Tag Archives: William Woodruff

Cleanup day at William E. Woodruff House announced for Saturday, Aug 8

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The historic Woodruff house.

The historic Woodruff house.

The QQA acquired the William E. Woodruff Housein December 2014 with the help of the City of Little Rock and the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program.   The QQA has donated interior and façade easements to protect the house in perpetuity, and we continue to work with the City and AHPP to stabilize the house and make repairs before selling it for development.

On Saturday, August 8 from 8am to 12 noon, join other volunteers at the Woodruff House (1017 East 8th Street) for a cleanup day.

The main task is basic landscape cleanup surrounding the house.  Before the house can be treated for termite damage and repaired, weeds and shrubs surrounding the foundation must be removed.  There is also trash on the property that needs to be picked up.

Volunteers must sign a waiver before working, they will be available on site.  Volunteers should wear old clothes, sturdy closed-toe shoes, and bring work gloves. If you would like to be involved but can’t join us on the 8th, you can help by donating cold drinks, snacks, or lunch to our volunteers. Contact the QQA office at qqa@quapaw.com or 501-371-0075 to make arrangements. If you have supplies you would be willing to let us borrow, drop them by QQA office, clearly labeled with your name and phone number, or just bring them with you when you volunteer.

If you’re interested in sponsoring this or future work days at the Woodruff House, please contact the QQA office at qqa@quapaw.com or 501-371-0075. 

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.

Little Rock Look Back: Founding Fathers of Little Rock

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Fathers DayThere are several men who can be considered founding fathers of Little Rock: William Lewis, the first settler, who stayed for a few months in 1814; Roswell Beebe, who acquired most of the land and laid out streets as well as providing land for public buildings and a cemetery; Amos Wheeler, who was the first postmaster and later a land agent; Jesse Brown, who founded the first school and later served as mayor; and William Woodruff, the founder of the Arkansas Gazette.

There are three other men who were not only founding fathers, but also actual fathers to other leaders. They are: Dr. Matthew Cunningham, Major Nicholas Peay and Chester Ashley.

Dr. Cunningham was one of the first residents of Little Rock. He arrived in 1821 and was shortly joined by his family.  Dr. Cunningham would be Little Rock’s first physician. His son Chester was the first child born in Little Rock.  Dr. Cunningham later served as Little Rock’s first mayor from January 1832 to January 1833.  His stepson, Charles P. Bertrand, later served as Mayor of Little Rock from January 1855 to January 1857.  This is the closest Little Rock has ever had to a father and son both serving as Mayor.

Major Nicholas Peay arrived in Little Rock in 1825.  He quickly became engaged in civic affairs and served as a trustee of Little Rock (a precursor to a city council).  In the 1830s, Major Peay served on the Little Rock City Council. In that capacity, he also served as Acting Mayor of Little Rock.  His son, Gordon Neill Peay, would serve as Mayor of Little Rock from 1859 to 1861.  A grandson son, Ashley Peay, was a Little Rock alderman in the 1920s. A great-great-grandson, Joseph B. Hurst, served on the Little Rock City Board from 1967 to 1970.

Chester Ashley never served on the Little Rock council or as mayor.  He was, however, an early leader of Little Rock.  He actually arrived in 1820 and brought his new wife here in late 1821 (a few months after Mrs. Cunningham arrived).  One of Little Rock’s first attorneys, he was instrumental in the settlement of a competing land ownership disputes. In 1844, he was appointed to be one of Arkansas’ U.S. senators. He served in the Senate until his 1848 death.  His son William E. Ashley, served as Little Rock’s mayor from January 1857 to January 1859 and again from January 1861 until September 1863.

With Bertrand, Ashley, Peay and Ashley in the office of Mayor, from January 1855 until September 1863, Little Rock was governed by second generation leaders.

Descendants of the Cunningham and Peay families still reside in Little Rock today.

Flag Day with QQA at Curran Hall tonight

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american-flag-wavy.jpgTonight at 5pm, 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.  

This is part of the Quapaw Quarter Association’s Summer Suppers program.

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, Jason Campbell

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.

