07/28/2025
This week's SPOTLIGHT is on the Bradley House Museum, Travis Holt, and a bit of Jasper History.
Jasper was first established as a Trading Post on the Little Buffalo River in the early 1840's. In 1843, it became the county seat of Newton County and was greatly influenced by Native American settlements and early European settlers. Archaeological findings support human activity dating back almost 7,000 years.
An 1817 treaty moved Cherokee into the area, who were later forced to move to Indian Territory in what is now Oklahoma, in 1828. Jasper was not incorporated until 1896.
The origin of the name is not certain, but a popular story suggests postmaster John M. Ross named it after a local rock formation.
The Bradley House Museum is a wealth of information and a great place to spend some time absorbing all they have to offer.
Another popular source of county information is Travis Holt, an author who writes stories passed down from generation to generation. His first book, "Shadow of Red Rock" is full of interesting stories, which are easy to read. He has recently released his second book, "Hill Stories". The first book can be found at the Bradley House Museum and the Mt Judea Mercantile. Contact Travis for the second book, or it can be ordered on Amazon.
Our history makes us what we are, and learning is always a strength which makes us grow.
