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Jacksonport AR, historic county courthouse, 1872 - 1892, Newport AR

By Barbara S. Duncan

Real Estate Agent with RE/MAX Advantage

February 24, 2014 09:15 AM

Real estate can be trying. Real estate can be fun. But real estate is never boring! Daughter Valerie Canepa and I had to go to Jacksonport Arkansas to check on a property. I had never heard of Jacksonport and neither had she. We found it just on the other side of Newport Arkansas. (Jacksonport served as an important steamboat stop and trading center at the confluence of the White River and Black River, until being bypassed by the Iron Mountain and Southern Railroad shortly after becoming county seat, according to Wikipedia.)

Today, it is a city of about 212 folks and it is right beside Jacksonport State Park. Jacksonport State Park covers 164.7 acres and has 20 campsites, playgrounds, pavilions, a swimming beach and it is located along the White River. And best of all, it has this fantastic old historic courthouse because Jacksonport was the home of county government from 1872 to 1892.

Look at it! It is so impressive sitting there starkly with no landscaping just as if it was newly constructed.

Jacksonport AR courthouse

And I found this exterior building quite interesting. Question? Are these outdoor facilities because there was no indoor plumbing? I have got to go back when I can take a tour of this great old building! And why are there three doors?

Outhouses?

So our real estate journey led us to new adventures and places we'd never been! And we are eager to return to Jacksonport!

Re-Blog

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Sharon & Bruce Walter

Keller Williams Realty Lafayette, IN - Lafayette, IN

West Lafayette homes for sale

Barbara, what a great looking building! Love the brick and arched windows! That three door outbuilding is very interesting!

Feb 24, 2014 09:48 AM

Barbara S. Duncan

RE/MAX Advantage - Searcy, AR

GRI, e-PRO, Executive Broker, Searcy AR

Sharon and Bruce, I did a double-take when I saw it because it was SO beautiful.

Feb 24, 2014 09:03 PM

Anonymous

Harold Gene Sullivan

Thanks, Barbara. I have always heard of Jacksonport as it was important in the Civil War but didn't realize that anything still existed from it. I just assumed that Newport had taken its place. What a history lesson.

Feb 25, 2014 04:11 AM

Harold Gene, when back in Arkansas you need to drive over and see the tiny town and the big building!

Feb 25, 2014 09:00 PM

Leah

Barbara, it's a wonderful museum. You have to go back and visit. One of my favorite childhood paces.

Feb 25, 2014 09:48 PM

Anita Fuller

Next time you're in Jacksonport, go first to NEWPORT and take a photo of the Jackson Co. Court House.....it's very similar to this one. I was (in another life) the supervisor of the Health Dept. which was housed in the court house. Up until the late 70's, they still had a coke machine ...dispensing bottle cokes for 5 cents. The older County Nurse wore house slippers. I thought that was hilarious and of course 'allowed' her to do it. MY supervisors would have had a fit and fallen in it, if they knew.

Feb 25, 2014 10:16 PM

Don Thompson

Donthomp Associates - Sunnyvale, CA

That is delightful. Thank you Barbara for the interesting pic and thank you Anita for the story. I had to refresh my memory of crescent moons in outhouse doors and found that the sun was used for males and moon for females but the moon became more popular. The history of signs and symbols says the moon is usually represented as the feminine power, the Mother Goddess, Queen of Heaven, with the sun as the masculine version.

Feb 26, 2014 09:08 AM

Leah, I do want to go back. I love the old buildings.

Anita, last weekend they were holding a big art exhibit and several of the buildings were open but I don't remember the courthouse. We went into the old depot and a train passed by while we were in there. I had no idea you'd lived in Newport!

So Don, were these outhouse doors? I definitely need to do more exploring at this place.

Feb 26, 2014 09:25 AM

Mqry Dunn

Jacksonport was also where most- perhaps all -of the sightings and/or evidence of the "White River Monster" took place. the White River monster was the area's answer to the Loch Ness Monster.

Feb 26, 2014 08:38 PM

Mary! I did not know that! That calls for a little more investigating. If the papers had mentioned where it was I would have been ignorant since I didn't know where Jacksonport was! Thanks for that bit of info.

Feb 26, 2014 08:57 PM

Barbara: I did NOT live in Newport....I lived in Jonesboro, and was the area Public Health Supervisor for surroundings counties: Jackson County being one. (also Independence, Sharp, Poinsett, Greene, Crittenden, Mississippi, Lee, Craighead......) TMI AGAIN. I had forgotten about the "White River Monster" so thank you, Mary....

Feb 26, 2014 10:23 PM

#11

Mary Dunn

Wow, Anita!! That's a huge territory. Maybe 1/4 of the state? And except for Jonesboro and West Memphis very rural. What years were you there? I worked at the Welfare Department in Poinsett County from 64 to 69. I think I remember you and Bob being in Jonesboro either while I was ASU or after I started in Poinsett County. Our paths may have crossed and we didn't even know it.

Feb 26, 2014 11:26 PM

#12

Anita, that sounds impressive. In fact, I did not know that you had all that impressive work history. I think that I will nominate your for the same position that I nominated Bob for! Send me your complete resume' so I can do it up really well....

Feb 27, 2014 01:59 AM

Mary, I was their then...so possibly our paths DID cross. The health dept. was in the courthouse.

Feb 27, 2014 10:51 PM

#14

Jacksonport AR, historic county courthouse, 1872 - 1892, Newport AR

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