42nd Annual Territorial Fair at Historic Arkansas Museum today from 10 to 4

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hamlogoHistoric Arkansas Museum will host the 42nd Annual Territorial Fair on Saturday, May 9, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. This popular annual event is a fun and free opportunity for adults and children of all ages to experience what life was like during Arkansas’s Territorial era. Living history performances, blacksmith demonstrations, historical dances and pioneer games will be happening on the museum’s historic grounds, a preserved and meticulously recreated section of an early downtown Little Rock neighborhood.

Living historians will portray residents of the museum’s historic block. Visitors can witness a raucous card game in the Hinderliter Grog Shop, Little Rock’s oldest surviving structure (c. 1827), or visit a territorial lawyer for a land deed.  In the Print Shop, “Arkansas Gazette” founder William Woodruff will be looking for apprentices and young visitors are encouraged to apply!

Blacksmith Terr Fair for webHistoric Arkansas Museum’s master bladesmith, Lin Rhea, will provide demonstrations in the Black Smith Shop and visitors can see how cloth was dyed in the Arkansas Territory. Children will have the opportunity to make Mother’s Day cards just in time for Mother’s Day.

The “Early Arkansaw Re-enactors” will interact with guests on the grounds with historically accurate clothing, tools and accessories. The Arkansas Country Dance Society will lead guests in historical dances to tunes that were popular during the territorial era. The Southern Center for Agroecology will be selling a variety of plants and heirloom seeds for Mother’s Day and spring planting. Lunch will be available for purchase from Gammy & Gamp’s “Home Style” Food Truck.

The museum’s seven galleries of Arkansas-made art and artifacts and the Sturgis Children’s Gallery will be open during the Territorial Fair. There is no charge for parking or admission. The Museum Store will be open for Mother’s Day shopping with a variety of unique Arkansas-made gifts and books. From 12 to 2 p.m. in the Museum Store, guests will have the opportunity to meet author Layne Livingston Anderson and buy a signed copy of “Haunted Legends of Arkansas” a great book for campfire storytelling.

Currently on exhibit:

  • Suyao Tian: Entangled Beauty
  • Suggin Territory: The Marvelous World of Folklorist Josephine Graham
  • Arkansas Made Gallery
  • We Walk in Two Worlds: The Caddo, Osage and Quapaw in Arkansas (permanent)
  • The Knife Gallery (permanent)

Historic Arkansas Museum is open 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 1 – 5 p.m. on Sunday. Admission to the galleries and parking are free; admission to the historic grounds is $2.50 for adults, $1 for children under 18, $1.50 for senior citizens. The Historic Arkansas Museum Store is open 10 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 1 – 4 p.m. on Sunday.

Historic Arkansas Museum is an agency of the Department of Arkansas Heritage, which was created in 1975 to preserve and enhance the heritage of the state of Arkansas. Other agencies of the department are Delta Cultural Center in Helena, Arkansas Arts Council, Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission, Arkansas Historic Preservation Program, Mosaic Templars Cultural Center and Old State House Museum.

14ish Cultural Highlights of 2014

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2014 was a busy year.  Here are 14 cultural highlights. In no particular order. Except maybe once in while.

The Rep's Bob Hupp and Catherine Hughes flank NEA Chair Jane Chu

The Rep’s Bob Hupp and Catherine Hughes flank NEA Chair Jane Chu

Dr. Jane Chu visits Arkansas. Former Arkadelphia resident Dr. Jane Chu was appointed as the Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts. In October, she paid a visit to Little Rock and northwest Arkansas. While in the Rock, she participated in a discussion at the Arkansas Repertory Theatre and toured the new Creative Corridor spaces under construction for the Rep, Ballet Arkansas and Arkansas Symphony Orchestra. Dr. Chu was also the guest of honor at a reception hosted by the Arkansas Arts Council. While here, she had the chance to renew old friendships as well as make new ones.

Carroll Cloar exhibit at Arkansas Arts Center. The Arkansas Arts Center featured the works of Arkansas native Carroll Cloar. Much as the Biblical prophet who is ignored in his homeland, Cloar has long been better recognized outside of his native state.  The Cloar exhibit (which included a painting of future Little Rock mayor J. V. Satterfield playing football, a personal favorite of the LRCV) and the outreach by the AAC staff made great strides towards raising Arkansas’ consciousness about the works by the American treasure.

