Delta Sources and Resources

The Bloodworth House: worth House, where heritage meets Hollywood, Where Heritage Meets Hollywood and its story is deeply intertwined with its line- age. 626 Cynthia Street Situated at 626 Cynthia Street, The Blood- Poplar Bluff, Missouri worth House was built in the early twentieth by LaDawn Lee Fuhr century by Judge Charles T. Bloodworth and was originally a Queen Anne style cottage in Poplar Bluff, Missouri is called “The Gate- red brick. Judge Bloodworth was a civil rights way to the Ozarks” and situated mere miles from activist and an advocate for the disenfran- the Arkansas state line. This homey hamlet lo- chised. Because of his opposition to the Ku cated in Southeast Missouri serves as the Butler Klux Klan, they tried to assassinate him by County seat and is named after the multitude shooting him in the chest on his front porch of of poplar trees inhabiting this bluff on the Black his then home in Corning, Arkansas, but Judge River. There is a proper English manor house Bloodworth survived and prevailed, relocating in Poplar Bluff, nestled within the historic his family, including four sons who became his downtown district on an eclectic, tree lined permanent body guards, from Corning to Poplar street among a sundry group of dwellings. This Bluff. Those sons also grew up to become majestic home is steeped in history while it con- lawyers whose service exceeded the call of duty. tinues to make history. This house is the Blood- Son Charles served as a judge advocate at

The Bloodworth House Library. Photograph by LaDawn Lee Fuhr.

