Clayton House Featured in Entertainment Fort Smith

The colorful news magazine, Entertainment Fort Smith that highlights the activities and coming events for the City of Fort Smith, featured our Victorian Clayton House in an article written for its December-January issue.

The article titled, “CLAYTON HOUSE – Still welcoming guests after 123 years”, was authored by Lynn Wasson who noted the home was “December’s featured home (which) has been beautiful and hospitable since 1882”. She went on to give an account of the activities scheduled at the annual Christmas Open House on December 4, 2005. The article also gave information on the original preservation led by Julia Yadon and the first Heritage Foundation members who saved the house from demolition in 1969 and solicited support for its restoration.
Included with the article were several distinct color photos emphasizing the stately rooms and period furniture taken by photographer Glenn Gilley..

The publicity created by this well written and informative account and the accompanying photos of The Clayton House should bring many new visitors to tour our historic home.

BOARD MEMBER JIM WAGLEY MAKES “E-LIST”

Heritage Foundation Board member Jim Wagley has made the distinguished “E-List” an honor bestowed local citizens by Entertainment Fort Smith, the bi-monthly magazine published to highlight the entertainment and other activities taking place in Fort Smith, Van Buren and River Valley communities.

The December-January issue of the colorful magazine selected Jim Wagley for its E-List because over the years he has developed to perfection the role of Santa. Complete with beard and costume, Jim has delighted young and old alike at Christmas parties held in schools, churches, hospitals and nursing homes. Jim has been our Santa for the Christmas Open House held each December at The Clayton House.

The Board expresses its appreciation to the those persons listed below for renewing their membership for 2006 and thanks them for supporting our Victorian Clayton House:

We list with pride all of the friends of The Clayton House who are Life Members and point out that from time to time, many members in this category also make other substantial contributions to our home:

DINNER FOR 20 AUCTIONED TO ROBERT YOUNGS’

TAYLORS’ RURAL”BOSKY HILL” HOME SITE FOR CATERED MEAL
 

Hosts Robert (Bob) Young (foreground) and wife, Mary Carlton Young (seated at Bob’s right) enjoy dinner withtheir guests in The Great Hall at Robert and Barbara Taylor’s rural Crawford County Home.

The Taylor dining room is patterned after an English “Great Hall” and is filled with museum pieces such as suits of armor, period weaponry and other antiques from Britain’s past. The shelves lining the walls of the Great Hall contain hundreds of volumes of the writings of the best known British and American authors. A massive dining table capable of seating 20 dinner guests is another feature of the Great Hall.

It was in this atmosphere of an English country estate the guests of Bob and Mary Carlton Young were seated and served with a gourmet meal on Saturday, February 12. The evening’s repast was catered by The Hall at ‘Taliano’s.

Guests were served with entrees of beef tenderloin w/ mushroom-artichoke sauce and grilled shrimp. The bill-of-fare also included a garden salad, potato casserole, glazed carrots and hot rolls. The meal was concluded with a delicious dessert of fresh strawberry cake w/ hand-dipped chocolate strawberries. This exquisite delight was the creation of the chef and donated to the occasion by Randellas Catering of Fort Smith. A choice of beverages included wine and champagne supplied by the Art Center.

Servers included Foundation Board members Genia Smith, Clara Jane Rubarth, Mary Lou Pointon, Harold MacDowell with the Art Center represented by Director Kathy Williams. The Clayton House Interns, Justin Huss and Katrina Coleman along with volunteers from the UA/FS Historic Interpretations program also assisted with serving and other amenities that made the dinner a success.
 

Hosts Robert (Bob) Young (foreground) and wife, Mary Carlton Young (seated at Bob’s right) enjoy dinner withtheir guests in The Great Hall at Robert and Barbara Taylor’s rural Crawford County Home.

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Young were the top bidders for a seated dinner for 20 persons at, Bosky Hill, the rural Crawford County home of Robert and Barbara Taylor. The bidding for the dinner was one of the choice items auctioned during the Dark Night and Silent Auction held during the Fort Smith Little Theatre production of, “Arsenic and Old Lace”. The event was sponsored on November 11 by the Fort Smith Heritage Foundation and the Fort Smith Art Center.

To appreciate the appeal such a meal would have one would need to know that the Taylor home, Bosky Hill, has many of the characteristics of a fashionable English Country Estate. Over the years, Bob and Barbara have assembled many items that represent several authentic English historical periods. A past president of the Heritage Foundation, Barbara offered the couple’s home for the Silent Auction dinner.
 

Guests of Bob and Mary Carlton Young are seated around the table enjoying dinner catered by The Hall at ‘Talliano’s and served by Heritage Foundation Board members, volunteers from the Art Center and interns from the UA/FS Historic Interpretations program.

The table in the Great Hall is lavishly set and ready to seat 18 guests of Robert and Mary Carlton Young.

All photographs courtesy of Genia Smith

We continue to be indebted to Dixie Digital Imaging for printing the Heritage Herald. The state-of- the-art copiers allow for quality color photographs and clear, readable print. We thank Owner-Pres. Kelly Smith for this courtesy and David Beckman for taking his time to run each edition for us. The business is located at 1705 Rogers Ave., Phone783-6600. (Editor)

NOTES FROM BOARD MEETINGS, January – March 2006

A substantial monetary donation was made to the Fort Smith Heritage Foundation for support of The Clayton House by Franklin Hawkins. This was reported to the Board by Genia Smith at th meeting held January 12.

Board member Phil White was recognized at a recent meeting of the Board for furnishing the materials and work crew to make the needed repairs on the main stairway leading to the second floor of The Clayton House. President Clara Jane Rubarth credited him with completing the project prior to the Christmas open house and expressed appreciation to Phil for underwriting the repairs at his own expense.

