Mary Anne Parker - Parker Homestead: A History and Guide

Published by The History Press

Charleston, SC 29403

www.historypress.net

Copyright 2013 by Mary Anne Parker

All rights reserved

First published 2013

e-book edition 2013

ISBN 978.1.62584.757.7

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Parker, Mary Anne.

Parker Homestead : a history and guide / Mary Anne Parker.

pages cm

Summary: Explore the remarkable history of Arkansass Parker Homestead--Provided by publisher.

Includes index.

print edition ISBN 978-1-62619-273-7 (paperback)

1. Parker Homestead (Harrisburg, Ark.)--History. 2. Parker Homestead (Harrisburg, Ark.)--Guidebooks. 3. Frontier and pioneer life--Arkansas--Harrisburg. 4. Farm life--Arkansas--Harrisburg. 5. Parker family. 6. Harrisburg (Ark.)--Biography. 7. Harrisburg (Ark.)--Social life and customs. 8. Harrisburg (Ark.)--Buildings, structures, etc. I. Title.

F419.H375P27 2013

976.796--dc23

2013037058

Notice: The information in this book is true and complete to the best of our knowledge. It is offered without guarantee on the part of the author or The History Press. The author and The History Press disclaim all liability in connection with the use of this book.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form whatsoever without prior written permission from the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

CONTENTS

FOREWORD

In helping Mary Anne with this history of the Homestead, I began to realize anew just how much of our lives have been spent out back. Over the years, I have always said this must be Gods purpose for us in lifeit came together too easily. We never sat down and said, Lets build a Homestead! It just happened. Even though the work was hard, especially when we were putting up log buildings, everything seemed to fall into place almost in spite of us. If we needed something, it appeared (even if we didnt know it was needed).

Many of the artifacts have journeyed a long way only to find their way back home to Whitehall. For every building we built, there were enough items to completely furnish it by the time we were finished with construction, thanks to people donating items or telling us where to find them. If we didnt know how to do something, someone would come along who did. We inadvertently became the curators of the collective memories of everyone involved in some way, both large and small. I cant tell you how many visitors begin their conversations with, I remember when

We were young and tireless and nobody told us it couldnt be done. Oh, there were a few naysayers in the beginning. When we first talked about starting a festival, a good friend told us, Nobodys going to come all the way out here to Whitehall; I just dont think they will. Well as the saying goes, we built it, and they did come. Its turned into something bigger than we are, a place for everybodyyoung and oldto enjoy. More than one person has told us they feel a sense of peace when they step onto the grounds, shedding their everyday worries and hassles.

We share an intangible ownership of the Homestead with all the remarkable people we have met on our journey. In fact, so many people that Im sure we have not mentioned them all in this book. And for any oversight, I can assure you its unintentional. We began this adventure almost thirty years ago, and many things, especially from the beginning, have become fuzzy. Mary Anne would ask us a specific question about something early on, and Phil and I would both look at her with a blank stare and shrug or shake our heads. But the big picture remains the same: we could not have done this without the help and support of numerous family members and friends. Our extended Homestead family continues to grow, and we look forward to many more years of Homestead Moments with all of you.

Teressa Parker

Parker Homestead

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This book has been such a joy to write. I have had the pleasure of sitting with my in-laws and furiously jotting things down as they relived all sorts of memories I might never have known about otherwise. I am very thankful that together as a family we now have a written record to share with our friends, family, visitors and the future generations who will come to love Parker Homestead as we do.

I have written this with our many, many Homestead volunteers and friends we have made over the years in mind. We are so thankful for the friends we have, the friends who have since passed away and the legacies they all have left behind. We are also thankful for the opportunity to educate thousands of students and visitors each year about Whitehall history, Arkansas history and our little place.

The Homestead has accomplished so many things it is hard for most to choose their favorite thing about it. For me it is simple: the Homestead is where I fell in love with my husband, Cy, who at twenty years old took a chance on a single woman with a young daughter and never thought twice about giving us both his name a few years later. We fell in love and married at the Homestead and now choose to raise our children here on the groundsthe place he grew up. We are fortunate to make our home surrounded by cabins Cy built with his dad and granddad, and we are proud to see our children now working at the Homestead beside their father, Grammy and Phil Daddy.

So to all of the family and friends who have supported us, sweated and worked with us, laughed and cried with us, we thank you. And to my husband, Cyboy, this book is for you.

INTRODUCTION

Once upon a time, about 150 years ago, old man Parker moved his wife and six children, their mule, wagon and all their belongings to an area off Crowleys Ridge that wasnt yet named. The area that would come to be known as Whitehall was a wild, impenetrable forest at that time, but old man Parker saw opportunity. He set about clearing land and building log cabins, and before too long, the area became known as Parker Homestead.

Just kidding.

The above story is only one of the tales of Parker Homesteads origin I have heard over the years. The story has many variations. I once overheard a bus driver at our annual field trips telling a visiting parent, I used to play out here on Parkers Plantation when I was a kid. Old man Parker was well to do, and at that time, all of these cabins were really something.

I listened in disbelief. And even though I tried to tell the bus driver that none of these cabins were here when he was a kidas a matter of fact, none were here at all until the mid-1980she would have no part of it. He had a good story, and he was sticking to it.

When Phil and Teressa Parker, owners of Parker Homestead, were in their forties and doing broom-making demonstrations for field trips, they were often asked, What ever happened to Mr. and Mrs. Parker? Are they even still alive? Another popular question they received was Did this place belong to your grandparents? The students and teachers asking them had no idea that the Mr. and Mrs. Parker they were referring tothe original founders of the Homesteadwere right in front of them. Once Phil and Teressa told them the truth, astonishment would show on their faces. They could hardly believe it.

But sometimes the truth is even stranger and more wonderful than fiction.

I am so excited to share with you all the real story of Parker Homestead. I have struggled with whether to relay it chronologically, which is the only way that makes sense to us, or cabin by cabin, which would be the only way that would make sense as a reference for you. So please excuse me if I do a little of both.