Monthly Archives: May 2015

Fret & Worry tonight at South on Main’s Local Live concert series

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llsom fretTonight at 7:30 is this week’s installment of the South on Main Local Live concert series.  This week features Fret & Worry!

Presented by the Oxford American magazine, Local Live showcases the best of local and regional music talent and is always free and open to the public. Call ahead to South on Main to make your reservations and ensure a table: (501) 244-9660. Local Live is made possible by the generous sponsorship of Ben and Jane Hunt Meade.

Fret & Worry (Uncle Joe Meazle on guitar and RJ Looney on harmonica) sing songs that celebrate Arkansas and cover the subjects of trains, ladies of the evening, wrongful deaths, and moonshine.

Heritage Month – Samuel P. Taylor Service Station

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Today’s Heritage Month property is the Samuel P. Taylor Service Station.  Built in 1938, it embodies the distinctive characteristics of Art Deco architecture.

The Samuel P. Taylor Service Station is located at the corner of Cross Street and West Third Street in downtown Little Rock. The building was constructed in 1938 on a lot previously owned by the Cross Street Christian Church. The church built a basement in 1935 and had planned to construct a church on the site, however money could not be raised and the church disbanded circa 1937. The land was purchased from the church in 1938 and a man known as Mr. Saunders was hired to build a service station on its present day site. Later that same year the Samuel P. Taylor Service Station opened its doors to motorists.

The Samuel P. Taylor Service Station served motorists as garage and gas station from its opening in 1938 until 1947. In 1947 the building was purchased by Paul Williamson and the name of the business was changed to Cross Town Gulf Service Station. Mr. Williamson served as the owner and operator of the Gulf Oil Company franchise until the business went out of operation in 1972. The building was then purchased by the Safeway Corporation in 1973 and was used as storage by the Safeway Bakery Division located at 1111 West Third Street in Little Rock.  Although the building no longer serves as a service station it still greatly resembles its historic appearance and reminds those passing by of its original use.

It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on November 29, 2000.

Heritage Month – Luxor Apartments

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Luxor ApartmentThe Luxor Apartments building is a two-story brick veneered structure designed in the Craftsman style, unique to the Little Rock area in its size.  Located at 1923 South Main, it remained popular for singles and young families from the 1920s to the 1970s because of its proximity to the downtown commercial district.  Now it is part of the South Main community, which is once again a hotbed of activity.

The Luxor Apartments Building was built by Samuel J. Storthz, Sr., member of a Jewish family prominent in the Little Rock business community.  At the time of its construction, the Luxor was considered a very desirable address.  The building featured a uniformed doorman, apparently something of an anomaly in Little Rock at the time.  At a time when most apartments had eight or fewer units, the Luxor Apartments contained 28 units.

Construction of the Luxor Apartment building in 1924 represents the rapid urbanization of Little Rock in the early decades of the twentieth century.  Attention to technology and “modern” conveniences were emphasized.

They were added to the National Register of Historic Places in April 1995.

Little Rock Look Back: Dan T. Sprick

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SprickFuture Little Rock Mayor Dan T. Sprick was born on May 19, 1902.  He served three terms on the Little Rock City Council (from 1935 to 1941).  In 1945, he was elected Mayor of Little Rock and served one term. During his tenure on the City Council, he was the sole vote against locating Robinson Auditorium at Markham and Broadway.  He had favored another location.

He was not alone, however, in being held in contempt of court and spending part of the day in jail.  On Monday, December 4, a dozen of Little Rock’s aldermen (which included Sprick) reported to the county jail to serve sentences for contempt of court. The previous Monday, the twelve council members had voted against an ordinance which had been ordered by the judge in an improvement district matter. The other aldermen had either voted in the affirmative or had been absent. Because the twelve had refused to change their votes since that meeting, the judge ordered them jailed.

Mrs. C. C. Conner, the only female, was not jailed but was fined $50. The eleven men were held at the jail, though not in cells. In order to get out of jail, the judge gave the aldermen the chance to change their votes. The mayor asked the judge to let them leave the jail to attend the meeting at City Hall, which was nearby. He requested that the city be allowed to maintain “what little dignity remained” by not having the meeting at the jail. The judge relented, and the aldermen were escorted by deputies to the council chambers. After the aldermen changed their votes, the judge suspended the remainder of their sentences.

