Tag Archives: Curran Hall

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 – Curran Hall

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Curran HallCurran Hall, sometimes known as the Walters-Curran-Bell House, stands at 615 East Capitol Avenue and is one of the few remaining antebellum properties in Little Rock.  It was built in 1842 and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on January 1, 1976.

Curran Hall was constructed in the Greek Revival style. The original one-story structure of the house was made with walls three bricks thick, cypress interior and exterior, and solid wood trimming and was settled on a raised foundation. The original interior floor plan was a four-room, central-hall type, although it was later added to by various owners. Each of the four rooms contains its original fireplace and classically designed mantel. The original interior of the house remains relatively undisturbed; however, the two rear additions have been fully transformed. In 1848, a children’s playhouse was constructed at the back of the house. The existing playhouse was reconstructed in the 1960s with materials from various historic houses in Little Rock.

Over the years, Curran Hall has been owned by several important Arkansas families. It changed hands fairly frequently from 1842 until the 1881.  At that point in time, Mary Eliza Bell, the daughter of Gazette founder William E. Woodruff moved in.  Her descendants stayed in the house until 1993.  In 1996, the structure was sold to the City of Little Rock.  The City’s Advertising & Promotion Commission and a private foundation raised money to restore the building.  After six years and $1.4 million, the house was formally opened to the public as the Little Rock Visitor Information Center on May 18, 2002.

In March 2007, the Quapaw Quarter Association took over the management of Curran Hall as the City’s official visitor information center.  The building is open daily for visitors to tour as well as learn about activities throughout the City.

Today, (Sunday, May 10), Curran Hall is one of the featured properties on the 51st Annual Quapaw Quarter Association Spring Tour of Homes.

Today from 1 to 5, the 51st Quapaw Quarter Association Spring Tour of Homes

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qqa tourThe Quapaw Quarter Association will hold its 51st Spring Tour of Homes next month in historic downtown Little Rock. The event has existed since 1963 and this year we continue to celebrate decades of remarkable preservation that has made downtown Little Rock the South’s most impressive urban renewal success story!

Tickets for this award winning tour of downtown are $25 today. The tour runs from 1pm to 5pm.

The Sunday tour will feature three trolleys throughout the route.
Trolley Stops: 
  • 509 Scott Street (Christ Episcopal Church)
  • 615 E Capitol Avenue (Historic Curran Hall)
  • 1201 Commerce Street (Firehouse Hostel and Museum)
  • Daisy Bates and Main Street(Bernice Gardens)
  • Daisy Bates and Broadway
  • 13th and Spring Street
QQATicket Booths: 
  • 615 E Capitol Avenue (Historic Curran Hall)
  • 1201 Commerce Street (Firehouse Hostel and Museum)
  • Daisy Bates and Broadway
Restrooms: 
  • 615 E Capitol Avenue (Historic Curran Hall)
  • 1201 Commerce Street (Firehouse Hostel and Museum)

 

Here are the properties to be featured!

Historic CURRAN HALL, ca. 1842

615 E. Capitol Avenue

Construction of Curran Hall began in 1842. The home was a wedding gift from Colonel Ebenezer Walter, to his wife Mary Starbuck. She unfortunately passed before the home was completed. The home would then be sold the home to James M. Curran in 1849. The home remained with the Currans until 1881, and Mary Curtis Bell, daughter of William E. Woodruff, in 1884. The home stayed in the Bell family until 1997, when local preservationists and the City of Little Rock joined forces to save it. The home was restored through this partnership to its original glory as a Greek Revival, and today serves as Little Rock’s Visitor Information Center.

1411 Broadway, ca. 1896

The history of construction for this home is unknown, beyond that it was likely constructed before 1896. The primary owner after its construction, throughout the 1890s and early 1900s was Frank Carl, a businessman. The structure then had various owners from 1912- 1922 and was divided up as a rental property from 1922-1935. The home was officially the Broadway Apartments from 1935 to 1975 and became commercial property after that until the Miller family purchased the home for rehabilitation. The home is now a single family home once again and has been restored with historically appropriate details.

HAILE COTTAGE, ca. 1880s

417 W. 13th Street

The Haile family, Andrew J. and his mother Annie, likely constructed the cottage in the late 1880s. This home appears to have been built as a rental property. The Haile Cottage did not remain under the ownership of the Haile family for long. It changed hands many times throughout the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Throughout the early 1900s, there were several additions on the east and west sides of the home. There was also a second story added. It was not until 1989 that the home would be purchased to be restored to its original beauty.Carl Miller, Jr. purchased the home for restoration. When the home was purchased, it had seen years of deterioration and overall neglect. Miller’s rehabilitation restored the Haile Cottage to its original Folk Victorian charm.

CHRIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, 1941

509 Scott Street

In 1839, Leonidas Polk helped organize Christ Episcopal church in Senator Chester Ashley’s home. It was named after Christ Church in Alexandria, Virginia, of which several of the group had been members. Bishop Polk arranged to buy property at the church’s present location, 5th & Scott Streets, in 1840. In 1846 the first church building was opened. By 1873, that building had been destroyed by fire. By 1887 the funds had been raised and a new building was opened. In 1938, before an unveiling of a new interior, this building burned as well. Plans were again drawn for a new church, this time in a neo-gothic style, with the exterior of Arkansas stone rather than the red brick of the former church. In September of 1941 the current building was opened. Guided tours of Christ Episcopal Church will begin at the front door and take place at 2, 3, and 4 p.m.

FIREHOUSE HOSTEL AND MUSEUM, ca. 1917

1201 Commerce Street

Little Rock Fire Station no. 2 is one of the most visible and well known landmarks in the MacArthur Park Historic District. The firehouse was opened in 1917 after moving from its Main Street location to the western end of City Park, now known as 1201 S. Commerce. The fire station, as seen today, is definitively Craftsman. Originally it featured a large porch and had some Spanish Revival elements as well. In 1959 the station was closed when a new station opened on 9th street. The building has served as a meeting location for clubs and organizations in the community, and has been managed by the City of Little Rock since the late 1990s. In 2006 Hosteling Arkansas, Inc. began plans to turn the firehouse into a hostel and museum. It is set to open later this year.

HERRON HORTON OFFICE/STUDIO/RESIDENCE, 2008

1219 South Spring Street

Architects Jennifer Herron and Jeff Horton designed and built their 2008 office and art studio as a separate structure beside the home they designed and built at the same time for their family of four. The two energy efficient structures are joined through a passageway and transition space that connects home to work and work back to home. As infill in an historic neighborhood at a point where residential begins to transition to commercial, the Herron Horton office/studio and residence offers a thoughtful and elegant counterpoint to the older homes and commercial businesses surrounding them.

Big Boo!-seum Bash Tonight

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BooseumLogo_EventIt’s the 19th Annual Big Boo!-seum Bash, where kids can enjoy a safe and fun Halloween Thursday, Oct. 30 from 6 – 8:30 p.m.  Come out and trick-or-treat, play games and have fun at participating area museums!

There will be free candy and Halloween activities for all ages. Visit every participating location to enter in the drawing for a flat-screen TV or a $100 gift card!

Locations:
* Arkansas Arts Center – 501 East 9th Street

* Historic Arkansas Museum – 200 East 3rd Street

* Little Rock Visitor Center at Curran Hall – 615 East Capitol Avenue
— Arkansas State Capitol will participate on site

* MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History – 503 East 9th Street
— Arkansas National Guard Museum will participate on-site

* Mosaic Templars Cultural Center – 9th Street and Broadway
— Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site will participate on-site

* Museum of Discovery – 500 President Clinton Avenue

* Old State House Museum – 300 West Markham Street

* CALS Ron Robinson Theater – 100 River Market Avenue

* Witt Stephens Jr. Central Arkansas Nature Center – 602 President Clinton Avenue
— Arkansas Inland Maritime Museum will participate on-site

LR Cultural Touchstone: Cheryl Griffith Nichols

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C NicholsCheryl Griffith Nichols is a historian, with an emphasis on historical structures, who has lived and worked in Arkansas since 1978.

She was born and raised in Indiana and graduated from Hanover College in 1974. After working for three years as the executive director of the Bartholomew County Historical Society in Columbus, Indiana, she enrolled in George Washington University in Washington DC, majoring in American studies with a concentration in historic preservation. While living in Washington, she worked for the National Register of Historic Places.

She moved to Little Rock in 1978, where she married attorney Mark Nichols and completed her Masters degree by writing a thesis on the Pulaski Heights community; the thesis was accepted in 1981. Meanwhile, Nichols became acquainted with Charles Witsell (a prominent Little Rock architect and historic preservation advocate) while he was working with F. Hampton Roy (a Little Rock ophthalmologist, historic preservation advocate and Little Rock City Director) to write a book about the history of Little Rock. Nichols did extensive research for the book, which was published in 1984 by August House as How We Lived: Little Rock as an American City.

