National Register of Historic Places listings in Monroe County, Arkansas facts for kids
Welcome to Monroe County, Arkansas! This area is full of amazing places that are super important to history. These special spots are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Think of it like a Hall of Fame for buildings, sites, and objects that tell us about the past.
In Monroe County, there are 41 different places on this list. One of them is even a National Historic Landmark, which is like the highest honor a historic place can get! Sadly, a few places that were once on the list are no longer standing. Let's explore some of these cool historic treasures!
Contents
What is the National Register of Historic Places?
The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the United States' historic places worth saving. It's managed by the National Park Service. When a place is added to this list, it means it's important for its history, architecture, or what it means to our culture. It helps protect these places and makes sure future generations can learn from them.
Historic Buildings in Clarendon
Clarendon, Arkansas, has many buildings that tell stories from long ago.
Old Banks and Offices
- Bank of Clarendon: Located at 125 Court Street, this old bank building was added to the list in 1984. It's a great example of the kind of places where people handled their money and business in the past.
- Bondi Brothers Store: At 104 Madison Street, this store was also listed in 1984. Imagine what kind of goods were sold here decades ago!
- Manning, Lee and Moore Law Office: This historic law office at 109 Court Street was recognized in 1984. It shows us where important legal decisions were made.
- Merchants and Planters Bank: Found at 214 Madison, this bank building joined the list in 1982. It's another piece of Clarendon's financial history.
Homes with History
- Bateman-Griffith House: This house at 316 Jefferson Street was listed in 1984. It's a beautiful example of older homes in the area.
- Jefferies-Crabtree House: At 300 Jefferson Street, this house was added in 1984. It has a unique history, even being mistakenly listed with a slightly different name at first!
- Marston House: You can find this historic home at 429 Main Street. It was listed in 1984 and gives us a peek into how people lived in the past.
- Moore-Jacobs House: This house at 500 North Main Street was recognized in 1983. It's another important historic home in Clarendon.
- Orth C. Galloway House: Located at 504 Park Street, this house was added to the list in 1980.
Churches and Community Spots
- Clarendon Methodist-Episcopal Church South: This church at 121 3rd Street became a historic listing in 1984. Churches often play a big role in a community's history.
- Cumberland Presbyterian Church: At 120 Washington Street, this church was listed in 1976. It's a lovely example of historic church architecture.
- Midland Depot: This old train station at 205 Midland Street was listed in 1984. Train depots were once very busy places, connecting towns and people.
- Monroe County Courthouse: The main courthouse for Monroe County, located in Courthouse Square, was added to the list in 1976. This building is where many important county decisions have been made over the years.
Historic Places in Brinkley
Brinkley also has several interesting places on the National Register.
Unique Structures and Sites
- William Black Family House: This house at 311 West Ash Street was listed in 1976. It's a significant family home from Brinkley's past.
- Brinkley Concrete Streets: This might sound unusual, but even streets can be historic! The concrete streets on Ash Street (between Main Street and New York Avenue) and New York Avenue (between Ash and Lynn Streets) were listed in 2017. They show early road-building techniques.
- Gazzola and Vaccaro Building: At 131-133 West Cypress, this building was added in 1982. It's a historic commercial building.
- Lick Skillet Railroad Work Station Historic District: This district, found at the junction of East Cypress Street and New Orleans Avenue, was listed in 1992. It highlights the importance of railroads in the area's development.
- Lo Beele House: This house at 312 New York Avenue was listed in 1982.
- Monroe County Bank Building: Located at 225-227 West Cypress Streets, this bank building was added in 2016.
- Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church: This church at 409 South Main Street was listed in 1986.
- Rusher Hotel: At 127 West Cedar, the Rusher Hotel was recognized in 1986. Hotels were once central to travel and community life.
- St. John the Baptist Catholic Church: This church, at the southwestern corner of New Orleans and West Ash Street, was listed in 1992.
Historic Spots in Holly Grove
Holly Grove also has some special places on the list.
- Abramson House: Located at 127 Crescent Heights, this house was listed in 1995.
- Holly Grove Historic District: This district includes Main and Pine Streets and was listed in 1979. Historic districts help preserve the overall look and feel of an old town area.
- Holly Grove Presbyterian Church: At 310 2nd Street, this church was added in 1991.
- Lair House: This house at the junction of Stone and Elm Streets was listed in 1998.
- James A. Walls House: Located off Highway 17, this house was listed in 1980.
Other Important Sites in Monroe County
Ancient History
- Baytown Site: This important archaeological site near Indian Bay was listed in 1976. It tells us about ancient cultures that lived in this area long before modern towns existed.
Significant Landmarks
- Louisiana Purchase Survey Marker: This is a very special place! Located southeast of Blackton, it marks the starting point for surveying all the land bought in the Louisiana Purchase in 1803. It's so important that it's a National Historic Landmark, the highest level of historic recognition. It even extends into nearby Lee and Phillips counties.
- Highway 79 Bridge: This bridge carries U.S. Route 79 over the White River near Clarendon. It was listed in 1984, showing that important infrastructure can also be historic.
Roads and Routes
- Memphis to Little Rock Road-Henard Cemetery Road Segment: This section of Henard Cemetery Road near Zent was listed in 2003. It's a piece of the historic Trail of Tears, a very important and sad part of American history when Native Americans were forced to move from their homes.
Former Listings
Some places that were once on the National Register are no longer listed, often because they were demolished or changed too much.
- Monroe County Jail: This jail in Clarendon was listed in 1977 but was removed in 1999.
- Palmer House: Located southeast of Blackton, this house was listed in 1976 but removed in 2014.
These historic places in Monroe County help us understand the past and appreciate the stories of the people who lived here before us. They are important parts of our shared heritage!
