The QQA Chronicle: 4th Quarter, October 2024

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Vol 4 | October 2024                                      QQA Chronicle

Falling for Preservation

The Autumn season brings much to the table

In this edition:

  • ADVOCACY
    • Ringo Street Replatting
    • Pike-Fletcher-Terry Mansion updates
  • EDUCATION
    • October's Preservation Conversation
    • 5H Club meeting announcement
  • DEVELOPMENT
    • New Executive Director, Tricia Bean
    • New Board Secretary, Allison Fuller
    • Annual Membership Meeting & Awards

Advocacy

1516 S. Ringto Street

We had previously asked our members to contact the Little Rock Planning Commission and its Staff to voice their disapproval of a replat of a lot at 1516 S Ringo Street. The developer tore down one of the Bush Family houses (Mosaic Templar Fraternal Organization fame) and had wanted to subdivide the lot so that three 15-foot wide houses can be built.

We are pleased to share that the request has been withdrawn and no more letters should be sent at this time. We thank our members, supporters, and community for standing together for this decision. 

We will be monitoring the situation and providing updates to our members and supporters. 

ringo st pre demo

Previous Bush family home standing at 1516 S Ringo Street

ringo post demo

Photos showing 1516 Ringo Street before and after the home was demolished on May 16, 2024,  courtesy of preservearkansas.org

Update for Pike-Fletcher-Terry Mansion

It is with great pleasure that we share the successful resolution regarding  the historic Pike-Fletcher-Terry House. After a long and complex journey, the Little Rock Board of Directors has authorized a settlement that will return this treasured property to the heirs of Adolphine Fletcher Terry and Mary Fletcher Drennan, the original donors of the mansion. 

This outcome is not only a victory for the heirs but a meaningful step in honoring the legacy and historic significance of this extraordinary property. Built in 1840, the mansion has played a pivotal role in Little  Rock’s history—from its original owner, Albert Pike, to the Fletcher and Terry families, whose  connections to Pulitzer Prize-winning poet John Gould Fletcher Jr. and U.S. Representative David Dickson Terry further underscore its cultural and historical importance. Additionally, the mansion served as a key  meeting place during the 1957 desegregation crisis, where the "Women’s Emergency Committee to  Open Our Schools" gathered in support of reopening Little Rock Central High School. 

The settlement signifies the rightful return of this estate to the family who originally entrusted it to the City in 1964. Susan Terry Borne, one of the heirs, has graciously expressed her family’s gratitude and  commitment to stabilizing the mansion and finding a future use that aligns with her ancestors’ original vision for the community’s benefit. 

We are thrilled to see this chapter conclude with the property’s return to the family and look forward to witnessing its preservation and revitalization in a manner befitting its rich heritage. This is a victory for  all who cherish history and preservation, and it serves as a reminder of the lasting importance of safeguarding the cultural treasures within our city. 

Thank you for your continued support and dedication to preserving the rich legacy of Little Rock’s historic properties.

sunroom terry mansion-friends of the terry mansion

View of the sunroom of the Terry Mansion. Photo courtesy of Friends of the Terry Mansion 

Female_College_Terry mansion

Arkansas Female College (Pike-Fletcher-Terry House) at 411 E. 7th Street in Little Rock; circa 1870-1880.

Courtesy of the CALS Butler Center for Arkansas Studies, Central Arkansas Library System

Education

October Preservation Conversation: Navigating Tax Credits with Antoinette Johnson, PhD

Johnson Consulting, LLC is a design company with extensive experience in interior design and historic preservation.  The firm works in collaboration with architects, contractors, developers, and property owners to provide services for those interested in restoring historic buildings or building new structures with character.  The firm also provides services for property owners or communities interested in having buildings listed in the National Register of Historic Places and has a strong background in historic architectural research and material culture.

Toni Johnson Preservation conversation

Antoinette Johnson, PhD

Johnson Consulting, llc:  

Historic Preservation and Design

501-350-5931

www.johnsondesignconsulting.com

 

When:

Wednesday, October 9, 2024

5:30 p.m. Reception

6:00 p.m. Program

Where:

The Mixing Room at the Paint Factory

1306 East 6th Street, Little Rock AR

Development

Change in Leadership

A thanks to our Interim, and a welcome to our new Director

As many of you were aware, the QQA underwent a series of leadership changes back in November of 2023. We welcomed Brian Minyard as interim director, which he served until mid-September of 2024. He brought immense experience from his time working with the City of Little Rock, and was a phenomenal figure to lean on in this time of transition.

Tricia is an accomplished brand strategist and business development expert with a unique ability to connect organizations with diverse audiences through immersive, multicultural experiences. Living in a historic building herself, she is immersed in the preservation of our historic places and cultural heritage. Her passion for preserving the past was evident as she volunteered for the 2023 Quapaw Quarter Association Tour of Homes, but her commitment doesn't stop there. Tricia has also made her mark in Atlanta, Georgia, where she played a vital role in the Kirkwood Spring Fling and Tour of Homes. She is a true champion of our historical legacy and work to invigorate our historic neighborhoods.  

The QQA Also welcomes Allison Fuller as our new board Secretary

Originally from Mobile, Alabama, Allison moved to Little Rock in 2008 and immediately fell in love with the downtown area.  The old homes had such character – she had always dreamed of buying an old "fixer-upper".  In 2010, when Allison was 6 months pregnant, they took the leap.  Allison and her husband purchased and renovated their first home in the Quapaw Quarter - a 1917 Craftsman. 

IMG_6107 (1)

 In 2022, the family decided to upgrade to more space and found a 1920 Craftsman English Revival that had good bones, but needed quite a bit of TLC.  The whole family lived in the 220 square foot carriage house for 14 months while the home was restored.  In Allison's free time she enjoys baking and eating out – "I love supporting our local restaurant scene."  You can also find Allison spending time with her family at one of the local theatres or museums or out walking her dogs.  "I'm excited to be a part of the QQA Board and look forward to helping preserve greater Little Rock's historic places."

Annual Membership Meeting and Preservation Awards

2024 Membership Meeting to be held November 21st

Please join us for the annual Membership Meeting. We will re-elect board members, discuss future plans, and present our 2024 Preservation Awards to the individuals and teams that make preservation happen in the Greater Little Rock area. More details to come. This event is free and encouraged for all QQA members.