Cash Home Restoration Timeline

Birth of Johnny Cash
J.R. Cash is born in Kingsland, Cleveland County, Arkansas, to Ray Cash, a farmer, and Carrie Rivers Cash.Read more


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.Read more


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


J. R. Cash Graduates High School
In 1950 Johnny Cash graduates from Dyess High School, in Dyess Arkansas.Read more


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.Read more


Rankin Family Purchases Farmstead
In 1960 the former Cash home is acquired by Otto Raymond and Lucy Francis Mattix.Read more


Langston Family Acquires Farmstead
The house and farm is acquired Earvin and Dorothy Langston in 1963.Read more


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


Stegall Family Purchases Home
The former Cash home is purchased by William G. and Mearl Stegall.Read more


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.Read more


A-State Purchases Cash Home
Arkansas State University acquires the Johnny Cash Boyhood Home from the Stegall family.Read more


House is Stabilized
A-State protects the house from further damage until additional funds can be raised for restoration.Read more


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


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.Read more


A Smart Move
House is moved off its foundation temporarily to replace gumbo soil and prevent further sinking and shifting.Read more


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


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


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


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.Read more


Second Johnny Cash Music Festival
The 2012 annual benefit event is held at the Convocation Center at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro.Read more


Exterior Completion
Authentically re-created windows, porch trim, shutters, and window boxes are installed.Read more


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


Third Annual Johnny Cash Music Festival
The third annual festival is held at the Convocation Center in Jonesboro,.Read more


CBS Crew Films at House
A CBS crew spends the day at the Cash home filming segments with Rosanne Cash for a special feature.Read more


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


VIP Inspection Tour
Preview of progress for donors and Cash family membersRead more


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


Fourth Annual Johnny Cash Music Festival
Headliners included Reba McEntire, Loretta Lynn and Bobby Bare--hosted by Mark LowryRead more


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


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


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