-
(Photograph by Ruth Hawkins)
The Women’s Library Association built this two-story Second Empire building to house a library they had assembled in one of their homes. Contractors Raenhart and Simon constructed the library. The brick walls are painted a deep rose color, the trim is white, and delicate brick detailing highlights the segmental-arched windows of the first story and the door. Paired dormer windows are on all sides of the mansard roof. The Second Empire style is unusual in Arkansas, but its use here gives an institutional formality to a building that otherwise would be rather residential in character. Inside is a large room with an encircling wooden balcony. A one-and-a-half-story addition at the southwest corner to house a museum is recessed from the library building and respects the original design with a similar low-key style with a segmental-arched entrance and brick pilasters. Later additions are to the rear. The library has relocated, and the museum occupies the entire building.