Tag Archives: John Gould Fletcher (politician)

Terry Library Reopens Today; Open House set for Thursday, January 9

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TerryLibTerry Library has a new look for 2014. The Central Arkansas Library System’s (CALS) Adolphine Fletcher Terry Library, 2015 Napa Valley, will reopen on Monday, January 6, after a makeover. New carpet and expanded lighting has been installed, the meeting room was updated, and a significant remodel created a larger audio-visual section and a new young adult area.

An Open House will be held on Thursday, January 9 from 3-6 p.m. Patrons visiting the library beginning on Monday, January 6, can register for a gift certificate to River Market Books & Gifts and a gift card to Wal-Mart, which will be given away at the Open House.

Rearrangement of existing shelves and additional furniture resulted in more comfortable reading areas and tables for working and studying, as well as a lighter and more spacious feeling to the existing building. The new children’s area features colorful new paint, carpet, and tile as well as furniture. A new Young Adult (YA) space provides for the increased number of books and DVDs geared to YA readers. An expanded audio visual area allows for more comfortable browsing of DVDs and books on CD.

Adam Clemons, Terry Library branch manager, said, “We have missed seeing our patrons, and the staff is looking forward to seeing their reactions to the wonderful new space. They loved the building as it was, but they will enjoy their library visits even more with more light and comfortable reading areas.”

In early 2013, CALS completed a satisfaction survey to determine the way library services were accessed and used by library patrons, and why non-users did not take advantage of library services. Modern libraries are community centers that provide a broad range of services beyond lending books. Input from the survey was used to design the remodel of the Terry Library. Items that are used most heavily are more prominently featured and sightlines within the main reading area have been opened up, allowing better access to the services used by patrons.

Funds from a 2012 capital improvement bond refinance were used to cover the $325,000 cost of the remodel and update.

The Terry Library was opened in 1990 to serve the west Little Rock community and was expanded to 19,030 square feet in 2001. The library was named for Adolphine Fletcher Terry, a Little Rock native, who was a library advocate and served as a trustee of the Little Rock Public Library for more than 40 years. She was a proponent of advancing Arkansas’s school system, forming the first school improvement association in the state. She was the daughter of Little Rock Mayor John Gould Fletcher, the wife of Congressman David D. Terry and also the sister of Pulitzer Prize-winning poet John Gould Fletcher.

Little Rock Look Back: John Gould Fletcher, 32nd Mayor of Little Rock

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IMG_4006Future Little Rock Mayor John Gould Fletcher was born on this date in 1831. The son of Henry Lewis and Mary Lindsey Fletcher, he later served as a Captain in the Capital Guards during the Civil War. One of his fellow soldiers was Peter Hotze.

Following the war, he and Hotze began a general merchandise store in Little Rock. They were so successful that they eventually dropped the retail trade and dealt only in cotton. Peter Hotze had his office in New York while Fletcher supervised company operations in Little Rock. In 1878 Fletcher married Miss Adolphine Krause, sister-in-law of Hotze.

John Gould Fletcher was elected Mayor of Little Rock from 1875 to 1881. He was the first Mayor under Arkansas’ new constitution which returned all executive powers to the office of the Mayor (they had been split under a reconstruction constitution). Following his service as Mayor, he served one term as Pulaski County Sheriff. Mayor Fletcher also later served as president of the German National Bank in Little Rock.

Mayor and Mrs. Fletcher had five children, three of whom lived into adulthood. Their son was future Pulitzer Prize winning poet John Gould Fletcher (neither father nor son used the Sr. or Jr. designation). Their two daughters who lived to adulthood were Adolphine Fletcher Terry (whose husband David served in Congress) and Mary Fletcher Drennan.

In 1889, Mayor Fletcher purchased the Pike House in downtown Little Rock. The structure later became known as the Pike-Fletcher-Terry House. It was from this house that Adolphine Fletcher Terry organized the Women’s Emergency Committee which worked to reopen the Little Rock public schools during the 1958-1959 school year.

In the 1960s, sisters Adolphine Fletcher Terry and Mary Fletcher Drennan deeded the house to the City of Little Rock for use by the Arkansas Arts Center. For several decades it served as home to the Arts Center’s contemporary craft collection. It now is used for special events and exhibitions.

Mayor Fletcher died in 1906 and is buried in Mt. Holly Cemetery along with various members of his family. His grandson William Terry (son of Adolphine Fletcher Terry) and members of his family still reside in Little Rock.

Little Rock Look Back: Mayor Henry Lewis Fletcher

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Mayor H L FletcherOn September 15, 1833, future Little Rock Mayor Henry Lewis Fletcher was born in Saline County.  His parents were Henry Lewis and Mary Lindsey Fletcher.  One of his siblings was future Little Rock Mayor John Gould Fletcher.  The Fletcher brothers are the only set of siblings to serve as Mayors of Little Rock.

