Since the building of I-55, most folks breeze on their way from West Memphis to Blytheville without seeing any of the old East Arkansas towns along the old road that people once had to take to go to St. Louis. In the old days it was Highway 61, and still is beyond Turrell, Arkansas, but for some reason, between West Memphis and Turrell, it has been redesignated Arkansas Highway 77.
Earlier in this blog, I have discussed Marion, and Sunset and Turrell, but a recent journey up to Turrell (my auto mechanic lives there), occasioned some interesting photos along the old road. On the way back toward Memphis, I stopped and photographed the old railroad station at Clarkedale, which has been nearly covered with vines, and is now presumably private property. A truck pulled in as I was photographing it, but its driver said nothing to me, and I got back in my car and drove away. In Jericho, I came upon an abandoned juke joint, which still seems relatively well-preserved. I wonder is it always empty, or does it still spring to life on certain weekend nights? Across from it was the community’s small grocery store, which is still open, but seems as if it had stood there for many a year.
Much closer to Harvard and Sunset was the majestic trunk of what must have been a massive tree, now dead and white, but starkly rising from a green field between the old road and the interstate. It was a most striking image.
Interstates get us where we are going faster, but there is a lot we miss on them.