Calico Rock was a major force in
the economic development of the
region. Folks living in more rural
areas would bring livestock, timber,
cotton, and other commodities to
the landing at Calico Creek to
barter and trade. When the
steamboats began traveling up and
down the river, merchants traveled
from all around to barter, trade
and buy goods to be sold in their
shops in towns dotting the
countryside. When the railroad
was built in 1901-1902, Calico Rock
became a railroad boom town.
Explore the story of Calico Rock
from 1901-1967:
the economic development of the
region. Folks living in more rural
areas would bring livestock, timber,
cotton, and other commodities to
the landing at Calico Creek to
barter and trade. When the
steamboats began traveling up and
down the river, merchants traveled
from all around to barter, trade
and buy goods to be sold in their
shops in towns dotting the
countryside. When the railroad
was built in 1901-1902, Calico Rock
became a railroad boom town.
Explore the story of Calico Rock
from 1901-1967:
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| Our Museum Exhibits in this theme include: Building the Railroad The Depot Boom Town Jot Em Down Store Medicine Pearling & Shelling Click the links to learn more. |
| Economic Boom Town |
| Online |
| Gallery |
The Calico Rocket was the first newspaper
in town. It began in 1902 and became the
Calico Rock Progress in 1903. It continued
operation until the 1970s. Our collection
includes the only known surviving edition of
the Rocket. It is on loan by Dean and
Peggy Hudson.
in town. It began in 1902 and became the
Calico Rock Progress in 1903. It continued
operation until the 1970s. Our collection
includes the only known surviving edition of
the Rocket. It is on loan by Dean and
Peggy Hudson.
In about 1903, a train depot was built at Calico Rock. The depot was a hub of activity. It was
a place to buy and receive freight, board and receive passengers, find out all the latest
gossip, receive telegraphs, and get the latest cotton prices. Our depot replica is the newest
of our exhibits. It includes the original station agent hat, Izard County's first telegraph
machine, and the original "No Smoking" sign (seen in the center of the photo). The items in
this exhibit were donated to the museum in memory of Jesse and Marian Crosser by their
daughter, Susan Crosser Stumbaugh.
a place to buy and receive freight, board and receive passengers, find out all the latest
gossip, receive telegraphs, and get the latest cotton prices. Our depot replica is the newest
of our exhibits. It includes the original station agent hat, Izard County's first telegraph
machine, and the original "No Smoking" sign (seen in the center of the photo). The items in
this exhibit were donated to the museum in memory of Jesse and Marian Crosser by their
daughter, Susan Crosser Stumbaugh.
Calico Rock had it's own telephone
exchange operated by Miss Gussie
Marchant. To make a local call, you
could pick up the receiver and ask
Gussie to connect you OR you could
turn the crank to ring them up.
Everyone in town used the same
phone lines, so when the phone rang it
rang everywhere. Of course, folks
tried to listen in to everybody's phone
calls. This hand crank phone is on
loan to the museum by Gene Lockie.
exchange operated by Miss Gussie
Marchant. To make a local call, you
could pick up the receiver and ask
Gussie to connect you OR you could
turn the crank to ring them up.
Everyone in town used the same
phone lines, so when the phone rang it
rang everywhere. Of course, folks
tried to listen in to everybody's phone
calls. This hand crank phone is on
loan to the museum by Gene Lockie.
Our museum exhibits include a replica of a "Jot Em Down Store," which
got their name because the owners would jot down what a customer owed
until they sold their crops. Farmers usually paid their bills once a year.
The exhibit includes a portion of the original counter, scales and ledgers
from the Garner General Store, c 1905. All of the merchandise on display
is original.
got their name because the owners would jot down what a customer owed
until they sold their crops. Farmers usually paid their bills once a year.
The exhibit includes a portion of the original counter, scales and ledgers
from the Garner General Store, c 1905. All of the merchandise on display
is original.
These are the original ledgers given to the museum by
the Garner family. They date from 1890 to 1960. Our
collection also includes ledgers from the Iuka Store given
by the Killian family. The Calico Rock Hardware Store
ledger, c 1924-1926, is on loan to the museum by Paul
Rush in memory of his grandparents Austin and Myrtle
Harris who ran Harris Grocery for many years.
the Garner family. They date from 1890 to 1960. Our
collection also includes ledgers from the Iuka Store given
by the Killian family. The Calico Rock Hardware Store
ledger, c 1924-1926, is on loan to the museum by Paul
Rush in memory of his grandparents Austin and Myrtle
Harris who ran Harris Grocery for many years.
The Calico Rock Ice & Electric Plant
supplied ice and electric power to the
town for many years. Aubrey Watts
ran the plant for Mr. Wright and
Donnie Moser delivered the ice.
These ice tongs were used to handle
the ice on deliveries. They were given
to the museum by Jim and Ariel
Landrus.
supplied ice and electric power to the
town for many years. Aubrey Watts
ran the plant for Mr. Wright and
Donnie Moser delivered the ice.
These ice tongs were used to handle
the ice on deliveries. They were given
to the museum by Jim and Ariel
Landrus.
Pearling became popular along the White River by 1913. At first, the mussel
shells were discarded as worthless. Soon, the market for mussel shells made
them the prize and the pearls just icing on the cake. The shells were used to
make buttons. The rake (right) was used to drag along the bottom of the river
and collect the mussels. Our collection includes a handmade gig used to collect
mussels and for fishing. It is on loan by Junior Watts.
Our collection includes a mussel shell that has been stamped, buttons, and
original White River pearls that were found at Calico Rock by Henry Churchill in
about 1905.
shells were discarded as worthless. Soon, the market for mussel shells made
them the prize and the pearls just icing on the cake. The shells were used to
make buttons. The rake (right) was used to drag along the bottom of the river
and collect the mussels. Our collection includes a handmade gig used to collect
mussels and for fishing. It is on loan by Junior Watts.
Our collection includes a mussel shell that has been stamped, buttons, and
original White River pearls that were found at Calico Rock by Henry Churchill in
about 1905.