2009 Annual Report
From the Director
Federal Fiscal Year 2009 was another busy one for the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program. The agency awarded a total of $1,585,097 in grants for historic preservation projects around the state. More than $29.7 million were invested in the state's historic properties through federal historic preservation tax incentives. Main Street Arkansas worked with thousands of Arkansans to keep their historic commercial cores strong and vibrant. The agency's Section 106 staff reviewed thousands of federal undertakings and completed several long-standing negotiations.
The AHPP continues to use GIS and GPS technology to further its historic preservation goals, including locating surviving sections of the Butterfield Overland Mail Route. The Arkansas Civil War Sesquicentennial Commission continued its efforts to prepare the state for events in 2011-2015. The agency is working with cities across Arkansas to list additional commercial areas on the National Register of Historic Places, making more properties eligible to take advantage of preservation tax credits, including the newly approved state credit. Additional cities are preparing to join the Certified Local Government program, and the AHPP's education programs for students and adults will reach record numbers of Arkansans during FFY10.
Frances McSwain
AHPP Director
FFY09: The Year in Review
- Students visited by AHPP educational outreach programs: 3,590
- Adults visited by AHPP educational outreach programs: 2,821
- County Courthouse Preservation Subgrants: $786,700
- Historic Preservation Restoration Grants: $503,800
- Main Street Downtown Revitalization Grants: $90,000
- Main Street Model Business Grants: $118,000
- Main Street Slipcover Removal Grants: $30,697
- Certified Local Government Grants: $74,000
- Properties nominated to the National Register of Historic Places: 55
- Properties listed on the National Register of Historic Places: 57
- Properties listed on the Arkansas Register of Historic Places: 9
- Project Grants received: $600,000 from the Arkansas Natural and Cultural Resources Council, $150,000 from Preserve America and $687,539 from the National Park Service
- Tax projects: 6 projects completed, representing $29,747,358 in private investment
- Conservation easements: 12 added, 334 total
- Federal undertakings reviewed: 2,754
- Technical assistance provided: 21,528 constituents
Highlights of Federal Fiscal Year 2009
Grant Programs
The AHPP awarded $1,585,097 in grants during FFY09, providing assistance to historic properties, county courthouses and downtown areas. (A complete list of grant projects is included in Appendix I.) Grants were awarded as follows:
$768,600 in County Courthouse Restoration Subgrants, which distribute state Real Estate Transfer Tax funds provided through the Arkansas Natural and Cultural Resources Council for preservation of National Register-listed buildings that serve courthouse functions. Recipients included Carroll, Clark, Cleburne, Howard, Jackson, Lincoln, Little River, Logan, Mississippi, Poinsett, Prairie, Saline, Scott, Searcy and Woodruff counties.
$503,800 in Historic Preservation Restoration Grants, which are available to municipalities and non-profit organizations for properties listed on the National Register of Historic Places or to any owners of Arkansas Register-listed properties if the work done will make them National Register-eligible. Grants were awarded for projects at Little Rock, Arkadelphia, Big Flat, Holly Grove, Norfork, Paris, Rector, Wynne, DeWitt, Eureka Springs, Forrest City, Helena-West Helena, Lisbon, Brinkley, Parks and Selma.
$74,000 in Certified Local Government Grants to Benton, El Dorado, Eureka Springs, Fayetteville, Fort Smith, Helena-West Helena, Hot Springs, Little Rock, Morrilton, North Little Rock, Rogers, Texarkana and Van Buren.
$90,000 in Main Street Downtown Revitalization Grants to the Main Street Arkansas programs in Batesville, Blytheville, Dumas, El Dorado, Hardy, Harrison, Helena-West Helena, Ozark, Paragould, Rogers, Russellville, Searcy, Texarkana, West Memphis and Little Rock’s South Main Street (SoMa).
$118,000 in Main Street Model Business Grants to the local Main Street Arkansas programs in Batesville, Helena-West Helena, Russellville and Searcy. This program provides funds for improvements to local businesses that then serve as models for their cities.
$30,697 in Main Street Slipcover Removal Grants for projects to restore historic facades to buildings in Paragould and Rogers.
The AHPP also received a $687,539 grant from the National Park Service to finance the agency's survey and planning activities, a $600,000 grant from the Arkansas Natural and Cultural Resources Council for the County Courthouse Restoration Subgrant program, and $150,000 in Preserve America grants to fund the Arkansas Civil War Sesquicentennial Civil War Marker Program and the Preserve America community agent project.
National Register of Historic Places
Mammoth Spring Dam
A total of 57 properties in 29 Arkansas counties were added to the National Register of Historic Places, the country's official list of historic properties worthy of preservation, during FFY09. (A complete list is available in Appendix II below.) Those included nominations that constituents prepared with the assistance of AHPP staff members, as well as staff-generated nominations for bridges, properties associated with highway culture in the state and properties related to the Indian Removals of the 1830s. The AHPP's State Review Board nominated a total of 55 properties to the National Register during the federal fiscal year.
The National Register program's initiative to list more Arkansas commercial districts on the register, with the goal of making more downtown property owners eligible to take advantage of the 20-percent historic preservation tax credit for reuse of structures for income-producing use, moved forward during FFY09. New commercial districts were listed in Prescott, Little Rock, Dardanelle, Hamburg, Clarksville, Heber Springs, Paris, Rector, Pocahontas, Mena, Harrisburg, Marked Tree, Atkins and Lepanto, while surveys were undertaken in Tyronza, Rogers, Piggott, Wynne and Jonesboro. Other towns that have discussed establishing commercial historic districts include Walnut Ridge, Mountain Home and DeWitt.
The National Register recognizes properties significant at the local, state and national levels for their association with historic themes, significant people or architects, their method of construction or architectural style, or their potential to provide future information through archeological study or other research.
Nine properties were listed on the Arkansas Register during FFY09. The Arkansas Register recognizes historically significant properties that are not eligible for National Register recognition, usually because of non-historic alterations.
