🛠️ Restoring Legacy: The Story of Merrill Restoration Alliance, Inc.

In the heart of Pine Bluff, Arkansas, where history and community pride run deep, a powerful movement emerged in 1986 to preserve one of the city’s most cherished institutions Merrill High School. The formation of the Merrill Restoration Alliance, Inc. was more than a preservation effort; it was a declaration of love, legacy, and leadership.

🌟 A Vision Rooted in Legacy

Led by the indomitable Mrs. Irma Holiday a retired Social Studies teacher and school counselor the Alliance was born with a clear mission: to secure, salvage, restore, and maintain the rich legacy of Merrill High School. She rallied a standing-room-only group of alumni and community leaders who shared her passion for honoring the past and building a future.

Among the founding members were:

• Walter (Sonny) Johnson

• Jimmy Cunningham

• Kenneth Johnson, Jr.

• Don Scott

• Arthur Stern

• J.Y. Williams

• Willie Fuller

• Larnell Davis

• Kim Reed

• Wiley Branton

• William (Sonny) Walker

• Carl Redus

• Judith Miller

• Dorothy Dotson McFadden

• Clinton Roaf

• Lawrence Davis, Jr.

• Juanita Young Currie

• And many more committed voices

  
  

Their collective vision was bold: transform the Merrill site into a vibrant community center. Plans included meeting rooms, display areas for memorabilia from Pine Bluff’s four historically Black schools—Merrill, Southeast, Townsend Park, and Coleman—and a multi-purpose space for academic, recreational, religious, and educational events.

🔥 Tragedy and Resilience

Just as momentum was building, tragedy struck. A fire suspected to be arson destroyed the main building shortly after the Pine Bluff School Board agreed to lease the site to the Alliance. But the auditorium remained intact, and so did the community’s resolve.

The Alliance partnered with the Pine Bluff Board and Opportunities Industrial Center (OIC), intending to use the space for workforce training. When OIC’s funding fell through, Merrill alum Larnell Davis stepped in with a new idea: house the local Head Start Center in the auditorium. The plan was embraced, and Dorothy Young another proud Merrill alum was named administrator.

Today, the Head Start program continues to operate in the auditorium building, now under the leadership of the Community Service Organization of Hot Springs, AR.

🏗️ Building for the Future

In 1998, the Alliance broke ground on a new building at the original Merrill site. The Southeast Arkansas Community Development Corporation was slated to finance, build, and maintain the facility under a 99-year lease agreement. But when financing with Simmons Bank fell through, the dream nearly collapsed.

In a remarkable act of dedication, several Alliance members personally assumed and paid the mortgage for over two years proof that Merrill’s legacy was worth every sacrifice.

💬 Honoring the Past, Inspiring the Future

The story of the Merrill Restoration Alliance is a testament to what happens when a community refuses to let its history fade. Through fire, financial hurdles, and shifting leadership, the Alliance has remained steadfast in its mission to honor Merrill High School’s legacy and serve Pine Bluff’s north side.

With the help of Mr. Henri Linton, Sr., (University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff museum curator), his son Henri Linton, Jr., Research Assistant-Dr. Tanesha L. Ford and others, much of the accumulated data and chronology was acquired, organized, and arranged for display.

This isn’t just a story about a building it’s about people. It’s about visionaries who saw beyond the ashes and imagined a space where history could live, breathe, and inspire future generations.

Do you have memories of Merrill High or stories about the Alliance’s impact? Share them below and help keep the legacy alive.