Jan. 14, 1841 — The city’s first municipal election is held. Charles A. Birnie is elected mayor.
Jan. 14, 1882 — Birnie Brothers Funeral Home, 805 Garrison Ave., predecessor of Putman Funeral Home in Fort Smith, holds its first funeral.
Jan. 14, 1954 — Lt. Col. Arthur A. Chidester of Fort Smith, a Marine, dies while a prisoner of war in Korea. He had been captured Nov. 29, 1950.
Jan. 15, 2011 — Miss Arkansas Alyse Eady, a Fort Smith native and 2006 Southside High School graduate, is named first runner-up at the 84th Miss America pageant in Las Vegas.
Jan. 17, 1909 — Deputy Sheriff Claude Thompson arrives in Fort Smith from Grand Junction, Colo., with George C. Wilson, who is charged with assault with intent to kill Dan MacMillan of Heavener several months previously for the purposes of robbery.
Jan. 18, 1985 — The Fort Smith Jaycees honor developer Phil White with the 1984 Distinguished Service Award. Other awards given include Ross Griggs, outstanding young firefighter; Steven Scott, outstanding young law enforcement officer; Bill Cromer, outstanding young educator; and Sebastian County Judge W.R. “Bud” Harper, “Boss of the Year.”
Jan. 19, 1904 — Fire Chief John Jesse Little orders the Grand Opera House to place red lights near windows that lead to fire escapes and to place large exit signs near doors as a precaution in the event of a fire.
Jan. 19, 1953 — The Chaffee League’s CC A Atoms beat Fort Smith Junior College in basketball, 101-45 at Grizzly Gym.
Jan. 20, 1916 — Local men meet at the Main Hotel and organize a basketball league. Four teams are organized and the league chooses the name, Commercial Basketball League.