Cleburne County Historical Society

The land which now constitutes Cleburne County, Arkansas belonged to various Native-American groups, most notably the Osage. White settlers moved into Arkansas in the early 19th century, and Arkansas entered the Union as a state in 1836. During the Civil War, Arkansas seceded and joined the Confederacy. Many troops from Arkansas, including what would become Cleburne County, served in Confederate armies, although there were Unionist dissenters who objected to Confederate rule and joined the United States army.

Following the Civil War, the area's population grew and the first towns were incorporated in the area beginning with Quitman in 1875 and Heber Springs in 1881. In 1883, Cleburne County was created from parts of Independence, Van Buren, and White Counties; Heber Springs is today the county seat. Cleburne County is named for Confederate General Patrick Cleburne, an Irish immigrant to Arkansas who enjoyed a sterling military reputation.

Throughout 20th century, Cleburne County saw continued change and growth. During World War I, many local citizens opposed the war effort and draft, leading to armed conflict between the National Guard and draft-resistors. In 1959, construction began on the Greers Ferry Dam, which produced the manmade Greers Ferry Lake with 343 miles of shoreline. The lake boosts tourism to the region.

To preserve and interpret Cleburne County's rich history, the Cleburne County Historical Society was established. In the 1990s, the Historical Society acquired the historic Frauenthal House in Heber Springs, a 1914 Craftsman-style home built by prominent local businessman Max Frauenthal for his son Clarence. The Frauenthal house housed the Historical Society until 2016, when it moved into the historic 1937 Old Post Office on Main Street.

Today, the Historical Society holds a museum, research library (particularly useful for genealogical research), and offices for its own use. It published a historical journal quarterly. It is open from 10am-3pm Tuesday through Saturday, and admission is free.

1. Cleburne County Historical Society. Web. Accessed October 14, 2020. http://cleburnehistory.info/

2. Carol Rolf. "Museum highlights history of Cleburne County." September 1, 2013. Arkansas Democrat Gazette. Web. Accessed October 14, 2020. https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2013/sep/01/museum-highlights-history-cleburne-county/

3. Evalena Berry. "Cleburne County." April 30, 2019. Encyclopedia of Arkansas. Web. Accessed October 14, 2020. https://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/entries/cleburne-county-756/