Historic Structures - Urban Exploration of Historic Properties

Missouri-Pacific Depot, Newport Arkansas

Missouri-Pacific Depot, Newport Arkansas

Newport was little more than a small town until the arrival of the Cairo and Fulton Railroad (later the St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern, then the Missouri-Pacific) in 1873. Jacksonport, located approximately five miles to the northwest, had been the county seat by virtue of its location on the White River, which had been the principal transportation route through the region. With the railroad's arrival, however, and its decision to lay its tracks on a more direct route between Missouri and Little Rock, the significance of Jacksonport soon waned and Newport became the natural choice for the county seat. Newport, though not situated directly on the White River, was close enough to be accessible to it while also being a

Elizabeth Cleveland Intermediate School, Detroit Michigan

Elizabeth Cleveland Intermediate School, Detroit Michigan

Planning for Elizabeth Cleveland Intermediate School began in 1926, with the acquisition of land and selection of architects and a name for the school. It was constructed in 1927 and opened in September of that year. Completed in 1927 at a cost of $904,960, it was named after a special education teacher who worked at several Detroit schools. This building had a planned capacity of 1,800 students and served the seventh, eighth, and ninth grades. Cleveland Intermediate School is one of five extant intermediate schools constructed in Detroit in 1927 and 1928 according to the same floor plan, a variant of the E-shaped plan developed for Hutchins and Barbour Intermediate Schools in 1921. Each of these buildings, however, featured a unique

McDonogh 19 Elementary School, New Orleans Louisiana

McDonogh 19 Elementary School, New Orleans Louisiana

McDonogh 19 was built in 1929 using appropriations from the McDonogh Fund. It was one of dozens of schools financed by the fund, which was established by entrepreneur John McDonogh. In his will, he stated that he was leaving funds to be used for the free education in Baltimore and New Orleans. The majority of the schools built with his fund were named after him with a number (i.e. McDonogh 19). The school was designed by famed New Orleans school architect, E.A. Christy. After finishing his architectural studies, Christy became the city architect in 1904 and became the Orleans Parish School Board architect in 1911. He designed over 40 schools for the school board and defined what a New Orleans neighborhood

Missouri-Pacific Depot, Clarksville Arkansas

Missouri-Pacific Depot, Clarksville Arkansas

Clarksville was chosen as the Johnson County seat in 1836, the year Arkansas became a state, but it wasn't incorporated until 1848. The hills around Clarksville and southern Johnson County had long been mined for coal, which was loaded onto steamboats and shipped via the Arkansas River. By the early 20^th century, the region also became known for its peach crops, boosting its appeal and economic growth. The first railroad through the area, the Little Rock-Fort Smith Railroad, laid tracks in Clarksville in 1871. Financial troubles halted construction until 1873, when railroad magnate Jay Gould took over and completed the line. The railroad, combined with access to the Arkansas River, significantly expanded trade opportunities, bringing prosperity to the city well into

Missouri-Pacific Depot, Russellville Arkansas

Missouri-Pacific Depot, Russellville Arkansas

Russellville was incorporated in 1870, just before the arrival of the Little Rock-Fort Smith Railroad in 1871 (completed 1873). Though coal mining and agriculture helped to support the town's economy, Russellville had from early on been a major commercial hub, located as it was on the Arkansas River and at the foot of the Ozark Mountain region to the north. As such it served as a trading center for farmers from further north to bring their produce to be sold to traders who would then ship it down the Arkansas River. As was the case with most of these Arkansas River ports located on its north bank, the arrival of the railroad only increased the amount of traffic, and so the

Missouri-Pacific Railroad Depot, Atkins Arkansas

Missouri-Pacific Railroad Depot, Atkins Arkansas

The city of Atkins was incorporated in 1876 as a direct result of the arrival of the Little Rock and Fort Smith Railroad, later taken over by the Missouri-Pacific. As was frequently the case after the railroad arrived in the vicinity of previously established river towns but did not actually pass through the town itself, the local commercial and transportation hub shifted from Galla Rock (located approximately five miles to the south) to Atkins, and subsequently signaled the demise of Galla Rock as a steamboat landing and trading center. Atkins served as the new local transportation hub from the date of its incorporation until the dramatic expansion and improvement of the state highway system that took place after World War II,

Missouri-Pacific Depot, Ozark Arkansas

Missouri-Pacific Depot, Ozark Arkansas

Due solely to the division of the county by the Arkansas River and the difficulty of crossing it during rainy spells, Ozark has been one of two county seats in Franklin County since 1838 (the other being Charleston, located eighteen miles to the southwest). Ozark operated primarily as a principal river port for a region the major export of which was coal up until the arrival of the Little Rock and Fort Smith Railroad in 1879. This line later became part of the St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern Railroad, and was absorbed into the Missouri-Pacific Railroad system by 1910, when this depot was constructed. The Missouri-Pacific Depot in Ozark is a single-story stone masonry passenger and freight depot constructed in

