About the author: Shirley (Shewmake) Manning has been involved in historic preservation for the past twenty-five years, during which time she has been successful in listing six properties on the National Register of Historic Places. She also founded the Main Street Mena program. She has served on the board of directors for the Polk County Chamber of Commerce and the Historic Preservation Alliance of Arkansas. She is an honorary member of the Polk County Library and a lifetime member of the Polk County Genealogical Society. In August 2001, she founded the Norman Historic Preservation Program, Inc. and became the first president.
Shirley has become known locally and state-wide as a historian interested in the preservation of history in Polk and Montgomery Counties. She has published several books, including a short history of Mena, and a history and fifty-year annual of the old Norman High School,. She has also printed various historic calendars and a short history on horse racing in Hot Springs, Arkansas. She was a major contributor to the Polk County History Book. For six years she published a monthly local and family history magazine entitled, “The Mountain Signal” for Polk and Montgomery Counties.
All the profits from the books listed below are donated to the Norman Historic Preservation Program, Inc. (NHPP) to be used toward the renovation of the old Norman High School as a children’s educational center and museum. Manning also publishes a biannual magazine for the school.
We also have for sale a number of slightly used copies of The Looking Glass magazine. This magazine was printed for 16 years in Polk County and contains a great number of stories on families in the early years of the county. For information or to order click one of the links below.
Norman Yesterday & Today, the official publication of NHPP, Inc.
This 32 page magazine features family stories, local history and current events in and around Norman, Arkansas. It is NOT for sale. The only way to get it is become a member of NHPP, Inc. The publication is free with membership. It is printed twice a year. See the Membership page for information on becoming a member.
Back issues of The Mountain Signal are for sale at $6 each, as long as they last. Check the finding aide for articles of interest.
Contents Centennial Book
Dedication 02
Introduction 03
Credits 04
Contents 05
Section One
Norman, Arkansas, A Short History 06
Black Springs Lumber Company 08
Norman High School 11
Dr. John T. Barr, Jr. 16
Town Square & Library 27
Section Two
Life On The Farm 31
King Cotton 32
The Old Home Place 34
The Roof 36
Chimney & Fireplace 37
The Necessary (Outhouse) 39
Spittoons 41
The Shoemaker 42
Milk & Cream 43
Cultivation 45
Maul, Iron Wedges,and Two Gluts-Rail Splitter’s Tools 47
Feed Sacks & Snakes 48
Good Things To Eat From The Kitchen & Root Cellar 52
Doing The Chores 56
Oatmeal Dishes, Crackerjacks, Bull Durham Sacks, Country Bugs 60
Laundry Day 65
Sad Irons 67
Puttn’ On 69
The Telephone 70
Heard It One The Radio 73
Section Three
Entertainment 75
Farm Toys & Games 76
Games 82
Wagon Yards 85
Book Learning + Fun = Chautauquas 86
Picnics, Fairs & Parades 88
Section Four
School –The Walk To School 89
The First Day of School 91
The School House on the Hill 95