It was a very happy start to the new year for the Calico Rock Museum and Visitors Center as they celebrated the purchase of the historic Calico Rock Hardware Company Building.
According to a representative of the organization, on Dec. 27, the purchase was complete.
“This is the second oldest building in Calico Rock, having been constructed in 1912 by J.T. Garner. It survived the devastating fire of 1923 caused by a spark from a passing locomotive that wiped out the town,” the representative said. “The building was gutted by flames but the walls remained standing and during the rebuild, all of the buildings on lower Main Street that had been made of wood were constructed out of stone like this building and all of those on upper Main Street.”
According to the organization, the mission is now to integrate the building into the museum complex without changing the historic value of the building.
“Onnafay Downward did a great job preserving and restoring this building. Our goal is to be good stewards of this important history while making the building useful for our community,” the representative noted. “Thank you to the Windgate Foundation and First National Bank of Izard County for making this possible. We are also thankful to so many of you for your generous contributions. And now, the work begins.”
Lauren is a an award-winning journalist who decided after 10 years of newspaper experience to venture out. Hallmark Times was born.
