SEE INSTRUCTIONS IN HOW TO COMPLETE NATIONAL REGISTER FORMS TYPE ALL ENTRIES -- COMPLETE APPLICABLE SECTIONS VI CINITY OF CODE 05 STATUS ~OCCUPIED

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$~ ---,. Form No..10-30t. }J N TED ST r\tes DEPARTMENT O f THE NTEROR NATONAL PAR K SERVCE 10 TAL EG!$ rie County Courthouse t-. LOCATON STREET & NUMBER n_ CTY. TOWN STATE Main Street Des Ar c P...rkansas CLASSFCATON _ V CNTY OF CODE 05 _NOT FOR PUBLCATON ~~~~~~~~~~-.

rie County Courthouse t-. LOCATON STREET & NUMBER n_ CTY. TOWN STATE Main Street Des Ar c P...rkansas CLASSFCATON _ V CNTY OF CODE 05 _NOT FOR PUBLCATON ~~~~~~~~~~-.

rlg(si _ STPUCTURE _STE _QBJECT OWNERSHP X PUBLC _ PR VATE _3C H PUBLC ACQUST ON N PROCE SS STATUS ~OCCUPED _ UillOCCU?

1 ~ ---,. Form No t. }J N TED ST r\tes DEPARTMENT O f THE NTEROR NATONAL PAR K SERVCE 10 TAL EG!STER OF BSTORC PLACES NVENTORY*- NOMNATON FORM ij NAME SEE NSTRUCTONS N HOW TO COMPLETE NATONAL REGSTER FORMS TYPE ALL ENTRES -- COMPLETE APPLCABLE SECTONS HSTORC A ND/OR COMMON Pra:i.rie County Courthouse t-. LOCATON STREET & NUMBER n_ CTY. TOWN STATE Main Street Des Ar c P...rkansas CLASSFCATON _ V CNTY OF CODE 05 _NOT FOR PUBLCATON ~~~~~~~~~~-. CONGRESSONAL DS~ CT,/ Second COUNTY / / 9'D <:i_d CODE 117 _ CATEG9RY DSTRCT :;~_ 0 1 ill::>!rlg(si _ STPUCTURE _STE _QBJECT OWNERSHP X PUBLC _ PR VATE _3C H PUBLC ACQUST ON N PROCE SS STATUS ~OCCUPED _ UillOCCU?ED _WORK N Pi'lOGRESS ACCESSBLE _YES: RESTRCTED PRESENT US AGRCULTU RE _ MU SEUM _C 0~.1MFR C AL _ PARK EDUCATi01lAL _PRVATE rle SJO!:NCE _ ENTERTANM ENT _ RELGOUS X GOVERNMENT _ SCENTFC _BENG CONSDERED ~:~. OWNER OF PROPERTY NAME STREET & NUMBER Prairie County ~YES: UNRESTRCTED _NO _ NDUSTRAL -TRANSPORTATON _MLTARY _OTHER: i it _ CTY. TOWN Des Arc _ V CNTY OF LOCATON OF LE GAL DESCRPTON STATE Arkansas COURTHOUSE. REGSTRY OF DEED S.ETC. STREET & NUMBER CTY. TOWN Prairi e County Courthouse Main Stree t Des A:.c ~'[]R EPRESENTATON N EXSTNG SURVEYS TTLE STATE Arkansas OP.TE _FEDERAL _STATE _ COUNTY _LOCAL DE POS TO HY FOR SURVEY R~CORDS CTY. TO'NN STATE

$L\r. DESCRPTON CONDTON CMcCK ONE CHECK ONE ~EXCELLENT _GQOO _FAR _DETERORATED _RUNS _UNEXPOSED _UNALTERED ~LTERED X ORGNAL STE _MOVED DAT~--- DESCRBE THE PRESENT AND ORGNAL (F KNOWN) PHYSCAL$ n 1902 an earlier brown brick courthouse of the same dimensions and style was constructed on th2 same site.

n 1902 an earlier brown brick courthouse of the same dimensions and style was constructed on th2 same site.

The ornate, two-storey building is basically Georgian Revival style, but it also combines elements of Romano~Tuscan architecture. t is constructed of red brick and has white details.

