The Early Days of Broadmoor, Final Installment

In October of 1959, the Capitol City Lumber Company donated lumber for the backboard of the new basketball court. The tennis court was also built that year.

When the Broadmoor Shopping Center opened in 1959, shopping became more convenient. Piggly Wiggly was located on the south end in the section under the round roof. (Piggly Wiggly later became a Safeway store.) Other stores included Ben Franklin's variety store, Frolic Shoe Store, Toyland, and Walgreens Drug. The Magnolia Cafeteria had wonderful food, and their price was "all you can eat for $1.00."

From the late 1960s until the mid 1970s, the BPOA held annual barbecue dinners in the park each fall. Tickets for this event were sold to raise money for the BPOA. Since everyone in the neighborhood did not voluntarily join the association, extra funds were needed quite often. Eventually, BPOA membership became mandatory, and the annual dues were added to our property taxes.

In 1972, the Broadmoor swimming pool was built. Pool bonds were sold to the residents for $200 each to raise the money to build the pool. Bob Lundmark was the BPOA president, and he knocked on almost every door in the neighborhood to try to convince the property owners that they should buy a pool bond. Broadmoor's pool was the first community swimming pool in Little Rock. After the hole was dug, the BPOA was made aware of a city ordinance prohibiting neighborhood pools. Bernie Allen went before the city's Board of Directors and was able to get this law overturned, therefore allowing construction of our pool to continue. When it was discovered that the concrete surface around the pool was going to be too hot, Glenn Ledbetter donated and installed a cool deck topping that is still enjoyed today. Norman McCreary lived at 45 Lakeshore Drive, and when more money was needed to complete the pool, he bought ten additional bonds. Opening day was June 30, 1972. At the dedication ceremony, Bernie Allen, Jim Bomer, Carroll Holzhauer, Glenn Ledbetter, and Bob Lundmark threw Mr. McCreary into the deep end of the pool, clothes and all. It's a good thing that he knew how to swim!

Those of us who live in Broadmoor today are grateful to the ones who came before us for their hard work and dedication that has made Broadmoor a wonderful place to live. It is our hope that those who come after us will take pride in their neighborhood, and that Broadmoor will be a great place for another fifty years.

Written by: Lanita Reynolds 12 Berkshire Drive June 2004

Special thanks to the following people for sharing their memories: Bernie Allen, Berneice Howard, Glenn Ledbetter, Jack Marshall, Ford Patterson, Jack Perciful, Cheryl Davis South, and Ann Wilson.