President's Home (1936)

In 1936, Henderson inaugurated its most extensive program for buildings to date. The College received approval for an allotment of $278,000 on September 30, 1935, from the Public Works Administration for the construction of an apartment-dormitory for women, a dormitory for men, a home for the President, and a central heating plant. However, because of legal tangles and various other delays, the College did not receive the work order until March, 1936. Once begun, the work continued on schedule. R. T. Higgins of Hot Springs, the contractor for the project, hired about 150 men so that the work could continue simultaneously on all four buildings.

The two dormitories and the President's home followed the same Colonial architectural style and had the same shade of brick as that used for Mooney Hall.

The two-story red brick Colonial home for the President was erected on the site of the old home on the southeast corner of the campus facing Henderson Street. According to the Daily Siftings Herald, February 17, 1936, President and Mrs. Womack lived in the "old R. C. McDaniel residence" on the southeast corner of Tenth and Pine Streets during the razing of the old and constructing of the new home. On the first floor of the new house were a living room, library or sitting room, formal dining room, breakfast room, kitchen, bedroom, and bath; on the second floor, three bedrooms and two baths. The Womacks moved into the President's new home shortly before the opening of school in September, 1936

The College dedicated all five buildings in a special ceremony in the College Auditorium at 1:00 p.m. as part of the Homecoming events on Saturday, October 31, 1936. Several dignitaries were present at the ceremony. United States Senator Hattie Caraway of Arkansas, a special guest, spoke briefly. Attorney General and Governor-elect Carl Bailey delivered the principal address. He praised the work of the national government and "pointed out the value of educated men and women to the country." In his talk, President Womack stated that the "whole credit for the expansion of Henderson did not rest in his hands but also with the legislature and the Board of Trustees".

When the College acquired a new President's Home in 1969, the house became Henderson House, the Alumni Association headquarters.