Hempstead County Historical Society Meets, Hears Program by Gary Johnson

The Hempstead County Historical Society met on Tuesday (5-27).  Joshua Williams wasn’t present due to a family matter.  Gary Johnson was present to present to give a program on history.  He said he has always loved history, and he’s collected a whole lot of pictures.  He said his mother collected different things, such as a coat rack, to give to him.  He presented a letter of the only full documentation of how Hope got its name.  James M. Loughborough, who was from Little Rock, and was an attorney.  His father was tasked with setting the stops for the Cairo-Fulton Railroad which ran from Cairo, Illinois to Fulton, Arkansas.  Hope was named after James Loughbourough’s younger sister and the copy of the letter which had belonged to the Feild family documents that.

Johnson noted that Main Street in downtown Hope was paved in 1920.  He also showed a picture of the first town Marshal, Pappy Kyle.  Kyle used a stick instead of a gun.  Hervey Street was named after John P. Hervey, who was surveyor for the railroads.

Johnson had a variety of photos of Hope during the early years of its history.  He had a photo of deacons from First Baptist Church that probably dated from the 1930’s.  He also had a fine photo of the Haynes Brothers’ store when it was located on West Second downtown in the building that housed Rephan’s from the 1920’s to the mid 1980’s when it closed.  Johnson also showed some photos of historic houses of Hope as well as a panoramic view of a meeting of the Arkansas Press Association meeting in Hope during the early years of the 20th Century.

Johnson’s program was well-received by those attending.