Listed in Arkansas Register of Historic Places on 03/06/96

SUMMARY

Constructed in 1894 by the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, Thornsberry Church is located west of Tontitown in Washington County at the northwest corner of County Roads 60 and 88 just north of U.S. Highway 412. The church is a single-story, one-room, wood-frame structure that rests upon a continuous fieldstone foundation. The cornerstone imbedded in the foundation is inscribed with "May The 4th 1894." The original weatherboard-clad walls have recently been covered by vinyl siding. The end gable roof is sheathed with brown composition shingles, which are interrupted by a brick chimney protruding through the ridgeline at the front of the building.

ELABORATION

In September, 1860, James and Bethena Weems deeded a little over six acres to the Methodist Episcopal Church, South for the sum of $5.00. A cemetery already existed on the land, and plans were made to construct a church to be named for two pioneer Methodist ministers in Northwest Arkansas, Martin and Walter Thornsberry. Later, in 1887, William and Octavia Holland donated an adjacent tract of land with the stipulation ". . . about one acre is reserved for a campground."

"All Day Meetin's," as they were known, at the Thornsberry Campground soon attracted large numbers of participants. At the height of the meetings' popularity, there were approximately thirty log cabins on the campground that had been built and owned by those who attended the religious services. These services usually lasted for ten days, and included various programs and events including baptismals, which were held on Sunday afternoon in a wide spot of the nearby Osage Creek. In addition to the cabins, a forty by sixty feet "camp shed" was located on the premises.

The nominated property was constructed in 1894 and used for both regulars services and in conjunction with the campground meetings. Apparently, the extended campground meetings had ceased by the middle 1920's, and smaller "brush arbor meetings" held instead. The church remained active until 1960 when regular services were discontinued. Today, only the church and cemetery remain. Both are maintained by the Thornsberry Cemetery Association with funds in part from an estate trust.

Thornsberry Church is being nominated to the Arkansas Register of Historic Places as an excellent example of a late nineteenth century Plain Traditional-style, one-room, wood-frame church with dual front entrances. Unfortunately, the recent addition of vinyl siding over the entire exterior has rendered the church ineligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Information submitted by Dr. A. P. Vohs, Thornsberry Cemetery Association, September 1995.