On the calendar are cemetery ‘conversations’ and Bonnie & Clyde

A child safety fundraiser, support for homeless veterans and the Crawford County escapades of Bonnie and Clyde are just a few interesting that could be part of your to-do list.

• A Clayton cemetery conversation
Guests of the May 26 “Clayton Conversations” will learn about a fairly new kind of historic preservation taking place at Van Buren’s Fairview Cemetery by monument conservationist Randy Smith.

The event is scheduled for 2 p.m. at the Clayton House, located in Fort Smith’s Belle Grove Historic District at 514 N. Sixth St.

Smith, manager of the Edwards Van-Alma Funeral Home, has been leading the effort to stop the deterioration of the 2,900 monuments at the historic cemetery that dates back to 1816.

His work has been commended by the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program, and a grant from that agency has helped strengthen the progress of the project. Not only do the myriad conservation-cleaned monuments appear as they did when first produced, but with the special chemical used, they are now newly fortified against the mildew and lichens that encroach upon the integrity of marble, sandstone and limestone.

“Cemeteries are a physical representation of the city’s past,” Smith has said. “If the monuments are lost, the stories are lost with them.”

Smith’s slideshow will reveal images of the 10-acre cemetery that includes the burials of 419 Confederate soldiers and 89 African-American slaves from the years 1848 to 1864. Slides will show the impressive “before” and “after” effect of the conservation cleaning method.

Seating is limited for the program. Reservations may be made by calling the Clayton House at 783-3000 or emailing [email protected]. A $5 donation for attending the program is suggested.

Link here for more information about the Clayton House and its events.

• Superhero walk and run
The first first annual Everyday Superhero 5K/1Mile Walk is scheduled for June 1, and is a fundraising run/walk to benefit the Morgan Nick Foundation and CASA Crawford County.

Money raised will be used to help educate and empower children to stay safe from abduction and harm; and to ensure that children have a safe, permanent and nurturing
home in the shortest time frame possible.

The theme is “Everyday Superheroes” to show appreciation for all of those who have a heart for keeping children safe. Event organizers are asking participants to walk or
run dressed as your favorite Superhero.

“Or get together and form a team of Superheroes to support these great organizations. Kids are encouraged to get in on it too!!” noted literature about the event.

The event begins with check-in at 7 a.m., with activities beginning at 8 a.m. at Lee Creek/Mike Myers Park located at the end of Main Street in Van Buren.

Link here for more event information.

• Bonnie and Clyde in Crawford County
Did you know that infamous criminals Bonnie and Clyde spent some time in Crawford County?

They did, and Warren Blaylock will talk about their exploits in the county as part of the second "Crawford Chronicles" history lecture. The lecture is set for 2 to 4 p.m., June 2, at the Drennen-Scott Historic Site in Van Buren, located at 221 N. Third St.

Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow became infamous during the Great Depression for a series of violent bank robberies and hold-ups in which at least nine police officers and several civilians were murdered.

Depicted sensationally in the press as romantic desperadoes, Bonnie and Clyde and the Barrow Gang hid out in Crawford County in 1933, but killed an Alma, Ark., town marshal after a bungled robbery and had to flee again.

These two young criminals, among the first "celebrity outlaws" of the era, were ultimately shot and killed by Texas officers in a 1934 ambush in Louisiana.

The Crawford Chronicle lecture series and workshops are presented on the first Monday of each month by the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith Historic Interpretation program and Drennen-Scott Historic Site, a public historic site and academic laboratory of the history department.

Due to limited seating, phone reservations are required (262-6020). Limited parking will be available at the site. Parking is also available at the Crawford County Courthouse, two blocks away on Main Street.

• Honor & Duty
The Next Step Homeless Services (formerly the Next Step Day Room) is hosting an “Honor & Duty” 5K fun run and walk at Chaffee Crossing on June 8.

The event is set to begin at 7:30 a.m., and is focused on raising funds and awareness for homeless veteran services. Registration fees are $25 per person if registered by May 17, and $30 after May 17.

The first 200 registrations receive a free t-shirt.

See the Next Step website for more details on the event.