Reminiscing with David Hill's 'The Vapors'

 The Vapors: A Southern Family, the New York Mob, and the Rise and Fall of Hot Springs, America's Forgotten Capital of Vice by David Hill

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

David Hill has written the most informative and readable account of the gambling era of Hot Springs, Arkansas. I was particularly interested in the story because I lived in Little Rock and my Mom and Dad lived in Hot Springs at the end of this era. The story begins with some information about the beginning of gambling in Hot Spring in the late 1800's.

Mr. Hill used his own family’s story to move us through the gambling years. He gives a more personal feel to what was happening in Arkansas along with what was going on in other parts of the United States. All was intertwined with the workings of the underworld of gangsters. Highly recommend. Very informative and readable.

I found many familiar names of places that still exist in Hot Springs:                     

Arlington Hotel

“The Vapors’ reminds me of the Correspondent Banking Department of First National Bank at Little Rock where I was a secretary. Each year the Arkansas Bankers Association held a meeting of all Arkansas Banks. One year our bank sponsored a Casino Party at the Vapors. Of course, all of the betting was done with fake money. The Vapors became a church for a while but has now been revived as an entertainment venue.

Hazel and Hollis moved to Mountain Pine, Arkansas, a company town of Dierks Lumbers Company. I now live in Hot Springs Village which was developed on 26 acres of Dierks Lumber Company land.

Orval Faubus was Governor of the State when I was in college and moved to Little Rock. I voted in the election that put Winthrop Rockefeller in Office.

Coy’s Steak House was a popular restaurant in Hot Springs. We went to Hot Springs just to eat there. One was opened in Little Rock where my husband proposed to me in 1985.

I remember the front-page pictures in the Arkansas Gazette of the gambling equipment that Lynn Davis, a state police officer, burned and buried in a gravel pit under the direction of Governor Rockefeller. They had raided four clubs and hauled away three truckloads of equipment. The only club named was the Bridge Street Club. The Vapors wasn’t among the four.

Ohio Club is still on Central and serves really good hamburgers. They have a small stage where live music is played, and people can dance on a really small dance floor. We went once with our daughter and saw Jackie B (Beaumont) and me (Lawrence Womack), a local music duo. 

Arkansas Gazette and Arkansas Democrat were the morning and evening papers in Little Rock. They merged later to become the Arkansas Democrat and Gazette. Now known as the Dem/Gaz.

The Southern Club now houses a wax museum and is across the street from the Arlington Hotel. 

Today you can visit the Gangsta’s Museum on Central. It used to be Franke’s Cafeteria which my Dad managed in the late Sixties.

The Stardust Las Vegas was the first casino I experienced. We were on a trip and stopped there on the way to the west coast. I was 26 and looked so young that I was carded before I could go in the casino. We took in their dinner show, Hallelujah Hollywood.

Thanks for going down Memory Lane with me. I think you will enjoy going down another Memory Lane with David Hill.

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The Eighth Day

 

The Eighth Day by Thornton Wilder
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really liked this classic that was on our Book Club list for 2020. Several members did not like it at all. There are a lot of characters to keep straight and most of the time I didn't. The structure of the story was disconcerting and added another deterrent to keeping the characters straight. The story was divided into time and place segments that overlapped. The beginning seemed to be the end and the end was the beginning. That being said, there were several passages that I went back and studied. They seem to be put in place to give the reader insight in the author. I wondered how they fit into his life and the people in his world.

This read reminded me of reading 'The Great Gatsby' in high school. I learned about symbolism that writers use to convey hidden messages to the reader. I tried to figure out if Mr. Wilder used this technique. If it was there, I didn't find it. One member said she thought 'The Eighth Day' meant that God created the Earth in seven days and we were to take over and get to work on the eighth one. Another said the writer's concern with evolution that prompted the title. I never really got to that depth in meaning. It was just a story with some life and history lessons thrown into the mix. I still think it was auto-biographical.
Note: Not sure what happened to John?

If you like to read classics, I am recommending this one. 

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Personal Notes:

Mrs. Wickersham

page 182 "No one has ever done anything for me, spontaneously."

page 198 "You and I have a certain quality that is rare as teeth in a hen. We work. And we forget ourselves in our work. Most people think they work; they can kill themselves with their diligence. They think they are building Athens, but they're only shining their own shoes.

Roger Ashley

page 208 ..."he never ceased to search for his life's career-to explore, observe, weight , and eliminate the professions. He didn't want to waste any years on the wrong choice and he wanted to start preparing himself as soon as possible. (He was 17 1/2 -at that age I was a junior in high school. I think my English teacher had us write an essay on what we would like to do for a career. I had no idea. I wrote on being an interior decorator. I ended up being a banker, but did some interior decorating for a year or so.)

A Painted House

 

A Painted House by John Grisham
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This was a book club selection for me. I had never read a John Grisham book and enjoyed reading it. You will get a true picture of what it was like to make your living by growing and picking cotton. Mr. Grisham did not hold back. It was not an easy life; it was a time when people made their good times with people-family, friends, and neighbors.

