Apr 13, 2023
Tucked away at the edge of Garland City in
Miller County, Arkansas just out where the crop dusters operate and
the tractors go back and forth, sits an antebellum gem known as the
Wynward Hall Plantation. This historical house is occupied by one
of L.A.s most prolific historians. Charles and Patsy Walthall call
this house with the long history home and enjoy talking about
it.
I first met Charles through one of his many
Facebook groups focusing on many things South Arkansas. I finally
messaged him one day and suggested we have lunch, and the rest, as
they say, is history. It eventually wound up with me taking a whole
busload of senior adults from my church over to visit and the
Walthalls were wonderful hosts.
I learn something about the history of the
house and the region every time I visit. For example, on my
last trip over when I carried my microphone over he told me about
the most famous visitor to the house, who arrived by steamboat on
the Red River. You'll never guess what that guest did when he got
to Wynward Hall! Or what went on there on the weekends, after the
long hours of labor during the week were done. Or the role it
played during the Civil War.
Join us for a walk down memory lane and
learn about the days when this magnificent structure served the
community and region in a variety of ways.