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Romance Arkansas, the city of love?

By
Real Estate Agent with RE/MAX Advantage

Romance AR

I'm always writing about Searcy Arkansas because that's where I live and work and Searcy has grown through the years.

Thumbing through my picture collection, however, I found this interesting shot.  It is a picture of Romance, Arkansas in 1930.  Romance lies 22.1 miles from Searcy and the trip takes about 49 minutes.  Actually, you head toward Joy and it leads to Romance (big Arkansas joke but a true statement).

About the only thing at Romance is a post office.  Folks go there to buy stamps to put on wedding announcements or valentines or sometimes they'll plan their wedding in Romance.  With gas as high as it has become business may be down at Romance.  By the way, this is a photo that is almost unchanged except that if it was a store, it's no longer there and this street may be paved now.

Show All Comments
Charles Buell
Charles Buell Inspections Inc. - Seattle, WA
Seattle Home Inspector

Barbara, with roads like that I can see why it takes 50 minutes to go 22 miles----or is that because of the "Joy" along the way to "Romance?"

Oct 12, 2008 09:26 AM
Barbara S. Duncan
RE/MAX Advantage - Searcy, AR
GRI, e-PRO, Executive Broker, Searcy AR

I got the time from GoogleMaps and the distance.  Perhaps they are so smart they know every lover's lane going in that direction!  Actually, the roads are so winding, you'd better be careful or you'll never make it to Romance!

Oct 12, 2008 09:58 AM
Charles Buell
Charles Buell Inspections Inc. - Seattle, WA
Seattle Home Inspector

Barbara, that is alright-----joy is OK:)

Oct 12, 2008 10:03 AM
Mary Strang
Viroqua, WI

Hello Barbara, We have a town called Romance too, could be a sister city look alike.  Not much there except 2 taverns.  

Oct 12, 2008 10:07 AM
Barbara S. Duncan
RE/MAX Advantage - Searcy, AR
GRI, e-PRO, Executive Broker, Searcy AR

Charles, the roads are winding to get to Joy too.  Better stay home.  : )

Mary, 2 taverns will beat one post office.  : )

Oct 12, 2008 01:30 PM
Elizabeth Weintraub Sacramento Broker
Elizabeth Anne Weintraub, Broker - Sacramento, CA
Put 40 years of experience to work for you

Hi Barbara: Are your roads not paved because I'm surely not seeing any mountains, LOL. I'm thinking maybe you make the entire trip in second gear?

elizabeth weintraub sacramento real estate agent in land park

Oct 13, 2008 03:04 AM
Barbara S. Duncan
RE/MAX Advantage - Searcy, AR
GRI, e-PRO, Executive Broker, Searcy AR

Elizabeth, Romance is elevated.  It's at the top! 

Oct 13, 2008 03:54 AM
Charles Stallions Real Estate Services
Charles Stallions Real Estate Services Inc - Gulf Breeze, FL
Buyers Agent 800-309-3414 Pace and Gulf Breeze,Fl.

What a great picture, romance is probably all they can do with roads like that.

Oct 13, 2008 06:22 AM
Anonymous
Cliff

Pleasure (West Pleasure street in Searcy) leads to Harmony, Joy, and Romance.

Harmony is 3 miles south, southwest, of Center Hill, on Hiway 305.

Oct 14, 2008 05:48 AM
#9
Barbara S. Duncan
RE/MAX Advantage - Searcy, AR
GRI, e-PRO, Executive Broker, Searcy AR

Joyce, maybe not even romance.  The area hasn't grown in the last 80 years.

Cliff, I knew there was more to that old saying.  Thanks for updating me.  I've been in real estate for almost 30 years and have never heard of Harmony.  I believe it has lost out on having a name.  Romance has been saved by the post office.  Joy still has a  store (I think).  But you are right.  They used to say, "Pleasure Street leads to Harmony, Joy and Romance." 

Oct 14, 2008 06:26 AM
Donna Schoby
Liberty Bank of Arkansas - Bentonville, AR

Barbara, I'm going to look this up, I never heard of Romance or Joy.  I'm not originally from Arkansas, but I have lived here over 20 years. I have always lived in NWA. I find your posts on Arkansas very interesting. Thanks for the history lessons!

Oct 14, 2008 04:31 PM
Ronelle Schroeder-Hill
Vacaville, CA

My husband and I were vacationing in Arkansas last week, visiting the inlaws who retired in Hot Springs Village. Not sure if this is anywhere close but Arkansas, the natural state, is a beautiful state!

Oct 14, 2008 05:50 PM
Barbara S. Duncan
RE/MAX Advantage - Searcy, AR
GRI, e-PRO, Executive Broker, Searcy AR

Donna, you'll find Romance okay because of the post office.  Joy doesn't have a post office so you won't find it probably. Thanks for reading my blog.

Ronelle, Hot Springs Village is lovely.  Romance is not near it however.  Thanks for visiting our state!

Oct 15, 2008 12:21 AM
Anonymous
john sanderson

yes Pleasure street did lead to Joy and Romance in one direction, but it also led to girls domentory at Harding in the other direction............

Aug 29, 2009 09:45 AM
#14
Anonymous
Mark J Lutz

Ok enough about the roads in ROMANCE AR, LOL ,I live just to the right of this pic and this pic was taken in 1930. Although are on a bad decline with all of the oil and gas drilling rigs always running up and down them, The old store and spring is still there. The store as been closed since the 80's but is now being refurbished and made into a home, I own the old cottin gin foundation that is just out of sight to the right of this pic (this pic is in the post office at romance and it is expanded to see farther to the right and left) my wife and I have just started to restore the foundation and gonna put a small cottage house on it. My wife and named it the Cottin Gin Cottage :) As for business in Romance there is the Romance Water Falls also just to the right in this pic, It was a great swimming hole back in the day but now it has been turned into a great place for outdoor weddings and other events. Any one is welcome to visit as long as the gate is open. As for the long drive google maps does take you the long senic way, fastest way from Searcy is 267 west to 31 north for about 15 miles to the post office and were you are looking in this pic is about 50 yards past the post office and to the right

Jun 24, 2010 04:00 AM
#15
Anonymous
Bob

My mother grew up in Harmony moved to Chicago where I live.and I inherited a house and land in Romance. I can't wait go get out of Illinois.

Apr 28, 2017 10:49 AM
#16
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