'UN~TET:~~RTE; SLi'h i~'r34ent OF 'THE NTEROR NATONAL PARK SERVCE 9NAL REGSTER 0%: HSTORC PLACES AdWNTCDRY NOMNATON FORM SEE NSTRUCTONS N NOW TO COMPLETE NATONAL REGSTER FORMS TYPE ALL ENTRES COMPLETE APPLCABLE SECTONS 1 The blcdonaldwaitret.rto~. Howe ANDOR COMMON The Packet House STREET& NUMBER 1406 Cantre11 Eoad,NOT FOR PVBUCA~ON' an. TOW^ CONGRESSONAL DSTRCT 1,ittle Rock WCFPTY OF Eeron? STATE CODE COUNTY CODE Arkansas 05 Ptmlaski 119 CATEGORY OWMERSHP STATUS DSTRCT PUBLC ~QCCUPED V %BULDkNGS)?~PRVATE UNOCCUPED STRUCTURE BOTH WOPK N PROGRESS STE PUBLC ACOUlSTlON ACCESSBLE,OBJECT N PROCESS YES: RESTACTEO DOWNER OF PROPERTY BENG CONSDERED ZYES VNRESTRCED NAME Jams B. McDougal and Jack D. Files STREET P hlu?.?ber 816 North Universitv Avenue NP AGRCULTURE PRESENT USE MUSEUM LCOMMERCAC PARK,EDUCATlOfJAl PRVATE RESDENCE ENTERTANMENT GOVERNMENT,hlDUSTRAt MLTARY RELGOUS,SCEYTlFC TRAPSPORTATON,OTHER ST ATE ctrv. OWN Little Rock VC!NTY OF Arkansas LOCATON OF LEGAL DESCRPTON COURTHOUSE. REGflSTnr OF DEEDS+ETC STREET & NUMBER CTY. TOWN circuit clerk' s Off ice Pulaski County Courthouse Little Rock REPRESENTATON N EXSTNG SURVEYS STATE Arkansas w DEPOS row FOR SURVEY RECORDS CTY. TOWN s FEDERAL STATE COUYTX LOCAL STATE
CONDlTlON CHECK ONE CHECK ONE EXCELLENT DETERORATED UNALTERED XOR~GNAL STE x~030,runs XALTERED JOVED D A T F FAtA,UNEKPDSED ' DESCRBE THE PRESENT ANDOHlGWAt (1F KKOWN) PHYSCAL APPEARANCE The WaitNeton House, a second Empire styled house, is rectangular in plan with a central projection on tge south (front) facade, a projection on the west, and two projecting bays on the east. The first east bay is rectanqular with twin two over two, rectangular windows; while the second is elliptical with semicircular topped windows, faced with stone beginning at the top of the stane impost. The shingled roof is a hi~h rsansard with 12 segmental dormers, The south projection contains the main entry, a small interior prch framed in a Roman arch, The porch is decorated in panels and colonnettes, The double doors have single elliptical topped 1ights.and panels below. fie transom is semicircular. Above the entrance are twin windows with elliptical hoodmulds. Windows on the building proper are two over two double hung and have straight hood moulds. Originally, the structure had a bracketed cornice and roof cresting. The roos" finish was slate. A porch starting at the entrance bay ran along the front of the building and terminated at the southeast corner. The present owners irtend to replace these missing parts. The entrance hall is wide an3 has a stair with rosewood baluster leading to the sccoud.fmr.. The criqinal interior shutters are still in place.
