2019.10.24 THROW BACK THURSDAY - WHITE RIVER MONSTER plus Class News
As we approach Halloween, here is something spooky from the EOA: the White River Monster, one of Arkansas’s premier mysteries.
White River Monster
The White River monster is one of Arkansas’s premier mysteries. Since 1915, along the White River near Newport , the monster has appeared several times and has become a local legend.
Sightings of “Whitey” began in 1915 but were sporadic until 1937. On July 1 of that year, Bramlett Bateman, owner of a plantation near the river, saw the monster. He reported it as having gray skin and being “as wide as a car and three cars long.”
As news spread, construction of a huge rope net to capture the monster began. The monster had been seen in an eddy, so a diver was brought in to search for it. However, Whitey was not captured, and construction of the net stopped because of the lack of money and materials.
In 1971, the sightings began again when someone reported seeing a gray creature with a horn sticking out from its forehead. Other witnesses described it as having a spiny back twenty feet long. Later, a trail of three-toed, fourteen-inch prints was found in the White River area. Crushed vegetation and broken trees were evidence that something large had passed by, and it was assumed that the tracks were Whitey’s.
In 1973, the legislature signed into law a bill by state Senator Robert Harvey, creating the White River Monster Refuge along the White River. The area is located between “the southern point on the river known as Old Grand Glaize and a northern point on White River known as Rosie.” It is illegal to harm the monster inside the refuge.
While there have been no recent sightings, theories about Whitey abound. It is hypothesized to be anything from a huge fish to an elephant seal, though none of the theories fully explain Whitey.
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The Old Grand Glaize portion of the White River, which constitutes the White River Monster Refuge. The water in the refuge looks pretty calm in this photo...but what is underneath? Have you ever seen the monster?
CLASS NEWS . . . Notes from Classmates
I've reported this before, but this piece by you warrants re-post for those who might have missed its first appearance. Back in 1952, Frank Plegge and I were meandering about the carnival strip that always accompanied the rodeo and livestock show doings. A total stranger to both of us, a man of approximate age of 40, confronted us with outreached hand to grasp Frank's in show of appreciative awe, regaling Frank for his athletic prowess. Bear in mind, this was while we were still 9th graders at West Side Jr. High. Frank seemed awkward but was gracious in receiving the roll of carnival ride tickets the man pressed upon frank. Such was the recognition of Frank's athletic ability even before playing at LRCHS.
Alvin Mooser
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Great stuff MLM. Last time I passed by the livestock complex I was impressed by size, sophistication.
Pulaski County hardly center of livestock interests in state, but is population center. Think I'm correct that when we were at LRCHS the AR economy was improving but still reeling from depression and war. People, especially returning GIs and African American farmers, were migrating to industrial Midwest and coasts. Black farmers were taking jobs building cars in Detroit. At the absolute height of the baby boom, when population growth was exploding, the State of Arkansas suffered an absolute loss of population. Need to double check but sure I remember 1960 census reported there were FEWER people in our State in 1960 than in 1950!
Thanks for continuing to bring back intriguing stories of life we were too young to remember
Love to all -- Sandra McEwen, special.love to you. You get well real soon.
Love. Carol Lee Tucker
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Marylou, many things have happened at the AR Livestock Show grounds, during a Ringling Brothers and Barnum & bailey Circus appearance, June 1973 two lions escaped. See attached link.
https://www.arkansasonline.com › lionlooseinlr
Leo Aday
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AND
Not being any good dancing at the faster beats (Mary Bowden tried like crazy to teach me - to no avail), I prefer #7 & #2.
Gary Frederick
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Dear Mary Lou,
Plz send my regrets to Joel Hicks about his pneumonia and his wife Jodie’s fractured tibia. Although Joel has pneumonia, he is at least still able to type e-mails!!
By the way, my dance numbers would be (1)4 (what a coincidence!) and (2)7. Of course, you might remember that I could dance to almost ANY music .
Best,
Jack & Xuanhai Carmichael
ML