2019.02.28 Throw Back Thursday
THROW BACK THURSDAY - Murder in Hillcrest, Episode 1 plus Class News
Here we go!!!!
This is the first episode in a continuing story involving real-life tragedy which occurred on the border of Little Rock’s Hillcrest in 1958. The story, while deeply tragic, also tells of heroic recovery in the face of adversity.
Blood on the Piano...
Murder In the Insane Asylum’s Shadows
episode 1
The Arkansas Lunatic Asylum, later known as the Arkansas Insane Asylum and the Arkansas State Hospital, was built just a stone’s throw from what is now the popular Little Rock neighborhood called Hillcrest. The asylum was constructed along Markham Street in 1883, on a hilltop between what are now UAMS and War Memorial Stadium. It was like a city in itself. It had a small farm to produce its food, cows for its milk, ice houses, huge laundry facilities, a multi-building heating plant, and even its own morgue - a small foreboding stone building near the old Ray Winder field, with “morgue” inscribed above the door. The complex housed those with severe mental disability, but also those who merely bore physical disfigurement and were dumped off by relatives too ashamed or too uncaring to be around them. Some patients remained in the asylum for decades; others were actually born in the hospital and never left. It was a large rambling brick Victorian structure with a seven- story domed tower at its entrance. There were bars on its windows. By the mid-20th Century, use of physical restraints as straight jackets and aggressive treatment like electric shock had largely subsided; and humane programs assisted by caring community volunteers, mostly women, in the State Hospital Auxillary, were in place. Nonetheless, the foreboding Victorian brick structures remained through the 1950’s; and kids from nearby Hillcrest, who rode their bikes through the State Hospital grounds to get to the War Memorial swimming pool, still heard screams emerging from behind the barred windows. It was a scary place.
By contrast, directly to the east, with clear views of the Asylum, was the pleasant middle-class neighborhood of small, mostly craftsman-style bungalows just south of Markham, with the coniferous street names of Pine and Cedar. Doors were left unlocked and crime was unknown in these family-oriented houses. Hard-working, church-going people lived here - there were teachers and nurses and those who labored to maintain the systems which keep our city running - there were mechanics who lived here such as Joseph Grabher Sr, at 620 South Pine, who kept equipment running at Coleman Dairy out on Asher Avenue; and there were seniors, such as the widow, Mrs. Kirke Killian, who juggled jobs in the music field to make payments on her bungalow at 304 South Cedar. Her rear bedroom and back porch looked directly onto the insane asylum’s barred windows. It is likely that she and her late husband had bought the home specifically with that in mind, as her son Charles Jr. lived at the hospital for a part of his life.
It is ironic that one of the most shocking killings in Little Rock history occurred in the pleasant Pine-Cedar neighborhood, in the shadows of the Asylum, and not within the walls of the frightening fortified Victorian structure itself. The extended Killian and Grabher families would never fully recover from the startling bloody tragedy which occurred on May 14, 1958 in this otherwise happy little neighborhood.
next episode: Piano class on Cedar Street
CLASS NEWS
Do you remember GEORGE JERNIGAN? Class of '57. Passed away this week. One of those people that you wonder whatever happened to them. Turns out he was an attorney, spent time with Congress in Washington, D.C. and held several State offices until he had a stroke years ago that left him paralyzed on one side and in care facilities. He was a good guy!
ROBERT KENT, also Class of '57, asked for our prayers. He is being baptised TODAY in the River Jordan. Reminds me of Hammond Satterfield's "new" book! Ask him about it!
As you know, we're always on the hunt for lost Classmates. Here are two we've looked for these past many years. If you have any clues as to their whereabouts, please let us know:
Fern Harden and Mary Graves Peay.
FERN had quite a bit of notariety in her life. She sang with her brother and sister for several years, lived in Nashville, sang back-up with Johnny Cash and other famous singers, had many recordings, and actually came to our 40th or 45th reunion. At that time she was living in Murfreesboro, TN. Since then, we've lost her.
MARY GRAVES married Dr. Arturo Wallace, who passed away several years ago. We've tracked her down to Lake City (or Lake County - not sure which), FL, but hit a stone wall. Can anyone help????
Don't forget TIGERFEST, May 9, War Memorial Stadium!
Have a great week!!!