Possum Grape (Jackson County, AR)

Once before this community closed down a town used to set on the block of land where the concrete is now called the Possum Grape Store that was the support and life of the community of Possum Grape. A small community with a rich history was established in the mid-1800s in the Township of Grand Glaise, Jackson County, AR became prosperous when the Patterson Ferry was traveling down the White River that ran along the communities of Grand Glasie and Possum Grape. Not much exists of Possum Grape in the twenty-first century, but its unique name attracts people from all over. Travelers and residents of Arkansas most of the time only know of Possum Grape because of the exit sign on U.S. High 67/167, but the history of the community is interesting. Even though the community in the twenty-first century is considered a part of the city of Bradford, AR in the census records, residents of Possum Grape still call the area home.

Once before this community closed down a town used to set on the block of land where the concrete is now called the Possum Grape Store that was the support and life of the community of Possum Grape. Possum Grape is one of Jackson County, AR's communities that was once thriving with its own residents and businesses and had a rich history, that is not being presented very well in much large scale of Arkansas' history. The community may no longer exist but to local residents its their history and home even in the twenty-first century.

Possum Grape now a part of Bradford, AR was the unincorporated community of Glaize Township in Jackson County, AR. Many locals say that Possum Grape was named in 1954 because of a disagreement on whether to name the community ‘Possum’ or ‘Grape,’ but after a compromise was reached the two names were combined. The name is derived from the wild grape that grew in area called possum grape that was used at one time to make jam and wine out of it. The Patterson Ferry was a ferry that traversed across the White River, bringing business to a lot of the small communities, and it was owned and operated by James H. Patterson. Possum Grape was such as a place that had prospered from this ferry. Possum Grapes' economy began to flourish during the pearling industry of the early 1900s, where residents would dive to obtain mussel shells out of the White River, removing the pearls out of the shells, and selling them to the button factory in Newport. Of course, the U.S. freshwater market was centered in Newport from 1900 to 1920, with its peak in the 1930s, but with the invention of the plastic button production would decline.

Possum Grape was never mentioned until November 21, 1929 in the Batesville Guard a newspaper located in Independence County, which noted that Bryson Bursott was the operator of the Possum Grape Inn, and then in 1941 during the record keeping of home demonstration clubs that were performing in Arkansas one was mentioned to have been held in Possum Grape. When the first U.S. Highway 67 (now Arkansas Highway 367) was built it helped to boost the economy of Possum Grape, but Grand Glaise would begin to decline, but later U.S. Highway 67 was relocated further east away from Possum Grape which is the current U.S. Highway 67/167 today. Possum Grape economy would gain another boost when the Arkansas General Assembly had designated Highway 67 as the Rock ‘n’ Roll Highway in honor of the rockabilly music that bloomed in the clubs of Newport and Tuckerman during the 1950s and 1960s. At one time Possum Grape had also owned their own club were musicians stopped and performed in. The club was first called the GB’s after the owner Gene Bryan Kennedy, but was later changed to Lamplighter Club. Not only did Possum Grape own a club but it also had the Possum Grape Mercantile, a general store where a resident could barter, trade, sell, or buy, operated by Walt and Irene Waring and it served as a Post Office (at the time it had a Grand Glaise address but is considered a part of Bradford now), Mrs. Waring served as the postmaster for Grand Glaise from 1947 until it closed in 1967. The store served as the center of the community consisting about thirty houses at the time. The community also had its own liquor store called Mary Williams’ 67 Liquor Store which served the four dry counties around it

Farming was the main occupation for residents of Possum Grape, but in the twenty-first century truck-farming patches, cotton, grain crops, especially soybeans planted in the fertile White River bottoms excel. Possum Grape locals have called the bottoms ‘the land of cotton, soybeans, and mosquitoes.’ Floods are common in the area with heavy rainfall and storms. The twenty-first century has seen more decline of the Possum Grape business community. The once Possum Grape Store no longer exist, tearing it down a few years ago, the community tried to build another convenience store across the street from the old building that was opened in 2017 but closed its doors in 2020, and so the only three remaining business still open in the area are the 67 Liquor Store, Ozark Premium Sand LLC, and the Possum Grape Upholstery Shop. The descents of the original settlers of Possum Grape attend school at the Bradford School District in Bradford, Arkansas. Possum Grape is still an important icon to the residents that still live and commute for work in the area.

Watson, Tim. Jacoway Watson, Betsy. Images of America: Newport and Jackson County. Chareston, South Carolina. Arcadia Publishing, 2016.

Rorie, Kenneth. Possum Grape (Jackson County), Encyclopedia of Arkansas. April 30th, 2020. Accessed April 25th, 2023. https://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/entries/possum-grape-jackson-county-10219/ .

Smith, Darell. Possum Grape Mercantile, Encyclopedia of Arkansas. Accessed April 25th, 2023. https://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/media/possum-grape-mercantile-12787/.

Payne, Clarise. White River Ferry, Encyclopedia of Arkansas. Accessed April 25th, 2023. https://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/media/white-river-ferry-12948/.

Johnson, Lezlie. Possum Grape Store, Google Maps. Accessed April 28th, 2023. https://www.google.com/maps/@35.4764664,-91.4108262,3a,75y,153.95h,86.5t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1siJUH0sYL-9fcooSksDGXGw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en.