Much has changed in Wabbaseka, Arkansas, since its glory days, but one thing hasn't ... in the words of the Kingston Trio, "... the train keeps rumblin' through." (Et tu Charlie?)

Once the St. Louis and Southwestern, "The Cotton Belt Route," the railway line is now the Union Pacific. The locomotive has just entered the city limits. The engineer has eased off the throttle as the freight train rolls 'n clatters into town.

In its heyday, Wabbaseka boasted the headquarters of two major agricultural enterprises, the W.W. West Company and the B.N. Word Company ... and a small Chinese grocery owned by Mr. Bee Yee, an immigrant, a fine gardener, and an equally fine businessman.

What you see to the right is what's left of the W.W. West Gin. It lies in the late afternoon shadow of the B.N. Word Gin ... not in much better shape. When these gins were both running in the fall, Wabbaseka came to life like the Arizona desert after a gully-washer ... a veritable whirlwind of frenetic activity. After all the cotton was ginned, the town generally went back into hibernation until the onset of planting the following spring.

The scales at the W.W. West Gin looked at me and said, "Sepia tone me, please." Who was I to refuse this small favor proffered to an elder of the Delta.

This image could be aptly titled, "Not any More." The gin manufacturers attached their signs to each gin where they installed equipment. Continental and Moss were the most prevalent. This sign is on the scales house of the former B.N. Word Gin in Wabbaseka.

To the south of both gins was a concrete loading dock where bales of cotton were temporarily stored, awaiting movement to a compress and then to warehousing, probably in Pine Bluff. The long departed Federal Compress in Pine Bluff was the destination of choice for most ginners. Even as competitors, there was some friendliness between the two gins. Or it appears so. There is a paved walkway between the two gins.

All is not lost in Wabbaseka. They no longer have two gins, but they do have a community park. The neatly manicured park is on U.S. Highway 79, Wabbaseka's main drag and the "old" road to Memphis.

Wabbaseka's community park is adorned by artifacts crafted from readily available indigenous materials. Who said the Delta lacks art? Not anyone in Wabbaseka.

Within a rock throw of the railroad is Wabbaseka's field... er... court of dreams where youngsters attack the rim with dreams of the NBA rapidly circulating in their adrenalin charged attack.

The littlest kid has the biggest smile. He was captured "hangin' on th' rim." There is hope. There is.