03 Aug 2025 Historical community celebrates 60 years of Arkansas roots and progress

Posted at 2:28 PMh in Features by

By Lori Dunn

Menifee is a small town that just might have something for everyone.

The town of about 300 people is located right off Interstate 40 in Conway County, so it’s just a quick trip to the city. But it’s also a close-knit community where everyone knows everyone else. “I think that’s what we like about it. It’s a quick commute to Conway and Little Rock, but it’s a slower pace and you know your neighbors,” said Menifee resident Natalie Johnson.

1. The Menifee Gymnasium was constructed in 1938 by the WPA and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2002. In 1997, efforts began to restore the building into a multi-use facility for Menifee, but funding is needed to complete repairs. 2. In 1939, the Menifee Travelerettes won a state championship. 3. A mural dated 2013 captures the history of Menifee.

Johnson and others in Menifee are now hoping other Arkansas residents will discover their hidden gem. This month, the town is hosting a weekend of events to shine a spotlight on Menifee and its history. At 6 p.m. on Aug. 29, a banquet will be held in the multipurpose room at Menifee City Hall at 68 N. Mustang. The event is open to the public and the dress code is cocktail attire. Tickets are $40 per person or $50 at the door, and $75 per couple. There will be live music from the R&B band SYNRG. The speaker will be Dr. Alice Hines, a highly respected Menifee native who retired as a professor at Hendrix College.

On Saturday, Aug. 30, a casual event including food trucks, games and concessions is planned at Menifee City Park. 

Johnson is chair of the celebration committee. She grew up in Camden (Ouachita County) in the southern part of the state. But her mother’s family is from Menifee and, after attending the University of Central Arkansas in Conway, Johnson decided to make her home in Menifee. “I am proud to be a resident here,” she said.

Menifee has a long history as a community but has only been incorporated as a town since 1965. “Sixty years strong is our theme,” Johnson said. We want to celebrate that we are still thriving and doing things and turning 60.”

Menifee’s roots began at Jamison Station, a half-mile west of what natives call “Old Menifee.” At one time, Menifee had a train station and the first post office in the state with a Black postmaster.

For many years, Menifee was home to the only Black school in the area. In 1919, a group of parents from the region consolidated nine Black schools from communities in the county. Students were bused to the school in Menifee and, over the years, the school produced alumni who include several judges and doctors, Johnson said. In 1979, Morrilton, Plumerville and Menifee school districts merged to form the South Conway County School District.

Menifee has been a resilient community despite some hardships. In 1960, a tornado caused significant damage to the area. It destroyed five of seven buildings on the school campus in May 1960. Only the gym and the high school remained, and several people were killed. Because of the destruction, more homes and businesses were built back along Highway 64. The gradual move toward the highway also helped reduce flooding as the old highway had been prone to seasonal flooding. “Menifee is a resilient town, and we want to celebrate that,” Johnson said.

“I want people to know that we have a rich history, and that we do care about what goes on here,” Mayor Terry Coleman said. He is in his second year as mayor after serving on the city council for two decades. He wants to remind people that Menifee’s history deserves to be celebrated with annual events that bring citizens together to rebuild a sense of community.

“I invite people from the region to attend our banquet,” Coleman said. “We will celebrate our history and the people who make Menifee a great place to live.”