Washington Homecoming Celebration

The city of Washington, the Historic Washington Foundation, Historic Washington State Park, and the Southwest Arkansas Regional Archives held a homecoming celebration on Saturday (6-22). It was an event in honor of the 200th anniversary of the town’s existence.

There was a welcome by the Mayor Paul Henley. Park Superintendent Pam Beasley spoke about programs the park was doing honoring historical residents and Secretary of the Parks, Heritage, and Tourism Shea Lewis spoke about future plans to expand what the Park was doing.  Missy McSwain, the President of Historic Washington Foundation also spoke.

Following this were living history presentations led by the Assistant Superintendent of the Park. The presentations included David Block, General Grandson Royston, Captain John Johnson and Charlene Moss Williams. These characters will be expanded in upcoming programs.

Two historic houses maintained by the Foundation, the Woodlawn and Trimble Houses, were open. In one of them Sheila Ballard baked bread and made a vinegar pie.

Close to three hundred people showed up for the event. The event included a free fish fry and a raffle for a knife.