History of the Park Hill fire station & water company

1. Sandwiching in History
Park Hill Fire Station & Water Co.
January 2, 2009
By: Rachel Silva
Introduction
Hello, my name is Rachel Silva, and I am Preservation Outreach Coordinator for
the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program. Welcome to the first Sandwiching in
History tour of 2009. Today we will tour the Park Hill Fire Station & Water Co.
Complex, which was listed on the National Register of Historic Places as a district
in 1993 (6 contributing resources & 3 NC). It was also included in the boundaries
of the Park Hill Historic District, which was NR-listed in 2000 (bounded by A St.,
JFK Blvd., West H St., East D Ave., Ridge Rd., and Plainview Cir.).
Park Hill
The Park Hill Addition, which now encompasses more than 1,600 acres, was the
brainchild of businessman Justin Matthews. Justin Matthews was born in 1876
near Monticello, Arkansas, and moved to Little Rock in 1901. He made a fortune
in the cotton seed oil industry around the turn of the century (he owned Rose City
Cotton Oil), which enabled him to invest heavily in real estate. He bought land on
a hill on the north side of the Arkansas River about 2 miles north of downtown
Little Rock and just beyond the northern boundary of North Little Rock.
Justin Matthews spearheaded the plan to create improvement districts in North
Little Rock to fund the paving of city streets, a sewer and drainage system
(1913-14), and the construction of the Broadway Bridge (1923) over the
Arkansas River. Matthews also had the Main Street viaduct over the railroad yard
between 8th
and 13th
Streets rebuilt to handle increased traffic. These public
improvements played an instrumental role in the growth of NLR by making it
easily accessible and more desirable, but they also helped Matthews develop his
own land north of the river. It was no accident that the Arkansas-Missouri
Highway (which is now JFK Blvd.) was one of the first paving projects
undertaken by the state’s first highway commission. Matthews was appointed to
the commission, and the highway just happened to be the main thoroughfare
through the Park Hill development.
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2. Park Hill was the first major suburban development in North Little Rock and
the second development in the Greater Little Rock area—Pulaski Heights was
the first (platted in 1892). Matthews platted the first sections of Park Hill in
1921. Because Matthews had worked to get the roads in North Little Rock paved
and new bridges constructed over the Arkansas River, Park Hill was easily
accessible by automobile. So even though Park Hill was the Greater Little Rock
area’s second major suburban development (after Pulaski Heights), it was the first
to rely solely on automobile transportation (Pulaski Heights developers relied
on a streetcar system to transport residents). Park Hill was advertised as the
“second Pulaski Heights,” but with more advantages like a closer proximity to
downtown Little Rock and North Little Rock, greater elevation (which provided
cooler temperatures and health benefits), better views, and level land. His
advertisements even mentioned the fact that the roads leading to Park Hill ran
north-south, so you wouldn’t have to face the sun driving to and from work like
you would if you lived in Pulaski Heights (located west of downtown).
Park Hill Fire Station & Water Co. Constructed
The Park Hill community existed on its own outside the NLR city limits and
never formed any type of local government (Park Hill was not annexed by the City
of NLR until 1946). Park Hill had its own water system on this location by 1923,
but there was no organized fire department. [The 3rd
building (to the west or rear
of the water co. office) was constructed in 1923 and served as the water company.
It was covered with a field stone veneer in 1938 to match the new buildings.] Park
Hill residents had no interest in being annexed by the City of NLR, but in 1936,
they formed a group for the purpose of establishing a fire department in an effort to
lower their fire insurance rates. The Park Hill Water Co. sponsored the project,
which would include the construction of a fire station, a water company office, and
two water reservoirs in 1938. The Park Hill Water Co. provided the building
materials and some labor, but the Works Progress Administration (WPA)
provided most of the labor (the WPA was one of the Roosevelt administration’s
public works organizations during the Great Depression).
The Little Rock architectural firm of Brueggeman, Swaim, and Allen were
contracted to design the complex. The firm was well known in Central Arkansas
by the late 1930s and designed the similarly-styled McCord House at 3201
Magnolia St. However, the firm was best known for their designs for Malco
theater buildings nationwide in the 1930s.
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3. Water Co. Building Restored (discuss while still inside)
The Park Hill Water Co. building used to house the NLR History Commission
before the commission moved to its current office on the second floor of the old
Argenta Fire Station/City Hall on Main St. The building was restored with CLG
grants (3 grants—1996, 1998 & 1999). Might mention what CLG is—a city that
establishes a historic district commission (obviously has to have a historic district
first) and passes a local preservation ordinance. Partnership between NPS, AHPP,
and local gov’ts to preserve resources on the local level. *See before/after photos
from Sandra & Cary. This building still has its original layout, windows, walls,
and interior paint colors. There is still a safe in the back room that was used to
keep water co. payments locked up until they were deposited at the bank. There
was a payment slot in the original front door, and the stenciled sign by the door for
payment drop off was repainted. The wrought iron railings on the front steps are
original to the building, but the exterior light is not. However, if you look over at
the fire station, you can see what the original lantern looked like. It is original to
the fire station. Both the water co. building and the fire station still have their
original tile roof.
