Whether you are a native Arkansan or a transplant, the Arkansas PBS original production “History on the Line: Preserving County Courthouses” generates a feeling of warmth from small-town Arkansas communities and an intimate look at those communities that hold their courthouses dearly. “History on the Line: Preserving County Courthouses” will air Thursday, Jan. 9, at 7 p.m. as part of our “From the Archives” series.
Premiering in 2019, “History on the Line: Preserving County Courthouses” introduces unsung preservationists and architects who travel the state finding ways to rehabilitate a building or at least fix a leaky roof to save the precious records inside.
“Courthouses serve as signature pieces of a local history,” former Department of Arkansas Heritage Director Stacy Hurst said. “The courthouses are frequently the most beautiful and iconic structures in the county. In restoring and using them, these county judges are really helping us tell the story of Arkansas. They are authentic, so they are an important piece of our historic fabric.”
“Telling the stories of Arkansas county courthouses lets us tell the story of counties and communities in Arkansas,” Arkansas PBS Producer Casey Sanders said. “Courthouses are often the heart of a community. By exploring the unique stories behind Arkansas's courthouses, we reveal the rich tapestry of our history and culture.”
Because of aging or deterioration, some courthouses around the state are in danger of losing county records, or the buildings need tremendous upkeep.
Desha County
In the film, former Desha County Judge and current Arkansas State Representative Mark McElroy sat in the courthouse in Arkansas City that he presided over from 1992 to 2012.
“After about 10 years as judge, I asked myself what I would be ashamed of if I didn’t try to do it,” McElroy said. “I thought of this courthouse. It was built in 1903. It was in really bad disrepair… It would probably have been cheaper to tear this one down and build a new one, but when you take something like this out of a community, it’s gone.
“I really believe if this courthouse left Arkansas City, the rest of it wouldn’t be too far behind because this is the cornerstone that holds it all together. This is the center of everything. This is our courthouse. Not mine or whoever the judge is or will be. It’s the people’s building and they're kind enough to let us stay in it for a while.”
One of Sanders’ favorite scenes from the film came from Arkansas City and reflected what the courthouse represented for many.
“A couple shows up [during filming] and their only mode of transportation was a riding lawnmower,” she said. “A lot of times they would ride in the Christmas parade. This couple and Mark McElroy knew each other really well and hugged each other’s necks when they saw one another. They were so happy to see him.
“My favorite part was when he said, ‘I hope your revival is good. I don’t know if I can make it, but I love you all.’ They said, ‘We love you too.’ And then the wife said, ‘Bye, Mark.’ I don’t know why that touches me so much, but the way she said it was that whole feel-like-family thing rather than, you’re the ex-county judge.”
Calhoun County
To further display the courthouse’s impact, the film focused a bit on Calhoun County, which was nearing the completion of 25 years of restoration to its courthouse in Hampton. Judge Floyd Nutt said he had been asked when he would build a new courthouse.
“I don’t want a new courthouse,” he said. “We have a nice courthouse; we've gotten it restored and it’s just like a new one. I’m very proud of our courthouse”
“He was the one that you could see the pride that he had being the one that could finish up the restoration after other judges had worked on restoring the courthouse during their tenure,” Sanders said.
Madison County
In Huntsville, it was a similar story. Former Madison County Judge Frank Weaver said the judiciary and quorum court explored the idea of building a new courthouse, but its citizens were adamantly against the idea.
“There was such an outcry that the quorum court decided not to pursue it … At that time, we made a commitment to keep this courthouse here and maintain, preserve, restore it and make it usable to provide the services we have to our citizens here.”
Mississippi County
Finally, the situation in Mississippi County – one of 10 Arkansas counties with two courthouses – turned into quite the challenge for Sanders and her production team. Both Blytheville and Osceola have faced issues because of the state of their courthouses.
“They were trying to determine if they could restore their two county courthouses at all,” Sanders said. “There was a movement during the time we were filming the documentary where they were trying to really get rid of the two county courthouses and build a new courthouse that would better serve Mississippi County. Ultimately, they saved their two county courthouses.
“That was interesting, too, because in Arkansas you have several counties that have two courthouses. Usually, it was because there was some kind of geographic divide. You had to be able to get to your county courthouse within a day, so if you have a mountain range or a river or something that divides your county, sometimes there would be two county courthouses …
“The biggest challenge [of making the film] was waiting for the Blytheville and Osceola story to reach a resolution. This community emotionally struggled to decide whether to save their existing courthouses or use their resources to build a new one. The issue deeply affected two towns and an entire county. Determining when to stop filming the documentary was a crucial moment, as we weighed the power of capturing their final decision against the instinct to keep going and embrace the unfolding journey.”
In recent years, both Blytheville and Osceola have had funds approved for courthouse renovations.
How to Watch
“History on the Line: Preserving County Courthouses” airs Thursday, Jan. 9, at 7 p.m. as part of “From the Archives” at myarpbs.org/live.
How to Watch On Demand
“History on the Line: Preserving County Courthouses is available on demand at myarpbs.org/youtube.