Gravette’s Centennial Caboose Nominated For National Register

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

— The State Review Board of the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program will consider 14 Arkansas properties - including the Kansas City Southern Caboose #383 at Gravette in Benton County - for nomination to the National Register of Historic Places.

The Board will meet at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, August 4, at the Mosaic Templars Cultural Center at 501 West 9th Street in Little Rock, AHPP Director Frances McSwain announced.

Kansas City Southern Caboose #383, which is located northwest of the junction of Highways 59 and 72, is a bay window caboose manufactured in 1952.

“Caboose #383 was retired from the Kansas City Southern on August 2, 1990,” according to the National Register nomination. “After Caboose #383 was retired from active service, it was given to the City of Gravette and delivered to Gravette in May, 1991.

“ After two years of work, the caboose and surrounding Centennial Park were dedicated in 1993 as part of Gravette’s one-hundredth birthday celebration that year. Ever since, Caboose #383 has been on display adjacent to the Kansas City Southern railroad line as a reminder of the railroad’s role in the history of Gravette.”

The Board will consider 13 other properties throughout the state which have been nominated.

For more information on the National Register of Historic Places program write the AHPP at 1500 Tower Building, 323 Center St., Little Rock, AR 72201 or call the agency at (501) 324-9880.

The AHPP is the Department of Arkansas Heritage agency that identifies, evaluates, registers and preserves the state’s cultural resources.

Other agencies are the Arkansas Arts Council, the Mosaic Templars Cultural Center, the Delta Cultural Center, the Old State House Museum, the Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission and the Historic Arkansas Museum.

News, Pages 12 on 07/28/2010