Listed in Arkansas Register of Historic Places on 11/07/01

SUMMARY

The Winthrop School Building is located in the small town of Winthrop (approximately 10 miles north of Foreman) in Little River County. The building is being nominated to the Arkansas Register of Historic Places with local significance under Criterion A for its association with the educational history of the town, and under Criterion C as an example of a large and architecturally noteworthy building in a rural community.

ELABORATION

The arrival of the Kansas City Southern Railroad in 1894 began the boom in growth that transformed Winthrop from a rural community into a town that was incorporated in 1912. The Winthrop boom economy lasted from 1894 until just before the Great Depression. During this time, Winthrop boasted: two hotels, a bakery, a barbershop, a meat market, an icehouse, a telephone exchange, several blacksmith shops, a livery, three drugstores, a bank, two newspapers, and a real estate office. In 1913 the two-story brick Winthrop School Building replaced a much smaller frame building. The school was large enough to accommodate the students of some of the smaller surrounding schools. (Name schools) Later in the late 1940s, the communities of Miller, Oak Grove, and Arkinda also consolidated with the Winthrop School District.

From 1913 until 1926, Winthrop School only educated students up to the eighth grade. After 1927, the school served all twelve grades. According to Chad Gallagher, many of the graduates (approximately three hundred and eighty five) that attended the two story building from 1927 until 1969, have continued their education to be teachers, professors, lawyers, doctors, ministers and professional basketball players. In 1969 a separate Winthrop High School was constructed and the two-story red brick building functioned as an elementary school. A quote from May Smith, a graduate in 1932, in her valedictory speech still holds true, "If we but carry in life the ideas of teaching of the Winthrop School, it cannot fail to bring credit to her, to our country and to ourselves."

As Winthrop’s businesses and commercial buildings deteriorated during the Great Depression and the years afterward, the prominent red brick two-story school became a focal point for the community. It was used for town meetings, community Christmas trees, plays, rallies, beauty pageants, and once for an art exhibit. However, no government elections were held there.

Due to financial considerations, Winthrop was forced to consolidate with the Horatio school system in 1992. At this time the elementary students were moved from the 1913 Winthrop School Building across the street to the 1969 high school building.

In 1993 the city of Winthrop signed a ninety-nine year lease with the Horatio School System for the Winthrop School Building and the Winthrop School Restoration Committee was formed. The committee was formed to insure that the building would continue to serve the community for many generations. Currently the building serves the community in numerous ways: as City Hall, meeting hall, and election facility. Also housed in the building is a Museum/Visitor Center that lends itself as source of community pride with its Veteran’s Room and Basketball Memories Room.

SIGNIFICANCE

The Winthrop School Building is being nominated to the Arkansas Register of Historic Places with local significance under Criteria A and C. Criterion A for the role it has played in the educational history of the town and as a focal point in community life. Criterion C, because it is the best example of a restrained Colonial Revival styled school building in Winthrop. The window changes preclude its listing in the National Register of Historic Places at this time.