Turkey Scratch, Arkansas is located just off Highway 243, near the Phillips and Lee County line. Even though unique names are common across the South, Turkey Scratch is even more special. This small and almost forgotten community produced two historic singers. Their names were Robert Lockwood, Jr. and Levon Helm. In addition to these two world class musicians, Turkey Scratch was also home to a country store operated by the Thompsons. There was a great article about that store in the Phillips County Quarterly and it had to be included about the history of this unique Arkansas town.
"They used to tell a story that when you left Marvell and headed north toward the county line you could stop at every house and ask, "Where is Turkey Scratch?" and for a few miles everyone would give the same answer: "Oh, it's right on up the road a ways," until unexpectedly a person would answer, "Oh, you've just passed it ---turn around and go back a ways." You see, it was such a funny name, no one wanted to admit to living there."
They built their store there, and Jessie's brother Aubrey and a friend of his, built a big sign for it. On it, they printed Turkey Scratch and they painted a large picture of a wild turkey in all its brilliant plumage. And there he stayed until the wind and rain faded him into oblivion. Up on the road they built a sign, "Welcome to Turkey Scratch," and Turkey Scratch has had a definite home ever since."
"A long time ago, there were thousands of wild turkeys in the vicinity, and naturally drainage was not as good then, as it is now. The high water often came up and everything would be covered except perhaps a ridge of little knolls. The turkeys lived on these and in the trees. Mrs. Thompson says she heard it said that the knolls looked like gardens, they were scratched up so by the turkeys looking for worms and insects."
Phillips County Historical Quarterly: Volume 4. March 1966. Number 3. page 16.
Although residents at Turkey Scratch were mainly focused on agriculture, the area was also known for it's superb hunting. Newspaper records from as far back as 1895 talk about recreational hunting at Turkey Scratch. This is probably how the area earned it's name. In 1901, a long article appeared in the Helena Weekly World describing a major hunt that involved many popular locals. Turkey Scratch also saw tragedy in 1897, when a young boy who was attempting to cross the flooded lowland on a mule drowned.
Robert Lockwood, Jr. was born on March 27, 1915 (Census records show his birthdate about 1924 though) in Turkey Scratch. His parents were sharecroppers named Robert Lockwood, Sr. and Estella Starnes. The couple had married on October 2, 1914 in Phillips County. Apparently Robert, Sr. died soon after because Estella and her son are living at Helena in 1930 and she identifies herself as widowed. It was during this time that the family became introduced to legendary blues singer Robert Johnson, who Lockwood learned guitar from. As a young man, Lockwood performed with Johnson around the Delta, but was left on his own after the musician's death in 1938. Robert Lockwood, Jr. began to perform on Helena's KFFA, King Biscuit Time program with Sonny Boy Williamson in the 40s. Although popular, he struggled mainly as a bandmember and played guitar across numerous northern states. Robert Lockwood Jr. moved to Cleveland, Ohio in 1961 and recorded "Steady Rolling Man" under his own name. In 1989, Lockwood was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame. The talented bluesman was also placed in the Delta Blues Hall of Fame at Cleveland, Mississippi. A street in Cleveland, Ohio was even named Robert Lockwood Jr. Way. He died on November 21, 2006.
Sources:
Cunningham, Carolyn as told by Jessie Hotzclaw Thompson. "Turkey Scratch" Phillips County Historical Quarterly: Volume 4. March 1966. Number 3. page 16.
The Helena Weekly World (Helena, Arkansas) 7 August 1895, Wed. Page 3
The Helena Weekly World (Helena, Arkansas) 27 Oct 1897, Wed. Page 1