UAFS receives grant to complete home’s renovation

FORT SMITH — The University of Arkansas-Fort Smith has received a $250,000 grant to continue renovation of a historic house in Van Buren, according to a news release from the university.

The grant came from the Arkansas Natural Culture Resource Council to renovate the Wilhauf House at 109 North 3rd St. It’s reputed to be the second-oldest house in Van Buren after the Drennen-Scott House he university purchased in 2005 and restored.

The council earlier gave the university a $367,000 grant used to start the renovation. The latest grant will be used for structural work on the Wilhauf House, which the university bought last year.

Drennen- Scott Historic Site Director Tom Wing said work needed to be done in the oldest part of the Wilhauf House to maintain structural integrity while preserving as much of the original material as possible.

“Turning a private residence into a public building is tricky and these funds are much appreciated as we work towards the house’s restoration,” Wing said.

Once renovation is completed, the house will provide additional space for student-created exhibits and student-led programming in addition to housing the university’s Arkansas Archeological Survey Research Station currently on campus.

The house originally was owned by Leonard Wilhauf, a German immigrant who owned a bakery on Van Buren’s Main Street. The house is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.