The history of 2109 South Louisiana

An architectural identity all its own.

One of four neighboring houses designed by Charles L. Thompson—related in origin, distinct in expression.

Built in 1914, 2109 South Louisiana Street was designed by noted Arkansas architect Charles L. Thompson as part of a remarkable group of four neighboring homes. Rather than repeating a single design, Thompson gave each residence its own architectural identity through variations in form, materials, textures, and detailing.

At 2109 South Louisiana, that identity took shape as a substantial two-story Craftsman residence executed in iron spot brick and stucco. The naturally varied character of the brick complements the Craftsman movement’s emphasis on texture, warmth, and natural materials.

Among the home’s most recognizable architectural features is its dramatic half-timbered cross gable, complemented by exposed rafter tails, substantial Craftsman porch brackets, and the proportions and craftsmanship characteristic of Thompson’s residential work.

The home was individually recognized for its architectural significance with its listing on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984, and it later became a contributing property within the expanded Governor’s Mansion Historic District.

More than a century after its construction, the defining elements of Thompson’s design remain evident throughout the home, providing a direct connection between the architecture of early twentieth-century Little Rock and the home as it exists today.

Black-and-white front elevation photograph of the Farrell House at 2109 South Louisiana in 1983
2109 South Louisiana Street, photographed by Alice Jones, June 1983. National Register of Historic Places nomination for the Farrell House (PU-166), National Park Service NPGallery. Federal archival record; no separate rights restriction is stated on the asset page.

From the archive

The house, documented in 1983.

This is the oldest digital archival image we could verify for 2109 specifically. No verified historical photograph showing all four Farrell houses together was found in the consulted digital collections.

The story continues

Historic character, carefully carried forward.

View the home today