104 E. Central - was built in about 1885 and has nice Italianate details. This building housed Craig & Sons Saddlery in the late 1800's. A Sanborn Insurance map shows that from 1892 to 1896 a barber shop was here, and in 1897 a butcher shop was at this location.
Established in 1910 and operated until 1919, this was William's Star Restaurant, owned by Mr. W. L. Williams. In its time it was one of the most popular cafes in the city where one could order all kinds of game, fish, oysters, etc. in season. This cafe was famous for its excellent cuisine, prompt service, and reasonable prices. They also had with the cafe a confectionery department and here you could get any drink, whether hot or cold, that was known to the public, They made a specialty of fine candies, which were kept fresh, and of which they had a most complete line. Mr. W. L. Williams, the proprietor, was from Paris, Texas, and was a public-spirited businessman who was willing at all times to do anything in his power to help out towards the advancement of the city.
About 1919, Kit Campbell moved his barber shop from the Peoples Bank building (later the Bank of Bentonville) to this location. During this time Mr. A. J. Bates gave Mr. Campbell a collection of mounted deer and elk horns to display in the shop. Because of this, the name was at some point changed to the Elk Horn Barber Shop. Mr. Campbell operated here until 1942 when he retired after work in the business for 55 years. In 1942, Harley Fields took over management of the shop, then purchased the shop from Mr. Campbell in 1953. Harley Fields continued to run the shop until 1965. The inside of the building was was like a museum. It had 170 shaving mugs that served as a veritable who's who of Bentonville's past. There were old photos on the wall of Bentonville back in the 1890's as well as advertising mirrors from between 1910 to 1920.
After Harley Fields retired, the business was purchased in 1965 by Charlie Turner.
Today it is the Bentonville Convention & Visitor Bureau.
Established in 1910 and operated until 1919, this was William's Star Restaurant, owned by Mr. W. L. Williams. In its time it was one of the most popular cafes in the city where one could order all kinds of game, fish, oysters, etc. in season. This cafe was famous for its excellent cuisine, prompt service, and reasonable prices. They also had with the cafe a confectionery department and here you could get any drink, whether hot or cold, that was known to the public, They made a specialty of fine candies, which were kept fresh, and of which they had a most complete line. Mr. W. L. Williams, the proprietor, was from Paris, Texas, and was a public-spirited businessman who was willing at all times to do anything in his power to help out towards the advancement of the city.
About 1919, Kit Campbell moved his barber shop from the Peoples Bank building (later the Bank of Bentonville) to this location. During this time Mr. A. J. Bates gave Mr. Campbell a collection of mounted deer and elk horns to display in the shop. Because of this, the name was at some point changed to the Elk Horn Barber Shop. Mr. Campbell operated here until 1942 when he retired after work in the business for 55 years. In 1942, Harley Fields took over management of the shop, then purchased the shop from Mr. Campbell in 1953. Harley Fields continued to run the shop until 1965. The inside of the building was was like a museum. It had 170 shaving mugs that served as a veritable who's who of Bentonville's past. There were old photos on the wall of Bentonville back in the 1890's as well as advertising mirrors from between 1910 to 1920.
After Harley Fields retired, the business was purchased in 1965 by Charlie Turner.
Today it is the Bentonville Convention & Visitor Bureau.
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These are early images of the Elk Horn Barber Shop. At one time there was a beauty salon in the back of the barber shop.
Elk Horn Barber Shop - Right to Left: John Carnes, Mr. Naas, Unknown, Harley Fields, Steve Creek
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In this photo sitting on left Jerry Casey and Dennis Mathews. In barber chair closest to back: Paul Rice, Bill McReel, Joe Caviness, Ray Davidson. Barbers starting with the closest: Harley Fields, Mr. Ruth, John Mayhall, Mr. Naas. This photo was taken in 1955.
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This display of shaving mugs in the Elk Horn Barber Shop in Bentonville is a memorial of days gone by when men kept their shaving mugs at whatever barber shop they used. The collection was first started by Kit Campbell who orginally owned the barber shop. The mugs belonged to the prominent men of Bentonville. Harley Field had a second rack for mugs with his own personal collection in it. The mugs were used until the last lather-and-shave patron bought himself an electric razor.
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In the 1950's the two racks inside the barber shop held about 80 mugs each (160 mugs total).The displays they were kept in were known as the Bentonville Racks. One of the mugs that was in the shop for many year was Governor James H. Berry, who served as the governor of Arkansas from 1883 - 1885.
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In the Elk Horn barber shop were about a dozen deer and elk heads on the wall, along with 20 sets of other horns. One set of horns was more than six feet wide and another set even hung outside above the front door. There were also assorted stuffed animals that were located around the shop and snake skins attached to the walls. Most of the animals on the wall were given to the shop by Jack Bates, a local banker after whom Bates Hospital was named. Also on display were Civil War swords and photos of Bentonville from the 1870's & 1880's. In this photo you can see advertising mirrors in the background. The mirrors were made sometime between 1910 and 1920. There was a lot to look at while waiting to get your hair cut. Going to the barber shop at the Elk Horn was like visiting a museum.
Mr. Harley Fields holds one of the mugs from his own personal collection. He added to his collection whenever he found a mug for sale. The barber shop was originally owned By Kit Campbell, then it was sold to Harley Fields.
The last owner of the shop was Charlie Turner.
The last owner of the shop was Charlie Turner.