This story brought back good childhood memories for me. It takes place in 1952 and is told by a seven-year old boy, Luke. In 1952 I was 12/13 about about 6 years older than Luke. Even at that age I don't remember being as introspective as Luke.  

From 1942 to 1946 when I was closer to Luke's age, I lived on a dairy farm with my Mom and Dad in an unpainted house. These were some really good times for me as a child. Luckily I did not have to work picking cotton like Luke.

I do remember gathering eggs and my MOM killing a chicken to fry for dinner.  She and I picked blackberries to make a pie. I gathered eggs from our chickens and stopped when I put my hand in a box and met up with a black snake.

I had a sandbox, a horse named Red, and a cat with kittens. 

My friends came to

visit. We rode Red.

That's me with Hank

Giles and Dad on 

Red. Then, we had

a wienie roast

 

 

Me on Red.

I got my first dollhouse furniture one Christmas. (That was the Christmas I played detective and discovered that my Mom's handwriting matched Santa's.) I had the measles and they kept me in the dark so my eyes wouldn't be affected. I stayed with Berniece, a black woman who lived up the road, when my Mom had to go to town with my Dad.  I remember riding on a hay baler with my dad and trying to milk a cow.

My Dad and I by unpainted house with my new storybook doll. It looks like we did get a painted screen door.

I started the first grade there and rode the school bus. Then, we moved to the city so I could go to school without having to ride the bus. I was little for my age and my mom thought I might fall off and get hurt. I am not sure, but I think she was like Luke's mom. I can see her smile as we packed up and moved. 

Enough of my memories. I think you will like Luke's story. It takes about three-fourths of the book to develop the scene and characters. Hang in there. All will be revealed in the last fourth of the story. Recommend.

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Living in Thin Places

Thin Places is a series of sermons given during Epiphany 2019 by Rev. Siegfried S. Johnson, Christ of the Hills United Methodist Church, Hot Springs Village, Arkansas, USA

To quote Rev. Johnson: "The theme is drawn from the writings of early Christianity in Ireland, Thin Places, a term used by Celtic Christians from about the 5th century, having in that beautiful land developed a strong sense of sacred space, certain trees, caves, streams, and mountains regarded as sanctuaries of nature. 

In a 'Thin Place' the veil between this world and the divine world, heaven and earth, seemed somehow sheer, porous allowing God's glory to seep through to our awareness." 

This series got me to think about my 'thin places'. These come to mind:

Muir Woods, California
When I entered the woods, I felt a sense of peace. I needed to be still and quiet. All was quiet, although there were many other people there. 





This theme was covered in The Power of Myth by Joseph Campbell.
On Page 92: "I think it's Cicero who says that when you go into a great tall grove, the presence of a deity becomes known to you."

Bohemian Grove, California

I attended a wedding in the Bohemian Grove. All of the guests were driven into the woods by bus from Santa Rosa. The minute I stepped off the bus I heard organ music echoing through the trees. I went very still and listened as did the bus load of guests. There is a full pipe organ in 'The Grove'. The organist played until the wedding began. 

Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia
When I walked the streets of Colonial Williamsburg, I could feel the presence of the great men that I walked those streets.



I have seen my Guardian Angels.

One night as I was going to sleep, sometime between rest and deep sleep, I slightly opened my eyes and observed two greenish ethereal beings. It seemed that one 'angel' was relieving the other 'angel'. It was like they were changing shifts in order to watch over me.

My Aunt Mary Lou passed a few years ago. As I was dreaming, the veil opened and she peeked through. She was smiling and conveyed to me that she was fine. Then, she danced away, twirling on her toes.

I made a deal with my mother. After she passed, if it was possible, she was to leave me a sign that she was well on the other side. It was a while before I got my sign. Sometime the next summer, I took her Christmas Cactus outside. It wasn't long before it was in full bloom. I believe she is fine and at some time I will see her again. 

St. Louis Cathedral, New Orleans

Whenever I go into a Cathedral, I feel close to God. Something happens there that I don't feel in other churches. When I was in the 5th Grade, I visited the St. Louis Cathedral in New Orleans. Even then, I could feel something special.




These are the scriptures Rev. Sieg used for this series:
#1 January 20, 2019 Living in Thin Places Psalms 42 :1-2 
#2 January 27, 2019 Made  for Another World John 3:7-8
#3 February 3, 2019 The Well Is Deep John 4:10-11
#4 February 10, 2019 Step into the Stirring John 5:5-7
#5 February 17, 2019 How Now, Chop Logic! John 6:41-42
#6 February 24, 2019 Concealed in the Crease John 7:3-5
 If you would like to read these sermons, go to link at the beginning of this post. Click on 'Worship'  and then, Rev. Sieg's Sermons 

50 States in 50 Years No. 1

Mom and Dad and Me

1940 - 2 years old

Where it all began

Shreveport, Louisiana

November, 1939

1942 - 4 years old

My Mom and Dad
and Me in my rabbit fur coat
My first trip to Arkansas
to see my Grandmother Grant
in Russellville

I grew up in the best of times. Doesn't everyone say that? World War II ended and I started the 1st grade at Creswell Elementary.

