Red River Symposium Includes Trip Down Southwest Trail

As part of the Red River Symposium there was a trip to explore the Southwest Trail on Saturday (7-27). It started from the Bronson House in Washington and went down a dirt road towards Blevins following a ridgeline. At one point the road the road veers off because of the proving ground. The overseer’s house from the Royston plantation was moved into Washington from the trail.

The trail joined Hempstead 279 near the site of the first courthouse in the county where the community of Marlbrook existed. The tour continued up to Antoine and Hollywood (formerly called Glenville), visiting Camp Davidson as an example of the religious camps of the time. The tour continued to Caddo Valley and returned to Washington by way of Interstate 30.

Interstate 30 and the railroad are within 15 miles of the old Southwest Trail, also known as Military Road. The trail followed the middle ground between impassible highlands in foothills of the Ouachita Mountains and boggy land in the east. In Fulton, logs were laid down and driven over making a corduroy road. This section was said to be the worst part of the trail because of its bumpiness. A man named Blevins had a dog run across from the current High School.

During the 19th Century the trail was known as the Military Road, Arkansas Road and Red River Road as well as other names.  The trail was originally a foot path or horse trail until Arkansas became a territory.  Native Americans likely used the trail before the Louisiana Purchase in 1803. In the 1830s the vast majority of settlers to Arkansas travelled by it. Eventually the railroad displaced it.