Jacob Wolf House, Territorial courthouse in Norfork, Arkansas.
The Jacob Wolf House is a two-story log building situated on a hill overlooking the White River and North Fork River, with a central breezeway that divides the structure. The design reflects practical frontier construction methods with distinct functional spaces for official business.
Built in 1829, it served as the first permanent courthouse for Izard County until 1835 when administrative boundaries shifted. The structure represents an important moment when the territory moved toward more formal governmental organization.
This building served as a gathering place where settlers came together during court sessions, creating bonds across the frontier community. The site reveals how law and daily social life were intertwined in territorial Arkansas.
The site is easily accessible by road and offers parking, with interpretive signs explaining frontier life throughout the grounds. Visitors will find restrooms and a pavilion available for viewing and picnicking.
Sam Houston's brother, John P. Houston, worked here as a county clerk in the lower-level offices during the courthouse's active years. This connection links the site to a prominent Texas political family of the era.
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