Date:  November 1, 2024  |   Story: Stephanie Maxwell Newton  |   Photography: Bailey Dougan  |  

The rich history of Faulkner County’s seat lives on through passionate Conwegians

Everyone should love their house like Emily Walter loves hers. Built in 1948, original features such as hardwood floors and colorfully tiled bathrooms captured her design-loving heart, but it was really the home’s location that sealed the deal. “Living in the Robinson Historic District, everyone who lives down here appreciates living in a historic home,” she says. “My neighbors and I have a Christmas brunch every year, and it goes on for three hours because we sit there and talk about our houses like they’re our children. It’s like the fourth member of our family.”

During the pandemic, Emily noticed people driving to her neighborhood to park and take walks. Having read “Historic Homes of Conway,” a booklet and self-guided tour of Conway published in 2006 by the Faulkner County Historical Society and the Old Conway Preservation Society, she wished there was a way to more easily share the knowledge compiled there with those outside her window—so she created one. With the help of the City of Conway, she and her husband, Jeremy, created videos and an online map based on the booklet so more people can easily follow and learn from this resource. Here, Emily shares with us why she’s so passionate about her city’s history and some of her favorite things about living in Conway.

Q: Why do you think it’s important to keep the integrity of historic homes in a city?
A: Statistics show that in the same town, houses in historic districts usually have a higher resale value than those not in the district. They’re often specifically sought after. Our downtown commercial district is one of the best in the state with a healthy mixture of restaurants, shops, salons, office spaces, pharmacies, and dentist offices—and it’s a walkable community for anyone living downtown. The founders of our town did a great job of understanding what we have and preserving it. Without them and the continued effort by our local government and Chamber of Commerce, we would have a totally different city.

Q: What’s something that might surprise people about Conway?
A: Honestly I think very few people know the history of our town, that it was founded by German Catholic immigrants. I went to a Chamber event the other day and asked how many people were from Conway; about six people raised their hands. We have so many people who move here constantly, and they don’t know we’re 150 years old and some of the same families [who started the city] still live here.

Q: Do you have any favorite ways to enjoy the arts scene in Conway?
A: Made up of students and professional musicians, the Conway Symphony Orchestra is a staple in our community. Maestro Izzy Getzov is great about explaining songs, meanings, and things to listen for, so you don’t have to be an expert in classical music to enjoy their performances. The Windgate Center for Fine & Performing Arts at the University of Central Arkansas is just a spectacular building for the arts, whether it’s choir concerts, orchestra, or black box theater; there is always something new and different to enjoy each month.

Q: What are your go-to happy hour, date night, or just-don’t-feel-like-cooking spots?
A: Our favorite place in town is The Rogue Roundabout. Our best friends own it, and we’ve personally witnessed the start of that business from the infant stages of planning. It’s really neat to watch our friends succeed and see their dreams come to life. Plus, my husband is the assistant brewmaster and helps brew the beers. Very close runners-up would be O’Malley’s Irish Grill. We also love Zaza, U.S. Pizza, and Cross Creek Sandwich Shop for lunch. We truly try to support local businesses as much as we can. The small business community has a huge following in our town, and these are our friends who are running these businesses day in and day out.

TAKE THE TOUR
Visit emilywaltertherealtor.com/historic-home-tour to find interest points along the tour (either walking or driving), each linked to a video about Conway’s history and the architectural style, founder, and builder of each home.

Read on for a few more of our favorite ways to discover Conway.

SHOP
Make a trip to Kindred Mercantile (shopkindredmercantile.com) in Conway’s bustling downtown for seasonal fashions, accessories, home décor, and gifts. Antiques lovers: Mark your calendar for January 3-5, 2025, when Antique Alley (antiquealleyarkansas.com) returns to the Conway Expo Center. Here, you can shop antique and vintage finds from more than 200 booths, all under one roof.

DINE
Located on Steel Avenue, The Purple Cow (purplecowlr.com) is a family favorite for classic diner fare in a retro setting. Plan for dessert—you can’t leave without a purple milkshake! For a fresh, locally sourced menu and beers on tap, visit The Rogue Roundabout (therogueroundabout.com). It’s also a gathering place for the community; don’t miss events such as trivia night the first Thursday of each month.

VISIT
Oak Street turns into an arts destination with Conway Art Walk (facebook.com/conwayartwalk) on the first Friday of each month. On November 1, the monthly event presents its Holiday Market, with crafted wares available for purchase from local makers. Get further into the holiday spirit with Illuminate (conwaychristmas.com), downtown Conway’s annual tree-lighting ceremony, on November 30.

Kindred Mercantile

BNB Creations

Espresso at Evergreen

The Purple Cow

Three Poppies