We took a trip downtown this past week to check on some historical sites pertinent to our reading of True Grit. We went to the Clayton House, which is the former home William Clayton, who was the Federal Prosecutor during the time of Judge Parker's reign in Fort Smith. Our friend and former student Jacqulyn West works there. She gave us a most interesting tour of the home and it's a must-see for readers of True Grit. They will be happy to take individuals or small groups or even whole classes (call and make a reservation) on a tour of the house. You should go; it's cool. Coincidentally--or maybe not--Jacqulyn lives in George Maladon's house. He's the hangman mentioned by name in the novel. A real character he was. Jacqulyn will probably be doing a True Grit presentation for us on campus, too. Watch this space for an announcement.
We also toured the Fort Smith National Historical Site, which contains the old courthouse and prison where lots of the first part of the novel takes place. It's cool to go into the courtroom and imagine that great scene from the trial. They will also take individuals, small groups, or whole classes (go on-line and fill out the reservation and fee-waiver form) on the tour. There's lots of cool stuff here. If you go on March 17th at 11am or 2pm they tour the gallows on the anniversary of Cherokee Bill's hanging. Of course, you can tour the gallows any time they're open, too. This is a great place that many of us have probably been to at some point, but it's nice to go back with the True Grit perspective. The pictures of all the old Marshals are incredible. You just look at their faces and you can see how there really could have been a Rooster Cogburn. There is a group that does reenactments of court cases and we're waiting to get a new schedule of those. That would be fun to see. They may have the schedule published on the website by now.
Another place we toured--and I hadn't been to this one--was the Fort Smith Museum of History. This place is way cool and deserving of much attention. They really run the entire gamut of Fort Smith history (quite a story, too) but they do have lots of exhibits about Judge Parker and the gallows and all that. In fact the current special show is about the changing perceptions of the whole Judge Parker time in Fort Smith history. This place is great! They are very heavy into the whole Bass Reeves story right now. This is a very interesting story and emphasizes the diversity of this region. They will take individuals or small groups or even whole classes (call and talk to them first).
These are amazing resources folks! If you're a student or friend of the college and you're reading True Grit you should go and take your friends. If you're a teacher and you're teaching the novel, you should encourage your students to go. Most of these places are free or cheap or will waive or reduce the fees for educational groups, but please be sure to call and talk to them if you're doing anything in a group. And if you go, whoever you are, please be sure to mention the True Grit connection to UAFS.
Reading True Grit is a fabulous way to give ourselves a sense of place, but to really do it right, you need to get out and see some of these places. College should not take place only inside a classroom.
In the meantime, watch this space for news about these special True Grit places and events.
What a great time the road trip was. I hope to gather some responses from student readers and even instructors on what you'd like to see in my upcoming presentation.
ReplyDeleteDo you have any specific questions about the history, language, or ideas? Or general comments about the book or Fort Smith itself? Give me some feedback and let me know what you think, what you expect, and how I can help.
Many times, as I read the book, I often forget that this book takes some place in Fort Smith, AR. I think it would be interesting to go to the courtroom and get a tour about how it used to be in the past. But other than that, I would also like to go to the museum. Museums are always interesting because it is the only place where history is kept present.
ReplyDeleteInteresting observations, Anonymous!
ReplyDeleteIn fact, the presentation I'm putting together is (hopefully) going to show how Fort Smith keeps "history present" even right now, and outside the museum.
I'm curious as to people's majors who are reading the blog and book. Anyone care to share?
I am a nursing major and I am reading this book for freshman english 2, but I couldn't have enjoyed this book more. I love to read but I would have never chosen this book to read, like our beloved Mattie I too judge harshly at sight first seen. I thought I would answer your question.
ReplyDeleteKrista
It's great that you guys have visited all of these places and got to experience what the olden days were like. I really want to do the same. I recently researched a little bit about the history of Fort Smith and found out that Judge Parker is buried at the national cemetary downtown along with eighty marshalls who served under him, and at least twenty-eight outlaws who were ordered to hang. That is awesome! I did not know the cemetary had this type of history. It is also one of only two cemetaries in the United States that have both union and confederate soldiers buried in the same place. Interesting! I have plans to ask my teacher about putting aside a day where we can go downtown and experience some Fort Smith history with the True Grit perspective in mind!
ReplyDeletei've been on the tour of the prison and courthouse and i've seen the names of the marshals and the convicted men and it is a very interesting experience. walking through the courthouse and seeing the gallows really shows a lot of history of Fort Smith and many of the stories told are good enough to write in a wyatt earp or doc holliday film or story.
ReplyDeletei think that going to the courthouse would be neat if it was done as a class project because i know that when i went i learned a ton of stuff that i had no clue about.