Plans finalized for Fourth of July festival at Clarkton

Daily Dunklin Democrat

CLARKTON, Mo. -- The July 4th festival sponsored by the Clarkton Historical Society will be held from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m. July 4 at the Kiwanis City Park in downtown Clarkton. It is the second annual festival.

There will be games, contests, a country store offering crafts and gospel singing by various groups throughout the day. The first 800 people at the event will be treated to free ice cream. Door prizes will also be given away during the event.

Scott Harrison, historical society chairman, told members recently that removing the vinyl siding from the Birthright home needed to be completed before Tiffany Patterson of the Missouri State Historic Preservation office visits Clarkton. This is just another step that needs to be completed to qualify the local society to apply for grants to help with the restoration of the frame structure.

The Birthrights were a former slave couple who rose to prominence in Clarkton. The historical society has acquired the couple's home and plans to restore it into a cultural center and museum. A delegation from the Delta Project at Arkansas State University wants to visit Clarkton to discuss grants and projects.