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43-641: Fayetteville Public Library was first created in 1916 and was housed in the brand-new Washington County Courthouse . The library was contained in two rooms in the basement of the building. The building quickly became too small, and the Fayetteville Public Library moved to the City Administration Building in 1937 along with several other city offices. This building became too small following Fayetteville's rapid post- World War II growth. Residents began fundraising for

86-462: A bell in the opposite tower that rang every hour and half-hour and could be heard all over campus, as well as most of downtown Fayetteville and surrounding areas. When President Bill Clinton gave a much-anticipated speech at the J. William Fulbright statue dedication ceremony, Clinton asked Chancellor John A. White , "Where is the clock?" Three years later, Old Main received a clock face. On October 27, 2005, after more than 130 years without

129-513: A large courtroom with a slanted floor, jury rooms, judge chambers, and a porch. The fourth floor contained a balcony over the courtroom and access to the clock/bell tower. The courthouse features round-top arches over its windows, porches, and grand entrance, round towers with conical roofs, and brickwork, each characteristic of Richardsonian Romanesque architecture. Inside, the building contains glazed brick fireplaces in all offices, and ceramic mosaic floor tiles in all foyers and corridors. There

172-551: A new building, and a site on East Dickson Street was tapped by the City of Fayetteville in 1959. A funding measure of $ 255,000 was approved for the site, with architect Warren Segraves in charge of the design. Built at the edge of the Washington-Willow Historic District , the site was dedicated on June 4, 1962 by Senator J. William Fulbright . The plot to the east was purchased in 1966 and the plot to

215-524: A textbook smart growth project. During construction, any trees removed were harvested and used for furniture or donated to local parks. Throughout the project, almost 99% of the construction waste was recycled or reused. By incorporating a green roof and using alternative roofing materials, the design team reduced heat island effect by as much as 20 degrees. Water collected on the roof is reused for landscape irrigation through an underground cistern, saving about 500,000 US gallons (1,900,000 L) of water

258-627: A year. The library's 10 waterless urinals served as a successful pilot project for the Arkansas Department of Health and Human Services . In 2009, the library received a grant from the City / County Management Association to install 10 kW solar panels for energy generation. In 2013, the Fayetteville Library Board of Directors approved a master plan recommending expansion of the Blair Library to meet

301-808: Is a mural dedicated to those Washington County persons who died in World War I , completed in 1920 by William Steene. The building also contains the Freedom Shrine, housing replicas of many important freedom documents such as the Mayflower Compact and the Declaration of Independence . Old Main (University of Arkansas) Old Main is the oldest building on the University of Arkansas campus in Fayetteville, Arkansas . It

344-518: Is one of the most recognizable symbols of the University (especially to alumni and residents of the state of Arkansas ), and of higher education in general in Arkansas. Old Main was constructed between 1873 and 1875 as part of a land grant for the state of Arkansas. At this time it was known as University Hall. It was designed by Chicago architect John Mills Van Osdel , and construction

387-594: Is the name of a current courthouse and that of a historic one in Fayetteville, Arkansas , the county seat of Washington County . The historic building, built in 1905, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972. The historic courthouse is the fifth building to serve Washington County, with the prior buildings located on the Historic Square where the Old Post Office

430-464: Is today. The building is one of the prominent historic buildings that compose the Fayetteville skyline, in addition to Old Main . A new building was acquired in 1989 to better serve Washington County's county administration needs. The present-day courthouse is located at the intersection of College Avenue and Dickson Street , just north of historic building. Most county offices are located in

473-485: The 1970s, which relieved stress on many of the vaults. Despite these improvements, a grand jury report from the 1970s states "the building now resembles a rabbit-warren" and "the Washington County Courthouse in Fayetteville is a disgrace". The 273rd Aviation Company from Fort Sill , Oklahoma returned the clock tower in 1974, using the largest helicopter in the western world. The fourth floor

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516-631: The Arkansas National Guard Armory immediately to the south between the courthouse and the County Jail , possibly due to courthouse structural problems kept quiet by the Great Depression . The Works Progress Administration praised the courthouse during a 1936 audit, mentioning the tidy offices and public access to records. The WPA also warned that record space was dwindling, as the vaults were almost full. This

559-556: The University. It also served as a place where the band would march and play. Today, the band practices in Baum East (a parking lot on campus), and the arboretum is simply a green space where students can study, play games, or simply stroll through and enjoy. In 2002, a statue of former student, law faculty member, president of the University, congressman, senator, and namesake of the college housed in Old Main, J. William Fulbright ,

602-407: The Washington County Courthouse in 1994, and the transition was complete in 1995. The courthouse contains three stories and a basement, a grand staircase, and hydraulic elevator. The basement (first floor) housed the offices promised to the City of Fayetteville, including the mayor . The second floor housed court clerks, the county judge , a vault , and three outdoor porches. The third floor housed

645-475: The beginning of renovation. Electronic bells were installed during 1949, and dedicated to those students lost in any war. These bells wore out and were replaced with a computerized bell device. It plays the Westminster Chimes every hour from 8 am - 8 pm and the alma mater every day at six A.M. and again at five P.M. Senior Walk is a tradition unique to the University of Arkansas. Senior Walk

