Monthly archives: April, 2014

The VIP Inspection Tour event held April 25, to celebrate the completed restoration of portions of the Historic Dyess Colony, is discussed in the Northeast Arkansas Town Crier article, “Dyess Colony Opened for VIP Inspection Tour Event.” The event provided an opportunity for the Cash family to view the completed restoration of the boyhood home of Johnny Cash. Sponsors and Donors who supported the project, and media, were also invited to attend. To learn more, please view the article here.

People from Region 8 and beyond welcomed home the Cash family Friday. The Johnny Cash Boyhood Home and Administration Building in Dyess were open for the first time to a select audience.
Johnny’s siblings, Joanne and Tommy Cash, said they could not be more honored that so many people worked hours, weeks and months to bring their home back to life. “I’m speechless,” Joanne Cash said. “There’s no words to put together to express how we feel. It’s like going back in time. They say you can’t go back, but Tommy and I have been able to go back today.”
Tommy and Joanne are not the only ones who can take a trip down memory lane. People from around the world will be able to read, listen and look at this Dyess history when the buildings open to the public Aug. 16. For the complete KAIT8 article, click here.

The Mid-South is a place loaded with history. We could go on and on about Memphis and it’s influence on music and culture but this time we’re going west of the Mississippi River. Dyess, Arkansas has a connection to the Great Depression and music. Friday afternoon Local 24 got a special look at the restoration of a town that is expected to draw thousands of people and generate millions of dollars. In the 1930s America was in a tough spot. Many were recovering from the Great Depression and looking for work. The government gave parcels of land in Dyess, Arkansas to farmers for that second chance. If they succeeded they’d have to pay the government back. Long after everyone recovered and the town went quiet minds met in 2009 to start a restoration project. According to the 2012 census, 402 people lived in Dyess. Friday afternoon it seemed like most of them were in the town square under the sunshine remembering good times. For the rest of the Local Memphis.com article, click here.

The Dyess VIP Inspection Tour took place on April 25, 2014. The event was held at the newly restored Dyess Administration Building filled with exhibits about the Dyess Colony and a press conference with Johnny’s brother Tommy Cash, sister Joanne Cash Yates, and his daughter Tara Cash Schwoebel. The Dyess project will have its official grand opening August 16, 2014, the day following the music festival. For the complete Arkansas State University news release, which includes comments from Joanne Cash Yates, Tommy Cash, and Tara Cash Schwoebel, click here.