Though the life of John Gould Fletcher is fairly well documented, not much information is out there on his brother Henry Lewis (and some of what is out there is incorrect).  He married Susan Bricelin August 30, 1855, in Pulaski County.  During the Civil War, he served as a sergeant in the cavalry for the Confederate Army in Captain Ed Nowland’s Company.

As a civic leader, Fletcher oversaw Arkansas’ contribution to the Philadelphia Centennial Exposition in 1876. The building received as a prize a cast-iron fountain still standing in front of the Old State House Museum.

Fletcher served as Mayor of Little Rock from 1891 to 1893.  When Fletcher became Mayor he appointed a new Police Chief (as most Mayors did) and the entire police force was dismissed.  A new police force was hired by E. H. Sanders, who served as chief for 18 months.  Upon his resignation, Frank MacMahon (who had been dismissed from the force when Fletcher came to office), was appointed Chief by Mayor Fletcher.  He would serve from 1892 until 1905.

Mayor Fletcher died on June 30, 1896 and is buried at Oakland Cemetery next to his wife (who died in 1911).

May 2 Architeaser

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IMG_5151In keeping with this week’s focus on Arkansas Arts Center entrances, today’s Architeaser focuses on the front portico of the Pike-Fletcher-Terry House. The iconic ionic columns are constructed of brick. They date from the early days of this often-modified house.

The original construction of this edifice started in 1840 by Albert Pike.  After uses as a residence and a women’s college, former Mayor John G. Fletcher took ownership of the property in 1889.  From 1889 to 1977 it was in the Fletcher family, first Mayor Fletcher and then his three children – Pulitzer Prize winning poet John Gould Fletcher, Mary Fletcher Drennan and Adolphine Fletcher Terry.

Mrs. Terry and her husband Congressman David D. Terry raised their five children in the house.  The house was also a base for Mrs. Terry’s community interests.  Most notably, the Women’s Emergency Committee was founded in the house.  This group of Little Rock area women focused on reopening the Little Rock public schools after they had been shut in response to the desegregation of Little Rock Central High.  The list of members of this group was kept secret for 40 years.  In 1997, the list was made public and the names were etched in the glass of the conservatory on the east facade of the building.

In 1963, the two remaining heirs of Mayor Fletcher – Mrs. Terry and Mrs. Drennan – announced that they were deeding the house to the City of Little Rock for use by the new Arkansas Arts Center. This transfer would go into effect upon the death of both sisters.  Following Mrs. Terry’s death, Mrs. Drennan (who lived out of state) went ahead and transferred the property in 1977.

From 1985 to 2003, the building was known as the Arkansas Arts Center Decorative Art Museum and housed the AAC’s decorative art and contemporary craft collection.  Because of expansion of the main campus in MacArthur Park, that collection was moved to the main building.  Since 2004, the building has been home to a variety of community art exhibits in conjunction with the Arts Center.

Since 1977, the building has long been a favorite site for special events and weddings. That tradition continues today. Tomorrow night, Our House will host its annual Dinner on the Grounds at the Arkansas Arts Center’s Pike-Fletcher-Terry House.

 

LR Look Back: Mayor John Gould Fletcher

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IMG_4006Future Little Rock Mayor John Gould Fletcher was born on this date in 1831. The son of Henry Lewis and Mary Lindsey Fletcher, he later served as a Captain in the Capital Guards during the Civil War. One of his fellow soldiers was Peter Hotze.

Following the war, he and Hotze began a general merchandise store in Little Rock. They were so successful that they eventually dropped the retail trade and dealt only in cotton. Peter Hotze had his office in New York while Fletcher supervised company operations in Little Rock. In 1878 Fletcher married Miss Adolphine Krause, sister-in-law of Hotze.

John Gould Fletcher was elected Mayor of Little Rock from 1875 to 1881. He was the first Mayor under Arkansas’ new constitution which returned all executive powers to the office of the Mayor (they had been split under a reconstruction constitution). Following his service as Mayor, he served one term as Pulaski County Sheriff. Mayor Fletcher also later served as president of the German National Bank in Little Rock.

Mayor and Mrs. Fletcher had five children, three of whom lived into adulthood. Their son was future Pulitzer Prize winning poet John Gould Fletcher (neither father nor son used the Sr. or Jr. designation). Their two daughters who lived to adulthood were Adolphine Fletcher Terry and Mary Fletcher Drennan.

In 1889, Mayor Fletcher purchased the Pike House in downtown Little Rock. The structure later became known as the Pike-Fletcher-Terry House. It was from this house that Adolphine Fletcher Terry organized the Women’s Emergency Committee which worked to reopen the Little Rock public schools durin the 1958-1959 school year.

In the 1960s, sisters Adolphine Fletcher Terry and Mary Fletcher Drennan deeded the house to the City of Little Rock for use by the Arkansas Arts Center. For several decades it served as home to the Arts Center’s contemporary craft collection. It now is used for special events and exhibitions.

Mayor Fletcher died in 1906 and is buried in Mt. Holly Cemetery along with various members of his family. His grandson William Terry (son of Adolphine Fletcher Terry) and three generations of his family still reside in Little Rock.