DSCF0011Robinson Center Music Hall closes for renovation. Opening in February 1940 as the Joseph Taylor Robinson Memorial Auditorium, the City’s prime venue for performances and civic gatherings needed an external and internal facelift at 74. The building closed in July 2014 for a two year renovation which will see the reconfiguration of the performance and audience space in the music hall, the creation of a new special events venue overlooking the Arkansas River, and the restoration of this historic main lobby and front façade to 1940 appearance. During this closure tenants such as Ballet Arkansas, the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra and Celebrity Attractions have temporarily relocated to other venues including the Pulaski Academy Connor Performing Arts Center and the Maumelle Performing Arts Center.

Ron Robinson Theater opens. Shortly before one Robinson closed, another opened.  The Central Arkansas Library System’s new Ron Robinson Theater opened. This multi-purpose venue has quickly become home to lectures (by the library, the Clinton School and others), films (in partnership with Arkansas Times, Little Rock Film Festival and others) and music (including the Arkansas Sounds series).  Named for famed Little Rock adman Ron Robinson, the public spaces pay tribute to his love of movies and music about Arkansas.

Music Music Music

  • As noted above, Arkansas Sounds has switched from a concentrated music festival to instead offering a variety of music styles and genres throughout the year at the new Ron Robinson Theatre. The music has ranged from Big Band to Klezmer to Country to Rock to Rap.  This is only one of the new music offerings in Little Rock.
  • South on Main completed its first full year of the weekly Local Live free music series sponsored by the Oxford American and Landers Fiat. South on Main also started a Jazz on Main series as well as increased their bookings of other musicians ranging from Rodney Block to Rodney Crowell.
  • Meanwhile, The Undercroft completed its first full year of (mainly) acoustic music offerings at the corner of Capitol and Scott Streets.

New Works of Art.

  • New sculptures were added to the Vogel-Schwartz Sculpture Garden and Riverfront Park as well as the Bernice Gardens.
  • In what may be the first for any symphony in the US, the musicians of the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra commissioned a new piece in honor of the ASO board of directors. The work, composed by Christopher Theofanidis, was entitled The Wind and Petit Jean.  It was well-received by audience and musicians alike.
  • Ballet Arkansas sponsored a choreography competition “Visions” which featured five choreographers competing to be selected for a full-scale commission.  The winner was Hilary Wolfley whose work will be seen at the spring Ballet Arkansas presentation.
  • Finally, in conjunction with the 175th anniversary of Christ Episcopal Church (the oldest church in Little Rock to be at its original location), a new choral piece was commissioned. Daniel E. Gawthrop’s “Haste the Day” premiered on December 7.

mod delaneyThe Tonight Show with Kevin Delaney. Because Jimmy Fallon is really just a big kid at heart, he wanted to include periodic “cool” science experiments when he took over the “Tonight Show.”  After being contacted by a producer of Fallon’s show and an audition process, the Museum of Discovery’s Kevin Delaney was booked to appear.  He debuted on May 5 performing experiment with Fallon and returned on November 7. When not a guest of NBC, Delaney performs the same types of “Awesome Science” experiments for tens of thousands of children and adults at the Museum of Discovery.

New Festival of Arts. Acansa, a new multi-discplinary, multi-venue arts festival, debuted this year in September.  Over a five day period, ACANSA Arts Festival brought together audiences and cultural resources to present unique and exciting visual and performing works which celebrate the unique influence of the south and champion excellence and innovation in artistry.  There was theatre, dance, instrumental music, choral music, puppetry and visual art.

14 14 4Gridiron Returns. The talk of the return of the Star Wars movie franchise was not the only welcome news of returns. Gridiron, the biennial attorney fundraiser which spoofs politics, current events, sports and everything that is “sacred” to the general populace, returned after a hiatus.  Once again this effort was under the watchful eye of producer Judge Mary McGowan, the creative leadership of Jana Beard, and the writing prowess of the anonymous committee.  As has been the case in the past, many of the targets of the show good-naturedly showed up and laughed along in the audience.

