Special offer

Two great Searcy Arkansas cards for sale on ebay. May day Celebration.

By
Real Estate Agent with RE/MAX Advantage

Remember when we used to drive around and stop at antique shops and search for things we collected?  It was a difficult process but we really appreciated finding some old collectible out in the middle of nowhere.

Things have changed.  Just put a search on ebay and let the treasure-oppportunity be emailed to you.  Right now there are two great old Searcy AR cards on there.  See here and then go bid if you'd like.  Here's the first one.

Mayday Festival Searcy AR

And here's another.  Wonder if they were the same day?

May Day Parade Searcy AR

Tom Keene cigar!  Our friend James Whitlow could do some fantastic close-ups from this card, couldn't he? I hope he buys these cards.

Comments (9)

Barbara S. Duncan
RE/MAX Advantage - Searcy, AR
GRI, e-PRO, Executive Broker, Searcy AR

Mary, my understanding is that the big old house on the left was where the Mayfair Hotel was later built.  And that is the courthouse beyond.  I really think the things are on the same day.

Jul 27, 2012 08:14 AM
Anonymous
Harold Gene Sullivan

Yes, the second picture is taken from the southeast corner of Spring and Center.  It  looks to me that the street is still dirt.  I love all the dressed up people in the picture, I guess that was when May Day was still a big deal.

In the first picture, the building on the left was the high school.  But by the time I was in school, it was the primary school.  The building on the left was the grammar school.  Junior hi and high school were in a building located just about where the picture is taken from.  In the past we have had several pictures Barbara has posted on her blog of each of these building.  What I find interesting in the first picture is that the building between the primary school and grammar school which housed the heating plant and both the girls and boys bathrooms does no show.  There is some sort of a tent looking structure there in this picture.  I wonder how the building were heated in those days and where the restrooms were for the kids.   Maybe the kids were just more hearty then and didn't need heat and there was an outhouse somewhere.

Jul 27, 2012 08:54 AM
#2
Barbara S. Duncan
RE/MAX Advantage - Searcy, AR
GRI, e-PRO, Executive Broker, Searcy AR

Harold Gene, look at the costumes on the people at the school and the ones in the parade.  Looks as if they grouped the colors and marched.  Same day??

Jul 27, 2012 10:24 PM
Don Thompson
Donthomp Associates - Sunnyvale, CA

I introduced the second card from eBay on  7/30/2008 read about it here:

http://activerain.com/blogsview/615504/very-very-old-picture-of-searcy-arkansas-you-d-not-recognize-it-

The first card was discussed 9/22/2008 here:   http://activerain.com/blogsview/702100/searcy-high-school-building-built-in-1908-picture-from-the-past-

The former high school was built in 1908.  The parade card is postmarked 1912. The seller says the school is circa 1910.

All us Searcians who went to school in that building have fond memories. I went there in 1944 and my teacher was Harold Gene's Mom, my all time favorite teacher. 

I too hope Jim Whitlow buys the card and gives us some blow ups.

In the parade picture, the building lower left is the Mayfair Hotel and the building lower right would be the Plaza Theater in the future. 

The eBay images are good quality and will blow up well as is.

Blow Up

Jul 28, 2012 08:01 AM
Barbara S. Duncan
RE/MAX Advantage - Searcy, AR
GRI, e-PRO, Executive Broker, Searcy AR

Don, can you believe we have been on this blog since 2008!  You have supplied so much information and so many pictures during that time.  I knew we'd seen these cards but the two of them together worked well, I thought.  James, with his  magic, could do some real close-ups!  I'd like to know what the rest of the cigar man's ad says, wouldn't you?

Jul 28, 2012 12:00 PM
Anonymous
James Whitlow

Hello Folks,  I did a little research on these cards.  Both cards are from Zim, one of many publishers of postcards back during the postcard craze in the early part of the 1900's. I'm sure both photos were taken on the same day in 1911.  How did I come up with 1911?  I have the card with the children walking up Spring Street and it has a postmark of June 1911.  The card on ebay has a postmarked of August 1912.  May Day 1911 was on a Monday, May Day 1910 was on a Sunday, May Day 1909 was on a Saturday, May Day 1908 was on a Friday so by those days, I think this May Day Parade was in 1911.  These are printed cards, made from a printing press and when enlarged, a person will see many dots.  I did scan the sign and the bottom on the sign has "Grocery & Bakery". The top of sign has W. E. W??? (Word).  Hard to make the last name out.  Not being familar with Searcy, I went to Gooogle Map and went up Spring Street and I think this photo was taken at Spring and Center like Mr. Sullivan said.  The photographer was on the roof or on the second floor of a building across the street from the Tom Keene Cigar Sign when he took this photo. If someone has the time, they could pull up a Searcy or White County Newspaper that is on micofilm and research this parade.

Jul 28, 2012 01:43 PM
#6
Barbara S. Duncan
RE/MAX Advantage - Searcy, AR
GRI, e-PRO, Executive Broker, Searcy AR

James Whitlow, meet Don Thompson.

Don Thompson, meet James Whitlow.

The two of you would make the best researchers that Searcy AR has ever had!!  So it appears that the cigar sign might have also been for s store that sold cigars and baked goods.  Thanks to both of you for helping on this blog!!

Jul 28, 2012 10:36 PM
Anonymous
Anita Fuller

Brilliant idea Barbara....for James and Don to meet!   I'm saying SEARCY....and some of us sleuths could come, too.

Mr. M.E. Word 's home has been blogged...it's the one on Main Street across from the library that had the sign "The Dictionary" hanging over the door, because the words lived there.   

In my l957 phone book:  Mrs. W.E. Word,  211 E. Park, phone 527.

Jul 28, 2012 11:34 PM
#8
Barbara S. Duncan
RE/MAX Advantage - Searcy, AR
GRI, e-PRO, Executive Broker, Searcy AR

Anita, I'm adding you to the research team!  I had forgotten about that Word house.  Isn't it the one with PoDunk and the cars?

Jul 29, 2012 12:47 AM