Yes, there’s a cistern under this Dumas dining room floor-and you can watch it run
DUMAS, Ark. (KATV) — A historic home in southeast Arkansas is attracting attention for something hidden beneath its dining room floor, offering visitors a unique look at the past while helping preserve a piece of Arkansas Delta history.
The Porter House in Dumas is home to an original brick-and-mortar cistern, a structure once used to collect and store water for household use.
Now, more than a century after the home was built, the cistern has been restored and transformed into an exhibit that allows visitors to see and hear the historic water system in action.
“I can imagine people for 100 years walked across this floor and didn’t know what was below it,” said Glendon Lambert, owner of the Porter House.
A cistern works similarly to a well, but instead of drawing water from underground, it typically collects rainwater and stores it for later use. These systems were commonly used in homes during the 1800s and early 1900s before modern plumbing became widespread.
Lambert purchased the Porter House about 12 years ago, unaware of what was beneath the dining room.
“I bought the house about 12 years ago. I did not know it had a cistern under it, didn’t know what a cistern was,” Lambert said.
After discovering the structure, Lambert began working to preserve it while restoring the historic home.
Today, visitors can look through a protected glass opening in the dining room floor to see the cistern below. Lighting has been installed, along with a pump that recirculates water through the original inlet, recreating the sound and appearance of water flowing into the structure.
“We made it where you can see it visually from the top. We’ve added water to it and then we put in a pump and we recirculate the water,” Lambert said.
Lambert said the cistern could hold approximately 5,000 gallons of water when filled.
The restoration has also prompted Lambert to search for comparable historic cisterns across the United States and internationally. So far, he says he has not confirmed another example that combines an indoor historic cistern, overhead viewing and recirculating water in the same way.
But the home’s history extends beyond what lies beneath its floors.
The Porter House was built in 1923 and named after its original owner, David Oscar Porter, a well-known Dumas businessman. Research into the property’s history is also exploring a connection to Charles L. Thompson, a prominent Arkansas architect whose work can be found throughout the state.
Lambert says preserving the home’s original character has been an important part of the restoration, including maintaining features such as its cypress wood construction.
“We wanted to show the history of Dumas and the pioneers, and preserve the quality of the house and have people come and enjoy it,” Lambert said.
Beyond preserving the past, Lambert hopes the Porter House can become a destination for travelers passing through southeast Arkansas.
He says there are plans to eventually turn the property into a bed and breakfast, giving visitors another reason to stop in Dumas.
“I’m hoping people will see this and say hey let’s stop at the Porter House on our way to a Razorback ball game or something like that,” Lambert said. “That’s kind of the stage we’re at right now.”
In the meantime, Lambert welcomes visitors interested in exploring the historic home and learning more about the community’s history. Lambert says visitors are welcome from 8am to 5pm.
The Porter House is located at 100 North College Street in Dumas, Arkansas.