Civil War in Hot Springs?

150 years after the Civil War, the national park provided a little entertainment by stationing Civil War period reenactors dressed in period costume along bathhouse row to tell about the roll of the park during that time. 

One of the ladies was lucky enought to be stationed inside the visitor's center on this hot day. She and Jose, the park superintendent, visit about the good old days!

Governor Rector was present. During this time all of the state records were brought from Little Rock to Hot Springs for protection and Hot Springs served very briefly as the state capitol.

Saturday stroll

Yep, we are again at the Farmers' Market on a Saturday morning. I sure never thought much about carrot cake but I will from now on as it is my favorite cake or at least one of them. I am glad the vender was out of these dish towels because it just wouldn't do to have one hanging in my kitchen.

Since the music festival is still a happening even in town we had music from participants. 

As we strolled along Central I, of course, photographed a few buildings. I learned in a photography class once that buildings are my passion. I hope that doesn't say anything about what type of person I am. The Stitt Building was built in 1895. Samuel Stitt was the founder of Mountain Valley Spring Water Co. In the 1940's the Clyde Hotel was here and later the Moses Mendel Dry Good Store (where I bought my clothes in my teen years) and the Western Union Telegraph Office (where I would stop in the 1950s with my friend Diane and her mother, who worked there.) Now the Tin Grizzly occupies the space.

Many a time I have eaten at what was once Franke's Cafeteria. I used to tell my daughter the sign on the wall that pointed to the restrooms said "don't run." Now there is a gangster museum there!

Our return path was along the promenade. Such a great place to walk on a hot day. It is on the side of the mountain behind the bathhouses and we can look down on Central Avenue and see what we missed.

Why there is the old Dugan-Stuart Building. From this angle we can't see the zigzag of metal fire escapes between the two buildings. I will have to go back in the fall and I will bet that I do. This 1904 building was one of the first office buildings constructed in the 20th century in Hot Springs, mainly to accommodate the many physicians that were here to serve the bathing public that came from near and far to cure every imaginable ailment.

A festival of music

I wouldn't want to harp on how much I enjoy music, but this evening concert was just to my liking. The performers are in town for several weeks for the annual music festival. They come from far and wide. Here we enjoyed some amazing harp music.

The evening concert began with the brass ensemble performing at the Ozark Bathhouse and then progressed along bathhouse row after about ten minutes at each venue.

Here we enjoyed the quartet again that we had seen at the Farmers' Market.

The brass ensemble performed beside the Fordyce (now national park visitors' center) in front of what was one a bandstand on the side of the mountain. How appropriate.

The crowd shuttled further north to the next venue. I was quite pleased to see a good attendance which isn't always the case for something new in town. This was the first year for the progressive concert.

We skipped the a couple of venues to get near the front of the line for a brew or two. The Superior Bathhouse will soon become a brewery. Behind the counter are the old lock boxes where bathers could store their valuables while experiencing the hot water.

This was some different kind of music for a brewery I suppose,  but it worked for me! We got there in time for a table but later joined the large crowd outside so that others might sit awhile.

I hope Hot Springs continues to shine when it comes to music. This festival is first class all the way. 

To market, to market ... to listen to music

The newly refurbished farmers' market has become our summer Saturday morning ritual now that one can shop in the shade. There seems to be a lot more produce and the crowds are definitely on the increase.

We not only have music each week, but usually there is music. This day we were entertained by a string quartet that is a part of the music festival happening in town for a couple of weeks. The bassist with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Rick Robinson aka Mr. CutTime, is one of the mentors for the festival. 

And the tomatoes aren't half bad either, small but tasty!

We always try to work in a thirty minute walk so this one led us past the old St. Joseph's Hospital, now the Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts. This building will be demolished in the near future as a new dorm has been built behind it.

Across the street is the beautiful, small Presbyterian Church in which I grew up. Oh what a pathetic website they have! I must email someone!

Nearby are the Lanai Towers that adjoin the old Majestic Hotel. In the 1950 when these were built they were quite exciting. Now they sit empty and I presume destined for demolition. Several times I parked around back and escorted myself to the lovely swimming pool on the ground level.

Back at the farmers' market, Max Sestili is singing and playing guitar. He is in charge of stormwater control for the city but this day he was in charge of a pleasant hour for us as we sat down and enjoyed his music.