Don't forget our local treasures

The Piggott depot houses the office of the Chamber of Commerce, and serves as the local visitor/tourist information center. It's a treasure often overlooked by local residents, and visitors alike.

Both our local museums are known worldwide but for very different reasons. The Hemingway-Pfeiffer Museum enjoys the distinction of its affiliation with the famous author, the local history of the Pfeiffer family and as an ASU Heritage Site. The beautiful Matilda and Karl Pfeiffer Museum nearby has a mineral and crystal collection that is unparalleled, not to mention a world class collection of Native American artifacts. Of course, you can also see where Andy Griffith and Patricia Neal sat in the swimming pool scene from A Face in the Crowd and the pool used in filming the movie in 1956.

Within walking distance anyone can visit that famous site, or stroll over to where Hemingway wrote a portion of A Farewell to Arms in the barn studio at the HPMEC. And when I say anyone, I mean visitors to our city and locals alike. Yes, the museums are for both tourists and us too. Have you been to see them, other than during a special event such as the Native American day at the Pfeiffer Museum?

We have other great treasures, and one that is overlooked on a daily basis is the depot building on Main Street, and the caboose. The building was renovated to serve as the city's visitor/welcome center and houses the offices of the Piggott Area Chamber of Commerce. But it's also home to fairly large collection of photos and items from the city's past.

The building was formerly one of two depots along the Cotton Belt Line through Piggott, and was later moved to a location about three blocks behind the current community center. During the coming years it would serve as the shed for the Piggott Street Dept. In fact, from January to August of 1983 this reporter worked in the building for the department under Bert Watson, Jr.

In the late 1990's a group called PROGRESS Piggott began a campaign to move and renovate the building, and later worked to acquire and place the caboose. The group also sponsored the early car shows that were held at Heritage Park, with the proceeds going toward the project.

Thanks to the work of these people, we have a great visitor center and chamber office that is also historically significant and attractive. How many times a week do you drive by the depot without a second look? It belongs to the citizens of Piggott, and is open five days a week (six during the spring, summer and fall) for everyone to enjoy.

Of course, the primary purpose is to have a central location where visitors may go and acquire information, directions or just a friendly face. Over the years we've been fortunate to have some excellent staff members at the chamber office, and current secretary Lynette Cale is doing an outstanding job. The caboose is also a great feature, and Lynette has the key if anyone ever wants to look inside.

The west wall of the building, which was left in the original barnwood finish, boasts a good collection of photos, vintage documents and newspapers. Former and current residents that want to see what the Franklin Theater looked like can do just that. The office is also home to one of the old Clay County maps that we think formerly hung in the courthouse.

I encourage everyone to take time to visit our local treasures; I know it's easy to take them for granted. Visit the museums and the depot building--and make sure you utilize the services of our great library, community center and parks system. They are there to be enjoyed by all of us, and we're lucky to have such wonderful assets. In fact, if you live around here and have never visited these places--shame on you--how can we maintain such noble efforts without local support?