Fort Smith History: May 29 – June 4
May 29, 1921: Andrews Field is dedicated. The four city blocks between Fifth and Seventh streets and South B and D streets had been ceded to the city along with other property in an 1884 congressional act.
May 30, 1892: Wilbur T. Cates, Elam H. Stevenson and Henry H. Hoover form the Fort Smith Chair Company.
May 30, 1977: A formal dedication and grand opening of the historic Clayton House is held after a seven-year restoration; dignitaries in attendance include U.S. Sen. Dale Bumpers, Gov. David Pryor, Arkansas Parks and Tourism Director Bill Henderson and Mayor Jack Freeze.
May 31, 1909: The Fort Smith baseball team hosts Texarkana, winning 4-3 in a “pitchers’ ballet between Jones and Ray.”
May 31, 1914: Earl Comer is presented with a watch at the Fort Smith First United Methodist Church, for “the best work” in increasing Sunday school attendance. His record is 35 members who all attended four consecutive Sundays.
June 1, 1899: Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, “the handsome new edifice at the head of Garrison Avenue,” is dedicated.
June 1, 1905: First Christian Church dedicates its new building with three services.
June 1, 1916: Rotary International admits the Fort Smith Rotary Club. The club had 16 charter members, and Charles Ruhl served as its first president.
June 1, 1928: Christ the King Church at Greenwood Road and South S Street is dedicated.
June 1, 1936: Christian Henry Wortz, president of Wortz Biscuit company, dies at age 70.
June 1, 1996: Monsignor William E. Galvin, pastor at Immaculate Conception Church since 1966, dies at age 83.
June 2, 1966: The last commencement ceremony for Lincoln High School is held, with 44 graduates.
June 3, 1910: Fort Smith High School graduates 39 students. Miss Zanie Edwards is valedictorian of the class and Miss Elizabeth Riggs is salutatorian.
June 3, 1911: The 17th annual commencement for Lincoln High School is held at the Grand Opera House, where U.S. District Judge F.A. Youmans awards diplomas.
June 3, 1914: A new mining company, Edwards & Edwards Coal Company, files papers with the county clerk. N.T. Edwards is president; Jesse Edwards is vice president; Helena Edwards is secretary; and Katie Estelle Edwards is treasurer.
June 3, 1929: The Fort Smith Twins win a doubleheader against the Independence Producers, 1-0 and 2-1.
June 3, 2021: The U.S. Air Force announces it has selected Ebbing Air National Guard Base to host the Republic of Singapore air force’s F-16 and F-35 foreight military sales training mission. Ebbing is home of the Arkansas Air National Guard’s 188th Wing.
June 4, 1908: Nearly 1,000 commercial travelers from all over Arkansas gather in the city for the opening of the annual convention of the Arkansaw Travelers. “The streets of the city have been lavishly decorated in honor of the visitors,” newspapers report.
June 4, 1944: Fort Smith attorney G.C. Hardin is the keynote speaker for the graduating class at Hendrix College in Conway.
This article originally appeared on Fort Smith Times Record: Fort Smith History: May 29 – June 4
