart behind Dr. Bogan. When my dad was 19, he took a trip out west in this auto. He never told me of his adventures on that trip--just that it was about the most fun he had ever had! My dad was pretty much a rounder in those days--so I never pressed him for details! He told me of one big goof he made--it was the spring of 1920 and my dad was about ready to graduate from FCHS when he was showing off in his auto in front of the school (the school we called the grammar school) and hit one of his teachers. He was suspended for a couple of weeks and just barely was able to graduate! Maybe that's where I get my adventuresome spirit! HA!

Anyone remember our highways when they weren't paved? This photo, according to my dad, Forrest Bogart, was taken in the early 20's on 70 somewhere between FC and West Memphis.

My dad was a Right-of-Way engineer for the Arkansas Highway Dept. That's him next to the car, (and I use the term lightly), in the white shirt with three highway workers. He said they were checking roadbeds prior to paving highways. (I don't know what that means. Maybe some of our highway pros could tell us.) Anyway, my dad saw to it that Arkansas roads like this one all over the state became the four-lane expressways that we enjoy today. And I am so proud of him and the fact that he was a part of the progress made with the highways and that it's such a lasting contribution.