• First Grist Mill – Demun Mill
  on Mill Creek, before 1800.
• First Ferry – Hix Ferry on Current River, 1802.
• Arkansas' first planned town - Davidsonville, 1815
• First Court – held at the home of Solomon Hewitt, west of Davidsonville, 1815.

• First U. S. Post Office – Davidsonville, 1817.
• First School – Ravenden Springs-1817.
• First Methodist Circuit Rider - Eli Lindsey, 1817.
• First Baptist Church – Columbia–1818.

• First Courthouse - Davidsonville, 1820.
• First U. S, Land Office - Davidsonville, 1820.
• First Masonic Lodge – Brakebill, 1828.
• First Circus Performance – Pitman, 1838.

More Than Home

Mrs. Shirley Chester was award Five Rivers Historic Preservations 2009 More Than Home Award at the annual Chamber of Commerce Banquet October 19. The award is given each year to a Randolph countian who has made a significant contribution to the preservation of Randolph County's heritage and history.

Mrs. Chester was an early volunteer on behalf of the 2006 Pocahontas Sesquicentennial. She developed the first fund raising project on behalf of the celebration in 2005. The Fall Foliage and Spring Dogwood tours of historically significant sites in Randolph County have continued as fund raisers for the Randolph County Heritage Museum.

She has been a faithful volunteer for many Five Rivers projects and has supported the Heritage Museum with her time as well as financially. One of her main contributions to the preservation of our history and heritage has been the instilling of a great sense of importance and knowledge of those things in the members of her large extended family. 

"Eleven Point Sunset" written and performed by Randolph County native Robert Bowlin.