The Mountain View Chamber of Commerce presented the
Stone County Historical Society with the Bill A. Young award
for community service at its 2024 annual banquet. Stone
County Historical Society and its membership received the
award for promoting, organizing, and volunteering
throughout 2023 with programs and activities honoring the
people who helped to develop Stone County from its
beginnings of early settlement to its Sesquicentennial of the
county’s formation in 2023. It was a year of community
activities that built a spirit of cooperation throughout the
community while providing historical information about our
county to locals and tourists alike. Those programs and
activities included:
*January-Beginning square dancing was offered to the
community-Lynda Swafford & Jr. Fulks
*February-Denim & Rhinestones community dance, Karen Avey
*March – Signs recognizing Stone County’s 150th year – Renee & Phillip Carr
*March – Reader’s Theater “Early Settlers along the White River” Written by Charley Sandage &
Robbie Purdom. Performed by Sandage & Purdom, Robert & Mary Gillihan, Chris George, Chris
Weir, Echo Mitchell, & Shane Avey.
*March – Hootenanny in the Courtroom. Organized by Jr. Fulks, Lynda Swafford, Robbie
Purdom, & Pam Setser
*April – Recognition of Stone County Courthouse turning 100, Lori Freeze, Stone County
Leader
*April – Celebration of Stone County on its 150th anniversary. Program written by Robbie
Purdom, with assistance from Brenda Lewis, & Stacey Avey with Pam Setser music.
Representatives from four counties, state representative and senator, Supreme Court Chief
Justice John Dan Kemp, Mountain View School Middle School band, with Freddie Luther and
Brad Breeding acknowledging early families.
*April – Evening program and driving tour of One Room Schools – Robbie Purdom, Brenda
Lewis, Michelle Sisk, & Dan Stewart. Music Pam Setser. Setup Ruth Bonds, Juanita Terry, &
Roger Welch. One Room Schools – Linda Sutterfield, Wanda Stewart, Renee Carr, & J.L.
Broyles. Sponsorship signs and programs by First Service Bank and food by Centennial Bank.
*April – Music on the Square moved to Museum (cold weather) – Junior Fulks
*April — Gospel Singing at Big Springs – Brenda Lewis and Stacey Avey
*April thru October – Walking Tours around the Square – Janice Sutton and Kay Thomas with
assistance from Dan Stewart, Dan Thomas, Robbie Purdom, & Becky Taylor
*May – History of Pleasant Grove at School Reunion – Robbie Purdom
*September Program: “Angie White Case: Amazing Stone County Woman” by Jane Mabry Keith
A Sesquicentennial Committee project, open to the public and sponsored by the Stone
County Historical Society members and Stone Bank monies, was chaired by Lori Freeze. This
Committee held two activities to benefit the Stone County Community Center: The Cleverly’s
concert and the Seventies Class Reunion & pie auction, organized by Historical Society
members Juanita Terry, Renee Storey, and Becky Taylor. The Lindsey Lodge #292 at Timbo
celebrated the Stone County’s 150th year by dedicating a Memorial Cornerstone. Organized by
Mr. Chris George, Grand Master of Masons in Arkansas. The Committee also encouraged and
worked with both the Ozark Folk Center and Blanchard Springs Caverns to mark their
respective 50-year anniversaries with activities.