The Baxter County, Arkansas, Historical and Genealogical Society

2007 Officers

Co-Presidents
Jean Smith
Melanie Kelly

Vice President
Catherine Abel

Secretary
Brenda Watson Johnson

Treasurer
Jane Andrewson

Museum Curator
Jane Andrewson

Membership
Application

$25 for individuals
$35 for households
$150 for businesses

P.O. Box 675
Gassville, AR 72635-0675

Baxter County, Arkansas,
Historical and Genealogical Society

histani1.gif (55896 bytes)

    The Baxter County, Arkansas, Historical Society was founded on September 27, 1974, by a group of "old-timers," joined by some "new-comers," who were interested in preserving the history of our county.
     Each issue of Baxter County History, the quarterly publication of The Baxter County Historical and Genealogical Society, contains approximately 30 pages.
     In 1992 the Society purchased the old Rollins Hospital in Gassville with the help of the late Charles Blackburn. It was opened in July 2000, and is now the Baxter County Heritage Museum.

Baxter County Heritage Museum 107 East Main Street Gassville, Arkansas
Hours	Tuesday - Saturday Noon to 4 p.m.
At other times, please call Curator Jane Andrewson, 870-425-4502, to make an appointment to see the museum and the genealogy material.
Collections
Historic school records from all 68 school districts in Baxter County. These are from the office of the County Superintendent of Schools, which no longer exists. Records from old stores Some court records Native American collection, including information on the Trail of Tears across Baxter County Collection of railroad memorabilia Collection of hospital equipment from Rollins Hospital Collection of military uniforms and pictures of Baxter County military personnel
Genealogy
A large collection of genealogy books and other materials from Baxter and Marion Counties, as well as records from many areas of the United States. *************************
If you've lived in the area for any length of time, or if your ancestors are from Baxter County, you're sure to enjoy this eclectic collection of articles. We also have a wide variety of genealogy and local history books for sale, as well as past copies of "The History," the quarterly journal of the Baxter County Historical and Genealogical Society. If you are looking for genealogy we will try and help you with Baxter, Marion and Izard counties.

Also in 1992, the city of Mountain Home agreed to allow the Society to have a section of Cooper Park to erect Rapp's Barrens, a pioneer village of buildings which were moved from several areas of the county. The village now contains two log cabins, a shot-gun house, and the Shady Grove School. Baxter County History Day is observed each October in Rapp's Barrens. In 2002 the Rapp's Barrens Pioneer Village was officially returned to the City of Mountain Home.

Annual
Big Flat Homecoming
Memorial Day Weekend

Baxter County Page, USGenWeb
(You can post a query here.)

The History of Gassville
From a presentation by the late Mr. Hubert Marler, Gassville
Given at the July 1997 BCHGS meeting at the Gassville Community Center.

Here's an interesting web site
for those with Buford connections.
Mountain Village 1890 in Bull Shoals

And a great page of old postcards from Maryanne Edge, the Editor of our quarterly magazine,
The History

The newest History of Baxter County
is now available for $45.00 + $5.00 S/H

Publications for Sale by the Baxter County Historical and Genealogical Society
*Blessed are the Peacemakers* by J.W. Smith ($5.00 goes to Society)	$21.95
*Of Grave Importance*	$40.00
Early Marriages of Baxter County, 1873-1897	$12.00
Early Marriages of Baxter County, 1897-1920	$12.00
*Bennett’s Bayou* by Donald S. Hubbell, Jr.	$22.50
The History (back copies of the Quarterly)	$3.00
*The History – The First Twenty Years* (index)	$35.00
The History – The Next Seven Years (index)	$25.00
Index to the History of Marion County	$9.00
**Crownover Family History**	$25.00
**Crownover Newsletters**	$8.00
*Dear Jean* by Jeanetta Grigg ($5.00 goes to Society)	$20.00
*Focus on History, Vol. I* by Mary Ann Messick	$15.00
Focus on History, Vol. II by Mary Ann Messick	$15.00
*Focus on History, Vol. III* by Mary Ann Messick	$15.00
*Focus on History, Vol. IV* by Mary Ann Messick	$15.00
*The Wolf Was Never Far Away* by Emmit Acklin ($5.00 goes to Society)	$24.95
*Liberty, Our Heritage* by Emmit Acklin ($5.00 goes to Society)	$25.00
History and Families of Baxter County (new low price)	$45.00
Hatch, Match & Dispatch, 1950 – 1952	$20.00
Hatch, Match & Dispatch, 1953 – 1954	$20.00
Hatch, Match & Dispatch, 1955 – 1956	$20.00
*Was It Murder? The Dark Side of Baxter County History* by Maryanne Edge	$30.00

Shipping cost of $5.00 must be added per book. To order, contact Jane Andrewson.

Other Baxter County Publications

These publications were compiled by former BCHGS President, Margie Garr.

The Society meets on the fourth Tuesday of each month. Regular meetings are held at the Baxter County Heritage Museum in Gassville at 7:00 p.m. Special meetings may be held at a different place or time. Please call Jane Andrewson at (870) 425-4502 to make sure of the time and place. Visitors and new members are always welcome.

Drop us a note! We'd love to hear from you!