Southwestern Proving Ground Officers Quarters (Oakhaven, Arkansas)

 Second World War 1939-1945, NRHP - National Register of Historic Places, residential neighborhood, historic district, Colonial Revival (architecture)

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Historic group of 20 World War II-era houses listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) as a historic district.

Built: 1941
Architectural style: Colonial Revival
Areas of significance: Military
Area: about 70 acres
Also known as: Oakhaven Historic District
Date added to NRHP: 7/8/2008
Other designations: U.S. Historic District
Notes: This grouping of 20 homes was originally part of the Southwestern Proving Ground, a World War II bomb and weapons testing facility, the focal point of which is now known as Hope Municipal Airport. Officers posted at the proving ground occupied these houses, along with their families. The appearance and layout of each home was originally very similar, though many of the homes have had additions or other alterations made to them in the decades since they passed out of their original ownership. An interesting detail about the homes' appearance concerns the roofs; the small handful of homes with gable roofs belonged to officers of higher rank, while the hipped-roof homes belonged to lower-ranked officers. As built, every pair of homes shared a 2-car detached garage, though several of these have since been dismantled. After the war, the homes were sold mostly to World War II veterans. In 1946, the town of Oakhaven was incorporated, making the neighborhood's transition to civilian life complete.