New exhibition opening at Delta Cultural Center

A new exhibit opens at the Delta Cultural Center showcasing the impact of the country stores. The exhibit, “Transforming with Life and Times: Mercantile Stores in the Antebellum and New South Delta” is scheduled to open Saturday, Feb. 19, at 3 p.m. The museum is located at 141 Cherry St. in downtown historic Helena and the event is free and open to the public.

Affectionately shortened to “Mercantile Stores,” the exhibit was curated by Drew Ulrich who has amassed images and artifacts that expound on the evolutionary nature of mercantile general stores and their far-reaching importance as fundamental economic engines to communities throughout the Arkansas Delta from 1819 onward.

One artifact of note is a hand-forged lumber branding iron with letters “E.R.” or the initials of Ernest Ritter, founder, and owner of E. Ritter & Company of Marked Tree in Poinsett County. This iron dates to around 1889 when Mr. Ritter was not just owner of a general merchandise store but branching out into many areas of commerce including timber production. Today, the E. Ritter company is thought to be one of the oldest privately held corporations in the state. It was founded in 1889, incorporated in 1906 and continues to this day.

This exhibit is made possible in part by the support of the E. Ritter Company, who will have a representative on hand at the grand opening event. Curator Ulrich, members of the DCC staff and elected officials from the city of Helena and State of Arkansas will attend and offer remarks before guests’ tour “Transforming with Life and Times: Mercantile Stores in the Antebellum and New South Delta.”

For more information about this exhibit, please contact Ulrich at drew.ulrich@arkansas.gov or (870) 338-5649.