Red Bud Manor

For our 38th wedding anniversary we planned a weekend trip to Eureka Springs, Arkansas.  We usually spend one or two weekends a year there.  It is less than 4 hours away, and we love the area.  

Eureka Springs is a Victorian mountain village that was founded in 1879. Judge J.B. Saunders claimed that his crippling disease was cured by the spring waters. Saunders started promoting Eureka Springs to friends and family members across the State and created a boom town. Within a period of little more than one year, the city grew from a rural village to a major city of 5,000 people. By 1889 it was the second largest city in Arkansas. With bath house cures falling out of favor, and the depression that hit the nation being particularly bad in Arkansas, Eureka Spring fell into decline during the 30's.

With the end of World War II the era of the family car trip began. Businesses and services moved to the highway, rustic tourist courts and air-conditioned motels were built alongside diners and gift shops. Sights that had been horseback adventure were now attractions to the motoring tourist. The motoring public could turn-off Hwy 62 down 62B into the valley, follow the loop through the historic little Victorian city, and come back out on the highway.

Early in the 1960s Beaver Lake was completed, and shortly after that Pea Ridge Battle Field National Military Park was opened. Northwest Arkansas attractions continued to expand the number of tourists passing through the Eureka Springs area. In the 1970s, the public was looking for a different lodging experience. The bed and breakfast concept was a perfect fit for the public and for Eureka Springs.

When we travel to Eureka Springs we like the experience of staying in a bed and breakfast.  We have met so many nice people that way.  On this trip I was able to get a reservation at Red Bud Manor.  We had driven by Red Bud Manor on previous trips and remarked on how inviting the front porch looked.  Because they only have 3 rooms and have a perfect score on Trip Advisor,  it can be difficult to get a reservation.

Red Bud Manor was built by one of Eureka Springs' famous and historical women, Franciska Massman.  She was a businesswoman who was famous for her clear-cutting and homesteading tactics. According to the St. Louis Republican on September 11, 1879, a large part of Eureka Springs was held in claims belonging to Benjamin Woodruff, William Evans and the well-known Franciska Massman who owned and operated a sawmill on Leatherwood Creek. Franciska's home went on to become one of the first Bed and Breakfasts to operate in Eureka Springs in the 1980's. 

Our room was named Eureka's Hideaway and like the other rooms in the Manor has it's own outside private entrance.  The room was beautifully decorated.  it featured a king sized bed with a beautiful iron headboard, original artwork, and a whirlpool tub.  

The best features of Red Bud Manor are the front porch and the patio in the back.  We enjoyed quiet evenings sitting on the porch and visiting.  The front porch is beautifully decorated and just seems to invite conversation.

We have been visiting Eureka Springs once or twice a year for the last thirty years. Over the years we have stayed at a lot of places and had many good experiences, but our stay at Red Bud Manor was the best that we have experienced. Owner Catherine and innkeeper Randee made sure that our every need was taken care of. They were very friendly and by the time we left we felt like we had spent the weekend with old friends. The breakfasts that Randee and Catherine served were beyond description.  As much of the produce as possible came fresh from the local farmers market.  The wonderful gourmet meals were served in the beautifully appointed dining room on a Chippendale table.

The next time we travel to Eureka Springs, I hope that we will be able to get reservations at Red Bud Manor.  It will be a disappointment if we can't.

38 Wonderful Years

Today, June 15th is a special day. 38 years ago I said "I do" to my very best friend. The best decision I ever made was to marry the girl who stole my heart when she walked into Mr Brost's History class the beginning of my senior year of high school. I know that high school romances seldom last and that when kids get married when they are in their teens the marriages aren't supposed to last, but we have proven those things wrong. It is still awesome to go through each day with my best friend.



This is the girl that took my breath away when she walked into class that morning. I was too shy to talk to girls, so it was almost a year before she had any idea that I was interested. I think that the good Lord knew that I needed all of the help I could get so he made it so that our paths crossed in a number of ways that year.

Mr. Brost selected five students to work together each week producing learning packets for History class. Gina and I were both in the group.  We met in the library and worked on  producing material to go along with the following weeks lessons.  As I think back on it, that Mr. Brost was a smart teacher.  We helped produce his lesson materials and did it willingly.

We both worked at the Harris Pine furniture factory. I worked on the dresser jig, and she made drawers. I would spend my breaks back with the drawer makers, but she still didn't catch on.  Because she was clueless that I was interested in her and I was far to shy to let my feeling be known we were able to become good friends but that was all.

It came time for our High School graduation and I still had never gotten up the nerve to ask her out. Finally I mustered up every ounce of courage I could find and asked her if she would march with me when we graduated. She told me that she would like to but she had already told Russell she would march with him. If I would talk to Russell she would march with me. I'm pretty sure that she never thought I would actually do it.  Once again summoning up every bit of courage I had, I talked to Russell. He was very gracious and bowed out. I was on cloud nine.

I had a great graduation weekend, but after it was over I didn't know what to do.  I was definitely in uncharted territory.  I guess she figured that I would never ask her out, so she invited me to attend the Porter Hospital company picnic at Elitch Gardens.  I don't handle amusement park rides well, but I wasn't going to tell her so we rode the rides.  My stomach couldn't take it and I ended up throwing up on her.  I was sure that the relationship was over at that moment, but she took me to her home where she let me borrow some of her Dad's clothes while she washed mine.  We then went back to Elitch Gardens but didn't ride anything other than the train.  I definitely knew that she was a keeper.

Our relationship was a long distance relationship for a year. She was attending Union College in Lincoln, Nebraska and I was living in Loveland, Colorado. We wrote hundreds of letters and I called her every Wednesday night while my family was at prayer meeting; the only time I could have any privacy.  The next year I packed up my things and went to Lincoln.  I knew that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with this girl. On June 15, 1975 we were married in the Denver First Seventh-day Adventist Church. The last 38 years have been an interesting and very fulfilling time.  There is nothing I would rather do that take a road trip to someplace I have never been before and spend time with my best friend.  I'm looking forward to the next 38 years together.

Happy Anniversary Gina!