Hot Springs Mayor Leo P. McLaughlin
| | Hot Springs Central Avenue Historic District | |
Was one of the Spas most memorable personalities. The boss of city and county politics for two decades, McLaughlin also had a flair for showmanship, riding daily along Central Avenue in a sulky pulled by his horses named Scotch and Soda.
Erected by City of Hot Springs.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Government & Politics. A significant historical year for this entry is 1926.
Location. 34° 30.641′ N, 93° 3.248′ W. Marker is in Hot Springs, Arkansas, in Garland County. It is at the intersection of Central Avenue (State Highway 7) and Prospect Avenue, on the left when traveling north on Central Avenue. The marker is embedded in the sidewalk, beside a streetlamp post. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 700 Central Avenue, Hot Springs National Park AR 71901, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Arkansas’ Ouachita Mountains. It is also in the American South and specifically in the Upper South. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself
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Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Central Avenue Improvement Project (a few steps from this marker); Captain Field Kindley (a few steps from this marker); Bobo Brazil (a few steps from this marker); Lafayette Lawson (a few steps from this marker); Daisy Bates (a few steps from this marker); Buddy Jewell (a few steps from this marker); Ashlie Atkinson (a few steps from this marker); Rodger Bumpass (a few steps from this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Hot Springs.
Also see . . . Leo Patrick McLaughlin (Encyclopedia of Arkansas).
(By Wendy Richter, Arkansas History Commission) Excerpt: He ran for mayor in 1926 on a platform that promised Hot Springs would be an open town. He also pledged to improve city streets. McLaughlin delivered on his campaign promises; he directed work that paved miles of streets, and, most notably, he allowed illegal gambling.(Submitted on January 5, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)Underworld characters frequented Hot Springs during the McLaughlin administration. Men such as Al Capone, Charles Lucky Luciano, and Frank Costello visited the spa town with the understanding that they would exhibit only their best behavior. The nations gangsters utilized Hot Springs as a sanctuary or retreat; McLaughlin and his associates welcomed them, as long as they did not bother the locals and left their criminal activities behind. Hot Springs which reached its peak as a health resort during his tenure as mayor.
A grand jury began an investigation of the mayors administration in March 1947, and McLaughlin announced that he would not seek reelection. Although he was indicted on numerous charges, ranging from accepting bribes to being an accessory to illegal voting to misusing public funds, McLaughlin was never convicted.
Credits. This page was last revised on January 5, 2025. It was originally submitted on January 4, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 161 times since then and 21 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on January 5, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.
