McCollum Chidester House

This home was built on land received by grant from the United States Government when James K. Polk was President. The rambling white colonial home was built in 1847 by Peter McCollum a local merchant a little ways west of town on a piece of property overlooking the well-traveled trade route to Washington, Arkansas. It is a house of many firsts for the area including the first one built of planed lumber, the first to be wallpapered and it's kitchen had the first iron cookstove and accoutrements - all imported from New York. It has twelve foot ceilings in the seven downstairs rooms and somewhat lower ceilings in the three upstairs rooms. The house has five fireplaces. One of the first sewing machines sold west of the Mississippi River still sits in a corner of the dining room and was used by Mrs. George Chidester in later years.

Mr. McCollum, known as a gracious host, entertained dignitaries, pastors, lawyers and steamboat captains the 15 years he lived in the home. When he relocated to a new plantation home further West of town, he sold the home in 1862 to Colonel John T. Chidester for $10,000 gold. When the home was purchased, C