Silas Owens Sr. (1907 – April 4, 1960)[1] was an African-American mason and builder in Arkansas who was noted for his distinctive style of construction. Many of the homes and buildings that Owens built are listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places primarily found in the Faulkner County, Arkansas area.

Childhood

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Born in Faulkner County in 1907, Owens was one of six sons of Haywood Owens. Owens, like many young boys at that time, worked on the family farm, picking and cultivating cotton. Haywood also would let his sons watch construction work, which Silas took in awe. Owens then received training in carpentry and drafting from a local man; however, his skill in rockwork was largely self-taught. Shortly thereafter, Owens branched out and started contracting.

Works

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His works include many listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[2][3]

Works (credits) include:[3]

References

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  1. ^ "Silas Owens (1907–1960)". Retrieved July 11, 2020.
  2. ^ Holly Hope (December 6, 2004). "A Storm Couldn't Tear Them Down: The Mixed Masonry Buildings of Silas Owens Sr. 1938–1955". National Park Service.
  3. ^ a b "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.