2 L\r. DESCRPTON CONDTON CMcCK ONE CHECK ONE ~EXCELLENT _GQOO _FAR _DETERORATED _RUNS _UNEXPOSED _UNALTERED ~LTERED X ORGNAL STE _MOVED DAT~--- DESCRBE THE PRESENT AND ORGNAL (F KNOWN) PHYSCAL APPEARANCE Des Arc has had numerous courthouses. The present two-storey, red brick structure was construc'!:.ed in n 1902 an earlier brown brick courthouse of the same dimensions and style was constructed on th2 same site. A fire i n 1911 razed the building, and when the county rebuilt, the new courthouse was constructed on the foundation of the old building. The ornate, two-storey building is basically Georgian Revival style, but it also combines elements of Romano~Tuscan architecture. t is constructed of red brick and has white details. The front entrance, which faces south, is the most elaborate feature. Four massiv e Romano-Tuscan columns support a white, flat-roofed, two-tiered portico that is topped by white railing and balustrades interspersed with four red-brick piers. White pilasters and architrave frame the main-floor double doors, which are flanked by sidelites and transom. White gun-sight iron railing encloses the second-storey porch. The double-door entrance to the second-storey, characteristic of Georgian buildings, has a transom but no sidelites. The facade is constructed with a center portico and projecting wings on both ends. 'The wings u.re similarly constructed, yet there are differences. The wing on the west e l evation i s lar ger in dimension than th2 wing on the e::i.st. Also, the secondstorey v.1lndo1,,-s on tt1e \"'-est T.,Ving ~ :dqe (?.i90.te2n-p<.1ne~ transoms \,..;J1ic11 a.~e nc.-.: present on the east wing. Both projections have pedimented gables with rnodillions, which are featured along the cornice line of the building and portico, and s emicircular air vents. Window openings are numerous on all elevations. Second-storey windows are placed directly above the lower-storey windows. Windows are double-hung sash and have bracketed shelves above the bottom-storey windows. 'rhe double windows above the entrance on the west elevation have an arched transom. Above the entrances on the side elevations are signs which read "Prairie County Courthouse." l i The low-hipped roof features two very decorative architectural features. Centered just behind the portico is a small brick dormer with pediment, modillions and double-hung sash windows. Behind the dormer in the center of the main roof is a tower. The square tower has piers at each corner and double, louvered windows below the clock. Double round-headed windows of the Roman order are below the louvered windows. An iron railing identical to that on the second-storey portico forms a small porch at each elevation of the tower. Chimney placement is symmetrical, but the two chimneys on the west elevation are corbelled, while the other two are not. An addition was made to the north elevation in The two-storey r e ctangular appendage has a flat, stair-step roof. The ma in entrance to the addition was placed on the west side. Steps with handrail and a hood rema:.n, but the door itself has been infilled with bricks, as have all the first-s'::orey windm.;s and doors of the addition. The only entrance into the addition, which s e rves a s the jail, is tleou.gh the main building. The nume rous second-storey windows in the addition are unbricked.

PAGE one The interior of the courthouse is designed for off ice use and appears to be basically unaltered.

3 ., Form No. 1~. 300 J (Hev.' 10 74) ' UNTED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HE NTER OR l NATONAL PARK SERVCE fonal REGSTER OF HSTORC PLACES NVENTORY -- NOMNATON FORM FOR NPS USE ONLY RECEVED loate ENTERED CONTNUATON SHEET TEM NUMBER 7 PAGE one The interior of the courthouse is designed for off ice use and appears to be basically unaltered. Original pressed tin ceilings, tile floors, and plastered walls remain: Because the early courthouses in Prairie County had numerous fires, thick vaults were bought in 1856 and have been in each subsequent courthouses.. n the present one at Des Arc, the vaults, which have walls about two feet thick, are included in the room which s eparates the county judge's o f fice from the county clerk's office. County records dating back to 1856 are contained in the vaults.

