If you own a building downtown, the words Historic District Commission might sound a little intimidating. Does it mean someone might have something to say about the color you paint your building? Could changes to a storefront require review? Does “historic” mean everything has to stay exactly as it is? The answers aren’t necessarily simple,…
In 1904, this corner was empty. A Sanborn fire insurance map of downtown Harrison shows a large vacant lot at the northwest corner of Main and Rush with a simple notation: “U.S. Gov’t & Post Office Building to be erected.” By 1905, it was there. The three-story Federal Building at 201 N. Main Street was…
When we talk about preserving historic downtown buildings, it can be easy to imagine preservation as keeping everything exactly the way it was. But downtowns have never worked that way. They are places of commerce, entertainment, work and community. Businesses come and go. Needs change. Buildings are remodeled and reimagined. Sometimes a building serves essentially…
When Dr. Joe Bennett talks about downtown Harrison, he does not have to imagine what the square was like in the 1930s. He was there. His memories reach back to a downtown filled with stores, restaurants, buses, pharmacies and people coming into Harrison from throughout North Central Arkansas. But when he talks about childhood, two…
If you’ve driven past Rush Plaza at the corner of Rush Avenue and Walnut Street, you might think you know the building. Step inside, and it’s a different story. There’s the soaring two-story interior. The unmistakably mid-century ceiling. Brass railings. An enormous old bank vault. And wrapped around that vault is a mural depicting one…
I’d walked past the entrance at 117 N. Main Street numerous times without ever noticing the plaque beside the door. Then one day, I did. The cast-metal plaque is mounted beside the recessed entrance, partially hidden beneath a newer door frame. Only a few letters remain visible. They appeared to read J.J.J., perhaps followed by…
Today, most people pass the Bennett Building without a second thought. They see Dollar General, another familiar stop on the square, another modern storefront in a small-town downtown. But the walls behind that sign have been something very different for nearly a century. Dr. Joe Bennett remembers when the corner itself looked nothing like it…
The Lyric Theater recently received its Main Street Harrison mini-grant check, continuing a long tradition of people investing in one of downtown Harrison’s most important landmarks. For nearly a century, the Lyric has adapted to changing times while giving Harrison a place to gather. It began as a theater built for an exciting new kind…
When people think about Main Street programs, they often picture events, promotions, or community gatherings that bring people downtown. Those things absolutely matter, but they’re only part of the story. Another important part of Main Street’s work is helping encourage investment in the downtown district itself. Building Improvement Programs Create Momentum One way that happens…