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This Day in Arkansas History

February 22, 1901

Willa Saunders Jones was born in Little Rock (Pulaski County). Jones grew up in Little Rock during the first decades of the twentieth century before moving to Chicago, Illinois, where she became a prominent religious and cultural leader. Her crowning achievement was a passion play (a dramatization of Christ’s life, death, and resurrection), which she wrote in the 1920s and produced for more than five decades in churches and eventually prestigious civic theaters.

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Marlsgate

The two-and-half-story house known as Marlsgate, located near Scott in Lonoke County, served as the primary residence of three generations of the Dortch family. Designed by Arkansas architect Charles L. Thompson, the house, which faces Bearskin Lake, was completed in 1904. The house was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. It was sold by the Dortch family early in the twenty-first century and today is available to the public as a rental property available for gatherings.

 

The two-and-half-story house known as Marlsgate, located near Scott in Lonoke County, served as the primary residence of three generations of the Dortch family. Designed by Arkansas architect Charles L. Thompson, the house, which faces Bearskin Lake, was completed in 1904. The house was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. It was sold by the Dortch family early in the twenty-first century and today is available to the public as a rental property available for gatherings.

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busy city intersection with cars and people, view of state capitol in background Little Rock Pulaski White man in suit and tie on blue and white campaign flyer Mike Huckabee Governors, Religious Figures white woman in red coat in front of Arkansas state flag Janet McCain Huckabee Group of African-American men standing and sitting before brick wall Elaine Massacre of 1919 Early Twentieth Century Portrait white man in suit military medal long wavy hair thick beard smoking large pipe Albert Pike Individuals, Lawyers, Poetry, State Figures Tall obelisk with statue of soldier and plaque with trees in the background World War I Post Civil War Faces of three white men superimposed upon forest with red and white text on book cover West Memphis Three Criminal Activities Front page of Arkansas Times with various images, the largest of which is a white man with glasses and text "Whitewater" Whitewater Scandal African-American women in formal dresses with a child sitting in chairs while men in suits stand behind them African Americans Ethnic Groups, Topical Multistory red brick church building with steeple Seventh-Day Adventists Faiths and Denominations White man with stubbled beard sitting in backwards cap and jacket with his hands clasped under his chin Billy Bob Thornton Actors and Filmmakers The Clinton Chronicles "Negroes leave town of Bonanza" newspaper clipping Sundown Towns "Great seal of the state of Arkansas" with eagle holding shield and "Regnat Popluas" ribbon in beak with angel mercy on one side and sword of justice on other Arkansas Overview Older African-American man smiling in suit and bow tie Joseph Walter Jackson Business Leaders Canopy in park with benches under it and paved walking paths Westside School Shooting Criminal Activities
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document "Arkansas Called The Wonder State Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 2 1923" Official State Nicknames Official State Symbols "Great seal of the state of Arkansas" with eagle holding shield and "Regnat Popluas" ribbon in beak with angel mercy on one side and sword of justice on other Official State Seal Official State Symbols Loblolly Pine tree with pines deciduous trees in background pine trunk foreground clear sky daytime Official State Tree Official State Symbols Men in hats covered in oil with a spewing oil derrick Oil Industry Industries, Mining Oil Town Festival Festivals and Events Narrow stone building with water wheel and foot bridges with wooden railings and waterfall in the foreground Old Mill Attractions (Historic and Current), Sculpture Soldiers lined up before classical structure "State House Little Rock Ark." with horses and packs in foreground Old State House Museums and Historic Sites, State Organizations and Structures Portrait white woman profile with fur over shoulder Pearl Oldfield Legislative Branch -- Representatives, Women Map showing extent of Native American land claims in Arkansas Osage Ethnic Groups Book cover featuring vintage car and trees The Sweet Gum Tree Fiction Wooden electric chair with leather straps on display Capital Punishment Law Enforcement Headlines "On the gallows. Three wretched murderers from the Indian Territory hanged yesterday at Fort Smith. Their conduct on the scaffold and a full history of the crimes that sent them there) Fort Smith Triple Hanging of April 27, 1888 Law Enforcement "Two more Negroes are killed at Elaine Helena under guard" newspaper clipping Lewis Harrison Johnston Early Twentieth Century, Practitioners White drivers in uniform pose with their delivery trucks outside Yarnell's Angel-Food building Business, Commerce, and Industry Topical African-American women in formal dresses with a child sitting in chairs while men in suits stand behind them African Americans Ethnic Groups, Topical About thirty black men and four black women posing along sidewalk in three rows men in front row seated holding hats in laps all in front of brick building Arkansas Negro Business Men’s League Business Organizations

About the Encyclopedia

The CALS Encyclopedia of Arkansas is a free, authoritative source of information about the rich history, geography, and culture of Arkansas. It is updated regularly to ensure the people of Arkansas have an accurate and accessible resource to explore our heritage. We invite you to browse our text entries and media galleries to learn more about the people, places, events, legends, and lore of the 25th state. We are continually adding new entries, photographs, maps, videos, and audio files, so check back frequently to see what’s new.

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