Beaver Spring Artesian Well - Artesian Well on Waymarking.com

This place has been occupied since Pre Historic times.
You can see this from Evidence in Eureka Springs.
If you know what to look for you can still find it.

The water quality is excellent.

Beaver was occupied by several tribes of the Choctaw Indian Nation prior to 1847. It appears that a Choctaw certificate in the name of Ho-Yo-Ubbe for 320 acres of land, issued by the Secretary of War in pursuance to an Act of Congress on the 23rd of August 1842. The said land was surrendered by Joseph L. Dickson in full satisfaction for 320 acres and returned to the General Land Office by the Surveyor General.

Beaver traces its roots to 1847 when it was known as Rectors Place. Early in 1850, Wilson A. Beaver arrived from Tennessee and built a log cabin for his family, a grit mill, a ferry to cross the White River along with a Stagecoach Inn. For many years Beaver was known as Beaver Ferry. During the Civil War, Squire Beaver's house became known as the "Confederate House". He housed and fed Confederate soldiers during the Battle of Pea Ridge. Beaver Ferry became known as Beaver and was established four years before Eureka Springs. A Post Office was established and Squire Beaver was appointed as the first Postmaster on September 22, 1879, 20-years before the one in Eureka Springs.

A local quarry supplied stone for the major buildings in Eureka Springs, i.e. the Crescent Hotel, the Basin Park Hotel, and was used on the bridge at Fort Smith that crossed the Arkansas River, bridges across the Mississippi River at St. Louis and Memphis. There were some 400 employees who worked the Quarry.

Before building the railroad bridge at the Narrows, the Stagecoach and many horses and wagons had to be ferried across the river on their way to Missouri and points west. The Stagecoach stopped at the Riverview Hotel that was built and operated by Rome Swope. Squire Beaver sold the Beaver Ferry to Mr. Wilson who operated it for many years.

During the building of the railroad there was another town that sprung up across the river at the Narrows that became known as Brooklyn. There were some 30 Saloons and other buildings that housed some of the Quarry employees. The first train to cross the railroad bridge at Beaver was 1882.

The ferry continued until 1926, when a concrete bridge was built by the Carroll County road crew. This bridge stood until it was destroyed by flood in 1943. The present suspension bridge, now known as the "Little Golden Gate", was submitted for bid by the Carroll County Court in 1944. The contract was let to Pioneer Construction Company of Malvern Arkansas to construct the present suspension bridge on December 19, 1947, for a total cost of $107,785.93. At the same time, the Table Rock Dam was being built. The Corps of Engineers informed the Contractor that it was necessary to raise the construction some 40 feet; therefore the bridge was not completed until 1949. The bridge is now on the National Register for Historical Places.

In 1949, a Township was formed. The Township property line ran north to the Missouri line then ran West 50 feet, then along the White River South to the County Road. This Township stood until Beaver was incorporated in 1981. A new city limits was established within Section 19, and the former Township was de-annexed. Elections were held to elect a Mayor and Council. A Volunteer Fire Department was established in 1980 in order to protect the local citizens. The Fire Department was built by local members of the Fire Department to house the fire truck.

In 1981, the Corps of Engineers had intentions of closing the Beaver Recreational Park. It was felt by the Town Council that the Park would be an asset for the Town to support the Volunteer Fire Department. Beaver leased the Park from the Corps for one year to see if the Town was able to operate the Park at a profit. The Council felt that the Park would be an asset for the Town and the lease was renewed for another five years.

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Recent Visits/Logs:

Date Logged Log User Rating   11/08/2015 MountainWoods visited it 03/18/2009 drnod10 visited it 11/30/2006 GEO*Trailblazer 1 visited it

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