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| Town's flower shops blossomed for years |
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| Question: Can you list several of the flower shops that existed in Harrison in the early years? |
| Answer: Two of the earliest florists that I know about are Minnie Harris and Mrs. Jack Halter.
Minnie, well known and for whom the local Minnie Harris Park is named, was the first florist in
Harrison and one of the first in Northwest Arkansas for the years prior to 1939. Mrs. Halter,
whose husband was associated with the local railroad, was also listed in early phone books as
having a flower shop.
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| Lena Frank Barron and Frances "Frankie" Cotton opened Lena Frances Flower Shop in
1939. With Lena Frank also working at Walters, Frankie decided that it was just too much
responsibility managing the flower shop, so they sold their business to newlyweds, Ralph and
Eva Lee Cralle. Lena Frances Shop served a 100 mile radius and, at one time, operated three
flower vans, serviced funerals and weddings, and sold a huge line the finest china and crystal.
The flood of 1961 wiped out the flower shop and had it not been for the Cralles' determination
and hard work, this shop would not be in existence today. The story of what this family endured
during the flood is told in Eva Lee's book, A Part of All She Touched.
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| In 1978, the Cralle's shop faced another disaster - the gas explosion of the Boone County
Telephone Company. For 42 years, even if they may have thought for one short minute that
God was testing them, Ralph and Eva Lee continued to live up to the reputation of providing
beautiful flowers and gifts. After selling the business to Richard and Linda White in 1981,
retirement for Ralph only lasted one year before his death in 1982. Still active and in relatively
good health, Eva Lee now lives in Lewisville, Texas, near their daughter, Karen, and two
grandchildren, Kara and Stormy.
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| Sam Cecil started the Daisy Flower Shop for his daughters in 1946 and named it in honor
of his wife, Daisy Brasel Cecil. First located in the Cecil Motor Company building on East Rush,
the successful shop moved first to the north side of the square, then to the east side between
Dean's Store for Men and Treece Jewelry. Cecil's daughters, Sammie, Lulu Marie and Mary Sue
ran an immaculate, beautiful shop until 1972, when they sold to Eddie and Phyliss Young.
Now owned by Lana Trublood, the Daisy Shop is known for exotic and unique flower
arrangements.
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| Remember Guinn's Gardens on Highway 65 South? This writer worked for Erma Guinn
for several years and if ever a woman needed recognition for hard work, Erma deserves medals!
For many years, she had flower gardens that were outstanding. Her roses were something that
any grower would envy. As a young girl I remember sitting on her back steps, with instructions
to answer her phone, while she worked in flower beds. Often an old refrigerator would be filled
with roses and sold to customers who phoned their orders for her garden flowers. Later, she and
and Roy small shop and ventured into the florist business with gusto. In a short time, they
expanded by building an additional room, walk-in refrigerators and greenhouses. Erma was
generous (almost to a fault) and an extremely gifted lady, who shared her love of flowers with
everyone. Two sisters, Audrice Stonecipher and Gwendola Tennyson filled the flower business
left vacant by Erma's retirement. Sister's Shop still operates today under the ownership of
Gwendola's daughter.
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| Today, Harrison boasts several flower shops, all attractive and staffed by owners and
employees eager to please customers. Businesses from Harrison's past, have stories to be told.
I hope this column today brings back some memories of those flower shops that you may have
patronized in times past.
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| The Heritage Museum, located on the corner of South Cherry Street and Central Avenue,
strives to preserve the history of this county. We welcome your stories, pictures and family
histories. Open from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, the admission charge is only $2 for adults, with children under 12 admitted free. Our website is www.bchrs.org - please check
it out and see what we are all about. Remember today's happenings will be tomorrow's history!
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| This column appears Fridays in the Harrison Daily Times. Mail questions to Boone County Heritage Museum, P. O. Box 1094, Harrison, AR 72601. Marilyn Smith can be contacted at bchm@windstream.net |
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