Derringer Handgun

Vance Randolph's DerringerDonated by Frances Deane Alexander

Ozark folklorist Vance Randolph purchased this Derringer handgun in 1975. At that time, he and his wife, folklorist Mary Celestia Parler, lived at Sunrise Manor Nursing Home in Fayetteville. Randolph’s good friend, journalist and historian Ernie Deane, helped Randolph acquire the gun. According to a note written by Deane on July 1, 1975: “This .38 Derringer belongs to Vance Randolph. He asked me to keep it for him has he is not permitted to have a firearm at Sunrise Manor Nursing Home.” (Ernie Deane had a delightful habit of writing brief notes of explanation about items of historical importance that he owned, storing his note with the item for posterity.)

Ernie Deane’s daughter, Fran Alexander, recounts the story of Ernie, Vance, and the Derringer:

“Ernie and Vance had a special relationship. They understood each other.

“Understanding another person, however, does not always put you in a comfortable position. When Vance requested that Ernie be on the receiving end of a pistol mail-order that Vance wanted to place, Ernie began to imagine the problems that might arise when he brought the Derringer into the Sunrise Manor Nursing Home, where Vance and his wife, Mary Parler, lived.

“Vance had assured Ernie that he had no delusions about harboring a pistol in a nursing home, but since he’d always wanted one, he figured it was now or never and asked Ernie, as a friend, to just bring it to him for a visit occasionally. He just wanted to look at it and hold it in his hands.

“This seemed a harmless enough request from an old and very helpless friend, but Ernie was constantly looking over his shoulder for nurses when the Derringer was visiting at Sunrise. He imagined the consequences would be dire, the worst probably being forbidden from ever visiting Vance again.

“Whatever memories, imagined exploits, or real adventures, or why Vance felt admiration for this brand of pistol, will probably never be known, since neither Ernie nor Vance wrote down his feelings on the subject.

“Another of Vance’s requests that Ernie also delivered on was an occasional pint of whiskey, which was not just a visitor, but kept hidden and used “for medicinal purposes.” A bit anxious that his bootlegging activities would also be discovered by the staff always put a sense of suspense and naughtiness into Ernie’s Sunrise visits, probably making the time spent with Vance and Mary even more fun for all concerned.

“When Vance died in 1980, he was buried in one of Ernie’s suits.”

Vance Randolph's Derringer

Donated by Frances Deane Alexander

Ozark folklorist Vance Randolph purchased this Derringer handgun in 1975. At that time he and his wife, folklorist Mary Celestia Parler, lived at Sunrise Manor Nursing Home in Fayetteville. Randolph’s good friend, journalist and historian Ernie Deane, helped Randolph acquire the gun. According to a note written by Deane on July 1, 1975: “This .38 Derringer belongs to Vance Randolph. He asked me to keep it for him has he is not permitted to have a firearm at Sunrise Manor Nursing Home.” (Ernie Deane had a delightful habit of writing brief notes of explanation about items of historical importance that he owned, storing his note with the item for posterity.)

Ernie Deane’s daughter, Fran Alexander, recounts the story of Ernie, Vance, and the Derringer:

“Ernie and Vance had a special relationship. They understood each other.

“Understanding another person, however, does not always put you in a comfortable position. When Vance requested that Ernie be on the receiving end of a pistol mail-order that Vance wanted to place, Ernie began to imagine the problems that might arise when he brought the Derringer into the Sunrise Manor Nursing Home, where Vance and his wife, Mary Parler, lived.

“Vance had assured Ernie that he had no delusions about harboring a pistol in a nursing home, but since he’d always wanted one, he figured it was now or never and asked Ernie, as a friend, to just bring it to him for a visit occasionally. He just wanted to look at it and hold it in his hands.

“This seemed a harmless enough request from an old and very helpless friend, but Ernie was constantly looking over his shoulder for nurses when the Derringer was visiting at Sunrise. He imagined the consequences would be dire, the worst probably being forbidden from ever visiting Vance again.

“Whatever memories, imagined exploits, or real adventures, or why Vance felt admiration for this brand of pistol, will probably never be known, since neither Ernie nor Vance wrote down his feelings on the subject.

“Another of Vance’s requests that Ernie also delivered on was an occasional pint of whiskey, which was not just a visitor, but kept hidden and used “for medicinal purposes.” A bit anxious that his bootlegging activities would also be discovered by the staff always put a sense of suspense and naughtiness into Ernie’s Sunrise visits, probably making the time spent with Vance and Mary even more fun for all concerned.

“When Vance died in 1980, he was buried in one of Ernie’s suits.”

