Batesville Suns Park

Independence County
Arkansas Methodist Conference

The Arkansas Conference of the Methodist Church, created 1836, composing Arkansas and parts of Louisiana and Indian Territory, held its first session November 2, 1836 in Batesville at corner of Main and Broad Streets. Bishop Thomas Morris presided. 42 Ministers were assigned appointments, including 8 admitted that session one of whom was Andrew Hunter. Burwell Lee was made presiding elder and ministered in this section 43 years, including early pastorates of the First Methodist Church here.

Annual sessions have been held since organization. There now being two conferences in the State, - North Arkansas and Little Rock.

Independence County Office and Library

This building was constructed in 1904 by the federal government for the U.S. Post Office and the Batesville District of Arkansas and was in use by federal agencies until 1974 when a new building was built a block south. The building was purchased for Independence County in 1975 by Judge Jess Carpenter and converted to use for the library and county offices.

Melba Theater

Downtown Batesville