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This Day in Arkansas History

October 17, 1933

An unknown assailant tried unsuccessfully to assassinate Baptist minister Dale Crowley by thrusting a machine gun through the bars of the cell at the Craighead County Jail where Crowley was being held and firing it. Crowley was being held for the murder of J. W. McMurdo. Seven days previous, Crowley, leader of the Jonesboro Baptist Church, shot and killed McMurdo, who had been hired as a watchman by a competing faction within the church community. Crowley had shown up at the church to claim possession of the tabernacle following a court ruling in his favor. This incident was part of a series of violent conflicts between various factions in the Baptist community of Jonesboro (Craighead County) now known as the Jonesboro Church Wars.

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Evening Shade (Sharp County)

Evening Shade, located on U.S. Highway 167 in northern Arkansas, served as the seat of Sharp County for approximately ninety-five years. The once thriving community saw a slow decline in importance after the seat of government was removed in 1963. Today, it is best known as the setting for the 1990s sitcom Evening Shade. Many of the exterior shots for the show were filmed in the town.

 

Evening Shade, located on U.S. Highway 167 in northern Arkansas, served as the seat of Sharp County for approximately ninety-five years. The once thriving community saw a slow decline in importance after the seat of government was removed in 1963. Today, it is best known as the setting for the 1990s sitcom Evening Shade. Many of the exterior shots for the show were filmed in the town.

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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, quizzes, lesson plans, and more, so check back frequently to see what’s new.

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