The Belle Museum
News
Franklin County Democratic Committee Revival
The Franklin County Democratic Committee held a revival meeting at the Belle Museum on Monday, August 10th from 6:00 to 8:00 pm. The mission of this gathering was to not only re-establish the Democratic Committee in Franklin County, but to share ideas about how to improve the image of the party by way of practical and responsible legislative and executive actions. In attendance were Fred Love, Democratic candidate for governor and Kelly Grappe, Democratic candidate for Secretary of State.
The Belle Museum does not endorse, and has no affiliation with any political party or candidate. We simply welcome the opportunity to foster dialog within the community.
If your organization needs a venue for an event that you feel would be beneficial to the citizens of Charleston and South Franklin County, please contact us.
Kelly Grappe Meet & Greet
On Friday, July 17, at 6:00 pm, the Belle Museum provided area residents the opportunity to meet Democratic candidate for Secretary of State, Kelly Grappe, by hosting a Pop-up Franklin County Meet & Greet event.
A Wedding in the Chapel
A special event took place on the morning of July 4, 2026. Chief Justin Flanagan officiated a wedding for a beautiful family in the chapel. It was the sweetest ever! Congratulations Mr. & Mrs. Holmes!! Thank you for letting us celebrate with you!
Fund-raiser a Success!
The Belle Museum's 2026 Summer Fund-raising Drive has officially concluded (this doesn't mean that we won't still be asking for your continued help). Thanks to the generosity of numerous lovers of history, it was very successful.
Our donor tree is sprouting lots of new green leaves. The drive itself brought in over $1300. With the addition of donations received before the drive officially started, our proceeds so far this year are in excess of $6800! Very encouraging for the museum's future prospects.
Our heartfelt thanks to everyone who contributed!
And it's not too late to show your support for the museum. Click the link below to contribute.
Dedication Anniversary/Fund-raiser Kickoff
June 6, 2026 marks the 100th anniversary of the dedication of the Charleston First Presbyterian Church (now the Belle Museum Chapel). The ceremony celebrated not the first ministerial use of the building (that occurred on November 13, 1921), but rather the paying off of the note used to finance its construction. Part of the ceremony involved destroying the note, signifying the Church's newfound financial footing. The Belle Museum would like to use this occasion to kickoff for our 2026 fund-raising efforts, ensuring that we are likewise able to maintain a strong financial base as we carry out our mission of celebrating the past to prepare for the future.
If you care about the past; if you wish to honor the memory of our founders, Delbert and Mary Belle Ervin; if you have participated in events or have benefited from our services, please consider becoming part of our family by offering your one-time or ongoing financial support.
Peggy Konert Book-signing
On Saturday, April 18, 2026, the museum hosted a book-signing event with Peggy Konert offering readings from her new novel The Holy Ghost and a Shine of Coal, a coming-of-age work of historical fiction featuring an adventurous 10-year-old girl exploring the environs of 1940s Paris, Arkansas. This event was very well received as well, resulting in good conversations. The book sales were helped by Misty Hawkins’s purchase of a number of copies for the River Valley libraries.
Jim Yeager Presentation
On Saturday, April 11, 2026, author and blogger Jim Yeager gave a presentation entitled "When Baseball was Arkansas’ Game," detailing the history of baseball in the coal belt of Western Arkansas. He also offered his books for sale. The presentation was very well received and sparked some interesting discussions.
CHS History Class Visits
On Thursday, February 26, 2026, Don Smith gave presentations to three history classes from CHS. Over 100 young people were given insights into the greatest generation and were introduced to the treasures contained at the museum. Those interested were encouraged to volunteer their services.