The Arkansas Historic Preservation Program has awarded the Drew County Historical Society a $41,603 matching grant to support the restoration of exterior windows at the historic Garvin Cavaness House.
The restoration project, with a total estimated cost of $62,404, will focus on preserving the integrity of the structure, which serves as the house museum for the Historical Society. The grant funding comes from the Historic Preservation Restoration Grant Fund, which is supported by the Arkansas Natural and Cultural Resources Council.
Clements & Associates / Architecture prepared the grant application and will provide architectural services for the restoration. The Garvin Cavaness House, built in 1916, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is considered a significant part of Drew County’s cultural and architectural heritage.
Garvin Cavaness, for whom the house is named, was a descendant of families instrumental in the development of Monticello and Drew County. Local folklore adds to the home’s unique character, with stories that the hand-made concrete blocks used in its exterior were crafted using cement salvaged from an Iron Mountain Railroad derailment.
Architecturally, the building showcases elements of both Classical and Colonial styles, typical of its era and reflective of early 20th-century Southern design.
