The Legend of the Pink Panther
By Cody Berry Growing up in Benton, the first time I remember seeing the Pink Panther character had nothing to do with the movies. It was about football. Since the Panthers were our team, it made perfect sense that our mascot was a cartoon panther. But our mascot was a black panther not a pink … Continued
Frequently Asked Questions: The Gann House
By Cody Berry I’ve been asked many times if the Gann House is part of the museum or if it’s part of the tour. The answer to both of those questions is “no.” While the Gann House is the former home of the Gann family, it is still a private residence. It is not part … Continued
Free Entry on Museum Day 2024
Saline County museums have partnered together to host the annual Saline County Museum Day on Saturday, September 14th, from 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM. The ten museums are: Saline County History and Heritage Society, Arkansas Firefighter Museum & Fire Education Center, The Shoppach House, Benton Athletic Memorial Museum, The Haskell Historical and Fire Museum, Boone … Continued
It’s Library Card Sign Up Month!
What is LCSUM? Grab your mask and cape and gear up for an awesome month! Starting September 1st, libraries across the country celebrate Library Card Sign Up Month, (or LCSUM) showcasing the variety of books, digital resources, and programs available at your local library for free. Each library celebrates differently. This year, The Saline County … Continued
Bauxite: A Company Town
By Cody Berry After covering what Bauxite ore is, and what it’s used for, I thought I should talk more about the town of Bauxite. When we have visitors from other states in the U.S. or other countries even, I often relate the Gann’s walls to the Bauxite mining industry in Saline County. The nearby … Continued
Saline County Library Board Member Vacancy
At the July 15 Saline County Library Board of Trustees meeting, it was determined that a nomination process along with a nomination committee would be established to request applications to fill board vacancies as they arise. The committee will consist of the Saline County Judge, one (1) Saline County Library Board member, and one (1) … Continued
What is Niloak Pottery?
By Cody Berry Another frequently asked question I get from our patrons is “What is Niloak Pottery?” Well, Niloak is the name given to a popular line of art pottery made from locally sourced clays in Benton. Its creation is often credited to Benton’s own Charles Dean “Bullet” Hyten and Ohio potter Arthur Dovey but … Continued
The Seed Library Grows!
From January now through our last month of August, the Saline County Library has been offering patrons it’s 2024 Seed Library. We think the program was a big hit with the community… and we’ve got the stats to prove it! So, before we say goodbye to this year’s gardening season, let’s review: Seed packs given: 12,295 … Continued
What is Bauxite Ore?
By Cody Berry There’s a long list of questions I get frequently during my tours at the Gann Museum. I try to answer them as best I can and relate that to whatever is next on the tour. Probably the most frequently asked question is something like “So, What’s Bauxite?” Well, Bauxite is a type … Continued
The Oldest Bridge in Arkansas?
Recently, in my research on the Old River Bridge, I have read that it may be the oldest bridge in Arkansas. So, today, I decided to see how our bridge ranks in the chronology of early Arkansas bridges…