$_PHLOSOPHY _TRANSPORTATON x 1900- _COMMUNCATONS _NDUSTRY X...POLTCS/GOVERNtl.ENT _OTHER {SPECFY} 1; 1 '. " 11 _NVENTON SPECFC DATES 1913 STATErvlENT OF SGNFCANCE BULDER/ARCHTECT R. p.$ Morrison The largest number of architecturally significant public buildings in Arkansas are the courthouses scattered over the States ' seventy-five counties.

Morrison The largest number of architecturally significant public buildings in Arkansas are the courthouses scattered over the States ' seventy-five counties.

4 .:]s GNFCANCE '.. PEROD AREAS OF SGNFCANCc -- CHECK AND JUSTFY BELOW _PREHSTORC _ARCHEOLOGY-PREHSTORC COMMUNTY PLANNNG _LANDSCAPE ARCHTECTURE _RELGON _ _ARCHEOLOGY-HSTORC CONSHlVATON _LAW _SCENCE _ fi99 -AGRCULTURF _ ECONOMCS _LTERATURE _SCULPTURE _ JLARCHTECTURE _EDUCATON _MLTARY _SOCAUHUMANTARAN _ _ART _ENGNEERNG MUSC _THEATER _ COMMERCE _EXPLORATON/ SETTLEMENT _PHLOSOPHY _TRANSPORTATON x _COMMUNCATONS _NDUSTRY X...POLTCS/GOVERNtl.ENT _OTHER {SPECFY} 1; 1 '. " 11 _NVENTON SPECFC DATES 1913 STATErvlENT OF SGNFCANCE BULDER/ARCHTECT R. p. Morrison The largest number of architecturally significant public buildings in Arkansas are the courthouses scattered over the States ' seventy-five counties. A structural symbol of American government, the county courthouse serves as the center of local political activity. Often the largest and most costly building in the county, the courthouse is almost always a source of pride to the citizens who financed and make use of its facilities. Prairie County was formed in 1846 from part of Pulaski County. seat was located at Brownsville (now a part of Lonoke County). The first county n 1873 DeValls Bluff hecarne county seat, and in 1875 an election moved the county seat to Des Arc. n i 377 LV.:i.ll- ::31uff b~came :s.:;a-1_ o.e ju:;ti :: e :fer th2 south~rn p:trt o:f t..hc r::cun~y and Des fj_i:c for b1'2 ncrthern part. Des Arc is nmv considered th2 ma.in county seat. Des l-u::c has had three courthouses. The first one was constructed in 1875 when the county seat was muved to Des Arc. n 1904 a new brown brjck.courthouse was constructed. A fire in 1911 razed the building and when the county rebuilt, the new courth0;..1se was constructed of the same style and on the founda'tion of the 1904 structure. ;1 ; \, 11 : l 'i. i : 'f :, l ' - The courthouse was designed by R. P. Morrison and constructed at a cost of $27,500. t was first occupied in Very ornat2 in appearance, the courthouse combines elements of Georgian Revival and Romano-Tuscan architecture. Constructed of red brick, all the detail and decorative work is Hhite. ; The fa. cac~e contains most of the architecturally significant features. A two-tiered portico with Tuscan columns is situated between projecting wings. Each wing is capped by pedimented gables. A dormer is centered on the hipped roof just behind the portico. A square tower witg brick piers at each corner caps the roof. A clock is located at 'the top of the tower with pairs of lou'1ered windows under the clock and pairs of rou:r:d-headed windows below the louvered windows n 1947 a new jail building was added to the rear elevaiion. The addition is a ::..-ectangular brick building with staj r-step roe>f. All ground-floor openings have been infilled with brick, and the jail is accessible only through the courthouse.

MAJOR' B!BLOGR.A.PHCAL REFERENCES Garth, Billy, (Prairie County Clerk) personal interview a t Des Arc, Arkansas, January 15, 1976. Prairie County Fact Sheet.

LGEOGRAPHCAL DATA ACREAGE OF NOMNATED PROPERTY less than one acre UTM REFERENCES Al!...i21 k; b i714 6 t;) :.. cl 7il 1319101 ZONE EASTNG NORTHNG cl..u 1 1 1 1 1 VERBAL BOUNDARY DESCRPTON sl.