Sculptures Returned.  Gridiron was not the only welcome return. Earlier this year several sculptures were stolen from the Vogel-Schwartz Sculpture Garden in Riverfront Park. After a media blitz about the theft, some people strolling through the park stumbled across a bag containing the missing sculptures. The pieces are in the process of being restored and will be reinstalled soon.

14 14 3Clinton Center turned 10.  Proving that you can come home again, quite a few of the people who were present for the opening of the Clinton Presidential Center in 2004 showed up again in 2014 to take part in celebratory festivities.  Among events included several lectures; a day of service benefiting the Arkansas Food Bank; a barbecue picnic; and a concert featuring Nick Jonas, Kool & the Gang and others which was hosted by Kevin Spacey.  The Clinton School also celebrated 10 years of lectures and innovative programs.

Preservation Concentration – The Quapaw Quarter Association marked the 50th Spring Tour this year. The event was co-chaired by First Lady Ginger Beebe and lifestyle expert P. Allen Smith.  Later in the year, the QQA hosted its first Mid-Century architecture tour highlighting some of Little Rock’s buildings from this style. They ended the year with the news that they had purchased the William E. Woodruff House in east Little Rock. One of Little Rock’s oldest houses, it was built by the founder of the Arkansas Gazette.  They will shore up the building to try to ensure no further decay as the building is readied for its next phase.

Huzzahs

  • 14 14 2Reese Rowland, architect and principal at Polk Stanley Wilcox Architects of Little Rock, was named a fellow of the American Institute of Architects, awarded to fewer than 4 percent of AIA members.
  • Little Rock native Will Trice earned his third Tony Award in three years, this time for producing All The Way, the Best Play of 2014. His previous Tonys were for Porgy and Bess (Musical Revival-2012) and Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (Play Revival-2013).
  • Arkansas native and frequent Little Rock performer Al Green was one of the 2014 Kennedy Center Honorees.
  • Little Rock’s Creative Corridor continued to rack up honors. The UA’s Community Design Center, which includes faculty and staff members from the school, won a 2014 Honor Award from the American Institute of Architects for its work on the Creative Corridor, on which it collaborated with Marlon Blackwell Architect of Fayetteville. The project also received the American Society of Landscape Architects Honor Award for Analysis and Planning.

Transitions.

  • 14 14Sharon Priest, a longtime cultural advocate as a City Beautiful Commission member, Little Rock City Director, Little Rock Mayor and Arkansas Secretary of State announced her retirement after 12 years as Executive Director of the Downtown Little Rock Partnership.  Over the past dozen years, she has continued her cultural advocacy.
  • One of Priest’s successors as a member of the Little Rock City Board, Stacy Hurst, was named by Gov.-Elect Asa Hutchinson to be his choice to lead the Department of Arkansas Heritage. She will oversee seven agencies including three Little Rock museums: Mosaic Templars Cultural Center, Old State House Museum and Historic Arkansas Museum.
  • Following the closure of Starving Artists Cafe, the weekly Tales from the South program (which originated from there) had to scramble to find a place.  After several weeks of a completely nomadic existence, it is now settling into a rotating list of locations. The Arkansas Arts Center’s Best Impressions restaurant has been designated a “permanent” site for the first Tuesday of each month.
  • The free outdoor Movies in the Park celebrated its 10th season this year. Founders Blake Rutherford, Heather Allmendinger and Ben Beaumont were honored at the start of the season.  A few weeks into the season, the series screened the film Frozen and set a new record for attendance by logging over 7,000 attendees.
  • After the closure of the Riverdale cinema in 2013, the space sat vacant.  In June 2014, Matt Smith moved the Market Street Cinema operations into the Riverdale space. He upgraded the equipment at Riverdale (which was also a vast improvement over the equipment at Market Street).  The new Riverdale 10 shows a mix of first-run blockbusters as well as the independent films for which Market Street had been beloved.
  • The Studio Theatre was launched adjacent to the new Lobby Bar in downtown Little Rock.  In addition to producing its own performances, it is also the new home of the Community Theatre of Little Rock and Precipice Theatre.
  • Weekend Theatre founder Ralph Hyman retired as the Artistic Director of that group. He will continue to direct productions from time to time.