In 1722 a French explorer named Jean- Baptiste Benaud de la Harpe arrived on the Arkansas River. He marked a certain landing site by name calling it La Petite Roche, so naming the place Little Rock. Unlike Rockport there were a lot of unnamed rocks and boulders left over.
It is the Capitol of Arkansas and the largest city. War Memorial Stadium is there. That is a place where the University of Arkansas played many of their "home" games. U of A is actually in Fayettville.
Nineteen fifty-seven was a dark year when Governor Orville Faubus called on the Arkansas National Guard to block the doors of Central High School so integration could not take place. Then President Dwight D Eisenhower called upon federal troops to break the deadlock. Today the city and state are places of great progress. Wal-Mart has it's home in Bentonville. Many other large companies call Arkansas home. Some mountain drives are as pretty as they come. There are many lakes and rivers. It is called The Natural State.
We visited relatives in Little Rock. My younger brother, Powell, and wife Chloye, have a lovely new home there. They hosted us for THREE days! My sister Velda and husband Paul, have made Little Rock home for all their married lives. Their daughter and husband and many others of my kin make Little Rock home.
The first church I ever served was in Little Rock. I was a student at Ouachita Baptist College. I came only on Sunday to direct the music and choir. It was Gaines Street Baptist Church. It is now a Black congregation. I caught an early Sunday morning train from Arkadelphia to Little Rock, then walked a mile or so to the church. Did the same to return Sunday night. I had a pass, since my Dad worked for Missouri Pacific.The church paid me $17.50 each Sunday. It was more than I was worth, and sure helped out. We had a great visit in Little Rock. Next stop will be Dallas, Texas. A big storm!
