Arkansas Rock Island Railway Depot, Fordyce Arkansas
The Rock Island Railway Depot, was constructed around 1925. The construction of this brick depot in Fordyce reinforced the town's importance, as it became a center for rail connection and transportation in southern Arkansas. This company has through consolidation grown to be one of the major lines running through Dallas County. It acquired the Little Rock and Southern Railway Company in 1902 and the Malvern and Camden Railway Company in 1911. These two acquired companies were instrumental in the establishment of the communities of Carthage, Willow and Manning, all in Dallas County. The Rock Island Railway Company spurred the development of the second community of Sparkman in 1915. The Fordyce and Princeton Railway Company, another important line in the county, later used the line and depot to transport lumber products. The Rock Island Railway Depot is one of only two brick depots remaining from an era that breathed new life into economically depressed Dallas County.
The Rock Island Depot, built circa 1925, is located in the city of Fordyce. The depot is a rectangular brick structure covered by a gable roof of red tiles. Centered in this roof is a large brick chimney. A cross gable roof, existing south of center, extends beyond the east facade forming a projection. This projection has a three-sided bay with one-over-one windows covered by a half-hexagonal metal roof. Each of the depot's four gable ends has a parapet wall with a coping of fabricated stone. Accentuating the horizontal lines, a stuccoed base capped by a stuccoed belt course encircles the building. All windows and entries have arched openings with key and corner blocks of fabricated stones. Two large windows of three-over-three lights exist on the south of the east facade and on the south gable end. Paired with these windows are two passenger entries which consist of a single door under a one-light transom. Smaller windows of two-over-two lights exist on the west facade. The depot also has four large loading entries encircling the north end. These entries are composed of a large wooden door under a transom of eight vertical lights divided by a large central muntin.
