Justin Matthews

Justin Matthews (1876–1955) was an Arkansas road and bridge builder as well as real estate developer. He helped to design and expand many areas in central Arkansas. The Arkansas Gazette's 1955 obituary said the businessman was credited for living, "on the high ground overlooking North Little Rock;" For having "transformed a wilderness into a great community with homes, stores, schools,churches and service establishments." The obit went on to laude "his imagination and vision, his boldness, his dynamic energy and his driving force that prevailed against formidable obstacles."

He developed a pair of neighborhoods dotted with houses he had built. He then sold either the structures or the house lots in between or even offered up his company's services to build a similarly sized and valued house on the newly purchased site. Not all of his elaborate residences are listed with the National Register of Historic Places, however several are recognized. The majority of his more grand houses are located in the Edgemont area of Park Hill while the lesser homes are in the Crestwood neighborhood. These two residential sections are divided by the Sylvian Hills Highway, which was renamed and is today John F. Kennedy Blvd. in North Little Rock, Arkansas

He is also credited with the design and development of the Lakewood residential area of North Little Rock, multiple lakes in the community and his greatest claim to fame was the building of The T.R. Pugh Memorial Park, also known as The Old Mill.

He gave several properties to the city of North Little Rock to be developed into vest-pocket sized parks. Altheimer Park on Plainview Circle, the W. C. Faucette Memorial Plot Park at the corner of Cherry Hill and JFK, the Boy Scout Park located at D. Street /Cedar and Goshen along with other sites...

He was born in 1876 near Monticello, Arkansas. He was formally trained as a pharmacist but developed his fortune in cotton seed oil. In 1911 he moved to Little Rock, Arkansas. He built roads, bridges and invested in and developed real estate on the north side of the Arkansas River.[1]

He was wed twice. His first wife was Mary Agnes Somers Matthews, who died Nov. 22nd, 1933. The couple are buried side-by-side on the front row of Mount Holly Cemetery in downtown Little Rock, Arkansas. The gravesites are marked by a pair of distinctively carved religious figures - Joseph holding the Christ child; along with the Virgin Mary, both monuments were fashioned from white marble. He was survived by his second wife, Robin. His last residence was a new brick home situated on a block-sized lawn on Cherry Hill in North Little Rock, Arkansas.

Non-licensed architect Frank Carmean, a gifted and well respected talent, was employed by the Justin Matthews Company. He copied famed structures in California and created new designs for Matthews' Arkansas clients.

Publications

References

  1. ↑ Cheryl G. Nichols, and Arkansas Historic Preservation Program staff (March 30, 1992). "Pre-Depression Houses and Outbuildings of Edgemont in Park Hill MPS" (PDF).
  2. ↑ National Park Service (2010-07-09). "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service.
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