The Brown Trout Inn and Gallery

Architect, builder, engineer: Hugh L. King
Period of Significance 1875 - 1899

Hugh L. King was a building contractor during the early years of Sugar Loaf Springs/Heber Springs. In 189 at the corner of First and Spring Streets King constructed the S. Julon Morton house considered one of the finest homes in town. King also built a commercial building on Main street that was first occupied by Bittle's General Merchandise Store. In 1893 Hugh King began construction on his own residence at the opposite end of the same block where the Morton House stood. The new house was built onto an older, c. 1882 house. Although King had constructed the new ten room residence for his family, the house was opened to both summer and winter visitors in the early 1900s.

It is documented in local newspapers that people as far as Michigan would come and stay at the Mansion for the winter. People came to Heber Springs believing that there were health benefits from the natural sulphur waters. In September, 1904, the King family moved to Batesville where their three eldest daughters attended college and their Heber Springs house was rented out. They returned to Heber Springs in June 1905 and once again opened the house to boarders and visitors. Perhaps the most famous boarder of the house was Buster Brown and his dog, Tiger. Buster traveled the country advertising Buster Brown shoes and spent the night in the King house while visiting Heber Springs about 1910.

The Hugh L. King House is significant as the best example in Heber Springs of a Queen Anne-styled residence. Wood shingles on the gable ends and turret facings provide the proper Queen Anne exterior surface texture and variety. King achieved the asymmetrical massing required of the style by utilizing a five-sided turret and an offset entry. A lavish use of turned-spindle porch supports, elaborate and beautifully detailed window crowns on every window, and a more modest use of gingerbread ornamentation complete and enhance the Queen Anne effect. An interesting deviation from this style is found in the two roof dormers. The steeply pitched gable roof with trefoil verge board ornamentation is more reminiscent of the Gothic Revival style.

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