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had been founded by German settlers from the American Midwest in 1880. Its founders wisely relocated a bit to the north in 1882, when the first railroad ran through the area. While many of the descendants of these initial settlers left the area around the turn of the century as the traditional cotton and hay grown in the area depleted the soil, a new crop — rice — was introduced to the Grand Prairie. Te combination of agriculture and abundant railroads allowed Stuttgart to thrive, especially after the state’s first rice mill was built there in 1907. By 1909, 27,000 acres near the town were planted in rice. Ten years later, rice acreage had ballooned to 143,000 acres. Te resultant surge in commercial and legal activity likely resulted in the establishment of a new courthouse to serve the northern area of Arkansas County. A local architect, J.B. Barrett of the


Barrett and Ogletree firm, was selected to design a building to house offices for the new district, and he chose a restrained interpretation of the Colonial Revival style of architecture. Te new build- ing, completed in 1928, features such elements as a projecting pediment and entablature supported by raised brick pilasters on each of its principal eleva- tions, but also includes such whimsical details as diamond patterns of brick in a basket weave design. Both courthouses continue to serve the people of Stuttgart to this day.


COUNTY LINES, SPRING 2015


Opposite Page: Arkansas County’s Southern District Courthouse in DeWitt reflects the 20th- century Art Deco style even as it houses some of the oldest records in the state. It was de- signed by H. Ray Burks and constructed by the E.V. Bird Construction Company.


Top Left: Features of the Art Deco-style Southern District Courthouse include fluted pilasters. The symmetrical facade also has zig-zag details and block lettering on the name panel near the cornices.


Top Right: Arkansas County’s Northern District Courthouse in Stuttgart was designed by architect J.B. Barrett. Built in 1928, it is a Colonial Revival-style building.


Arkansas Historic Preservation Program County Courthouse Restoration Grants awarded to Arkansas County


FY94 FY95 FY96 FY97 FY98 FY00 FY01 FY03 FY03


TOTAL:


Repair piers on north side, DeWitt Exterior restoration, DeWitt Exterior restoration, Stuttgart


ADA restrooms and ramp, DeWitt Roof restoration, DeWitt


Interior ADA modifications, Stuttgart ADA accessibility, Stuttgart ADA accessibility, DeWitt ADA accessibility, DeWitt


$17,500 $18,000 $6,000


$19,548 $21,165 $65,000 $40,000 $13,000 $43,000


$243,213 See “COURTHOUSE” on Page 28 >>> 27


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