While visiting the Southern Tenant Museum in Tyronza, I heard about a restored dog-trot house in Twist, Arkansas. I added the dog-trot house to my list of things to see. But first of all, I had to find Twist. I’d never had reason to visit.
There were more grain bins than people in Twist. And most of the barns and buildings had been swallowed in vines. But around every bend in the Delta, there is deep southern history. Twist was no different. B. B. King played in a Twist nightclub in the 1950’s. During one of his performances, two guys began fighting over a woman named Lucille, knocked over a kerosene heater and burned down the building. King’s guitar narrowly escaped. After that, he named all his guitars “Lucille”.
photo courtesy of www.weeklygrist.wordpress.com
Very cool.
But I was on a mission to find the dog-trot house. It was easy to spot in the middle of nowhere. Fully restored, the house is a historical monument to another time when cooking and dining occurred on one side of the structure, sleeping on the other. The center “dog-trot” breezeway provided a cooler place to sit when life did not include air-conditioning.
As I snapped pictures, I became intrigued by a lone tree standing in the field beyond the dog-trot passageway. Perfectly framed, it turned out to be an old family cemetery.
Richards Cemetery, Crittenden County, Arkansas
More exploring for me.
A few feet away, a fallen monument, partially hidden in the weeds. I wondered about the people who worked this land and were laid to rest on this property.
William Richards. Born January 186x, Died 1900
Spending time in this small, nearly forgotten cemetery seemed right. It was Father’s Day. I was feeling reflective. Homesick for Dallas yet sad to be leaving the Delta again. This little adventure provided another reminder of my fleeting time and the importance of those who came before me.
Grace Grits and Gardening
Farm. Food. Garden. Life.
“Funny when you’re dead how people start listenin’…” – The Band Perry
Musical Pairings:
If I Die Young, The Band Perry
Lucille, B. B. King
Very good. Sorry I missed the trip to Twist.
Yes, I wish you had been with me.
I grew up in twist. Where BB played was a juke joint on the north side of the building. I lived in the house next door. It was a amazing time in my life.
I am a descendant of the Holmes family, trying to find out information on my family. Do you know of any Holmes family members?
I do not but good luck in your search!
My mom is of the Holmes family her dad was Grandpa Felume holmes
That is so cool!!
Very interesting! A nice bonus today with two musical pairings.
I know! I couldn’t decide between the two:)
When I was younger, Twist was a showplace. It was meticulously tended, not unlike Victoria.
Unfortunately, it seems Victoria is beginning to show some decay and Twist got a big head start on the neglect when, according to rumor, the Twist family heirs sued each other until they lost everything. On a positive note, the dog-trot house was in complete ruin when it was rescued. Did you happen to see the angel statue in a field near that area? Jason Stark has a cool photo of it.
I didn’t see the angel statue but saw the photo you shared. Next trip!
Clarence Twist had 4 sons who were very close brothers. One of the sons has a son who still farms his father’s share of the land. Two other sons elected to sell their land as they got older and did not live in the area. There was another brother named J.F.
Thank you for the history lesson Martha!
Where is Twist? My grandfather had one of these houses in Cypress Valley, AR, but he rented one side and lived in other. Don’t remember seeing any dogs run through it. You take great pix. They tell stories. Some might even be great — like yours!
Fay, it is about 34 miles northwest of West Memphis. Clear as mud?
Talya, in 1987 I worked in the surgery dept. Osceola hospital. We heard B B KING’s mom was hospitalized there, so 4 of us surgery girls decided to walk around the corner, and lo n behold B B was coming out of her room, we met and talked a minute, he was a very nice man. His mom lived in Osceola at the time. That was before any of us had cell phones. Would’ve been a great picture..
Linda, I don’t know why I’m just seeing this post, but what a great story!
Wonderful post. I hadn’t heard the Lucille story or ever heard of Twist. And I also think on similar things when I see old cemeteries. You expressed your/my feelings beautifully. Thanks!
What a beautify place—I love walking through old cemeteries. Your pictures are lovely, too!
I grew up in Twist in the early 60s. My Grandfather was a sharecropper. My Uncle owned the little store in town. I tell people about how my Grandfather would load up the bus every morning with black workers and there babies on there back to chop cotton for 10 hours a day. There pay was a brand new 5 dollar bill and 3 ones. I visited there recently and it’s nothing like it use to be.
Thank you for the memory! No sadly the little towns along the Delta are fading away. It’s up to us to share our memories.
I grew up in Twist from the time I was born in 1965 until we moved away after the Twist family split up the farm. My Dad, Robert Perry, was the parts manager for the farm and at one point, my Mom, Alice Perry, worked at the Post Office when there was one back in those days. I have great memories of growing up there.
Thanks for commenting and sharing! I’m sure our small-own memories must be similar.