Author Archives: Dilynn Boyd

Uncle Tobe: “Looking Back”

Reprinted here by special permission of the author, Cindy Beckman, a retired Conway High School history teacher who writes local history.

Riley Thompson Hankins enlisted in the 10th Alabama Cavalry on August 5, 1863, at the age of fifteen. He did not participate in any major battles but was in a few minor engagements before the end of the war. Returning home, he married in 1869 but his first wife died in childbirth. He later married again.

He and his second wife, Malissa, had twelve children, Continue reading

Arkansas Historical Author Publishes New Book

Arkansas Civil War children's books by Nancy Dane

Nancy Dane has published “William’s Story,” book two in the historical fiction, Civil War Series for young readers. Dane is a Civil War author and lecturer who lives in Pope County. Her novels and documentary work are used as curriculum in Arkansas schools and colleges.

Although her Civil War Series is aimed at 4th grade and up, Dane reports that “people of all ages are enjoying” her newest book. Continue reading

Columbus Day: “Looking Back”

Reprinted here by special permission of the author, Cindy Beckman, a retired Conway High School history teacher who writes local history.

Columbus sailed the ocean blue in fourteen hundred and ninety-two. Today is Columbus Day, a federal holiday since 1937 but commemorated as far back as 1792 when New York celebrated the 300th anniversary of his arrival in the New World.

Many people now know, thanks to the efforts of their history teachers and the History Channel, that Columbus most likely did not discover Continue reading

Cruisin’ Conway: “Looking Back”

Reprinted here by special permission of the author, Cindy Beckman, a retired Conway High School history teacher who writes local history.

Back in the days of cheap gas and big cars, Conway teens would often spend their weekends “cruisin” Conway. Teens of the 1970s thought this was their “thing” but their parents knew that this activity was not new—they had done it themselves!

In the 1950s, Conway teens would generally cruise Continue reading