Historic Districts & Homes
Camden hosts three National Register Historic Districts, together covering multiple blocks lying north and west of the city center. They are the Washington Street District, the Clifton and Greening Streets District and the recently recognized Spring-Harrison District,
The Washington Street and Clifton and Greening Districts were recognized respectively in 1997 and 2009, notable for illustrating four periods of major residential building activity in Camden and for exhibiting multiple architectural styles within some of the periods. The most prominent waves of building can be designated of as “the “Riverboat era” (before the Civil War); “the Railroad era“ (1880’s -1920); “the South Arkansas oil boom years” (1920s -1940s); and “the World War II and postwar defense industry boom years” (1940s 1950s)
Greek Revival architecture was dominant in the Riverboat era. Railroad era (“turn of the century”) styles included Queen Anne, Colonial Revival, and Classical Revival. The Oil Boom era included a rich variety of styles -Italian , English (Tudor) and Spanish Colonial revival as well as the prolific and distinctive Craftsman style. The WWII and postwar themes were most often Minimal Traditional (Plain Traditional).
The newly recognized Spring -Harrison District is an almost wholly Craftsman area, with most structures dating from the oil boom era. Those blocks, with a number of vacant houses, offer opportunities for rehabilitation projects, which can be facilitated by historic rehabilitation tax credits.
(A) – Clifton & Greening Streets National Register Historic District
The homes reflect several eras of Camden homebuilding from the 1890s – 1950s turn of the century era, the oil boom wave, World War II and postwar building. Queen Anne, Colonial Revival, Classical Revival, Craftsman, Tudor and Minimal Traditional styles are displayed within a few blocks, this includes the notable Ramsey-McClellan house at 210 Cleveland and The Ritchie-Crawford house at 430 Clifton.
The Sid Umsted House
404 Washington
The 1923 Umsted house is Camden’s quintessential “oil boom” house—built in the first flush of the 1920’s South Arkansas oil boom by Sid Umsted, a key figure in the “discovery well” of the fabled Smackover Field. With its mission shaped parapet, full width porch supported by massive square piers, wide overhanging eaves and a ceramic tile roof, it has the marks of Mission Revival style, a distinctive touch for the area.
The J.H Meek House
542 Washington
A striking Italian Renaissance style is offered by the 1927 home of banker J.H Meek, which is now elegantly decorated and presented by Manuel Maldonado and William Gilchrist. A low pitched roof covered with ceramic tiles, decorative brackets under wide overhanging eaves, and classical columns framing the porch entrance impart Italianate flavor . The construction of the house is distinguished by its one piece timber framing, with heavy members cut from tall trees.
The Powell Dietrich House
305 California
Built in 1859 by prominent cotton trade merchant Ben T. Powell, this house was occupied by Union military leadership for a brief period during the occupation of Camden in 1864. After remaining in the Powell family for several decades, it served as the home for several prominent families before being purchased in 2000 by Dr. Fred Dietrich, who after restoring it, has shared it as a venue for private and public events.
The Ramsey-McClellan House
210 Cleveland Avenue
One of Arkansas’ most striking homes, the Ramsey McClellan house was built for banker, investor and civic leader W.K Ramsey in 1902. Decades later, it was the residence of John McClellan when he was first elected to what would be an extensive career in the U.S Senate. The house was designed for Mr. Ramsey by Charles Thompson, one of Arkansas’ premier early twentieth century architects, whose works are revered across the state.
The Ritchie Crawford House
430 Clifton
This home was completed in 1909 for businessman Walter Ritchie. It offers a striking display of Classical Revival style, featuring full height fluted columns supporting the roof of a two story porch.
Above the porch is a classical pediment punctuated by an in-filled ox eye window. In subsequent decades the home was owned by Clyde and Maud Crawford. It was from this house that Mrs. Crawford, an attorney, mysteriously disappeared one night in March of 1957. Her disappearance is one of Arkansas' most talked about unsolved mysteries.
The Eldridge Greening House
512 Greening
The Greening house, the namesake house for Greening Street, is the oldest house in the Clifton and Greening Streets Historic District. Although not as flamboyantly ornamental as some other Queen Anne structures, that genre is nonetheless evident in the gable arrangement (dominant front facing gable emerging from a hipped roof with intersecting side gables), a bay projection on the west side, fish scale shingles in the front gable, and belt courses accenting the walls.
