Friends of Markham Hill Podcast: Recent Episodes
Lisa M Orton
Listen to stories about historic Markham Hill in the middle of Fayetteville, Arkansas. Markham Hill contains 300 acres of intact, urban forest and some natural areas, several Pratt family-built structures, at least two Native American sites, and has a history of cultural importance to the area, including a boys & girls camp from the 1920s-1940s, hippies and students living in the abandoned camp cabins from the 1950s-2000s, 40+ years of University of Arkansas runners on the trails, wildlife studies, horseback riding. However, developers have bought almost half of the mountain so far and plan to deforest and develop it. Friends of Markham Hill is a grass roots effort to save Markham Hill from development. But we need help spreading the word and using public pressure to save this land. This podcast contains at least 80 'Weekly Markham Hill Moments of History' that were initially posted on Facebook and sent to the Fayetteville City Council. So far, the developers and Big Money are winning. They have started deforesting. Please share this podcast and help spread the word. Thank you so much. Let's save Markham Hill!
In honor of Mother's Day, here is the song my brother Ben Orton wrote and sung for our mother Marion Orton for her 80th birthday. She was friends with Joy Markham and Evangeline Archer, and walked and rode horses on Markham Hill for over 40 years.
Learn about the developer SREG's promise to put 50 acres of Evangeline Archer's land on Markham Hill in a conservation easement with the NWA Land Trust.
Learn about the University of Arkansas and the City of Fayetteville's land swap on Markham Hill involving Joy Markham's 63 acres.
Learn about the efforts of this grass roots group. Why should the City of Fayetteville want to save this mountain from destruction?
Here's the statement and content of our online 'Save Markham Hill' petition on change.org. As of April 20, 2023 we have 16,854 signatures.
Learn about the rezoning conflict in 2018 between Fayetteville residents and the developer concerning Markham Hill. A Letter to the Editor by Fran Alexander.
This is Part 5 of a five-part series on how the Pratt/Archer family lost their land on Markham Hill to a developer. It focuses on the Archer's bankruptcy lawyer Stanley Bond and his alleged failures in handling the case.
Part 4 of this five-part series focuses on the description in the Archer v. Kennedy petition filed in the Iowa District Court in Polk County on 11/05/2020 that describes the problems with the Markham Hill bankruptcy trial.
Part 3 of this five-part series contains excerpts from developer Seth Mim's testimony in federal court during the bankruptcy trial. Promises not kept.
This is parts 1 and 2 of a five-part series describing how the Pratt/Archer family lost their land on Markham Hill to a developer. How it started, an interview with Julian Archer, the bankruptcy trial, the bankruptcy lawyer.
Learn about four more artists who have been inspired by Markham Hill: Madison Moon, Karolyn Farrell, Ann Powers, and Judy Maurer.
Artist/Activist Marquette Bruce gives a brief history of conservation efforts in Fayetteville and explains why it is so important to save Markham Hill's urban forest. Her art expresses the necessity and beauty of trees.
Joy Pratt Markham and Evangeline Pratt Waterman Archer were friends with Charles Finger, his wife Eleanor (Nellie), and daughter Helen. In Part 2, let's continue looking at their connections and take a closer look at Charles Finger.
Joy Pratt Markham and Evangeline Pratt Waterman Archer were friends with Charles Finger, his wife Eleanor (Nellie), and daughter Helen. Charles Finger and Helen were considered local celebrities. This is Part 1 of a two-part series.
In 2005 a legal agreement (with its implied and understood promises) was made between the City, Julian Archer, and surrounding residents. In 2018 the City broke its promises by rezoning the land for deforestation and development. This episode is about the 2005 agreement.
Evangeline Archer and birders Jerry and Norma Stillwell were friends. Norma wrote, “Evangeline Archer and I were kindred souls in our love of wild flowers and hatred of billboards.” Learn about the Stillwells and their research.
Learn why Rosa Marinoni and Joy Markham were Grandes Dames of Fayetteville. This episode focuses on Rosa Marinoni.
Joy Pratt Markham willed all her money and land to the University of Arkansas for specific purposes. What happened to prevent this?
Listen to the song and the story behind local musician Jumpsuit Jamey's flamboyant "Walking Song" inspired by his many walks on the Markham Hill trails.
Part 3 of a 3-part series on Julian Archer's life and the story behind the Pratt Place Inn on Markham Hill. How and why was the Pratt Place Inn built?
Part 2 of a 3-part series on Julian Archer's life and the story behind the Pratt Place Inn on Markham Hill. This part is about Julian's career and interests.
