19 Jun 2017 ‘Mercy, mercy me …’

by Vivian Lawson Hogue

Everyone is a veteran of something, and the word can have different meanings. It can be a person who has had dedication to or experience in an occupation, office, service or simply living out their life. I am a veteran of watching the times change in my town. 

From our city’s 1943 population of around 7,000 to whatever today’s current, convenient tally is, we long-timers have seen not-so-gradual structural changes. Landmark houses, trees, churches and businesses are gone.  Although I am now very pleased to see people buying small or large homes in Old Conway and restoring them beautifully, I miss those other homes that have been razed and replaced with rentals of inappropriate style and inconsideration for historic neighborhoods. Accompanying these changes has been the loss of close-knit neighborhoods. 

From the perspective of one who knew behavioral expectations from my family, church, school and community, it is also easy to see the city’s cultural changes. With a minimum of crime in our town and the need for only five to seven policemen, living was relatively peaceful in my youth. Now, in our city, state and nation, we have seen the increased loss of beneficial personal and family traits such as self-control, self-respect, appropriate language, modest clothing choices, patriotism, respect for human life (especially for children and family members), family life and effective paternal presence in the home. 

Some think long-timers look at the past through rose-colored glasses, but we know what we know, and our memories are mostly in agreement. The following describes only bits of what we remember.

Until 1960, there was a close relationship between Conway’s railroad and our citizens. The steam engines tickled our senses, from the whistles and massive engines that could be heard miles away, to the puffing smokestack steam as they slowed near our now-long-gone depot. The scent of grease from the wheels wafted sweetly to those who imagined where they had traveled. Each engineer, using a pull cord or lever, had his own style of whistle that ranged from “soft” while passing through our quiet town at night to “rowdy” during the day when signaling arrivals. The later, sleekly contoured diesels were foreign to us and not as congenial.

Our Conway businesses of the past enjoyed the depot activity as people came to meet or simply watch the trains, then perhaps step into a store to shop or visit before going home. Home to some may have only been a block or two away, as there were many single-family homes edging the downtown streets.

It was a social event visiting the business district during this era as we recognized faces, even if we didn’t know names. Men were nattily dressed in suits and hats, or overalls and brogans. Women wore hats and gloves or house dresses. No shorts were worn except by the younger set. We children could safely wait alone in our car on the hottest days as all we had to do was roll down the window for a breeze. We people-watched to pass time, not realizing that we were often watching those who came from early families, with some being native first-generation residents of our town.

Our early phone books are intriguing, some of the quaint businesses spanning two or more generations and selling products unfamiliar to most current city and county residents. The 1926 phone book salutes Conway for its “Leadership in Education and Religion.” 

Its business pages list well over 230 businesses on Front and Oak streets and Railroad Avenue (now Parkway) as well as home businesses. Downtown included three lumber companies, six barber shops, seven major grocery stores, four meat markets, many neighborhood groceries, nine major cafes, two theaters, nine clothing stores, a newsstand, a bookstore, two jewelry stores and several furniture, hardware, feed and shoe stores. Other businesses and professions were J. C. Penney, Kroger, Piggly-Wiggly, six auto dealers and many service stations. We still owe much to Jack T. Barnes for his camera images of the evolving commercial district. 

By the 1950s, my early observations were noting second and third generations continuing family businesses. Colonel Asa Peter Robinson would have rejoiced.  He had arrived here in 1871 with railroad and business experience and a hand-drawn concept for a planned community. His vision came to pass with a few changes. So when you hear a train’s whistle blow through downtown today, tip your hat or wave your handkerchief. You’re home.

A native of Conway, Vivian Lawson Hogue graduated from the University of Central Arkansas with a degree in art education. A retired teacher, she worked in the Conway School District for 23 years. She is editor of the Faulkner County Historical Society’s semi-annual publication, “Faulkner Facts and Fiddlings.” She can be reached at [email protected].