CW0165s nomNPS Form 10-900
(Rev. 8-86)
'Ynited Stataa Department of the Interior
ational Park Service
NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORZC PLACES
REGISTRATION FORM
NU LISTED
1, Name of Property
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historic name: Van Buren Confederate Monument
other nameJsite number: CWOL65S
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2. Location
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street & number: Courthouse Lawn Cat the courthouse's northern side,
facins Main Street)
not for publication: N/A
city/town: Van Buren vicinity: NJA
state: county: Crawford code : AR 033 zip code: 72956
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3. Classification ........................................................................... ...........................................................................
Ownership of Property: Public-local
Category of Property: Obi ect
Number of Resources within Property:
Contributing Noncontributing
buildings
sites
structures
objects
0 Total
Number of contributing resources previously listed in the National
Register: NJA
Name of related multiple property listing: "Somethins So Dim It Must Be
Holy:" Civil War Commemorative Sculwture in Arkansas, 1886-1934
4. State/Federal Agency Certification
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As the designated authority under the National Historic Preservation Act
-f 1986, as amended, I hereby certify that this X nomination
equest for determination of eligibility meets the documentation
"standards for registering properties in the National Register of
Historic Places and meets the procedural and professional requirements
set forth in 36 CFR Part 60. In my opinion, the property X meets
does not meet the National Register Criteria. See continuation
A* sthi% 34-94
tifying official Date
Arkansas Historic Preservation Prosram
State or Federal agency and bureau
In my opinion, the property X meets does not meet the National
Register criteria. - See continuation sheet.
Signature of commenting or other official Date
State or Federal agency and bureau
........................................................................... ........................................................................... '. National Park Service Certification --------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
I, hereby certify that this property is:
- entered in the National Register - See continuation sheet.
determined eligible for the
National Register - See continuation sheet.
determined not eligible for the
National Register
removed from the National Register
(explain)
Signature of Keeper Date
of Action
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6. Function as Use
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Historic: RECREATION AND CULTURE Sub: MonumentJrnarker
Jurrent: .RECREATION AND CULTURE Sub: Monuntentjmarker
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Architectural Classification:
Other Description: NSA
Materials: foundation CONCRETE / STONE /Marble roof
walls STONE/M~~~~~
N/A
other
Describe present and historic physical appearance. - See continuation
sheet.
The Van Buren Confederate Monument is located on the northwest side of the
Crawford County Courthouse at 3rd and Main Sts. The sculpture, made of
Italian marble, depicts a bearded and caped uniformed Confederate soldier
shielding his eyes with his proper left hand, while his proper right arm
points downward parallel to his body and holds a rifle to the ground. His
proper right leg is placed before his proper left as if walking. The base
consists of a concrete slab supporting a marble nonf luted shaft and an ornate
capital with volutes supports the figure of the soldier. The northwest face
of the column features an inscription of a classical female f ig-ure flanked by
:he Confederate national and battle flags, while the United Daughters of the
Confederacy seal is inscribed on the southeast face of the column. The
dimensions of the sculpture are 6'~1'6~x1'6~; the base is 15'~6'6"x6"6".
Elaboration
The Confederate Monument of Van Buren is located on the northwest side of the
Crawford County Courthouse at 3rd and Main Sts. The sculpture, made of
Italian marble, depicts a bearded and caped uniformed Confederate soldier
ahielding his eyes with his proper left hand, while his proper right arm
points downward parallel to his body and holds a rifle to the ground. His
proper right leg is placed before his proper left as if walking. The base
consists of a concrete slab supporting a marble nonf luted shaft and an ornate
capital with volutes supports the figure of the soldier. The northwest face
of the column features an inscription of a classical female figure flanked by
the Confederate national and battle flags, while the United Daughters of the
Confederacy seal is inscribed on the southeast face of the column. The
dimensions of the sculpture are 6'~1'6~'x1'6"; the base is 15'x6'6"~6'6~.
The northwest face of the base has two crossed Confederate flags with the
inscription "1899 / FURLED BUT NOT FORGOTTEN / 1861 C.S.A. 1865. / ERECTED BY
THE MARY LEE CHAPTER / UNITED DAUGHTERS / OF THE / CONFEDERACY"
Inscribed om the southwest face was "BATTLES / OAK HILL / AWG. 10, 1861.
ELK HORN / MARCH 6 TO 8, 1862. / PRAIRIE GROVE / DEC. 7, 1862. / CAPT. S.
CHURCHILL CLARKE / MISSOURI BATTERY NO. 2 / KILLED AT ELK HORN. / MARCH 6,
1892, / AGED 20 YERRS.''
