Through the Cabin Window – April, 2019

100 YEARS AGO, 1919

♦ A German helmet would be awarded in a contest between the Alpha and Euzelian societies at Central College. Advertisements written by members of the two societies would be presented newspapermen of the city, and the society whose “ad” urging support of the Liberty Loan Bonds was judged best, would receive the helmet.

♦ The popular war ballad, “Keep the Home Fires Burning,” appeared to have been revised by Conway residents to read “Keep the Tail Lights Burning.” After Mayor G.W. Bruce fined 16 car owners for not having tail lights on their cars, motorists rushed to get tail lights for their cars. Compliance of the new tail light law was especially difficult for owners of the Henry of Detroit, which was equipped astern with an oil lamp.

75 YEARS AGO, 1944

♦ The Log Cabin Democrat Weekly Edition was one of four weekly papers in Arkansas with a circulation above 3,000, according to the 1944 rate book prepared by the Arkansas Press Association. It had a circulation was 3,250, more than the daily’s circulation of 2,300

♦ Lt. Edwin D. Ledbetter, 20, bomber pilot reported missing in action since March 16 was reported safe. The war department notified his parents, Capt. and Mrs. A.M. Ledbetter, that he was a prisoner of war of the Germans.

50 YEARS AGO, 1969

♦ Dr. Keller Lieblong was named president of the Conway Board of Education, succeeding Ray C. McNutt who held the position for six years. John P. McConnell was named vice president and Mrs. Sherbert Benton was re-elected secretary. Other board members were Willie J. Cardin, Cecil Bell and Cleon M. Koone.

♦ William Clay Brazil was the new deputy prosecuting attorney for the Fifth District which included Pope, Yell, Johnson, Conway and Faulkner counties. A 1967 graduate of UA School of Law, Brazil was the son-in-law of Circuit Judge Russell C. Roberts of Conway and had two children.

25 YEARS AGO, 1994

♦ The highly-rated documentary, “The Conway Story,” produced by AETN and narrated by William Cole, a Conway native and CBS correspondent, was featured at the annual Faulkner County Historical Society banquet held at UCA East Commons. A large crowd was expected; in 1993, 130 people attended.

♦ A new shopping center was in the works and with it, Clawson’s, one of Conway’s longtime eateries would close. No tenants were named for the center at the time.

10 YEARS AGO, 2009

♦ Faulkner County schools received more than $11 million in stimulus money. The Title 1 money would go toward schools with at-risk students, the IDEA, or Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Money would help special education students and the renovation money would be used for school facility construction and renovations.

♦ An MTV crew would be coming to town to film segments of the official Kris Allen Watch and Vote Party at the Farris Center. The crew was putting together a series of stories that would run on the MTV News Web site.