OTTS INN MUSEUM


HISTORIC STAGECOACH STATION ON GALLA CREEK IN POTTSVILLE, ARKANSAS
One of the best preserved stagecoach stations on the Butterfield Overland mail route between Memphis and Fort Smith is the Potts home in Pottsville, Arkansas. This fine example of antebellum architeture, built in 1850, occupies a large block in the town of Pottsville, the probable center of the 160 acres of homesteaded land obtained from the Federal Government after the treaty of 1828 with the Cherokees. The Potts family lived in the home until it was sold to Pope County in 1970. It is under the direction of a self perpetuating board, the Pope County Historical Foundation.

Kirkbride Potts, a young bachelor, came to Arkansas by covered wagon from his home in Pennsylvania, with two families of slaves. Passing through the area which was later to be his home, he crossed the Arkansas River, met, and later married Pamelia Logan, a member of a pioneer family in what was later named Logan County. He returned to the present location and built a two story log cabin which became a mecca for early travelers.

The Potts family increased to 11 children and Kirkbride decided that he would build a home befitting his station and his large family. In the late 1840's he made the first of three trips to the gold mines in California.

He returned a second and third time driving herds of cattle which he sold to hungry prospectors. Each trip took six months.

The two-and-a-half story house, modeled after the great homes back in his home state of Pennsylvanna, was built by slave labor. Almost all of the wood used in construction was cut on the homesteaded acres, hauled by oxen to Cagel's mill and sawed into lumber. The boards were hand planed, marks of the plane bits being still visible in the attic. The brick used in the nine fireplaces was made on the place, and the moulds and racks used are on display. The windows, many still with the original glass panes, and the doors were brought by keel boat up the Arkansas River. Mantel boards over the fireplaces and simple decorative woodwork in the parlor are the only architectural frills. It was and is a plain and functional frontier home and stage depot.

Fourteen buildings were on the home acreage, according to old documents, providing barns for stagecoach horses and the Potts animals, a chicken house, tack rooms for stage and family leather goods, carriage houses for Potts wagons and buggies, house or barn for overnight stagecoaches, a smoke house, now a doctor's office museum, a well house, two servant houses, a six-hole privy, and the main house. The well house and the smokehouse are the only remaining auxiliary buildings.

A parlor, a family room which served as a lobby for stagecoach travelers, a dining room, and a guest bedroom, all entered from a 12-foot wide central hall, are on the first floor. The family room now contains cases with glass doors which were made for the first court house in Russellville. The stairway at the end of the hall is of flyaway design. The hand rail is rounded, with the posts square cut and simple. The stairway from the second to the third story is duplicated in design.

The parlor, the most decorated room in the house, was used for state occasions, tea parties, and musicals. All of the daughters of the family were married here in front of the fireplace. This room contains many pieces of gift furniture and one original tall secretary.


The first post office in the area, the designated as Galla Creek Post Office, was located in the wide hall of the new Potts home. The Inn has the first postal desk used by Postmaster Potts. It was designed by him and made by artisans.

The dining room seated adults with a separate table for children. The table china matches an original platter used by Pamelia Potts. Watercolors were painted by granddaughter and great granddaughters. Governors, military officers, and Cherokee chiefs shared the hospitality and delicious fare assured by Mrs. Potts.

The kitchen, a one story with its large wide fireplace, is seoarated from the main house by a covered walkway and porch.

The second floor has four 20 x 20 bedrooms and the same wide hall. Originally each room held four to six full-sized beds. One, "The Three Sisters Room" was furnished in memory of Seima Brooks Baker and her two sisters. Detailed attention is given to authentic furnishings.

Five log structures have been moved to the compound. One is used to display hat and clothing collections from 1870 to modern times. The barn, donated by Boyce Sinclair for the display of antique farm equipment.

Old photos are featured in one building. The caretaker is housed in the Bell's Chapel log house and a one room pioneer home given by "Piney" Page estate completes the present inventory of historic buildings.