Cotton and Kudzu « Bonnie Jones Photography

Feeds:: Posts; Comments

Cotton and Kudzu

July 24, 2008 by bonniejonesphoto

Helena is a small Arkansas Delta town which sits sleepily on the Mississippi River. Although economically depressed, it is rich in history and spirit. I only wish I could have seen it in its heyday. I made these photographs on a recent trip to see my grandparents. Just about lifelong residents of Helena, their stories make me see the town in a special light. Maybe that’s why it’s one of my favorite places. I would love to do a whole photography project about it one day.

Corner of Cherry and York, downtown Helena…

A HOT afternoon on Cherry Street…

Peeling paint, crawling kudzu, chirpping crickets…

On the levy…location of an annual blues festival – http://www.bluesandheritage.com/

Dreamland Place juke joint…

One of many great Cherry St. details…

And another…this is Hart Shoes on Cherry.

Posted in New Pictures | Tagged arkansas, cotton, helena, kudzu, photography | 18 Comments

18 Responses

on July 26, 2008 at 12:05 am | Reply Beth

Beautiful images. I’m especially taken by the one of the levy.
on July 26, 2008 at 3:33 pm | Reply Fran

I love these photos. I grew up in Helena and have wonderful memories of these places. Looking at the images helps me to visualize a vibrant Helena as it was in its heydey and perhaps will be again some day. My favorite is Dreamland Place. Although I never saw the inside I’ve always thought the building to be worthy of a photo and you have captured it so well. I would love to see more Helena photos.
on July 26, 2008 at 4:40 pm | Reply Jay

Love the pix of “home”—my favorite is “York & Cherry.”
Keep shooting, Bonnie; we want more!
on July 26, 2008 at 6:40 pm | Reply bonniejonesphoto

Thanks
on July 26, 2008 at 11:32 pm | Reply Judy

Although it looks so different, Helena was my HOME…..and always will be so special. Thanks for reminding me….I love the Cherry and York picture! ALL are so clear and so revealing about a place I love…no matter the changes it goes through……cause nothing can’t take away my memories. Thanks, Bonnie!
on July 27, 2008 at 1:26 am | Reply bonniejonesphoto

Thanks for looking Judy! Helena is a special place, and my visits there are always too brief!
on July 27, 2008 at 5:20 pm | Reply Jeep

Thanks, Bonnie! I could relate to the signs more than the paintings, which reflect the more recent “Blues” cultural influence. Helena-West Helena offered so much to kids growing up in the 50-60s, and it is fun to see some of the old buildings, so familiar to our youth. Come back and make some more, including Dough Boy, cemetary, levy wall and river shots.
on July 27, 2008 at 8:47 pm | Reply Suzie

Bonnie…..what a great stroll down memory lane. I think it is obvious that we all feel very fortunate to have had the ’small town America’ experience in the 60’s. It is exciting to think that you will make a complete project of photos of this area. We should all make some suggestions on places we’d like to see you capture on film. Jeep mentioned a few that were on my mind…the Doughboy statue, the cemetary & anything along the Mississippi levee…. in addition I’d love to see some of the old homes & neighborhoods…(if they are still there)….. like Waverly Woods (my old stomping grounds ). More kudzu shots….especially on that drive between Helena & W. Helena. And people at the blues festival would really be fun to see. You’ve stirred up a lot of sweet nostalgic feelings for me. Thanks for the memories.
on July 28, 2008 at 3:34 pm | Reply bonniejonesphoto

Thanks Suzie – I would love suggestions of Helena spots to photograph. I also have some more images from my recent trip to post in the next day or so.
on July 29, 2008 at 8:04 pm | Reply Terry Bowie

Bonnie,
Great work! Your Mom referred me to your site earlier today. I’m glad she did. Long ago and far away in reality, but always recent and close in my memory. We are truly products of our environment. Our genes have memories and Helena is a part of my core! When you return don’t forget the Confederate cemetary. Keep up the good work.

Terry
on July 30, 2008 at 12:02 am | Reply Fran

You said it so well Terry. Helena is also a part of my core!
on July 31, 2008 at 7:33 am | Reply Sherry

Hi, Bonnie,

I’m so excited about your Helena-West Helena project as I will always have a heart for this place! Your work seems to put a much needed fresh coat of paint over the area………so very refreshing!! I would love to see pictures of Helena-West Helena with some life still in it……perhaps a trip to the Blues Festival would be the perfect photo opportunity! Boy…do things come alive then!! Keep up the great work, Bonnie..not only with your photography but with your wonderful cards and totes, as well! My veggie bag makes two trips to the Fresh Stand every week! *Smiles*~~Sherry
on July 31, 2008 at 3:28 pm | Reply bonniejonesphoto

Good to hear from you again Sherry! Thanks, and glad your veggie bag is getting lots of use
on August 4, 2008 at 1:15 am | Reply Montie

Hi Bonnie,
I’m so glad that you have taken an interest in our “home town”. Even though the pictures reflect such a different place than we were growing up it will always be home with special memories. These are all great pictures. I, too, would like to see the some of the Confederate Cemetary, Doughboy and maybe the Helena Bridge.
Thanks for sharing……..
on August 24, 2008 at 8:24 pm | Reply Christov10

I like the pictures. Thanks for posting them. Do you have others from that series in an online gallery? Any photos of the river from Helena, or is river not accessible from the town?

Cheers,

Chris
on August 24, 2008 at 10:36 pm | Reply bonniejonesphoto

Thanks Chris. No, I haven’t yet made a good photo of Helena’s Mississippi River view… It’s the one to get next time, for sure. The river played such a big part in Helena’s history. A selection of my pictures of Helena are on this page of website -http://www.bonniejonesphoto.com/#/travel/4529391535

Thanks again,
Bonnie
on February 7, 2009 at 7:07 pm | Reply Terri Hamilton

Bonnie, your photographs of Helena are wonderful! for those of us, that grew up there have different memories of helena, but you have caught a few things that we always took for granted in our visual world of Helena. i love what you have caught on film. thanks again!
on February 8, 2009 at 12:18 am | Reply bonniejonesphoto

Hi Terri,
I’m glad you enjoyed the Helena photos – thanks for looking!
I wish I could have seen it in its prime. But there are still so many possibilities there.
Bonnie

Leave a Reply