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 3
The Newton County Library started in the 1960s and was located in the courthouse. In the mid-to-late 1970s, the library moved to a room in city hall. The Friends of the Library group was organized in 1991, and in 1994 the old county shop building was converted into the library. The shop building was concrete block and had two garage doors (one opening was made into the current entrance and the other was closed up). New window openings and windows were added and a veneer of board-and-batten siding was put on top of the concrete block. A gabled porte-cochere was built and supported by rock columns. The transformation was completed in October 1994.
If you don’t know, the Newton County Library offers 2 free programs for adults each month. They also have a writers’ group, artists’ group, book club, and children’s programs.
Walk north on Hwy. 7 (Stone Street) West side
More next week