Fall In Cleveland and Bradley County

Fall evidently comes to south Arkansas just two days before winter.  The temps down here are still in the 90's and upper 80's in the daytime and 60's in the evenings.  But, fall is normally for the time for state fairs and museum openings, etc.  This past week Jane and I visited the Bradley County Museum to see what we could find.

The museum is in the old Dr. John Wilson Martin house, 200 Ash Street Warren AR.   Dr. Martin was one of the first doctors in the area and was involved with the establishment of Warren as a community for logging and some farming.  The house is beautiful old home and very well refinished on the outside.   The design was representative of the more affluent class of life in its time.  Two story with porches on the first and second floors, a "T" type design with the cooking area in the back of the home with room designed for food storage adjacent to the cooking (and most often eating) areas.   The floors and ceilings were all hardwood construction and they are still in fairly good condition.  All materials are from local production of beautiful hardwoods and pine woods.  We wish there were more facts and information about the place and its history but the visit was very interesting and enjoyable.

One of the more interesting pieces in the museum was a device that ladies apparently had to use to get their hair "fixed" in the olden days.  

 This device was about six feet tall and looked like the execution device in a federal prison.  The main power came into a "tree" of off shooting lines with huge "paper clip" ends that were clamped onto the ladies curls.  Electricity or current traveled through the lines and heated the clamps.  Keep in mind the lady sat down under the center of this thing and had all of about 240 volts of power running to her hair (and within inches of her brain).

The closeup will give you a better of an idea about the beauty parlor of the early years.

I know the person that invented this machine was proud but,,,, I think it could have been more adaptable to the armies of eastern european disciplines.

The staff was very helpful and allowed us to freely walk and enjoy the museum.  There were various pictures and artifacts to enjoy and we wish there would have been more information about those items for us to enjoy and share.

Another reason to come and visit us, we'll take you to this museum and several others one in the area.

Great history in the area.

Come see us