Springdale: The Courage of Shiloh (AR)

by Velda Brotherton

Tucked up in the rugged hills and fertile valleys of northwest Arkansas is the city of Springdale. Once a Native American community and officially settled as Shiloh, the mountainous region that would be Springdale attracted immigrant pioneers beginning in 1828 and rapidly flourished, establishing gainful agricultural, commercial, and manufacturing industries. Following the Civil War, however, the community felt the disastrous effects of the battles of Pea Ridge and Prairie Grove, which drained resources and stunted morale. Springdale residents struggled to maintain their livelihood, but it was not until the institution of the railroad in 1882 that their recovery caught fire. Agriculture on a larger scale once again proved lucrative, coupled with an influx of new immigrants. Springdale has diversified and expanded over time and is still drawing people to its abundant natural resources, its phenomenal scenic beauty, and its temperate climate. Springdale: The Courage of Shiloh not only explores the extraordinary history of the city, but also highlights the lives of the families who survived the hardships of immigration and homesteading, the horrors of the Civil War, and the reconstruction and progress of Springdale. From John Holcombe, the founder of Shiloh, who envisioned a city growing from the springs surrounding his church, to the birth of the Frisco Railroad, which turned a small farming community into the Fruit Center of Arkansas, this amusing and enlightening tale traces a city's continuing evolution.

160 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2002

About the author

Velda Brotherton writes of romance in the old west with an authenticity that
makes her many historical characters ring true. A knowledge of the rich history of
our country comes through in both her fiction and nonfiction books, as well as in
her writing workshops and speaking engagements. She just as easily steps out of
the past into contemporary settings to create novels about women with the ability
to conquer life’s difficult challenges. Tough heroines, strong and gentle heroes,
villains to die for, all live in the pages of her novels and books.