Hi Neighbors!

Looks like I let my vacation to Alaska let me miss a beat on this newsletter. I will do better going forward but just wanted to share a highlight from my trip to Alaska. We were lucky to see the northern lights. If the cold does not bother you then I highly recommend planning a trip out there.

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I wanted to say that I really appreciate everyone who has signed up and reads this, I am trying to be more consistent and improve every week, please be patient and let me know when I am not doing good.

Now off to this weeks letter.

—Your Neighbour

📅 THIS WEEK IN FORT SMITH

Im sorry I did not find any events this week that really excited me so decided not to put any, but I am on the search and have been trying to find a consistent way to locate events from yall.

If you have any suggestions on where you often look for events

💡 FORT SMITH FACT OF THE WEEK

Miss Laura's in Fort Smith, Arkansas, is a historic Victorian brothel built in 1898 and opened in 1903 by Laura Ziegler. It is notable for being the only brothel listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Located in the city's former red-light district, known as "The Row," it was considered the most elegant establishment of its kind, earning the nickname "Queen of the Row." Today, it serves as a visitor center and museum, preserving its rich history and offering guided tours

An interesting fact about them Miss Laura's brothel utilized a token system as part of its operations during the early 1900s. This system served multiple purposes:

1. Payment Management: When customers arrived, they purchased tokens from the madam at the front desk. These tokens were then used to pay for services provided by the prostitutes. Afterward, the prostitutes exchanged the tokens with the madam for cash, ensuring that all transactions remained under the control of the brothel owner12.

2. Advertising Tool: Tokens also acted as promotional items. They circulated within society, spreading awareness about the brothel and encouraging repeat visits, especially from influential individuals such as politicians and law enforcement officials35.

3. Customer Incentives: Miss Laura reportedly gave tokens to important or high-profile clients as a way to encourage their return visits. This strategic use of tokens helped build loyalty and maintain relationships with influential patrons35.

Overall, the token system was a clever mechanism for controlling financial transactions, promoting the business, and incentivizing repeat clientele in a regulated environment.

⭐ MY FORT SMITH FAVORITES: Relaxing views

Each week, I share my personal recommendations in a different category. This week: where to watch a nice sunset

🥇 Top Pick: McClure Amphiteatre

My wife and I live in the Chaffee area and often walk the trails around ArcBest, this is a common spot to end up to watch the sunset over Fort Smith when the sky is clear. Would recommend when you want some peace and quite and a nice walk around the area.

What's your favorite spot to chill around town? Reply to this email and let me know!

📰 FORT SMITH NEWS YOU CAN USE

Fort Smith Metro Building Activity Surges in Q1 2025

Building activity in the Fort Smith metro area rebounded significantly in March, with permit values up 18.2% from March 2024. Year-to-date, Fort Smith, Greenwood, and Van Buren reported $73.8 million in permits—a remarkable 93.5% increase from the same period last year.

This growth reverses the region's 45% decline in building activity seen throughout 2024, marking a promising economic indicator for the area.

Link to Article

U.S. Marshals Museum received $100,000 from Cherokee Nation

Cherokee Nation donates $100,000 to U.S. Marshals Museum for "Tragedy at Goingsnake Theatre" exhibit depicting deadly 1872 jurisdictional conflict between tribal authority and federal marshals. Link

👋 UNTIL NEXT WEEK

Thanks for spending a few minutes with me exploring the best of Fort Smith! If you enjoyed this week's edition, I'd love for you to:

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Coming next week: Why I started this newsletter and what brought me to fort smith.

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See you around town,

• Your Neighbor

Fort Smith Weekly is an independent newsletter dedicated to celebrating our community. Not affiliated with any government entity or organization.

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