Treasure Hunters Keep Hardy Merchants Busy

The Maddoxes were a part of the renaissance of Hardy that started more than 20 years ago. They renovated the two-story, circa-1897 Main Street building that had previously served as a newspaper office, printing shop and doctor's office. The storefront currently houses their retail gift shop while the pottery production continues in the rear of the building.

Up the street, Wayne and Karen Lowder own Ozark Classic Crafts Mall. They were also part of the effort during the early 1980s to make Hardy a travel destination. Wayne has become a folk icon in the area, known for his storytelling, magic tricks, woodcarving and impromptu flute concerts. Their mall features the work of about 50 regional artists with booths on two floors of a vintage building that once housed the local movie theater.

With shops named Yesterday's Reflection, Rain Barrel Antiques, Memory Lane Mall, Touch of Country, Boardwalk Treasures, Quincy's Corner and the Green Rabbit...shoppers know this village is geared for a wide range of visitors. Hardy (population 600) probably has more shops per capita than any other town in the Ozark foothills. The town also boasts four popular bed and breakfast inns.

A shiny two-tone Packard or other vintage automobile parked out front is sure to attract attention to Ernie Sutherland's Good Old Days Vintage Motorcar Museum at the western end of Hardy's Main Street. Opened in 1996, the museum exhibits over 50 antique and classic vehicles, including a 1908 Sears Runabout. About one-third of the collection consists of Ford products, including the famous 1915 "Tin Lizzie." A handsome 1936 Auburn Boattail sports car is a crowd favorite. In addition, the museum has rare auto accessories, tools, bicycles and even a rickshaw. Outside, a small 1920s-era gas station has been recreated next to the museum as a tribute to Hardy's early automotive history.

Hardy is also the home of the Veterans Military Museum, a collection of war memorabilia chronicling every American conflict from the Revolutionary War to Desert Storm. Displays include weapons, uniforms, photos, maps, vehicles and a full-sized U.S. Marine COBRA helicopter. The volunteer guides who staff the museum are veterans with first-hand knowledge of most of the war-era items. The museum, located in a ground-level basement on East Main Street, was established in 1992.

The Time and Place Clock Museum located at 202 West Second Street (two blocks off Main), includes the Rodney Anderson family collection of timepieces. Featuring over 100 examples of clocks, dating back to 1760, the museum is open Tuesdays through Saturdays during the warm seasons.

Located 16 miles south of the Missouri border, along U.S. 63-412, Hardy began as a railroad town in the 1880s. Shortly afterwards, travelers discovered the Spring River Valley was the perfect place to cool off during the long summer months. Many of the vacation homes, built to house seasonal residents, still stand along the spring-fed stream. Canoeing and trout fly-fishing remain vital parts of the economy in the Mammoth Spring/Hardy region.

Hardy is a proud part of Main Street Arkansas, under the umbrella of the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program. Manager Cecelia Jones directs the local project, offering assistance with restoration, parking, signing and other work.