Dear Friends of Markham Hill,

Please help us send the following letter to people who want to help preserve Native American sites and culture. This time on Markham Hill.

Letter:

Please help us save Markham Hill from development and make it a nature and wildlife refuge. Of particular concern right now, we just learned that there are Native American sites, at least one probably sacred, that are in danger of destruction by this upcoming development. Let me give a little background first.

Markham Hill is over 144 acres of hillside/hilltop land within Fayetteville between the University of Arkansas and the interstate highway 49. It is the last place wildlife can go for refuge away from civilization this side (east) of the highway. Besides the many acres of basically untouched tree cover, there are two horse pastures and several acres upon which the Pratt Inn (a seven-room luxury B&B) and an Event Barn are located.

The problem is that these 144 acres have recently moved out of the private ownership of the Pratt family and their decscendents and into the hands of a developer who wants to destroy this land with over 500 homes and living units, an 80-room hotel, a restaurant, and several other commercial buildings, along with other impervious surfaces such as parking lots, roads, sidewalks, driveways, patios, utilities. The develop and owner, Specialized Real Estate Group and RMD Properties, call this conservation development but it will not be with all this commercial and residential density, no matter how many acres they preserve on the west side of the property next to the highway.

There are many people who love Markham Hill and want to protect it from development for various reasons: natural habitat, urban forest, trees, wildlife, birds, fond memories, Fayetteville history and lore, clean air and water, the environment, ecological balance, hiking, running, horseback riding, plein air painting, photography of nature, and a place to simply get away from buildings, pavement, and people. We have a petition on change.org you can read and sign if you agree, and then share with your friends and others who treasure these things. So far, in a little over two weeks, we have over 2100 signatures. The title of the petition is 'Save Markham Hill'. You can also join our Facebook group 'Friends of Markham Hill' for photos of Markham Hill, letters, updates, and announcements. For example, the Fayetteville City Council will decide on the developer's request for rezoning on Tuesday Oct 2 at 5:30pm at City Hall. We will announce on our Facebook page if this date changes. We need as many people as possible to say a few words or just be present, opposing this rezoning and requesting that the developer and owner donate these 144 acres to the NWA Land Trust as a conservation easement (to become a nature and wildlife preserve) for the City of Fayetteville and Native Americans. The developer and owner could sell the Pratt Inn and Event Barn alone and make a fine profit on their investment. Basically, we want the developer and owner to let go of this land so it can be preserved.

We learned yesterday from Dr. Jamie Chad Brandon, an archaeology professor at the U of A, about the presence of Native American sites on Markham Hill. In response to my letter Dr.Brandon wrote, "I have no doubt that Native American sites, as well as artifacts dating to the early historical occupation, are on Markham Hill. We already have two archeological sites recorded in the Arkansas State Site Files on Markham Hill—one is the bluff shelter that you spoke of and the other is a lithic scatter covering a large area on the flat on top of the hill. So I’d be happy to confirm that there are at least two sites, and likely several others—on this landform. Also, do not forget about the historical resources on the hill. Archeologists would also be interested in the 1900 farmstead/Inn and the 1920s camp. As you pointed out these features are already on the NRHP."

Would you and/or the Native American groups you know of or belong to be willing to speak up to protect Markham Hill from development because of Native American sites on the mountain? The one at Mossy Rock Cave mentioned by Dr. Brandon is a shelter which I 've been told are often sacred. All the signers of our petition, the Friends of Markham Hill, and many others in Fayetteville and elsewhere would stand with you in your desire to save all 144 acres of Markham Hill from violation by developers.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,
Lisa Orton
Friends of Markham Hill organizer
410-674-8440
Lisa_m_orton@yahoo.com