Why Excavate at Davidsonville?
Although there are surviving
documents to tell us about
Davidsonville, the town existed for
such a short period that many parts of
the story were not written down. Day-
to-day activities were too common
to . . . — — Map (db m170943) HM
Businesses at Home
Davidsonville's shops and businesses
often shared the same building as
the family house. For example, Jacob
Garrett's public house on Lots 34-35
was part of his residence, and John
Miller ran a store out of his home . . . — — Map (db m170926) HM
Jail Construction
Trials of the accused and
incarceration of the guilty are two
functions of a county seat, so the
building of a jail was paired with
that of the courthouse. The funds to
pay for its construction also came
from the sale . . . — — Map (db m170831) HM
Legal Heart of the County
While trials of criminal cases might have
been the most exciting events that went on
at the courthouse, the day-to-day business
of municipal life was what made the county
seat important. It was here that land . . . — — Map (db m170919) HM
Courthouse Architecture
Prominently placed in the center of the
town square sat the Lawrence County
Courthouse. Although no illustration
of the courthouse has been found,
research indicates it was built on a
plan commonly used in the . . . — — Map (db m170851) HM
Beneath the Ground
Remnants of this short-lived, but ambitious, town lie buried beneath the
soil surrounding you. Excavations and archival research by the Arkansas
Archeological Survey are beginning to reveal the layout of the town, . . . — — Map (db m170947) HM
The steel beams surrounding you form a "ghost structure” to represent
the essence of the courthouse as it stood during Davidsonville's prime.
Arkansas's first courthouse took three years to complete (1819-1822).
It was the most prominent . . . — — Map (db m170920) HM
Myths
Within the short span of 15 years,
Davidsonville rose in size and
importance, and just as quickly
returned to oblivion. The quick demise
of Davidsonville led to local myths
about its fall—a yellow fever epidemic,
a mass . . . — — Map (db m170939) HM
Routes Established
The U.S. Congress established post
roads in the late 1700s, which were the
routes that carried mail throughout the
country and into the distant territories.
Having a postal stop in one's town was
very desirable, . . . — — Map (db m170935) HM
Houses
Davidsonville was laid out with 48 lots around
a public square, although only a few lots have
been examined by archeologists so far. Lots
held houses, businesses, and outbuildings,
and archeologists know of at least 10 . . . — — Map (db m170929) HM
The first post office in Arkansas
was established here on June 28, 1817,
with Adam Richie as postmaster. Old
Davidsonville was also the site of
the first court house in Arkansas,
built in 1815. The first United States
Land Office in Arkansas . . . — — Map (db m170802) HM
The steel beams you are standing under form a "ghost structure”
to provide an outline of the original home's dimensions.
Situated on the corner of the town square and next to the main road,
this house was prominent in the hustle and . . . — — Map (db m170932) HM
A Place to Gather
In 1819 Jacob Garrett purchased this
lot, built a house, and in 1821 received
a license to “keep a public house of
entertainment."
A public house, or pub, was a place
licensed to sell alcoholic beverages.
In . . . — — Map (db m170835) HM
River Highway
Davidsonville was located on a wedge-
shaped piece of land formed by the
confluence of the Black, Spring, and
Eleven Point rivers, placing it in the
midst of the transportation and trade
superhighways of the era. . . . — — Map (db m170927) HM
Confederate Brigadier General Jeff Thompson was known as "The Missouri
Swamp Fox" because he was so elusive at ambushing and escaping the Union Army during the first years of the war. General Thompson led a battalion of cavalry that conducted . . . — — Map (db m170349) HM
"Pocahontas is beautifully situated on the west bank of Black River… As a trading point, it is unsurpassed by any town of its size in the state."
J. C. Martin of Pocahontas
1857
As agriculture in Randolph . . . — — Map (db m170298) HM
(side 1)
Erected in memory of the significant pain and lasting effects suffered by the people of Pocahontas and Randolph County during the Civil War.
(side 2)
Site of the capture of Confederate General Jeff Thompson, who was . . . — — Map (db m172095) HM WM
This is a wooden fishing pier constructed in 2003 for use by all people. This pier begins 10 feet wide, and extends 40 feet to a shaded area which is 10 feet by 10 feet at the end of this 40-foot long boardwalk. The pier then extends 16 feet to the . . . — — Map (db m208463) HM
Billy Lee Riley was born in Pocahontas October 5,
1933. During his early childhood he lived just
off the Marr Street on Haw Street.
