Print
E-mail
Comment
Rate
Residents attempting to bring the 'Paragould Meteorite' home
PARAGOULD -- If the efforts of the community are successful, Paragould could once again be home to the phenomenal 800-pound "Paragould Meteorite."
Larry Hancock, a lifelong resident of Paragould, recently became interested in bringing the cosmic artifact back to northeast Arkansas.
The meteorite, which crashed a few miles southwest of Finch at 4:08 a.m. on Feb. 17, 1930, is the third largest meteorite ever discovered.
W.H. Hodges, a farmer, discovered the meteorite in a hole that measured 8-feet deep.
After its discovery, meteorite collector Harvey Nininger purchased the meteorite before selling it for profit to the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago.
Today, the meteorite resides at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, where it is being kept on loan from the Field Museum.
Hancock stated he has contacted both UA faculty member Dr. Derek Sears --who has been instrumental in the displaying of the meteorite at UA-- and Meenakshi Wadhwa, Field Museum meteorite curator, about the possibility of bringing the Paragould Meteorite home for public display.
However, the current dilemma resides in the fact that, according to Hancock, UA officials have not been in violation of the loan requirements, and therefore, will remain in possession of the meteorite until the Field Museum determines them to be unsuitable keepers of the relic.
According to Hancock, Sears has not been willing to relinquish possession of the meteorite, which is being used for scientific purposes at UA.
"If God would've wanted that thing in Fayetteville, he would've landed it there," Hancock said.
With support from the public, Hancock believes that the Paragould Meteorite could be brought back to northeast Arkansas.
Paragould Mayor Mike Gaskill stated that he supports the effort, but also added that Paragould needs a place to house the meteorite during its displaying in northeast Arkansas.
"The problem is, we don't have anywhere to put it," Gaskill said.
Main Street Paragould Director Sherry Cunningham expressed much of the same sentiment.
"I believe that this is where it belongs," Cunningham said. "But my question is 'where do you store it?'"
According to Cunningham, the Greene County Historical Preservation Society is currently looking into the possibility of finding a home for a Greene County/Paragould Museum.
Cunningham also added that such an attraction would be a great opportunity for Greene County and the state, as the Crowley's Ridge Scenic Byway -- Arkansas' only national scenic byway -- passes through downtown Paragould.
"I think we're well overdue for a museum here," Cunningham said. "I think we need something to show off here in Greene County."
Bettye Busby, president of the Greene County Historical Preservation Society, stated that the organization would be extremely interested in displaying the meteorite once the goal of finding a home for a county museum has been accomplished.
"I think this is where it should be," Busby said, "especially if we do succeed in getting a museum."
"If it turns out that there are more people interested in it, I would like to see it come to Paragould," Hancock said. "There's only one 'Paragould Meteorite,' really. This is a historical thing for us, and it would be a historical justice for the meteorite to return to Paragould."
At 7 p.m. on April 8, a public meeting will be hosted by the Greene County Historical Preservation Society at First Presbyterian Church.
According to Busby, this initial meeting will determine the amount of interest the community has in housing a museum.
"We'd have to have the support of the community to begin, or there'd be no reason to pursue it," Busby said.
"It's going to be an uphill battle," Hancock said. "Without the support of the people, it probably will not happen."
According to Hancock, after the meeting on April 8, the next step will entail gathering support and sending a packet to the Field Museum to request that the meteorite be sent to Paragould.
"The key," Hancock said, "is getting support."
Larry Hancock, a lifelong resident of Paragould, recently became interested in bringing the cosmic artifact back to northeast Arkansas.
The meteorite, which crashed a few miles southwest of Finch at 4:08 a.m. on Feb. 17, 1930, is the third largest meteorite ever discovered.
W.H. Hodges, a farmer, discovered the meteorite in a hole that measured 8-feet deep.
After its discovery, meteorite collector Harvey Nininger purchased the meteorite before selling it for profit to the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago.
Today, the meteorite resides at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, where it is being kept on loan from the Field Museum.
ADVERTISEMENT |
However, the current dilemma resides in the fact that, according to Hancock, UA officials have not been in violation of the loan requirements, and therefore, will remain in possession of the meteorite until the Field Museum determines them to be unsuitable keepers of the relic.
According to Hancock, Sears has not been willing to relinquish possession of the meteorite, which is being used for scientific purposes at UA.
"If God would've wanted that thing in Fayetteville, he would've landed it there," Hancock said.
With support from the public, Hancock believes that the Paragould Meteorite could be brought back to northeast Arkansas.
Paragould Mayor Mike Gaskill stated that he supports the effort, but also added that Paragould needs a place to house the meteorite during its displaying in northeast Arkansas.
"The problem is, we don't have anywhere to put it," Gaskill said.
Main Street Paragould Director Sherry Cunningham expressed much of the same sentiment.
"I believe that this is where it belongs," Cunningham said. "But my question is 'where do you store it?'"
According to Cunningham, the Greene County Historical Preservation Society is currently looking into the possibility of finding a home for a Greene County/Paragould Museum.
Cunningham also added that such an attraction would be a great opportunity for Greene County and the state, as the Crowley's Ridge Scenic Byway -- Arkansas' only national scenic byway -- passes through downtown Paragould.
"I think we're well overdue for a museum here," Cunningham said. "I think we need something to show off here in Greene County."
Bettye Busby, president of the Greene County Historical Preservation Society, stated that the organization would be extremely interested in displaying the meteorite once the goal of finding a home for a county museum has been accomplished.
"I think this is where it should be," Busby said, "especially if we do succeed in getting a museum."
"If it turns out that there are more people interested in it, I would like to see it come to Paragould," Hancock said. "There's only one 'Paragould Meteorite,' really. This is a historical thing for us, and it would be a historical justice for the meteorite to return to Paragould."
At 7 p.m. on April 8, a public meeting will be hosted by the Greene County Historical Preservation Society at First Presbyterian Church.
According to Busby, this initial meeting will determine the amount of interest the community has in housing a museum.
"We'd have to have the support of the community to begin, or there'd be no reason to pursue it," Busby said.
"It's going to be an uphill battle," Hancock said. "Without the support of the people, it probably will not happen."
According to Hancock, after the meeting on April 8, the next step will entail gathering support and sending a packet to the Field Museum to request that the meteorite be sent to Paragould.
"The key," Hancock said, "is getting support."
 |
||
| Delaplaine still waiting for outside assistance |
Article Rating
Reader Comments
The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of paragoulddailypress.com.
Submit a Comment
We encourage your feedback and dialog, all comments will be reviewed by our Web staff before appearing on the Web site.
You must register with a valid email to post comments. Only your Member ID will be posted with the comments.
Registered users sign in here: |
Become a Registered User |
Please note: We provide our story commenting feature in order to solicit feedback, debate and discussion on topics of local interest. Please keep in mind that civility is a necessary component of productive conversation. All blatantly inflammatory or otherwise inappropriate comments (i.e. vulgarity, marketing, etc.) are subject to rejection and/or removal. Comments will appear if and when they are approved. Thanks for reading, and thanks for participating.