L. A. Black Rice Milling Association Inc. Office

The L. A. Black Rice Milling Association Inc. Office in DeWitt (Arkansas County) has served the Black Rice Company since its construction in 1942. The single-story building is located near multiple operating rice facilities. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on January 29, 2013.

Born in Arkansas County near DeWitt in 1879, Lester Asher (L. A.) Black operated numerous businesses during his lifetime. Upon his father’s death around 1908, Black obtained the family mercantile business and grew it into an empire. He is best known for his rice growing business and, at one point, had more than 6,000 acres under cultivation. This likely made him the largest rice grower in the United States. Black also operated a hardware store and sold farm implements to fellow farmers, offered petroleum products manufactured by Lion Oil, and served as a John Deere dealer. Black operated a rice mill from at least 1918 until his death. The mill was located near the Milling Association Inc. Office Building but is no longer standing. Black also served as the original president of the First National Bank of DeWitt.

Constructed in 1942, the red brick office building is located in a mixed-use residential and agricultural processing area of DeWitt. Facing east, the building is fronted by street parking and a paved lot to the south. The front includes a recessed porch with two concrete columns. The porch provides access to the building via two centrally located doors. Resting on a concrete foundation, the porch is accessed by a single step with a metal handrail. Centrally located above the porch is a cast concrete sign with the name of the building centered in two rows and “19” located on the left side with “42” on the right.

The front doors lead into two separate offices. The one on the south side served as the office for the rice milling operation. The office on the north side handled all of Black’s other business interests. His personal office was located at the rear or west end of the building and included doors that led into each of the offices. Each office also included a safe and vault.

The south side of the building includes six windows and two doors. The north side includes a projection at the rear of the structure, which encompasses the personal office. A total of eight windows are located on the north side, including four on the projection.

The west or rear side of the building includes another small projection that encompasses a chimney that services a fireplace in Black’s office. A parapet is present on all three sides of the building except the rear.

The building is an important example of agricultural business architecture in the state and helps preserve the legacy of Black. The building continues to house agricultural businesses.

For additional information:
“L. A. Black Rice Milling Association Inc. Office.” National Register of Historic Places registration form. On file at Arkansas Historic Preservation Program, Little Rock, Arkansas. Online at https://www.arkansasheritage.com/docs/default-source/national-registry/AR0328-pdf (accessed July 31, 2024).

“L. A. Black of DeWitt Heads Vast Enterprises.” Lion Oil News, February 1945.

Spicer, J. M. Beginnings of the Rice Industry in Arkansas. Arkansas County, AR: Arkansas Rice Promotion Association and Rice Council, 1964.

David Sesser
Southeastern Louisiana University