Post Cards from the Ozarks

      Discovered this attractive display one spring morning at the Saturday morning Fayetteville Farmers Market about 2002 and could not resist photographing it. Still a favorite of mine. Camera: Canon XSI, f/5,1/50s, ISO 100 Post Processing: Re-sized in Photoshop Elements. Location" Saturday morning Farmers Market on the Fayetteville Town Square.

     The Saturday before Thanksgiving the Fayetteville Town Square becomes a dazzling display of lights. The city's Parks Department installs over four hundred fifty thousand lights woven through the many trees and bushes and sets up lighted self contained displays. It takes as many as 2000 hours to make the square ready for the annual show.      The first night of lights begins with a a parade of floats, antique vehicles, what have you, that line up for several blocks. Leading the way Santa Claus arrives usually on a firetruck to do the deed of lighting up the square for the season.        Thousands attend this annual event and on the first night the square is filled to capacity with families from all over northwest Arkansas and beyond. Every night prior to the new years crowds visit to see this awesome sight and to be entertained with Christmas carols and musical groups. For those who wish love to take an elegant carriage ride or...

   Created by Fayetteville sculptor Hank Kaminsky; the globe is 10 feet in diameter, the World Peace Prayer Fountain is a bronze sphere layered with more than 100 languages touting the same message, "May Peace Prevail on Earth." It is a thing of great beauty and is a must see while visiting the town square. Camera: Canon XSI, f/9, 1/125s, ISO 400 Post Processing: Photomatrix Pro 5.1 Location: Just off the town square at the entrance of the Town Center Convention Center.

    The Historic Washington County Court House is the fifth county courthouse, the prior four being on or near the site of the Old Post Office on the Fayetteville town square. It also marks the location if the Fayetteville station for the Butterfield Stage Coach Line.     Construction of the  Richardson  Romanesque style building began in June 1904 and was completed in April 1905 for a total cost of $98,500. The Historic Washington County Court House has four floors connected by grand stairways and an elevator.             Other interesting building features include flooring in public spaces containing over 60,000 hand laid round ceramic mosaic tile, and coal burning fireplaces with glazed brick facades in each office.     The Historic Washington County Court House has four floors connected by grand stairways and an elevator. Other interesting elements  include  flooring in public spaces c...

Started in 1973 the Fayetteville Farmers Market on the town square is indeed a great farmers market and it is much more. It is a weekly social event that gathers family's, singles, and groups from all over northwest Arkansas. These folks are often accompanied by the family pooches who prance along happily, meeting and greeting other of their canine friends and making new friends! It is a great way to spend a morning meeting and greeting favorite farmers and crafts persons, selecting good things for the home side evening meal at home! The market began offering the finest in fresh locally produced vegetables, fruits, meats, flowers, baked goods, honey, eggs, jams, crafts, and fine art from the four-county area. in 1973. The lovely town square and the farmers market join to make a Saturday morning visit a feast for the eyes and soul. You and your family, and friends should not miss wonderful weekly event! Camera Settings: Canon XSI Post Processing: Photoshop Eleme...

    This memorable craft was the  Stearman (Boeing) Model 75 (aka PT13) It was used as a military trainer aircraft, of which 10,626 were built in the U.S. during the 30s and 40s. Widely known as the Stearman, Boeing Stearman or Kaydet, it served as a primary trainer for the USAAF, the USN and with the RCAF as the Kaydet of World War II.     It is a conventional biplane of rugged construction with large, fixed  tail-wheel  and undercarriage, open cocpits for the student and instructor. The radial engine was uncowled, although some Stearman operators choose to cowl the engine, most notably the Red Baron Stearman Squadron.                 A favorite story for me is that the Navy version was painted a bright yellow to make them highly visible and was thus nicknamed “The Yellow Peril” by Pilot Instructors who had to take first time flyers up sometimes at the instructor...

    The Gregg House was built by Lafayette Gregg in 1871 and it is unusual in several construction details. The foundation was of large thick sandstone blocks and the outside brick walls are one foot thick. It has two massive chimneys serving eight fireplaces. A separate 1 1/2 story building is attached to the main house by a breezeway. The family referred to it as “the ice house”.  The home is surrounded by an ornamental iron fence shown in the foreground. It is located at 339 N. Gregg St., adjacent to the University.      In 1835 the Gregg family moved from Moulton, Alabama to Fayetteville where Lafayette grew up on a nearby farm. In his majority he read law and passed the bar and became a prominent local attorney. He commanded the Union’s Fourth Arkansas Cavalry during the Civil War.      He is credited with playing the key role in having the University of Arkansas located here in Fayetteville. Camera Sett...