Ray “Pop” Ramsey making red oak shake shingles at the Folk Center. As a boy, he made shingles with his father for the family Richwoods homestead house.
This Ozark Folk Center 50th Anniversary Legacy Photo is in memory of Ray “Pop” Ramsey.
With love, granddaughter Melody Miller-Standard.
Ozark Picnic Swing: Entertainment and Entrepreneurship
The picnic swing pictured here was in operation at Alco, Arkansas around 1910. It was owned by
local men, Leo Richardson and Lum Passmore. Swings were disassembled and carried to towns and events whenever people requested them all over the rural south. This early merry-go-round was hauled on horse drawn wagons with trailers attached to handle the long center pole. The "motor" of choice was a good mule.
Rides were ten cents for fifteen rounds and if you played a banjo or fiddle, you could ride for free since you provided the music for other riders!
Lucky children might get to spend a quarter on a big day at the "picnic." They could buy a glass of lemonade or maybe an ice cream cone for a nickel. Ice was hauled on wagons from nearby towns, in this particular case, ice came from Leslie, Arkansas. Ice was buried in the ground in sawdust to keep the 300 pound blocks from melting. Lemonade was made in washtubs and ice cream was hand cranked.
Photo from Mrs. Hugh Massey, daughter of Leo Richardson.
Text provided by Melody Miller-Standard.
Preservation of Ozark folk culture is important in Mountain View, Arkansas. Unique to this small town of less than 3,000 people, the economy was diversified to include music and crafts when many rural areas relied mostly on agriculture or extraction like timber. Beginning in the 1940s and continuing into the 1960s and 1970s, rural extension agents worked with citizens and politicians to develop an economic boost that built on local talent.
The Committee of One Hundred Tribute Wall recognizes contributions to the preservation of Ozark folk culture.
If you would like to help preserve the folk culture of the Ozarks, consider a
The Committee is made up entirely of volunteers so, except for transaction fees, all of your donation funds music, craft, or the herb gardens and, as a 501c3 entity
your donation is tax deductible!
KEWL!