Silas Owens Sr.
Silas Owens Sr. 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
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
His works include many listed on the National Register of Historic Places.Works include:
- Melvin Chrisco House, 237 Alvin Brown Rd., Damascus, AR NRHP-listed
- Church of Christ, AR 310, Guy, AR NRHP-listed
- Earl and Oza Crownover-Brown House, 133 S. Broadway, Damascus, AR NRHP-listed
- Eagle Guard Station, 11 mi. W of Townsend, Townsend, MT NRHP-listed
- Richard and Mettie Ealy House, 280 Solomon Grove Rd., Twin Groves, AR NRHP-listed
- First National Bank, 68 St. Francis St., Mobile, AL NRHP-listed
- Dennis and Christine Garrison House, 105 Garrison Rd., Greenbrier, AR NRHP-listed
- Charlie Hall House, 221 Old US 65, Twin Groves, AR NRHP-listed
- E.E. Hooten House, 400 AR 25 N, Guy, AR NRHP-listed
- Farris and Evelyn Langley House, 12 Langley Ln., Republican, AR NRHP-listed
- Lee Service Station, 28 South Broadway, Damascus, AR NRHP-listed
- Carl and Esther Lee House, 17493 US 65S, Damascus, AR NRHP-listed
- Mallettown United Methodist Church, 274 Mallett Town Rd., Mallet Town, AR NRHP-listed
- Merritt House, 139 N. Broadview, Greenbrier, AR NRHP-listed
- S.D. Merritt House, 45 AR 25 N, Greenbrier, AR NRHP-listed
- Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church, 249 AR 107, Enola, AR NRHP-listed
- Silas Owens Sr. House, 157 Solomon Grove Rd., Twin Groves, AR NRHP-listed
- Walter Patterson House, 1800 US 65N, Clinton, AR NRHP-listed
- Quattlebaum–Pelletier House, 43 Ozark, Twin Groves, AR NRHP-listed
- James and Jewell Salter House, 159 S. Broadview, Greenbrier, AR NRHP-listed
- Sellers House, 89 Acklin Gap Rd., Conway, AR NRHP-listed
- Solomon Grove Smith-Hughes Building, S of Co. Rd. 29, Twin Groves, AR NRHP-listed
- Spears House, 1235 AR 65 N, Greenbrier, AR NRHP-listed
- Terminal Warehouse, 211 E. Pleasant St., Baltimore, MD NRHP-listed
- Tyler–Southerland House, 36 Southerland, Conway, AR NRHP-listed
- Earl and Mildred Ward House, 1157 Mitchell St., Conway, AR NRHP-listed
- Washburn House, 40 Battles Loop, Guy, AR NRHP-listed
- Joe and Nina Webb House, 2945 Prince, Conway, AR formerly NRHP-listed
- One or more works in Castleberry–Harrington Historic District, Castleberry Rd., Republican, AR NRHP-listed