Managing Upland Forests of the Midsouth

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The Old Medical Director's Residence

[The following text is adapted from a description

written by Sharon Shugart]

Constructed in 1912 by the Interior Department for Dr. Harry M. Hallock, the medical director of the Hot Springs reserve, this magnificent building has been extensively remodeled and updated over the last few years.  Although still owned by the National Park Service, this location will now serve as the local duty station for the Hot Springs portion of RWU-4159.

The contract for building the medical director's residence was given in June of 1912 to Michael H. Jodd for $22,601, and after numerous cost overruns Dr. Hallock and his family moved into the house in February 1913.  After 1932, facility superintendents used this house for their residence.  The last superintendent to live in the house, Richard H. Maeder, left for a private home in 1978.

The house was used for curatorial storage from 1982 until 1989.  After this, the building was used as storage for a few items but was largely empty.  RWU-4016 had outgrown its facilities just a few doors down the street, and the Southern Research Station, in conjunction with the National Park Service, commissioned an improvement effort that took over a year to complete.  Our staff moved into this Colonial Revival-style building in January of 2004, and will continue to improve this space.