Nobel Prize winner and author, Ernest Hemingway, penned portions of his most famous novel, "A Farewell to Arms," in a studio-barn behind his in-laws' home in the northeastern Arkansas town of Piggott. Very few Arkansans know details of the time Hemingway spent in Arkansas during the late 1920's and 1930's. 

"The people of Piggott know his story," said Jack Hill who produced a documentary entitled "Arkansas' Hemingway." The documentary will premiere statewide on Wednesday, Nov. 5, at 6:30 p.m. on Arkansas Education Television Network (AETN) providing a fascinating connection to his life in Arkansas. Hemingway married into a wealthy family from Piggott when he joined hands with Pauline Pfeiffer in 1927. At one time, the Pfeiffer family properties holdings included approximately 63,000 acres. 

Two sons were born during Ernest and Pauline Hemingway's 13-year marriage and many trips to Arkansas were made. It was the most productive time of Hemingway's life and his literary works. It was then that he wrote "A Farewell to Arms," many short stories and segments of other books. 

"In reality, the Pfeiffer family - the whole family - provided a refuge for Ernest Hemingway to get away from things where he could work. At the same time, their wealth made it possible for him to be able to work," said Dr. Ruth Hawkins, Director of the Delta Heritage Initiatives for Arkansas State University in Jonesboro. As a program of ASU and the Delta Heritage Initiatives, the Hemingway-Pfeiffer Museum and Educational Center, 1021 W. Cherry St. in Piggott, serves as official visitor center for the Crowley's Ridge Parkway, a state and national scenic byway.

The Pfeiffer house and barn studio properties were placed on the National Historic Register in 1982. Acquired by ASU in 1997, the properties have been restored to the same 1930's ambiance that greeted the Hemingways on their visits. The Museum is open 9 a.m. until 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, and noon until 3 p.m. on Saturdays (closed for major holidays). 

For the documentary, Hill researched and interviewed several people in the town of Piggott. Among those interviewed were neighboring children who frequented the house and spoke with Hemingway, as well as the townspeople of Piggott who knew him. 

In addition to the AETN premiere, the documentary will be shown on the following commercial stations: KATV, Channel 7, Little Rock - Dec. 20 at 12:30 p.m. KTVE, El Dorado/Monroe - Nov. 8 at 5 p.m. KAIT, Channel 8, Jonesboro - Dec. 1 at 6:30 p.m. KHBS-TV, Fort Smith - Nov. 9 at noon KHOG-TV, Fayetteville - Nov. 9 at noon KLFI, Texarkana - to be announced

For further information, please contact Dr. Ruth Hawkins at 870-910-8080, Jack Hill at 510-221-3880 or visit ASU's Hemingway-Pfeiffer web site at: hemingway.astate.edu.

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