The Magical History Tour!

The Magical History Tour!




Exploring Izard County is pleased to announce its Fall Road Trip, "The Magical History Tour", on Saturday, October 24th beginning at 10:00 A.M.

"The Magical History Tour" will begin in historic Mount Olive near the Mount Olive Presbyterian Church and visit several historic sights in the area including the A.C. Jeffery Homeplace, the Jehoiada Jeffery Homeplace, and the Old Jeffery Cemetery. From Mount Olive, the tour will proceed to Boswell for photo opportunities of the Post-Office and store-building before continuing to the top of the hill where the newly refurbished Boswell School, now the Boswell Baptist Church, stands.

Several activities are planned for the event including historical lectures about Mount Olive, the Jeffery Family, Boswell, and Civil War in the Ozarks. Also planned for the event is a "History-Swap" at the Old Boswell Schoolhouse where we will invite participants to bring two or three treasured heirlooms or relics as well as vintage photos, documents, and letters to share with others on the tour.

The tour will conclude with live entertainment at the Old Boswell Schoolhouse in the early afternoon.

As with all of our Road Trips, the EIC Crew will be raising funds to contribute to an important historic project in Izard County. This Fall, we will be accepting donations during the tour and offering T-Shirts and other items for sale. All proceeds will benefit the Melbourne Museum. The Melbourne Museum is a worthy recipient of the fruits of our collective effort to help preserve the history and culture of Izard County. If you have never visited this important museum, we encourage you to take a few minutes when in the Mebourne area to browse the many excellent artifacts, photos, and documents that have been donated. Exploring Izard County is honored to be able to contribute to the operation of this resource.

Those interested in joining the EIC Crew for this event should contact us via e-mail at hillbillyizard@yahoo.com or by calling (870) 291-2215.

As with all of our past Road Trips, vehicle slots will be limited for "The Magical History Tour" so those wishing to take part should sign-up A.S.A.P.!

"The Magical History Tour" is shaping up to be the best event the EIC Crew has put together to date. We look forward to spending the day with you!

"Spring Splash" Road Trip - April 25th, 2009

Exploring Izard County Announces its "Spring Splash" Road Trip on April 25th

The web-site, Exploring Izard County, will be hosting its third Road Trip on Saturday April 25th, 2009. The "Spring Splash" Road Trip will visit the Gid, Guion, and Lafferty areas of Izard County and will include stops at the Gid Waterfall, the Guion Schoolhouse, Lafferty Spring, Lafferty Mill Dam, and the Gristmill Waterfall at Gid. During the tour, participants will hear historical presentations about the area including one about the Lafferty Family history by a direct descendent of John and Sarah Lafferty, Mrs. Mary Lafferty Wilson from Gainesville, Missouri. Participants will drive the tour in the comfort and privacy of their personal vehicles. A pic-nic lunch is planned for the last stop on the "Spring Splash" Road Trip as well as musical entertainment, games, and a hike to a large well-occupied shelter cave nearby.
As with other events hosted by Exploring Izard County, this one is to raise funds to help preserve an Izard County historic treasure. All donations and all proceeds from sales of T-Shirts and other merchandise by the organizers will be forwarded to the Izard County Historical and Genealogical Society to support its efforts to move and restore the James and Phoebe Trimble House. The treasure was recently given to the Historical Society and must be moved to Cumberland Heritage Park in Calico Rock. The Trimble House is dated to 1815 and is documented as being the oldest standing home in the county having been built by a family of the very earliest pioneers of the area. The Izard County Historical and Genealogical Society estimates the project will cost around $10, 000.
Exploring Izard County is pleased to announce that the Izard County Historical and Genealogical Society will be joining us for this event as its own Spring Meeting. The organization will have a table with books, past issues of the Izard County Historian, and applications for membership available to participants.
Because of the nature of the event, limited spaces will be available. Those who are interested in participating should contact Denny Elrod at (870) 291-2215 or e-mail hillbillyizard@yahoo.com. For more information visit Exploring Izard County online at www.exploreizard.blogspot.com.

"Northern Exposure" Road Trip, concert, Historic Preservation Presentation Featuring Brian Driscoll and Wife, Jeanette

Join Us For EIC's Second-Ever Road Trip, Brian and Jeanette Driscoll Concert, and Brian's Historic Preservation Presentation on Saturday, October 25th 2008!

