The Prescott Daily News Archive

Prescott is the largest city in Nevada County in southwestern Arkansas. The Prescott area was mainly wilderness in the early 1800s, with a few cotton plantations. It was along the transportation corridor that connected Camden and Washington, Arkansas. This corridor was used for shipping goods and moving people, including Native Americans during Indian Removal. In 1864 there was an important Civil War skirmish nearby at Prairie d'Ane as part of the Camden Expedition.

However, the first development at Prescott occurred later in the 19^th century, when the Cairo and Fulton Railroad built a line to connect Little Rock to Texarkana, Arkansas. In 1873 the railroad obtained permission to start a town along their line, which would become Prescott. Stores, a restaurant, and a hotel were built quickly and the railroad depot followed. That same year Prescott built a post office, and in 1877 it became the county seat. In 1891 the Ozan Lumber Company was established in Prescott along with another railroad, the Reader Railroad. Around that time, agriculture also became a major industry, and the town used icehouses to preserve fruits while they awaited shipping. Prescott had a diverse citizenship, which led to some divisive politics in the town. Prescott declined during the Great Depression as people left to find jobs, though the fruit industry continued for some time.

Henry B. McKenzie established The Prescott Daily News in 1907. The paper was published every day except Sunday. The News Printing Company, of which Henry B. McKenzie was the owner, is listed as the publisher on most issues. Reverend W. F. Evans eventually had partial ownership of The Prescott Daily News. The News Printing Company published The Prescott Daily News and The Nevada News (1905-1974), and both papers shared a one room office. McKenzie also managed the Greeson Opera House and helped establish the Nevada County Historical Society in Prescott.

The Daily News focused on local and state news, but included headlines from major international events as well. Local news included the names of guests staying at the Hotel Miller in Prescott and the number of trains passing through town daily (nine passenger trains and 21 freight trains). The paper was Democratic and relayed the party's nominees for county and state elections. It also included interesting articles and advertisements for such things as palmists, psychics, and clairvoyants. The Daily News published health-related articles, including one article about the dangers of drinking soda. The article said that the U.S. Army prohibited the sale of Coca-Cola in post exchanges due to its major ingredients being cocaine and caffeine. The effects of the drink were considered destructive to health and morals.