A ride to Canehill.

[cj750]

I took a little break from yardwork last week for a motorcycle ride. Wound up passing through the small hamlet of Canehill (aka Cane Hill) Arkansas, in neighboring Washington County. I'd been through before, but it never suited to stop. Turns out its a pretty historical place, site of a fierce Civil war battle, as well as the first College in Arkansas.


Cattle grazing in the Ozark hills.


I'd previously seen this place, a little up the road from Canehill, in much more rundown condition. Still appears unoccupied, but looks like someone is now cutting the grass and making some repairs.


It may be to late for the barn.


Remains of the Moore-Pyeatt Mill.


Long gone, a steam engine once sat at this end of the building to power the mill in times of low water.


36 ft. diameter waterwheel was powered by the waters of Jordan Creek.


Built in the 1830s, the mill remained in operation until the 1930s.


There's not a lot of downtown Canehill, but what's left is mostly in good repair.


Notice poultry strolling the main drag at lower right.


Canehill was the site of an 1862 Civil War battle.


Somehow, Canehill has held on to its Post Office.


Redbuds were blooming like this all along the route.


The Canehill Presbyterian Church building dates to 1891.


This building will be very lucky if restorers get to it before the elements do.


Besides a mill and a College, Canehill once boasted a newspaper, hotels, a Masonic Lodge and a bank, but those days are long gone.


Inside the Presbyterian Church.


Organ console.


Stained glass.


Last remaining building of Cane Hill College, Arkansas' first institution of higher learning.


Interestingly, the old school bell tower is a free-standing structure. I'm not sure if this dates to the College days, or the later use of the campus as an area high school.


College historical marker.


Civil War battle marker.


Names of high school graduates etched in the sidewalk.

Founded by Cumberland Presbyterians in 1834, the college moved from Cane Hill to Clarksville in 1891, and is now known as University of the Ozarks.

[rocker59]

Thanks for the writeup, Jay!  Canehill is a fun stop off !   :bike

[56Pan]

Enjoyed your effort there, CJ.  If you're through that way again, you might want to ride up to the top of Mt. Nebo outside Dardanelle. Right close to Russellville. Hairpin curves all the way up and I rode my old HD up there many years ago.  The cabins can be rented at the park at the top, and are built of stone.  Cabins and the park there built by the WPA back in the 30's.  It's worth the trip.  All my late Dad's people were from that area.  My great grandfather was in the First Arkansas Confederate Mounted Rifles, cavalry outfit, from Dardanelle and was likely in that battle close to Russellville.

[Chipmaker]

Down around the mill,you want to keep your eye out for cotton mouth snakes.I have seen and dispatched a few thar over the years!

[rocker59]

Enjoyed your effort there, CJ.  If you're through that way again, you might want to ride up to the top of Mt. Nebo outside Dardanelle. Right close to Russellville. Hairpin curves all the way up and I rode my old HD up there many years ago.  The cabins can be rented at the park at the top, and are built of stone.  Cabins and the park there built by the WPA back in the 30's.  It's worth the trip.  All my late Dad's people were from that area.  My great grandfather was in the First Arkansas Confederate Mounted Rifles, cavalry outfit, from Dardanelle and was likely in that battle close to Russellville.

Different Russellville.  The one on the memorial plaque was a small village in NWA.  Not the one across the river from Dardanelle.

What is now the village of Cane Hill was called Boonsboro during the early- to mid-1800s.

What the plaque refers to as Russellville can be found on the map as Clyde.  It's about a mile South of Cane Hill.

At the time, "Cane Hill" referred to the area.  The three villages at Cane Hill were Russellville, Boonsboro, and White Church.

They're all just South of Prairie Grove on what was then the main road from Fayetteville to Van Buren.

This main road, later referred to as "Wire Road" was the military road connecting Jefferson Barracks in St. Louis with Fort Smith on the western frontier.

The road followed what we know as Route 66 from St. Louis to Springfield, then into NW Arkansas through Pea Ridge, to Fayetteville, Prairie Grove, Cane Hill and Van Buren.  Lots of traffic on that road during the 1860s, and not the friendly kind.

[Lannis]

Thanks for that!

You KNOW we love travelogues!   Looks like a fun trip.

Lannis

[rocker59]

But where is Bug Tussle  ??? :D

  Dusty

Up in The Hills somewhere between Timbo and Oxford.

[56Pan]

Different Russellville.  The one on the memorial plaque was a small village in NWA.  Not the one across the river from Dardanelle.

What is now the village of Cane Hill was called Boonsboro during the early- to mid-1800s.

What the plaque refers to as Russellville can be found on the map as Clyde.  It's about a mile South of Cane Hill.

At the time, "Cane Hill" referred to the area.  The three villages at Cane Hill were Russellville, Boonsboro, and White Church.

They're all just South of Prairie Grove on what was then the main road from Fayetteville to Van Buren.

This main road, later referred to as "Wire Road" was the military road connecting Jefferson Barracks in St. Louis with Fort Smith on the western frontier.

The road followed what we know as Route 66 from St. Louis to Springfield, then into NW Arkansas through Pea Ridge, to Fayetteville, Prairie Grove, Cane Hill and Van Buren.  Lots of traffic on that road during the 1860s, and not the friendly kind.

I stand corrected.  Thanks.

[rocker59]

I stand corrected.  Thanks.

Here's downtown Clyde (Russellville)

[cj750]

Interesting photo, Rocker. Either of those bikes is a rare sight individually, both together is extraordinary.

BTW, the old mill looks to have been quite the place in its day.

[lucydad]

CJ,

Thanks for your interesting tour!  I have found Arkansas to be very interesting and scenic on my two visits.  The Civil War history is interesting.

cheers