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Historic Facts
Bald Knob's namesake was a huge, somewhat round rock out-cropping
which covered nearly an acre of ground. It was surrounded
by a flat rock shelf and could be seen from quite a distance.
It was a landmark for many years before it was quarried and
used in the construction of the Missouri Pacific Railroad.
Legend has it that Hernando De Soto, during his explorations
of the Mississippi River Valley in 1541, discovered and named
this large rock mound "Bald Knob." It was used by Indians
before the coming of the white man as a camping ground during
their hunting trips up and down the White River Valley. Later
it was used by marauding outlaw bands and slave traders. Cattlemen
used the area to assemble their herds for salting, branding
and selling after the stately rock was quarried. Today, the
quarry remains very much as it was 125 years ago. Several
businesses are located around its perimeter. The original
top shelf rock remains in only one area which is between V.M.&J.
Fur and Jiffy Jerry's. A marker has never been established
at this historic site to this day.
Bald Knob was incorporated in 1881. Railroad construction
began in 1872. Prior to that there was nothing to mark the
present site except for two or three log huts built for temporary
use by cattle raisers from the west who brought their herds
to graze the rolling foothills and rich White River Delta
Plains.
Bald Knob and the surrounding area soon became known as "The
Strawberry Center of the World." Truck and train car loads
of this highly sought after commodity were shipped from the
Waller Family Strawberry Market for several years. Other states
found they could grow them earlier, but none could grow them
any sweeter.
Rich Cultural History
"Windows to the past" can be found in buildings throughout
the city, particularly some from the early years of the 20th
Century. Examples include the Methodist Church, 1927, listed
on the National Registry of Historic Places; Central Baptist
Church; and the Catholic Church. Others which always catch
a by passer's eye are The Campbell-Crisp-Grayson House, National
Registry Property built in 1899; the June Collison Home; the
Missouri-Pacific Depot, 1915, National Registry Property;
and the Berry Sheds, as well as the Historic Downtown District.
Two industrial parks are ready to entertain new business interests
as well as bolster the growth of existing industry.
Having recently received the designation of one of Arkansas'
"Volunteer Communities of Excellence," Bald Knob takes great
pride in being one of America's Dream Hometowns.
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