Title: Evangeline Archer's Letters to the Editor and Such (1955 – 1979) – Part 5 of 5

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. All are from the Northwest Arkansas Times.

Oct 22, 1975
Sign Enterprise
To the Editor:
Some time ago Fayetteville took a step forward with the passage of a mild sign ordinance, and still there are persons who feel aggrieved and invoke “free enterprise”.
The ordinance recognizes the right of businesses to speak but not to scream, to inform but not to shriek. Actually, the ordinance is beneficial to business because it eliminates competition for bigger (and therefore better?) signs.
Streets and highways belong to the public which pays for them, and this ownership includes the right to acceptable visual appearance. Until the billboard industry can recognize the difference between legitimate and illegitimate claims it is not qualified to speak of free enterprise, nor are some of its current vociferous supporters.
If interested, call or write your city board members.
Mrs. Laird Archer
Fayetteville

Apr 5, 1976
Noise Problem
To the Editor:
The Highway Department has asked for comment on its impact statement on the proposed new Hwy. 71 four lane freeway [in] Washington and Benton Counties. Part of the statement is a detailed analysis of the noise factor (Sec III, pp. 23-34).
For Alternate A ‘preferred’, the Department states that 51 homes would be eliminated by the route but adds that in this presently quiet residential area 37 more would be subject to such noise levels that special noise abatement measures may be needed.
Medical research has proved that noise above a certain level is injurious to health. This fact has long been recognized for the sick – “Hospital Zone Quiet”, but now that we are better informed a sign – “Well People Quiet” – would be equally appropriate.
On page 29 the report says, “There are several measures open to the highway agency to correct or alleviate this noise problem.” True, but none of these measures is considered by the experts to be as effective as distance. In addition, the Highway Department to my knowledge has used none of these in the state.
Since distance as an abatement means in this problem is practically unattainable and the provision of other means most unlikely, those persons living near but not in the route may be subjected to hardly tolerable conditions.
As people must have been attracted to this large residential and farming area by its amenities, it does not seem fair that they may find themselves living under conditions they would not have chosen for themselves – including having to give up much of their ordinary east west access and suffering deteriorating property values.
The noise section of the report concludes by saying that where noise abatement measures cannot be provided, the Department can apply for exceptions to lower the design noise standards.
Evangeline Archer
Fayetteville

Sept 24, 1978
Audubon Films
To the Editor:
Those who are familiar with the high quality of the Audubon film lectures will be especially glad to know that a new series has been announced for the 1978-79 season by the Arkansas Union Programs Council and the National Audubon Society. Titles are: “Papua New Guinea: Twilight of Eden,” John Taft, September 20: “Pacific Shores,” Norm Wakeman, November; “East Side Story: Bahamas to Quebec,” Walter Berlet, December 6; “Okefenokee, Land of Trembling Earth,” Dennis Holt, February 12; “Yosemite: An Ecological Visit,” Eben McMillan, April 16.
Programs are at the Arkansas Union Theater, 7:30 p.m. Tickets are obtainable at the Union Programs office.
I am told that parking regulations are not in effect after 5 p.m. If such is the case parking should not be too difficult.
Mrs. Laird Archer
Fayetteville

Dec 17, 1979
Obituary
Mrs. Evangeline Pratt Waterman Archer, 80, of Fayetteville, died Friday at her home. Born Dec. 20, 1898, at Springdale, she was the daughter of Cassius L. and Magdeline Egele Pratt. Her first husband was Julian S. Waterman, founder and first dean of the UA Law School and vice president of the UA. After his death, she married Laird Archer, foreign officer of the Near east Foundation. She attended the First Church of Christ Scientist and was a longtime member of the Fayetteville Garden Club, the Modern Literature Club, and numerous other organizations. She was a founding member and first secretary of the Ozark Society. Survivors are her husband of Fayetteville; one son, Julian Archer of Des Moines, Iowa; one brother, G.L. Pratt of Tulsa, Okla.; and three grandchildren.
There will be no funeral service and the family request no flowers. A memorial service will be held Jan. 12 at 11 a.m. at the Pratt-Markham home at the end of Markham Road.
Memorials may be made to the Ozark Society, P.O. Box 2914, Little Rock, Ark. 72203.
Arrangements are under direction of Pyeatte Funeral Home.

Evangeline’s ashes were scattered by the Waterman Archer Cottage, the champion dogwood tree in the pasture, the bluff by the Pennington place (one of the registered Native American sites on Markham Hill), and finally in the Buffalo River. Two years later, Evangeline’s husband Laird Archer died. His ashes were scattered at Delphi, Olympia, Mycenae, the Acropolis, Mt. Lycabettus in Athens, and in the sea off Cape Sounion at the tip of the Attic peninsula.

#SaveMarkhamHill #PreserveFayetteville #KeepFayettevilleForested #MarkhamHillHistory

(Photo by Paul Waddell of birds on Markham Hill; for more, go to Facebook group Friends of Markham Hill and click on Photos)