Originally known as Salem, the Witcherville community was founded around 150 years ago by G.H. Pettus and Captain W.J. Witcher. After it was discovered that a Fulton County town had already claimed the name Salem as their own, post office authorities authorized the community’s name to be changed to Witcherville sometime after the Civil War.
The main business district, much bigger and busier than many of its present day residents might guess, was located on what is now known as Dayton Road which, at the time, was a part of the main road running south from Fort Smith all the way through to Waldron.
Area businesses included the Hammer Hotel, the Davis Hotel, the Salem Hotel, the B.A. Cross Mill, Moore’s Store, Graves’s Drug and Mercantile, John Hearn’s Store, J.C. Pettus Station, the J.P. Witcher Store (one of the largest in the county), and a store owned by J.H. Shook known for "selling everything."
There were three physicians who set up practices in the community, J.H. Foster, L.C. Greer, and E.M. Davenport, the local attorney was J.M. Hudson, and the postmaster was William J. Witcher.
Fellowship Baptist Church was established before the Civil War in 1845. A majestic two-story building was built in 1855 with the church housed on the ground floor, and the second story serving as the local Masonic Hall.
Witcherville became a college town in 1875, when Buckner College, named for William Buckner, a missionary to the Cherokee Indians, was established by Missionary Baptist preacher, E.L. Conupere. A three-story, 60 x 120 feet frame structure was built on land donated by G.H. Pettus in 1883 at a cost of $15,000, money raised by the citizens of Sebastian County. Consisting of an auditorium, six classrooms, and living quarters for the college president, the new facility could seat about 200 students with the first class being taught by Dr. A.S. Warrell. Other teachers include Dr. I.J. Reynolds, Dr. R.S. James, Dr. David McDonald, and J.O. Kincannon. Presidents include J.B. Williamson, W.A. Hill, Charles X. Williams, Professor Irby, Professor Vermillion, and Dr. Hansley.
Witcherville School District #27 was formed in January of 1882 by action of the Sebastian County Court, with the coal stove heated wooden building located at what is now Buckner Park.
Meanwhile, Buckner College, while founded by the Missionary Baptists, was affiliated with various denominations including Episcopal and Presbyterian until 1905 when the Landmark Baptists took charge. Though work on a new rock structure was begun, a lack of funds brought construction efforts to an end. After consolidating with Ouachita Baptist University, the Witcherville location was finally closed down in 1910.
With electricity installed in 1946, the Witcherville School District began a school lunch program with a small rock building serving as the kitchen. Though destroyed by fire in 1947, it wasn’t until October of 1950 that a petition from the Qualified Electors of Witcherville School District requesting consolidation with the Mansfield School District was approved by the County Board of Education.
In 1950, Fellowship Baptist Church went to a full-time pastorate. A new building with 4 additional classrooms and a pastor’s study was built in 1956 by M.T. Cross of Mansfield. Growth of the church required the addition of a new larger sanctuary and more classrooms sometime in the mid-eighties, and again in the nineties. Another church, the Lighthouse Family Worship Center was recently established in Witcherville, and is located on Highway 71.
Today, all that remains of the once stately college are the memories of a select few and a street affectionately dubbed College Road. Present businesses include Rite Price Car Lot, Rock Station Antiques, Goines Concrete, and the Bailey Complex, all conveniently located on Highway 71. The scenic Buckner Park, now owned by the citizens of Witcherville, along with the completely refurbished Community Building is the perfect place for family reunions, the occasional pick-up Softball game, and various other gatherings as well as serving as the voting headquarters for the local precinct.
While not an incorporated township, Witcherville still thrives as a community of friends and neighbors -- a good place to raise children and to live.

CLICK HERE for original plat of Salem (soon to be Witcherville) Community.