Peanuts have become an important alternative crop for farmers in parts of Arkansas, particularly on the lighter, sandier soils of the Delta. They provide another rotation option alongside cotton, soybeans, corn and rice and, under the right circumstances, can generate attractive returns… but peanuts aren’t an easy crop to grow. They require specialized equipment, significant […]
Archives for September 2026
Key Figures in the Civil War from Helena, Arkansas
After spending some time researching my mom’s family’s (Davis) connection to Jefferson Davis, I thought it might be interesting to look into some key players in the confederacy that were either from Helena or who settled in Helena. Contemporary Arkansas historical sources identify seven Confederate generals or general-level commanders associated with Phillips County, although two—Charles […]
Levon Helm and Helena: Where the Road to The Band Really Began
When people tell the story of Levon Helm, they usually begin in Turkey Scratch, Arkansas, and eventually move north to Woodstock, New York. Somewhere in between come Ronnie Hawkins, Bob Dylan, Music from Big Pink, The Last Waltz, and The Band, one of the most influential groups in the history of American rock music. That […]
Before Conway Twitty: Harold Jenkins and His Helena, Arkansas Roots
Long before millions of people knew him as Conway Twitty, he was Harold Lloyd Jenkins, a boy growing up in Helena, Arkansas, with a guitar in his hands and an interest in music that was beginning to take over his life. He would eventually become one of the most successful performers in country music history, […]
King Biscuit Time and KFFA: How a Little Helena Radio Station Helped Change American Music
There are certain moments in history that seem ordinary when they happen. Nobody holds a ceremony, nobody writes down that something important has just occurred, and the people involved usually have no idea that anyone will still be talking about it generations later. One of those moments happened in Helena, Arkansas, on November 21, 1941. […]
Helen Keller’s Helena Roots: An Arkansas Connection Hidden in Plain Sight
When most people think of Helen Keller, Arkansas probably isn’t the first place that comes to mind. Keller was born in Tuscumbia, Alabama, in 1880, and her remarkable childhood there became one of the best-known stories in American history. After losing both her sight and hearing following an illness when she was only 19 months […]
The Last Civil War Widow: An Arkansas Story That Spanned Generations
When we think about the American Civil War, it is easy to imagine it as ancient history. The war ended in 1865, before automobiles, airplanes, radio, television, or any of the technology that defines modern life. The soldiers who fought at Gettysburg, Shiloh, Vicksburg, and countless other battlefields seem to belong to an America completely […]
Helena, Arkansas: A Mississippi River Town with an Extraordinary History
There are towns whose history can be told by listing a few important dates, and then there are places where history seems to be everywhere you look. Helena, Arkansas, is one of those places. Sitting between the Mississippi River and the hills of Crowley’s Ridge, Helena occupies one of the most unusual locations in the […]