Part 1 of a 3-part series on Julian Archer's life and the story behind the Pratt Place Inn on Markham Hill. This part is about Julian's youth and young adulthood.
Fayetteville benefited from Joy Pratt Markham’s philanthropy while she was alive and is still benefitting from her generosity after her death in 1976. Part 2 summarizes the main points of Mrs. Markham's will. What did she want done with the money and land she donated to the University of Arkansas?
When Joy Pratt Markham came into some money in the 1950s, she began contributing to a number of local causes. Children, nature, the arts, college students, and historical buildings were on her heart. This is Part 1 of the story.
Markham Hill's Evangeline Archer wrote an article for the November 22, 1957 issue of the Northwest Arkansas Times entitled “Cyclopedia of Information for the Home Full of ‘How-To-Dos,’ With Recipes and Helpful Hints”. Here are excerpts from the article!
This is Part 5 (1975-1979) of a five-part series containing some of Evangeline Archer's Letters to the Editor. Photo by Paul Waddell.
This is Part 4 (1973-1974) of a five-part series containing some of Evangeline Archer's Letters to the Editor. The drawing is entitled "Suky" and was done by Lucy Dawson in 1940.
This is Part 3 (1969-1972) of a five-part series containing some of Evangeline Archer's Letters to the Editor. The photo is a vintage image of a woman riding sidesaddle, like Ella Hurst and Joy Markham used to do in the Fayetteville Homecoming Parades in the 1950s.
This is Part 2 (1965-1969) of a five-part series containing some of Evangeline Archer's Letters to the Editor.
Letters to the Editor can reveal the heart and spirit of a person and remind us of the issues of the day. This five-part series contains many of Evangeline Archer’s Letters to the Editor. Part 1 covers 1955-1964.
Archeologist Pritam Chowdhury describes his time living on Markham Hill in the early 2000's, and how he found his true love.
Joy Markham was among those who hosted house concerts for lovers of classical music in the 1950s-1970s. These were called Morning Musicales.
Learn about Joy Pratt Markham and the other charter members of Altrusa and their initial project, Fayetteville's first community theatre.
Doug James was the longest serving professor in University of Arkansas history. His last conservation effort before he died was probably his speech before the Fayetteville City Council in 2018 to try to save Markham Hill from deforestation and development. This is his story.
Ken Smith is the author of several excellent books on the Buffalo River. This episode is about Ken Smith's friendship with Evangeline Archer. It includes the stories Ken told me during my interview with him.
This is Part 4 of a four-part series containing Joy Markham's 1938 description of her boys and girls camp.
This is Part 3 of a four-part series containing Joy Markham' s 1938 description of her boys and girls camp.
This is Part 2 of a four-part series containing Joy Markham's 1938 description of her boys and girls camp.
In 1938, Joy Markham wrote about her boys and girls camp for a detailed promotional flyer. This is Part 1 of a four-part series.
This is Part 2 of Frank Sharp's close friendship with members of the Pratt family over the years.
Frank Sharp, a Fayetteville hero, has had a long-term and deep friendship with members of the Pratt family since he was a youth. This is Part 1 of a two-part series.
This episode consists of two stories: Wildlife on Markham Hill by Paul Waddell and Dr. Jim Hunt's Letter to the Editor about Markham Hill. Photo by Paul Waddell.
Part 2 of Evangeline Pratt Waterman Archer from 1947-1954, covering her return from Greece.
Part 1 of a two-part series on Evangeline Pratt Waterman Archer from 1947-1954, covering her new marriage and time in Greece.
This is Part 2 of art student Micheal Park's life on Markham Hill in the 1970s. He describes his art and renovation projects on the Pennington property, his friendship with Mrs. Markham, and his dog Blue's misadventures.
This is Part 1 of a two-part series written by art student Micheal Parks about his life on Markham Hill with his dog Blue in the 1970s.
There are two connections between the Markhams and the Younkins. Since this episode aired, it has been confirmed by Bobby's wife Jeanie Younkin that the third connection is folklore but not true. It was a different Bobby who lived in the cabin.
Part 1 of a two-part series covering Evangeline Pratt's life as Mrs. Waterman which spanned 1927-1947.
Influential newspaper editor Roberta Fulbright lived on Markham Hill when her children were young. She wrote about this in 1940.
This is part 2 of a two-part series on Evangeline Pratt as a girl and single woman, covering the years 1898 through 1927.
Learn about Evangeline Pratt, the younger daughter of the Pratt family who settled on Markham Hill in 1990. This is Part 1 of Evangeline as a girl and single woman.
