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Crawford County Court House
Van Buren, Crawford County, Arkansas
The Butterfield Stage route
The Butterfield Stage Route between Saint Louis and San Francisco passed
through the main street of Van Buren, Arkansas and crossed the river at
this point.
Erected by Mary Fuller Percival Chapter D.A.R.
1910 Built by the 1911
Fort Smith and Van Buren District
Commissioners
George H. Lyman, Pres.
Randolph Comstock
W.J. Johnston
John B. Brown
C.W.L. Armour
R.P. Allen
Roy M. Johnston, Secretary
Jos. M. Hill, Counsel
Waddell and Harrington,
Consulting Engineers - Kansas City, Mo.
Contractors for superstructure
Arkansas Bridge Co.
Fort Smith, Ark.
Contractors for substructure
Kahmann and McMurray
Kansas City, Mo.
Courthouse
The companies of soldiers that came out of Van Buren were formed at this
historic landmark. It is also the site where some infantry and Calvary
units camped and drilled. There were nine different companies that were
formed in Crawford county. Relatives of the men who fought in the war
have handed down most of the records containing the names of the
soldiers. Some of the first companies formed were the Crawford
Artillery, Crawford Guards, Captain Carroll's Calvary Company and
Captain Parker's Calvary. The Frontier Guards from Van Buren took a
steamboat to unite with the soldiers in the taking of Fort Smith.
The Civil War Comes Home.
On this lawn was erected our first court house in 1841 and has been
the scene of many events during the wars in which the Crawford County
Boys fought.
Mexican War 1846.
War Between the States, 1861-1865
Spanish American War, 1898,
World War 1917-1918
and women who did their part in these wars.
Erected 1937 by
Arkansas Division
United Daughters of the Confederacy
in Honor of
Miss Clara B. Eno
who has done so much to preserve Arkansas History.
History of the Hebe Statue
Hebe, Greek Goddess of Youth and Happiness was placed in her fountain on
the Crawford County Courthouse Lawn in 1908 by the Women's Village
Improvement Society.
Repairs were made to both Hebe and Fountain in memory of Robert Benham
who served as County Assessor from 1961 - 1972.
The original Hebe was constructed of pot metal, then painted gold.
Numerous repairs to Hebe and the Fountain were made over the first
century. She reigned on the courthouse lawn.
Hebe was beyond repair and the Fountain crumbling and inoperable.
Women's league of Van Buren, an affiliate of the General Federation of
Women's Clubs, spearheaded a campaign to raise funds to restore Hebe and
the Fountain.
Bronze casting of Hebe is compliments of Women's League. Donations from
our great community raised funds to rebuild the Fountain and establish
new landscaping.
The original pot metal Hebe will eventually reside in the Crawford
County Museum. The steel cap surrounding the top of Fountain was
repaired and is in use today.
Dedication of Restoration Project was held October 12, 2003.
Fountain restored in memory of Robert Benham, County Assessor 1961 -
1972.
Cyrus Adler
Born in Van Buren, Arkansas
September 13, 1863
Died in Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania April 7, 1940.
Scholar, Educator, Editor,
Pioneer, Leader
Erected by Harry O. Hamm
Crawford County Millennium Time Capsule
To be opened January 1, 2050
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