His tenure as Mayor was relatively quiet. He took office the same month that World War II ended. While in office, the Sprick administration was marked by growth in the city budget and in city positions. As a part of that growth, there were many more new purchases taking place which had prompted extra scrutiny of the City’s purchasing procedures. A thorough investigation toward the end of his tenure found no malfeasance or misfeasance, it did note that the city needed to do a better job of anticipating cash flow. Much of the City’s focus during the Sprick tenure was on growth and keeping up infrastructure needs.

Sprick later served for ten years in the Arkansas State Senate (from 1961 to 1970).  During his tenure in the Senate, Sprick was closely aligned with Gov. Orval Faubus.  When the Little Rock high schools had been closed a year to ensure segregation, Sprick had served on the board of a private school set up by some of the leaders of the segregation movement.

His time in the Senate was also marked by controversy.  He was one of three Senators to opposed Muhammad Ali’s speaking at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville.  After an Arkansas Gazette editorial lambasted him, Sprick sued the paper for libel. The Gazette settled with him out of court because his health was poor.

Sprick died in January 1972.

Legacy of LR architect Ed Cromwell to be discussed tonight

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CromwellTonight the Architecture and Design Network will host a panel discussion on the legacy of longtime Little Rock architect Ed Cromwell.
The panelists are:
  • Charles Penix, Chief Operating Officer, Cromwell Architects and Engineers
  • Bill Worthen, Director, Historic Arkansas Museum
  • Don Evans, architect and associate of the late Ed Cromwell

Chris East is the program’s moderator.  It will take place at 6pm at the Arkansas Arts Center, following a reception at 5:30pm.

After working at various jobs during the early years of the Depression, Ed Cromwell, who graduated from Princeton in 1931 with a degree in architecture, moved to Little Rock in 1935 to take a position with the  Resettlement Administration. After a year with the agency, he left to devote full time to the practice of architecture, a career which spanned forty-eight years, from 1936 to1984. Cromwell, who remained active in the community after his retirement, died in 2001, leaving a legacy that continues to impact people’s lives.

There would be no Maumelle if it hadn’t been for Cromwell’s vision of a planned community on the 5,000 acres of land owned by Jess P. Odum, an Arkansas businessman and insurance executive. The Capital Hotel might have been taken out by the wrecker’s ball if it hadn’t been for his determination to save the historic structure. An advocate for the city’s riverfront development, he understood its importance long before others did. He championed historic preservation and  chaired the commission of the Arkansas Territorial  Restoration (now the Historic Arkansas Museum). Cromwell Architects and Engineers, the firm he founded, has to its credit the design of many public buildings and facilities throughout the state and beyond.

The three panelists will explore Cromwell’s legacy as a creative architect, a visionary planner and a champion of  historic  preservation. Architecture and Design Network (ADN) lectures are free and open to the public. For additional information, contact ardenetwork@me.com.

ADN’s supporters include the Arkansas Arts Center, the University of Arkansas Fay Jones School of Architecture, the Central Section of the Arkansas Chapter of the American Institute of Architects and friends in the community.

3rd annual Summer Suppers schedule announced by QQA

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Curran HallThe Quapaw Quarter Association has announced their third annual Summer Suppers schedule.

Colors at Curran

Sunday June 14 – 5:00 PM; Curran Hall

Bring the family, meet Uncle Sam and visit Historic Curran Hall for a southern picnic to celebrate Flag Day. The Little Rock Visitor Foundation recently acquired the original 1859 square grand piano that belonged to the Woodruff family and sat in Curran Hall from the 1860s to the 1990s. Come take a look and listen to Arkansas music from the past 150 years.

MENU: BBQ, traditional summer side dishes, beer, and ice cream

HOSTS (Little Rock Visitor Foundation and Board of Directors): Aaron Ruby, Lauren Bridges, Joanne Hinson, Shannon Treece, Larry Carpenter, Brendan Monaghen, Jim Montgomery, Jim Rule, Barry Travis, Carolynn Coleman, Cherry Light, and Jason Campbell.

Limited to 100 people. Cost is $20 a person.

 

Sunset at the Fountainebleau

Saturday June 20 – 6:00 PM; Rogers House, 400 West 18th Street

Revisit Miami Beach in the 1950s with the glamour and fun of the tropics and the cuisine of Little Italy Complete with bocce ball on the lawn and a Bellini bar poolside. Cocktail hour music provided by Dino, Frank and Sammy.

 

MENU: An Italian Feast! Antipasto, salad, pasta, featuring homemade bread and sausage a la familia Dalla Rosa, finished off with a themed dessert bar. Gluten-free and vegan options available, so everyone can join the fun!

