According to Judge Y. W. Etheridge's book History of Ashley County Arkansas: before the county's first courthouse was erected, an eighteen by twenty-four foot public building was built on the southwest corner of the town square, at a cost of $200. It was a clerk's and sheriff's office. Etheridge wrote, "It was doubtless made of hewn logs and heated by a stack chimney. Here most of the county's business was transacted until the first courthouse was occupied." <> A historical marker on the site states that,"THE FIRST COURT HOUSE IN ASHLEY COUNTY WAS ERECTED ON THIS SITE IN 1849, THE COUNTY HAVING BEEN CREATED THE YEAR BEFORE." It seems probable that the marker is referring to this building. Although some court cases may have been tried in its meager space, it didn't have a designated courtroom nor adequate space for one; therefore, it seems improper to call it "THE FIRST COURT HOUSE."
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Ashley County’s first courthouse was built in the center of Hamburg’s town square in the year 1854. It was constructed of locally produced lumber and was about forty feet by forty feet in size. It was destroyed by fire on March 18, 1869. (Picture not available.)
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Ashley County's second courthouse, pictured above, was constructed of locally made brick, at a cost of $14,000, and was in use until 1903, when it was determined that due to population growth, industrial growth, and the coming of the railroad, it was no longer adequate. Notice the small box like structure just to the left of the center of the photo; it likely would be the water well that Y.W. Etheredge said was drilled in 1850 to furnish water for the public. Also, notice the stacks of firewood along the perimeter of the porch. No cars! No pavement! Big logs! Oxen powered wagons!
Well Firewood on porch
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Ashley County's Third Courthouse
Before the fire After the fire
This, above, was Ashley County's third courthouse. It was construct and occupied in 1905. When it burned on July 14, 1921, the county offices moved into a building on the north side of the square, later occupied by Harrison's. The county collected $30,000 insurance. Most of the county records were saved.
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This was Ashley County's fourth courthouse, and was the last one built in the middle of Hamburg's town square. It was first occupied early in 1924.
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This enlargement of a portion of the left side of the picture shows part of the business strip on the northern side of town square. The business name appears to be, "W. J. DEW & SON." To the right of it, it appears that a business had burned.
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This enlargement of a portion of the right side of the picture shows part of the business strip on the eastern side of town square. The W.L. BLANKS building was later occupied by Sterling's 5c and 10c Cent Store. The J. H. PRYOR Jr. GROCERIES building was later occupied by Foote's Grocery. Eventually Sterling moved to the northern side of the square, and Foote's expanded into that building. The THOMSON MURPHY was, possibly, a dry goods store. (There seems to be a tree growing through a roof near the left side of the picture, however that isn't the roof of the Blanks building, but the roof of a building farther back.)
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They don't make them like that anymore.
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Demolition of Fourth Court House
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Fifth Court House, at 205 East Jefferson
Fifth at Dusk
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Methodist Churches of Hamburg, AR
Digitization
This church, built in the late 1850’s, was the first Methodist Church built in Hamburg. Prior to its construction services were held in the Ashley County Courthouse. It must have had an organ, as Y.W. Etheridge's History of Ashley County Arkansas mentions that N.T. Norman played it. This edifice was replaced in 1910 by the current (as of 2011) church building. During the existence of this building the parent organization was titled, "Methodist Episcopal Church, South."
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Postcard
2nd church
Built in 1910, this was/is Methodism’s second church building in Hamburg. At that time, the Methodist organization was still titled, "Methodist Episcopal Church, South." Along its historic path the words, “Episcopal” and “South” were dropped. When the parent organization merged with the United Brethren organization, its name became, “United Methodist Church.”
Visible just south of the church, on the left of the picture, part of a wooden building can be seen. This was a hotel. My father, Robert Earl Foote, bought it, tore it down and used the salvaged material in building several houses.
Visible on the right side of the picture, behind the church, part of a small storage building can be seen. Although I cannot remember the hotel, a do remember this. I remember looking inside it and seeing some old gas-light fixtures. I presumed that they had come from the previous church building.
Art glass and stained glass, leaded-glass windows of Hamburg First United Methodist Church. (North wall of the sanctuary.)
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Made an earlier time than the previous picture, this picture shows the hotel that once existed just south of the second church.
CC
Cropped from the previous picture, this shows more clearly the hotel and the condition of the roads and streets in that era -- muddy or dusty.
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Railroads Came And Railroads Went
And Then There Were None
This map shows the railroad routs that once existed
in an area from just north of Little Rock, AR, to well
south of Monroe, LA, including Hamburg
(Left click on the map to see a slightly larger version.
Press "Esc" on your keyboard to return.)
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Railroads Came And Railroads Went
And Then There Were None
in an area from just north of Little Rock, AR, to well
south of Monroe, LA, including Hamburg
(Left click on the map to see a slightly larger version.
Press "Esc" on your keyboard to return.)
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Hamburg's Missouri Pacific
Railroad Depot
as it looked not long before
it was torn down and the
materials salvaged.