______Arkansas Review 49.3 (December 2018) 204 The Bloodworth House Foyer. Photograph by LaDawn Lee Fuhr. Nuremberg and returned home with one of only cluded the iconic Designing Women, Filthy three hand-written Nuremberg trial transcripts, Rich, Hearts Afire, Evening Shade, and now housed at the University of Missouri. Women of the House. Together they wrote, Ralph served as Japanese war crimes prosecutor produced, and directed A Man From Hope, the and brought justice to, and for, many in a post- story that introduced future President Bill Clin- war panacea of healing. The outstanding Blood- ton to the world. They were also instrumental worth legacy would continue through the in Democratic convention operations in 1992 offspring including Ralph’s daughter, noted and 1996, along with co-chairing the 1993 pres- writer Linda Bloodworth-Thomason. idential inauguration. Linda Bloodworth-Thomason was born in The indomitable duo has been nominated Poplar Bluff to Ralph and Claudia Bloodworth. for, and won, a plethora of awards in their in- She is a successful writer, screenwriter, producer, dustries including Emmy, Golden Globe, Direc- author, and documentarian. A graduate of the tor’s Guild, People’s Choice, and GLADD, and University of Missouri, she left for California recent accolades for Bloodworth-Thomason’s not long after college. She began her storied ca- 2013 marriage equality film, Bridegroom, which reer as a teacher, an advertising consultant, and won the audience prize at the Tribeca Film Fes- a reporter, all while freelancing as a screen- tival and at the Los Angeles Outfest Film Fes- writer. Along with her Arkansas-born husband, tival. Another winning collaboration they Harry Thomason, they formed Mozark Produc- added to their resume is the expansion and re- tions, the name being an homage to both of furbishment of the Bloodworth family home. their home states, and together changed the The Bloodworth House was renovated into a perception of the South and of the marginalized five thousand square foot, English Baroque mar- among global audiences. Their hit shows in- vel in the early 1990s, with the overhauls liter- ______Arkansas Review 49.3 (December 2018) 205 ally encasing the original structure. Some of the ucational possibilities through personal inter- best master builders in the world were con- action, scholarships, academic experiences, the tracted, including the Queen’s craftsmen, Arti- arts, and a close community. Since inception, sans of Crowther of S’yon Lodge, who rebuilt the Claudia Foundation has awarded one hun- Windsor Castle in the seventeenth century. dred and thirty-two scholastic scholarships to- Notable additions include a massive library taling almost two million dollars and giving with over forty types of molding, and a stunning that many young people opportunities. The selection of antique furnishings from the Claudia Foundation is a cultural mainstay of William and Mary period, 1689-1702. Poplar Bluff. The library was built in England, disassem- The Charlie Classics Reading Program bled to send by ship to New Orleans, then by began in 1990 to honor Linda Bloodworth- barge, Mark Twain style, up the Mississippi Thomason’s grandfather Charles, the original River to Cape Girardeau, and eventually owner of Bloodworth House. Bloodworth- trucked into Poplar Bluff. Some of the details Thomason believes “that reading is the corner- of the craftsmanship include the “Lord Byron stone of education and that reading great classic Fireplace,” which once belonged to the poet’s literature expands the mind of the reader.” The father-in-law. The outside area of the Blood- goal is for junior and senior high students to worth House includes seasonal plantings, Euro- read one hundred literary classics, chosen from pean statuary, and a formal garden. A pristine a list provided by the Charlie Classics commit- carriage house is located beyond the beautiful tee, in a school year. To take the program out courtyard behind the Bloodworth House. into the community, each student is assigned a While The Bloodworth House is beautiful front citizen mentor who also reads the books with to back, inside and outside, it is much more them, verifies the reading, and enables the two than a pretty face. The Bloodworth House has to have discussions about the assignment. Over been the backdrop for entertainment events three hundred thousand Poplar Bluff students and hosted the legendary Lily Tomlin, iconic have been impacted by the Charlie Classics comedian, television, and film star Leslie Jor- Reading Program, with three thousand books dan, and Designing Women’s Julia Sugarbaker, donated to the school system. Fifty-two schol- the late, great Dixie Carter. arships totaling more than two hundred and The Bloodworth House also serves as the fifty thousand dollars have been awarded in- headquarters for a multitude of philanthropic cluding scholastic scholarships and incentives. endeavors including the Claudia Foundation, The next goal for the Charlie Classics Reading the Charlie Classics Reading Program, and the Program is to expand the reach nationally. Designing Women Foundation. All of these or- The Designing Women Foundation began ganizations were founded by Linda Bloodworth- in 2009 to run as a concurrent scholarship pro- Thomason and are intended to help the gram with the Claudia Foundation. The De- educational efforts and pursuits of students signing Women Foundation also works with the while giving back to the community. The Clau- Charlie Classics Reading Program to award dia Foundation was created by Bloodworth- scholarships for both higher education and vo- Thomason in 1989 to honor her late mother, cational education based on need and with at- Claudia Bloodworth. A non-profit foundation, risk individuals to reward their renewal with its mission is to promote positive change in the support for training and education. They often lives of individuals, especially women . . . to ed- hold “Power of the Purse” fundraisers at the ucate, equip and enrich. In particular, it offers Bloodworth House to help fund these and other challenging opportunities and resources for in- scholarship programs. dividuals to explore their personal goals and ed- The Bloodworth House is a design marvel ______Arkansas Review 49.3 (December 2018) 206 with a heart, tucked into a small Southern town, and it should not be missed. It offers a di- verse global history lesson in one destination, where guests can enjoy the integrity of the Delta and beyond through the fascinating line- age of the Bloodworth clan and the carefully cu- rated culture. A visit to The Bloodworth House is an outstanding journey in history, architec- ture, literature, entertainment, education, phi- lanthropy, politics, community involvement, and sense of place. The Bloodworth House also serves the community in many ways including as a popular site for events, both booked and planned independently for the community by the venue. Easter egg hunts, movie nights, and tea parties have been put together for the pub- lic. The Bloodworth House is available for tours and private events including weddings, meet- ings, reunions, and more. Find out more about the Claudia Foundation, the Charlie Classics Reading Program, and the Designing Women Foundation by contacting The Bloodworth House at 573-686-3040 or by email, claudiadirector @gmail.com. sts

Links: https://www.theclaudiafoundation.org/charlie-classics/ https://www.theclaudiafoundation.org/ http://www.designingwomenfoundation.org/ The Lord Byron fireplace with a photo of Claudia Bloodworth. Photograph by LaDawn Lee Fuhr.

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