The National Register staff provided technical assistance to 480 constituents from the office and made on-site presentations or technical assistance visits to 629 people during FFY09. Assistance was provided to Arkansans from Alpena, Altus, Arkadelphia, Arkansas City, Ash Flat, Ashdown, Atkins, Augusta, Bald Knob, Barling, Bates, Batesville, Bee Branch, Beebe, Benton, Bentonville, Big Flat, Birdtown, Blackton, Bloomer, Blytheville, Bonanza, Brinkley, Bryant, Buffalo City, Burdette, Cabot, Caldwell, Camden, Cass, Cave Springs, Centerton, Central City, Cherry Valley, Chismville, Clinton, Collins, Conway, Corley, Corning, Cotter, Crossett, Damascus, Danville, Dardanelle, Dayton, De Queen, Dermott, DeValls Bluff, DeWitt, Dover, Dumas, El Dorado, Elaine, Elkins, Eudora, Eureka Springs, Evening Shade, Fairview, Fayetteville, Fordyce, Forrest City, Fort Chaffee, Fort Smith, Fouke, Gilbert, Gillett, Gilmore, Glenwood, Grady, Green Forest, Greenbrier, Greenwood, Hackett, Hampton, Harrison, Hartford, Hazen, Heber Springs, Helena-West Helena, Hensley, Holiday Island, Horatio, Hot Springs, Hot Springs Village, Jacksonville, Jasper, Jenny Lind, Jonesboro, Junction City, Knoxville, Lake Village, Lavaca, Leslie, Little Rock, Lockesburg, Lonoke, Madison, Malvern, Marble Falls, Marion, Marked Tree, Maumelle, McCrory, McGehee, McRae, Melbourne, Mena, Milltown, Mineral Springs, Monticello, Morrilton, Mountain Home, Mountainburg, Mulberry, Mull, Nashville, Needmore, New Blaine, Newport, Norman, North Little Rock, Oakhaven, Oark, Okolona, Oppelo, Ozark, Paragould, Paris, Parkin, Piggott, Pine Bluff, Plainview, Plummerville, Pocahontas, Poplar Grove, Portland, Pottsville, Pyatt, Quitman, Rison, Rogers, Rudy, Russellville, Saint Joe, Saint James, Saint Paul, Salem, Sardis, Scotland, Scott, Searcy, Sheridan, Sherrill, Sherwood, Siloam Springs, Silver Hill, Slaytonville, Snow Lake, Snowball, Springdale, Stuttgart, Sulphur Springs, Texarkana, Trumann, Tucker, Tuckerman, Turrell, Tyronza, Van Buren, Viola, Waldron, Walnut Ridge, Warren, Washburn, Washington, West Memphis, Western Grove, White, White Hall, Witcherville, Wynne, Yancopin.
Section 106 Review
The Section 106 review program area reviewed 2,754 federal undertakings during FFY09. These included 195 cultural resources survey reports, two archeological data recovery plans, two historic preservation management plans, eight environmental impact statements and 12 environmental assessments. Additionally, five programmatic agreements and nine memoranda of agreement were signed by the SHPO, two burial excavation permits were issued, 189 properties were determined eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places, 911 properties were determined ineligible and 951 archeological sites (provided by the Arkansas Archeological Survey) were added to our site maps.
Major projects reviewed during FFY09 were the Grand Prairie and Bayou Meto water distribution projects, a proposed Boy Scout national jamboree site near Paron, the Lake Fort Smith water supply project, the SWEPCO power plant near Fulton, two proposed industrial sites near the Little Rock Port, an airport maintenance facility at Little Rock National Airport, an EPA super fund clean-up site in Fort Smith and the North Belt Freeway project in North Little Rock.
Section 106 personnel provided technical assistance to 1,803 constituents during FFY09, including people from Alexander, Alicia, Alma, Alpena, Amagon, Arkadelphia, Ash Flat, Ashdown, Augusta, Bald Knob, Barling, Batesville, Bay, Beebe, Beedeville, Bella Vista, Benton, Bentonville, Berryville, Bismarck, Black Oak, Black Rock, Bluffton, Blytheville, Booneville, Brinkley, Brookland, Burdette, Cabot, Caddo Gap, Calico Rock, Camden, Cane Hill, Carlisle, Charleston, Cherokee Village, Clarendon, Clarksville, Clinton, Clover Bend, College Station, Conway, Corning, Cotter, Crawfordsville, Crossett, Dardanelle, De Queen, Dermott, DeWitt, Dierks, Dover, Drasco, Dumas, Dyer, Dyess, El Dorado, Elkins, England, Etowah, Eudora, Eureka Springs, Evening Shade, Fairfield Bay, Fairview, Fayetteville, Ferndale, Fifty-Six, Fordyce, Forrest City, Fort Chaffee, Fort Smith, Fulton, Gassville, Gentry, Grange, Green Forest, Greenbrier, Greenland, Greenwood, Guin, Hackett, Hampton, Hardy, Harrisburg, Harrison, Hazen, Heber Springs, Helena-West Helena, Highland, Holly Springs, Hollywood, Hope, Horseshoe Bend, Hot Springs, Hot Springs Village, Hoxie, Huntsville, Imboden, Jacksonport, Jacksonville, Jasper, Jenny Lind, Jerome, Jonesboro, Judsonia, Junction City, Kingston, Knoxville, Lake Village, Lakeport, Lamar, Lavaca, Lead Hill, Little Rock, Lonoke, Luxora, Magnolia, Malvern, Marianna, Marion, Marked Tree, Marshall, Marvell, Mayflower, McCrory, Melbourne, Mena, Monette, Monticello, Morning Star, Morrilton, Mount Olive, Mountain Home, Mountain View, Murfreesboro, Nashville, Newport, Norfork, Norman, North Little Rock, Oil Trough, Okay, Osceola, Oxford, Ozark, Pangburn, Paragould, Paris, Parkin, Paron, Pea Ridge, Perryville, Piggott, Pine Bluff, Pineville, Plainview, Pocahontas, Portia, Powhatan, Prairie Grove, Pruitt, Pyatt, Rector, Rockport, Rogers, Rose Bud, Roseland, Russellville, Salem, Salesville, Scott, Searcy, Sedgwick, Shady Grove, Sherwood, Siloam Springs, Smackover, Social Hill, Solgohacia, Springdale, Sulphur Springs, Texarkana, Tumbling Shoals, Turrell, Van Buren, Viola, Walnut Ridge, War Eagle, Warren, Washington, West Memphis, Woodson, Wynne and Yellville.