:lE NAME / TTLE ORGANZATON Donna DuVall, Historian Arkansas Historic Preservation Program STREET & NUMBER 300 West Markham CTY OR TOWN Little Rock DATE 3/9/76 TELEPHONE.

5 MAJOR' B!BLOGR.A.PHCAL REFERENCES Garth, Billy, (Prairie County Clerk) personal interview a t Des Arc, Arkansas, January 15, Prairie County Fact Sheet. On file at the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program. Worley, Ted R., History of Des Arc, (Reprinted from the White River Journal, March 22, 1956), LGEOGRAPHCAL DATA ACREAGE OF NOMNATED PROPERTY less than one acre UTM REFERENCES Al!...i21 k; b i714 6 t;) :.. cl 7il ZONE EASTNG NORTHNG cl..u VERBAL BOUNDARY DESCRPTON sl.i_j, ZONE EASTNG NORTHNG DLj 1 l LST ALL STATES AND COUNTES FOR PROPERTES OVERLAPPNG STATE OR COUNTY BOUNDARES STATE CODE COUNTY CODE COfJC: COUNTY CO'.:lE NAME / TTLE ORGANZATON Donna DuVall, Historian Arkansas Historic Preservation Program STREET & NUMBER 300 West Markham CTY OR TOWN Little Rock DATE 3/9/76 TELEPHONE STA TE Arkansas STATE HSTORC PRESERVATON OFFCER CERTFCATON THE EVALUATED SGNFCANCE OF THS PROPERTY WTHN THE STATE S: NATONAL_ STATE LOCAL-X. A s the designated State Historic Preservation Officer for the National Historic Preservation A ct of 1966 (Public Law ). hereby nominate this property for inclusion in the National R eg~ster and certify that it has been evaluat~d according to the criteria and procedures set forth by the National Park Service. _,.. ) ,, ~- STATE HSTORC PRESERVATON OFFCER SGNATURE TTLE Anne Bartle State Historic Preservation Officer Fbn NPS useonly. _.... /.. <> )._.. -. f 1 HEREsv cef1rifv. rnarrh1s. PRorEfirv 1s rnccuoe01nthe NATONAL R.EG1sTER :.. :.. 4.-:j/;J~' -;J,,v/,,,.. _.~.-- DATE RECTOR. OFFCE OF.ARCHEOLOGY AND HSTORC PRES ERVATON ATTEST : KEEPER OF THE N TONAL REG STER DATE DATE

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8 -f-l.. ~~1v i <:::.f)es ~ v \ C:l.J 1~01!,, a,{j) 1-l1 Gwr-1-hDuse, 1) Prairie County Courthouse 2) Des Arc, Arkansas of ~JCc:J<)e > t.uh,ch... f:1ce~ '5ou+-h- 3) Bob Dunn 4) ) Arkansas Historic Preservation Program 6) View of facade, which faces south 7) l i i,

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10 \ ~?rcii rie.. Cou n ~ f Courf hou ~- f1rc... 'De 1~ Vi ew o.p \/Jc2sf e/eucjfidv, 1 /1q1 b :Jf';~i 1) Prairie County Courthouse 2) Des Arc, Arkansas 3) Bob Dunn 4) ) Arkansas Historic Preservation Program 6) View of west elevation 7) 2,.,. j '\ l \!

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12 ~., nt?wh&za.-;,,, +HEC " r -., 3 our+ house -(1., ~1 rl e - 0.Ju,,1-J-y rf. De ~ 1 ru V, eu..1 o~r f?,g-;) -1 ) J;q / ft e /PU < 3f io}v 1) Prairie County Courthouse 2) Des Arc, Arkansas 3) Bob Dunn 4) ) Arkansas Historic Preservation Program 6) View of east elevation 7) 3

$s -VU' r; 'l ~\'~ 1.-~ UNTED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE NTEROR j GEOLOGCAL SURVEY R.4 W.$ $640 2 CO i ~ ' ~-. z - --~ "-' l, r --- 'V /7/V ), ~. \..,&(Y' ;g (\ ~ - -- )) ' (~ V) ~.$ $\ i,~ /,.,,, ~ J \\[ ~'.) 1,J: ( \...- ',,.. / \ \ - -., 1 r~--:-c--.-.). - \ 0. ~,~.. f:.$