He recorded his first several hits, including
"Red Hot" at the legendary Sun Studio in Memphis
and his . . . — — Map (db m159744) HM
Rock and Roll pioneer Billy Lee Riley was born to Amos and Helen Riley on October 5, 1933 in a white frame house located on this site. Riley and his band, the Little Green Men, helped originate the unique sound of Sun Records that became a . . . — — Map (db m208461) HM
Col. Robert G. Shaver established a camp near Pocahontas to train troops for the 7th Arkansas Infantry, C.S.A., including two Randolph County companies. With 1,250 men and officers, the 7th was one of the largest regiments raised in Arkansas. They . . . — — Map (db m159749) HM
Pocahontas was a "no-man's land" after the Confederate troops organized here in 1861 moved east of the Mississippi. Soldiers and irregulars from both sides patrolled the region. One group of 300 Union militia and cavalry from Arkansas and Missouri . . . — — Map (db m232529) HM
Randolph County was a "No-Man's Land" during all of the years of the
Civil War. Pocahontas and Pitman's Ferry were strategic locations because
of their necessary river crossings and important roads, and both the Union
and Confederate Armies . . . — — Map (db m170352) HM
deMun, a French aristocrat (Chevalier or Knight),
emigrated to the U.S. in the 1790s. A trained
draftsman, he became the right hand man of
Benjamin Latrobe, architect of the U.S. Capitol.
deMun oversaw the construction of the west wing . . . — — Map (db m170292) HM
The railroad depot was donated to the City of Pocahontas by Michael Parker to honor the memory of his Grandfather,
Mr. Earney L. Dickson
He was a prominent businessman in Randolph County from 1920's until his death in 1974, During his . . . — — Map (db m174944) HM
People have hunted and fished in the rich Black River Basin at least since the Paleo Indian Period (beginning around 10,000 B.C.). More recently, Native American built villages and mounds across the Mississippi River valley (3000 B.C.-A.D.1650). . . . — — Map (db m170367) HM
This is the site of the Old Black River Bridge. After gaining congressional approval, the Arkansas State Highway Commission design the Bridge, and the Pittsburgh-Des Moines Steel Company of Pittsburgh Pennsylvania built it in 1934. The Bridge was . . . — — Map (db m180431) HM
William Hix operated the first ferry in Arkansas sometime around 1803
over the Current River, which separates northeastern Randolph County
from Missouri. It was on the Natchitoches Trace, also known as the Old
Southwest Trail. This important road . . . — — Map (db m170295) HM
In the mid 1950s Elvis Presley's career was just beginning to take off. Elvis had made at least one record at Sun Studio in Memphis when he and his then manager made a stop at this location to request that his record be played on KPOC. He was . . . — — Map (db m207800) HM
1861
• July 22 General William J. Hardee, commander of all 6,000 available troops in Arkansas, established headquarters and training at Pitman's Ferry and mustering at Camp Shaver in Pocahontas.
1862
• February March General Earl Van Dorn, . . . — — Map (db m170354) HM
The first court house in Randolph county, created in 1835, was erected in 1886, on the site of the town of Pocahontas, which was then known as Bettis' Bluff. — — Map (db m170293) HM
At the beginning of the War Between the States in the spring of 1861, the people of Randolph County, with but few individual exceptions, were in favor of the proposed Confederacy, and did all in their power to help establish it Units, of Confederate . . . — — Map (db m170289) HM
"We have a large quantity of vacant land in this country … and have room for one thousand good and industrious families, and bread and meat to feed them."
A Pocahontas resident
Jan. 2. 1852
The famed African Explorer, Stanley trekked into
unexplored east Africa in 1869 in search of the
long lost English missionary, Dr. David Livingston.
On finding him in 1871, Stanley uttered the now
famous line "Dr. Livingston, I presume?" . . . — — Map (db m170294) HM
Housed Confederate and Union Headquarters. Confederate General M. Jeff Thompson, the Missouri Swamp Fox, was captured here in August, 1863 — — Map (db m174003) HM
Everything needed for transportation by horse, buggy and wagon. Spinnenweber and Peters also formed a construction company which built most of the downtown buildings between 1890 and 1940. — — Map (db m172033) HM
This steam engine powered the Sallee Bros. Handle Factory in Pocahontas from 1956 until the mill was converted to electric in the Late 1980's. Steam was generated by burning sawdust and wood shavings produced in the manufacturing of striking tool . . . — — Map (db m180438) HM
The contemporary riverbank you see here barely resembles the site that fishers, hunters, farmers, and traders visited for 10,000 years. Some native trees are visible, however. Look for black willow and silver maple.
Farmers still grow crops, . . . — — Map (db m170361) HM
The Old Randolph County Courthouse has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places By the United States Department of the Interior April 24, 1973. — — Map (db m172011) HM
Sometime before 1830, Ransom Bettis arrived and built a home on the bluff
overlooking this site. He operated a trading post for steamboat passengers and
pioneers traveling down the National Military Road. Bettis Bluff, as it was called
then, . . . — — Map (db m170290) HM
"This … region [is] annually covered by water and at all seasons by a heavy growth of timber [and] thick can-brakes."
U.S. Rep. A. H. Sevier of Arkansas
Feb. 21. 1838
The Black River flows through . . . — — Map (db m170376) HM
This meteor fell July 1859 in the Black River Bottoms of Randolph County. It was discovered by A.H. Keith. Donated by the Keith family March 16th in celebration of Arkansas' sesquicentennial. — — Map (db m171651) HM
Randolph County
will remember
These gave all
Names not listed
World War I
We the citizens of Randolph County pay humble tribute to the living and the dead who helped preserve us a free people.
World War II
May . . . — — Map (db m172264) WM
Arkansas's first All-American in football was born in Pocahontas on this place, graduated from PHS and the U. of Arkansas at Fayetteville, accomplishing much both academically and in sports.
Schoonover was also 2nd team All-American in . . . — — Map (db m180434) HM