 

HOSTS: Jilly Judy and Mark Brown, Karen Form, Harry and Robin Loucks, Michelle and Rick Harper, Sandy Griffith, Stuart and Hillis Schild, Laura and Ed Sergeant, Marcella and Marvin Dalla Rosa, Karol Zoeller, and David and Alex Robinson

 

Limited to 100 people. Cost is $75 a person.

 

 

 

Third Annual Welcome to the Gayborhood

Saturday June 27 – 6:30 PM; Sam Scull House 2300 State Street

 

Come to a relaxing evening in a speakeasy atmosphere at this 1914 Craftsman style home. Enjoy heavy hors d’oeuvres from Trio’s and a dessert bar by Chef Ted. Libations this year are presented in consultation with noted mixologist Spencer Janson and include a Moscow Mule bar, white sangria (vastly improved recipe), give and really good tonic, iced tea and bourbon and possible more! There will be non-alcoholic alternatives, also. Gay people have always been a large part of historic preservation. Meet several of them and learn something about gay history. Casual dress because of the heat, but no heels please! Enjoy the food and drink. Guests are encouraged to tour the entire house and enjoy the vast art collection.

 

HOSTS: Ted Holder and Joe van den Heuvel

 

Limited to 35 people. Cost is $75 a person.

 

Stone’s Throw Brewing Beer Dinner

Wednesday, July 29 – 6:30pm; Southern Gourmasian, 219 West Capitol

 

Spend the evening at Southern Gourmaisian’s new downtown brick and mortar location for dinner pairing unique dishes from the king of the Little Rock food truck scene with beers and ciders brewed by Stone’s Throw Brewing. Chefs Justin Patterson and Pat Beaird will prepare five courses of Asian-Southern fusion cuisine to pair with six different artisanal brews. Chefs and brewery representatives will be on hand to talk about each pairing and chat over dinner.

 

HOSTS: Stone’s Throw Brewing, Southern Gourmasian, Ashli Ahrens and Kelley Bass, Shana and Soloman Graves, Gabe Holmstrom, John Herzog, Kathy McCarroll, Jarrod Johnson, and Rhea Roberts

 

Limited to 50 people. Cost is $50 a person.

  

Hognado! at The Joint in Argenta

Friday August 7 – 6:30 PM; Crush Wine Bar, 318 Main & The Joint, 301 Main, NLR

 

Begin your evening enjoying historic Argenta with appetizers and libations at Crush Wine Bar before heading to The Joint for an 8 p.m. show. HOGNADO! Is The Main Thing’s first disaster comedy, about a super-sized storm system that cuts the Natural State a new one! See how Arkansans adapt and survive when a giant tornado swoops up the last remaining wild hogs in the Ozarks and hurls them at Little Rock at 180 miles per hour.

 

HOSTS: Greg Nabholz, John Gaudin and Corky Patton, and Cheddy Wigginton

 

Limited to 25 people. Cost is $40 a person.

Heritage Month – Pfeifer Brothers Department Store

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Pfeifer Brothers Department Store was an important part of imageMain Street’s commercial character. Built in 1899, the building’s interior was remodeled in 1939 and the exterior was remodeled in 1960. Pfeifer Brothers Department Store was originally occupied by Arkansas Carpet and Furniture Company. In 1911 Joseph Pfeifer leased the building for his clothing company. 
In 1912, the redevelopment of the building for the Pfeifer Brothers Department Store was designed by prominent Arkansas architect Charles Thompson.  The structure had originally been built in two stages. The south half being built first in 1899 and the north half added about a year later. In 1939 Pfeifer Brothers remodeled the interior first floor with streamlined, chrome-trimmed fixtures. A marble façade was added on the Sixth Street elevation.
A major exterior renovation was undertaken in 1960 when a false façade of granite panels was wrapped around the Main and Sixth street elevations, covering all openings and detail. At this time the original cornice was destroyed but the majority of historic detail remained.In 1963 Pfeifers was bought by Dillard’s Department Stores and as a new entity the store continued in business at 524 Main until closing in 1990. In 1996 a new owner undertook rehabilitation of the historic structure by removing the granite panels and exposing original windows and terra cotta elements.
The building, now called the Arkansas Building, is an anchor of the Creative Corridor revitalization. It will house Ballet Arkansas, additional space for the Arkansas Repertory Theatre, Cranford Co. and Matt McLeod’s art studio on the first floor. The Arkansas Symphony Orchestra will be on the ground floor of the Arkansas Building and in an adjacent building.  The upstairs will be apartments.
The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places fifteen years ago today on May 18, 2000.