Piggott picnic is rich in history, traditions

This 2008 GMC pickup will be given away Friday night at the annual Piggott Fourth of July picnic. (Times photo/Tim Blair) [Click to enlarge]

The Piggott Fourth of July homecoming and celebration, which includes the annual Fourth of July picnic, is filled with history and tradition. This year's event will mark 80 years since the first picnic was held in 1928, though several years there were no picnics due to the depression and later war. Of course the reason of holding the picnic back then, and now, was to support the Piggott Cemetery Association and upkeep of the Piggott Cemetery.

The origins of the cemetery date back to the time when the Old Military Road ran through the area. The story goes that an immigrant family was traveling the trail when a young girl died. She was buried near the entrance to the original four acre section, and the area became known as a community cemetery. The land later belonged to the Lowrance family and in 1899 was purchased by John W. and Viola Lentz, who donated the four acres that comprised the original location. The cemetery association was formed in 1919, and by the mid 1920's the idea of having a picnic was first introduced. The suggestion came from Walter "Cooter" Yates, a local salesman who sold novelty items. In 1925 he traveled with Piggott Banner editor Louis Spence and George Gilbert to tour the picnic at Glennonville, Mo. When the cemetery board announced that the first picnic would be held July 4, 1925 there was too much public outcry and the idea was forgotten for the next several years. The first picnic was actually held in spite of the general public, and the money turned over to the cemetery board.

That first picnic was held in 1928 in the area known as Houston Grove. That is the area just west of Watson Furniture..south and west to the creek along Houston Street. The picnic was held at that location the first three years, but there was no picnic in 1931 as the depression continued.

In 1932 the event was moved to the courtsquare, and in 1934 the old fairgrounds were purchased for $400 and the picnic moved to its current location. By 1935 the cemetery board got a matching grant from the Works Progress Administration, or WPA, to build the swimming pool, swings, tennis courts and barbecue pits. Of those only the tennis courts remain to this day, though they're no longer used for their intended purpose. The total cost of the job was just over $9,700.

Thanks to the continuing efforts of the Cemetery Association, and the countless volunteers it takes to put on the picnic, the Piggott Fourth of July homecoming and celebration should be around a long time to come. Likewise, the continued success of the picnic should insure financial stability for the Piggott Cemetery for many years.