Pioneer Washington Restoration Foundation Holds Long-Range Planning Session

By Jim Jackson/PWRF, 10/31/22 4:13 PM

The Pioneer Washington Restoration Foundation is a volunteer organization that is the oldest preservation foundation in Arkansas. It was created in 1958.

The board started purchasing properties in Washington at that time and advocated for the creation of a state park in Washington. Over the years, the board has sold or transferred several properties to the state park.

The board still owns several historical properties including the Presbyterian Church, the U.S. Post Office, the Trimble Home and Woodlawn. The board maintains these properties and allows the park to use them for showing visitors and tourists a broad range of homes and properties.

Jim Pilkinton, Sr and Parker Westbrook created the Board and they did a magnificent job purchasing properties and getting the park created. Washington State Park is one of the most beautiful destinations in the State of Arkansas.

We had a number of new members join the board which has caused us to consider our long term goals.

The Board is exploring our path for the next century of work in preserving these priceless homes and properties that cannot be replaced. We want to share these properties with tourists and make sure that they are available for generations of Arkansans in the future.

Our board recently held a long-range planning session at the Brunson home in Washington. We are looking forward to the future and would welcome any advice and suggestions from our friends that love the history of Washington and Hempstead County.

The board members and guests attending the planning session were: Johnny Wilson, Janelle Shepherd, Jim Hunter, Rufus Wolff, Gary Chambliss, Tommy Jamison, Keenan Williams, Sherry Nichols, Missy McSwain (Pres.), Dolly Henley, Mayor Paul Henley, & Ray Wittenberg.