We're pleased to announce our second-ever Road Trip through Izard County on Saturday, October 25th, 2008! The event will begin in Calico Rock at around 1P.M., travel to Corinth Church in extreme northwest Izard County, continue to the Trimble House and Trimble Campground Church near Dolph where those who wish to see the Natural Bridge near Dolph will continue to that location while those who prefer not to make the slightly strenuous hike into the Calico Creek hollow will continue on to City Rock Bluff, back through Peppersauce Alley and by the Old Schoolhouse in Calico Rock. The two groups will meet back up for the conclusion of the Road Trip portion of the day's events at Flat Rock Church on State Highway 56 near the Wideman Road around 4:30 to 5 P.M.
Following the "Northern Exposure" Road Trip, there will be a concert in the Community Center (Old Schoolhouse) at Lunenburg featuring the 2002 Arkansas Acoustic Showdown winner, Brian Driscoll and his wife Jeanette! Brian and Jeanette will entertain us all with traditional folk music mixed with acoustic blues as well as make a presentation to those who attend about the Arkansas Historic Preservation Programfor which Mr. Driscoll is the Technical Assistance Director. During the presentation, Brian will tell us about the program, the National Register of Historic Places, then entertain questions from those who are interested in learning how they might be able to get assistance in preserving their historical treasures!
The EIC crew will be seeking sponsorships from local businesses over the next week as well as accepting donations from participants during the event itself to forward to the Lunenburg Community Center Association for use in the restoration efforts on the building.
This will be an exciting event for those who love Izard County and want to see some of the hidden treasures it has to offer. It will also provide a wonderful opportunity to area landowners to find out just how they might be able to preserve what history survives here at present.
So, please...mark your calendars...clear your busy schedules, and plan on joining us for the special events of the day!
Remember...our Road Trips allow for a limited number of vehicles so be sure to let us know as soon as possible if you plan to participate! So far, we have had three vehicles sign up for the event and have 15 spots remaining.
If you are not already on our e-mail list, please contact us and we'll include you as we inform our readers of the schedule of events and event map when all plans are concluded!
We are looking forward to spending the day with you all again and hope you will let your friends and family know about the "Northern Exposure" Road Trip, Concert, and Presentaion.

For Brain and Jeanette Driscoll's Biography, visit our new page, EIC Events.

For more info about the husband and wife team and a listen to their wonderful sound, visit their CD Baby site!

Our Event Sponsors

"Ozark Skoolin'" Road Trip!

Join us on our first ever EIC group excursion!

All Slots Filled!

$150 Raised for Lunenburg School!

What a great success the Ozarks Skoolin' Road Trip turned out to be. By taking the participants to both the Lunenburg and Mount Olive Schools, I am confident that we were able to shed light on the need to do all we can to help preserve historic monuments such as these two buildings are!

Getting to visit with those who have communicated with me online was a great treat! It's great to know there are so many folks passionate about this amazing part of God's creation and humankind's struggle to eek out a living through history.

We can't wait 'til next time!





On Saturday April 26th, 2008, the EIC crew will be hosting a fundraising event to benefit the restoration project at the Old Lunenburg Schoolhouse. The drive will begin with a gathering of those interested at the Old Lunenburg Schoolhouse and will proceed from there to Sylamore Road where we will stop for photo-opportunities at the First and Second Lookouts, enjoy a a few minutes at the Clay Cave, visit the Old Mount Olive Schoolhouse (the twin sister of Lunenburg), cross Piney Creek along the Boswell Road and also the Gorby Road, and end at the Old Knob Creek Church near Pilot Knob.

The Old Lunenburg Schoolhouse recently received a block-grant to help in the restoration efforts led by Eudell Smith of Lunenburg. A donation box will be available at Lunenburg and Knob Creek and all contributions will be donated to the Old Lunenburg School to help with those things the block grant will not cover. This is an opportunity to give a little back to this county we all love so dearly.

Because of nature of the event (Road Trip), we will have to limit the number of vehicles coming along...so please
contact us if you are interested! We will be traveling both paved and gravel roads and will cross one low-water ford across Piney Creek...no cow-trails, yet not recommended for all vehicles either.

All participants will be required to sign a form releasing the gracious landowners and those involved with Exploring Izard County website from all liability during the Road Trip. Those tagging along must understand that we are visiting old buildings in various stages of disrepair and some sights that are located on rough terrain.

Because of the many requests we've had over the past year, we wanted to give our readers a chance to take part in a Road Trip with the crew. We have been hoping to get something together for some time and decided that the week before Izard County's annual "Pioneer Days" would be the perfect time to guide a few folks around some of the oldest and dearest sights in the county while also providing a way that they might help preserve an important piece of Izard County's history, beauty, and character.

The event will commence at 10:00 A.M. on the 26th and end sometime in mid-afternoon.

We're looking forward to spending some time with others who have deep affection for this wonderful area of the Ozarks! If you would like to be a part of this day of Izard County fun, let us know by e-mailing us!

UPDATE!

We have received permission to visit Piney Creek at the rapids just above the high bridge on the Boswell Road!. We will arrive at the sight around lunchtime, so bring your pic-nic lunch and we'll enjoy the creek while we dine!