Visitors to Jasper might want to know more about its history. There are several markers on buildings in the historic business district, but for a better understanding about what was, or still is, take a walking tour of the town with this helpful guide that was published almost a decade ago by Rachel Silva of the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program.
Part 5
Rock wall—
Not sure what was here, but there are rock walls like this all over town.
Angel Works Thrift Store/Revenue Office (Southeast corner of Church & Spring)— Historic building with mid-1970s aggregate veneer. This was the location of the Newton County Co-op and was later Christiansen Funeral Home. The revenue office has been here since at least the early 1980s. Special services bought the building in 2007.
North on Spring Street (East side of courthouse square)
Buffalo Theater (200 N. Spring)—
The Buffalo Theater Building was constructed in 1916 and housed a mercantile (at one time run by a Mr. Moten). The walls of the building are locally-quarried, rough-cut limestone blocks. In 1941 Jimmy Gilbert opened the Gilbert Theater in the building, and in 1952 Don Jones changed the name to Buffalo Theater. About 1960 Roy Raulston purchased the theater, and the theater closed in 1989. The building housed the Spice O’ Life Bakery for about 15 years and then sat vacant for a few years. It was recently purchased by local people who wanted to revive the theater. After much hard work, the Buffalo Theater reopened on March 29, 2014. Free entertainment will be offered in the building on Saturday afternoons, and Saturday evening entertainment will cost a nominal fee. The building will also be used as a meeting space for local groups, and a solar-powered AM Radio station (KUBF) is also planned.
Rufus Arbaugh’s Drug Store; later Thurman’s Rexall Drug (202 N. Spring)— Built ca. 1910 with native, rough-cut limestone. Housed Rufus Arbaugh’s Drug Store and later became Thurman’s Rexall Drug Store.
Chamber of Commerce and Spring Street Arts (204-206 N. Spring)—
Built ca. 1945 by Gould Jones to replace earlier limestone building that looked similar to the theater and drug store buildings. The previous building on the site of 204 N. Spring housed the Newton County Times in the early 20th century. These
More next week
