OLDEST -- Building on Garrison Ave., Ft Smith AR
N 35° 23.315 W 094° 25.658
15S E 370340 N 3917072
Marble hall is the oldest building on Garrison Avenue in downtown Fort Smith AR.
Waymark Code: WMN7TA
Location: Arkansas, United States
Date Posted: 01/14/2015
Views: 2
A lot of amazing history happened within the walls of this otherwise nondescript yet deeply historic commercial building, which is listed as a Contributing Building in the West Garrison Ave. National Register Historic District: (
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"34. Marble Hall, 311 Garrison,1869, two stories, solid cut native stone built by E. B. Bright (Oldest building on Avenue)."
A city historic marker nearby tells passers-by about the fascinating history of this old building, which now (2014) houses the Junior League of Fort Smith:
"MARBLE HALL IN 1863
Marble Hall, the oldest building on Garrison Avenue, was built in 1859 by Ethelbert Britton Bright. Judging from the surviving newspaper ads, his mercantile store held the very wonders of the world, steadily supplied by steamboats docking at the foot of Garrison. The son of a missionary to the Osage tribe, Bright became fluent in their language. He came to Ft Smith in 1853 and set forth in business at a lightning pace. By 1857 he ran The Old Red Mill on Tenth Street, had married the niece of Sand Waite, and built a mansion on Sixth Street. Marble Hall was used as a hospital during the Civil War. By 1862, Bright had enlisted in the 51st Arkansas Militia Regiment. Bright returned from the war and launched back into business, but his obituary notes that he met with reverses and lived quietly until his death in 1890. Marble Hall has housed many businesses including a shooting gallery in 1900. Marble Hall was restored by Phil White in 1977."