[Title is text]
(Industry & Commerce • Man-Made Features) Includes location, directions, 3 photos, GPS coordinates, map.
Built by W.J. Ott
For J.W. Sponable
1857
(Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers • Man-Made Features) Includes location, directions, 2 photos, GPS coordinates, map.
Moved to this location in 1889;
Rebuilt in brick after fire
destroyed the wooden structure.
(Industry & Commerce • Man-Made Features) Includes location, directions, 2 photos, GPS coordinates, map.
Gardner's First Bank
(Industry & Commerce • Man-Made Features) Includes location, directions, 3 photos, GPS coordinates, map.
A variety of shops have been located in this building: grocery store and warehouse, bakery, jewelry store, café, doctor's office, beauty shop, Miller's Barber Shop, a piano and furniture store, and the Dodge Sisters' Millinery Shop.
(Industry & Commerce • Man-Made Features) Includes location, directions, 2 photos, GPS coordinates, map.
Site of First Newspaper-
The Gardner Gazette,
Founded in 1889,
First Drug Store- Est. 1867
and the
Original location of
Gardner State Bank
1906
(Industry & Commerce • Communications • Man-Made Features) Includes location, directions, 3 photos, GPS coordinates, map.
Home of The Gardner Historical Museum
(Industry & Commerce • Man-Made Features) Includes location, directions, 2 photos, GPS coordinates, map.
[Title is text]
(Industry & Commerce • Man-Made Features) Includes location, directions, 3 photos, GPS coordinates, map.
Founder’s Statement
All Who Serve Sacrifice
Some Who Serve Sacrifice All
Welcome to the Veterans Wall of Honor, honoring all veterans of our Armed Forces who have served in peace and war since the Revolutionary War. In the spring of 2001 Leonard Eisert, one of the founding Directors, presented the idea for a monument to a group of six (6) interested veterans. Out of that meeting was formed the Veterans Council. The Veterans Council of Northwest Arkansas was incorporated in the State of Arkansas in 2001 and is a tax exempt 501(c)3 organization. The Council broke ground on October 1, 2003 and dedicated this impressive structure on November 6, 2004 before a huge crowd headed by the late Lt. Governor Winthrop Rockefeller.
A visitor, after passing under the massive arch, will note the 36-foot time line, displaying major military events from 1776 to 2006. On the walls to the right and left rear, one finds 63 bronze historical plaques summarizing events displayed on the time line. The monument is circled by 18 historical flags. As the visitor proceeds inside, he sees the beautiful fountain and is amazed by the 4,167 incised veterans’ tablets mounted on the 24 walls. One of the major objectives of the Veterans Council is to inform school groups and the general public of the contributions made by our veterans to secure our nation’s freedoms. The Council is also a partner in the Veteran’s History Project sponsored by the Folklife Center in the Library of Congress.
Architect’s Statement
The architectural process enables man’s primal need to create forms that outlive us. Forms that reflect and honor the human purpose and celebrate the constant renewal of our existence.
This monument employs the circular enclosure as the form that historically has offered safe keeping for those contained within and currently for those honored here.
The introduction to this monument is through an entrance arch where the visitor is directed toward three concentric circular walls. Walls disposed to reveal in sequence: a time line of military events from the country’s inception to the present, a graphic elaboration of those events, and a graphic review of military symbols and inceptive statements.
Granite tablets containing engraved names and service reference of these veterans are mounted on the inner face of all circular walls. Focus of the tableau is directed to the central gathering area where visitors can reflect on the service and sacrifices made throughout our military history. The visitor-observer then becomes the observed by that focus, becomes one with those honored and accepts their dedication as his own.
A bubbling fountain at the center of the gathering area suggests a constant vigil preserving and protecting the process and spirit of our free society…
Leonard V. Watten
Architect-Director
Veteran’s Wall of Honor
(Man-Made Features • Patriots & Patriotism) Includes location, directions, 10 photos, GPS coordinates, map.
Swedish native Swante Magnus Swenson and his two sons, Eric Pierson and Swen Albin Swenson, came to Texas in 1882 to establish the SMS ranches. In 1899, Eric P. and Swen A. Swenson donated a large section of land for a townsite on an extension of the Texas Central Railway. Railway president Henry McHarg named the new town Stamford for his hometown in Connecticut. A Cumberland Presbyterian church was organized in members' homes and a post office was established in a railroad boxcar in 1899. The Bank of Stamford opened for business in January 1900 and the first train pulled out of the Stamford depot in February. Businesses, churches and utilities soon were established.
Organized on February 22, 1900, soon after the founding of Stamford, this church has been an integral part of the community since that time. Initially meeting in a shed on present Oliver Street and then in a building on the town square, the congregation had this Classical Revival structure built in 1908-09 during the pastorate of the Rev. Frank S. Groner. Outstanding features of the building include pedimented wings at three sides, a central dome, and art glass windows.
Tuscarora Presbyterian Church, which was built before 1745 by Scotch-Irish Presbyterians. Rev. Hugh Vance, first pastor, is buried here. During Indian days, worshipers hung their guns on pegs in the walls while they sang and prayed.
1.5 miles north is Swan Pond Manor, a 2,000 acre retreat set aside in 1745 for use by Thomas, Lord Fairfax, once the proprietor of the Northern Neck of Virginia who established an estate at Greenway Court, Frederick County in 1738. So named because wild swans inhabited site. Conveyed in 1775 to John Lewis and in 1801 to Dr. Edward O. Williams who built present manor house circa 1810.
Businessman Swen (Svante) Magnus Swenson (1816-1896), first Swedish settler in Texas, is closely associated with Sam Houston and his effort to keep Texas in the Union prior to the Civil War. In 1854 Swenson purchased large land tracts here which he greatly expanded by the mid-1880s with school tracts and railroad scrips.
Church, built 1910 in pastorate of Dr. Robt. Goodrich, for congregation founded 1900 in Sledge Hall, under Rev. S. Gay. With 100' tower, long the tallest church between Dallas and El Paso. Served community of old Stamford College (now McMurry). Has had 33 pastors up to 1964.
Founded in 1928, the Abilene Woman's Club had several club homes before hiring noted architect David S. Castle to design a clubhouse at this site, then on the edge of town. Contractor Oscar Rose completed the structure in 1955, and the building's construction and subsequent use influenced further development of south Abilene. With numerous meeting spaces and a great hall, the clubhouse serves many cultural and civic organizations and programs. The building's architecture is an example of post-World War II Colonial Revival design.
Ceded by Choctaws & Chickasaws in Fort Adams Treaty, 1801, confirming earlier British treaty. Contained most of present Warren, Jefferson, Claiborne, Adams, Franklin, Wilkinson & Amite counties.