Tap Handle

Donated by J. T. Wampler

J. T. Wampler has been a photographer for Northwest Arkansas Newspapers for almost two decades. Taking a name from a local creek, he opened Tanglewood Branch Brewing Company located at the intersection of South School Avenue and Fifteenth Street in Fayetteville in September 2011. Initially he sold food made from local ingredients along with local and regional beers. In March 2012 Wampler obtained brewing permits and by the end of May, he was serving in-house brewed beer. However, by the end of 2013, the business was in jeopardy. A fundraising campaign raised over $21,000, allowing Tanglewood to remain open until September 2014..

This tap handle was made for Southside Porter, one of Tanglewood’s most popular brewed beers. Wampler commissioned artist Rae Russell to create original tap handles for all of Tanglewood’s in-house beers. Russell also painted “Bountiful Fayetteville,” the PIGshibition sculpture in front of Fayetteville’s Clinton House Museum.

 

Donated by J. T. Wampler

J. T. Wampler has been a photographer for Northwest Arkansas Newspapers for almost two decades. Taking a name from a local creek, he opened Tanglewood Branch Brewing Company located at the intersection of South School Avenue and Fifteenth Street in Fayetteville in September 2011. Initially he sold food made from local ingredients along with local and regional beers. In March 2012 Wampler obtained brewing permits and by the end of May, he was serving in-house brewed beer. However, by the end of 2013, the business was in jeopardy. A fundraising campaign raised over $21,000, allowing Tanglewood to remain open until September 2014..

This tap handle was made for Southside Porter, one of Tanglewood’s most popular brewed beers. Wampler commissioned artist Rae Russell to create original tap handles for all of Tanglewood’s in-house beers. Russell also painted “Bountiful Fayetteville,” the PIGshibition sculpture in front of Fayetteville’s Clinton House Museum.

 

Heinie’s Steak House

Heinie’s Steak House, Springdale, 1962. Located on Highway 71 near the railroad underpass, this legendary local restaurant was owned and operated by Herman Clint “Heinie” Dierich. Howard Clark, photographer. Caroline Price Clark Collection (S-2002-72-1235)

Heinie’s Steak House, Springdale, 1962. Located on Highway 71 near the railroad underpass, this legendary local restaurant was owned and operated by Herman Clint “Heinie” Dierich. Howard Clark, photographer. Caroline Price Clark Collection (S-2002-72-1235)

Easter Egg

Donated by Virginia Hicks

This papier maché egg probably belonged to twins Mary and Ellen Russell of Harrison (Boone County) in the early 1920s. Mary and Ellen were born to Jesse and Rose Grever Russell in 1917. According to the 1920 census, the Russells lived at 614 West Central Avenue in Harrison. Jesse Russell was an editor of the Boone County Headlight newspaper.  In 1947 he authored Behind These Ozark Hills, a collection of personal reminiscences about life in Carroll and Boone counties.

Germany has a long history of using papier maché eggs to celebrate Easter.  From the late 1800s until the early 1930s, Germany exported empty papier maché eggs to the United States and throughout Europe. The word “GERMANY” stamped inside the egg helps narrow down when it was made. Up until about 1920, papier maché eggs manufactured in Germany were stamped “German” or “Germany.” From 1921 until 1933 they were stamped “German Republic. Following World War II, several stamps were used, including “East Germany,” “German Democratic Republic,” “West Germany,” and “Federal Republic of Germany.”

Donated by Virginia Hicks

This papier maché egg probably belonged to twins Mary and Ellen Russell of Harrison (Boone County) in the early 1920s. Mary and Ellen were born to Jesse and Rose Grever Russell in 1917. According to the 1920 census, the Russells lived at 614 West Central Avenue in Harrison. Jesse Russell was an editor of the Boone County Headlight newspaper.  In 1947 he authored Behind These Ozark Hills, a collection of personal reminiscences about life in Carroll and Boone counties.

Germany has a long history of using papier maché eggs to celebrate Easter.  From the late 1800s until the early 1930s, Germany exported empty papier maché eggs to the United States and throughout Europe. The word “GERMANY” stamped inside the egg helps narrow down when it was made. Up until about 1920, papier maché eggs manufactured in Germany were stamped “German” or “Germany.” From 1921 until 1933 they were stamped “German Republic. Following World War II, several stamps were used, including “East Germany,” “German Democratic Republic,” “West Germany,” and “Federal Republic of Germany.”

Maude Ball and Grandchildren

Lillie Maude Rogers Ball with her grandchildren at the Ball home on Ball Creek (Madison County), 1930s. In the background on the porch is Maude’s husband, Henry Ball. Velda Edens Collection (S-89-92-13)

Lillie Maude Rogers Ball and grandchildren, Madison County, Arkansas, circa 1930s

Lillie Maude Rogers Ball and grandchildren, Madison County, Arkansas, circa 1930s

Lillie Maude Rogers Ball with her grandchildren at the Ball home on Ball Creek (Madison County), 1930s. In the background on the porch is Maude’s husband, Henry Ball. Velda Edens Collection (S-89-92-13)