That's me, 1st row 2nd from the right,
by my forever friend, Carolyn on the end.

Me and my Daddy
on the farm.
(called him Dad when
I got too old for a Daddy:)

We had a farm and I took the bus to school. That lasted about six months. My Mom didn't like to put me on the school bus everyday. In 1946 the only children that rode the bus to school were those that lived on farms. 

1958 Photo

When we moved to town, Mom and Dad had bought a cafe, The Country Kitchen. I would eat breakfast there and then take the trolley to school all by myself.

After the 6th grade I went to Hamilton Terrace Jr. High. All of my friends were going to Broadmoor Jr. High, but our house was out of that district. I had a good time and met made new friends, but I missed by old friends. We were reunited in two years, when we left for the 9th grade at C.E. Byrd High School.

I went to Byrd
for the 9-12 Grades
1955-1958

Senior Picture

In 1958 I graduated from high school and headed to the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Arkansas. I went home to Shreveport for breaks, but ended up staying in Arkansas after I graduated in 1962.

That is the beginning of my travel odyssey of going in and out and through all fifty United States. 

For "new to my blog" friends...on May 17, 2010, I visited Wisconsin.

I can now say that I have been in, to, or through all 50 United States.

I am committed to make an Artist Trading Card "ATC" for each of

the 50 States. 

50 States in 50 Years Nos. 7 and 8*

Michigan and Ohio were part of  my 1976 Bicentennial Trip. We went in and out of these two states along with Kentucky on the way home from a two week trip. We were on a deadline to get back to Little Rock in time to go to work on Monday. 

We did take time to stop in each
of them to visit a couple of popular
tourist destinations. 







Canton, Ohio and the 'Professional Football Hall of Fame' was the first of these stops. I took this picture, but honestly do not remember what I saw there. I think my husband put this on our list of stops. 

I do remember

 the next stop-

 Dearborn Michigan

 at the Ford Museum

 and Greenfield Village.

No doubt I was the one

 that put this on the list.

I loved it. 

The number of structures 

that had been razed 

and brought here 

for posterity 

was overwhelming.

Here are a couple of my favorites. 

The Museum tower is an exact replica of Independence Hall in Philadelphia, birthplace of American freedom. It even contains the mistakes made in the original building. It was dedicated in 1929 by Thomas Edison.

Rose Cottage was originally nestled in the Cotswold Hills of England. It is a 17th century limestone cottage. The Coswold district is a land of sheepraisers.

*For "new to my blog" friends...on May 17, 2010, I visited Wisconsin.

I can now say that I have been in, to, or through all 50 United States.

I am committed to make an Artist Trading Card "ATC" for each of

the 50 States. 

Rest in Peace

On March 27, 2018 our friend, Marjo, went from this side to the next one. Marjo was a 'sister of the heart' of our family. She was the cherished sister of her family. She will be missed.

Her life was celebrated on March 30 at the First United Methodist Church in Benton, Arkansas.  Her granddaughter, Lara, gave a moving tribute to her 'Jo-Jo'. Our nephew, Jim Ed, sang her favorite hymn, "Precious Lord, Take My Hand". 

It's hard to say "Goodbye, until we meet again" to one of my favorite people. She was an example that inspired others to be positive and tolerant of all people. She had a quiet way about her that made me want to emulate her and she was beyond organized. 

This is another song that she requested be sung by her friends and family. It is one of my favorites. I had a hard time singing along.

2017-IT WAS A VERY GOOD YEAR

A look back at 2017. Wonderful memories in pictures!

There are a few missing months, but we were busy playing golf; volunteering at the Library; Marshaling at Granada Golf Course; Heading up the Marketing effort for the Community Concert Association; going to church at Christ of the Hills United Methodist Church; and just enjoying life with our friends and family!

January: Biloxi, Mississippi and Fort Morgan, Alabama

Jefferson Davis' Home in Biloxi

April: Community Concert, Hot Springs Village, Arkansas

June: Chuck's 60th Class Reunion, Benton High, Benton, Arkansas

and Village Quilt Guild, Quilt Class 

        with Dot Collins from Texas

         "Tossed Salad"

August: Full Eclipse of the Sun: We had to do a selfie. You can see the partial eclipse mirrored under the eave of the house. 

and I made this 'pouf' or 'tuffet' for the living room

October: Found this great place to buy Arkansas pecans outside of 

               Hot Springs, Arkansas. Took two pounds to our daughter

               to make pecan pies from her Thanksgiving dinner. 

November: Trip to Nashville, Tennessee

Parthenon

Andrew Jackson grave
at The Hermitage

Best Music Venue

and Thanksgiving in Benton with Family

December: Art and Quilting

Block of the Month
December

Diptitch: Under the Sea
Mixed Media Acrylic

and Flowers

First Year that we had flowers
on our Camellia bush!

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL

AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT!