SEE INST RUCTIONS IN HOW TO CQMPL TE NATIONAL REGlSJER FORaWS i TYPE ALL ENTRIES -- COMPLETE APPLICABLE SECTIONS L. STPEET & NUMBER n. 2..

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1 u 51- ku STATES DEFAKTMENT OF Tl-l F, STEklOK - SEE NST RUCTONS N HOW TO CQMPL TE NATONAL REGlSJER FORaWS i TYPE ALL ENTRES -- COMPLETE APPLCABLE SECTONS ~ N A - E L +- ~ ". AND/OR COM+MOF Little River County Courthouse!.. _ *:, -,' c. -STE STPEET & NUMBER.- *. n.. - Main and Seeofid Streets -NOT FJR PUBLCATON CTY. 70'NN -.- CONGRESSONAL DSTRCT Ashdovm, VCNTY OF Fourth : SCATE CODE COUNTY CODE Arkansas 05 Little River 05 1 ' ;. TJCUSSFCATON -- i: CATE C; OR\? OWNERSHlP STAT U S XP: 131.1~ -?!~ccu~~eo -. s.:; U;.-.L>,.: ->2:'1,7:; -L::40:<!,7,;?# -315TF?!Ci -STRUCTURE,sow -WORK M PROGBESS PUBLC AC(TU!STOM ACCf SS l BLE -OBJECT 3 N PROCESS -YES: RESTRCTED -RENG CDNS!DEREO =YES: UNRESTRCTED -FA 0 -AGRCLlLT'J! PRESENT USE -MUSEUlrl <..,.,L -.--~%1*6=~~. #:{ T 4Fc r -*..:,EDUCATONAL,PRVATE AESOENE : -.,EHf EFTANPdEPT,RELEGDUS. r. )=GOVERNMENT,SCENTFC + ',bloustral -TRAKSPORTATON '" 8 - -hl l WARY -OTHER,. ~?OJOWNER OF PROPERTY e "....% < T -- "A"' Little River County (Hoye Horn, County Judge) STREET lg NUMBER : [ -' -, Little fiver CoanZy Courthause - CTY. TOWN STATE - 1. Ashdown, VCNT'~'OF Arkaoszs ;~LOCATON OF LEGAL DESCRFTON! : r '- Little River Courthouse CTY TO'uVN STATE i f Ashdotm Arkan s a c!-fq &,.ti REPXESENTA"17OP-J N EX4STNG SURVEYS t ; 0.; i..--- OEP3STO3Y FC)R SGRVEY RECOnOS CTY. TCWN STAT

COND1TiON CHECK ONE CHECK ONE 1 -~XCELLEHT -QET~ROFATED XUMALTERED X_DRG#MAL STE v-"z30d -RUNS ALTERED -MOVED DATE _F,t R -WPEXPOSEO 1 OESCRFBE THE PRESENT AND ORGNAL F KNOWN) PHYSCAL APPEARANCE!

Constructed in 1907, the red brick building has a spare floor plan with the dome rising from the center of the hipped roof, The northeast fzcade features a two storey,portico with the brick pedinent

Set into the porch opening are C- ~~~~3 - round, tapering columns with onic capitals. The wrch shelters the center bay of tho facade and covers the primary enkrace to tse cw~rthouse. 2'.

$n contrast 50 the dark red brick, these and other architectural details are wrked in t\hi t e. >'.1 wi~dovs have cast stone lc~sills: 7-rindou heads on the secoad stor~y are s?- tn recjz-,r?r~ln?r Cs?$

2 COND1TiON CHECK ONE CHECK ONE 1 -~XCELLEHT -QET~ROFATED XUMALTERED X_DRG#MAL STE v-"z30d -RUNS ALTERED -MOVED DATE _F,t R -WPEXPOSEO 1 OESCRFBE THE PRESENT AND ORGNAL F KNOWN) PHYSCAL APPEARANCE! i The tittle River County Courthouse is 2 two storey brick structure topped with a3 in~pressive octagonal dome. Constructed in 1907, the red brick building has a spare floor plan with the dome rising from the center of the hipped roof, The northeast fzcade features a two storey,portico with the brick pedinent rising above the roofline. The pediment displays a semi-circular arch trimmed in white. Projecting about six feet from the facade, the -porch is semi-enclosed with 211-shape brick eolms on either end. Set into the porch opening are C- ~~~~3 - round, tapering columns with onic capitals. The wrch shelters the center bay of tho facade and covers the primary enkrace to tse cw~rthouse. 2'.. This symnietrical structure j.s surrounded by a water tale at the base and a dsntiled cornice aver brick corbelling just below the roofline. n contrast 50 the dark red brick, these and other architectural details are wrked in t\hi t e. >'.1 wi~dovs have cast stone lc~sills: 7-rindou heads on the secoad stor~y are s?- tn recjz-,r?r~ln?r Cs?.~<-s, l:~hi!-e t113se on the ~rgi~'1fl floor featur~ sir.~le..-.- <..-.'r -13 ;<- y!-, :-,,:-:? ~,~!,-.~~;.-:-., ? 2 7 : - 7:? 2 1. A:C,:CJ - with the main entry, the center Say, second-storey windwgs on both the fro~t a!c? rear elevatj.@ns have wide transox uith a lattice-like dcsip. Somzwhat "k. - like the facade, the center bay on the rear elevation rises slightly higher',. than the f Panking bays. The center of th-2 b.lildir?cj is covere6 with a hip roof which f iattens 'out -araued the edqns. Set into the hip roof is a massive octagonal dome cavered with silver-colored tiles: At'the base of the segir~ental dons each side has a 1 korizcntally set rectangular window filled with small square lights. t "r.ouqh the doxe dominates the structure, several smaller features add an i interesting'touch ta the courthouse. The dentiled cornice, pediment covered doars and wind~ws and onic capitaled columns give the building a classical FPavar. Set in the cent-er of a tree shaded city block, the building rests near the railroad tracks whkh were responsible for Ashdawn's origin. As the city's most architecturally significant structure, the Little River County Courthousz is also the most prominent landmark in the county. i - 1

3 SGNFCANCE C-, AREAS OF SGNFCANCE -- CHECK AND JUSTFY BELOW A~CHEOLUGY~PREHSTORC -COMMUNllY PPAXNNG,LANOSCAPE AZCHTECJURE,REUS:Ov ARCHEOLOGY-HSTORC,CONSERVAT13N -UW,SCENCE AGRCULTURE -ECONOMCS -UT

over the state's seventy-five csunties. As the center of local politics, the county courthouse is often the largest and most costly building in the county. The Little River.

3 3 SGNFCANCE C-, AREAS OF SGNFCANCE -- CHECK AND JUSTFY BELOW A~CHEOLUGY~PREHSTORC -COMMUNllY PPAXNNG,LANOSCAPE AZCHTECJURE,REUS:Ov ARCHEOLOGY-HSTORC,CONSERVAT13N -UW,SCENCE AGRCULTURE -ECONOMCS -UT ERATURF -SCULPTUSE XARCHTECTURE,EDUCATON -MLCA RY -SOCAWHUNAP;~TA~~AN A R T -EKGNEERNG -tausc -THEATER -COMbl ERCE -EXPLORATON/SEnLEMEN7,PH LOSOPH~ -TRANSPORTATON -COMMUNCATONS, -NDUSTRY XPOLTCSlGOVCRlNMENT -OTHER SPECLFY! JFPVENT7OPJ SPECFC DATES 1907 BUl tder/arch TECT sidrer stewart STATEM ENJ OF SGNFCANCE The largest number of architecturally significant public buildings in Arkansas are the courthouses scattered over the state's seventy-five csunties. As the center of local politics, the county courthouse is often the largest and most costly building in the county. The Little River.County Couxkhosse in Ashdom is one of the nost significant local landmarks in this area of southtrest Arkansas. Named for 'the water-way which marks its norther; boundary, Little Rivlr Carrnty was organized on March 5, 1857, from portions of Hempstead and Sevier Caunties. 73- first f-u?+_y cplrt ~ ~!&!_? 3 s z". '$5 :.'i31izir: -T;y~.;il~n:;.T):~s< 123-f -:*-*T r=-" - -,,!,aca:~d zb~1:t tt?~ nil55 mrt_he~;'i. 02 -?~c:~cz?. T!< :sll2,$in~-i yezr ti12 ~.x~xr.$ h? seat wzs moved to Rocky Comfort near the western edge of the county. Following a vote of the people in 1880, the county seat was moved to Ricb~~ond and housed in a structure containing four office rooms on the ground floor an6 a large courtroom above. n 1882 the courthouse burned, and for a tine vacant buildings and even the school were used to house county offices and sessions of court. Eventually the citizens of Richmond donated enough money to construct a new courthouse.!*en the railroads came to Little River County in the 1890's new towns sprang up. The most prominent railroad town was ashdown, which developed where the Peytonville-Richinond Road crossed the Texarkana-Fort Smith Railroad. Within a few years the residents of Askdown were petitioning to have khe county seat moved to their new com~unity; however, at the same time the Roclcy ComEort community tras petitioning for the return of the county seat. Several elections were held, and for a time Richond prevented either Ashdorm or Rocky Comfort from becoming the new county seat. On April 29, 1903, the -9rkansas Gazette carried the follorving note on the struggle for the county ssat : Texarkana, ~ pril 28.-The celebrated Little Piver County seat contest case was called for trial here todq befo-:e Judge smith oe Camden, sitting as special judge. The testin~ny, which is ~ ostly in the shape 05 depositions, is very voluminous, and the trial will in all probability occupy several days. The fiqht j.s betyeen Rocky Comfort and Ashdown, both of which are represented by a great array of the best legal talent in the state. Each wants to be t65 county seat. *

$'yo ria 10.390a r c 3 1 $- 7-51 UY.:L) S-T~.TES L~>.,KTMEN.T 01- THE NTEKK;-: NAJlON&L PA8K SER\'CE FOR N?S USE OP1LY 1 RECEVED!$ Ashdmn was then declared the winner, and in 1906 County...., T Judge T. b. Arnett ordered the records moved to the Mizell-Locke Building r :: locaked west of the railroad tracks.

Ashdmn was then declared the winner, and in 1906 County...., T Judge T. b. Arnett ordered the records moved to the Mizell-Locke Building r :: locaked west of the railroad tracks.

The building has a square floor plan with entrances on a11 four elevations.

$touch to the simple architectural style. :\~?;L.--:L*?'..i?>:.$[;ir:;,-? i3z~:s~r~t ~L.P:~Y~zs:->~ :-..>< ~?u:~:;~.'l ki.- [.,:,.;l?.~.t :-h2:i= i*--:z.$

4 'yo ria a r c 3 1 $ UY.:L) S-T~.TES L~>.,KTMEN.T 01- THE NTEKK;-: NAJlON&L PA8K SER\'CE FOR N?S USE OP1LY 1 RECEVED! CONT NUATtCP1 SHEET TEM NUMBER 8 PAGE one F'mcky Comfort was again declared the county seat, but a few years later another, C,.;?L * election was h-ld. Ashdmn was then declared the winner, and in 1906 County...., T Judge T. b. Arnett ordered the records moved to the Mizell-Locke Building r :: locaked west of the railroad tracks. n 1907 a permanent courthouse was con-- strutted, thus helping to insme Ashdown's claim to be the county seat.? -3, ~rchltect Sidney Stewart designed this two-storey brick courtho*~se. The building has a square floor plan with entrances on a11 four elevations. Rising from the center of th~ hipped roof is the structure's most striking feature, an octagonal dome rising a full-storey abwe the roofline. Other features, including the onic-ca~ital colmmns on the east and south ele-vations, pediments over first floor doors and windows and dcntils around the cu~nico, give a classiczl touch to the simple architectural style. :\~?;L.--:L*?'..i?>:.$[;ir:;,-? i3z~:s~r~t ~L.P:~Y~zs:->~ :-..>< ~?u:~:;~.'l ki.- [.,:,.;l?.~.t :-h2:i= i*--:z.-i Lhan any other building, As the larsest and most significant structure in nshd~~~~n, the courthbuse is also an architectrral and historic lzndmark in Little Rivzr Cour~Cy. ~t rests on its original tree-shaded site, the court square at Ashdown. -, * Krkcnsas Gazette, April 23, 1903.