AREAS OF SlGNlFlCANCE. CHECK AND JUSTFY BELOW ARCHEOLOGYPREHSTOAC COMMUhllTY PLANMRG,UNQSChPE ARCHlTECTURE RELlGfON ARCHEOLOGYHSTOR1 C CONSERVATON,LAW SCENCE AGRCULTURE XEC~NOMCS CTERAWRE SCULPTURE XAACHSECTUPL DUCAT1 OW MLTARY SOCAWHUMANTARAY 4 R T,EEGNEERNG AUSC THEATER XCOMM ERE _EXPLOUAT10hl:S~LEMENT PHLOSOPHY TRANSPORTATON C6MMUNCA'ONS NOU STRY POLTCSfGOVEANMENT x OTHER (SPEUM JWENT1OM SPECFC DATES. ~~ilt 1869 BU LDER/AACH!TECT Alexander McDonald STATEMENT OF SGNFCANCE The historichcket House, located at 1406 Cantrell Road in Little Rock, overlooks what is now one of the busiest thoroughfares in the city. n 1569, at the time the house was constructed, Cantrell mad, then known as Lincoln Avenue as named by the men k'ho first built dwetlings there, was considered quite a distance from Little Rock. The men who constructed dwellings on this road had all either been associated with the north during the Civil War or had come into the area during the Reconstruction period. The slight hill on which the Packet House rests is where several large, expensive structures were built usins the cheap labor QE the defeated South. Therefore, Lincoln Avenue was somewhat less than affectionately called " Rober ' s Row" or "Carpetbaggerm s Row'* for many years. The Packet House is the oldest of five brick homes built shortly "ter the Civil War on the north side of Lincoln Avenue anb is the only remaining ucture of the original "Carpetbagger's Raw" Mansions. Architecturally, the Packet House is significant in its example of Second E'mpire Style. Buildings of the Second Empire Style are generally tall, bldly modeled and threedimensional in effect. The Packet House is a tall;two and onehalf story brick structure with a mansard roof. :&ny of the orfginal features of the house xernain intact, such as interior window shutters. The Packet Hose xas built in 1069 by.alexander llcdonald, McRmald was living in Kansas when the was broke out. He took 2 leading role in the raising of troops for the Union Arxr.y, 2nd for a time seported three regiments at his ohm expe2se. Mr. McDonald fkrst came ta Little Rock as s Union soldicr during the War and later returned to make it his home. He was only in his early thirties when he built the Packet House. He was a member of the State Constitutional Corivention of 1868 and a United States senator from Arkansas from 18681871. He was conmissioned by President Arthur to examine conditions of the Railroads, arrd was a delegate to the National Republican Convention of 1888 which nominated Benjamin Harrison fox President. Senator McDonald was considered the richest man in the state of Rrkansas. He established uld was president of a bank at Ft. Smith, Arkansas. He was president of Merchants National Bank in Little Rock, which later became what is now 1st National Bank of ~ittle Rock. Senator McDonald was defeated in his bid for reelection in 1871, sold his home and Left the state. Next ta buy the Packet House was Mr. William R. Wait. 1.W. Wait moved to Arkansas post in 1830 from U~loxville, Tennessee, where he entered the merchandising business a clerk in Colonel Notrebe's store. _He later began his awn dealings in Real Estate rlections and Exchange. He, like Senator McDmald, was gresident of t!erchantvs National Bank and an offices in the bank presently known as 1st National Bank. The Waits were known for their "At Home'"ays, musicals and whjst parties, and entertained
Farm hro 10300a YHev 10 Jdl CK1T:D STAT6.S DLP..ZRl'MENT Ot THE NTEROR NATONAL PARK SERVCE FOR NFS USE GNLY RECEVED NATONAL REGSTER OF HSTORC PLACES NVENTORY MO?dHMA?ZON FORM DATE ENTERED... '1 CONT NUATON SHEET TEM NUMBER 8 PAGE 1 often, They built a stage in the Packet House stable loft where theatricals were frequently presented. The next owner was Mrs. Jacob Reider who was the daughter of Archibald McHenry, builder of the Stage Coach House on the old Hot Springs Highgay. That house, which is on the National Register, was built in 1830, making it one of the oldest houses in Arkansas. Ann McHenry eider and her two daughters and their families moved to 1406 Lincoln Avenue in 1887. The two daughters had married brothers, Tom and Robert Newton. t was the Newton Family Home through four generations until it was sold in 1946. 1 Upon the sale of thc Pakcct House in 1946 to Yr. and Mrs. Latane Temple and Frank Campbell, it was converted into twelve apartments. The Temples named the structure the Packet House because it overlooked the river once plied by packet boats to which government papers and mail were entrusted. The Packet House has recently been purchased by two businessmen who recognize the aesthetic as wall as economic advantage to be derived in preservation of thz house, A th~xough restoration is king undertaken, complete in detailing to the replaceaent of the original poxch. The owners plan to utilize the house for office space. The Packet House is the only representative of the elegant dwellings constructed on Lincoln Avenue shortly after the Civil War. With great pride, the citizens of Little Rock, as they drive along the busy thoroughfare, are seeing the Packet House being restored to its original appearance. Resting regally on its original location, the Tacket Hause stands out as an architectural and historical Landmark in L ittle Rock.
