Rosie Simmons
On June 26, 2015 The Town Square Gallery, Murfreesboro Chamber, Business of the Month, held their Open House from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm. They had been having specials all week in conjunction with the open house and drawing for a diamond necklace. Phillip Garrison of Tulsa, OK was the winner!
Growing up in Ashdown, Arkansas, Sam Johnson owner of the Town Square Gallery, started his first rock collection at age 6. At age 8 a neighbor took him arrowhead hunting. When he found that first arrowhead, he was hooked for life. This love lead him to working for the state archaeologist, when he was in high school. Even though he wanted to be an archeologist when he grew up, he chose a different path, because his heart wasn’t in teaching. Sam has always had a deep interest in the history of this area’s native people and the beautiful items they created, not only for show, but for everyday life, making him a local “expert” on Caddo (KaDoHa) artwork and artifacts. He has worked with and done business with many individuals and museums around the world.
The Johnson’s came to Murfreesboro in 1979 after they purchased the KaDoHa mounds from Glen Kizzia who opened the dig on his property in 1964.
In 1982 Sam & Dolly opened the Caddo Antiques and More as a place to sell many of the antique treasures they had collected over the years and then in 2008 they opened the Town Square Gallery. The Gallery was started as a place for people to enjoy Sam’s extensive collection of museum quality art, artifacts, and gemstones in a rural setting. Over the years, the Gallery has become a place for “rare and unique” items. In addition to Sam’s collection, they feature estate jewelry, artifacts, and gemstones, as well as a large display of uncut Arkansas Diamonds and works from, local artists such as photography, miniature paintings, full size oil paintings, stained glass, wire wrapped jewelry, carved gourds, and many other items. Local artists featured in the Gallery are Angie Branch, Pat Quinn, Russell Fleharty, Joann Diffey, Dawne Michelle Smith, Kenny Warren, Juanita Tackett, Pam Campbell, Scooter Orsborne, Ron Cleveland, Glenn Turner, Nick Chamberlain, and Matt Blaisdell, also artist Sherry Blanchard born in Newport Arkansas now living in Arizona. There are pieces for all tastes and price ranges, from the beginning collector to the seasoned art aficionado.
Sam says he is like a raccoon at times, loving things that are “bright and shiny” finding the unique, rare, high quality items for the Town Gallery. His goal for the store, is to always have the highest quality and to give customers another shopping option, here in Murfreesboro.
