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| St. Joe's colorful history dates to alias Monkey Run |
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| Question: How did the town of St. Joe get its name? What were the old stone buildings that are still standing today? Was one a hotel? |
| Answer: St. Joe has a colorful history and in talking to old-timers, one will find stories that are real eye openers! Not one person I talked to seemed to know how St. Joe got its name, but several agreed that it was called "Monkey Run" at one time! One person did say that they had heard through the years that St. Joe was named after St. Joseph, Missouri. Since there was already a town in Baxter County called Monkey Run, I wonder if that could have played a part in the name change to St. Joe? |
| Dan Allen remembers his grandfather telling the story of Monkey Run. True or not, his grandfather told of workers who were surveying the area, saying they saw monkeys near the creek at Old Town, and named the area Monkey Run. Probably this story has been passed down in several families around St. Joe. Anyone with specific information how the town was named, please let the Heritage Museum know. |
| The story goes that J. C. Carnahan, a wealthy entrepreneur, bought large sections of land around St. Joe and brought in families to settle that land. He "put" those families up in the large cobblestone rock building that was once a hotel, complete with 13 rooms. A smaller cobblestone building standing close by was a café, serving meals to "drummers" who came to sell their wares to the businesses lining Main Street. Main ran up the hill from the depot, between the general store and the Henley Hotel. The frame hotel building still stands today and brings back many memories for people who visit St. Joe. |
| The Henley Hotel, with Jessie Henley as proprietor, was built in 1914. The Henleys had largely been farmers, but savvy, quick thinking Benjamin F. Henley decided to open a mercantile business in St. Joe, and operated it for over 50 years. At one time, the family also ran stores in the surrounding communities of Duff, Gilbert, and Tomahawk. In searching old records, it is noted that Benjamin F. Henley was called Searcy County's richest man. |
| A back issue of the Searcy County Ancestor Information Exchange tells the story of a gentleman from Green Forest boarding the passenger train for a trip to St. Joe in 1902. The fare was $1.63 with three stops between Harrison and St. Joe, the first being at Bellefonte, the second at Olvey and the third stop at Everton. Families in St Joe often used the passenger train for traveling to Harrison on business. An example of this mode of travel in the early thirties is told by my sister, who along with our mother and Mrs. G. A. Walters and daughter, Tootsie, taking the train to Harrison, and spending the night at the Harrison Hotel before returning to St. Joe the next day. Quite an adventure for two very young girls! |
| Mrs. Walters' husband, G. A., was the depot agent at St. Joe and she often made lunches and met the train, selling them to the passengers. G. A. would let her know when the train would arrive and how many were on board, but it was not unusual to see her running to meet the train. Those were the days when he forgot to tell her how many were on the next train, resulting in the neighbors hurriedly helping her pack lunches! |
| From 1917 to about 1921, St. Joe had a population of 2,000 to 2,500 people. There were four stores, two hotels, a blacksmith shop, bank, mills, cafes, many homes and a post office. Martha Arnold, a familiar face around St. Joe for years, served as the local postmaster. |
| When the limestone quarry closed, several families including the Arthur Brays and the J. O. Wilsons moved to California to find work. Then later the railroad closed and St. Joe, like so many small towns, almost died on the vine. Today, St. Joe continues to have a good school, excellent farms in the area, the wonderful old general store and two convenience stores. |
| If you have a story to share, the Boone County Heritage Museum welcomes your account of events. The museum is located on the corner of South Cherry Street and Central Avenue. Hours are from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. |
| Please remember to attend the rededication of Beller-Jenkins Cemetery on Saturday, April 29th, 2006 at 10:30 a.m. See what has been accomplished in the restoration of the once neglected, historic cemetery. Following at 1 p.m., the 20th Century Club will sponsor a demonstration on the preservation, repair and cleaning of tombstones given by Norton Arts of Marshall. That will be at Rose Hill Cemetery in Harrison. Parking will be available near the Chamber of Commerce Building. |
| 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@alltel.net |
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