Architecture (Outside building)
Mediterranean Style
The fire station and water company buildings were designed in the Mediterranean
style. The Mediterranean style started appearing in the U.S. in the late 19th
Century, but it reached its height of popularity in the 1920s-30s. This style was
inspired by architectural designs used in countries along the Mediterranean Sea—
namely Spain and Italy. Typical characteristics of the style include a symmetrical
primary facade, flat or low-pitched tile roofs, arches, tile-capped parapet walls,
decorative door surrounds & Classical detailing, wrought iron balconies or window
grilles, and gardens.
Water Co. Office Building
The Water Co. Office is symmetrical in layout, features a low-pitched tile roof,
recessed arched panels with a cast concrete lion’s head and spiraled Corinthian
columns, a cast concrete door surround with decorative medallions, and small
windows with decorative wrought iron grilles. The Master Gardeners also
maintain the grounds.
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4. **A gentleman who lived across the street from the water co. office when it was
being built remembered a Mexican man making the designs on the door surround
with a coffee can. It could have been Dionicio Rodriguez, but we have no way of
knowing for sure. [D.R. did the faux bois sculptures at the Old Mill, Crestview
Park, and Lakewood Park.]
**E.A. McCain was the Park Hill Water Co. Superintendent. He also served as
treasurer of Levy Baptist Church, and he would bring the church offering to the
water company to store it in the safe until he could deposit it in the bank on
Monday. Justin Matthews thought so much of him that he named McCain Blvd.
after him.
The field stone walkways, driveway (by the fire station), and walls were
constructed along with these buildings in 1938.
Two concrete water reservoirs were also built in 1938 and measure 100 ft. x 44 ft.
Each reservoir has a capacity of 185,000 gallons of water. The reservoirs are only
about 10 feet deep, and you can see to the bottom through a pipe in the north
reservoir.
Additional Structures to west of Water Co. Building
Directly behind the water co. building was a large water tower. **It is visible in
Sandra’s photo of Park Hill. You can still see the concrete footings that
supported the water tower legs.
This rock bench has a hole for an umbrella and was used as a picnic area.
The 2nd
building behind the water co. was constructed in 1938 and was used as the
meter building (for meter readers to store meter cards). It is currently used for
storage.
As I mentioned earlier, the 3rd
building was the pump house and has been here
since 1923. It was rocked over in 1938 to match the other buildings. You can still
see an old pump wheel outside the building.
The City of NLR constructed a new concrete water reservoir and warehouse
behind the 3rd
building in the late 1970s (date approximate—could have been in
1960s?), making them NC to the district. These newer facilities are now used by
Central AR Water, and the historic reservoirs are empty.
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5. Fire Station
The Park Hill Fire Station was opened for public inspection on July 31, 1938.
The fire station matches the water co. building in its Mediterranean design. It
features field stone walls, a red tile roof with a low pitch (roof netting is there to
keep bats out), arched windows with cast concrete keystones, and subtle Classical
details like the concrete lions’ heads and floral patterned medallions on the door
surround. The small wrought iron balcony on the second story window is also
original to the building, adding a Mediterranean influence. The lantern above the
door (one with concrete surround) is original to the building. As I mentioned
earlier, the rock driveway was also constructed in 1938. Although the building
was complete and ready for public inspection in 1938, the station did not have any
equipment. The Park Hill Station did not have a fire truck until the early 1940s.
The garage opening was originally flush with the wall and had two sets of
slender four-paneled folding doors (similar to those on the old Argenta Fire
Station/City Hall building now). The front wall was bumped out in 1960 to
accommodate a new fire truck that was longer than the garage. The iron railing
above the garage extension was added in an attempt to continue the Mediterranean
style of the building.
The fire station originally had casement windows, but they were replaced with
aluminum windows in the late 1970s.
When you go inside the fire station, notice the building’s thick walls. The ground
floor has space for the fire truck and equipment, while the firemen’s quarters and
kitchen are located upstairs.
Take tour of fire station interior?? *Ring outside bell if necessary.
Closing Remarks
As many of you may know, the City of NLR considered closing the Park Hill Fire
Station last summer (~June 2008). However, this fire station is an important
landmark in the Park Hill neighborhood, and the residents wanted to keep the
station here. This was the impetus for forming the Park Hill Neighborhood
Association. Because of this group’s efforts, the Park Hill Fire Station will remain
open. The Park Hill Neighborhood Association meets on the first Tuesday of
every month at 6:00 p.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church on Olive Street. If you’re
interested in learning more about the association, feel free to talk with Cary Tyson,
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6. who is the president of the neighborhood association and the director of Main
Street Arkansas.
Miscellaneous Info:
The Park Hill Fire Station & Water Co. was built on the highest point in Park Hill.
Local historians believe that there was a Union camp here during the Civil War.
They may have fired cannon down on the Little Rock Arsenal from here (may or
may not have been possible to hit from this distance).
The gates to the parking lot are not original.
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7. who is the president of the neighborhood association and the director of Main
Street Arkansas.
Miscellaneous Info:
The Park Hill Fire Station & Water Co. was built on the highest point in Park Hill.
Local historians believe that there was a Union camp here during the Civil War.
They may have fired cannon down on the Little Rock Arsenal from here (may or
may not have been possible to hit from this distance).
The gates to the parking lot are not original.
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