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| Address: • 112 N. Poplar St., Osceola |
| City/County/Congressional District: • Osceola , Mississippi County (District 1 ) |
| Location Class: • Commercial |
| Year Built: • 1901 | Year Abandoned: |
| Historic Designation: • National Register of Historic Places 1987 |
| Status: • Abandoned • Endangered |
Located on the east side of Osceola’s courthouse square, the National Register-listed Osceola Times Building was constructed in 1901. It was one of the first substantial buildings completed in “New Town,” which was near the railroad and west of the original town site. It is now the oldest building standing in Osceola. It was designed in the early 20th Century commercial style with Italianate influences. As was the custom during the early twentieth century, the newspaper business was located on the first floor, and the owner’s apartment was on the second floor.
The Osceola Times was founded in 1870 by John O. Blackwood and Leon Roussan and is the oldest weekly newspaper in eastern Arkansas. Mr. Roussan and his family lived in the apartment upstairs. Roussan was mayor of Osceola in 1876 and was one of the first proponents of moving to “New Town.” After Roussan’s death in 1906, his wife, Adah, took over operation of the paper and became a well-known newspaperwoman. Through her editorials, she championed social betterment, the formation of drainage districts, and flood control.
The Osceola Times Building is vacant and deteriorating rapidly due to a partial roof collapse about a year ago. The current owner purchased it to prevent demolition and wants to see it rehabilitated to serve as commercial and residential space. A successful save would see this significant property rehabilitated for a new use and encourage additional renovation efforts in downtown Osceola.
