This week, we're going to introduce you to one of Arkansas' lesser known attractions. The boyhood home of Johnny Cash.

The Dyess Colony

The Great Depression of the 1930s was a devastating period in American history, but it also led to the implementation of programs aimed at rebuilding the economy and providing relief to those in need. One such program was the Dyess Colony, a New Deal project in Arkansas that helped struggling families find a new beginning.

Located in Mississippi County, Arkansas, Dyess Colony was established in 1934 as part of the New Deal's Resettlement Administration (RA) program. The colony covered an area of 16,000 acres and was designed to accommodate about 500 families. The families were selected from different states and were required to meet certain criteria, such as being destitute, having some agricultural experience, and being willing to work hard to establish a new community.

One of the key features of Dyess Colony was its cooperative farming system. Each family was provided with a 20-acre plot of land, a small house, and the necessary tools and equipment to start farming. They were also given a loan to buy food, clothing, and other necessities until their first crop was harvested. In return, the families had to agree to follow certain rules, such as planting specific crops, attending cooperative meetings, and helping each other with farming tasks.

Families worked together to clear land, plant crops, and raise livestock. They shared resources, knowledge, and labor, which helped them overcome the challenges of farming in a difficult environment. The colony also had a school, a clinic, a commissary, and other facilities to meet the basic needs of the residents.

Johnny Cash

Photo of Johnny Cash (courtesy of Dillan Stradlin, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons)

The Dyess Colony in Arkansas is also notable for being the boyhood home of the legendary American singer and songwriter, Johnny Cash.

Johnny Cash, one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century, was born on February 26, 1932, in Kingsland, Arkansas. However, when he was three years old, his family moved to Dyess Colony as part of the New Deal resettlement program. Cash spent most of his formative years in Dyess, and the experiences and memories of growing up in the colony had a profound impact on his life and music.

Photo courtesy of Jeffhollett, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Cash often spoke about his upbringing in Dyess Colony in his music and interviews, describing the hard work, poverty, and close-knit community that shaped his character and influenced his songwriting. He recalled picking cotton alongside his family in the fields, listening to gospel and folk music on the radio, and finding solace in the natural beauty of the Arkansas Delta.

Photo courtesy of Dr. Blazer, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

In particular, Cash's song "Five Feet High and Rising" reflects his memories of the 1937 flood that devastated the region, including Dyess Colony. The flood, which caused widespread destruction and displacement, had a lasting impact on Cash and his family, and it inspired him to write about resilience, survival, and hope in the face of adversity.

Boyhood Home of Johnny Cash (photo courtesy of Dr. Blazer, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons)

In 2013, the Cash family donated Cash's boyhood home in Dyess to Arkansas State University, which has since restored the house and opened it to the public as a museum. The Johnny Cash Boyhood Home offers visitors a glimpse into the life and times of the iconic musician, showcasing his humble beginnings in Dyess Colony and the influence of his Arkansas upbringing on his music and legacy.

Schedule a visit to tour the boyhood home of Johnny Cash at http://dyesscash.com/ and learn more about the fascinating history of the state of Arkansas.