Cash Home Restoration Timeline | Historic Dyess Colony

Birth of Johnny Cash

J.R. Cash is born in Kingsland, Cleveland County, Arkansas, to Ray Cash, a farmer, and Carrie Rivers Cash.

Cash Family Moves to Dyess

Ray Cash brings his family to Dyess in 1935 when President Roosevelt's administration creates the Dyess Colony in Mississippi County.

Ray Cash Purchases Farmstead

Ray Cash is offered and accepts a contract to purchase his 20.09 acre farmstead for $2,183.60.

J. R. Cash Graduates High School

In 1950 Johnny Cash graduates from Dyess High School, in Dyess Arkansas.

Cox Family Purchases Farmstead

Ray Cash sells his farmstead to Dewey and Elsie Cox and moves to town across the street from the Dyess hospital.

Rankin Family Purchases Farmstead

In 1960 the former Cash home is acquired by Otto Raymond and Lucy Francis Mattix.

Langston Family Acquires Farmstead

The house and farm is acquired Earvin and Dorothy Langston in 1963.

Johnny Cash Returns Home

Johnny Cash, along with his sister Louise and wife June, visits his boyhood home in 1968 while taping a documentary.

Stegall Family Purchases Home

The former Cash home is purchased by William G. and Mearl Stegall.

House Placed on Endangered List

The former Cash home is placed on the 2006 Arkansas list of Most Endangered Historic Places due to rapid deterioration.

A-State Purchases Cash Home

Arkansas State University acquires the Johnny Cash Boyhood Home from the Stegall family.

House is Stabilized

A-State protects the house from further damage until additional funds can be raised for restoration.

First Johnny Cash Music Festival

Arkansas State University hosts the first Johnny Cash Music Festival at the Convocation Center in Jonesboro.

80th Birthday Tribute

Family gathers in Dyess on the 80th anniversary of the birth of Johnny Cash to re-dedicate the cornerstone for the house and officially launch restoration efforts.

A Smart Move

House is moved off its foundation temporarily to replace gumbo soil and prevent further sinking and shifting.

Foundation Work

After replacing the soil under the Cash house, a new foundation is poured as a more permanent base.

Interior Work Begins

Work proceeds on repairing alterations to walls and windows, stripping layers of paint, and refinishing doors.

Back in Place

With a firm foundation in place, the house is moved back to its exact original location.

New Roof and Porches

A new roof, with hand-dipped wooden shingles, is placed on the house, along with rebuilding the front and back porches.

Second Johnny Cash Music Festival

The 2012 annual benefit event is held at the Convocation Center at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro.

Exterior Completion

Authentically re-created windows, porch trim, shutters, and window boxes are installed.

Interior Furnishings

Work begins on acquiring interior furniture and accessories to replicate what was in the home during the 1930s and 1940s.

Third Annual Johnny Cash Music Festival

The third annual festival is held at the Convocation Center in Jonesboro,.

CBS Crew Films at House

A CBS crew spends the day at the Cash home filming segments with Rosanne Cash for a special feature.

State Restoration Award

Cash Boyhood Home project receives the 2013 Award for Excellence in Preservation Through Restoration.

VIP Inspection Tour

Preview of progress for donors and Cash family members

Land Donation

Thomas and Barbara Creecy Tate family donate 3.65 acres west of the Johnny Cash Boyhood Home for future development.

Fourth Annual Johnny Cash Music Festival

Headliners included Reba McEntire, Loretta Lynn and Bobby Bare--hosted by Mark Lowry

Grand Opening

Members of the Cash family were on hand for the Grand Opening of the Johnny Cash Boyhood Home.

Best of the South

Johnny Cash Boyhood Home receives award for preserving southern architecture from the Southeast Chapter, Society of Architectural Historians (SESAH).

The Future

The next phase of the Johnny Cash Boyhood Home project will include re-creating the farmstead buildings.