Turkey Scratch

Over a century ago, a philanthropist named Julius Rosenwald established a fund with the goal of improving the educational opportunities for Black children across the rural South. Beginning in 1917, the fund eventually built over 5,000 school buildings, teacher homes and shop buildings across 15 states. In Arkansas, it helped construct 389 buildings that were spread across 45 of the state's counties.

But time has not been too kind to the Rosenwald schools. In 2002, a survey found that only 18 of the original 389 buildings constructed in Arkansas were still standing. Many of them are abandoned and forgotten, with little recognition of their historical significance.

One of the few remaining Rosenwald schools in Arkansas sits in the small community of Turkey Scratch. The school was built in 1924, and was used until the 1960s.



After the school closed, the building was used to store grain. Later the modern silos were built nearby, but the building is still used to store farm equipment.





Turkey Scratch is a tiny little place, but it was the home to two famous musicians. Robert Lockwood Jr. was born in 1915 in Turkey Scratch and would become a legendary Blues player, having learned guitar from Robert Johnson. In 1989 he was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame.



The other famous musician is Levon Helm, who was born in Elaine but would grow up here in Turkey Scratch. He would end up being a great drum and guitar player, and would become world famous as part of The Band. The group has been described as one of the most influential rock groups, and were an influence on artists like The Beatles, Elton John and the Grateful Dead.



Helm grew up in a house that used to sit across the road from the old Rosenwald school. That home was in danger of being torn down, but was thankfully saved and was moved to the nearby town of Marvell (where Helm attended high school). Here's a photo of the home taken a few years ago:



And one last shot from Turkey Scratch. Right next to where Helm's boyhood home once stood is the old AB Thompson store. It dates back to the 1930s, although it is boarded up and its metal sign showing a significant amount of rust: