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 8
The mill stones from the gristmill at Marble Falls are in front of the restaurant in the flower beds.
Arkansas House Garden—See cottage built by Gould Jones ca. 1945. Notice that his technique had changed from his earlier designs. In later projects, Jones artistically arranged rocks in cement molds to create blocks, which were easier to stack and build with than traditional uncut stone masonry. He no longer had to adjust to the irregularities of each stone, and he could easily make patterns.
A captive black bear named Coco was kept in a building between the Arkansas House Inn and the Boardwalk Café. The bear is now at Turpentine Creek in Eureka Springs.
Arkansas House—
Gould Jones built the Arkansas House Hotel in 1933 using a mixture of buff brick, glazed brick, and flagstone. His masterpiece, the shape of Arkansas in stone, is centered on the front façade. The Arkansas House still rents rooms. They have 3 regular rooms, 2 suites, and 2 cabins. Plus the restaurant.
Phillips 66 Service Station—
Service station built by Gould Jones ca. 1930. He used rounded river rocks to construct the main building. It was a Phillips 66 station at one point, but I’m not sure what it started out as.
Walk to Spring Street and go north to the Jail
Newton County Jail (300 N. Spring)—
The Newton County Jail was built in 1902-1903 by the Heilman Construction Company. The company also built the 1902 Newton County Courthouse, which was also constructed with cut limestone. The jail and courthouse were constructed at a total cost of $9,200 (remember that the 1902 courthouse was destroyed by fire in 1938). The jail was built with rough-cut limestone and featured some elements of the Italianate style with its pronounced cornice and brackets (all made from limestone) and the large segmental arch window opening with keystone on the front façade. Notice the finials on the parapet. The official capacity of the jail was listed at 4 inmates. This building served as the Newton County Jail until July 2009, when inmates were moved to other facilities in neighboring counties until a new jail could be constructed down the street (finished 2012). The historic jail is now home to the Christian Food Room, which is operated by area churches.
More next week.
