Pettigrew, Arkansas, holds a modest but distinct place in the history of Madison County, tracing its origins to a small settlement that began to develop along the White River in the late 1880s. The town's formal establishment and naming are closely tied to the expansion of the railroad into the region's timber-rich lands.
The Origins of Pettigrew
The foundational period for Pettigrew began to take shape in the late 1880s, when a modest community started to emerge along the banks of the White River. This early settlement laid the groundwork for what would become a more formally organized town.
The Influence of the Railway
A pivotal moment in Pettigrew's history occurred around 1897 with the arrival of the St. Louis–San Francisco Railway, commonly known as the Frisco. George Pettigrew, a civil engineer working for the railway, was instrumental in shaping the town's future. He was responsible for selecting the crucial track route that extended into the valuable timber lands of the area. This railway connection was vital for exploiting the region's natural resources, particularly its timber.
Beyond his engineering work on the railway, George Pettigrew also played a direct role in the town's layout and naming. He personally laid out the first two streets of the nascent community. In a unique nod to himself, he named these foundational streets George and St. George. This act solidified his legacy within the town's identity, leading to the settlement being named Pettigrew in his honor.
The town's development was thus inherently linked to the timber industry and the transportation infrastructure provided by the Frisco railway, which facilitated the movement of lumber from the remote Arkansas forests to wider markets.
Key Milestones in Early Development
To summarize the key early developments:
- Late 1880s: A small settlement begins to form along the White River.
- Circa 1897: George Pettigrew, a civil engineer with the St. Louis–San Francisco Railway (Frisco), selects the track route into the timber lands.
- 1897: George Pettigrew lays out the town's first two streets, naming them "George" and "St. George" after himself, cementing his influence on the town's name and early structure.
