If These Walls Could Talk...

Source:
MEASURE, Fall 2011
The Research Publication of Arkansas State University

“Since our office was established almost 12 years ago, we have generated just over $19 million in grant funds for sustainable cultural heritage projects in the Arkansas Delta region.  Even those who never set foot in any of these heritage sites will benefit from the economic and educational benefits that these sites bring to the region.”

If anyone could define cultural sustainability, it would be Dr. Ruth Hawkins, Director of the Arkansas Heritage SITES (System Initiatives for Technical and Educational Support) at ASU-Jonesboro.  In her tenure as Director, Hawkins has spearheaded preservation of the cultural heritage of the Great River Road, Crowley’s Ridge, the Lakeport Plantation, the Southern Tenant Farmers Museum, the Dyess Community, and the Rohwer Interpretative Center, among others – all remnants of the Delta’s rich cultural history.  Her projects exemplify the many faces of cultural sustainability by preserving and interpreting the structures, music, art, and way of life of a bygone era.  They likewise encompass the three missions of the University by providing rich opportunities for instruction, research, and service to the community.  Equally importantly, the projects have played an important part in the economic development of the Arkansas Delta.

Learning from the past

Hawkins says that while she and her colleagues are interested in all areas of cultural and historic preservation, the primary focus has been on those projects that are nationally significant. "Typically these projects involve stories that may not be widely known or may have been forgotten because some or all of those who experienced them directly are no longer with us," she says. "Our work at historic sites usually involves two steps: preservation of historic structures, since often these are the only remaining artifacts associated with the story and can serve as the envelope in which we place the story, and research to understand all aspects of the story and find ways to present it so that current and future generations can understand and learn from the past." 

She adds, "In all our restoration projects, our interest has been in making sure that the building will be sustained into the future. We have attempted to serve as a best practices model for preservation projects around the country. For example, we designed an HVAC system for the Lakeport Plantation that is more focused on the 'comfort' of the house, rather than the people in the house, and it reacts primarily to humidity levels, rather than temperature levels, to keep the house in balance. The project also includes a geo-thermal field with 30 wells to assist in heating and cooling.  We have utilized state-of-the art techniques in all aspects of our restorations, such as dendrochronology (tree-ring dating) to date structures, microscopic analysis for paint history, and ground penetrating radar for archeology work. In researching the stories, we have utilized a variety of techniques, including conducting oral history interviews, researching court records and government documents, going through family and/or organizational records, and so forth."

Living laboratories

ASU has involved its students in the Heritage Studies Ph. D. program every step of the way, using its field sites as living laboratories. Currently the university owns and operates three heritage sites:    

Hawkins says, “We recently acquired the Federal Administration Building that was the centerpiece of the historic Dyess Colony, a planned community that put out-of-work farmers back to work during the Great Depression.  Known as the boyhood home of Johnny Cash, Arkansas Heritage SITES and the City of Dyess are collaborating on a master redevelopment plan for the community which, if implemented, would become the biggest project yet, in that it essentially will involve the restoration and redevelopment of an entire community.”

Often we visit a special place and speculate, “If these walls could talk…”  Thanks to the cultural sustainability programs at Arkansas State University, walls are not only talking, they galvanize teaching, research, community service, and economic development.  And what they are saying will echo through time as we preserve their stories for generations to come.



ASU Heritage Sites: Major Benefits to the State

Major Benefits to Arkansas State University