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The Missouri Pacific Depot
in its early years. Notice that it
had a clay tile roof, some Gingerbread decoration at the peak
of its roof, and a nicer color on all of its wood trim. The
had a clay tile roof, some Gingerbread decoration at the peak
of its roof, and a nicer color on all of its wood trim. The
walking surface between
it and the rails was of red brick.
The building peaking from behind, on the left, was the
Arkansas Louisiana & Gulf Railroad depot. The
AL&G Railroad ran north and south at this point.
In later years, side tracks served some grain bins and a rice drier.
Grain bins, etc.
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Places of Business
When
the first train rolled into Hamburg there was a great celebration. There was a
picnic and barbecue spread at the new depot a two story rectangular frame building
at the present site; there was a ball game played on a diamond just south of
the depot between the town dudes and the mother-hubbards, a team wearing the
then conventional every day dress of the ladies, a mother hubbard, which was a
flowing garment reaching to the floor from the shoulders with no belt; there
were speeches telling of the development and prophesying the future greatness
of Hamburg and the county; and a ball that night at which the young people
enjoyed life and displayed such finery as each possessed. When the train came
puffing in expelling steam from both sides of the engine, the children, the
writer among the number, fled to safety behind the building.
[From: History of Ashley County, Arkansas, by Judge Y. W. Etheridge]
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Looks like Hoss Cartwright from Bonanza, on the right.
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| South side of town Square Untitled-Scanned-37 |
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South side of town square ca1950s_f09
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South side of town square ca1950s_f07
Bldg.1 --Hamburg Drug Company; previously, Pryor's Drug Store. In its early years, this building had belt driven ceiling fans,
driven by an engine located behind the building.
driven by an engine located behind the building.
Bldg 2 --Left entrance: unknown - was at one time the AP&L office.
Right entrance: Jone's Flower & Gift Shop; previously Baird’s Gift Shop.
Bldg 3 --This building had a leaded glass window just above door-top level and across its entire width, proclaiming that it was the
Right entrance: Jone's Flower & Gift Shop; previously Baird’s Gift Shop.
Bldg 3 --This building had a leaded glass window just above door-top level and across its entire width, proclaiming that it was the
"Hamburg Bank." That, and the portico with its tile roof and massive support pillars, were quite impressive.
Note: I think that Annie Crane’s Millinery, which became Lydia’s Dress Shop (Lydia Foote), was in this building.
Lydia’s moved to another location.
Bldg 4 --This building had a similar leaded glass window, bearing the name, "J. T. Norman." Above the window, painted on the
Note: I think that Annie Crane’s Millinery, which became Lydia’s Dress Shop (Lydia Foote), was in this building.
Lydia’s moved to another location.
Bldg 4 --This building had a similar leaded glass window, bearing the name, "J. T. Norman." Above the window, painted on the
bricks, was the sign, “John T. Norman".
Bldg 5 --In the background, right, the third floor of the Palace Hotel is visible.
This is a blown up section from the previous picture, showing the leaded glass area.
Unfortunately the bank part of it just doesn't show.
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| North side of town square |
Left to Right: Harrisons Grocery, H. W. Dew Grocery,
Se-Ark Home Supply, The Style Shop (Charlie Carpenter -- under
the awning with Home Supply), Arrington Motor Compay (Ford sales
& Service). To the left of the buildings shown in this picture would
have been Nutters Merchantile, and on the corner, Farmer's Bank.
the awning with Home Supply), Arrington Motor Compay (Ford sales
& Service). To the left of the buildings shown in this picture would
have been Nutters Merchantile, and on the corner, Farmer's Bank.
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| Eastern side of town square (Southern end) |
Left to right: Rex Cole Cash Grocer, Sawers Drug Store
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Left to Right, beginning at the corner of South Main and West Parker: Pan-Am Service Station;
Bus Station, recessed behind Western Union Sign; Easy Pay Tire Store (Furniture,Hardware, etc.).
Eventually all of this property was acquired by First United Methodist Church.
Note: The the Pan Am Building, built in 1935 for Robert Earl Foote, was first a Sinclair Station.
Before March, 1871, the Ashley County Jail was located on that lot.
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Bus Station, recessed behind Western Union Sign; Easy Pay Tire Store (Furniture,Hardware, etc.).
Eventually all of this property was acquired by First United Methodist Church.
Note: The the Pan Am Building, built in 1935 for Robert Earl Foote, was first a Sinclair Station.
Before March, 1871, the Ashley County Jail was located on that lot.
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Higginbotham Motor Company, International Harverster
Later, Farmers Bank parking
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Cummings Ice Company & Dude's One Stop
ca1950s_f09
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HISTORIC HOMES: (Under Construction)
Contributed by Sue Barnes Stell, who lived in it for a while
when she was a child.. -- Thanks Sue.
Later, the Dean House became Jones Funeral Home
Sawyer Home
This photograph was made by John H Foote ca 1973. While going through some old
papers (2018) I found the following information, which I believe to be correct:
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Built soon after the Civil War, about 1868, by Mr. E.D. Watson , founder of
Watson Hardware Company. It is believed to be the oldest house in Hamburg.
