Marble Falls, Arkansas facts for kids

Marble Falls is a small community in Newton County, Arkansas, United States. It's not an official city, but it has a rich history. This area is located along Arkansas's National Scenic 7 Byway, a very scenic road between the towns of Harrison and Jasper.

The community has had several names over the years, including Marble City, Willcockson, and even Dogpatch. The name Dogpatch was used to promote a theme park called Dogpatch USA, which used to be nearby. Today, the Marble Falls Post Office is located in the parking lot of this former theme park.

A Look Back: The History of Marble Falls

Early Days and First Settlers

One of the first known settlers to own land near Marble Falls was a Choctaw Indian named Ah-Che-To-Mah. The area was known for its waterfall. This waterfall was very important because it provided power for different mills. There was a flour mill, a cotton gin, and a sawmill. Peter Beller built the first water-powered mill here. Over time, other owners rebuilt and improved this mill.

The Marble City Era (1840 to 1883)

The community was first called Marble City. It got this name because of the beautiful marble that was quarried, or dug up, nearby. In the 1880s, Marble City became known as a health resort. People like Dr. Silas Scruggs Stacey helped advertise it. He owned a store and sold a special medicine called "Dr. S. S. Staceys Sulpher Mountain Bitters."

A big piece of marble from Marble City is part of the Washington Monument in Washington, D.C. In 1836, William Harp, his brothers Elijah and Samuel, and Peter Bellah worked together. They quarried a large block of marble. They used ten teams of oxen to pull it 60 miles to the Arkansas River. From there, it was shipped all the way to Washington, D.C. The marble block has "Arkansas" carved into it.

Willcockson and Changes (1883 to 1934)

On September 24, 1883, the first post office was opened in the community. The first postmaster, Mander Willcockson, officially changed the name of the community to Willcockson. Later, in 1917, Ida T. Chesbro became the U.S. Postmaster.

Around 1890, a local preacher named Absalom C. Phillips added a cotton gin to the area. However, after 1900, the town started to decline. The mills and gin were destroyed sometime in the early 1900s. By 1915, many people began to leave the area because of tough economic times.

Back to Marble Falls (1934 to 1966 and 1997 to Present)

In 1934, Albert Raney, Sr. became the postmaster. He decided to change the official name of the community back to Marble Falls. This name stuck for many years.

The Dogpatch Years (1966 to 1997)

In 1966, developers bought the Raney property to build a theme park called Dogpatch USA. To help promote the park, Governor Orval Faubus and the developers changed the area's postal name to Dogpatch. This new name even appeared on highway maps.

The Dogpatch USA theme park closed its doors in 1993. In 1997, the people living in the area voted. They all agreed to change the postal name back to Marble Falls. This is the name the community uses today.

Winter Fun: Skiing (1972 to 1980s)

For a few years, Marble Falls was home to the only place in Arkansas where you could go lift-serviced skiing! The Marble Falls Resort offered skiing starting around 1972. This winter fun lasted until the 1980s.

See also

In Spanish: Municipio de Marble Falls para niños