Looking Back At Dyer 1838-1976
Book 01, 006-008
Dates & Events

Important Events

1838
 
Oldest abstract found. JAMES HEARD purchased 122 acres from government. NE fractional Quarter of Section 1, in Township 9 North, Range 30 West.
1840 Census: Annis Heard; Peter Kerkendall; Spencer C. Heard
1850 Census:
    93 James Heard 97 Hester Bunch
    94 Joel Dyer   Martin Bunch
    95 James Goad 98 John Fisher
    96 Preserved Morse    
1860 Census Richland Township:
    370 Preserved Morse   Thomas Wells
    391 Nat M. Lipscomb   Thomas Cottrell
    491 Rich K, Pounds    
1870 Census:
  James Heard; W. C. Sullivent; Nat M. Lipscomb; Frank Hays; John William Moss; Preserved Morse; J. H. Manuel; Joe Dyer.
1876
 
Railroad built through Dyer Station. Small one room station built at West Crossing on South Side of Tracks.
1877
 
Cyrus and Charlie Dyer ran the Station. Stephen Dyer had a store on North side of railroad at the West Crossing. Post Office was in this store.
1878
 
Petition made to change part of road between Dyer and Alma. About this time Old Valley School built on Preserved Morse place.
1879 Depot burned.
1880
 
S. M. Dyer purchased land from Railroad Company where town of Dyer would be
built later.
1880 Census:
  J. W. Moss; J. H. Manuel; W. M. Whittington; Robert N. Anderson; Sarah Ann Dyer;
Floyd Loomis; Asbury Lawson; T. W. Woods; John Chitwood; James Moore;
James Cottrell; John Jordon; W. C. Sullivent.
1884
 
George Dyer and John William Moss laid out the town in lots and named some of the streets such as Main; Washington; Kerkendall; Paul; and Hazel.
1884 Press Argus stated: Dyer had two stores; Saw Mill; Gin; Blacksmith Shop.
1886 A one room school built near site of present Baptist Church.
1886
 
John William MOSS built a hotel and the first General Merchandise store on South side of railroad. Hotel on Main Street and store was on Washington Street.
1888 First cotton gin and grist mill owned and operated by Stephen Dyer.
1889

 
16th of June Dyer Station was incorporated. Probably name was then changed to Dyer.
A Mr. Davis, teacher and Methodist Minister, was the first mayor of Dyer. W. C. Fox built the first steam packing gin.
1890
 
A second room was added to the school building. A sorghum mill was built on
the hillside.
1892
 
Floyd Loomis built the first Methodist Episcopal Church South, on South Washington. Shelton Chastain had a store and Post Office North of Church.
1893 Floyd Loomis built the first Baptist Church near school.
1898
 
Arkansas River overflowed and damaged Riverside Community. Board sidewalks were laid about this time.
1902
 
School Building was sold to Herbert Cravens. A white frame two-story building built
further South. It had four rooms.
1903 Dyer Gin Company erected first up to date (then) gin.
1906
 
Ed Chastain bought old Riverside church and built a two-story house on South
Main street.
1907 J. D. Brannon built an electric gin on South Line Street.
1907
 
J. W. Moss sold hotel to Harve Chastain. Bought James Patton place on South Washington. His barn burned.
1908


 
Three store, facing South, on North Railroad Street. Merchants were: Richardson;
Dock Brashear; Will Mason. James Patton was located on East Washington and J.W. Moss was on South side of tracks. Will Mason had the first telephone in his store. Terrall Rhodes was mayor.
1909



 
30th of June the three stores on North side of town burned. John Nelson house saved which was located where Rhodes store is today. Seven brick buildings replaced the ones burned. They faced East and five are standing in 1976. In December the first bank was organized. Henry Burrough was the first cashier. R. L. Lester was president and T. J. James was vice-president.
1912
 
First two grades of school moved to Methodist Church because of crowded conditions.
Alice McClendon was teacher.
1915
 
A two-story store building built on West side of Washington Street, North of railroad.
Upper level used by Lodges. Lower level was a clothing store run by Heard boys.
____
 
Terrell Rhodes built building to be used for Post Office so it would not be moved from
place to place. Monroe built the other building beside it for a Barber Shop.
1915

 
Concrete walks replaced the Board walks. Telephone Exchange on North side of town. Run by Joe Jeans. More Streets named: North; South; Alma; Loomis; Hancock Line, and Railroad.
1916

 
A calaboose built on South side of town. Town leased land from Railroad, East of Washington Street to be used as a street. Auto ordinance: Sign at city limits read: " Close your cut-out and slow speed to 10 miles an hour."
1917
 
Granted franchise for electricity. School Board bought land East of school from H. A. Bennett to build a new brick High School.
1918 Armistice signed. Celebration by school and marching at night
1919 Thomas William Moss elected as State Representative from Crawford County.
1921
 
George Weaver given green light by Town fathers to operate a movie in two-story
building.
1923 J. D. Brannon gin burned.
1925 Dyer Bank "went busted"
1926
 
Overflow. Trains could not cross trestle at Mulberry Creek. Mail sent over in boat and picked up for Dyer.
1927 Opening of Highway 64 North of city limits.
1930 May 1: Dyer School incorporated with Alma School.
1940 First Filling Station operated by Uncle Mack Dyer.
1949 Natural Gas piped into town. Now we are "cooking with gas".
1955 State surveyed town. August: Dial telephones installed.
1956 Streets black topped.
1959 June: Established corporating lines according to Court Orders in 1889.
1969 Water piped into town: a "Bathroom boom".
____ Overflow that took a lot of bottom land.
1971 An old landmark fell victim to fire, "Old Sexton House".
1971


 
Voluntary Fire Department, Bought a fire engine.
Built a Town Hall on North Washington.
A Council Room; Mayor's office; Office for Water Department. Library Room and a Fire Department.
1972 29th of October opening of Dora Moss Library.
1974




 
Stop and Yield signs put up at strategic places.
Nancy Whitlow opened a Trailer Court on East Washington.
Town Council hired Rufus Land as Town Marshall.
Tony and Susan Alamo Foundation. Remodeled three old houses and built two more on Main and Washington Streets. Remodeled old Washburn Store into a chapel for
their services.
1975 April Bicentennial Celebration with a Flag raising ceremony.
1976
 
January: Moved from old Post Office to the new building on South Main Street.
May 15th Dyer will celebrate the Bicentennial with a Homecoming.