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Stokenbury Home

by | Photo of the Month, Residences

Stokenbury home, Elkins (Washington County), circa 1898. Robert Henry Stokenbury and Lydia Johnson Stokenbury stand with their children (from left) Herman, Robbie, and Jessie. The women behind the fence are unidentified.

Roberta Reed Collection (S-2001-27-3)

Photo of the Month Archive

Stokenbury home, Elkins (Washington County), circa 1898. Robert Henry Stokenbury and Lydia Johnson Stokenbury stand with their children (from left) Herman, Robbie, and Jessie. The women behind the fence are unidentified.

Roberta Reed Collection (S-2001-27-3)

Photo of the Month Archive

Mustain Family

by | Photo of the Month, Residences

Thomas and Matilda Burnett Mustain family at their home near the Silent Grove community (Benton County), circa 1910. From left: Thomas, Matilda, Stella, Bertha.

Carole Byerly Collection (S-2014-74-7)

Photo of the Month Archive

Thomas and Matilda Burnett Mustain family at their home near the Silent Grove community (Benton County), circa 1910. From left: Thomas, Matilda, Stella, Bertha.

Carole Byerly Collection (S-2014-74-7)

Photo of the Month Archive

Pumping Water

by | Agriculture, Nature and Natural Resources, Photo of the Month

Tom Farish (right) and an identified worker at a irrigation pond in Lowell (Benton County), July 1946. The portable pump was sending much-needed water to fields of green beans. Farish and Joe Steele were co-owners of Steele Canning Company, regional processors of beans, tomatoes, and spinach.

Maudine Sanders Collection (S-2006-132-152)

Photo of the Month Archive

Tom Farish (right) and an identified worker at a irrigation pond in Lowell (Benton County), July 1946. The portable pump was sending much-needed water to fields of green beans. Farish and Joe Steele were co-owners of Steele Canning Company, regional processors of beans, tomatoes, and spinach.

Maudine Sanders Collection (S-2006-132-152)

Photo of the Month Archive

Frisco Coaling Tower

by | Photo of the Month, Transportation

Frisco Railroad coaling tower at Fayette Junction, a switchyard that was located near the present-day intersection of Cato Springs Road and Vale Avenue in south Fayetteville, early 1900s.

Virginia Threet Collection (S-88-156-11)

Frisco Railroad coaling tower at Fayette Junction near Fayetteville, Arkansas, early 1900s.

Coaling towers were a necessary fixture along railroads during the era of coal-powered steam locomotives. Coal was carried on the train in a special car called a “tender.” When the tender needed to be refilled, the engineer positioned the train so that the tender was parked under the tower chutes at the coaling tower. The chutes were then lowered and coal was released into the tender. In the 1950s, diesel replaced coal as the fuel of choice for locomotives, and coaling towers fell out of use.

Photo of the Month Archive
Frisco Railroad coaling tower at Fayette Junction near Fayetteville, Arkansas, early 1900s.

Frisco Railroad coaling tower at Fayette Junction, a switchyard that was located near the present-day intersection of Cato Springs Road and Vale Avenue in south Fayetteville, early 1900s.

Coaling towers were a necessary fixture along railroads during the era of coal-powered steam locomotives. Coal was carried on the train in a special car called a “tender.” When the tender needed to be refilled, the engineer positioned the train so that the tender was parked under the tower chutes at the coaling tower. The chutes were then lowered and coal was released into the tender. In the 1950s, diesel replaced coal as the fuel of choice for locomotives, and coaling towers fell out of use.

Virginia Threet Collection (S-88-156-11)

Photo of the Month Archive