Tag Archives: Villa Marre

Sandwiching in History: Villa Marre

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villamarreToday at 12 noon, the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program’s monthly “Sandwiching in History” program will visit the Villa Marre.

The Villa Marre is located at 1321 Scott Street. The Second Empire-style Villa Marre was built in 1881 by Italian immigrant and Little Rock saloonkeeper Angelo Marre, who also served on the Little Rock City Council.

The distinctive home features a mansard roof covered in patterned slate, a central tower topped by wrought-iron cresting, and hood molding above the doors and windows. Marre died in 1889, and his widow, Jennie, remained in the house until about 1900. Arkansas Governor Jeff Davis rented the house for a few years, and in 1905, the home was purchased by E. B. Kinsworthy, former state senator and attorney general of Arkansas.

It is probably most famous today for being the outdoor exterior of Sugarbakers design firm in the CBS sitcom “Designing Women.”  For several years, it was the home of the Quapaw Quarter Association. It later returned to a private residence.  Currently it is a rentable venue for weddings and other events.

The “Sandwiching In History” program is a series of tours that seeks to familiarize people who live and work in central Arkansas with the historic structures and sites around us. The tours take place on Fridays at noon, last less than an hour, and participants are encouraged to bring their lunches so that they can eat while listening to a brief lecture about the property and its history before proceeding on a short tour. A representative from the property is encouraged to attend also and address the group.

The tours are organized by the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program, an agency of the Department of Arkansas Heritage. All tours are free and open to the public.

 

QQA Spring Tour This Weekend

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QQAThe QQA’s 49th Spring Tour of Homes takes place this Mother’s Day weekend in the Park Hill neighborhood.

This year’s tour will include five homes on Skyline Drive.

Sunday, May 12
1:00-5:00 p.m. Self guided home tours, trolley rides, food vendors, kid friendly activities
$20 per person in advance
$25 per person day of tour ($20 for QQA members)

The Spring Tour is the QQA’s oldest function. Since 1963, the tour has been staged for the purpose of fostering appreciation of historic buildings and neighborhoods and the need for their preservation.

Although the basic purpose of the tour has remained much the same since 1963, the manner in which the tour is conducted has changed dramatically. From a casual afternoon open house, the tour has grown into a weekend-long extravaganza which includes both evening and afternoon tours and a variety of activities.

The Spring Tour has proven to be one of the QQA’s most effective methods of changing negative perceptions about the Quapaw Quarter and for recruiting new residents to the area. Members of each year’s Spring Tour Core Committee work to ensure that the tour is used to the best possible advantage for improving the image of the Quapaw Quarter and historic preservation in the Little Rock region.

qqa home tour 20132013 Spring Tour Sponsors

QQA events tonight and Monday

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This is a busy weekend for the Quapaw Quarter Association.
Tonight the QQA returns to their former headquarters, the Villa Marre, for a special event.  The Quapaw Quarter Association’s 48th Spring Tour of Homes is just around the corner, May 12-13. We are so excited about this year’s tour that we’re having a preview party at the recently reopened Villa Marre.  Join us for cocktails and hors d’oevres, a fun fashion show from Vintage Socialite, and learn more about the Spring Tour.
The newly-reopened Villa Marre is sponsoring the event.  This facility has been refurbished and is now available for special events.
Friday, April 13
6:00-9:00 p.m.
Villa Marre, 1321 Scott Street
$30 per person in advance, $35 at the door.
Cash, checks and credit cards accepted.
Purchase tickets at www.quapaw.com; at Historic Curran Hall, 615 East Capitol Avenue; or by calling 501.371.0075.  

On Monday, April 16, as part of the monthly Preservation Conversations, the QQA will be screening the film The Greenest Building, a film by Wagging Tale Productions, Inc.

5:00-5:30 wine and beer

5:30-6:30 View the film

6:30 Keep the conversation going at Lulav Eatery, 220 West 6th Street.  Lulav will offer a 25% discount to those who attend Preservation Conversations.
Normally the Preservation Conversations take place at the QQA headquarters at Curran Hall.  This month only, it will be at the Jeffrey Hawkins Conference Room in the Pulaski County Regional Center, 501 West Markham Street (across the street from Little Rock City Hall).

Preservation Conversations are free and open to the public.

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.

Visit www.Quapaw.com for more information.