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- in the park, there was a beautiful grove of trees where picnics were held and occasionally balloon ascensions.
- The first ball park I remember was on South Greenwood across from the Oak Cemetery. The next one was on South 5th Street. Since baseball games could not be held on Sunday in Fort Smith at that time, a ball park in Arkoma was used.
History of Amusement Places in Fort Smith
The old Grand Opera House located on the corner of South 5th and Garrison Avenue. It was a very fashionable place especially when the big road shows came to town. They had matinees on Saturday afternoons for 10 cents, which I attended quite often. Later, the Lyric was opened. It was an open-air theatre where mostly vaudeville acts were performed. It was first located on Little Rock Road between South 6th and 7th where part of the First National Bank parking lot is now. Later, it was moved to North A between 6th and 7th streets. Finally, it was relocated to North 8th and A streets where Calvert-McBride Printing Co. is now. Grace Dodd would sing different popular songs illustrated by colored pictures.
On the corner of North 5th and Garrison Avenue was an ice cream parlor owned by a Mr. Gouler, who made his own ice cream and sold it for 5 cents in cone shaped scoops. Another ice cream parlor was owned by Frank Brun, who also made his own ice cream. It was located where the Boston Store Mens' Shop on Garrison Avenue used to be.
History of Streetcars in Fort Smith
The first streetcars were driven by mules and horses. They made different routes of the town beginning on 1st Street and Garrison Avenue. They went on Texas Road as far as Dodson Avenue, and out Little Rock Road as far as Greenwood Avenue - a corner where an old grocery store stood, which was owned by Belle Humphrey and two daughters. Another travelled out North 13th Street turning right on Grand Avenue to North Greenwood, which was two blocks from where we lived on North 21st and J Streets. The fare was only 5 cents; however, we hardly ever rode the street cars but walked most everywhere.
Another route was on North llth Street as far as the city park at Midland Heights, where the churches and schools had their picnics and on Sunday afternoons there were band concerts. In later years, an electric streetcar service started going down North 5th Street - I cannot remember how far.
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