A History of North Little Rock: The Unique City by Walter M. AdamsReview by: Tom W. DillardThe Arkansas Historical Quarterly, Vol. 46, No. 1 (Spring, 1987), pp. 79-81Published by: Arkansas Historical AssociationStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/40030780 .

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BOOK REVIEWS 79

than with legislative triumphs. To Hinshaw's eternal credit, he has re- sisted the temptation to gild the legislative lily. As he accurately notes, but does not emphasize, the major progressive steps taken by the general assembly were adopted under strong gubernatorial or popular pressure or under duress from the federal government. Indeed, occasionally Hinshaw's dismay at legislative inadequacies seeps through, as when he notes that in the early 1950s, "Arkansas had a positive feeling in the air that could even be felt in the actions of the General Assembly."

This, then, is an interesting and illuminating portrait of an essential and often obscure part of Arkansas's political heritage. That someone of Hinshaw's obvious intelligence and devotion to the state now serves in the general assembly is some grounds for hoping that the next 150 years of the state legislature will prove more productive than the past.

Diane D. Blair University of Arkansas

A History of North Little Roc\: The Unique City. Walter M. Adams, with the North Little Rock History Commission. (Little Rock, Ark.:

August House, 1986. Pp. 282. Introduction, preface, epilogue, bibli-

ography, acknowledgements, illustrations, and index. $24.95.)

North Little Rock has been the butt of more derogatory jokes and snide remarks than Hoboken, New Jersey. The city is usually stereo-

typed as backward, ruled by corrupt mayors, dirty, a haven for rednecks, a real "dog town." But, like all stereotypes, the image is too one-dimen- sional. North Little Rock, from its birth about the time of the Civil War, has been a complex place, full of contradictions, caught up in its own

hopes for the future, peopled by an amazing mix of diverse ethnic

groups, and always struggling with a stepsister chip-on-the-shoulder attitude about its neighbor across the river. If nothing else, Walter Adams's new history of North Little Rock should help eliminate some of the old stereotypes.

In my mind North Little Rock has always struck me as the "Chicago" of Arkansas. It is a big city of industry and always has been. It is a city where the railroads have been of paramount importance. It is a city of

rough and tumble political activity, and no small amount of boss rule.

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80 ARKANSAS HISTORICAL QUARTERLY

But, unlike Chicago, the city has always existed in the shadow of a larger neighbor.

North Little Rock was a long time in the making. During the early years of Arkansas history, the North Little Rock site was simply re- ferred to as "opposite Little Rock" or "ferry landing." The area was low and swampy, and the lack of a bridge made it difficult for growth to get started. It took the arrival of the railroads to bring development to the north shore.

In early Arkansas it must have seemed that all roads converged on what is today North Little Rock. And when the railroads made their belated debut, they terminated there too. During the Civil War the area was the scene of intense railroad activity, first by the Confederates and then by the occupying Federal forces. It became known as Huntersville.

Huntersville was quickly supplanted by the name Argenta, a name that harkened back to the days when silver was mined in the area. (As late as 1925, according the author, $2,164 in silver ore was produced in the area.) In March 1866 the real estate promoters got busy, Argenta was platted, and more or less systematic development began.

The year 1871 is a pivotal one in the history of the city. It was then that the railroad from Memphis was completed, a postoffice was opened, and the first Protestant church was established. Argenta could get along without a postoffice or churches, but the railroads have consistently formed the backbone of the local economy.

With railroads came workers; and with these employees came busi- nesses - especially saloons - and the need for government. In 1890

Argenta was annexed to Little Rock where it remained for thirteen years as the Eighth Ward. Then, in 1903, an obscure little law called the Hoxie- Walnut Ridge bill passed the legislature. Everyone thought the legisla- tion was designed to allow the consolidation of Hoxie and Walnut

Ridge, but its real purpose became clear when Argenta used the legisla- tion to break away ("divorce" as they said then) from Little Rock.

The secession of Argenta was the brainchild of William C. Faucette, his brother James P. Faucette, and a few close allies. Much of the story of the city is inextricably bound up in the lives of the Faucette brothers. Of course, they started out as railroad men, but soon went into the hotel business and then founded what is today known as Twin City Bank.

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BOOK REVIEWS 81

William C. Faucette served as the first mayor of Argenta, and James P. Faucette as its third. They brought paved streets to the city, a sewer

system, an electrical light plant, and a beautiful city hall. As is always true, forceful leadership brought forceful reactions. At one time Mayor J. P. Faucette's home was bombed, a fact the author does not mention but is painfully portrayed in the Faucette brothers papers here in the UCA archives.

If railroads are crucial to the business history of the north shore, then

powerful politicians are central to its political history. The Faucettes set the stage, but they were followed by some equally strong characters -

U. E. Moore was just the man to run the city during the trying days of the Depression, and William F. "Casey" Laman ruled with an iron, though benevolent, hand from 1957 until 1972. Both Moore and Laman took advantage of federal funds to spur the development of the city. Laman is especially well known for developing an outstanding munici-

pal parks system. The current mayor, Terry Hartwick, is a less capable politician, but he has led North Little Rock toward development of its own hydroelectric power capability.

Walter M. Adams gets an "A" for effort in telling the fascinating story of North Little Rock. He is especially to be commended for

attempting a full-scale chronological history of the city, rather than a

topical approach as is so common with local historians. But his writing style leaves something to be desired; the narrative reads like the author was taking minutes at a meeting.

Still, this is a good book. It is very nicely illustrated, though the dust

jacket photo is mundane. August House Publishing Company is known for using good paper, and this book is no exception. I wish every city in Arkansas had a published history like this, though written with a little more flair. Tom W. Dillard

University of Central Arkansas, Archives and Special Collections

Bessie Moore: A Biography. By George and Mildred Fersh. (Little Rock, Ark.: August House, 1986. Pp. 247. Acknowledgements and illustrations. $19.95.)

Bessie Boehm Moore is one of those rare and special people in whom

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