United States Senate Chamber 1870 Arkansas Casette; March 24, i946; February 18, 1892. Lrkansas Democrat: December 13, 1970; February 19, 1971, 3ncycLopedia of the New West, p. 191 Quapaw Quarter Chronicle, p. 5; November, 1970. @GEOGRAPHCAL DATA ACREAGE OF NOMHATED PROPERTY tm 1 UTM REFERENCES AW u w ' :... + ~ W m l ~ ~ 1 ~ ZONE EASTNG NORTHNG ZONE EASTNG NORTHNG c w 1 1 o w u u VERBAL BOUNDARY OESCRlPTlON STATE CODE COUNW CODE @FORM PREPARED BY NAME f TTLE. STATE CODE COUNTY CODE Susan McDouqal and yrgil Miller ORGCNlZATrOlrl DATE Arkansas Historic Preservation Program September, 1977 STREET & NU%lBEW ~rlite Cl TY 09 TOWN Little Rock TELEPHONE 500, Continental Bldg., Plain at Markham 5013712363 STATE Arkansas STATE HSTORC PRESERVATON OFFCER CERTFCATON THE EVALUATED SGNFCANCE OF THS PROPERM WTH[ N THE STATE S: NATONAL STATE LOCAL As the designat~d Srate Historic Preservation Officer far the National Historic Preservation Act af 1966 (Public Law 89665). 1 hereby nominate rh~s property for inclusion in the National Registcr and certify that it has been evaluated according to the criterra and procedures set forth by rhe Mationaf Park Service. STAE HSTORC PRESERVATON OFFlCER SlGMATURE TTLE 1~0% NPS USE OMLY. ' 1 1 HEREBY CERTFY THAT THS PROPER ts ~CLUDED N TFE NATNPL REGSTER DRECTOR. OFFCE OF ARCHEOLOGY AND HSTORC PilESERVATlON ATTEST 1. KEEPER OF THE MATlONAt REGSTER? OAT E DATE DATE Wl U9L 453
Auwst 5, 1977 ARKANSAS HSTORC PRESERVATON PROGRAM Suite 500, Continental Building. Main and Markham Little Rock, Arkansas 32201 Telephone: (501) 37 12763 Kc. and Mrs. James McOougaZ 1800 Shadow Lane Little Rock, AR 72207 Dear Ms. and M rs. MeDougal: Re: Packet House Little Rock, Pulaski County The staff of the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program is preparing a h'ational Register nomination for the Packet House which will be presented to the Arkansas State Review CamZttee at their Septe~hr meeting. ' f approved, the nomination will be submitted to the national Register office in Washington for final consideration. The National Register of Historic Places s a listing of historic sites, buildings, objects and districts from all across the country that are worthy of preservation. Entry in the National RegLster is an honor which places no obligation on a private owner. t Zoes, however, provide protection through comment by the Advisory Council on Historic Presemation from federally financed, assisted or licensed projccts Phat might affect a National Register property. On October 4, 1976. the President signed a Tax Refom Act of which Section 2124 refers to tax incentives for historic properties, Enclosed you w ill find an information sheet on that tax act. f you have any questions concernina the program or this property's nminatidn, glease contact Sandra Taylor of our staff. rncloscd are twa repies of this letter. Please complete the farm below, siqm and return the original to our office. The copy is for you files. We would appreciate receiving any comments you might have concerning the nomination of this property. f we do not hear from you within 30 days, your approval will be assumed. Sincerely, Barbara!Wdard, Deputy Director Arkansas Historic Preservation Program approvp of the nomination of the above property to the National Register of Historic Places. Yes No cornmen t s :. y/f>? Late,?'. rc1! ii s! i i r J!. [? # p,, 7! \ i : L:. r 2: = f,) Signature " 1:; =,A. " t.7,