Walker Park Mural

Walker Park Mural About the Mural Dating back to the early 1800’s, the mural portrays the life and times of South Fayetteville, Arkansas. Represented are numerous people, places and events that reflect the diverse history of the South Fayetteville Community. Located off of 15th Street in Walker Park, the mural is painted on the exterior walls of the handball court. The idea was to use the drab gray concrete walls of the court as a canvas to create a pictorial history of South Fayetteville. The mural is a community project; it depicts community and was created by and for the community. The entire project was facilitated by Jo Ann Kaminsky, Artist in Education and Art Facilitator, with the assistance of Eugene Sargent, Artist. Students from School-Within-A-School at Fayetteville High researched, documented and designed the mural. Art work and painting was completed by School-Within-A-School students and art facilitators, Jefferson Elementary students, Academy at Fayetteville High School and anyone who walked by and picked up a brush. The mural made artists of many. The process was finished in the fall of 2005, taking three years to complete. The Mural is a collective effort of numerous Fayetteville citizens, organizations and businesses. Funding was provided by The Arkansas Arts Council, the City of Fayetteville, The Happy Hollow Foundation, Ozark Dermatology Clinic and The Bank of Fayetteville. Historical data was provided by Washington County Historical Society, Fayetteville Public Library and KUAF radio. Stories and ideas came from folks at the Fayetteville Senior Activity and Wellness Center and students from Jefferson Elementary School and Willow Heights Head Start. Unwavering encouragement came from School-Within-A-School faculty and the students’ moms who gave many hours of hard work and provided welcomed lunches at the mural. Special recognition goes to the following people who shared their stories, ideas and pieces of previously unrecorded Fayetteville history: Dr. James Mashburn, Ivory Conley, Jessie Bryant, Dorothy Lighton, Lance Fisher, Ralph Nesson, Stan Lancaster, Kit Williams, Elizabeth Reagan, Frankie Kelly, Jaqueline Froelich, Brian Manire, Frank Sharp, Tanya Childress, Joetta Walker, Cherry Brooks, Pastor Hawkins, Reverend Gary Lunsford, David McClinton, and the people represented on this mural whose voices live on in Fayetteville’s rich history. Numbers 1-10 correspond to the mural’s east wall. 1. Willis Pettigrew was a slave in the home of “Aunt” Sarah Pettigrew in Farmington for many years. He was often seen in Fayetteville driving his ox team, which was the last in the area. He remained in Fayetteville for some time after his liberation, working as a handy man for several families in the city. The mural picture is of a published photograph dated 1910. Mr. Pettigrew’s presence on the mural represents the last local freed slaves, each of whom contributed to the area in many ways. One member of this group, Squire Jahagen, founded St. James Baptist Church. 2. Mr. James Keeny lived in a mobile home park on 6th Street and often walked his dog near Bates Elementary School. His famous “spinning dog” entertained many passers-by on 6th Street. Mr. Keeny’s dog would spin in circles three times when certain cars passed, and it appeared that he only did it for every third car. 3. Frankie Kelly attended the “old” Jefferson School on Archibald Avenue in 1928, and then the “new” Jefferson Elementary School on South College Avenue. A son of an Italian immigrant, he lived with his sizeable family on the Kelly Farm located south of 15th Street. He recalls memories of being barefoot all summer, having the watermelon wagon visit the school during recess, and buying candy from the generous and loving Mrs. Hanna at the old Johnson’s Store located at the intersection of South College Avenue and 6th Street. Frankie learned the stone masonry trade from his father. He worked with him on numerous projects including the Legion Hut on Archibald Yell Boulevard and the rock walls around the Archibald Yell Estate. Frankie created spiral brick pillars on the portico of his home in south Fayetteville. Frankie learned to play classical violin at age five and traveled with his teacher to area schools to entertain. Growing up to be a recognized fiddle player, he played country music with many famous people. His many fiddling awards testify to his popularity. Several of his children and grandchildren have joined him in music making. Authentic violins and banjos adorned the fence surrounding his yard, exhibiting his accomplishments and passions. 