Powhatan Historic State Park (formerly Powhatan Courthouse State Park) is a 9.1-acre (3.7 ha) Arkansas state park in Lawrence County, Arkansas in the United States. The park contains the 1888 Powhatan courthouse which served as the home of county government from 1869 to 1968.[1] Today the structure displays items of cultural and historical significance and hosts the park's Visitor Center. The park includes four additional historical buildings and the Arkansas History Commission's Northeast Arkansas Regional Archives. A tour of the historic structures is available.[1][3] Powhatan served as an important stop for traffic on the Black River until the installation of the Kansas City-Memphis Railwayline two miles north in 1883 significantly decreased the need for river transportation.[4]
Powhatan Historic State Park
Historic Powhatan courthouse
Location of Powhatan Historic State Park in Arkansas
The community was the economic hub of Lawrence County before its first platting in 1849. Situated on the Black River, the community took advantage of river traffic both along the river and as a ferry point for crossing the river. The Military Road passed nearby in the 1830s, and the local economy flourished. The Civil War shut down commerce on the river, especially after the Union acquired Arkansas. Skirmishes throughout the region caused havoc for residents, but a slow recovery began to take place following the war. County government was relocated to Powhatan from Clover Bend, a decision greatly helping Powhatan recover.
Following the natural contours of the land, the Kansas City-Memphis Railway crossed the Black River two moles north of Powhatan through the town of Black Rock, ultimately causing the decline of commercial traffic to Powhatan. The Lawrence County judiciary chose to split in 1887, allowing court to be held in Walnut Ridge and Powhatan. US Route 63 (US 63) was rerouted to bypass Powhatan in the 1950s with the building of the new bridge spanning the Black River, and all county government moved to Walnut Ridge in 1968.[5]
Structuresedit
Ficklin-Imboden House, June 2012Telephone Exchange Building, June 2012
Ficklin-Imboden Houseedit
Also known as the Powhatan Log House, this is a single-pen log structure with a gable roof, with a second pen added to the rear at a later date. Although its construction date is uncertain, it is believed to date to c. 1850, and to be the oldest extant example of residential architecture in Lawrence County.[6]
Powhatan Courthouseedit
The courthouse is set on a rise overlooking the Black River. It is a two-story brick building, set on a stone foundation. Brick pilasters rise two stories at its corners, and between its window bays. It square tower is decorated with heavily bracketed cornices at the top of each stage, and is topped by a pyramidal roof. It was built in 1888, and is one of the government buildings from that period remaining in northeastern Arkansas.[7]
Powhatan Jailedit
The jail, located a short walk from the courthouse, is a small single-story limestone and concrete structure with a hip roof that has a cupola-like raised central section to provide ventilation. The jail was built in 1873, and is the only structure in Powhatan to survive from the period of the first courthouse. The building was used as a cannery from 1935 to 1937 by the county's Home Demonstration Clubs (today's Home Extension Service), and has since been restored.
Powhatan Schoolhouseedit
The schoolhouse is a single-story wood-frame structure, with a side gable roof and a projecting front-gable section, which houses vestibule area for the two-room schoolhouse. The classroom has a sliding wall partition, enabling its conversion into two rooms. It was built c. 1888, replacing an earlier log structure.[8]
Commercial (Telephone Exchange) Buildingedit
This is a single-story brick building, standing at a historically major street corner in Powhatan. It has a simple three-bay front with segmented-arch openings for windows and a central door. It was built in the 1880s, and is the only surviving commercial building of historic Powhatan. It first served as home to the city's first telephone exchange; later uses included a doctor's office, general store, post office, and private residence.[9]
Recreationedit
Powhatan Historic State Park does not have camping or recreational facilities on site.
See alsoedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Powhatan Historic State Park.
^Staff (2012). "Powhatan Historic State Park" (PDF). Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism. Retrieved November 15, 2012.
^Polston, Mike (January 24, 2012). "Powhatan (Lawrence County)". Encyclopedia of Arkansas History and Culture. The Butler Center. Retrieved November 15, 2012.
^(PDF). Arkansas Preservation. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 14, 2014. Retrieved December 14, 2014.
^"NRHP nomination for Powhatan Courthouse" (PDF). Arkansas Preservation. Retrieved December 15, 2014.
^"NRHP nomination for Powhatan Schoolhouse" (PDF). Arkansas Preservation. Retrieved December 17, 2014.
^"NRHP nomination for Telephone Exchange Building" (PDF). Arkansas Preservation. Retrieved December 18, 2014.
