50 Years Ago
From the Herald and Democrat in 1969
Wednesday, Jan. 26, was a day to be remembered as the "day the rains came," almost 5 inches in a few hours, causing much flooding in Siloam Springs.
The City Library was perhaps the main concern for the city. The water came down the draw on the south side of the street, running through the new library building. The city crews were on hand as quickly as the SOS went out, placing sandbags in front of the doors. But, water came in rapidly anyway. About 25 volunteers came in response to the call for help...armed with brooms and mops.
Fred Pease, Chamber of Commerce manager, who remembered the old days when water had flooded over the point before, warned the librarian to move everything possible off the floors. That measure saved many things from damage.
The Legion Room in the Community Building had 14 inches of water in it. Hunt's Department Store had water in its basement as did Smith's Furniture and Western Auto Store, although not bad and no damage done. West University was flooded from Andy Felts driveway west for some two blocks. Felts' field on the north of the street was all covered.
Many other places were flooded, including Highway 204 at the railroad, the low-water bridge and dam, S. Mt. Olive between Wasson's and Jepson Drug and basements all over town. Many cars were stalled from driving into water deeper that supposed.
This was the worst flood for the city since 1927. Since that time retaining walls were built and other precautions taken that helped keep the damage down.
30 Years Ago
From the Herald-Democrat in 1989
Electricity was the main topic of discussion at the regular meeting of the Siloam Springs Board of Directors -- including an offer to buy the city's entire electric power system.
That offer came from Harry Mattison, chief executive officer of Southwest Electric Power Co., during his presentation to the directors. He was representing SWEPCO's interests in the city's decision of whether to stay with its current power supplier, SWEPCO, or begin buying power from the Grand River Dam Authority in Oklahoma.
SWEPCO's proposition would be to buy the city's entire system and become the door-to-door electrical supplier, Mattison said.
The company would pay the city $6.4 million in cash and assume $1.6 million in outstanding bonds which were backed by the electrical revenues, he said.
Also in the proposal would be a new SWEPCO office building in Siloam Springs, about $100,000 in improvements to the system and the current city electrical employees would become SWEPCO employees.
10 Years Ago
From the Herald-Leader in 2009
The former mayor was honored for serving the city and the state Municipal League the longest.
M.L. "Moose" Van Poucke received the Municipal League's Dean's Chair Award in Little Rock.
"This award is made after an election each year to the person who has served his city and the League the longest," said Don Zimmerman, executive director of Arkansas Municipal League.
Van Poucke was mayor of Siloam Springs for 22 years and served on League committees and councils for 12 years.
Community on 02/06/2019