Community
HISTORY
The first record of the Dumas area comes in an 1851 deed from the State of Arkansas to Findley Holmes, of Mississippi. Holmes bought land in the Dumas-Pickens area from the State for $1.25 an acre, and then deeded the Dumas land to his son, Abercrombie Holmes.
In 1870, Abercrombie Holmes sold the land on which Dumas now stands to William B. Dumas, a native of Henry County, Tennessee. By 1890, he owned 940 acres of land, operated a large steam cotton gin on his property, had a stave mill, and a store which served as the first freight office and post office. The settlement was first known as Dumas Station. In 1890, there were less than 100 people living here.
The Methodist Church was established in Dumas in 1897, and the Baptist Church in 1903. Masons organized Omega Lodge No. 547, F. & A.M. on February 11, 1899. The Dumas weekly newspaper, first known as the Desha County Democrat, was also founded in 1899. Formal education in Dumas began with a one-room school in 1900.
The City of Dumas was incorporated on June 28, 1904 with Gus Waterman as Mayor, W. E. Meeks as Recorder, and D. O. Porter, J. A. White, H. W. Copeland, J. H. Davis and J. B. Brown as Aldermen.
The first long distance telephone was installed in 1905 but it was 1922 before a complete system was built. The first deep water well was dug in 1908 with a system of running water installed. By 1917, Dumas had a municipal electric plant and electricity five hours each evening and by 1926, AP&L bought the system and expanded service.
Dumas was called the "Pikes Peak of Arkansas" during the flood of 1927 in Desha County. The overflow waters from breaks in the levees completely surrounded the town for more than three weeks. Dumas celebrated it's 75th birthday in 1979.