Happy 2019 Everyone!
Perhaps because we were raised in a farming community, we
don't realize how many people dream of walking into a farm setting as it was
almost a century ago, when agriculture was the heartbeat of our nation and
folks had the opportunity to own and till their own land. Besides renovating a total of ten vintage
buildings and constructing six more, for the last ten years we have played host
to those who fantasize about what they believed was a simpler life. We gave
them a little taste of Delta farm life by donning costumes and speaking the
language of the 1930s. They have come by bus loads--from as far away as New
Jersey--by car and truck, and by bikes on a hot Sunday afternoon. We have also
played host to those who have returned to the area for a visit, to reminisce
about those 'good ole days.' We have
hosted weddings in front of the old barn. Organizations, various Chambers of
Commerce in several towns, church and school groups have visited to find out
just what a living history museum is all about. They have washed clothes with a
rub board, played games of the 1930s, and had picnics with food from that era.
They have picked sacks full of cotton and toted them to the company store for
payment in pennies—pennies usually spent on candy inside the store. They have
played storekeeper, postmaster, and landowner. Folk crafts have had their hands
weaving rag rugs and making brooms. Hopefully, everyone went away with a better
understanding about our Delta farming history. Unfortunately, in 2017 we had to
stop giving public tours due to a huge increase in liability insurance and government
rulings on public places. But, we do still give a few private tours and we
always enjoy people stopping by and sharing their history with us.
We have also taken our Delta history on the road and continue
to do so. We have taught workshops in rag rug weaving, broom making, Native
American herbs, open fire cooking, and other crafts at Arkansas Parks, particularly at Parkin Archeological State Park. We have
taught workshops for Arkansas Northeastern College. One year the youth from an
ANC summer program came to the farm, learning the how-tos of making movies.
John has participated in digs with the Arkansas Archeology Department of the
University of Arkansas. He has also been a member of their organization. We
participated in the Delta Made Products
for several years. The Widner-Magers Farm Historic District has been a member
of the Association of Living History,
Farm and Agriculture Museums for fourteen years, an organization where we
were able to share a little of our Southern history. Our barns were featured in the AETN
production Back Road Barns in 2016.
We have appeared in numerous issues of Delta
Crossroads magazine and Arkansas Living. The old grocery store
was the location for the cover of Joe Chipman's CD Keeping It Delta. And you may have seen several billboards from
that same store porch.
The groups visiting our farm have been many but we have
reached larger numbers of people through our four blogs. Since 2017, I have
concentrated on getting our Delta story out through them. The Country Farm Home has had several million people visit since
its start. It has also been awarded one of the Top Fifty Farmhouse Blogs in the country. The Duncan
Farmstead blog is running close behind it. It is the place where I sneak in
history with present day happenings at the farm. From Our Old Country Store blog, we have filled orders for John's Rag
Rug Looms, which have been shipped all over the world--to such places as
England, Canada, Italy, Australia, and Africa. In fact, in Nigeria, the ladies
have built a cottage industry with their rugs made on John's looms. I also
share other folk crafts at this site, and we periodically sell other items.
Dell, Arkansas is
our fourth blog. There is probably more interest at that site from all over the
USA than there is locally--from people whose families once lived here. Little by little, I share stories and
information about our unique little community’s past history. All through the
years, I have continued my research and collecting of information but have had
little time to share even a small part of what I have.
Well, I guess you get the picture by now. We've been busy.
After all, there are only two of us and John has retired three times now! Most
of all we have represented your heritage locally, nationally, and internationally.
Now we are beginning a new phase, the last of our mission and
in preparation and anticipation of turning the farmstead over to the state or
an organization with the same vision that we have had. There is a lot of work ahead. It won't happen
overnight. It's been through the kindness and interest of others who have
donated to our project that has insured that the history of Dell and the
surrounding communities will never be lost. We intend to make sure of that.
I have another project going on, too. In 2018, I began
writing our Delta stories for the national magazine Country Rustic. The stories have been quite a hit. I will continue
to write again this year, plus our farm will be featured in each issue for a
year beginning in the Fall of 2019. This is a wonderful opportunity, along with
the blogs and workshops, to inform more readers all over the country about our
rich history. Cotton has become a huge farmhouse decorating element and people
want to know more about the farms that produced it.
So as you see, we are not quitting. We are just slowing down a bit. There is plenty more to do. And, we will continue to collect and keep any history of the area, family histories, and donations. Each will be documented and kept safe here at the Historic District.
We both want to thank every one of you for your support,
interest and donations through the years. Hopefully, the future will be just as
fruitful. We moved back from Virginia to preserve the community’s heritage and
we will continue to work to that end. . .
Thanks again!
Dru and John
The Mission
of the Widner-Magers Farm Historic District is to promote and celebrate the
unique agricultural experience of the Mississippi Delta in Northeast Arkansas,
through the research and preservation of the farm buildings and early 20th
century farm life; and to provide educational opportunities to experience 20th
century farm life and folk culture.
Websites and Blogs
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