4. Roberta Fulbright was considered “the best known woman in Northwest Arkansas.” She was a journalist, businesswoman and political force. Raised in southern Missouri, she attended the University of Missouri at a time when it was unusual for women to pursue a college education. In 1906 Mrs. Fulbright and her husband moved to Fayetteville. Mr. Fulbright established several successful businesses including the local newspaper. During this time Mrs. Fulbright raised her family of four girls and two boys. When her husband died suddenly, she stepped in to successfully manage the family businesses. She had a special fondness for the family-owned newspaper, The Fayetteville Daily Democrat (known as The Northwest Arkansas Times), where she published her regular column called “As I See It.” The column expressed her independent political views, gaining her prominence both locally and statewide. Her legacy continued with her son, J.W. Fulbright, who became President of the University of Arkansas in 1939 at the age of 34. Eventually he served as a United States Senator, becoming a powerful voice in the country and the world. 5. The Black Diamond Serenaders were a group of musicians who lived in the valley behind the Washington County Courthouse. They played ragtime music locally in the late 1920’s and early 1930’s. The band was mentioned in writings by the Fayetteville saxophone player Bill Luther stating the group would rove around town entertaining people by playing music, sometimes stopping to perform at his house. During the thirties, Bill Luther taught music at the University of Arkansas while playing his saxophone at local hotels and clubs. 6. The Walker/Knerr/Williams home is on the National Register of Historic Places. Circuit Judge David Walker, who served as Chairman of the Secession Convention, had this house built in 1872 for his daughter and son-in-law, who later served as a United States Senator. The Knerrs moved to Fayetteville in 1910 after reading Mr. Lighton’s publication about the beauty of the town. The Knerrs and their eldest daughter, Nina, lived there for 50 years before their granddaughter Betty and her husband Franklin Williams purchased the home in 1960. Greatgrandson Kit Williams grew up in the house. Their children, Aaron and Ashley, are the fifth generation of the Knerr/Williams family to call this house their home. Kit and his grandparents, great aunts, parents and brother Jeff were all married in the bay window of the home’s library. The “Curse of the Bay Window” is that all the family marriages conducted in the bay window endured forever while other family marriages held elsewhere floundered and failed. The house has four chimneys and eight fireplaces, but no central heat or air conditioning. The house is surrounded by thirty acres of family-owned woods known as “Ghost Hollow.” 7. In 1949, Walker Park was the second park added to the city park system. Fifty years later, a group of skateboarders approached the City to request a safe and fun place to skateboard. A location for the new concrete skate park was selected in April of 2000 and, since its completion in 2003, has remained a popular place for skaters. 8. The Fayetteville Confederate Cemetery is located on East Mountain Street. The Southern Memorial Association of Washington County established the cemetery in 1872. The Association paid to have the remains of the Confederate casualties at Pea Ridge and Prairie Grove Battlefields removed and buried in the cemetery. The cemetery was often the scene of social gatherings. Many people recall playing there as children, when the caretaker would make piles of leaves for them to jump and play in. Some of the graves depicted here come from an area south of the Fayetteville National Cemetery, established in 1867, located on Government Street. These graves were found outside the fence south of the main cemetery. They were rumored to be slave graves, although documentation has not been found to back up the story. The grave markers were extremely simple, sometimes only a single upright stone. 9. Archibald Yell was the Governor of the State of Arkansas from 1840 until 1844. He was also a member of the United States House of Representatives and a General in the US Army during the Mexican War. He was born in North Carolina and grew up in Tennessee where he became a lawyer. Mr. Yell was a member of the Tennessee House of Representatives and received several appointments during the Andrew Jackson administration. He served in the Army with Jackson in 1812 and under him in 1813 and 1814. In 1835 he was appointed the Arkansas Territorial Judge. He was a personal friend of President James K. Polk. As Governor he focused on internal improvements and better control of banks as well as public education. Yell also formed the first Masonic Lodge in Arkansas at Fayetteville. Archibald Yell Boulevard was named in his honor by the City of Fayetteville. 10. Located on the corner of 6th Street and South College Avenue, the school depicted here was once called the “new” Jefferson Elementary School. Built in 1935, it held classrooms for pre-kindergarten through 6th grade.

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