I have been curious for some time as to what was still at Couchwood, an old homeplace on Lake Catherine several miles east of Hot Springs.
In November I noticed an announcement that the AHPP (Arkansas Historic Preservation Program) was having an open house there and I quickly cancelled my hair appointment to go. We met in front of the "big house" built in 1927 from Oregon Cedar logs. Rachel again talked too long about the history of the family and their property and then we were free to wander.
The complex includes 4 houses and some cabins on Couchwood Road that have been deemed to be historic.
Harvey Couch was the head of the electric company and built Lake Catherine when he dammed the Ouachita River. As one would expect, he picked this nice property on it's shore for his lake home.
It is simply decorated as a lake home would have been at that time.
I would imagine many of these Indian artifacts might have been found on the property or nearby.
I kept thinking how nice it would be to have an old place to keep your stuff and not have to have garage sales and get rid of it for newer stuff.
The Couch and related families still use the property in the summer but it is available to be rented the remainder of the year.
Theodore Roosevelt was one of many "notables" that visited the well known businessman Harvey Couch.
I imagine they had several fireside chats in the main room of the big house. Behind the big house is a smaller house on the edge of the lake where Harvey could sit and fish from the porch. I forgot to go down there.
I guess they haven't used this boat since registrations were required in the 1950s or 60s.
Up the hill is the house that the Remmels own. It was built from Arkansas Cedar logs in 1941 and named Remmelwood. It was the vacation house for Pratt Remmel and his family. He was the mayor of Little Rock at one time and married to Couch's daughter Catherine.
Remmel Dam is named for Pratt Remmel and the lake for Couch's daughter Catherine.
Harvey Couch and some investors gained control of Louisiana and Arkansas Railroad in early 1928. Years later someone located this train rusting in a field somewhere and had it loaded on a truck trailer and brought to Couchwood.
Little Pine Bluff was built of Oregon Cedar as a guesthouse in 1932.
This bench is built of concrete to resemble logs. A mason that worked on the property did several projects similar to this.
Couch's old rocking chair is still on the screened in back porch.
Herbert Hoover was another visitor to Couchwood. I wonder if they found these furnishings to be just a little rustic?
Harvey Couch intended to build more cottages for his family but he died in 1941. Seventeen first cousins and their families enjoy summers at Couchwood. The rest of us can rent a place during the off-season. Some of the family member were there and were most friendly and gracious to share their family history.
