Spring Street History (page 1)
The years of grandeur for Eureka Springs were 1885-1910. The town grew from the rough and tumble boomtown of 1879 into an elegant spa with proper buildings, many of them constructed from locally quarried limestone. An infrastructure was put in place with a railroad, central public water supply and sewer system, streets, sidewalks, public transportation, streetlights, police and fire departments and other modern city improvements.
In 1904, Eureka Springs was home to about 5,000 residents, over twice the current population. The business mix included
14 physicians, six dentists, 18 grocery stores, two bakeries, two candy manufacturing companies, six dry goods
stores, two milliners, two tailors, five photo studios and nine jewelry stores. Additionally, there were numerous
livery stables, laundries, bookstore, shoe store, two successful banks and several undertakers.
Great Fires
With tightly packed buildings surrounded by forests and difficult access, fire has always been a menace to Eureka Springs. In the early years several great fires dramatically changed the streetscape and architecture of the town. In response, the city laws were changed to require new construction be of brick or stone in the central business district. Although several of these buildings were also lost to fire later, it helped with the problem.
Fire of 1883 began at foot of Mountain Street, burned up both sides and over to Eureka Street, at that time a commercial area located above Basin Spring. This fire burned 75 homes in a five-acre area.
Fire of 1888 began
near Sweet Spring and burned south to the Perry House by Basin Spring, destroying most of the structures on Spring
Street. This core area of downtown was not filled in again completely until 1914. As you walk, notice that most
of the cornices have dates after 1888.
Fire of 1890 began at the Perry House (now site of Basin Park Hotel), swept down the hill to Main
Street -- burning original Grand Central Hotel and everything between -- then went south to the junction of Main
and Spring Street.
Fire of 1892 burned from the intersection of Main & Spring south to the Calif Spring area
(now the ES Historical Museum).
Limestone
Limestone is deeply woven into the fabric of Eureka Springs. Most of the city’s fine limestone walls were erected
before 1910, primarily using stone from a quarry near Beaver (six miles north). It was transported by railroad
and horse-drawn wagons. The total mileage of walls is estimated to be between 44 and 75. Many of these walls
were built with the “drystack method” using skill and gravity instead of mortar, and they are still standing
tall. Limestone is also used for entire buildings, foundations, accents, sidewalks and benches. And of course,
the cragged limestone bluffs form a scenic backdrop for much of the streetscape. Since 1970 even more walls have
been built in restoration efforts by modern stonemasons as skilled as those who first arrived in 1880.
Spring Street: A turn-of-the-century edition of the Daily Times-Echo stated “We remember when Spring Street, now the principal thoroughfare of the city, was but a slanting road, and so narrow that two ordinary wagons could hardly pass without danger of being overturned.” This street winds through the central commercial district into the elegant residential area beyond Crescent Spring where it was originally called “The Boulevard.”
Basin Spring This is the spring around which the town developed and it is still the heart. Long known to Native Americans and early hunters, its healing powers were made public in 1879 by Alvah Jackson and Dr. Saunders from Berryville. Overnight the area became a boom town which was named “Eureka Springs” from the Greek word meaning “I have found it!” on July 4, 1879.
Basin Bath House was first built in 1879 by Thomas Jackson, son of Alvah Jackson. It burned in 1890 and was relocated across the street, then rebuilt in brick and limestone. After another fire in the 1980s it was restored and still stands proudly today with its original pedestrian bridge to the park.
Southern Hotel stood on the south side above the park. It was built 1880, enlarged to 100 rooms by 1885 and continued to have additions, renovations, and upgrades until it burned 1933.
Park improvements began in 1890 when the walls, fountain and concrete were installed. The statue is Memorial Tribute to residents who fought in WWI. There is an ancient bluff shelter above the park, but take care walking the paths.
Bandshell was built in 1915, replacing a smaller structure on north end of park. In early days brass bands gave daily and weekly performances. For over three decades hometown musicians called The Hillfolk performed traditional Ozark music and comedy here. The Bandshell is still used to offer free music. Artists and buskers are also welcome to set up their wares and instruments in the park.
Basin Spring water was used on site for healing. Originally it flowed into a rough stone basin, then through pipes into barrels, then into a fountain. Additionally, from the beginning the sale of this water was an important business. It was delivered house to house by water wagon and shipped all over the U.S.
Perry House stood on the north edge of the park where the Basin Park Hotel is now located. Built in 1881, it was known as a “fine house, furnished throughout in the best manner,” but it burned in 1890.
Basin Park Hotel was the last of the great hotels built here. Constructed in 1905 on the site and of similar design as the famous Perry House, the cost was around $50,000. It boasted 100 guest rooms, spacious parlors and dens and a top floor sun parlor, billiard room and ballroom. It was also fitted with electric lights, steam heat, and telephone in each room. In 1970s the top floor was a museum of an assortment of oddities which included one of Elvis\ Presley’s Lincolns, which had to be removed by crane when the hotel was sold. The adjoining gallery was a popular coffee shop for many decades.
East side across from Basin Park. The first building is noted for having five addresses! The adjacent stairs are Basin Spring Avenue, once an important link between Spring and Main Street and still an open city street. As evidenced by the photo of Basin Park, this block was comprised of two-story buildings in the 1890s. It offered a variety of business such as gent’s furnishings, fine stationery, cigars and tobacco and a railroad ticket exchange. The lower levels had a bowling alley.