When was the last time you jumped in the car and took off?
Destination: Wherever you end up.
The Reckoning's Wednesday trip started just that way. The mission: drive south and explore.
Highway 65 will take you across portions of the Delta where a glance out the window will create a snapshot memory of Arkansas' farm country where crop dusters fly so low they seemingly almost brush the roof of the car.
Green fields of corn, soybeans and even cotton sway in the breeze without a worry in the world. If plants could worry these sure wouldn't since they are in the hands of Arkansas' finest – the farmers.
As you leave Pine Bluff you will pass through community after community – Tamo to Gould then on to Dumas where we landed for the day.
Along the way on our travels we happened upon a familiar sign.
Newswangers, a notable stop along the way that we couldn't pass up. Spices, fresh produce, jams and jelly, peanuts, essential oils, homemade fudge, Amish products and novelty items fill the store. We even saw Bigfoot canned and ready for your cupboard!
Relax for a minute in Newsangers' outdoor garden area with bright blooming flowers, fruit trees and thriving plants ready for your beds.
A bridge beside a koi pond with lily pads offers a brief respite from the hectic world.
Newswangers is a must-stop destination for anyone traveling Highway 65.
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Next stop: Dumas
Dumas, a Delta town in southeast Arkansas, possesses rich history and lore but like a lot of rural farming areas also face a major loss in population.
In 2023, the town's population was 3,662. For reference, the population was nearly 6,000 in 1990.
On Wednesday the town on the highway was anything but dead. It was surprisingly hopping.
The Piggly Wiggly and The Mad Butcher grocery stores sit within eyesight of each other. Big Banjo Pizza is a popular gathering spot for lunch as its next door neighbor, El Toro.
Busy gas stations and parts stores line the sides of Highway 65 with options to turn at red lights. Our first turn led us to the heart of downtown.
At first glance, the rows of brick and wooden buildings separated by railroad tracks seemed lost to time.
Then on the corner of Main and Waterman Streets we found a South Arkansas treasure.
As we entered the corner store, we were greeted with a friendly "hello" from the back of Flowers And Gifts By William. We made our way deeper inside, charmed by everything we saw.
Filled with home decor and garden items, crystal vases, scented candles, wedding and graduation gifts, the store overflowed with Southern style.
A petite woman appeared and began chatting with us immediately.
Her name, we learned, was Ann. She and her husband, William Gamble, have owned their shop in downtown Dumas for 50 years. As she told us about the past and present of Dumas, she paused.
"Do you have a problem with funerals?" Ann asked suddenly.
No one has ever asked us that. We said "no".
"Good," Ann said.
She then escorted us into a large side room filled with at least 100 silk casket sprays and funeral flowers arranged in rows by colors. Purples. Pinks. Red, white and blues. Solid whites. Oranges for autumn deaths. Brighter colors with yellows for spring. A special one for a cotton farmer. Another one with deer antlers.
Flowers & Gifts By William is literally prepared for any kind of Southern funeral, and if you are a true Southerner, you know funerals are a big deal – a celebration of the lives of our loved ones.
The funeral room also doubles as a Christmas room with lavishly decorated trees that touch the building's antique tin ceiling.
When the holiday season comes, Christmas takes over the room, Ann told us. Even in May, the Christmas spirit hits you.
We happened upon this store by sheer accident. But you can find it, too. Just look for the concrete statues, benches and bird baths outside, marking the destination of the independently-owned gem tucked away from those who zip on Highway 65.
Desha County Museum
A short clip across town landed us at another must-see in Dumas – the Desha County Museum.
Pulling into the parking lot, we were immediately drawn to the memorial for Desha County soldiers who served our great nation.
Walking into the museum we were greeted by Peggy Chapman, the museum's director, who has dedicated 17 years preserving the area's history.
The museum's classroom exhibit immediately captured our attention with its wooden school desks, old world maps, a well-used paddle and even a wood burning stove.
Around the corner, the Dumas Clarion's newspaper exhibit represents a lost art of days when local newspapers were printed by hand on a press and served as the lifeline for community information throughout America.
You don't want to miss the many well-deserved awards that line the walls of this exhibit showing the value and commitment of news and information on behalf of the Dumas Clarion newspaper by the late Charlotte Tillar Schexnayder, who, along with her husband, published the Clarion for 44 years.
Schexnayder served as the moving force in the 1970s to create the Desha County Museum as a repository for the area's history.
Military uniforms fill glass cases as a reminder of the sacrifices made by rural Arkansans who served our nation. From the Civil War to recent wars in the Middle East the museum captures the commitment to freedom by local residents who chose to serve their country.
One highly dedicated uniform shows the steadfast commitment of T.J. Vernor who served in WWII, the Korean War and Vietnam. No doubt an Arkansas hero.
From antique typewriters, manual washing machines to rustic farm equipment, Desha County residents have donated items to preserve the rich history of the area.
Indian artifacts – arrowheads, tomahawks, even fragile vases and bowls – fill cases showing the skills of those who once thrived in South Arkansas.
A trip inside the dry goods store will no doubt take you back in time to a simple, yet efficient, way of life that has vanished in America.
Round cutting blocks made from cuts of giant logs are a reminder of the simple way life long ago.
The Sam Terry Log House, a dogtrot house that once sat just a few miles down the road from the museum, offers a true glimpse into the primitive way pioneers lived in Desha County.
A shotgun house – now under a remodeling phase – now resides on the grounds of the Desha County Museum along with several other buildings into a potato house.
The Desha County Museum is open Tuesday-Friday 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. On Sundays, the museum is open from 2-4 p.m. But it's wise to call before you visit to make sure the museum is not closed for a special event. The number is 870.382.4222.
We hope you enjoyed our featured perspective on Dumas. These are just a few highlights from Desha County, and we enjoyed the opportunity to visit and make new friends.
If you are looking for a day trip this summer, Dumas is a definite destination to put on your list.
We feel that preserving rural Arkansas history is important as we continue to showcase what South Arkansas has to offer. Join us! Send us a story tip at: southarkansasreckoning@proton.me
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