Two century-old houses have rich family history

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

— Two of the houses on the Pea Ridge Historical Society’s 2009 Tour of Homes are long-enduring historic Pea Ridge homes. The Chris and Nell Walker house at 285 Greene St. and the Laughlin House at 195 W. Pickens St. were both built in the early 1890s. The Walker house is older by no more than a year, having been built in 1891. The Historical Society is attempting to determine if it may be the oldest existing house in Pea Ridge, but the inquiry has not yet provided a conclusion.

Chris and Nell Walker were married on Oct. 16, 1912. It is not known precisely when they became the owners of the two-story house on the hill, but evidently they moved there early in their marriage, and the house became their life-long residence. Dr. Chris Walker was well known in Pea Ridge and the surrounding area for his work as a veterinarian. Early on, he had also been a mortician and owned and operated the Walker Funeral Service. As a veterinarian, like many others of the day, Dr. Chris never had a clinic to which animals might be brought, he always made “house calls” to the local farms.

Nell Walker was the youngest of the eight children of Newton Parsons Harris and Martha Mahala (Sikes) Harris. Nell’s older sister Lydia was married to Ezra E. Ricketts, who was known as Pea Ridge Band director and rural mail carrier. Between 1919 and 1945, Ezra and Lydia lived in the “other” house on the hill which we now know as the Laughlin House; so the two sisters were next-door neighbors for much of their lives. Another of Nell’s sisters, Caldona, was married to John W. Woods.

Their daughter, Lois Woods, married Clyde “Pea Ridge” Day, an acclaimed baseball player from Pea Ridge, who played professional baseball in the 1920s and 1930s. Lois Day bought the Laughlin house in the late 1950s and lived many years as next-door neighbor to her Aunt Nell. Lois Day was Charles Day’s mother. Charles Day and his wife, Valentina, also have their new Hayden Road house on this year’s Tour of Homes. The Day’s daughters, Vickie and Valerie, are Pea Ridge residents, and granddaughter Heather Henson Wade coaches the Pea Ridge Lady Blackhawks.

Also, Roger Harris of Pea Ridge is a grandson of Nell Walker’s older brother, Will Harris. This illustrates the often made observation that in early Pea Ridge, “all” the families were related or eventually became related.

Chris and Nell Walker had one daughter, Wanda. Wanda married another Pea Ridge native, Max Ottinger. Max and Wanda later made their home in the Kansas City area. They had two sons, Mark and Jerry. Mark Ottinger is deceased. Jerry Ottinger now lives at Olathe, Kansas.

After Dr. Chris Walker passed away in 1959, Nell Walker continued living in the house on the hill for as long as she lived. She passed away in 1978. Later, after Max Ottinger’s passing in 1986, Wanda returned to her childhood home on the hill, and lived there for the remainder of her life. So, for many years, the two houses on the hill have had close relatives living as across-the-lawn neighbors.

A few years ago, the Walker house was purchased by the nextdoor Laughlin family. The Laughlins renovated and remodeled the house, and opened it as a Bed and Breakfast. The house is presently on the market to be sold.

On Sunday, Dec. 6, the Walker House will be open from 1 to 3 p.m. only. The Historical Society recommends visitors to the Walker House park at the next-door Laughlin House and walk across the lawn to the Walker House. The other homes on the tour will be open for visitors from 1 to 5 p.m. 2009 PEA RIDGE TOUR OF HOMES

The Pea Ridge Tour of Homes, sponsored by the Pea Ridge Historical Society, will be from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 6. Tickets are $5 in advance, $6 at the door, and can be purchased at any of the banks in Pea Ridge, Pea Ridge City Hall, the Pea Ridge Historical Museum on Saturdays or at The Times office.

• Woodward House — 1766 Conrad St. Off South Curtis Av enue, turn east on Cardin Road, then south onto Conrad Street, last house on the left.

• Henson House — 14756 Gann Ridge Rd. Travel east on Ark. Hwy. 72, turn left onto Twelve Corners Road, drive 2.2 miles to driveway on the left.

• Laughlin House — 195 W. Pickens St. From fourway stop at Pickens Street and North Curtis Ave., go west on Pickens, driveway is on left, just before Greene Street.

• Walker House — next to Laughlin House, open 1 to 3 p.m. only.

• Day House — 4401 Hayden Rd. From Pickens Street, travel north on Hayden Road just over two miles, turn into driveway on left, then keep right through gate.

News, Pages 1 on 12/02/2009