Certified Local Governments and Preserve America
Batesville joined the CLG program during FFY09
The Certified Local Government (CLG) program represents a partnership between the AHPP, the National Park Service and city and county governments to protect historic resources at the local level. Arkansas cities and counties are eligible to participate in the CLG program if they have a historic district commission implementing the provisions of the Arkansas Historic Districts Act through a local preservation ordinance. In FFY09, the CLG program continued to provide training, technical support, and grant assistance to Arkansas's local historic district commissions.
Three new Arkansas cities were certified by the National Park Service in FFY09. Batesville, Benton, and Fayetteville joined Blytheville, Conway, El Dorado, Eureka Springs, Fort Smith, Helena-West Helena, Hot Springs, Little Rock, Morrilton, North Little Rock, Osceola, Pine Bluff, Rogers, Texarkana, and Van Buren to bring Arkansas's total number of Certified Local Governments to 18. Each of these cities features one or more locally designated historic districts protected by a local preservation ordinance.
The AHPP hosted a preservation commissioner training workshop in Eureka Springs in May 2009 (held in conjunction with Arkansas Preservation Conference) at which more than 50 local preservation commissioners and staff received a day of focused instruction. The AHPP also hosted a CLG training session in Little Rock in February 2009 on local preservation advocacy, and hosted another in El Dorado in September 2009 (in conjunction with Main Street Arkansas’s Destination Downtown conference) on the energy efficiency of historic wood windows.
The AHPP annually grants at least 10 percent of its federal funding for projects in CLGs or in cities seeking to join the program. In FFY09, a total of $74,000 was awarded for projects in 13 cities. Projects included interpretive signage and development of educational materials for property owners in locally-designated historic districts. Since 1983, the AHPP has awarded more than $2.5 million to assist the efforts of local preservation commissions.
The Arkansas Historic Preservation Program received a $100,000 grant from the National Park Service in FFY09 to continue to develop the Preserve America program at the state level with a Preserve America Community Agent, provided through a partnership with the Historic Preservation Alliance of Arkansas. The Preserve America program is a federal initiative to further enhance local efforts to promote cultural heritage by emphasizing the connection between historic preservation, tourism, and economic development. Batesville, Benton, Fayetteville, Hot Springs, North Little Rock, Pocahontas, Randolph County, Texarkana, Tyronza and West Memphis were named Preserve America communities by the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation in FFY09, joining Blytheville, Dumas, El Dorado, Eureka Springs, Fort Smith, Helena-West Helena, Little Rock, Osceola, and Van Buren.
The AHPP’s CLG personnel provided technical assistance to 1,715 constituents – including 898 during on-site visits – during FFY09, including residents of Arkadelphia, Batesville, Benton, Bentonville, Blytheville, Conway, El Dorado, Eureka Springs, Fayetteville, Fort Smith, Helena-West Helena, Hot Springs, Lepanto, Little Rock, Morrilton, North Little Rock, Osceola, Pine Bluff, Pocahontas, Rogers, Russellville, Siloam Springs, Texarkana, Tyronza, Van Buren and War Eagle.
Main Street Arkansas
Main Street El Dorado volunteers.
In FFY09, five members of the Main Street Arkansas staff were competitively selected to present two sessions at the National Main Streets Conference in Chicago. With an audience of more than 1,800 and only about 100 sessions offered, it was a tremendous honor to be selected to present.
Small Business Consultant Mark Miller and Interior Design Consultant Susan Shaddox presented “Every Business Has a Billboard” to a standing room only crowd. They pointed out that each window is worth more than $500 a month in advertising and offered numerous simple techniques for upgrading this built-in advertising source.
Main Street Arkansas Director Cary Tyson and assistant directors Greg Phillips and Caroline Millar led a workshop titled “Bringing Your Organization Into the Web 2.0 World.” Recognizing that the Internet remains an untapped promotional tool, MSA worked hard in FFY09 to increase its web 2.0 presence by creating Facebook, myspace and Twitter sites to further market Main Street’s work, educate constituents and make the staff more accessible and open. Follow Main Street Arkansas at www.Facebook.com/MainStreetArkansas www.twitter.com/MainStreetAR.
In July 2009, MSA held its first quarterly training in Hardy. Leon Steele of Louisiana Main Street was the guest speaker. Louisiana’s Main to Main month-long, event-based program was the topic.
Governor Mike Beebe presented the Henry Awards at the 35th Annual Arkansas Governor’s Conference on Tourism in March of 2009 in Eureka Springs. MSA was honored with the Arkansas Heritage Award for its outstanding contribution to the preservation of Arkansas’s cultural legacy. For 25 years, MSA has worked in the tourism industry, helping communities restore their downtowns to be the best tourist destinations in the state. MSA accepted the Henry Award on behalf of all of the Main Street programs in the state.
Main Street Arkansas hosted Destination Downtown on September 14-16 in El Dorado, Arkansas. Destination Downtown is the south’s premier downtown revitalization conference and is co-hosted by the Louisiana Main Street Program and the Mississippi Main Street Association. More than 225 people gathered in downtown El Dorado to learn about best practices in the field of downtown revitalization and economic development. National experts presented sessions on each of the four work areas of the Main Street Four Point Approach. Stephanie Redman, a consultant from New Mexico, presented on how to keep Main Street afloat in a down economy; Kathy LaPlante, program officer with the National Trust Main Street Center, showed how to produce retail and business events that will work; and Tripp and Chris Muldrow, consultants from South Carolina, spoke about how local Main Street organizations and businesses can best utilize the internet.
In December 2008, Main Street Arkansas received a grant from the Arkansas Humanities Council to produce a traveling history exhibition. Titled "Main Street in Black and White," the project features 45 photographs of lively street scenes and vibrant architecture from three Arkansas downtowns during their heydays. The photographs’ subjects range from "cotton to town" days in the delta town of Blytheville, to state-of-the art hotels in Batesville and circus elephants parading through downtown Texarkana. Curated by Main Street Arkansas Assistant Director Caroline Millar, the exhibit was scheduled to debut in Little Rock during FFY10 and then travel across the state for a year, appearing at various businesses throughout the three communities represented in the photographs.
The economic development achievements of Main Street Arkansas continued to grow during FFY09. The cities involved in Main Street recorded 141 new jobs during the year, as well as a net gain of 20 new businesses and 19 business expansions and relocations into downtown areas. The 17 Main Street towns saw 160 facade renovations, building rehabilitations and new construction projects in their downtown areas, representing $2,423,730 in public and private investment. The Main Street cities recorded 32 Main Street-generated public improvement projects reflecting $175,757 in public and private investment during FFY09, and logged in 22,465 volunteer hours during the year.
Since its inception in 1984, Main Street Arkansas cities have yielded a net gain of 2,139 jobs, 847 new businesses and 686 business expansions and relocations into downtown. A total of $90,849,392 in investment has financed 2,258 facade renovations, rehabilitations and new construction projects. The Main Street cities have seen 971 public improvement projects valued at $13,767,018 and 364,773 volunteer hours on Main Street matters.
The Main Street Arkansas staff provided technical assistance to 7,968 Arkansans during FFY09, including constituents from the Main Street Arkansas cities: Batesville, Blytheville, Dumas, El Dorado, Hardy, Helena, Osceola, Ozark, Paragould, Rogers, Russellville, Searcy, Southside Main in Little Rock, Texarkana and West Memphis, and to Arkansas Downtown Network communities Crawfordsville, Dewitt, Eureka Springs, Fort Smith, Heber Springs, Jonesboro, Morrilton, Pine Bluff, Rector, Sheridan, Siloam Springs, and Walnut Ridge. Also receiving assistance from the Main Street staff during the year were residents of Benton, Conway, Harrison, Hot Springs, Little Rock, Lonoke, North Little Rock and Magnolia.
Historic Preservation Tax Credits
Perhaps the main financial incentive for adaptive reuse of historic structures in the United States is a 20–percent historic preservation tax credit for such projects, which the AHPP administers in Arkansas. During FFY09, six Arkansas tax projects were completed in Little Rock, Hot Springs, Harrison, Blytheville and Fort Smith, representing $29,747,358.10 in private investment.
A new state law, passed in 2009, allows Arkansans to claim a portion of their investment in historic properties as a credit on their state income taxes. This new program, administered by the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program (AHPP), will encourage the rehabilitation of historic properties and will foster revitalization efforts in Arkansas’s historic downtowns and neighborhoods.
AHPP Tax Credit personnel provided technical assistance to 580 people during FFY09, including residents of Arkadelphia, Augusta, Batesville, Beebe, Bentonville, Blytheville, Chidester, Conway, Dermott, DeWitt, Eureka Springs, Fayetteville, Fort Smith, Harrisburg, Harrison, Hot Springs, Jasper, Lake Village, Lepanto, Little Rock, Marked Tree, Marshall, McCrory, Mena, Mountain Home, North Little Rock, Piggott, Pine Bluff, Pocahontas, Rogers, Russellville, Snow Lake, Stuttgart, Texarkana, Van Buren, Viola, Walnut Ridge, West Memphis and Wynne.
The program also made on-site presentations or technical assistance visits to 118 people, including residents of Arkadelphia, Augusta, Batesville, Dermott, DeWitt, Eureka Springs, Fort Smith, Harrisburg, Harrison, Hot Springs, Jasper, Lake Village, Lepanto, Little Rock, Marked Tree, McCrory, Mena, Mountain Home, North Little Rock, Snow Lake, Walnut Ridge and Wynne.
Special Projects
The Special Projects staff continued working with cities around the state to list downtown areas on the National Register of Historic Places, including McGehee, Mountain Home, Jasper, Dermott, Conway and Lake Village.
Special Projects personnel wrote a report on endangered buildings on Main Street in downtown Little Rock.
Special Projects historians identified Butterfield Overland Mail Route-related sites in Arkansas and developed National Register nominations for eligible segments.
The AHPP continued to improve its web site during FFY09, adding dozens of additional National Register nominations to the searchable database as well as downloadable publications and lesson plans.
The Special Projects section began work on a multiple-property historic context for historic properties associated with the development of municipal government in Arkansas. Special Projects staff also developed several National Register nominations of properties that African-American contractor Silas Owens Sr. constructed, as well as other National Register work.
The Special Projects staff developed a web page component to promote historic preservation as “green” and sustainable.
The AHPP continued working with the six regional Arkansas Civil War Heritage Trail groups, providing technical assistance to the groups and publishing the Arkansas Battlefield Update newsletter to keep Trail members aware of activities across the state.
Arkansas Civil War Sesquicentennial Commission
The Arkansas Civil War Sesquicentennial Commission received a grant from the Preserve America program that will result in an Arkansas Civil War Sesquicentennial Historical Marker program that will debut in FFY10. The commission continued to make improvements on its website. The commission approved procedures under which sesquicentennial projects will be allowed to display the ACWSC logo and started a project with the Arkansas Historical Association to publish first-person accounts of the Civil War that have appeared in the Arkansas Historical Quarterly. The commission also began work on a passport program to attract tourists to Civil War sites around the state.
Preservation Outreach Program
During FFY09, the AHPP continued to offer its "Sandwiching in History" and "Walks through History" tour programs. The tours highlight historic resources in individual communities and educate citizens about their significance, increasing local pride and interest. The AHPP's personal attention to each of the communities and resources it visits makes this program a success year after year. The AHPP worked in partnership with local preservation-minded groups to promote the "Walks through History" tours and cooperated with local media for other means of advertising the tours. In addition, AHPP staff members continued to provide specialized programs to different interest groups across the state. While these programs focused on a wide variety of topics, the overall theme was preservation education and appreciation.
AHPP staff continued their efforts to reach all Arkansans on a variety of preservation topics through the publication of articles in various local, state and national publications. AHPP articles focused on specific properties in Arkansas with high levels of significance recognized by the National Register of Historic Places as well as topics of current interest in preservation.