688-518: The building underwent another round of renovations. At that time, it received a new roof, aging mortar was replaced, and a clock face was installed in the south tower. During its history, Old Main has housed many different departments and served many different administrative functions. It currently houses the offices of the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences , its honors program and five academic departments, as well as classrooms and meeting spaces. The north tower stands 130 feet tall and

731-511: The building. In 1904, McIlroy acquired the services of Little Rock architect Charles L. Thompson , who had already worked on many buildings in the Little Rock area. The budget for the courthouse was increased to $ 100,000, but was contracted for slightly less to George Donaghey of Conway . The cornerstone was laid on October 1, 1904, with over 2,000 people attending the ceremony. A time capsule, containing coins, documents and newspapers

774-471: The clock tower "steeple" was deemed dangerous and was removed. Washington County purchased the adjacent National Guard Armory in December 1968. The courthouse began incremental improvements under County Judge Vol Lester, who was instrumental to the National Register of Historic Places listing the property in 1972. The county took advantage of federal programs to build a bomb shelter to store county records in

817-417: The community’s library need of the future. In 2021, the expansion was complete and brought the total size of the library to 170,500 square feet. The expansion includes an event center that seats more than 700 people, an innovation center, a teaching kitchen, an art and movement room, as well as spaces for children and teenagers. Washington County Courthouse (Arkansas) The Washington County Courthouse

860-409: The current building was not being maximized. County Judge Witt Carter ordered the front steps of the courthouse be moved in 1947 to enable the widening and straightening of College Avenue ( U.S. Route 71B ). The following year, a grand jury reproached the county for poorly maintaining the structure, including unsanitary bathrooms, fire traps, attic storage, and using the boiler room as storage. The roof

903-434: The extensive restoration of 1986–1991, the building was fondly remembered for its large, open, and decorative central stairwell. However, this stairwell effectively formed a chimney which violated any number of building codes to which the renovated building would have to conform. To preserve the stairwell's appearance and function while still conforming to modern safety standards, an innovative automated fire protection system

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946-465: The following year. Also in 2000 Fayetteville citizens approved a sales tax increase to build a new library. A significant contribution of $ 3 million from Jim Blair in honor of his late wife, grandmother, and aunt was announced in 2002, and ground was broken two months later. The 88,000 square feet (8,200 m) building was opened in September 2004 at a cost of $ 23 million. Fayetteville Public Library

989-411: The foundation and basement was also quarried from near the building site. The five-story building contained 2,600,000 bricks when originally constructed. After nearly a hundred years of use, Old Main had fallen into disrepair, and in 1981 the building was closed for safety reasons. After a considerable period of debate over whether to restore the old building or tear it down, restoration work began in

1032-629: The new building, a 99-year rental of the Fayetteville Public Square , and an agreement to build the courthouse 1½ blocks away from the Square. The courthouse was eventually built along the former Butterfield Overland Mail route near a former stagecoach stop . The route had been instrumental in growing Fayetteville in the mid–1800s. Judge Berry fell ill with typhoid fever while investigating surrounding Arkansas and Missouri courthouses, and appointed J.H. McIlroy to proceed with

1075-557: The new building, with the historic courthouse serving as a repository for county records. Washington County was established on October 17, 1828 by the Arkansas General Assembly . The county seat was established at Washington , which was later renamed Fayetteville after confusion with Washington, Arkansas in South Arkansas . This historic courthouse first became a reality when County Judge Millard Berry

1118-478: The plan of the original building. The cast-iron sides of the seats in the Giffels auditorium are supposedly cast from original molds. The arboretum (the large lawn area in front of Old Main) is a home to one of every type of tree in Arkansas (with a few exceptions, such as the umbrella magnolia, Magnolia tripetala ) and once used to be a training ground for military officers when military tactics were taught at

1161-423: The renovation process. In order to preserve these columns while still conforming to building codes, they needed to be rendered non-structural. The north wing of the building was therefore completely reconstructed such that loads are carried by the walls instead of the columns. The distinctive "inset" look of the windows of the modern Giffels auditorium are a result of this restructuring and reinforcement. In 2005

1204-496: The sheriff to evict all City of Fayetteville workers from their offices in 1927. The city appealed to the Circuit Judge, who sided with the county. The Fayetteville-occupied offices were emptied by 1928, but structural problems continued to plague the building. After repairing the roof three times in the 1920s, the courthouse's structural problems began to fall out of official record. The 1934 Quorum Court meetings took place in

1247-422: The south tower stands 123 feet tall. The front doors of the building still retain their original hinges. The cornerstone of the building lists its original cost in 1871 dollars, $ 186,000. The sweeping stairwell leading to the attic of the building found at the center of the top floor is original to the structure. The walls of the rooms in the central "shotgun" hallway are structural and largely conform to

