VAN BUREN — Downtowns are struggling to stay relevant across Arkansas and the rest of the nation. One focus of Van Buren's efforts is to promote the history embedded in vintage architecture along a half-dozen blocks of its Main Street.
Van Buren Historic District stretches from the Old Frisco Depot, first running downhill before leveling off and extending to the Crawford County Courthouse. It may be tempting to yawn and mutter, "Good grief, yet another historic district" — since at least 98 such urban enclaves have been graced with this designation in the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program.
But Van Buren's 20-acre district, mapped and described in a brochure available at the visitors center in the depot, is about as historic as a surviving downtown gets in Arkansas, given that the great majority of its buildings listed as landmarks were erected between 1880 and 1900.
They went up "when Van Buren prospered with the coming of the railroads," noted the historic district's application. "The architectural styles are varied and unusual, but predominantly Victorian."
The application cited several buildings as especially notable and gave these reasons:
• The Old Frisco Depot, 813 Main St., built in 1901: "The brick structure is topped with a high hipped roof of clay tile. Hip-roofed dormers project from each elevation. Twin chimneys extend above the one-and-a-half-story building. The depot features wide supportive brackets, typical of many Arkansas railroad depots."
• Crawford County Bank Building, 633 Main St. (1889): "It features a corner entry and is interesting in the round arched window heads that feature alternating segments of cut and cast stone."
• Anheuser-Busch Brewing Co., 600 Main St. (1897): "This two-story rectangular building features a terra-cotta Anheuser-Busch crest in the front parapet."
• Crawford County Courthouse, Third and Main (1889): "A three-story clock tower with a bell-cast roof rises from the center of the two-story building. Paired brackets are featured along the paneled frieze. A classic portico supported by Doric capital columns marks the facade."
Even older is a rustic log building perched on the lawn of the courthouse in Public Square. It's Albert Pike Schoolhouse, built in the 1830s and moved here in 1974. The legendary lawyer, translator, poet, military figure and Masonic leader taught a subscription school in the log structure.
Van Buren was incorporated as a city in 1845, but developed earlier as a river port, with the first U.S. post office established in 1831. A brochure given out at the visitors center reprints an advertisement placed in the Arkansas Gazette on July 5, 1837:
"A public sale of lots in the above flourishing town will commence on Monday, the 16th day of October next, and will be continued from day to day until all are sold.
"The situation of the place is picturesque and pleasing to the eye. A portion of the townsite is high and with a commanding eminence. There is an abundant and never-failing supply of potable and pure water. The site is easily approachable."
Van Buren is the seat of mostly dry Crawford County. But thanks to the General Assembly's loosening three years ago of private-club regulations, a few relatively new restaurants can be found along Main Street.
Located in the former Citizens Bank & Trust Building at 624 N. Main St. is The Vault 1905 Sports Grill, opened two years ago. The restaurant boasts a bar and flooring made from reclaimed bowling-alley wood. Its menu features generously proportioned salads, sandwiches and pizzas.
In February and March, Saturday visitors to Van Buren can ride the Arkansas & Missouri Railroad Scenic Excursion Train. The three-hour trip north to Winslow and back, which will run more frequently starting in April, departs at 11 a.m. from the Old Frisco Depot. The locomotive is diesel, but a dash of traveler's imagination can conjure up Van Buren's halcyon era of puffing steam engines.
For visitor information on Van Buren's attractions, visit vanburen.org or call (800) 332-5889.
Weekend on 02/20/2020