ARLINGTON HISTORY
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The earliest settlers of whom authentic information
exists, outside of hunters and indians, are a few who
arrived in 1818. These were James Harrison, Adam
Bradford, John York and Jack and John Ducan, with
possibly a few others. Mr. Harrison was an energetic
and highly respected Virginian, who located at the
mouth of the Little Piney, near Arlington's present
site.
Harrison's home was the first courthouse in the
district, and at that time it was in Crawford County.
His home was a pioneer court house with the court
meeting in his store-room and the grand jury
'considering their presentments' out in the grove
nearby. When he first settled there, the nearest
house was at Steelville, and the nearest court
probably at St. Louis, County after county was
created around him, so that it is said that his house
had been in five different counties.
Arlington was platted by James Harrison's son,
Thomas. He was born Feb. 21, 1822, near Arlington,
and remained in the area for his entire life.
The St. Louis and San Francisco Railway terminus
was in Rolla from the time of the Civil War until 1876
when John C. Freemont assumed control and
pushed it on to Arlington and Jerome. It remained
this way for many years.
Although never a center of commerce as Rolla or St.
James, Arlington did have some reasonable trade. It
included L. Pillmans general store, J. L. Graham's
hotel, Dr. A. E. Arthur's drug store, and
C. A. Smith's band saw mill. At the turn of the century
Arlington became a center for railroad tie production
and shipping.
When Route 66 was built it helped Arlington's
growth. The entire area became known for its resorts
and hunting and fishing lodges. In the 1930's and
1940's one of the most popular was Stonydell. It
featured a large swimming pool, dancing, tennis,
boating and fishing. May West is said to have been
one of its visitors. On weekends highway patrolmen
even had to station themselves there to direct traffic.
In 1946 the entire town became the property of R. E.
Carney when it was purchased at public auction on
the courthouse steps in its entirety for $10,000. It
was formerly owned by Fred Pillman.
exists, outside of hunters and indians, are a few who
arrived in 1818. These were James Harrison, Adam
Bradford, John York and Jack and John Ducan, with
possibly a few others. Mr. Harrison was an energetic
and highly respected Virginian, who located at the
mouth of the Little Piney, near Arlington's present
site.
Harrison's home was the first courthouse in the
district, and at that time it was in Crawford County.
His home was a pioneer court house with the court
meeting in his store-room and the grand jury
'considering their presentments' out in the grove
nearby. When he first settled there, the nearest
house was at Steelville, and the nearest court
probably at St. Louis, County after county was
created around him, so that it is said that his house
had been in five different counties.
Arlington was platted by James Harrison's son,
Thomas. He was born Feb. 21, 1822, near Arlington,
and remained in the area for his entire life.
The St. Louis and San Francisco Railway terminus
was in Rolla from the time of the Civil War until 1876
when John C. Freemont assumed control and
pushed it on to Arlington and Jerome. It remained
this way for many years.
Although never a center of commerce as Rolla or St.
James, Arlington did have some reasonable trade. It
included L. Pillmans general store, J. L. Graham's
hotel, Dr. A. E. Arthur's drug store, and
C. A. Smith's band saw mill. At the turn of the century
Arlington became a center for railroad tie production
and shipping.
When Route 66 was built it helped Arlington's
growth. The entire area became known for its resorts
and hunting and fishing lodges. In the 1930's and
1940's one of the most popular was Stonydell. It
featured a large swimming pool, dancing, tennis,
boating and fishing. May West is said to have been
one of its visitors. On weekends highway patrolmen
even had to station themselves there to direct traffic.
In 1946 the entire town became the property of R. E.
Carney when it was purchased at public auction on
the courthouse steps in its entirety for $10,000. It
was formerly owned by Fred Pillman.