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KBRS Bumper Sticker

by | Artifact of the Month, Business and Occupations, Entertainment

Donated by Sharon McGuire

Springdale’s first radio station, KBRS AM 1340, began broadcasting In September 1949. The station was brought to Springdale by Donald W. Reynolds, founder, president, and chief executive officer of the Donrey Media Group. The last three call letters of KBRS were chosen for Bentonville, Rogers, and Springdale, towns in Northwest Arkansas that did not have a radio station. Through the years, KBRS was active participant in the community and sponsored many fundraisers, including a “Pie Auction of the Air” to benefit projects organized by the Springdale Fire Department and local civil defense organizations. KBRS ceased operations in Springdale sometime in the 1990s.

Perhaps “Big Bopper” on the sticker refers to Jiles Perry “J. P.” Richardson Jr., the singer known as the “Big Bopper.” Richardson was best known for his songs “Chantilly Lace” and “White Lightning.” He was also a disc jockey. Shortly after midnight on February 3, 1959, Richardson, along with fellow performers Ritchie Valens and Buddy Holly, boarded a charter plane in Clear Lake, Iowa, bound for the next stop on their “Winter Dance Party” tour. Around 12:55 a.m. pilot Roger Peterson received clearance from the tower and took off, only to crash about five miles outside of Mason City, Iowa, killing everyone on board. The tragedy has become known as “The Day the Music Died,” following a reference in Don McLean’s 1971 hit song, “American Pie.”

It is also possible that the bumper sticker is a nod to 1960s KBRS disc jockey Dale Forbes, who was also known as the “Round Mound of Sound” and the “Watermelon Man.” Forbes went on to work for both the Springdale and Fayetteville police departments. He also played bass guitar and trumpet for The Rogues, a local rock-and-roll band.

Artifact of the Month Archive

Jigsaw Puzzle

by | Artifact of the Month, Entertainment

Donated by Robert Winn

1939 Worlds' Fair jigsaw puzzleThis jigsaw puzzle was a souvenir of the 1939 New York’s World’s Fair held at Flushing Meadows-Corona Park in Queens, New York. With a slogan of “Dawn of a New Day,”  the fair opened on April 30, 1939, the anniversary of George Washington’s inauguration. At cost of $160 million, the 1939 World’s Fair’s price tag was second only to the St. Louis Louisiana Purchase Exposition of 1904. 

As part of the fair’s festivities, Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Company prepared a time capsule that was buried in 1938 and sealed in 1939. Among its contents are copies of Life magazine, a kewpie doll, a pack of cigarettes, a hat made by famed designer Lilly Daché, microfilmed copies of an almanac, a dictionary, and a Sears Roebuck catalog, and an RKO newsreel. The time capsule is scheduled to be reopened 5000 years after it was sealed, in 6939.

The 1939 World’s Fair ran through the fall of 1940 and attracted more than 44 million visitors.

1939 World's Fair, showing the Perisphere, Trylon, and Four Victories of Peace sculpture.

1939 World’s Fair, showing the Theme Center (No. 1 on the jigsaw puzzle) and Four Victories of Peace sculpture. Gottscho-Schleisner, Inc., photographer. Courtesy Library of Congress

About the donor: Robert Winn (1903–1996) was a teacher, World War II veteran, local historian, and author. Born and raised near Winslow (Washington County), he graduated from Asbury College in Kentucky and received a master’s degree from the University of Florida.

After spending much of his career as an educator in California, Winn returned home to Northwest Arkansas in 1970 where he established himself as a tireless chronicler of local history. He wrote seven books and countless articles for the Washington County Observer, the Northwest Arkansas Times, and Washington County Historical Society’s quarterly Flashback. Longtime Morning News of Northwest Arkansas journalist Kay Hall once wrote that Robert Winn “had more knowledge of state history and background information ‘in his head’ than many libraries have on their shelves.” 

Robert Winn was also a tireless supporter of the Shiloh Museum. Over the years, he donated hundreds of artifacts to the museum, including his diaries which contain daily entries spanning 70 years.

Artifact of the Month Archive

1939 Worlds' Fair jigsaw puzzle

Donated by Robert Winn

This jigsaw puzzle was a souvenir of the 1939 New York’s World’s Fair held at Flushing Meadows-Corona Park in Queens, New York. With a slogan of “Dawn of a New Day,”  the fair opened on April 30, 1939, the anniversary of George Washington’s inauguration. At cost of $160 million, the 1939 World’s Fair’s price tag was second only to the St. Louis Louisiana Purchase Exposition of 1904. 

As part of the fair’s festivities, Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Company prepared a time capsule that was buried in 1938 and sealed in 1939. Among its contents are copies of Life magazine, a kewpie doll, a pack of cigarettes, a hat made by famed designer Lilly Daché, microfilmed copies of an almanac, a dictionary, and a Sears Roebuck catalog, and an RKO newsreel. The time capsule is scheduled to be reopened 5000 years after it was sealed, in 6939.

The 1939 World’s Fair ran through the fall of 1940 and attracted more than 44 million visitors.

1939 World's Fair, showing the Perisphere, Trylon, and Four Victories of Peace sculpture.

1939 World’s Fair, showing the Theme Center (No. 1 on the jigsaw puzzle) and Four Victories of Peace sculpture. Gottscho-Schleisner, Inc., photographer. Courtesy Library of Congress

About the donor: Robert Winn (1903–1996) was a teacher, World War II veteran, local historian, and author. Born and raised near Winslow (Washington County), he graduated from Asbury College in Kentucky and received a master’s degree from the University of Florida.

After spending much of his career as an educator in California, Winn returned home to Northwest Arkansas in 1970 where he established himself as a tireless chronicler of local history. He wrote seven books and countless articles for the Washington County Observer, the Northwest Arkansas Times, and Washington County Historical Society’s quarterly Flashback. Longtime Morning News of Northwest Arkansas journalist Kay Hall once wrote that Robert Winn “had more knowledge of state history and background information ‘in his head’ than many libraries have on their shelves.” 

Robert Winn was also a tireless supporter of the Shiloh Museum. Over the years, he donated hundreds of artifacts to the museum, including his diaries which contain daily entries spanning 70 years.

Artifact of the Month Archive