Fayetteville Historic Square facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Old Post Office
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Old Post Office, located in the center of the Fayetteville Square
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 Location in Arkansas
Location in the United States
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| Location | City Square, Fayetteville, Arkansas |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1911 |
| Architect | James Knox Taylor |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival, Renaissance |
| NRHP reference No. | 74000503 |
| Added to NRHP | August 27, 1974 |
The Fayetteville Historic Square is a special place in Fayetteville, Arkansas. It's often called just The Square. This area is home to several old and important buildings. These include the original Fayetteville post office, the Old Bank of Fayetteville Building, the Lewis Brothers Building, the Mrs. Young Building, and the Guisinger Building. All these buildings are listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which means they are important historical sites. There are also newer buildings around the Square.
The historic area is surrounded by specific streets. These are Center Street to the north, Mountain Street to the south, Block Avenue to the west, and East Avenue to the east. The block inside these one-way streets holds the Old Post Office. It used to have the County Courthouse too.
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Old Post Office Building
The Old Post Office was built in 1911. It's the main building in the Historic Square. Before this building, the Washington County Courthouse stood on this spot until 1905. A new courthouse was then built a short distance away. The Old Post Office building has been updated. Today, it is a restaurant called Cheers at the Old Post Office.
Old Bank of Fayetteville Building
The Old Bank of Fayetteville Building is sometimes called the Eason Building. It sits at the northwest corner of the Historic Square. This building was designed in the Queen Anne and Romanesque revival styles. It housed the Bank of Fayetteville and First National Bank after they joined together in 1915. The modern Bank of Fayetteville, which started in 1980, is in a different building nearby. It is not connected to the original Bank of Fayetteville from 1915.
Lewis Brothers Building
The Lewis Brothers Building is just south of the Old Bank of Fayetteville Building. It was built in 1908. This building shows styles like Queen Anne and Classic revival. From 1912, it was home to the Lewis Brothers Hardware Store. The hardware store is now closed. The building currently holds the main branch of the modern Bank of Fayetteville. This bank started around 1980 and is not linked to the first Bank of Fayetteville. The brick outside of the building was even shown in the TV show Evening Shade.
Mrs. Young Building
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The Mrs. Young Building was built in 1887. It is one of the oldest buildings on the Square. It was built in the Italianate style.
About Mrs. Young
Mrs. Young and her husband moved from Illinois in the 1870s. She was a photographer. Her husband was a traveling dental surgeon. In 1881, she bought land for a home. After getting a divorce in 1883, Mrs. Young built her two-story studio on the town square in 1887. Her photography studio was on the second floor. The first floor was used as a grocery store and a bank at different times. With money from her business and rent, she was able to retire.
Guisinger Building
The Guisinger Building is at the southeast corner of the Fayetteville Historic Square. It was built in 1886. The building has brick walls, a marble base, and pressed tin ceilings. William Crenshaw, who was from Fayetteville and worked in hardware, built it. Today, a law firm is located there. The building was recently updated.
Other Buildings on the Square
Some buildings on the Fayetteville Historic Square are not listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The University of Arkansas Global Campus offices are on the northeast corner. The East Square Plaza is on the east side of the Square. The Fayetteville Town Center is on the east part of the south side of the Square. This building was built in 2001.
Two blocks west of the Square, on Mountain Street, is the Fayetteville Public Library.
Parking at the Square
Parking is free for two hours in any four-hour period. This is different from nearby Dickson Street, where you have to pay for parking since 2010. If you plan to stay longer than two hours, there are pay lots nearby for visitors to the Square.
Fun Events at the Square
The Fayetteville Historic Square is a busy place with many fun events throughout the year!
- The Fayetteville Farmers’ Market - This market happens on Saturdays from April to November. About 60 sellers offer many local items. You can find flowers, fresh produce, meats, eggs, baked goods, plants, and handmade arts and crafts.
- Lights of the Ozarks - From November to January, the Downtown Square lights up! Workers from Fayetteville Parks and Recreation spend over 3,300 hours decorating with more than 400,000 lights. It's a beautiful sight!
- First Thursday - On the first Thursday of each month, the historic downtown square becomes an outdoor art area. Visual artists show off their creations made in many different styles.
- Trick or Treat on the Square - On October 31, kids and their families can visit booths set up by local businesses and city departments. It's a safe and fun way to trick or treat!
- Fayetteville Film Fest - This festival takes place every October. It's for films and filmmakers who want to share their work. The festival has a three-day schedule of talks and other events. These go along with almost 80 film screenings.
- Block Street Block Party - Every May, Block Street Avenue turns into a big local party. There are five outdoor beer gardens, over 60 local bands playing music, and 150 different sellers.
Images for kids
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Waterfall in front of the northwest corner of the Old Post Office.
