Russellville Depot Finds New Life as Event Venue

Jill M. Rohrbach, travel writer
Arkansas Tourism

It seems appropriate that since the City of Russellville grew up around the railroad one of its elements of revitalization is the restoration of its downtown historic depot.

Russellville became an incorporated city with a population of 275 in 1897, and grew to a population of 5,000 by 1919, despite a 1906 fire that destroyed 21 businesses. It became a trade center, and boasted three banks, a creamery, a large foundry and ironworks, a roller flour mill, two wholesale houses, the largest horse and mule market in the state, waterworks, a power plant, a theater, and a hospital. Wide streets and well-kept homes were other assets.

Today, Russellville contains a collection of the historic commercial structures built between 1875 and the 1940s in its historic downtown, which is filled with businesses and services. The Missouri-Pacific Railroad tracks have always been one of the borders of the downtown and Russellville is drawing on that heritage by improving the historic depot.

Encompassing a three-block area, the depot will serve as the focal point for visitor information and a venue for festivals and other community activities, such as the Farmer's Market. It contains a multi-use meeting room, kitchen, public restrooms and retail gift shop as well as unique characteristics such as the old weigh scale. A vacant lot across the street from the depot will serve as an outdoor site for events in conjunction with the depot space.

A grand opening for the million-dollar depot project was celebrated May 29. City officials hope the activities surrounding the depot will lure visitors into other areas of downtown, which is only a couple of blocks from Scenic 7 Byway in the Arkansas River Valley.

"This project has been about 10 years in the works," Betsy McGuire, director of Main Street Russellville, explained. "It will be the downtown square we've never had."

The Main Street Russellville program is part of Main Street Arkansas, which began in 1984 and is a section of the state's Historic Preservation Program that provides technical assistance and design services to help create economic development in downtown areas.

In the 90s, the city appeared to be thriving unless one took a look at the downtown. Traditionally a blue-collar, working-class town, Russellville didn't start out with a "quaint" downtown like some other cities, explained McGuire. Then, beginning in the 70s, growth and development sprawled to the outer edges of the city, leaving the downtown in a slump. But, with the help of Main Street Russellville the city has developed a flourishing, diverse downtown full of retail shops, restaurants, and business and office space. Its National Historic District encompasses 60 buildings and an eight block area, although there are over 100 businesses spanning a 20-block area within the entire Main Street district.

Since Russellville came on board with the Main Street Arkansas program in 1992, over $7 million has been reinvested in the downtown. McGuire said the program has had a catalytic effect in revitalizing downtown. As the first visual improvements to the area were made businesses then began coming back to the area and filling up the storefronts. Since the establishment of the program, no buildings downtown have been lost to neglect.

"Now unique shops are utilizing the look of old buildings," McGuire said.

One turning point for the area was not only the preservation of a prime building on the main drag, but also its new use as a restaurant. "The Italian restaurant brought night life to downtown. There were only two other places to eat before that," McGuire explained. Now, there are seven restaurants.

The Main Street program has provided a growing awareness for older structures, the value of history and preservation of the heart of the city. Educating the public and property owners on the need to preserve the buildings and helping them with technical and financial support were key in the revitalization efforts.

Providing an attractive gateway to the district is Burris Memorial Plaza. It contains a fountain, arbor and six benches representing six Russellville citizens that were killed in an American Airlines plane accident at the Little Rock airport in 1999. One of the victims, Judy Thacker, was involved in the efforts to turn the empty lot into a gateway for the main street district. "People just started donating money. American Airlines gave us money," McGuire explained. "It has a lot of symbolism and meaning to the community." Main Street Russellville received an award for the Best Downtown Public Improvement Project from Main Street Arkansas for the Burris Memorial Plaza.

Main Street Russellville acquires monies for its efforts from fundraisers such as its annual Taste of the Valley in the spring and Fall Fest, the last Saturday of October. It has also received about $600,000 in grants and helps business owners obtain Model Business Grants.

The downtown is currently in the midst of the new frontier for successful downtowns as it works to develop more second floor spaces into living quarters. The future of vacant properties gains attention next. "That is the one thing we have not had, buildings in-fill downtown," McGuire said. "How the overall design fits into the current landscape will be important."

McGuire is quick to point out that success in this venture cannot be attributed solely to Main Street Russellville. "It takes everybody getting on board. It's not just about Main Street Russellville," McGuire added. "It's building on what you have and just making it better."