Soil and Soul Part II

As we walk the streets downtown you can feel the history of Helena, with Arkansas's richest soil, some of it's oldest settlements and much of it's "soul stirring and influential music". It has had mighty plantations and deplorable slave quarters. It has seen extraordinary wealth and extreme poverty. These contrasts are still obvious today as witnessed by the sad and haunting streets of the downtown area. There are some attempts at restoration happening. But with an area that can't maintain its own school system you know that funds for these type of projects will be limited.
One of the old homes is called the Pillow-Thompson House and it is open for touring a few days a week at no charge. It was built in 1896 and home to 5 generations of Pillow descendants. As is so often the case we are the only people here and we have our guide Raymond Willie all to ourselves.
When he got out of the navy he took training in housekeeping management, was hired by the Phillips Community College Foundation, which was the beneficiary of the home from the last remaining family members. While working at the Pillow house he was often asked questions about its history. He realized how little he knew about both his home city and the historic house. He began to study the history of the Delta region and is now a walking encyclopedia about Helena, the Pillow family, the Civil War and the Mississippi River.
He and Bob shared some stories of their Navy experiences. He served in the Mediterranean on the USS Eisenhower. Two things Raymond would like to see are the Northern lights and the headwaters of the Mississippi at Itasca Lake in Minnesota.
We spent almost two hours with Raymond touring the beautiful old home which has been restored to its original grandeur by local artisans over a period of four years.
We have had another very special day spending most of it with two southern gentlemen.
Again we want to see and learn more about where we are but as we have discovered there is so much
more to be seen and so we move on tomorrow out of Arkansas and into Mississippi and more Delta blues history.