1290-456: The summer of 1989 and Old Main was renovated extensively. The renovation proceeded ahead of schedule, and it was finished during the spring semester of 1991 at a cost of $ 10 million. It was rededicated during the Fall of 1991. The architects of the renovation were Mott, Mobley, McGowan & Griffin of Fort Smith , with preservation architect John K. Mott as the partner in charge. Prior to

1333-829: The west in 1989. The building on the west plot was connected to the library, forming a large facility of 31,500 square feet (2,930 m). This large building held the FPL, the Ozark Regional Library System and the Talking Books service. The Ozark Regional Library System split into the Washington County Library System (WCLS) and the Benton County Library System in 1999, and the WCLS left the FPL building

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1376-463: Was also set. Limestone was brought in from Carroll and Madison Counties , furniture and carpets were purchased from the People's Furniture Store of Fayetteville, a water system was installed by Fayetteville Water Company, and a new septic system was installed by Duggan Brothers. Smoking was prohibited, and spittoons were placed throughout in the interest of preserving the building. A typewriter

1419-543: Was carried out by William Mayes of the firm of Mayes and Oliver . G. N. Wright was one of the contractors. In 1873, the University of Arkansas purchased Van Osdel's plans for the University Hall at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (demolished in 1938) and erected an identical structure. The contract to construct the Hall was signed by the superintendent of public instruction, Joseph Carter Corbin, who

1462-673: Was designed by Meyer, Scherer and Rockcastle, Ltd. of Minneapolis and was opened in October 2004. The library was the first building in Arkansas to register with the U.S. Green Building Council , in June 2001, and achieved the silver LEED designation in 2006. To earn this designation the library employed many green-design techniques. The library was built a few blocks away from the Fayetteville Historic Square , making it

1505-700: Was elected into office in 1900. He was aware of the need for a new courthouse, and when the Courthouse and Jail Committee of the Levying Court deemed the current 1868 brick courthouse "unfitted for the business of the county, unsafe and not worthy of repair", the Judge proposed raising money for a new building. In 1902, the City of Fayetteville passed a resolution giving $ 5,000 to the Courthouse Sinking Fund in exchange for office space within

1548-485: Was erected in the rear courtyard of the building. President Bill Clinton gave a much-anticipated speech at the dedication ceremony. In 1879, the first official bell for Old Main was installed. That bell still exists today, but is no longer in regular use. The last two times it was used was when it rang 10 times in 1985 to mark the $ 10 million received through donations for the restoration process and in July 1989 to mark

1591-417: Was established in 1905 by president John Tillman. Each year, all graduates have their name carved into the sidewalk that circles, and cuts through campus. The walk begins directly in front of Old Main with the first graduating class, of 1876. The south tower was originally designed to have a clock, however, one was not installed until the 2005 renovation. Although there was no clock face, the building did have

1634-821: Was installed which would slide out and close protective fire doors from concealed storage areas on each floor, effectively sealing the stairwell off. In the original building, stairwells were also sited at either end of the central "shotgun" hallway. These were closed off during the 1986–1991 restoration. Additional stairwells were sited at the ends of the wings, again to conform to building codes. The original 19th century Corinthian iron columns, featured prominently in almost all photographs of Old Main's wings, remain in place to this day. To conform to building codes, all but one floor's worth have been reinforced with welded steel and encased in fireproof boxes. The original columns in Giffels Auditorium were preserved in

1677-481: Was partially due to heroic actions during the Civil War , when county records were stored in a cave near Black Oak while the second courthouse was burned. As a result, Washington County held more records than most counties in the area. A 1945 proposal to construct a new courthouse was voted down by citizens who pointed out that Washington County still owed money to George Donaghey from the 1904 construction, and felt

1720-548: Was renovated into a courtroom, but by 1979, the vaults were again too small. Newly elected County Judge Charles Johnson began large renovations, including brand-new plumbing, and removal of ad hoc offices which had been built in the hallways. An even larger renovation began in 1989 with architecture firm Witsell, Evans & Rosco. On December 12, 1989, the county purchased the First South Centre at 280 North College Avenue for $ 3.3 million. The First South Centre became

1763-423: Was repaired again, and the courthouse again had complaints about too little space. Parking became scarce in the 1950s and County Judge Arthur Martin attempted to raise support for a new courthouse and jail. The grand jury returned to cite a non-fireproof vault, poor heating/cooling systems, dangerous electrical systems, inadequate office space, and records in hallways, outdoor porches, or missing. The following year,

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1806-662: Was the highest elected African American official in Arkansas during Reconstruction. Most of the building materials used in Old Main came from local areas, because the nearest river port was 60 miles away and the nearest railroad was 150 miles away. 136 miles of lumber came by oxen-drawn wagons from the Peter Van Winkle Sawmill near historic War Eagle Mill in Benton County . The red exterior bricks were made from clay dug on campus and fired in kilns built west of Old Main. The brown sandstone used for

1849-519: Was used for record keeping. Circuit court first met in the courthouse in April 1905, weeks prior to the official opening on May 4. The courthouse had many construction problems in its early years, including the closing of the hydraulic elevator, rotting of basement floorboards, birds in the bell tower, and eventually too many occupants. After relations and space grew tighter, the County Judge ordered

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