13 .-- r...- ~ ~ ~ ~ ~---~... ~6"'.s -VU' r; 'l ~\'~ 1.-~ UNTED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE NTEROR j GEOLOGCAL SURVEY R.4 W CO i ~ ' ~-. z - --~ "-' l, r --- 'V /7/V ), ~. \..,&(Y' ;g (\ ~ - -- )) ' (~ V) ~. - ~'. \..<. ;:::-~=-:tf'z'~:rt?p ;!'\~)- \) \... ;,o ;:,,.J //A~ ~- ~ c 1 ';( ; - ~? \ i,~ /,.,,, ~ J \\[ ~'.) 1,J: ( \...- ',,.. / \ \ - -., 1 r~--:-c--.-.). - \ 0. ~,~.. f:... s.. ''*' -,.;.. ' ' PRARE COUNTY COURTHOUSE DES ARC, ARKANSAS UTM REFERENCE f. - L_ <T 5 7'30"

$.t:f.:-..,}''j ) ( l r:: CvLL fl.?s /~)r~ n-~ y Q)u 1~ + 1t1D't.$:? V\ ~ c0 o f1 )' 1 ' ( ).$ !!2str~~e 11umz+aesrc ]f.

14 .t:f.:-..,}''j ) ( l r:: CvLL fl.?s /~)r~ n-~ y Q)u 1~ + 1t1D't.$:? V\ ~ c0 o f1 )' 1 ' ( ). ~ ~ ~di fib~ f tl ilo r ( a,.,, &},,. t /;11&.b ~\\ d n~ 1 " er - HK..., '?itt.!!2str~~e 11umz+aesrc ]f.q~~ ee e 1 t 1) Prairie County Courthouse 2) De s Arc, Arkansas 3) Bob Dunn 4) ) Arkansas Historic Preser vation Pr ogram 6) View of 1947 addition t o t he r ear o f building 7) 4 f,fi?"of.q~~~ ~....

$10,- 7t,~ UNTED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE NTEROR NATONAL PARK SERVCE NATONAL REGSTER OF HSTORC PLACES PROPERTY MAP FORi\1T.(i!$ $CTY. TOWN VCN TY OF COUNTY STATE \ \ fxf~ Des Arc MAP REFERENCE SOURCE U. S. Geological Survey Prairie Arkansas SCALE l: 24 000 D/>.$

15 J L J} ~ ' ( " Form No (f'1'?v. 10,- 7t,~ UNTED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE NTEROR NATONAL PARK SERVCE NATONAL REGSTER OF HSTORC PLACES PROPERTY MAP FORi\1T.(i!~ NAME SEE NSTRUCTONS N HOW TO COMPLETE NATONAL REGSTER FORMS TYPE ALL ENT R ES -- ENCLOSE WTH MAP HSTORC Prairie County Courthouse AND/ OR COMMON LOCATON CTY. TOWN VCN TY OF COUNTY STATE \ \ fxf~ Des Arc MAP REFERENCE SOURCE U. S. Geological Survey Prairie Arkansas SCALE l: D/>.TE 1968 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ REQUREMENTS TO BE NCLUDED ON ALL MAPS 1. PROPERTY BOUNDARES 2. NORTH ARROW 3. UTM REFERENCES NT :

LOCATION NAME CLASSIFICATION LOCATION OF LEGAL DESCRIPTION INVENTORY -- NOMINATION FORM 2 NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES ----

LOCATION NAME CLASSIFICATION LOCATION OF LEGAL DESCRIPTION INVENTORY -- NOMINATION FORM 2 NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES ---- Ll STED STXTtS DEPxKTblENT OF THE NTEROR NATONAL PARK SERVCE NATONAL REGSTER OF HSTORC PLACES FOR NPS USE ONLY RECEVEO NVENTORY -- NOMNATON FORM 2 NAME HSTORC AND/OR COMMON SEE NSTRUCTONS N HOW TO COMPLETE