Silas Owens, Sr.

Silas Owens Sr. (1907 – April 4, 1960) 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 (credits) include: Melvin Chrisco House, 237 Alvin Brown Rd., Damascus, AR (Owens, Silas Sr.) NRHP-listed Church of Christ, AR 310, Guy, AR (Owens, Silas) NRHP-listed Earl and Oza Crownover-Brown House, 133 S. Broadway, Damascus, AR (Owens, Silas Sr.) NRHP-listed Eagle Guard Station, 11 mi. W of Townsend, Townsend, MT (Owens, Dick) NRHP-listed Richard and Mettie Ealy House, 280 Solomon Grove Rd., Twin Groves, AR (Owens, Silas Sr.) NRHP-listed First National Bank, 68 St. Francis St., Mobile, AL (Owens, Charles H.) NRHP-listed Dennis and Christine Garrison House, 105 Garrison Rd., Greenbrier, AR (Owens, Silas Sr.) NRHP-listed Charlie Hall House, 221 Old US 65, Twin Groves, AR (Owens, Silas Sr.) NRHP-listed E.E. Hooten House, 400 AR 25 N, Guy, AR (Owens, Silas Sr.) NRHP-listed Farris and Evelyn Langley House, 12 Langley Ln., Republican, AR (Owens, Silas Sr.) NRHP-listed Lee Service Station, 28 South Broadway, Damascus, AR (Owens, Silas) NRHP-listed Carl and Esther Lee House, 17493 US 65S, Damascus, AR (Owens, Silas Sr.) NRHP-listed Mallettown United Methodist Church, 274 Mallett Town Rd., Mallet Town, AR (Owens, Silas Sr.) NRHP-listed Merritt House, 139 N. Broadview, Greenbrier, AR (Owens, Silas Sr.) NRHP-listed S.D. Merritt House, 45 AR 25 N, Greenbrier, AR (Owens, Silas Sr.) NRHP-listed Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church, 249 AR 107, Enola, AR (Owens, Silas Sr., rock mason) NRHP-listed Silas Owens Sr. House, 157 Solomon Grove Rd., Twin Groves, AR (Owens, Silas Sr.) NRHP-listed Walter Patterson House, 1800 US 65N, Clinton, AR (Owens, Silas Sr.) NRHP-listed Quattlebaum–Pelletier House, 43 Ozark, Twin Groves, AR (Owens, Silas Sr.) NRHP-listed James and Jewell Salter House, 159 S. Broadview, Greenbrier, AR (Owens, Silas Sr.) NRHP-listed Sellers House, 89 Acklin Gap Rd., Conway, AR (Owens, Silas Sr.) NRHP-listed Solomon Grove Smith-Hughes Building, S of Co. Rd. 29, Twin Groves, AR (Owens, Silas Sr.) NRHP-listed Spears House, 1235 AR 65 N, Greenbrier, AR (Owens, Silas) NRHP-listed Terminal Warehouse, 211 E. Pleasant St., Baltimore, MD (Owens, Benjamin B.) NRHP-listed Tyler–Southerland House, 36 Southerland, Conway, AR (Owens, Silas Sr.) NRHP-listed Earl and Mildred Ward House, 1157 Mitchell St., Conway, AR (Owens, Silas Sr.) NRHP-listed Washburn House, 40 Battles Loop, Guy, AR (Owens, Silas Sr.) NRHP-listed Joe and Nina Webb House, 2945 Prince, Conway, AR (Owens, Silas Sr.) formerly NRHP-listed One or more works in Castleberry–Harrington Historic District, Castleberry Rd., Republican, AR (Owens, Silas Sr.) NRHP-listed