Conway's history, from its founding to its present economic revitalization, will be presented in a new book by photographer Bill Ward.
Ward, a longtime photographer and activist in the development of Conway, has taken photos since 1960 of Conway and its citizens. He began as a staff photographer with the Log Cabin Democrat. His photos, along with other images made available to him, will be incorporated into a book and connected by a narrative written by John L. Ward, a former managing editor of the Log Cabin Democrat, according to a press release.
The book will be mainly photos, but along the way it will contain copy blocks "to keep you posted as to where you are in history and tied in with national and world history," Bill Ward said.
His book will reach back to the beginning, when Conway was founded by Asa P. Robinson, who was chief engineer for the Union Pacific Railroad, Ward said.
"They built a stop-off here called Conway Stop-off," he said. "They deeded 640 acres around the railroad to Robinson for payment. That's how Conway came to be."
Ward said of Robinson, "He was educated at Yale. It's an interesting culture that started this town with a man that was highly educated. One of Conway's strong suits that has held it above other places was a thirst for knowledge. That's the reason the city fathers went to great lengths to attract three colleges."
He said in the 1950s, Conway was called "The Athens of Arkansas" because it had three colleges.
The book will also highlight the development of business in Conway. Ward has one historic photo that shows the Frauenthal and Schwarz mercantile, a large, two-story business that sold "everything," established in the building that now houses American Management Corporation.
Also important to business in Conway is the Conway Area Chamber of Commerce, he said.
"The chamber of commerce has played a vital role since the late 1800s. They operated Toad Suck Ferry with the idea that, if they could get it operating, they could bring in business from Perry County."
Brad Lacy, president and chief executive officer of the Conway Area Chamber of Commerce and of the Conway Development Corporation, said of the book in the press release, "This will be a significant resource for the city for decades to come, and with Mr. Ward's reputation, we can count on something of inestimable quality that will occupy a proud place on our coffee tables as well as in home libraries in this entire region. We know this will be a book quite different from any other, because Mr. Ward is in an ideal position to accomplish this project given the number of years he recorded the city photographically as a news and studio photographer, as well as his personal involvement in events which helped to shape the city's destiny."
Ward was a part of the first Toad Suck Daze festival. His brother, John Ward, who was editor of the Log Cabin Democrat, had the idea for a festival. They estimated they could get 3,000 or 4,000 people to attend, and 25,000 came, he said.
"With the guidance of some council members, we set up the scholarship program so it would have a reason for being. There, again, is the influence of education in our city," he said.
Ward was also the first president of Main Street Conway, an organization created by businessmen in the 1980s in an effort to "save downtown," he said. They photographed every street in downtown Conway, he said.
"Through the efforts of a lot of good people, downtown was turned around," he said.
According to the press release, the archivist for the University of Central Arkansas, Jimmy Bryant, who also serves as chairman of the Faulkner County Historical Society, served as a key resource for the development of the book.
Among the photographs are a significant number by an unknown photographer from the 1920s who recorded key areas of the city.
"The archives of the University of Central Arkansas and Hendrix College also contain hundreds of photographs, many of which have never been published," Ward said.
The book is being designed by Emelene Russell, an award-winning art director with offices in Castle Rock, Colo., according to the press release. In addition to Ward, members of the research team for the book are John L. Ward, Judy Roach, Renee Hale and Jo Ann Huselton.
Ward has invited the public to share their photographs that could be relevant to the book. If chosen, he will acknowledge them in the book. He said those with photos may contact him, and he will meet them at Pictures Et Cetera Gallery to make copies and immediately return the photos.
To share photos, contact Ward at 450-2599 or Huselton at 327-8278.
Persons interested in obtaining an autographed copy of the book and one of the first numbered 500 copies are invited to go by Pictures Et Cetera to examine a mock-up and make a deposit. Ward hopes to have copies available before Thanksgiving.
(Staff writer Rachel Parker Dickerson can be reached by e-mail at rachel.dickerson@thecabin.net or by phone at 505-1277. Send us your news at www.thecabin.net/submit)