The Lato Duplex
4O5 Greening and 140 California
This corner duplex at Greening Street and California Avenue, as well as two adjoining duplexes on Greening to the west were built by a corporate entity, Lato Properties, in 1943. Its build was likely due to the anticipation of a huge defense plant development to be located across the Ouachita River. This Naval Ammunition Depot, employing thousands of workers (where major defense plants are located today) would boost the local economy through the Korean War in the early 1950s.
The John Hobson Parker House
526 Clifton
This home was completed in 1903 for John Hobson Parker, who was the Ouachita County Clerk then Sheriff before leaving Camden to become a federal Marshall in Ft. Smith. Upon his death, his wife returned to live in the house. The structure reflects Queen Anne influence in its asymmetrical facade, a bay projection, and in gable and porch ornamentation including turned spindles as porch supports.
The W R Parker House
3O4 Cleveland Ave. NW
This house was completed in 1907 as a wedding present from W.R. Parker to his wife Lula. It has remained in the family through three generations. “It was the house that just kept growing," was the family lore as new wings, rooms or porches were added to accommodate growing and changing family circumstances. Colonial Revival and Craftsman influences can be discerned; depending on the era of the modification, the main influence was “practical."
The Henry Berg House
222 Dallas
This house was completed in 1909 for Henry Berg and his wife
Rose, who were among the town's most prominent residents in the mid -twentieth century. Mr. Berg was a bank president, an investor in real estate, oil and timber and a patron of civic causes. Originally a frame Victorian structure, the house was enhanced in the 1930s with stucco cladding accented by quoin design at the corners.
(B) - Washington Street National Register Historic District
District includes five blocks of Washington Street, all of Graham Street, and five blocks of Agee Street. Homes represent the sweep of Camden homebuilding from the pre-Civil War riverboat period through the Victorian era, the oil boom era and the post World War II defense industry boom. Presents Greek Revival, Queen Anne, Colonial Revival, Classical Revival, Craftsman, Italian Revival, English Revival, Mission Revival and Plain Traditional style all displayed in Camden’s most historic neighborhood.
The John Sifford House
636 Graham
An example of Colonial Revival architecture and the oldest surviving house on Graham Street, the Sifford house was built for prominent lawyer John Sifford and his wife Dora. Dora was very active in civic causes and especially in city beautification the early decades of the twentieth century.
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The McCollum Chidester House
926 Washington
Was built in 1859 by prominent cotton trade merchant Ben T. Powell and was occupied by Union military leadership for a brief period during the occupation of Camden in 1864. After remaining in the Powell family for several decades, it served as the home for several prominent families before being purchased in 2000 by Dr. Fred Dietrich who, after restoring it, has shared it as a venue for private and public events.
The H.B Lide House
522 Washington
One of the earliest Craftsman houses in Camden (1916) and one of the most highly styled, the H.B. Lide house was built for a prominent department store owner. It’s Crafstman style flourishes are exhibited in exposed rafter tails, tapered porch piers partly constructed with field stone, barge rafters, and multiphane windows, some with diamond design. Current owners, Dani Cothren and Angel Rodgers have effected recent interior renovations to provide more openness and light.
The Elliott-Meek House
761 Washington
One of four pre civil war structures within a block, this house was completed in 1859 for merchant and lawyer James Elliott and remained in his family into the 20th century. It was then sold to the Albert Meek family who remained there for decades. As was the case with many other stylish houses of era, the house reflected Greek revival influence, typified by a low pitch hip roof, a full length colonnaded porch with Doric capitals.
The Brown-Reynolds House
608 Washington
First built in 1902 for a young businessman Edward M. Brown. After his premature death, the home was acquired in 1913 by the J.D. Reynolds family, investors in timber and oil, and remained in that family for decades. Its primary architectural influence is Queen Anne, a “turn of the century” style noted for elaborate ornamentation, often with asymmetrical elements. Bay projections, the corner turret, elaborate gable ornamentation, and shingles used as wall cladding are illustrative Queen Anne features. It is now owned by the Thomas Taylor family.
The Graham Gaughan-Betts House
710 Washington
Truly one of Camden’s historic showplaces, the Graham -Gaughan - Betts house was built in the days of “riverboat" prosperity in 1858, just before the Civil War. Its first owners were Major Joseph Graham and his wife, Mary who reportedly modeled it after a favorite home in the Carolinas.
The Morgan-Dietrich House
807 Washington
Built in the oil boom days in 1927 by businessman John Henry Morgan, this home is an excellent example of Tudor style (English Revival) architecture. Tudor features include steeply pitched gables, decorative half timbering, a massive and ornamental chimney, and window groupings with multi-pane windows.