Architects of Little Rock: 1833-1950

Thomas Harding I

THE FIRST THOMAS HARDING in Little Rock must have been a major architectural presence during the twenty-six-year period in which he practiced . From 1869, the year of his arrival in Little Rock, to 1895, when he died, the buildings that have been identified as his designs are very impressive, especially for this post–Civil War period. He was able to win commissions and to execute designs for some of Arkansas’s most important buildings of the period, whether residential, institutional, or commercial. The census of 1870 indicates that Harding and his wife were both born in Ireland and that he was thirty-five years old, so his birth date must be 1835 or so. (It should be noted that Del Schmand, who wrote a history of the First Lutheran Church, designed by Harding, has him born in Salem, Massachusetts, and arriving in Little Rock in 1867.) Harding was the father of six children, three by his first wife and three by his second. Two of his sons followed their father into architecture. One was Rome Harding, who apparently worked at his father’s firm for some years before opening an office on his own in 1897; the other was Thomas Harding Sr., who became the partner of architect Charles Thompson. (A note on identifications: There were four Thomas Hardings in succession. They are herein identified as Thomas Harding I, the subject of this sketch; his son, usually referred to as Thomas Harding Sr., the partner of Charles Thompson; Thomas Harding Jr., who was educated as an architect but practiced for only a few years with his father, choosing instead to become a professional photographer ; and, finally, Thomas Harding III, a general contractor in Little Rock.) Thomas Harding I was a prolific architect able to handle complicated building designs. He was one of Little Rock’s first resident architects—that is, one who moved to Little Rock in pursuit of commissions and stayed for the remainder of his life. He apparently was able to begin designing buildings almost immediately upon arrival; perhaps some reputation had preceded him. At any rate, some of his known work dates from 1869, although he did not appear in a city directory until 1877. There he was listed as Thomas Harding, architect. But by the next year, he had gone into partnership with Alexander Bailey, his son-in-law. This arrangement lasted until 1887 when the partnership was dissolved. Harding continued in a solo practice until his death in 1895. The Arkansas Gazette obituary of June 21, 1895, suggests that he may have died as a result of being struck on the head by a brick at the Gans Building construction site. The Gans Building is still standing in the 200 block of Second Street. Harding designed many of the most impressive Little Rock buildings of his time. As the Gazette obituary noted, “He was one of the city’s most respected men and as an architect he took the highest rank.” The following are some known buildings that Harding designed; there must have been many others. 24 ◆ THOMAS HARDING I Thomas Harding I NONRESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS: The W. W. Adams block at Main and Markham, completed 1872 The Benjamin block, later called the Allis block, 1872–73 St. Andrew’s Cathedral, in use by 1881, steeple completed 1887 The Board of Trade Building, completed 1887 (Harding and Bailey) The Grand Opera House, 1872–73 Branch Normal College, 1882 (Harding and Bailey) The German Lutheran Church, 1884 (Harding and Bailey) RESIDENCES DESIGNED BY HARDING DURING THE PERIOD 1870 TO 1890: The MacDonald/Wait/Newton House (now most often called the Packet House) The James Hornibrook residence (between Arch and Broadway, not the other Hornibrook house on South Louisiana, now the Empress Bed and Breakfast) The John M. Moore House The Zeb Ward House The J. H. McCarthy House The William Durbin Blocher House The B. D. Williams House The Olive A. Deshon House (next door to the Villa Marre), now demolished The Thomas Harding House As Harding’s work gained fame outside of Little Rock, he was offered other commissions; these projects included the Merchants and Planters Building, Pine Bluff; the Faulkner County Exposition Building, Conway; the Ouachita County Courthouse; and the Butler House in Austin, Texas (1887). St. Andrew’s Cathedral is a good example of Harding’s talent and his skillful use of Gothic Revival style. The construction began in 1878 and the main structure was dedicated November...