In the late 1920’s, there was a brief spurt of prosperity in southeast Arkansaswhich resulted in the construction of the Ridgeway Hotel.The Ridgeway, built in 1930 just in time for the Great Depression, is one of a few remaining examples of Art Deco commercial architecture in Arkansas. The most distinctive and artistic feature is the mosaic tiled lobby floor, which is unique, fairly elaborate and very Art Deco.
The Curry family built the Ridgeway with five stories and 60 rooms after The Allen Hotel burned. Constructed entirely of steel reinforced concrete, The Ridgeway was advertised to be “Fire Proof”. It was the only hotel south of Pine Bluff to have an elevator. The upstairs rooms and halls had wall-to-wall carpeting and each room in the Ridgeway had a telephone, bath, ceiling fan and running ice water. Downstairs, the lobby and coffee shop floors were tile. There was a club room, large combined banquet and ballroom and a huge kitchen. It was the social and civic center of Drew County and the surrounding area. Several state groups held conventions there including American Legion, Arkansas Medical Association, Arkansas Lions Club, and the Better Highways Association. All school and club affairs met there and the large ballroom was in frequent use with weekly dances.
The weekly dances in the ballroom were very profitable and popular attractions. Frank McGibbony, an all-star tackle at Arkansas A&M College (now University of Arkansas at Monticello) was employed as a night clerk to prevent anyone from becoming too rowdy, and his presence was very welcome. Some of the bands who played became noted over a wide area of the South. Some of these musicians gained national prestige. Most notable was a local man, Joe Bishop, who played multiple instruments and was the composer of “Midnight Blue” and “Woodchopper’s Ball”. Bishop played with “Big Band” leader, Isham Jones.
In spite of all this activity, the Great Depression of the 1930’s hurt the hotel business. In 1964 the Ridgeway was sold by the Curry Family to Kermit Carpenter. Carpenter leased rooms as apartments through the late 1980’s.
In 2005, Monticello Economic Development Commission (MEDC) hired the University of Arkansas Community Design Center to study Monticello and to make recommendations for possible development strategies for the community. The downtown square and the surrounding area was the centerpiece of the study which “reconfigures the central square to create a walkable environment amenable to enhanced mixed-use development.” As a result, renovations to The Ridgeway Monticello were completed in 2011 and The Ridgeway Monticello LLC was opened as a senior housing complex which includes 32 apartments redesigned specifically for the needs of elder citizens.
Visitors are welcome to stop by The Ridgeway to enjoy the preserved lobby area.
