The Mena weekly star., 1897-08-18
NOTABLE EVENTS IN nENA.
Dates of Important Happenings in
 riena's First Year.

new d1vlSlOn town or the IN. S', IT. ~ C. to open up. Notice received from Kansas City today that town, when plated, would be called "Mena" in- stead of "Mena Springs" as before an nounced
 June 30, '9G. -F A. Horn beck ar rived in Denison from Kansas City and placed on sale first lots of Mena, although large number of lots had previously been sold in Kansas City. Uutil Mr. Hornbeck arrived the loca- tion of the Mena townsite was entirely unknown to the people here, and naturally there is great rejoicsing over the settlement.
 July 3, 'o6. First load of lumber hauled on Mena townsite by Clark DiclSover for building now occupied by Pumphrey's meat market and Port Arthur bakery and restaurant.
 July 6, 'o6. First business to open on townsite was boarding house in a tent, and a shanty saloon.
 July 8, '96 Only buildings on town site are shanty saloon and Earp's carpenter shop
 July 16, 'o6. First shooting scrape in harmless. Everything boom ing; lots of building.
 July 27, 96. Railroad track laid to point about seven miles from town.
 Aug. l, '96.- Railroad track finished to about two and half miles from town.
 Aug, 9, 'oG.-First religious service in Mena, held in Jansen park by Christian preacher from Missouri.
 Aug. 3, DC. Heavy wind storm blew down Geo. Petty's building
 Aug. 1, '96. Railroad track laid to De Queen street; large crowd to wit ness the event Superintendepts Nor ley and Egan, Gen. Mgr. Sherwood and other railroad officials witness the finish. Photographic communication opened with Kansas City, Agent Dis- brow using a room 7xs feet in size in Dckover's building for ticket, tele- graph and express office.
 Aug 5, '06. First receipts of the K. C., r. X G. railroad in Polk county was for ticket from Mena to Heath-fif- teen cents.
 Aug. G, '96.-First regular train ar rived-mixed train.
 Aug. 13, 'o6 The first issue of the New Era was circulated today
 Aug. lq, 'e6-First regular passen- ger train arrived from Kansas City about 10 a. m The Mena Weekly Star first issue.
 Aug. 2S, 90 First Sunday school is Mena organized in Greens store room T, II. Wheat was elected superinten- dent.
 Aug. 30. M E. Church South, held services in their tabernacle, Rev. T. Y. Christmas, preaching.
 Sept IA, '96 First school opened in Mena. A private school in tent op- posite Jansscn park and taught by Miss Cummings.
 Sept 20, o6-Frst Christian En- deavor society of Mena organized.
 Oct Il, '9o. First issue of the Daily News,
 Oct Is, 96.-M. E. Church South competed organization.
 Nov. 9, '96. First Baptist church of Mena organized in the school tent.
 Nov 23. 96. The first fatal accident was the burning of the clty jail in which Thomas Casey and Hoppy Hop kins were burned to death.
 Dee. 2, o6. The Mena Commercial Club organized.
 Jan. l3, o7,-Banquet given by the Commercial Club
 Jan. 30, 'oy Polk County Horticul- tural Society was organized by State Commissioner Vincenheller, and State Horhculturalist Stinson assisting. A W. St. John was elected president and Frank s. Foster, secretary.
 First passenger services opened be- tween Mena, TexarlSana and Shreve- port
 July l2. '97.-First mail service es-