In 1883, Salida (no longer South Arkansas) was growing in three directions from the river. The Craig Opera House is at the corner of Second and F Streets and the Presbyterian Church, the first designed for religious services, is a little white frame building at the corner of Third and F Streets. A few days after this photo was taken in mid-May, the F Street bridge was seriously damaged by normal spring runoff when two sections were ripped from the center. The Monte Christo Hotel is complete and Central School, a small stone structure, is barely visible. Work hasn’t started on the new two-story brick addition that created a landmark.
Salida Museum Association Collection.
