A History of Buckville
Settlement in what is now northwestern Garland County occurred first along the creeks and rivers. As early as the 1840's, surveyors completing public land surveys noted "Fields" near area waterways and early census records name farming as the occupation of the large majority of the citizens of the rural areas. Montgomery County was formed in 1842 from Hot Spring County. Until 1917, when Buckville and Cedar Glades Townships became a part of Garland County, they were in Montgomery County and previously known as Mountain Township. By 1850, there were 75 homes in this area. By 1890, growth in the area was sufficient enough for the community of Buckville to be described in Goodspeed's "Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Western Arkansas". Buckville was described as "a flourishing litle town 18 miles east of Mount Ida and 22 miles northwest of Hot Springs. Many of the solid farmers of the county reside in this locality. Cotton and corn are the principal products. The population is estimated at about 100. In the event of electric process becoming an assured success, this region will become a great mining district, as there are inexhaustible mineral deposits here, sand rock predomination. J.W. Freeman represents the mercantile interest, also having a large cattleranch; J. W. Martin is the mill man." The Buckville Post Office was established March 3, 1887 with Frank W. Johnson as post master. The post office remained in operation until Jamuary 25, 1951 when postmater Jeff Bradley resigned due to the construction of the dam. The post office was closed and moved to Avant, but retained the name Buckville Post Office. Maybe this is why the town of Avant is today known by it's residents as Buckville. The Buckville School along with the Buckville Baptist Church sat atop a hill in the center of town. The school was the largest in the area covered by the lake, and usually included grades one through eight. At times though, classes were held for upperclassmen. Most Buckville students graduated from high school at either Hot Springs, Mount Ida or Mountain Pine. I have heard stories of students being stranded at Mountain Pine for days at a time when the river flooded. The students stayed at the hotel until the water subsided enough for them to go home. A creek called the "Buckville Branch" flowed through the middle of town. According to many Buckville residents, Buckville Branch was an important part of the community. People used it for fishing, laundry, carting water for their homes and playing for many children. Apparently, there were moss-covered rocks on the river's bottom. They proved very slippery for waders. The Buckville Baptist Church is the only building still intact from the area covered by Lake Ouachita. It was moved from it's current location by rolling logs, among other methods. Buckville Cemetery remained in its current location since it was above the water line, however, the front is now the back and vice-versa. Other cemeteries were moved on the hill above the church. Today, all of Buckville and the surrounding towns are beneath water. Bucktowners can't go look at the old home place or go to the old downtown store. But they can go to Homecoming every year and meet with their old friends and neighbors and remember old times, and visit the church they had gone to in their youth. After all, what really makes a community besides the residents?