Trimble House Project Update (From the ICH&G Society)

Trimble House Project Update

Saturday, June 14th:

At the 83rd Trimble Family Annual Reunion, Izard County Historical and Genealogical Society representatives Wayne and Gaye Wood, Juanita Stowers and Susan Varno were made to feel very welcome. The Trimble Family voted to donate $1,000 to the Trimble House Project. These Trimbles are descendants of James and Phebe Trimble’s grandson George Washington Trimble.

At the reunion, we tentatively decided to have the Trimble House Dedication on Saturday, June 12th, 2010, so those attending next year’s reunion can come to Calico Rock. We will have the dedication in the morning followed by luncheon at the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. If the Trimble House move has been completed, the Historical Society will open the house for tours.

Monday, June 15:

The Izard County Historian journal on CD’s—all issues from 1970 through 1989—a re again available from the Izard County Historical and Genealogical Society. Each two-volume set is $30.

For twenty years, Helen Lindley was editor of the quarterly Historian journal of local history. Before she died, her son Sam Lindley scanned the eighty issues, complete with photos, ads and covers, onto CD’s. The disks can be opened in Adobe. These CD sets have been unavailable for several years. Sam has donated his fifteen remaining copies to the Historical Society. He asks that the proceeds benefit the Trimble House Project, the renovation and removal of the 1815 cabin from Dolph to the grounds of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Calico Rock.

To order the two-disk CD’s, send $30.00 plus $2.00 for shipping to the Izard County Historical and Genealogical Society, PO Box 306, Pineville, AR 72566. For more information contact Susan Varno, 870-297-4223, svarno@hughes.net

Saturday, June 20th:

Dr. David Stahle, Director of the Tree-Ring Laboratory at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, and his daughter Laurie spent all day Saturday (in 100 degree temperatures) taking core samples from the Trimble House. He had much better access to various parts of the building than when he took samples in 1976. Stahle said that the Trimble Cabin is made of “young trees” which are more difficult to date because they have fewer rings. However, he said the style of dovetailing of logs in the corners was not generally used after the Civil War. When we dismantle the building this fall, he wants us to send him slices from the floor joists. These joists are so deteriorated they can’t be used in the rebuilt cabin. They are bigger around and he will be able to can an entire slice. He expects to have a preliminary report some time in July and a final report in late October after he examines the floor joist samples.

Thanks to Ed Matthews for inviting the Stahles to stay at his EdRock’s Lodge Friday night.

February 7, 2009 Press-Release

The Izard County Historical & Genealogical Society invites you to:

The First Meeting of the Trimble House Project

Calico Rock Music Hall
Highways 5 and 56

Saturday, February 21st, 2:00 p.m.

The Cumberland Presbyterian Church has given permission to move the Trimble House from Dolph to their property on Highway 56 in Calico Rock. Carl Russell, whose family has owned the house for many years, has generously donated the 1815 log cabin to the Izard County Historical and Genealogical Society.

Built by James and Phebe (Walker) Trimble, the house is about 19 feet square, with two rooms and a loft. Beginning about 1826, James Trimble was an elder in the Mount Olive C. P. Church Circuit and offered his house for church services.

The Historical Society will dismantle the Trimble House and rebuild it in the little park across from the Calico Rock C.P. Church. Moving the house will prevent further deterioration and make it more accessible to visitors. Rev. Wayne Wood has agreed to be Project Director. Emmit Acklin, who organized the removal of the John Wolfe house to the Wolfe House property in Norfork, has agreed to advise us.

Our next step is fund raising. The Society has set up a bank account at First National Bank of Izard County, PO Box 690, Calico Rock, AR 72519, Account #0147992902. We anticipate needing at least $10,000 to complete the project. We plan to solicit donations of materials and the use of equipment, and we will need many volunteers to help with the dismantling and rebuilding.

At this meeting, we will discuss fund raising, donations of materials and equipment use, volunteer recruitment and publicity. If you want to help save this significant piece of Arkansas history, please plan to attend. If you need more information or can offer to help, contact Juanita Stowers at 870-499-3237 or nita@centurytel.net. We look forward to seeing you on Saturday, February 21st.

Susan Varno Juanita Stowers

Trimble House Fundraising Committee

November 19th, 2008 Press-Release

1815 TRIMBLE CABIN TO BE MOVED TO CALICO ROCK

The Izard County Historical and Genealogical Society announces the historic Trimble log cabin will be moved from Dolph to Calico Rock. Property owner Carl Russell has donated the building to the Society but asks that it be moved. The Calico Rock Cumberland Presbyterian Church has agreed to let the building be relocated to land across from the Church on Highway 56.

James and Phebe Trimble built their log cabin in 1815. There they raised ten children. James was an elder in the Mt. Olive Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Whenever the circuit-riding minister arrived, the Trimble Family opened their house and land for a camp meeting or worship services. In 1858, James and Phebe donated 107 acres to the Union C. P. Church (now Trimble Campground Church). The land had a cemetery, meetinghouse, large spring and campground.

“We anticipate the building can be taken apart, moved to the new location, repaired and rebuilt for about $8,000,” said Juanita Stowers, Society Treasurer. “That is if much of the labor and use of some equipment is donated. Because the building is being moved, there are probably no grants available.” Several individuals and organizations have offered to help. Preliminary work may begin early next year.

If you would like to make a donation toward moving the Trimble cabin, send a check to the Izard County Historical Society, Account #0147992902, First National Bank of Izard County, PO Box 690, Calico Rock, Arkansas 72519. If you would like to donate time, money or equipment or if you have questions, contact Juanita Stowers at nita@centurytel.net or 870-499-3237. The Society is a 501(c)3 organization.





If you make a donation to this project, please mention Exploring Izard County to the Historical Society.