Laurel Street Fire Station, Baton Rouge Louisiana

Laurel Street Fire Station, Baton Rouge Louisiana

The oldest fire company in Baton Rouge was established in 1825. Eventually, six volunteer companies were established, and there was great rivalry between them. Membership in any of the companies was considered prestigious and Unless you or one of your family was a fire fighter, you just weren't in it. Annually, on George Washington's birthday, there was a fireman's parade complete with floats and a Grand Ball. In 1914, the fire companies were transferred to the public domain. By 1918, there were four paid employees. With the passage of a bond issue for $175,000 in 1922, the streets were paved and four new fire stations were built. By 1925, the number of Fire Department employees had grown to 40. The 4

Missouri-Pacific Depot, Altus Arkansas

Missouri-Pacific Depot, Altus Arkansas

The community of Altus was established after the Little Rock-Fort Smith Railroad laid its tracks through the hills north of the Arkansas River in the 1870s. The railroad successfully attracted European immigrants, particularly from Germany and Switzerland, to settle in the area and work for the railroad, largely due to the similarities in climate and terrain to their homelands. Altus quickly developed a thriving winemaking industry, with families like the Posts and Wiedekehrs achieving significant success in bottling and marketing their wines widely. Today, Altus continues to be the winemaking capital of the state, with three active wineries still in operation. The Missouri-Pacific Depot in Altus is a single-story passenger and freight railroad depot constructed circa 1920 in the Plain Traditional

Missouri-Pacific Depot, Bald Knob Arkansas

Missouri-Pacific Depot, Bald Knob Arkansas

The town of Bald Knob began when the Cairo and Fulton Railroad built its line from Little Rock to St. Louis in the 1870s. Layered sandstone rock was quarried to provide ballasting rock for under and around the new railroad tracks, and the town's first residents were quarry workers and their families. As the railroad continued to thrive, so did the town, with as many as 50 trains passing through during a 24-hour period in the late 1880s. The early twentieth century saw Bald Knob develop into a major timber and strawberry shipping station. Although the advent of the automobile had replaced rail transportation by the 1930s and 1940s, Bald Knob still refers to itself as the Strawberry Center of the

Missouri Pacific Railroad Depot, Sylamore Arkansas

Missouri Pacific Railroad Depot, Sylamore Arkansas

Permanent settlement in Izard County began in 1815 with the arrival of Jehoida Jeffery from southern Illinois. He settled with his family in an area known as Pine Bayou, approximately five miles up the White River from Sylamore, and his farmstead was the first permanent settlement between Batesville and the Missouri state line. As more people settled in the area, the settlement changed its name from Pine Bayou to Mount Olive, the name that it retains today. Izard County was formed on October 27^th, 1825, as the result of a bill introduced to the Territorial Legislature by Jeffery, who served as a representative from 1824-1829. Land was added to the county in 1827 and again in 1828, but some of the

International Trade Mart, New Orleans Louisiana

International Trade Mart, New Orleans Louisiana

The International Trade Mart (ITM) was conceived and built to stimulate and promote international trade through the port of New Orleans. The building illuminates and reinforces the selection in 1718 of the site for New Orleans for its potential as a trading post and maritime port. Over the following centuries, international trade built New Orleans. The ITM building provided a headquarters for commercial and trade organizations, foreign consulates, maritime law firms, shipping companies, and diplomatic and trade-related meetings and functions. Begun in 1964 and completed in 1967, the ITM played a major role in the growth and commercial activity of the port. Its purpose and significance is underlined by its prestigious site in the heart of New Orleans at the center

Missouri and North Arkansas Depot, Leslie Arkansas

Missouri and North Arkansas Depot, Leslie Arkansas

The town of Leslie, nestled among the Ozark Mountains and on a tributary of the Middle Fork of the Little Red River, had been an isolated and remote Ozark Mountain community until the arrival of the fledgling Missouri and North Arkansas Railroad in 1903. The potential of Leslie as a regional lumbering and milling center, taking advantage of both the abundant stands of surrounding hardwood and the water power provided by the stream, no doubt encouraged the Missouri and North Arkansas Railroad decided to extend its line to Leslie from its southern terminus in Harrison, thereby also connecting the growing resort community of Eureka Springs with Leslie's enormous potential for producing building materials. The arrival of the railroad produced exactly the

Homestead Plantation, Port Allen Louisiana

Homestead Plantation, Port Allen Louisiana

The property where Homestead sits was acquired by John Hill in 1866 from the widow of Senator Andrew Barrow at a sheriff's sale, and is likely where the first sugar cane in Louisiana after the Civil War was planted. The office building dates from the plantation time period. The current home was constructed by John Hill's son George in 1915 on the site of an earlier raised cottage residence. While John Hill passed away five years before the home was built, he spent his life on the site and died in his office which still stands at Homestead. George Hill took over the running of the plantation after his father's death and did so until retiring in 1921. He resided at

