Tradition Wins Out

The Washing County Historical Society's annual Ice Cream Social is back where it should be, and all's right with the world, says Vince Chadick, chairman of this weekend's event.

For the past couple of years, the organization, based at Headquarters House on East Dickson Street in Fayetteville, tried moving the event to coincide with Arkansas Statehood Day in June. It just wasn't the same.

"For 40 years, it was an end-of-summer, back-to-school tradition," Chadick says. "And we're going back due to popular demand."

Saturday's event, the 43rd, will continue some traditions and start some new ones.

Traditionally, graduates of the Heritage School perform period dances, and this year will be no different.

Traditionally, supporters donate cakes. They will.

Traditionally, slices of those cakes are served with Hiland Dairy ice cream. And they will be.

"It should really be called the Historical Society Cake-a-thon, because we usually have more 70 cakes in addition to the Hiland Dairy ice cream," says Charlie Alison, another friend of the historical society.

And always, Headquarters House is the centerpiece of the event, with gardens maintained by Master Gardeners and the historic home still bearing the scars of the Civil War, including the hole where a minieball hit the front doorway.

It was April 18, 1863, when Confederate forces led by Brig. Gen. W.L. Cabell launched a surprise attack on the Union command of Col. M. LaRue Harrison. The battle was fought on the grounds of the home previously occupied by Jonas Tebbetts, a judge and community leader, and at the intersection of Dickson and College, sometimes called "bloody corner."

According to the Encyclopedia of Arkansas History & Culture, "Tebbetts' house served as headquarters to both the Union and the Confederate armies during their respective times of occupation of Fayetteville. Even though the house sustained some serious damage during the 'Action at Fayetteville' on April 18, 1863, it was returned to its original grandeur by the numerous owners who bought the house in the years following the Civil War. Each owner stayed true to the original Greek Revival style in which the house was built. In 1967, the house was turned over to the Washington County Historical Society by Paris Green to operate as a historic house museum."

What's new at this year's Ice Cream Social is more music: Chadick says the band East of Zion will return this year, and Allison Williams of MayBelle Music will also perform.

"It's not necessarily period music, but it's folksy and bluegrass, and people will enjoy it," he says.

Chadick describes the event as more of a "friend raiser" than a fundraiser.

"We certainly use the money and put it back into programming, but this iconic event is a chance to get as many people as possible to meet our board, learn about our Heritage School and see the breadth of the group," he says. "I think we can hook them once we get them there. I attended my first one in 1981 as a very young teenager, and a lot of people are the same way. My friends and I are now bringing our kids, and soon enough we'll be bringing our grandkids!

"It really introduced me to local history, which is rich and vibrant, and what it's like to contribute to community," Chadick concludes.