Frances Harrow Hanger, a native of Ottumwa, Iowa was orphaned by the time she was 7 years old and raised by different family members who afforded her an education befitting a young lady of wealth. Frederick Hanger was the grandson of Little Rock's first family, Dr. Matthew Cunningham and Eliza Wilson Bertrand Cunningham. He was the son of Col. Peter Hanger and Matilda Cunningham Hanger. His Mother would die in 1865 while he was away at boarding school. His childhood home, Oakwood Plantation would serve as the Confederate Headquarter of Gen. Sterling Price prior to the occupation of Little Rock, September 10, 1863.
Frances Harrow would meet Frederick Hanger when she visited Little Rock in 1876, at the home of a relative, Judge Henry Caldwell. As the "Visiting Girl" a party was given in her honor so that she would have the opportunity to meet the young eligible men of the City. Frances and Frederick would marry in 1877. In 1889 they began remodeling an older home on Scott Street into the popular Queen Anne styled home that is still represented today. When Frederick and Frances Hanger moved into their newly remodeled home on Christmas Eve, 1889 they had no idea the impact the home would have on the MacArthur Park Historic District and Little Rock's Quapaw Quarter neighborhood. The Hangers were well known in Little Rock society for the lavish parties and Germain's that were held in the home.
Tragically, Frederick was killed in 1900 at the age of 45 at one of his businesses. Frances would remain in the home until her death in 1945. The home remained in the Hanger family until 1967, representing ownership of the Hanger family for 78 years.
The home features original gas lighting, stained glass and original woodwork. The home was featured on HGTV's IF WALLS COULD TALK in 2007 and is currently featured on the Little Rock Haunted History tours.
