Batesville in Independence County, Arkansas — The American South (West South Central)

Williams Building

Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, April 22, 2023

1. Williams Building Marker

Inscription.
This property
has been placed on the
National Register
of Historic Places
by the United States
Department of the Interior

Williams Building 1887: Built/Richard Williams (formerly Evening Shade) Mercantile; 1898: Barnett Brothers Mercantile (Jim, Charles & Ira Nelson); purchased from Williams, their uncle; 1914: Barnett's Bargain Annex; later as a Barnett Super Market; 1975: Schwegman's Office City (Terry/Robin King); 1983: Fire/Repaired/ Reopened. (A vernacular cut stone building; a tradition indigenous to Ozark region).

Erected by Arkansas Historic Preservation Program, Department of Arkansas Heritage (top plaque).

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1887.

Location. 35° 46.269′ N, 91° 39.121′ W. Marker is in Batesville, Arkansas, in Independence County. Marker is at the intersection of East Main Street and South 3rd Street, on the left when traveling west on East Main Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 308 E Main St, Batesville AR 72501, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Barnett Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Independence County Office and Library

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(within shouting distance of this marker); Hail Building (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Pioneer Cemetery (about 300 feet away); Independence Bell (about 400 feet away); First Arkansas Methodist Conference (about 400 feet away); Batesville Confederate Monument (about 400 feet away); Independence County Courthouse (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Batesville.

Regarding Williams Building. From the Bobby L. Roberts Library of Arkansas History & Art:

Brothers Ira N. II, Charles A. and James F. Barnett, sons of Ira Barnett I and Mary Louise Simpson Barnett of Sharp County, Arkansas, formed the family's first business in Batesville at the end of the 19th century. The brothers first worked at the general store owned by their uncle, R.D. Williams, and in 1895 they bought him out. In 1903 they incorporated Barnett Brothers Mercantile. This general mercantile business remained in operation at Third and Main in Batesville until 1988, when the Barnett Department Store closed. Over the years, Barnett Brothers, an organizational designation
Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, April 22, 2023

2. Williams Building markers site
maintained by the family through four generations, operated a variety of businesses in Batesville and Independence County. These included retail and wholesale grocery and dry goods stores, a farm supply store, and farm equipment distributorship.

Williams Building image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, April 22, 2023

3. Williams Building

It now houses an office supply store.

Batesville Commercial Historic District image. Click for more information.

via NPS, unknown

4. Batesville Commercial Historic District

National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form for the district, which includes the Williams Building and was listed in 1982.
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Credits. This page was last revised on April 27, 2023. It was originally submitted on April 25, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 72 times since then and 16 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on April 25, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. 4. submitted on April 27, 2023, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.