On the southeast face of the base was "THE CONFEDERATE STATES OF AMERICA: 22
FEBRUARY 1862 / DEO VfNDICE / HE WINS THE MOST WHO HONOUR SAVES / SUCCESS IS
NOT THE TEST. RYAN. 1 FATE DENIED THEM VICTORY, BUT / CROmD THEM WITH
SLORIOUS IMMORTALITY."
.he northeast face reads "TO OUR / BELOVED / CONFEDERATE / DEAD. / ARKANSAS
/ TEXAS / LOUISIANA / MISSOURI / INDIAN TERRITORY,"
The monument is positioned close to a road in an urban setting. In addition
to extensive black cmsting, it suffers from spalling and sugaring and there
is evidence of structural instability. Also, the tip of the soldier's rifle
has been broken off.
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8. Statement of Significance
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Certifying official has considered the significance of this property in
relation to other properties: Statewide
Applicable National Register Criteria:
Criteria Considerations (~xceptions) : B.F
Areas of Significance: SOCIALHISTORY
leriod{s) of Significance: 1899-1906
Significant Dates: 1899-1906
Significant Person ( s : N/A
Cultural Affiliation: N/ A
ArchitectJBuilder: Unknown
State significance of property, and justify criteria, criteria
considerations, and areas and periods of significance noted above.
- See continuation sheet.
Criterion A, statewide significance
Criterion Consideration B and F
The Van Buren Confederate Monument is associated with the historic context
"Somethinq So Dim Xt Must Be Holyn: Civil. War Commemorative Sculpture in
Arkansas, 1886-1934 as a commemorative monument financed and erected through
:he efforts of an ancestral organization in Arkansas. As such, it is eligible
under Criterion A with statewide significance for its associations with the
efforts of the Mary Lee Chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy
to reflect members' perception of the noble character and valor oE their
veterans and their cause. Thus, it also meets the eligibility requirements of
Criteria Consideration F: Commemorative Properties.
The Van Buren Confederate Monument was sponsored by the Mary Lee Chapter of
the United Daughters of the Confederacy. It was erected at Fairview Cemetery
in honor of the Confederate soldiers who were buried there and those who had
died at the battles of Elk Horn (Pea Ridge) , prairie Grove, and Oak Hill.
The monument was placed over the grave of Capt. S. Churchill Clarke, an
Arkansas soldier who had died at Elk Horn at age 20, at the request of his
brother, one of the project's biggest donors. Sen. James H. Berry and a
Large group of Confederate veterans assembled for the dedication on November
10, 1899, The monument was moved to its current site on August 4, 1906 at
the request of the Sons of the Confederacy. This move was made during the
historic period and has been in its current location for nearly 90 years;
thus, Criterion Consideration B is met.
The Van Buren Confederate Monument is associated with the historic context
nSomethins So Dim It Must Be Holyn: Civil War Comemorative Scul~turs fn
Arkansas, 1886-1934 as a commemorative monument financed and erectee through
the efforts of an ancestral organization in Arkansas. As such, it is eligible
under Criterion A with statewide significance for its associations with the
efforts of the Mary Lee Chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy
to reflect memberst perception of the noble character and valor of their
veterans and their cause. Thus, it also meets the eligibility requirements of
Criteria Consideration F: Commemorative Properties.
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9. Major ~fbliographical References ........................................................................... ----------------------------------------+----------------------------------
Eno, Claxa B., Histom of Crawford Count~, Arkansas, Van Buren, AR: Press
Argus, 1949, pp. 23-25.
- See continuation sheet.
Previous documentation on file {NPS) :
- prel irninary determination of individual listing (36 CFR 67) has been requested.
- previously listed in the National Register
- previously determined eligible by the National Register - designated a National Historic Landmark
- recorded by Historic American Buildings Survey #
- recorded by Historic American Engineering Record #
Primary Location of ~dditional Data:
X State historic preservation office
- Other state agency - Federal agency
- Local government - University
- Other -- Specify Repository:
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10, Geographical Data
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4creage of Property: Less than one
,TM References : Zone Easting Northing Zone Easting Northing
- See continuation sheet.
Verbal Boundary ~escription: - See continuation sheet.
An area around the monument defined by a 25 foot radius centered on the
monument itself.
Boundary Justification: - See continuation sheet.
This boundary includes all the property historically associated with this
resource.
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11. Form Prepared By
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~arnel~itle: John Slater, Swecial Projects lntern/AH~~ Staff
Organization: Arkansas Historic Preservation Prosram Date: 03/08/96
Ztreet & Number: 323 Center Street, Suite 1500 Telephone: (501) 324-9880
City or Town: Little Rock State: Zip: 72201
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