A total of 2,821 Arkansans attended the AHPP programs during FFY09. Educational programs were held in Beebe, Booneville, Clarksville, Conway, Delight, El Dorado, Eureka, Farmington, Fort Smith, Gillett, Hamburg, Hot Springs, Leslie, Little Rock, Magnolia, North Little Rock, Paragould, Paris, Pine Bluff, Sheridan, Waldron and West Fork.
AHPP Preservation Outreach personnel provided technical assistance to 1,700 constituents during the year, including residents of Atkins, Augusta, Beebe, Bentonville, Booneville, Charleston, Clarksville, Conway, Crossett, Delight, DeWitt, El Dorado, Eudora, Eureka Springs, Farmington, Fayetteville, Fort Smith, Gillett, Glenwood, Hackett, Harrisburg, Hartford, Heber Springs, Hot Springs, Jacksonville, Leslie, Little Rock, Magnolia, Mammoth Springs, Marked Tree, Marshall, McGehee, Mena, Mountain Home, Norfork, North Little Rock, Paragould, Paris, Pine Bluff, Pocahontas, Prescott, Rector, Rogers, Russellville, Searcy, Sheridan, Sherwood, Star City, Stuttgart, Van Buren, Waldron, West Fork and Wynne.
Historic Site Survey
The AHPP's survey historians were busy during FFY09, continuing statewide surveys of theaters, structures designed by architect John Parks Almand, structures erected by the Depression-era Public Works Administration, steel bridges, structures associated with cotton and rice farming in the Arkansas Delta, bridges built by the Depression-era Works Progress Administration, and properties linked to early twentieth-century efforts to eradicate Texas tick fever from Arkansas cattle. AHPP historians travel thousands of miles across the state each year, recording information on historic structures that is used later in nominating buildings to the National Register of Historic Places or is placed in the agency database of 33,805 properties for future research. Some surveys are done at constituent request, others are done as part of agency documentation projects and some are done to create a record of historic buildings destined for demolition. The AHPP maintains an architectural resource form, black-and-white photographs and negatives, and color slides on each of the properties it surveys.
AHPP personnel surveyed 322 historic properties during FFY09, including sites at Alpena, Altus, Arkadelphia, Bald Knob, Batavia, Bates, Batesville, Bee Branch, Benton, Big Flat, Birdtown, Blackton, Bloomer, Blytheville, Bonanza, Brinkley, Bryant, Buffalo City, Burdette, Cabot, Caldwell, Cass, Central City, Chismville, Collins, Conway, Corley, Cotton, Crossett, Damacus, Danville, Dardanelle, DeValls Bluff, Dover, Elkins, Eureka Springs, Evening Shade, Fairview, Fayetteville, Forrest City, Fort Chaffee, Fort Smith, Gilbert, Gillett, Greenwood, Hackett, Harrison, Hartford, Helena-West Helena, Hot Springs, Jasper, Jenny Lind, Junction City, Lake Village, Lavaca, Lee Creek, Leslie, Little Rock, Marble Falls, McCrory, McGehee, McRae, Melbourne, Mena, Milltown, Monticello, Morrilton, Mountainburg, Mulberry, Mull, Needmore, New Blaine, Norman, Oark, Okolona, Paris, Pine Bluff, Plainview, Plummerville, Portland, Pyatt, Quitman, Rudy, Sardis, Scotland, Scott, Searcy, Sherrill, Siloam Springs, Silver Hill, Slaytonville, Snow Lake, Snowball, Trenton, Trumann, Tucker, Tuckerman, Turrell, Van Buren, Waldron, Warren, Washburn, West Memphis, Western Grove, Witcherville, Wynne, Yancopin and Yellville.
Historic Property Data
Information on 1,323 historic properties was entered in the AHPP's historic sites database during FFY09, including 211 generated by staff or Certified Local Government personnel and one prepared as mitigation to federal undertakings. These records include complete architectural information on several National Register-listed historic districts around the state. This information will be accessible to answer constituent inquiries, to determine what properties could be affected by federal undertakings, and for other research purposes. The database currently contains information on 33,805 Arkansas properties. The agency also continued integrating its survey materials to consolidate survey forms, slides, photographs and negatives to make them more accessible to researchers.
Education Outreach Program
The AHPP continues to focus as a top priority on efforts to instill an appreciation of Arkansas's historic properties in the state's students by making presentations across Arkansas and by training teachers to include historic preservation elements in their classroom instruction.
A new lesson plan, "We Will Persevere! The New Deal in Arkansas" was completed during FFY09. Lesson plans and other educational materials were distributed statewide and nationwide and are available on the AHPP web site.
The AHPP has changed the annual Preserve Our Past Art and Essay Invitational to include art only. Over 450 students participated in the event during Spring 2009, with winning art entries displayed at the Old State House Museum during Arkansas Heritage Month, which is celebrated every May.
The AHPP and Radio Disney hosted the "A Historic Moment in Arkansas" essay contest. Close to 900 students participated in the event. Two students from Pulaski County won the top two prizes, and each student was interviewed, which was broadcasted on Radio Disney throughout the month of December 2008.
The AHPP presented historic preservation programs to 3,590 students in schools at Benton, Cabot, Calico Rock, Cave City, Conway, Dardanelle, El Dorado, Fayetteville, Forrest City, Greenbrier, Hardy, Harrisburg, Harrison, Helena-West Helena, Hot Springs, Little Rock, Manila, Maynard, McGehee, Monticello, Nashville, Newark, Norphlet, Paragould, Pearcy, Perryville, Pine Bluff, Pottsville, Rector, Searcy, Springdale, Texarkana, Van Buren, Walnut Ridge, White Hall and Wynne.
AHPP education outreach personnel provided technical assistance to 262 Arkansans, including constituents in Harrisburg, Little Rock, Morrilton and Paragould.
Conservation Easements
The highest degree of protection available to the owner of a historic property can be realized through donation of a conservation easement to the AHPP. Through the easement program, owners of National Register-listed properties agree that they will not substantially alter their property. In return, the owners may be eligible for a federal tax deduction, as well as the peace of mind that their historic property will be protected long into the future. Twelve easements were donated to the AHPP during FFY09, bringing the total number of easements the agency holds to 334.
AHPP easement program personnel provided technical assistance to 2,799 Arkansans, including people in Alpena, Arkadelphia, Ashdown, Augusta, Austin, Batesville, Benton, Bentonville, Berryville, Big Flat, Blytheville, Booneville, Bradford, Brinkley, Cabot, Camden, Carrollton, Charleston, Chester, Clarendon, Clarksville, Clinton, Clover Bend, Concord, Corning, Crosses, Dardanelle, Des Arc, DeValls Bluff, DeWitt, Dumas, Dyess, El Dorado, Eureka Springs, Fayetteville, Fordyce, Forrest City, Glenwood, Gravette, Hamburg, Hampton, Harrisburg, Harrison, Hazen, Heber Springs, Helena-West Helena, Holly Grove, Hope, Hot Springs, Huntsville, Imboden, Jasper, Jonesboro, Judsonia, Lake Village, Lepanto, Lewisville, Little Rock, Lonoke, Magnolia, Marcella, Marianna, Marion, Marshall, McGehee, Melbourne, Mena, Monticello, Morrilton, Mountain Home, Mountain View, Mulberry, Murfreesboro, Nashville, Newport, Norfork, Norman, North Little Rock, Oak Grove, Osceola, Oxford, Ozark, Paragould, Paris, Parks, Perryville, Pettigrew, Pine Bluff, Pocahontas, Portia, Portland, Pottsville, Powhatan, Rison, Rogers, Russellville, Searcy, Selma, Siloam Springs, Springdale, St. Paul, Star City, Stuttgart, Texarkana, Tillar, Twin Groves, Valley Springs, Van Buren, Waldron, Walnut Ridge, Warren, Washington and Williford.
Computer Technology
During FFY09, the AHPP's computer technology staff used GPS/GIS technology to map segments of the Cherokee Trail of Tears, the Southwest Trail, the Butterfield Stagecoach Route, Civil War fortifications and battlefields. Software is being developed to make the historic structures database available online through an interactive mapping program. The historic property database continues to be improved through updates of point locations of structures within the database. The staff also created maps for the various program areas as needed.
Technical Assistance
When Arkansans are seeking answers to problems with their historic properties, they often turn to the AHPP for solutions. The AHPP’s Technical Services Coordinator can provide information and advice about appropriate renovation and restoration techniques, materials and services and help constituents make informed decisions in maintaining and preserving the historic integrity of their properties. Individual property owners, representatives of municipal government, building professionals, state and federal agencies and interested parties in other states have all taken advantage of the technical services AHPP provides. The Technical Services Coordinator regularly makes site visits to evaluate properties and discuss with the owners appropriate strategies for their continued protection.
During FFY09, the AHPP answered a total of 3,474 requests – including 374 on-site visits – for technical assistance from constituents (this number does not include those broken out by program area in above sections). Arkansans receiving technical assistance included residents of Alpena, Altus, Arkadelphia, Ashdown, Atkins, Augusta, Batavia, Bates, Batesville, Bauxite, Beebe, Benton, Bentonville, Berryville, Big Flat, Bismarck, Bluff City, Blytheville, Booneville, Boydell, Bradford, Brinkley, Bryant, Bull Shoals, Cabot, Camden, Cammack Village, Cane Hill, Carrollton, Cave City, Cave Springs, Cedarville, Charleston, Cherry Valley, Chester, Clarendon, Clarksville, Clinton, Clover Bend, Coldwater, College City, Conway, Corning, Cotter, Cotton Plant, Cushman, Dardanelle, Dell, DeQueen, Dermott, DeValls Bluff, DeWitt, Dover, Dryfork, Dumas, Durham, Dutch Mills, Dyess, El Dorado, Elm Springs, Emmet, Enola, Eudora, Eureka Springs, Fairview, Fargo, Fayetteville, Fitzhugh, Fordyce, Forrest City, Fort Smith, Gillett, Glenwood, Grady, Greenwood, Hamburg, Hampton, Hardy, Harrisburg, Harrison, Hartford, Hattieville, Hazen, Heafer, Heber Springs, Helena-West Helena, Holly Grove, Hope, Hot Springs, Hot Springs Village, Humnoke, Huntington, Jacksonport, Jacksonville, Jasper, Jerome, Jonesboro, Knobel, La Grange, Lake Village, Lakeport, Leola, Lepanto, Leslie, Lisbon, Little Dixie, Little Rock, Lonoke, Lowell, Mabelvale, Magnolia, Mammoth Spring, Marianna, Marked Tree, Marshall, Maumelle, Mayflower, McCrory, McGehee, McRae, Melbourne, Mena, Mineral Springs, Monette, Monticello, Morrilton, Mount Pleasant, Mountain Home, Mountain View, Mulberry, Nashville, Natural Dam, New Hope, Newcastle, Newport, Nimrod, Norfolk, Norman, North Little Rock, Omaha, Osceola, Ozark, Paragould, Paris, Parkin, Pea Ridge, Perryville, Piggott, Pine Bluff, Plainview, Pocahontas, Portia, Portland, Possum Trot, Pottsville, Powhatan, Prairie Grove, Prescott, Pruitt, Quitman, Rector, Rison, Rogers, Rosston, Russellville, Saint Joe, Salem, Savoy, Scott, Searcy, Selma, Sheridan, Sherwood, Shives, Siloam Springs, Springdale, Star City, Stephens, Strickler, Stuttgart, Sulphur Springs, Texarkana, Tinsman, Tuckerman, Tulip, Tyronza, Van Buren, Vilonia, Waldo, Waldron, Walnut Ridge, Warren, Washington, Watson, West Fork, West Memphis, White Hall, Winslow, Wynne, Yellville and Zent.
