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A street in Kensett Arkansas, small town near Searcy Arkansas. Front Street.

By Barbara S. Duncan

Real Estate Agent with RE/MAX Advantage

November 25, 2011 03:23 AM

Front Street Kensett Ar

Front Street, Kensett Arkansas, probably no longer exists. I searched a map of Kensett, which is a small town of approximately 1900 people just a minute away from Searcy Arkansas, and found no Front Street on the map.

I suspect, however, that it was the main drag at some time in the past. I found this picture somewhere and saved it on my computer. Perhaps the Seary Sleuths can tell us more about the photo.

Interesting to me is that it looks so much like a town out of a Western movie and is that man on the porch one-legged?

I just love these old pictures!!

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Anonymous

former Searcian

Isn't it interesting that the "N" in Kensett is backwards?

Nov 25, 2011 04:12 AM

David Gibson CNE, 719-304-4684 ~ Colorado Springs Relocation

Colorado Real Estate Advisers LLC - Colorado Springs, CO

Relocation, Luxury & Lifestyle residential

Barbara I wonder if it “fronted” the railroad track. Maybe it is where 1st street is today.

Nov 25, 2011 04:47 AM

Barbara S. Duncan

RE/MAX Advantage - Searcy, AR

GRI, e-PRO, Executive Broker, Searcy AR

Former Searcian, I noticed that and thought about how someone with very limited education, probably, painstakingly hand lettered that card or photo. Remember how hard it was to remember which way those danged slants were supposed to go?

David, that would be my guess exactly.

Nov 25, 2011 05:31 AM

Anonymous

Harold Gene Sullivan

I find it interesting that there are no signs or ads on any of the building until one gets to the last on in the block. I wonder if they were newly built. I don't see any clues as to when the picture might have been taken.

Yes, I think the guy is one-legged.

Harold Gene Sullivan

Nov 25, 2011 06:04 AM

Anonymous

Cliff

Very interesting picture. And yes indeed, if you resize the picture by 150% you can plainly see that the man is for a fact one legged. The right pants leg comes to just above the knee, and there is a crutch under each arm.

Nov 25, 2011 12:49 PM

Anonymous

Debbie Wantulok

Barbara...that picture is so cool...comments at our house include: that picture is really clear to be so old...When was Kensett established? 1878 or 1880? Looks like the railroad must have just gone through...notice there are not poles for telephone or telegraph...Is that a livery at the end? It has a large pass through...look at the little kids about 1/2 way down...WOW! that really looks like the WILD West...I love the tin roof's and look at the narrow siding on the one and the wide vertical siding on the other...Yep! He's got one leg alright...Is that store even being used...Is that guy a civil war hero?

Well, Ms. Barbara...we may have all noticed something different but one thing we all agreed on...that's the coolest picture you have shared yet. Great save...they had me save it on our computer too...if photo's could talk...We had lots of stories started at our house from the inspiration of this pic...I hope someone knows "the rest of the story"

Nov 25, 2011 02:49 PM

Barbara S. Duncan

RE/MAX Advantage - Searcy, AR

GRI, e-PRO, Executive Broker, Searcy AR

Harold Gene, it is hard to date the picture and the last building is confusing as to whether there are signs or a drive-through. Blowing it up didn't seem to help me see any more detail.

Cliff, now we wonder how the one-legged man got into the picture. I don't even remember if this was a post-card or picture.

Debbie, you have a fantastic family if they all come to see the pictures on my blog and actually comment! That is togetherness....what all families should have. You pointed out things that I had not noticed, namely the lack of electricity or telephone or telegraph.

Nov 26, 2011 12:36 AM

Anonymous

Jim Bohannon

Barbara, Like some of your other viewers, I too, believe, Front Street in Kensett fronted the railroad tracks. Based on my research, this photo may pre-date 1913. Suggesting the postcard is very old.

My collection of Sanborn Kensett city maps show for the years of 1913, 1919 and 1932 main street on the east side of the railroad tracks was identified as East 1st Street and on the west side of tracks was identified as West 1st Street.

Nov 26, 2011 03:00 AM

Anonymous

Harold Gene Sullivan

Since we are discussing Kensett,, I have a related story. I've been tracing my genealogy on the Internet and heard about a book on the Scots-Irish history in America. It was written by Jim Webb, who was Secretary of the Navy and then Senator from Virginia, titled Born Fighting: How the Scots-Irish Shaped America. By the way, it is a very good book I highly recommend it. Anyway, I was reading it and got most of they way through and came upon a chapter titled "Kensett, Arkansas". What a surprise, see in chapter about such a small town near where I grew up Actually it was his wife who had the Scots-Irish family from Kensett, and her father had trouble getting along with Mr. Mills (Wilber's dad) who owned the bank, general store and "most of the rest of Kensett".

Harold Gene Sullivan

Nov 26, 2011 07:07 AM

Barbara S. Duncan

RE/MAX Advantage - Searcy, AR

GRI, e-PRO, Executive Broker, Searcy AR

Jim, I think your research proves what the Sleuths suspect. Bet this card predates 1913 which means it is almost 100 years old. The current map shows no Front Street. Thanks!!

Harold Gene, do you think it was true of most small towns that a few tried to control the whole town? My real estate career dates back so far that Beebe had the reputation of wanting no more people. The city leaders had no reason to try to be progressive and attract new citizens. I do not have any direct evidence to support this but I do remember it. Since then, things have changed in Beebe and the town has grown with lots of new construction and people like to live there....new people too. Sounds strange that the Mills family helped deny growth to Kensett years and years ago.

Nov 27, 2011 02:11 AM

Luke Jones

Garver - Little Rock, AR

If it weren't for the buildings I don't recognize, this photo could almost be modern with an antique filter added. There are a lot of "Front Streets" in rural America that still look like this.

And yeah, usually in my experience a Front Street bordered the railroad or river.

Still amazes me that Kensett was once a major crossroads town for the railroads. Harding kids used to unload there and get bused to Searcy.

Nov 29, 2011 03:48 AM

Barbara S. Duncan

RE/MAX Advantage - Searcy, AR

GRI, e-PRO, Executive Broker, Searcy AR

Luke, I didn't know the kids used to come to Harding from Kensett railroads. That must have been when it was Galloway? But Galloway was for girls only? And you really confuse me with "antique filter" talk. : )

Nov 29, 2011 05:56 AM

Anonymous

Harold Gene Sullivan

Kensett was the closest railroad station to Searcy and was where people from Searcy went to catch the train. I remember going there to catch a train as late as the late 50's. So Harding kids coming to school from other places would take to train to Kensett and then get a ride to Searcy. Probably the college ran a pick-up service to/from Kensett.

Harold Gene Sullivan

Nov 29, 2011 10:32 AM

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