External linksedit
Powhatan Historic State Park - official site
November 12, 2023
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Powhatan Historic State Park formerly Powhatan Courthouse State Park is a 9 1 acre 3 7 ha Arkansas state park in Lawrence County Arkansas in the United States The park contains the 1888 Powhatan courthouse which served as the home of county government from 1869 to 1968 1 Today the structure displays items of cultural and historical significance and hosts the park s Visitor Center The park includes four additional historical buildings and the Arkansas History Commission s Northeast Arkansas Regional Archives A tour of the historic structures is available 1 3 Powhatan served as an important stop for traffic on the Black River until the installation of the Kansas City Memphis Railwayline two miles north in 1883 significantly decreased the need for river transportation 4 Powhatan Historic State ParkHistoric Powhatan courthouseLocation of Powhatan Historic State Park in ArkansasShow map of ArkansasPowhatan Historic State Park the United States Show map of the United StatesLocationLawrence County Arkansas United StatesCoordinates36 5 56 N 91 7 10 W 36 09889 N 91 11944 W 36 09889 91 11944Area9 1 acres 3 7 ha 1 Elevation292 ft 89 m 2 EstablishedMarch 28 1970Governing bodyArkansas Department of Parks and TourismWebsitePowhatan Historic State ParkHistory edit nbsp Powhatan Courthouse June 2011Community history edit See also Powhatan Arkansas The community was the economic hub of Lawrence County before its first platting in 1849 Situated on the Black River the community took advantage of river traffic both along the river and as a ferry point for crossing the river The Military Road passed nearby in the 1830s and the local economy flourished The Civil War shut down commerce on the river especially after the Union acquired Arkansas Skirmishes throughout the region caused havoc for residents but a slow recovery began to take place following the war County government was relocated to Powhatan from Clover Bend a decision greatly helping Powhatan recover Following the natural contours of the land the Kansas City Memphis Railway crossed the Black River two moles north of Powhatan through the town of Black Rock ultimately causing the decline of commercial traffic to Powhatan The Lawrence County judiciary chose to split in 1887 allowing court to be held in Walnut Ridge and Powhatan US Route 63 US 63 was rerouted to bypass Powhatan in the 1950s with the building of the new bridge spanning the Black River and all county government moved to Walnut Ridge in 1968 5 Structures edit nbsp Ficklin Imboden House June 2012 nbsp Telephone Exchange Building June 2012Ficklin Imboden House edit Also known as the Powhatan Log House this is a single pen log structure with a gable roof with a second pen added to the rear at a later date Although its construction date is uncertain it is believed to date to c 1850 and to be the oldest extant example of residential architecture in Lawrence County 6 Powhatan Courthouse edit The courthouse is set on a rise overlooking the Black River It is a two story brick building set on a stone foundation Brick pilasters rise two stories at its corners and between its window bays It square tower is decorated with heavily bracketed cornices at the top of each stage and is topped by a pyramidal roof It was built in 1888 and is one of the government buildings from that period remaining in northeastern Arkansas 7 Powhatan Jail edit The jail located a short walk from the courthouse is a small single story limestone and concrete structure with a hip roof that has a cupola like raised central section to provide ventilation The jail was built in 1873 and is the only structure in Powhatan to survive from the period of the first courthouse The building was used as a cannery from 1935 to 1937 by the county s Home Demonstration Clubs today s Home Extension Service and has since been restored Powhatan Schoolhouse edit The schoolhouse is a single story wood frame structure with a side gable roof and a projecting front gable section which houses vestibule area for the two room schoolhouse The classroom has a sliding wall partition enabling its conversion into two rooms It was built c 1888 replacing an earlier log structure 8 Commercial Telephone Exchange Building edit This is a single story brick building standing at a historically major street corner in Powhatan It has a simple three bay front with segmented arch openings for windows and a central door It was built in the 1880s and is the only surviving commercial building of historic Powhatan It first served as home to the city s first telephone exchange later uses included a doctor s office general store post office and private residence 9 Recreation editPowhatan Historic State Park does not have camping or recreational facilities on site See also edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Powhatan Historic State Park nbsp United States portal National Register of Historic Places listings in Lawrence County Arkansas Jacksonport State Park a similar historic state park in the regionReferences edit a b c Staff of the Arkansas State Parks May 29 2012 Powhatan Historic State Park Encyclopedia of Arkansas History and Culture The Butler Center Retrieved November 15 2012 Powhatan Historic State Park Geographic Names Information System United States Geological Survey December 2 2009 Retrieved November 15 2012 Powhatan Historic State Park Arkansas State Parks Guide 2011 Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism p 65 Retrieved November 15 2012 Staff 2012 Powhatan Historic State Park PDF Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism Retrieved November 15 2012 Polston Mike January 24 2012 Powhatan Lawrence County Encyclopedia of Arkansas History and Culture The Butler Center Retrieved November 15 2012 NRHP nomination for Ficklin Imboden House PDF Arkansas Preservation Archived from the original PDF on December 14 2014 Retrieved December 14 2014 NRHP nomination for Powhatan Courthouse PDF Arkansas Preservation Retrieved December 15 2014 NRHP nomination for Powhatan Schoolhouse PDF Arkansas Preservation Retrieved December 17 2014 NRHP nomination for Telephone Exchange Building PDF Arkansas Preservation Retrieved December 18 2014 External links editPowhatan Historic State Park official site Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Powhatan Historic State Park amp oldid 1102006675, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
