pieces of history

A recent addition to the historic downtown scene as of April 14th is the mosaic–covered tractor created by Barbara Dybala of Rockwell, Texas. The mosaic, located in front of the Museum of Regional History, consists of a 1953 Super H Farmall tractor covered in mosaic tiles, historic dishes depicting Texarkana, and other antiques boasting the city’s rich history.

The project was commissioned by an anonymous donor along with Main Street Texarkana, whose mission is to restore and revitalize downtown Texarkana. The city is celebrating its 150th anniversary, and citizens are working hard in preparation. Ina McDowell, the executive director of Main Street Texarkana, said the tractor was the perfect fit for the city’s sesquicentennial festivities.

“We immediately loved the uniqueness of the tractor,” McDowell said. “[It] represented our history of agriculture, along with the opportunity to represent both sides of our city.”

Dybala said she enjoyed enveloping herself in the history of Texarkana in order to create the piece. She spent four months gathering the items necessary for the tractor’s completion. The mosaics, which are split down the center of the tractor to symbolize Arkansas and Texas, show the individual qualities of each side of the city while still preserving their unity as a whole.

The design shows the separation of the two states, but the love that still exists between them,” Dybala said. “The piece is for the people. It’s to make you smile and feel good about where you are around it.