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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.
About the author
Together with the Shiloh Museum of Ozark History, author Velda Brotherton has crafted a memorable and compelling historical representation of Springdale. A native to the northwestern Arkansas region and an established author, Brotherton writes a local historical column for the White River Valley News, has been published in The Washington County Observer and Northwest Arkansas Times, and compiled Images of America: Washington County, Arkansas, a pictorial history of this community. With over 100 historic photographs and drawings, Springdale: The Courage of Shiloh entices both local residents and visitors to discover the appeal of this unique community.
