Journalist and publisher, John Archibald, shares his research about Mayberry Springs.
The Garland County Historical Society (GCHS) will present John Archibald’s program “Mayberry Springs As I Knew Her” at noon, Tuesday, September 16, at the Garland County Library, 1427 Malvern Avenue.
The Mayberry Springs Inn (near Crystal Springs, Arkansas, on HWY 270 West) was established well before the Civil War. Many legends have grown up about the property, which was especially busy when Bear, Arkansas, and Silver, Arkansas, flourished during the gold and silver booms of the 1880s. In later years, it was the summer home of the Rector family.
Archibald will share much new research about the house and grounds. He’ll explore the role of Mayberry Springs in Native American times, the Civil War, the Silver and Bear mining booms, as a home to “Indian” Rector (the state’s first Olympian), preservation efforts to save the house, and the geology of the grounds. He will also share photos of the property, which were previously thought to have been lost.
Archibald is a career journalist with a bachelor’s degree in communications from Marquette University. He worked as a newspaper journalist in Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Agana, Guam; Hot Springs, and Oshkosh, Wisconsin. He worked for the Ouachita Area Council BSA based in Hot Springs and has worked as a historical preservation consultant. He has authored two books and publishes the monthly tabloid, Ouachita Life. When he isn’t slogging through the Ouachita mountains looking for long-lost history, he enjoys repairing old cars, farming sorghum, and letterpress printing.
For more information about GCHS, email Liz at gchs@hotsprings.net and follow GCHS on Facebook: Garland County Historical Society.
