100 YEARS AGO, 1918
♦ The most sweeping quarantine order ever issued in the state of Arkansas was made effective. The state had been placed under quarantine on account of the epidemic of Spanish influenza. Every school, church, moving picture theater and place of public assemblage had been ordered closed and was to remain closed until permission was given by the state board of health to reopen. It was not only in Arkansas but throughout the nation in response to an order issued by Surgeon General Blue to all state health offices.
Dr. J.S. Westerfield, county health office, became a victim of Spanish influenza and had to take to his bed. Earlier, he said the number of new cases in Faulkner County was about the same. A few cases of pneumonia had developed but no deaths had yet occurred in Conway since the epidemic began. At Hendrix College, where the epidemic had struck the hardest, President Reynolds said the situation was well in hand. About 200 cases had occurred among the student body, but 80 had recovered. Apparently, the disease was losing virulence and the number of those suffering severely seemed to have diminished.
75 YEARS AGO, 1943
♦ Henry Frauenthal, 83, member of a prominent and pioneer Conway family, citizen of this city for 61 years, died at the home of Mr. and Mrs. W.E. McClain, 1617 Robinson Avenue, where he had resided for several years. He was a brother to Jo Frauenthal who survived him. For many years, he was the manager of the Conway Cotton Oil & Gin Company.
♦ Approximately 900 head of livestock were brought to the first auction held by Homer Brown and Major Lewis at J.H. Berry’s barn on Markham Street. Ernie Cox of Little Rock was the auctioneer.
50 YEARS AGO, 1968
♦ An open house at the new academic wing of Conway High School was held. Drawings of floor plans for the new hexagonal pod-type structure were provided to assist visitors. Nearly 2,000 persons attended.
♦ Luther Goad, 78, died after an extended illness. He and his later brother, Judson Goad, operated one of Conway’s best-known cafes, Goad Bros., until the business closed.
♦ Earl P. Stacy, owner and manager of Conway Bowl, opened a new roller rink adjacent to the bowling alley. The floor, made of solid plastic, was 70 feet wide and 140 feet long. Starkey Construction was the contractor.
25 YEARS AGO, 1993
♦ Dr. W.A. Criswell, senior pastor of First Baptist Church of Dallas, was the featured speaker at the dedication services for the new worship center at First Baptist Church in Conway. Gov. Jim Guy Tucker was also present along with about 600 other attendees
♦ St. Joseph Catholic Parish was conducting a fundraising campaign for a $2.5 million building and renovation project. The building project included the conversion of the gymnasium into a parish family center, the construction of a new family activity and sports recreation center and the addition of new classrooms, including science laboratories at the high school.
♦ Lt. Gov. Mike Huckabee, also a Baptist minister, accepted a three-month appointment as associate pastor at Second Baptist Church in Conway. The Rev. Larry Pillow, Second Baptist pastor announced Huckabee would speak weekly at 6:30 p.m. on Sundays as well as to the men’s club and college students.
10 YEARS AGO, 2008
♦ Conway Regional Medical Center expanded its hospitalist program to cover more primary care doctors. Dr. Greg Kendrick, Dr. Raju Patil and Dr. Renu Gupta were the hospitalists.
♦ Two were killed and one was treated at the hospital after a shooting near Arkansas Hall and Snow Fine Arts Building at UCA. A suspect was in custody after the campus was locked down. Classes were cancelled at the campus the next day.
Capital murder charges were filed against the four young men involved in the deadly shooting of two UCA students. A benefit concert was held at UCA to honor the victims of the recent shooting as well as raise funds to help their families pay for funeral expenses. Groups from area churches participated along with students and groups from UCA.