Old Buildings – Cary Jenkins Photography

The Cutting Room Floor

March 29, 2018March 30, 2018 by csjenkins, posted in Arkansas, Art, Historic, hot springs, Hot Springs National Park, life, Music, Old Buildings, photography, Tradition

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/CARY JENKINS Low Key Arts Executive Director Sonny Kay

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/CARY JENKINS DJ Sonny Kay

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/CARY JENKINS Low Key Arts Executive Director Sonny Kay

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/CARY JENKINS Zac Smith and Cheryl Roorda

CLICK ON PHOTO TO SEE LARGER IMAGE.

Sometimes when I take pictures for feature stories in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, not everything I submit gets used. Usually, its because I take way more pictures than necessary or one photo might be more suitable for the page lay-out then another. Here are some photos I like that didn’t make the cut from two recent Hot Springs stories. One story was a story about Low Key Arts Executive Director Sonny Kay and the other about the Solar Powered Radio Station KUHS.

Pine Bluff

March 8, 2018August 19, 2018 by csjenkins, posted in Arkansas, Historic, Historic Arkansas Hotels, Landmarks, life, Old Buildings, photography, preservation, Tradition

As much as I like taking photos of abandoned buildings, it looks like at some point, there will be less in Pine Bluff as more are being rehabilitated — and that’s a good thing. Looking forward to seeing the changes ahead for Pine Bluff.

Rainy Day Road Trip

February 16, 2018August 19, 2018 by csjenkins, posted in Arkansas, Historic, Landmarks, Landscapes, life, Old Buildings, photography

“To me, photography is an art of observation. It’s about finding something interesting in an ordinary place… I’ve found it has little to do with the things you see and everything to do with the way you see them.”
— Elliott Erwitt

Just because it’s cold, cloudy, windy, rainy and what not, doesn’t mean you can’t take a road trip. Last weekend I made a loop through the Grand Prairie down some back roads and through some small towns. There’s always something to see, a bit of history, a charming old building or an interesting little store.

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/CARY JENKINS

Somewhere in the Delta

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/CARY JENKINS

Clarendon, Ark., and its historic bridge over the White River

January 30, 2018August 19, 2018 by csjenkins, posted in Arkansas, Bridges, Clarendon, Historic, Landmarks, life, Old Buildings, photography, White River

Clarendon is small river town in Monroe County which has an amazing bridge that the city, county and preservationists are trying to save. Learn more here: Democrat-Gazette Article, White River Bridge, Historic Bridges- White River.

Click on a photo to see a larger version.

White River Bridge at Clarendon

On the back of the Bondi Bros. building Speed Queen – Washers Dryers – L.E. Park Furniture Co.

White River Bridge at Clarendon

Cumberland Presbyterian Church built in 1869. The wood-frame two story building is on the National Register of Historic Places and was also used by the Boy Scouts and as a Masonic Lodge.

On the corner of S. Main and Madison Ave. the web of vines appear to be holding together this old building. The side of the building has ghost signs for Stacy-Adams Shoes for men, furniture and another that can no longer be ciphered. A metal Speed-Queen sign is on the back of the building.

Light from the setting sun highlights parts of the structure and the vines growing on the supports.

White River Bridge from Boat Landing

White River Bridge at Clarendon

The back door to the Bondi Bros. Building

Old Monroe County Jail, Built in 1939. H. Ray Burks of Little Rock- Architect.

White River Bridge at Clarendon

East Side High School c.1904

January 4, 2018January 4, 2018 by csjenkins, posted in Arkansas, Art, Historic, Landmarks, life, Old Buildings, photography

I’ve been in touch with some folks with the same love of old buildings that I have and after exchanging stories of buildings we have documented, I had to go back and look at some of my old photos. These are of an old high school after it had been cleaned out and was being prepared to turn into lofts. You can read about the history of the building here: School history.

Eastside High School

Eastside High SchoolEastside High School

Eastside High School

John Lee Webb House

July 25, 2017September 14, 2017 by csjenkins, posted in Arkansas, High Profile, Historic, hot springs, Landmarks, Old Buildings, photography

I recently wrote a story on a volunteer, Cheryl Batts, who is helping to restore this historic home in Hot Springs, Ark., part of the largest black historic district in the state. What didn’t get published, photos to show how elegant and stately this home is. To learn more about the prominent black businessman and philanthropist who once owned the home and the project to preserve the home, visit these websites:

http://www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?entryID=9199

http://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2017/jul/23/house-restoration-part-of-saving-black-/

uzuriproject.org

Army Navy Hospital

June 4, 2016December 27, 2017 by csjenkins, posted in Arkansas, Historic, hot springs, Landmarks, Old Buildings, photography

A magnificent building sits just off of Central Ave. in Hot Springs towering over downtown. Ever wonder what goes on up there?

According to the the Arkansas Encyclopedia of Arkansas History and Culture the site is now the Arkansas Career Training Institute. Previously it was “…the first combined general hospital for both U.S. Army and Navy patients in the nation. This joint services hospital was created ahead of the Navy Hospital Corp and over twenty years before the founding of the now-infamous Walter Reed Army Medical Center.”

“Along with soldiers being treated for war injuries, servicemen from battle zones were sent to the Hot Springs facility for rest, relaxation, and rehabilitation.”

The site is now the campus for Arkansas Career Training Institute. According to their website “…ACTI’s mission is consistent with the Arkansas Rehabilitation Services Division’s mission to provide comprehensive vocational rehabilitation services to persons with disabilities. The center receives client referrals from vocational rehabilitation field counselors in all 75 Arkansas counties.”

Here are some photos of the grounds and buildings from early this week. Many of the buildings are used for vocational classes. Some are waiting to be repurposed.

Friends in High Places

June 3, 2016 by csjenkins, posted in Arkansas, Art, Historic, hot springs, Hot Springs National Park, Landmarks, life, Old Buildings, photography

With friends in high places you get views like these. I’ve climbed more stairs these past 2 weeks all for a good view, and it’s been worth it. On the corner of Bridge St. and Central in Hot Springs, a building is being renovated into condos with a restaurant on the main floor. I was allowed in for some photos and the view from the top floor was pretty amazing. I was also allowed on top of the Ozark and the view from there was also a good vantage point for some cool shots.

Don’t Just See the Square

May 27, 2016 by csjenkins, posted in Arkansas, Art, Historic, hot springs, Hot Springs National Park, Landmarks, Landscapes, life, Old Buildings, photography

There is so much more to Hot Springs National Park than Bathhouse Row. I was reminded of this when I spent a few minutes behind the counter at the park’s visitor center with the Park Ranger who also serves as the Artist in Residence Coordinator. Visitors would ask what all there was to do in the park. He’d point to Bathhouse row, draw a square around it and then point out the boundaries of the park that went far beyond the square and advise,
“Don’t just see the square.”There are trails and vistas and so much beauty outside the square. (But, I confess, I do love to photograph those old buildings.)

Here are some photos I took yesterday from a portion of the Sunset Trail that takes you to Stonebridge Road and part of what to be the Fordyce Estate.

Gray Kinda Day

May 25, 2016May 26, 2016 by csjenkins, posted in Arkansas, Historic, hot springs, Landmarks, life, Old Buildings, photography

After the rain let up, I spent some time along Gulpha Creek this morning. Then, I went into Hot Springs to visit the old Army Navy Hospital. Here’s a little history about the building from Arkansas Encyclopedia. So many beautiful details in the building. I’m going to have to go back another day and spend a little more time. Here are few shots from today.