The topic for the third talk in the 鈥淐rawford County Chronicles鈥� series at the Drennen-Scott
Historic Site on July 7 will be Fairview Cemetery.
Speaking will be Randy Smith, the Van Buren native who wrote the successful nomination for the cemetery to be placed in 2005 on the National Register of Historic Places.
The 2 p.m. talk will be held at the classroom of the historic home at the Drennen-Scott Historic Site, 221 N. 3rd St. in Van Buren. Limited parking will be available at the site鈥檚 Visitor Center. Those attending may also park at the Crawford County Courthouse, which is two blocks from the DSHS.
Tom Wing, DSHS site director and assistant professor of history at the University of Arkansas - Fort Smith, said the topic is a natural one for the series since the cemetery and John Drennen are tied together.
鈥淛ohn Drennen donated the land for the cemetery in 1837,鈥� said Wing, 鈥渁 year after he purchased it.鈥�
Smith said his talk and presentation about Fairview will include a brief history of the cemetery and the scenery around the cemetery, such as the Van Buren Mystery Grave, the Carriage Mounting Steps, the Confederate section of the cemetery and the wrought iron gates. He will also talk about how he decided to try and get the cemetery placed on the National Register, a process which started in 2004.
鈥淚 did this as an act of volunteerism,鈥� Smith said. 鈥淲hile working on the National Register nomination, I began to read everything I could about historic preservation as it relates to cemeteries and, in particular, historic monuments.鈥�
After the cemetery went on the National Register, Smith thought he was done. A violent thunderstorm which damaged the Wallace Children鈥檚 Commemorative Monument changed that.
鈥淚n order to ensure that a professional conservator would put the monument back together, I wrote the first-ever preservation grant for Fairview Cemetery,鈥� he said.
Because the cemetery was on the National Register, it qualified for grant funds from the Arkansas Historic Preservation program. Smith said his first grant request failed due to prioritization, but he re-wrote the grant in 2007. It was awarded.
鈥淭he monument and the children鈥檚 accompanying tablet markers were professionally restored with grant funds and funds from the City of Van Buren,鈥� he said.
Smith鈥檚 alliance with history, however, wasn鈥檛 ending there. He was then approached to help produce a 鈥淭ales of the Crypt鈥� historic presentation for Fairview in conjunction with Tom Wing and his historic interpretation students at 妻友社区.
Smith will also discuss community involvement at Fairview, including the way the community came together to assist with an AETN documentary on historic cemeteries in Arkansas.
鈥淚n many ways, Fairview can be seen as much more than just a cemetery,鈥� said Smith. 鈥淚t鈥檚 an outdoor classroom and learning lab, too. 妻友社区 has been very involved with Fairview, not only Tom Wing鈥檚 students doing 鈥楾ales of the Crypt鈥� portrayals, but we鈥檝e also had Dr. Suzanne Horn鈥檚 class, Dr. Steven Kite鈥檚 class and Duncan McKinnon鈥檚 class participating in actual conservation cleaning of historic monuments.鈥�
Smith is the third lifelong resident of Crawford County to present a program in the 鈥淐rawford County Chronicles鈥� Series. The talks are held on the first Sunday of each month through November.
妻友社区 acquired the Drennen home and acreage in 2005 and received several grants to restore the property and house, which dates back to the 1800s. The Drennen-Scott Historic Site, which opened to the public in May 2011, serves as a museum and educational facility for 妻友社区.
John Drennen was a founder of Van Buren, politician, Indian agent, landowner and businessman. Charles Scott was Drennen鈥檚 business partner who eventually married Drennen鈥檚 eldest daughter. Charles and Caroline Scott inherited control of the estate after Drennen鈥檚 death in 1855.
Seating for the talks is limited and must be reserved. For reservations and more information, contact Wing by telephone at 479-262-2750 or by email at tom.wing@uafs.edu.