Established 1907: Lincoln residents gather to celebrate city centennial
Posted on Sunday, June 24, 2007
URL: http://www.nwanews.com/nwat/News/54347/
Mid-morning showers didn’t keep area residents from attending Lincoln’s 100 th birthday celebration Saturday.
“ I was stunned when I got to the square this morning, ” said former Lincoln Mayor Boyce Davis. “ I saw so many people wandering around. I think we had a great turnout despite the weather. ”
The event opened with a car show and two separate poker runs for cars and motorcycles. An evening parade featured members of local clubs, churches and other organizations. Various storefront windows adorned with historical and patriotic decorations surrounded the square to coincide with the celebration. The event closed with comments from the towns pervious mayors, followed by a street dance and fireworks display.
“ We just thought it was important to recognize the fact that Lincoln has been incorporated for 100 years, ” said Becky Carter, treasurer for the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce. “ We might try to do something similar again next year. ”
Many residents opted to wait out the rain in the town’s community center, which was decorated with various photographs depicting 100 years of Lincoln’s history. The center also included an exhibit from the Arkansas Country Doctors Museum.
“ I’m very comfortable here after almost 40 years of residency, ” Davis said. “ Everyone is so welcoming. ”
Davis, who now serves as chamber president, said the city of Lincoln received its charter in 1907.
Although the community and post office were called Lincoln in the late 1870 s, Davis said the town didn’t officially exist until it received its charter in 1907 when it was platted by the Ozark and Cherokee Central Railroad for a track connecting to Muskogee, Okla., in the Creek Nation.
A book published in the 1950 s called “ A History of Lincoln ” documented the story of how Lincoln got its name. According to the book, the post office was initially called Georgetown, until the postal department later learned that another city already named Georgetown existed in Madison County.
“ The postmaster at that time was an Abraham Lincoln man and began using the name ‘ Lincoln, ’” Davis said.
The book also states that North Street, which runs east to west one block north of the Square, was the north boundary of the original town. It was also the previous route of Highway 62 and the road to the Cherokee and Creek nations.
“ I remember when Lincoln wasn’t so easy to get to, ” Davis said. “ When I started working there, Highway 62 was just a two-lane road. It took about 35 to 40 minutes to commute. ”
In addition to serving as the city attorney since 1974, Davis also served as the town’s mayor the previous year. He was appointed by the City Council in 1973 while he was in law school.
“ We didn’t have any money back then, ” he said. “ The city had three or four liens against it by material suppliers for water and streets. I had to fend off all sorts of creditors. It was pretty challenging, but we’ve been moving ahead ever since. ”
In addition to financial changes, Davis said he’s seen also seen a number of other changes in the town that have left a positive impact.
“ In 1976, Apple Fest started with a bicentennial grant, ” he said. “ The event gave us notoriety and really put Lincoln on the map.
“ Since I’ve been here, we’ve built a library, developed a park system and got a partially paid fire department. The police department has also expanded to meet demands and annexation. ”
Though overflow from Fayetteville and Springdale has impacted the city’s population growth, Davis said the town continues to maintain its notable small town charm.
“ In 1966, the census sign at the edge of town was 812, and now it’s over 1, 800, ” he said. “ Unfortunately, we haven’t had a city census since 2000, but I believe our growth is a little slower because we’re farther from the county’s core. ”
Davis said the city’s quaint charm is part of the reason many residents choose to live there.
“ I graduated high school from here and moved back after living in Morrow for 35 years, ” said Lincoln resident Jean Helm. “ My husband and I were high school sweeties. We’ve been living here for 15 years. ”
Aside from a few new faces, Helm said, the town of Lincoln hasn’t changed much since she left.
“ Everybody here knows each other, and I think a lot of people like that sort of charm, ” she said. “ I make the apple butter for Apple Fest each year. It’s a chance for everyone to get together and catch up. It also gives us the opportunity to meet the new people in town. ”
Since it was published in 1950, Davis said, the Lincoln history book has been reprinted by the Chamber of Commerce and is available from any chamber member for $ 10.