Nichols then became a free-lance researcher, operating a business in Little Rock which she called History, Inc. This business did research and documentation of historic structures in Arkansas, mostly but not entirely in Pulaski County. Nichols also worked for the Museum of Science and History (now the Museum of Discovery) in Little Rock, served as the Executive Director of the Quapaw Quarter Association from 1984 through 1987 and again from 1991 through 1997, and wrote several books for the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program (Little Rock: Driving Tour of Three Historic Neighborhoods, 1989; MacArthur Park Historic Tours, 1993, Governor’s Mansion Area, 1993; Historically Black Properties in Little Rock’s Dunbar School Neighborhood, 1999, The Arkansas Designs of E. Fay Jones, 1999, Hillcrest: The History and Architectural Heritage of Little Rock’s Streetcar Suburb, 1999, and Construction of the Military Road Between Little Rock, Arkansas, and Fort Gibson, Oklahoma, 2003.)

She has remained active in historic preservation efforts.  She has served on the board of the Historic Preservation Alliance of Arkansas and the National Trust for Historic Preservation.  She also served on a task force to determine the best use of Curran Hall.  Much of her research has been donated to the Arkansas Studies Institute.

QQA 50th Spring Tour this weekend

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QQA_SpringTourLogo_COLORThe QQA will be celebrating its 50th Spring Tour this coming Mother’s Day weekend, May 10-11! This year, we’re holding the golden anniversary of the tour in the Governor’s Mansion Historic District. We’ve enlisted the help of Arkansas First Lady Ginger Beebe and P. Allen Smith as Honorary Co-Chairs to help us spread the word about our half-century anniversary. Shalah Brummett and Anthony Black will be leading our volunteer committee to make all the arrangements, and we’re excited to have the help of several other former Tour Chairs. The tour will include the Arkansas Governor’s Mansion and five houses within easy walking distance: the Cochran Cottage, Pierce House, Turner-Back House, Caruth-Cachran House and the Old Methodist Parsonage.

They have out of Candlelight Tour and Dinner tickets, as well as Sunday Brunch tickets. Tickets for tonight’s After Party and Sunday afternoon online, or by visiting Curran Hall at 615 East Capitol Avenue.

Saturday, May 10

5:30 – 7:30, Candlelight and Champagne Tour of Homes surrounding the Governor’s Mansion

Enjoy a leisurely stroll in this historic neighborhood with champagne, wine, and hor d’oeuvres while touring our featured homes.

7:30– 9:30, Dinner & Party at the Arkansas Governor’s Mansion

Join us at the Governor’s Mansion for dinner and drinks with honorary co-chairs P. Allen Smith and First Lady Ginger Beebe.

9:30 onwards, The After Party at South on Main Restaurant, 1304 South Main Street

Help the QQA celebrate five decades of preservation work at a late-night party at South on Main with Rodney Block and the Real Music Lovers.

Saturday night tickets are also valid for Sunday afternoon tour Sunday,

Sunday, May 11

11:00-1:00, Brunch and Garden Tour at Curran Hall, 615 East Capitol Avenue

Start your Mother’s Day festivities at Historic Curran Hall with a casual brunch buffet and mimosa bar and tour the Marjem Ward Jackson Historic Garden.

1:00-5:00, Spring Tour of Homes, Governor’s Mansion Historic District

50th Spring Tour of Homes with lawn games, kid friendly activities, live music, food vendors, trolley rides, and more!

Chris Olsen at QQA Preservation Conversation tonight

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ChrisHOlsenThe Quapaw Quarter Association’s award-winning Preservation Conversation series continues tonight.

The program takes place this evening at Curran Hall, 615 East Capitol Avenue. From 5:30 to 6:00 a reception will take place. The program will run from 6:00 to 7:00.

This evening’s speaker will be Chris H. Olsen, a nationally known home and garden guru, designer, author, TV personality and public speaker. Chris will be speaking on landscaping for historic homes.   Learn more about Chris at http://www.chrisholsen.com/.

Landscape Designer Chris H. Olsen attended Oxford University in England, studying landscape architecture, landscape principals, and philosophy and also graduated from the University of San Diego with a degree in business. Chris has over 25 years of landscape architecture and interior design experience. In partnership with his father, Chris obtained a landscape maintenance company called Doramus and established the Horticare Landscape Company. After only ten years, the company grew into five divisions: chemical, maintenance, landscape, nursery, and irrigation. In 2003, Chris opened his second home and garden store called Botanica Gardens on Rebsamen Park Road. In September of 2005, Chris chose to pursue other endeavors in his life and sold Horticare.  His new book called “Five Seasons with Chris Olsen” was released in December of 2011.

QQA

The Quapaw Quarter Association’s mission is to promote the preservation of Little Rock’s architectural heritage through advocacy, marketing and education. Incorporated in 1968, the QQA grew out of an effort to identify and protect significant historic structures in Little Rock during the urban renewal projects of the early 1960s. Throughout its existence, the QQA has been a driving force behind historic preservation in Greater Little Rock.