5 - m?g3+x~9~ L+A m BBLOGRAPWZCAE REFERENCES Pxkansas Gazette, April 29, Seasley, aill. "History of Little River County. " Ungublished mznuscript on file with Arkansas Historic Preservation Program, 1976, A Survey of Arkansas courthouses. Cornpi3.ed by the Natiogal Society of Colonial Damcs of hsrica in the state of Arkansas. Mrs. W. G. blcdo!~nld, Chairman, t ~istorical Activities Comittes. Arkansas Raom, Little Flock Public Library. -. QGEOGR~H-TCAL DATA ACREAGE Of XOMNATEO PROPERTY 1 UTM REFERENCES. 2 %#. ZONE EASTNG NORTHNG " 'N~!H;N~ VERBAL SOUNDARY DESCRiPTON latitude: 33O 40' 20" longitude: 94O 07' 58" LST ALL STATES AND COUNTES FOi? PROPSRTES OVERLAPPNG STATE Qit COUNTY BOUND.%?! ES STATE CODE COTJ?cTY CODE p kc<,,--a a NARi r TTLE Dianna Kirk, istorien,'.<. 34 OAGA?llZAT ON DATE -.- -:T 7 STREET& NUhlBER CTY OR TOWN Arkansas Historic Preservation Proqram '.<; 300 West Karkham Little Rock TEtEPqOKE (501) STATE TATE HST023CPRESEF.VATON OFFCER CERTFCATON THE EVALUATED SGKt FCAWCE OF THS PROPERTY WTHN THE STATE S: LOCAL x. '.+ '.3, a..w L - 3.1; : j.; - A, ;+ - '<,dl. Arkansas - -5 b NATONAL - STATE As the des1gna:ed State HEstorlc Presenrztian O'fkccr lor :75 N2;lonaF Hnstoric Presewat~on Act of 1966 (Pub'rc Law ). 1 c hereby nommate this property for inclusion in the National Peg~stcr and certify!hat ~t_ has hen evaluated accordtng to. i the.z _-' criteria and procedures set forth by the National Park Sawace /' $& /f', -.. -;-. -,. -4 -&- ' -, fi,pls'+" ' 1. -.; STATE HSTORC PRESERVATON OFFCER Slt NAiVRi Anne Bartley --./* --(j pi ~ ' A ~ ~ TiTLE state Historic Preservation Program DATE F~3il?!FS USE GMLY , i HEAERY CE- W THAT rhls PROPERTY 1S NCLCDED LN THE PJATCb2AL RES1STf R 1 CltPTCT3F. OFFCE OF t ARCHEOLOGY AN13 %!STOPC PZfSERYhTlO>l ATTEST: UATE _---- ",EZ=_?ER DC TSE NAT!OF!XL REGSTER a' DATE.'. h4 d....' \.Z. +

6 L:Xl'l t:d STXl'LS DF.PAKThlt%T Ob ' bit 3TEKOR NATONAL PARK SERVCE PX'OPJAL XEGKFER OF FESTOXXC PL'CES N'JZT4TOX"i'-- NOMlNATlOiV FORM DATE ENTE3ED CGfiJT NU ATON SHEET TEM NUMBER 9 PAGE one Works Prgsess Administration: Federal lr'riter's Project Manuscript, Little Rives County, circa Archives, Arkansas History Commission.

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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