What was daily life like in the early and mid 1900s for Joy Pratt Markham while living in the family home on Markham Hill? Listen to a Pratt descendant's story.
Joy and Evangeline Pratt had four older brothers when their family settled on what is now called Markham Hill in 1900. This is their story.
When Joy Pratt Markham was 31, one of her former art teachers and mentors died suddenly. George Bellows was a well-known artist. Joy's tribute to him was printed on the front page of the local paper in 1925. This is her article.
The dogwood in the Big Meadow on top of Markham Hill was advertised as the largest in the world.
Two unique stories: 'Remembering Markham Hill' by Hugh Kincaid, and 'Horses, Pot, and Hiding Out' by Hogeye Bill Orton.
Learn about the TV miniseries 'The Blue and the Gray' filmed on various locations in Fayetteville, one being Markham Hill where Robert E. Lee informed his soldiers that they lost the war.
Patsy Galbraith, who lived in the Pratt-Markham house in the 1980s, tells us about life on Markham Hill during that time and what it was like having the movie 'Man Outside' filmed up there.
This story consists of an historical preservation report on the Pratt-Markham house and property given by four University of Arkansas students in April 1977. It includes the wishes of the Pratt sisters, Joy and Evangeline, for their 200 acres on Markham Hill.
Listen to two real-life stories from Markham Hill Cabin Dwellers. Mary Hughes in the 1960s and Sam Edwards in the 1970s.
Joy Pratt Markham had one child, Gay, who died in 1950 at 22 years old in a plane crash near Drake Field on 71 South. Learn about his short life.
Students and residents have been running the trails on Markham Hill for over 40 years. Listen to some of their stories.
The Girl Scouts had a summer day camp on Markham Hill in the 1950s and 1960s. It was named after Joy Pratt Markham's son Gay in his memory.
This story is extracted from a 1973 article in the local newspaper on one of Joy Pratt Markham's donations to the University of Arkansas, giving a short biography of her life.
Maggie was born Mary Magdalene Egle in 1862. She and her husband, Cassius L. Pratt, moved to Washington County, Arkansas from Texas in the 1890s. They had four sons and two daughters, Joy (who later became Mrs. Joy Pratt Markham) and Evangeline (who later became Mrs. Evangeline Pratt Waterman Archer). In 1900, the Pratt family moved to Fayetteville, where they settled on what is now called Markham Hill, west of Fayetteville.
During my research on Joy and Evangeline’s mother, I found the following article on Maggie which displays the perseverance she must have passed down to her daughters. Evangeline displayed perseverance in her fight alongside Neil Compton and others to save the Buffalo River from being dammed in the 1960s to become the country’s first National River in the early 1970s. Likewise, Joy displayed perseverance after her divorce in 1931 in raising a three-year-old son while continuing her work to help boys and girls grow in healthy outdoor living and continuing her love for art, gardening, horses, and later philanthropy after she came into some money.
This story is about Maggie and her effort to build a road in 1926.
Suki Highers lived in several of the cabins on Markham Hill in the 1990s. This is her story.
Joe Neal writes, "Back in the 1960s, I met an elderly gentleman named Ward Pennington, who lived alone in a traditional Ozark cabin in the woods atop Markham Hill ..."
This story contains a 1941 article in the local newspaper about Joy Pratt Markham and her love of horses. Learn about her horse philosophy!
Is there evidence of Native Americans on Markham Hill? Is it possible to show respect to Markham Hill's original inhabitants by preserving this land, its trees, its wildlife, its springs?
This story contains Joe Neal's editorial in the Northwest Arkansas Democrat Gazette on August 10, 2018 entitled, "Markham Hill plans won't help the turtles". He writes, "One thing not widely understood about impacts of development like that now proposed for Markham Hill is that populations of wild animals, like our familiar three-toed box turtles, suffer direct negative consequences, and I don't mean those associated with being run over by bulldozers. Entire populations of these animals are destroyed."
Edward Downie is one of those who lived in an abandoned camp cabin on Markham Hill in the 1950s, renting from Joy Pratt Markham. Here is his story.
Pratt Place-Markham Camp. The oldest daughter of the Pratt family, Joy Pratt Markham, ran a camp on their mountain from the 1920s-1940s. The acreage was put on the Arkansas Register of Historic Places in the 1990s. It will be destroyed by the new developer owners if we can't stop them.
Evangeline's Cottage was built in 1929 by the youngest child of the Pratt family that settled on what is now called Markham Hill in 1900. It is now on the National Register of Historic Places.