Appendix I
AHPP Grants Awarded During FFY 2009
Courthouse
| Grantee | Project Description/Property | Awarded | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carroll County | Complete front restoration and install vent for cupola | $19,000.00 | Eureka Springs, Carroll County |
| Carroll County | Roof | $63,384.00 | Berryville, Carroll County |
| Clark County | Window and door repair | $20,000.00 | Arkadelphia, Clark County |
| Cleburne County | Roof | $124,500.00 | Heber Springs, Cleburne County |
| Howard County | Masonry tuck pointing and repairs | $68,500.00 | Nashville, Howard County |
| Jackson County | Roof | $115,000.00 | Newport, Jackson County |
| Lincoln County | Restoration of the west exterior stair, excluding ornamental lamps | $50,000.00 | Star City, Lincoln County |
| Little River County | Master Plan for preservation | $10,000.00 | Ashdown, Little River County |
| Logan County | Windows replacement | $50,000.00 | Paris, Logan County |
| Mississippi County | Window repair | $57,456.00 | Osceola, Mississippi County |
| Poinsett County | Replace two downspouts | $26,127.00 | Harrisburg, Poinsett County |
| Prairie County | Assess and upgrade electrical | $10,670.00 | Des Arc, Prairie County |
| Saline County | Mitigate water from basement | $32,438.00 | Benton, Saline County |
| Scott County | Restoration to finish out first floor | $36,250.00 | Waldron, Scott County |
| Searcy County | Exterior repair | $29,500.00 | Marshall, Searcy County |
| Woodruff County | Exterior repair | $55,775.00 | Augusta, Woodruff County |
| Total: | $768,600.00 |
Certified Local Government
| Grantee | Project Description/Property | Awarded | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| City of Benton | Training fees | $1,000.00 | Benton, Saline County |
| City of El Dorado | Administration, fees and training | $7,000.00 | El Dorado, Union County |
| City of Eureka Springs | Training and outreach program | $9,000.00 | Eureka Springs, Carroll County |
| City of Fayetteville | Training and outreach program | $5,500.00 | Fayetteville, Washington County |
| City of Fort Smith | Training and outreach | $3,900.00 | Fort Smith, Sebastian County |
| City of Helena-West Helena | Administration and training, fees | $7,600.00 | Helena-West Helena, Phillips County |
| City of Hot Springs | Administration and training, fees | $5,000.00 | Hot Springs, Garland County |
| City of Little Rock | Training fees | $2,700.00 | Little Rock, Pulaski County |
| City of Morrilton | Administration and training, fees | $4,300.00 | Morrilton, Conway County |
| City of North Little Rock | Administration and training, fees | $5,000.00 | North Little Rock, Pulaski County |
| City of Rogers | Administration, training, signage, fees | $11,000.00 | Rogers, Benton County |
| City of Texarkana | Training and signage, fees | $7,000.00 | Texarkana, Miller County |
| City of Van Buren | Training, fees | $5,000.00 | Van Buren, Crawford County |
| Total: | $74,000.00 |
Downtown Revitalization
| Grantee | Project Description/Property | Awarded | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main Street Batesville | Mini grant program | $5,000.00 | Batesville, Independence County |
| Main Street Blytheville | Branding campaign | $5,000.00 | Blytheville, Mississippi County |
| Main Street Dumas | Purchase metal trash receptacles | $2,000.00 | Dumas, Desha County |
| Main Street El Dorado | Sidewalk art project | $5,000.00 | El Dorado, Union County |
| Main Street Hardy | Event fees and mini grants | $8,000.00 | Hardy, Sharp County |
| Main Street Harrison | Purchase banners and brackets for seasonal signage | $5,000.00 | Harrison, Boone County |
| Main Street Helena | Mini grant program | $5,000.00 | Helena-West Helena, Phillips County |
| Main Street Ozark | Branding campaign | $5,000.00 | Ozark, Franklin County |
| Main Street Paragould | Mini grant program | $5,000.00 | Paragould, Greene County |
| Main Street Rogers | Mini grant program | $5,000.00 | Rogers, Benton County |
| Main Street Russellville | Hire image development and marketing professional for branding campaign | $5,000.00 | Russellville, Pope County |
| Main Street Searcy | Mini grant program | $5,000.00 | Searcy, White County |
| Main Street Texarkana | Mini grant program | $5,000.00 | Texarkana, Miller County |
| Main Street West Memphis | Facade Master Plan program | $20,000.00 | West Memphis, Crittenden |
| South Main Street Project | Mini grant program | $5,000.00 | Little Rock, Pulaski County |
| Total: | $90,000.00 |
Historic Preservation Restoration Grants
| Grantee | Project Description/Property | Awarded | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alpha Phi Alpha | Condition assessment and stabilization. – Bush Dubisson House | $16,266.00 | Little Rock, Pulaski County |
| Arkadelphia Public Schools | Mitigate water from basement. - Peake High School | $10,000.00 | Arkadelphia, Clark County |
| City of Big Flat | Mitigate water, repair floor joist and electrical upgrades. – Big Flat Gymnasium | $41,760.00 | Big Flat, Baxter County |
| City of Holly Grove | Exterior restoration. - Holly Grove Depot | $15,000.00 | Holly Grove, Monroe County |
| City of Little Rock | Restore horses and chariots. – Herschell Spillman Carousel | $26,000.00 | Little Rock, Pulaski County |
| City of Norfork | Roof. (Economics Building) - Horace Mann Home Economics Building | $13,333.00 | Norfork, Baxter County |
| City of Paris | Roof and restore chinking. - American Legion Post 21 | $14,500.00 | Paris, Logan County |
| City of Rector | Exterior restoration, ADA ramp, upgrade mechanical systems. – Rector Waterworks Building | $39,076.00 | Rector, Clay County |
| Dana's House Inc. | Roof and window restoration. - United Methodist Church | $81,827.00 | DeWitt, Arkansas County |
| Eureka Springs Historical Museum | Repair roof and gutters, plaster, and repair porches. – Samuel Calif Building | $22,733.00 | Eureka Springs, Carroll County |
| Fellowship Bible Church | Construct rear facade. - Landers Theater | $18,656.00 | Batesville, Independence County |