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Our thanks to Board member Sam Wang for a generous contribution to provide refreshments for the Valentines Day party given to show our appreciation to Heritage Foundation members for their support. The Board voted in March to make the party an annual affair.

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From time to time, Foundation members make special contributions toward specific items and projects of The Clayton House. Patricia Crump recently made a donation toward the Repair Funds of The Clayton House. Her special donation is greatly appreciated.

Board member Harold MacDowell is a Life member who has made several donations for special Clayton House projects. We accept with thanks these and all donations for special needs of our Victorian home.

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Former Foundation President Gene McVay’s interest in the 19th Century Clayton family has inspired him to research the lives of the four Clayton brothers and develop a Power Point presentation on their lives. The project is now complete and Col. McVay has informed the Foundation Board he is willing to present the Power Point program at a fundraising event to benefit the Clayton House.

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Annual MEMBERSHIP MEETING SET FOR JUNE 26.

The Foundation Board has set the date for the annual meeting of the membership on Sunday June 26. The meeting will be held at 2:00 p.m. in the Boardroom at The Clayton House. The nominating committee will report and officers will be elected to serve during the 2006-07 year. The annual recipient of the Victor Cary Lifetime Achievement award will be named. Mark your calendar now and plan to attend this important meeting!!!

NOTICE TO ALL INTERNET BROWSERS:

check out our web site at this address – ClaytonHouseFortSmith.com

PRESIDENT LOOKS AHEAD TO A BUSY AND ENTERTAINING SPRING SCHEDULE

Clayton House and Foundation Board Involved In Future Historic District Activities
 

Its been a busy season here at The Clayton House. Hard on the heels of the Christmas Open House, which itself followed soon after the Dark Night Theatre Evening at the Fort Smith Little Theatre, we jumped right into early Spring.

Early in February we, together with the Fort Smith Art Center, held a fabulous feast at Bosky Hill. Amid splendor more common in medieval England than in rural Crawford County, guests of Robert and Mary Carlton Young were served a fabulous seated dinner at the home of Robert and Barbara Taylor.

The Fort Smith Heritage Foundation membership was invited to a Valentine’s Day event at The Clayton House. Entertainment was calliope music provided by Board member Phil White whose marvelous instrument usually is at home in his park on the Riverfront. Guests were served chocolate, of course, and all agreed the event must surely become an annual one.

The Clayton House is busy between the major events with group tours and smaller tea-time celebrations. A garden Wedding is scheduled for March’s uncertain weather, but the Master Gardner volunteer crew has the herb bed ready for the season, and Interns Katrina Coleman and Justin Huss have house and gardens prepared for visitors.

Members of the Board are participating, along with members of the Belle Grove Historic District, in Good Neighbor Day on April 22. Work done this day must, according to the guidelines, be completed within the eight-hour day. A small house on West Fifth Street is to be painted.

Looking ahead to the Heritage Days Festival on Memorial Day weekend, The Clayton House will pause to help other tours and teas celebrate their events. The Festival is anchoring the popular “Tales of the Crypt” at Oak Cemetery and the downtown Rodeo Parade on Monday. Tours of the homes in the historic neighborhoods are scheduled for Saturday and Sunday afternoons. Oral History, with video taped interviews of World War II veterans, is scheduled for our Board room.

Games and activities for children and their families also are taking place on the grounds of the Belle Grove schoolhouse and the Fort Smith Art Center. The Trolley Museum will have a car available for the public to enjoy walking through and the Scottish Club has planned demonstration games.

Other non-profit organizations are sponsoring booths for information and items for sale. Herbs and other plants will be available, and food and picnic booths will add to the general festivity. The Friday evening kick-off event is a reprise of the Fort Smith Museum of History “Murder & Mayhem” tour of the neighborhood. This tour has been presented in October, and tickets for next October are already being reserved for this sell-out event.

Lots more going on during the Heritage Days Festival. STAY TUNED FOR MORE DETAILS!

Clara Jane Rubarth, President

UASF INTERNS, A VALUABLE ASSET TO C. HOUSE

The Heritage Foundation’s arrangement with the University of Arkansas to supply interns to serve as guides and docents to The Clayton House is proving to be a successful venture. The arrangement, which began last year, has helped train several students enrolled at UAFS advance toward earning a degree in Historical Interpretation.

INTERN KATRINA COLEMAN NOW ON BOARD AT C. HOUSE

We welcome Katrina Dell Coleman who began serving as a part-time paid intern at The Clayton House on January 1. She replaced Jodi Miles who has taken a full-time job elsewhere.

A student in the UA/FS Historic Interpretation program, Katrina has already had experience and training in the field by spending summers working at national parks and historic sites. During the summer of 2001, she worked as Cartographic Technician at Bighorn Recreational Area in Wyoming. In the summers of 2004-2005 she served as Biological Science Technician at Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota.

Further experience and training came to Katrina in 2005 when she worked toward and received the Trimble Certified Training Certification. In December of 2005, she received her Certified Guide certification from the National Association for Interpretation (NIA).In addition to her duties as intern, Katrina is joining with Pres. Rubarth and Intern Justin Huss in their efforts to build an interpretive program for The Clayton House.Long needed electric ceiling fans have been purchased and installed on both the front and back porches of The Clayton House. The fans were purchased by former Board member Fadjo Cravens and the installation was paid for by David Cravens. Board member Sam Wang made contact with both Cravens, located the items and delivered them for installation.  

THE FORT SMITH HERITAGE FOUNDATION NEEDS YOU