Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
TOUR'S HOUSES OFFER HISTORY LESSON OF THE CITY
In addition to the Maxwell F. Mayer House featured in the accompanying article, there are five other houses on the Quapaw Quarter Association’s 54th Spring Tour of Homes. QQA historians Callie Williams and Danielle Butler offer tidbits about the other houses.
JAMES H. PENICK HOUSE, 1926
The Penick House, which features characteristics of Federal style detailing, was designed in 1926 for James H. Penick by the Little Rock architectural firm of Sanders and Ginocchio — one of the parent firms of today’s Cromwell Architects Engineers Inc., the oldest architectural firm in Arkansas. Penick moved to Little Rock with his family during the early 1900s. He married Mary Worthen, daughter of W.B. Worthen, the founder of Worthen Bank, in 1918 and eventually served as president of Worthen Bank. During the 1950s and 1960s, Penick was also a member of the Downtown Negotiating Committee and worked to ensure the continued integration of Little Rocks businesses and schools. He lived in the house until 1960.
EDWARD H. COLGAN HOUSE, 1913-1914
The Craftsman Style, foursquare residence known as the Colgan House was built from 1913 to 1914 as an early example of speculation building in what was then the southern area of Little Rock. The house’s construction was started by E.D. Bracy and the Holman Real Estate Co. and was advertised in the local newspapers as a nine-room, brick-veneer residence ready to buy on easy terms. Edward H. Colgan, secretary and treasurer of the Little Rock Boiler & Ironworks, bought the house during its construction. The Colgan family continued to occupy this house until the deaths of Colgan and his wife during the early 1930s. The house was then occupied by various families, left empty after 1995 and restored by previous owners in 2011.
DR. ALBERT G. MCGILL HOUSE, CIRCA 1922
The McGill House — a good example of the Craftsman style — was built in 1922 for local businessman Nat M. Harrison and his wife, Georgia, after they moved to Little Rock in 1921. In 1922, a garage and servants’ quarters were added to the property. In 1926 Dr. Albert McGill, a noted physician in the Little Rock area, moved in with his family. In 1936, having become widowed and subsequently remarrying, McGill moved out. From the 1940s forward, the house saw periods of multiple occupancy, and even had a beauty parlor on the bottom floor. In 2006, Sheila Miles bought the house and rehabilitated it back to a single-family dwelling.
FREDRICK A. GARRETT HOUSE, 1910
The Garrett House was completed and occupied by at least 1910 and features Craftsman-style influences. Before the completion of this house the Garrett family lived just a block to the east at the corner of 14th and Summit streets. Fredrick A. Garrett worked as the local Deputy Chancery Clerk in Little Rock and moved into the house with his wife, Ida Florence Garrett, and his five children. Fredrick Garrett continued to live in the home through the early 1930s. During the mid- to late 20th century, the property was converted into several apartments. It has now been restored to a single-family residence.
DR. MARTIN A. SHARP HOUSE, CIRCA 1899
The Sharp House was the first house built on its block and was likely started soon after Martin Sharp bought the property in 1899. The house is a rare example of a Queen Anne style house in the neighborhood. Sharp moved to Little Rock in 1872 from Independence County and became a prominent local business leader. During the early 1900s, he became the road supervisor and street commissioner for the City of Little Rock, posts he would hold for many years. Sharp was also noted in local newspapers of the time for his interest and work on road improvements throughout the city, including undertaking major paving and sidewalk projects in the current Central High area as well as throughout the city.