Bald Knob, Arkansas

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.

The watermelon is 25-ft. long, lacquered over a steel frame, created for the town's annual parade.

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.

Bald Knob Chamber of Commerce

Vision and the Future

Now, I love Arkansas, don't get me wrong. It's a beautiful state and is rich in culture and diversity. But 125 years ago, even before town was incorporated, don't you think someone should have told the railroad to go get their rock somewhere other than the local landmark (and future towns namesake)? It's hard to believe that no one thought it was a bad idea. The delta may be short on rocks, but overall Arkansas has lots of rock. There should be a city park around the former 'Bald Knob' rock. This lack of vision 125 years ago haunts Balk Knob today and forever.

Memphis leaders should take note to ensure their legacy is not just a big hole in the ground 125 years from now. But you need vision for that......Vision like not razing one of the most historic auditoriums in Memphis to expand the Convention Center. The new facilities may well have been needed, but why put it in a place where than 50 years of Memphis music history had been made. Vision is including the old with the new to make a step forward without losing the past. Something Memphis has yet to do.... Ellis Auditorium