Cord in Independence County, Arkansas — The American South (West South Central)
Town of Cord
Photographed By Sue Richmond, September 14, 2022
1. Town of Cord marker
Inscription.
Town of Cord. . In 1835, the Hopewell Cumberland Presbyterian Church was established in a one-room log structure adjacent to the Hopewell cemetery. A community arose with many businesses including blacksmith shops, general stores, gristmill, cotton gin, barber shop, gas station, theater, gymnasium, café, hotel, and a doctor's office. Farming and logging supported the area; local sawmills received the logs cut from virgin timber harvested in the Black River bottoms. Cord was officially established on 21 September 1880 when the post office was opened, named after the Reverend John W. McCord family. The Oak Ridge Methodist Church and the Cord Baptist Church were established in the early 1900s., The first school was called Magnolia Springs. In 1879, a subscription school located in the hand-hewn log church on the Hopewell church property was opened. Around 1885, a wood framed structure was built to replace the log school, creating school district #48. In 1904 the school was damaged by a tornado, so classes were transferred to a two-story wood framed building located at the intersection of Old WPA and Elgin Roads. School was held at this location until 1936, when Cord High School was built by the WPA. In 1951, Cord High School was consolidated with Charlotte. Popular Cord organizations were the singing school, 4-H Club, the Woodmen of the World Lodge #442, the Cord Community Fairs, and Cord High School ball teams.
In 1835, the Hopewell Cumberland Presbyterian Church was established in a one-room log structure adjacent to the Hopewell cemetery. A community arose with many businesses including blacksmith shops, general stores, gristmill, cotton gin, barber shop, gas station, theater, gymnasium, café, hotel, and a doctor's office. Farming and logging supported the area; local sawmills received the logs cut from virgin timber harvested in the Black River bottoms. Cord was officially established on 21 September 1880 when the post office was opened, named after the Reverend John W. McCord family. The Oak Ridge Methodist Church and the Cord Baptist Church were established in the early 1900s.
The first school was called Magnolia Springs. In 1879, a subscription school located in the hand-hewn log church on the Hopewell church property was opened. Around 1885, a wood framed structure was built to replace the log school, creating school district #48. In 1904 the school was damaged by a tornado, so classes were transferred to a two-story wood framed building located at the intersection of Old WPA and Elgin Roads. School was held at this location until 1936, when Cord High School was built by the WPA. In 1951, Cord High School was consolidated with Charlotte. Popular Cord organizations were the singing school, 4-H Club, the Woodmen of the World
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Lodge #442, the Cord Community Fairs, and Cord High School ball teams.
Erected 2022 by Independence County Historical Society. (Marker Number 24.)
Location. 35° 48.724′ N, 91° 20.66′ W. Marker is in Cord, Arkansas, in Independence County. Marker is at the intersection of West Hopewell Road and State Route 122, on the left when traveling west on West Hopewell Road. Located near the Cord Volunteer Fire Department. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 8005 Cord Rd, Cord AR 72524, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Credits. This page was last revised on October 3, 2022. It was originally submitted on September 30, 2022, by Ashley Sides of Little Rock, Arkansas. This page has been viewed 187 times since then and 49 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on September 30, 2022, by Ashley Sides of Little Rock, Arkansas. • Mark Hilton was the editor who published this page.