Missouri and North Arkansas Depot, Bellefonte Arkansas

Missouri and North Arkansas Depot, Bellefonte Arkansas

Bellefonte was settled before the Civil War, and thrived as a cattle trading center and campground for drovers on the trail between Springfield, Missouri and northern Arkansas. The local economy slumped when Harrison, located approximately five miles to the northwest, became the county seat in 1873. The town revived somewhat with the arrival of the Missouri and North Arkansas Railroad line in 1901, which connected it with both Harrison and Eureka Springs, the popular Ozark Mountain resort community. The Missouri and North Arkansas Railroad Depot was constructed at this time, primarily to handle passenger traffic and ticket sales. The Missouri and North Arkansas Depot in Bellefonte is a single-story passenger depot constructed in 1901. This Plain Traditional-styled depot features an asphalt-shingled

Arkansas Midland Depot, Clarendon Arkansas

Arkansas Midland Depot, Clarendon Arkansas

This is the last of the two railroad depots built in Clarendon shortly after 1910. The depot at 205 Midland was constructed circa 1912 for the Arkansas Midland Railroad. The Midland was originally incorporated as the Arkansas Central Railroad on January 20^th, 1871 to link Helena with Little Rock. The tracks from Helena to Clarendon were completed in 1872. Because of the panic in 1873, construction stopped. In 1874, the company defaulted. It was sold in 1877, and reorganized as the Arkansas Midland. In 1901, the Midland was purchased by Jay Gould and operated as a subsidiary of the St. Louis, Iron Mountain, and Southern Railroad. During this period, the depot was constructed around 1912, it was in a convenient location

Holiday Inn Highrise East, New Orleans Louisiana

Holiday Inn Highrise East, New Orleans Louisiana

Holiday Inn construction in the mid-20^th Century was directly related to the way cities were mapped out historically as they responded to suburban growth. As cities grew during the mid-20^th Century, interstates and other major thoroughfares were being constructed, which led to the growth of suburban areas, such as New Orleans East. Interstate 10 offered a direct route through New Orleans East and thus, new business began to be built along it, including hotels, which could provide more options for travelers and visitors to New Orleans outside of the main central business district and French Quarter. In New Orleans, the construction of this particular Holiday Inn not only served the traveler passing through, but the new community of New Orleans East

Arkansas Texarkana and Fort Smith Railway Depot, Wilton Arkansas

Arkansas Texarkana and Fort Smith Railway Depot, Wilton Arkansas

Wilton merchant, Sergent Smith Prentiss Mills was born in Mississippi in December of 1844. Named for the famous Mississippi orator Sergent Smith Prentiss, Mills came to Arkansas with his parents approximately 1849. The family settled in, what was at that time, Sevier County. Gradually Mills' father built a significant plantation near the Little River. Mills joined the Confederate Army in the fall of 1862 and served at the battles of Pea Ridge, Iuka, and Corinth. Mills left the army on parole, returned home, and spent some time in Mexico with his father during the Civil War. He rejoined an Arkansas Cavalry regiment and closed the war participating in raiding parties in Missouri. Upon returning from Civil War service Mills took up

The Governor House Motor Hotel, New Orleans Louisiana

The Governor House Motor Hotel, New Orleans Louisiana

The Governor House Motor Hotel was the first motel or motor hotel built in New Orleans's central business district and marked the end of the dominance of old-line hotels. The automobile-oriented travel of mid-century America represented an acceleration and popularization of leisure and business travel which fueled New Orleans's tourism industry which became the city's dominant industry. In the early 1960s, William P. Bosworth, Jr. (1925-2009), a New Orleans builder whose previous experience was primarily in building single-family homes, saw an unprecedented opportunity in the changed landscape of the city's lodging industry. He had been very successful with his first venture into a commercial building, a motel on Tulane Avenue in 1957. With the grip of the old line hotels on

Memphis, Paris and Gulf Railroad Depot, Ashdown Arkansas

Memphis, Paris and Gulf Railroad Depot, Ashdown Arkansas

The Memphis, Paris and Gulf Railroad Depot was constructed in 1908 upon the completion of the rail line to Ashdown from Nashville, Arkansas. The Memphis, Paris and Gulf Railroad was incorporated in 1905 as but one of many such small, ambitious rail lines that sought to access the rich timberland of southwest Arkansas in response to the national and international demand for finished lumber, particularly for home building. As the name indicates, the original goal of this enterprise was to connect these woodlands with Memphis, Tennessee to the east, Paris, Texas to the southwest, and various points beyond in both directions. The fledgling Memphis, Paris and Gulf Railroad sputtered through a year of grand plans, good intentions, and precious little else

Book Title Abandoned Train Stations (Abandoned Places)

Abandoned Train Stations (Abandoned Places)

Book Title Abandoned America: The Age of Consequences (Jonglez photo books)

Abandoned America: The Age of Consequences (Jonglez photo books)

Book Title Abandoned America: Then & Now: A Fun & Fascinating Look Revisiting America's Abandoned Places of the Past

Abandoned America: Then & Now: A Fun & Fascinating Look Revisiting America's Abandoned Places of the Past

Book Title Abandoned Palaces (Abandoned Places)

Abandoned Palaces (Abandoned Places)

Note: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.