The year 2025 promises to be a historic one for the Berryville Public library and, by extension, for the town of Berryville. We broke ground on the new library in April, so the library should be finished in the spring of 2026. Preparation for the new building has made us at the Berryville Library nostalgic and reflective, not just about the library’s history but also about the town’s history. Other seminal moments in Berryville Library history occurred in 1938 and 1978, so we’ll be looking back this year on what Berryville was like then, as well as what it is like now, as we also look to the future.
For June, we’re looking at what Berryville wears in the past and the present.
Of course, styles have changed a lot between the 1930s to the 1970s to now. In the 1930s, bias-cut gowns and new fabrics like rayon and new inventions like zippers were changing the way people dressed. By the 1970s, bell bottoms polyester jump suits were all the rage.
But regardless of what precisely was in style, Berryville has long had its favorite places for residents to shop.
The square has often been a focal point not only for clothing sales but also for shoes and jewelry.
During the 1930s, Berryville Mercantile–where Painter’s Palette is currently located–sold clothing and shoes. Shoppers could buy Lee jeans, Curlee men’s clothing, and Jamar shoes.
By the 1970s, the Mercantile was joined by Carr’s Dry Goods & Shoes, which sold both clothing and shoes.
For shoes, shoppers could also visit Huers, which was where Kings River Title is now. They sold and repaired leather shoes. Racean’s was another shoe store, this one located where Farmer in the Deli now resides.
For jewelry shoppers, Wilson’s Jewelry was also on the square, not too far from Carr’s.
Though these businesses are no longer with us, there will soon be a new favorite place to buy clothes in town. TJ Maxx is slated to open a store in Berryville later this year.
But now we want to know your favorite places to shop for clothes in Berryville, both now and in the past, and what your favorite clothes are.
You can answer the prompts at any of our collection stations at the library, the community center, and the historical society. Also feel free to email us your responses and any clothing-themed pictures you have from the 1930s, 1970s, and now at celebrateberryville@gmail.com.
Everyone who fills out the prompt is eligible for our prize drawing. Each month up to five lucky people will win small prizes that celebrate fun things to do, fun places to eat, fun things made–you get the idea–all in Berryville! Responses and photos are also eligible for inclusion in our commemorative book at the end of this project.
Learn more about Celebrate Berryville on our landing page!
A special thank you to Kristy Noble Tesch for her assistance in researching this post.
The following source was also especially helpful:
Rachel Silva. “Walk Through History: Downtown Berryville.” Arkansas Historic
Preservation Program. May 16, 2015. https://www.arkansasheritage.com/docs/default-source/ahpp-documents/sandwiching-tour-scripts/berryville-tour-script-2015b611f167-35b1-4d6a-a67b-5b2ee0a0ccd5.pdf?sfvrsn=8095d8f2_5
Berryville Book Buzz 