| Forrest City First United Methodist Church | Repair cornice, gutter, flashing, soffit, and parapet. | $73,474.00 | Forrest City, Saint Francis County |
| Helena First United Methodist | Preservation plan and window restoration (south façade) | $31,299.00 | Helena-West Helena, Phillips County |
| Mount Moriah Lodge #18 | Structural stabilization and repair. - Mount Moriah Masonic Lodge | $12,300.00 | Lisbon, Union County |
| Mt. Zion Baptist Church | Structural repair. - Mount Zion Missionary Baptist | $13,673.00 | Brinkley, Monroe County |
| Scott County Senior Citizens, Inc. | Electrical upgrades, interior painting, repair ceiling, refinish/clean hardwood flooring, and window repair. – Parks School | $10,000.00 | Parks, Scott County |
| Selma Methodist Church Preservation Society | Structural and roof repair. - Selma United Methodist Church | $51,000.00 | Selma, Drew County |
| Total: | $490,897.00 |
Model Business
| Grantee | Project Description/Property | Awarded | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main Street Batesville | Roof repair, façade restoration and finish out interior. - Art Co-Op | $30,000.00 | Batesville, Independence County |
| Main Street Helena | New roof, restoration of the storefront and finish out interior. – 227 Cherry Street | $40,000.00 | Helena-West Helena, Phillips County |
| Main Street Russellville | Architect fees. | $8,000.00 | Russellville, Pope County |
| Main Street Searcy | Repair rear façade and finish out interior. – 112 N. Spring | $40,000.00 | Searcy, White County |
| Total: | $118,000.00 |
Slipcover Removal
| Grantee | Project Description/Property | Awarded | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main Street Paragould | Slipcover removal - National Bank of Commerce Building | $15,000.00 | Paragould, Greene County |
| Main Street Paragould | Slipcover removal - 108 W. Main | $8,792.00 | Paragould, Greene County |
| Main Street Rogers | Slipcover removal - 228 South 1st | $6,905.00 | Rogers, Benton County |
| Total: | $30,697.00 |
Grand Total: $1,585,097.00
Appendix II:
Properties Listed on the National Register of Historic Places During FFY09
Ashley County
Hamburg Commercial Historic District, Hamburg
Hampton Cemetry
Calhoun County
Hampton Cemetery, Hampton
Carroll County
Concord School House, Eureka Springs vic.
Clay County
Rector Waterworks Building, Rector Commercial Historic District, Rector
Cleburne County
Rector House, Mike Meyer Disfarmer Gravesite, Heber Springs Commercial Historic District Heber Springs
Conway County
Earl Building, Morrilton
Butterfield Overland Mail Route Lee Creek Segment
Crawford County
Old School Presbyterian Church, Van Buren * Butterfield Overland Mail Route Lee Creek Road Segment, Butterfield Overland Mail Route Lucian Wood Road Segment, Cedarville vic.
Crittenden County
Highway A-7 Gilmore to Turrell, Gilmore vic.
Cross County
New Hope School, Wynne vic.
Drew County
Ridgeway Hotel Historic District, Monticello
Mt. Zion MBC
Faulkner County
Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church, Enola
Fulton County
Arkansas 289 Bridge Over English Creek, Mammoth Spring vic. * Mammoth Spring Dam and Lake, Mammoth Spring
Hempstead County
Southwestern Proving Ground Building No. 4, Southwestern Proving Ground Building No. 129, Hope vic.
Jackson County
Erwin Auxiliary Army Airfield, Newport vic.
Taylor Hill Hotel
Johnson County
Taylor Hill Hotel, Coal Hill * Clarksville Commercial Historic District, Clarksville
Logan County
Paris Commercial Historic District, Paris
Lonoke County
Carver Gymnasium, Lonoke
Nevada County
Prescott Commercial Historic District, Prescott * Ephesus Cemetery, Emmet vic. * Camden to Washington Road Rosston Segment, Rosston vic. * Emmet Methodist Church, Emmet
Phillips County
Battery D Boundary Increase, Helena-West Helena
LePanto Commercial Historic District
Poinsett County
Highway A-7 Bridges Historic District, Marked Tree vic. * Highway A-7 Ditch No. 6 Bridge, Highway A-7 Tyronza Segment, Tyronza * Lepanto Commercial Historic District, Lepanto * Harrisburg Commercial Historic District, Harrisburg * Marked Tree Historic District, Marked Tree
Polk County
Mena Commercial Historic District, Mena
Pope County
Little Rock to Cantonment Gibson Road Fourth Street Segment, Atkins Commercial Historic District, AtkinsPrairie County
St. Elizabeth’s Catholic Church, DeValls Bluff
Block 35 Cobblestone Alley
Pulaski County
East End Methodist Episcopal Church, Carl Bailey Company Building, North Little Rock * Block 35 Cobblestone Alley, West Seventh Street Historic District, James Mitchell School, Dr. Morgan Smith House, Robert E. Lee School, Federal Reserve Bank Building Boundary Increase, Little Rock
Randolph County
Pocahontas Commercial Historic District, Pocahontas
Saint Francis County
Highway B-1 Little Tellico Creek Bridge, Caldwell
Sebastian County
Greenwood Presbyterian Church, Greenwood * Hartford Commercial Historic District, Hartford * Old U.S. 71 Jenny Lind Segment, Jenny Lind vic.
Illinois River Bridge
Washington County
Illinois River Bridge at Phillips Ford, Savoy vic. * Butterfield Overland Mail Route Fayetteville Segments Historic District, University of Arkansas Campus Historic District, Fayetteville
Yell County
Dardanelle Commercial Historic District, Dardanelle
Appendix III:
Properties Listed on the Arkansas Register of Historic Places During FFY09
Conway County
Samuel Porter Bird House, Birdtown vic.
Watson Jail
Desha County
Watson Jail, Watson
Franklin and Johnson counties
Clarksville to Van Buren Road, Highway 352 Segment, Ozark vic.
Jefferson County
Antioch Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery, Sherrill vic.
Ashley & Jones Stations Battlefield
Lonoke and Prairie counties
Ashley’s and Jones’ Stations Battlefield – Carlisle and Hazen vic
Mississippi County
Pilgrim Rest Missionary Baptist Church, Blytheville
Monroe County
First Missionary Baptist Church, Brinkley
Kirkpatrick Cemetery
Saline County
Kirkpatrick Cemetery, Bryant
White County
McRae Methodist Church – McRae
