Fire doesn’t destroy community spirit in Avilla

By Philip Seaton

LITTLE ROCK — The heart and soul of the Saline County Community of Avilla may have been damaged, but the spirit was not.

On March 23 a fire did extension damage to the former one-room school house that serves as a polling place on election days.

The Avilla Extension Homemakers Club manages the building, with the help of three trustees.

“They suspect the fire to be arson,” Avilla EHC Treasurer Myra Pritchett said.

The fire heavily damaged one side of the building, bubbled the paint on the inside and destroyed a few artifacts of the old school.

“I was devastated, couldn’t b el ie ve it ,” s a id M i ld red Troboy, one the seven members of the Avilla EHC and former attendee of the school.

“Why would someone set this on fire? They couldn’t get anything out of it. If there had been anything worth gotten, then that would have been another thing, but there wasn’t anything. There was nothing here that anybody would really want. It was just pure arson.”

To the rescue came members of the community and various business who have donated time and resources to help get the building back into shape in time for the Tuesday, May 20, primaries.

“It might not be finished all the way, but it will be usable,” Pritchett said.

“That is what we are working hard to get done now. We have more than 1,100 that voteat this polling place, and they all love voting here.”

Scott Salmela, who lives in t he L a ke Nor rel l a rea and owns Hog Heaven Construction and Home Repair, stepped up and volunteered his services to help get the building back into shape.

“I’ve always helped the community wherever I’ve been,” he said.

“I moved up here seven years ago from Texas and went into business here. [Saline Count y Justice of the Peace] Barbara Howell got me involved out here. I built her house that had burned down.”

Salmela est imated t hat more than 300 man hours have been spent so far, and that another 150 will be needed to finish up the project. He said he was amazed that there was even anything left to work with at the site.

“The wood was so dry, I can’t believe this place didn’t go up like a tinderbox,” Salmela said.

He has not been the only person volunteering his time. One of the trustees of the building, Gary Halpain, owner of H.H. Halpain Brothers Sawmill, donated the wood, Wholesale Electric Supply of Benton donated the electricalsupplies, Sherwin-Williams of Bryant donated the paint, and Jones Glass of Benton donated the glass.

“The one thing that we are in dire need of is someone to help donate the door,” Salmela said.

The Avilla School District consolidated with the Bryant School District in the mid-1940s.

According to historical research on the school provided by Howell, whose 54-square mile district encompasses Avilla, the present building was the third school building for the area completed in July 1907. The other two were lostto fire.

Though materials and labor have been donated, money is needed to help finish the project, Pritchett said.

“The club is trying to help raise money to defer the cost,” Pritchett said. “Scott said it will cost about $11,000, but that’s a ballpark estimate.”

Avilla EHC members are holding a drawing on Sunday, Sept. 21, for a queen-size quilt and two matching shams made by club members.

Tickets are $1 each or 6 for $5 and can be purchased at Avilla Grocery, 12700 Congo-Ferndale Road, or by calling (501) 794-1527.

Tri-Lakes, Pages 122 on 05/04/2008