To see more pictures of the Farmstead, click on "Image Galleries" at the top on the home page. You may also be interested in seeing pictures of the 2010 Antique Tractor Show that was held in connection with Clover Bend's 2010 Reunion (about 30 tractors).
In 1990 the Board of Directors of the Clover Bend Historic Preservation Association formed a Core Values Committee, consisting of Viola Meadows, Willene Kirkland, Betty Whittaker, David and Kathryn Doyle, Alda Ramsey and Lavinia Baker. The purpose of the Committee was to set long range goals for the Clover Bend Museum and School. All goals have been attained, except for CBHPA to be self-supporting. The most visible goal accomplished has been the establishment of a Farmstead on the campus of the Clover Bend School and Community Center. The Farmstead consists of an original house, barn and outbuildings, duplicating the farmsteads of the community as they were in the late 1930’s and early 1940’s.
In 2005 this dream and goal became a reality. The buildings of the Farmstead are as follows: The house was constructed for the Sanford Marlin family in 1938 and was donated to the CBHPA in 2002 by it’s then current owner, Steve Graddy. It was moved to the Clover Bend School campus and has been completely restored. The front door came from the Homer Callahan house and was donated by Steve and Denise Smith. In addition, the house is complete with period furniture and accessories, such as a canning pressure cooker etc. Many people volunteered their time and energy restoring the farmhouse, but Alma Ridenhower and Rick Sade accomplished most of the work.
Steve Graddy donated the smoke house. It had deteriorated badly and was in several pieces. It was moved to the campus by Robin Whaley, where it was reassembled and restored by Shirley Callahan and a friend from Michigan at no charge.
Phil Phillips had previously restored a barn, which was built on the Clarence Brand farm circa 1938. It was donated by Casey and Lynn Phillips and was moved to the campus in “like-new” condition.
An out door toilet, which was the privy built in 1938 on the Cecil Elliot farm, was donated, restored and moved to the site as well. The henhouse on the campus Farmstead has in it two rows or original hen’s nests from the Allie Frazier farm, which were donated by Bob Frazier. He had donated the original henhouse, but it was in such bad condition that it could not be moved. The henhouse, which is on-site at the Farmstead, was constructed using plans and material as closely approximating the original as possible.
County jail prisoners, supervised by Viola Meadows under a Work Release program accomplished a tremendous amount of work on the main building, gymnasium, farmstead and grounds.
The results of all the above efforts are absolutely stunning. Seeing the Farmstead takes the visitor back in time to when the Clover Bend Resettlement Project was new and pristine. If you haven’t visited it, you are missing a wonderful experience.
There is still work to be done on the Farmstead, as well as on other projects. The CBHPA will appreciate any donations made. All contributions made are fully tax-deductible. CBHPA is registered with the Internal Revenue Service as a charitable organization. Send checks made payable to CBHPA to Angelia Fowler, 236 Lawrence 536, Alicia, AR 72410.
