MENA'S HISTORY
Mena was founded by Arthur Edward Stilwell during the building of the Kansas City, Pittsburgh, and Gulf Railroad( now its the Kansas City Southern.), which stretched from Kansas City, Missouri to port Arther Texas. Train service to Mena began in 1896.
Stilwell named the town in honor of Folmina Margaretha Janssen-De Goeijen, the wife of his friend and financier Jan De Goeijen, whom Mr. De Goeijen affectionately called Mena. in the center of Mena is also named for her.
Mena was settled in 1896, and incorporated on September 18, 1896.
In 1897, the Bank of Mena was founded. The following year, the county seat was moved from nearby Dallas Arkansas to Mena.
Mena's population had grown to 3,423 by 1900.
The town's main industries were timber, agriculture and mineral extraction, though it was advertised as a spa city located within a healthy environment.
Stilwell donated land to the city in 1906, and a park and campground were constructed.
In 1910, the railroad moved its shop facilities from Mena to Heavener Oklahoma, causing a loss of 800 jobs.
A private school in Mena, Hendrix Academy, closed in 1905.
In 1911, a damaging tornado struck the town.
Also, in 2009, a tornado hit and caused damage yet again to mena. it damaged our schools and homes.
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The first train pulled into Mena, on august 19, 1869, the same day the new era published its first edition. mena was incorporated the following month. the bank of mena opened up on may 5, 1897, and the county seat was moved from dallas to mena in 1900, the cites population was 3,423.
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mena has many pre-schools , four grade schools, and one college all in the town itself. the schools are: Louise Durham elementary school , holly harshman elementary school mena middle school, and mena high school. the college is rich mountain community college. here they are in order:
Stilwell named the town in honor of Folmina Margaretha Janssen-De Goeijen, the wife of his friend and financier Jan De Goeijen, whom Mr. De Goeijen affectionately called Mena. in the center of Mena is also named for her.
Mena was settled in 1896, and incorporated on September 18, 1896.
In 1897, the Bank of Mena was founded. The following year, the county seat was moved from nearby Dallas Arkansas to Mena.
Mena's population had grown to 3,423 by 1900.
The town's main industries were timber, agriculture and mineral extraction, though it was advertised as a spa city located within a healthy environment.
Stilwell donated land to the city in 1906, and a park and campground were constructed.
In 1910, the railroad moved its shop facilities from Mena to Heavener Oklahoma, causing a loss of 800 jobs.
A private school in Mena, Hendrix Academy, closed in 1905.
In 1911, a damaging tornado struck the town.
Also, in 2009, a tornado hit and caused damage yet again to mena. it damaged our schools and homes.
``````````
The first train pulled into Mena, on august 19, 1869, the same day the new era published its first edition. mena was incorporated the following month. the bank of mena opened up on may 5, 1897, and the county seat was moved from dallas to mena in 1900, the cites population was 3,423.
``````````
mena has many pre-schools , four grade schools, and one college all in the town itself. the schools are: Louise Durham elementary school , holly harshman elementary school mena middle school, and mena high school. the college is rich mountain community college. here they are in order:
and the college: