Hemingway-Pfeiffer Museum hosting 100 year milestones

Exactly 100 years ago two things happened to writer Ernest Hemingway that would change his life forever. He met Pauline Pfeiffer, a Northeast Arkansas native and the couple married two years later. Secondly, his first major work was published, “In Our Time.”

The Hemingway-Pfeiffer Museum and Educational Center (HPMEC) in Piggott will host a retreat on Oct. 25 commemorating both events, Dr. Adam Long, executive director of A-State’s Heritage Sites said.

“I think it’s important that we honor the cultural impact of one of America’s most important writers. In addition to sharing Piggott’s cultural heritage, the museum also serves as an economic catalyst for Clay County, driving tourism and supporting local businesses,” Long added.

Participants will receive copies of three titles, including “Big Two-Hearted River,” which is a short story in the book “In Our Time” by Ernest Hemingway. “A River Runs Through It,” by Norman Maclean, is a semi-autobiographical novella about his childhood in Montana and his love for fishing. “The River Why” by David James Duncan, a coming-of-age story about a young man obsessed with fishing, will be the third title that participants will receive.

“This reading retreat celebrates the 100th anniversary of ‘In Our Time,’ Hemingway’s first major publication,” said Long.

“Big Two-Hearted River” has become one of Hemingway’s most taught short stories.

“Because of the importance of this story in the high school classroom, the museum will be offering three full scholarships to Arkansas high school teachers. These scholarships, named in honor of founding donors Sherland and Barbara Hamilton, will allow area teachers to attend the retreat and take what they learn back into their classrooms,” continued Long.

This is the 12th reading retreat HPMEC has hosted. In addition to these events, the facility also hosts an annual Writer-in-Residence program, which began in 2018.

“The residency is 30 days in Piggott, with a loft rental and a stipend. The writer participates as a mentor for the summer writer’s retreat. The writer has the opportunity to write on their projects in the barn studio, used by Hemingway, during their time in Piggott,” Long added.

The museum is a home that once belonged to Pauline Pfeiffer’s parents, and where Hemingway spent time over the span of 10 years visiting and writing. It was acquired by Arkansas State University in 1999.

Upon its opening two years later, HPMEC became the first of four Arkansas State University Heritage Sites.