RISON - The John Samuel Be ard house, an authentic dogtrot style house originally built in the 1870's, is starting to take shape at the Pioneer Village in Rison as contractor Phillip Grantham and crew were busy installing the front porch on Tuesday.
Bob Abbott of Pine Bluff donated what was his grandfather's house to the Pioneer Village, and the house was moved to the Pioneer Village in August. The roof had to be taken off for the move and then reattached at its new location. The house is named after its original owner, John Samuel Beard, who is Bob Abbott's grandfather.
It was originally located in Ouachita County before Abbott had it moved to his Traveller property on Pumpkin Hill Road outside of Rison several years ago.
Abbott said he wanted the house to be in a place where it would be preserved and other people could get a glimpse of what would be a typical South Arkansas home in the 1870's.
The house was nominated to the Arkansas Register of Historic Places in 2012.
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