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- House. They also took orders from out-of-town, filling railroad cars. There were no telephones in those days so my mother's brother, Henry Hoffman, who was in the saddlery business on Garrison Avenue between South 8th and 9th streets, took orders for them. He let them know when he had orders for sand by hanging a horse collar in front of his shop. My father retired when he was about 65 and died at the age of 81 in 1931.
- My mother, Minnie H. Hoffman, was also born in Germany and came to the United States on a sail boat with 15 passengers. She was 16 years old and the only girl in the boat. Her three brothers, William, Henry and Charles Hoffman, came with her. They came to Fort Smith by boat on the Arkansas River. Her father, Charles H. A. Hoffman and another older brother August and a younger sister Sophie also came to the United States but I do not know when or how. My mother lived with her father, who bought property in the 500 block on Texas Road. He had a big garden in the back of his house. Her sister Sophie Hoffman went to live with her brother August in St Louis. She was engaged to marry a Mr. Albert Dress who lived in Fort Smith. Sophie was born in 1862 and died August 24, 1886 before she and Albert were married. Albert was born in Pennsylvania on January 8, 1854 and died July 20, 1887. They were buried side by side in the Oak Cemetery.
- After my mother married my father, they bought property and built a home at 2101 North J Street. They had five children - Florenz C., the oldest, was born on Texas Road on July 23 1886 and died July 9 1969 at the age of 83; Henry C. was born at 2101 North J on November 9, 1888; William C. was born on February 26 1891 and died June 26 1975 at the age of 84; Lena A. was born in 1893 and died in 1982; Connie was born in 1895 and died in 1898 at the age of three. My mother's father, Charles U. A. Hoffman, was born in 1816 and died in 1891 at 75 years old, He died the same day that my younger brother Bill was born. Mother was born March 23 1851 and died in 1938 at the age of 87. Minnie Godt, the daughter of mother's first husband, was 12 years old when my mother married my father. That made Minnie my step sister and cousin at the same time.
- My mother was one of the first customers on the books of the Boston Store (then owned by Stix, Baer & Fuller of St. Louis) and the Arcade, owned by McShane and Pendergast, both located in the 700 block of Garrison Avenue.
- History of the Parks in Fort Smith
- The oldest park I can remember was the Schutzen Park located far out on Park Avenue. It was founded by several German families. Nearly every Sunday they would have a beer keg party, picnic and dance. They were a jolly bunch. My father would occasionally take us and some other folks in his wagon. This always delighted us.
- Another old park was on North llth where it turns into Midland Heights. It was owned by the city and was used for picnics and band concerts. The Lutherans would always have their picnics here, riding to it on street cars. Our folks would bring clothes baskets full of food which really tasted good.
- There was also a city park, supported by the Lion's Club, located on South 6th Street with shrubs and flowers. It was used mostly for recreation. McCloud's Park was on Little Rock Road (Rogers Avenue) between South 24th and 26th streets. It was surrounded by large oak trees some of them still standing. It was named after Sam McCloud, president of the First National Bank at that time. The show house was mostly used for home talent shows and dancing. The Electric Park was located at Midland Heights and Waldron Road. It had beautiful beds of flowers and was surrounded by a well trimmed hedge. There was a two-story pavilion - the upstairs was used for dancing and the lower floor for refreshments. The park also had a theatre used for summer stock shows. Also there was a half-moon shaped building used for band concerts and home talent entertainment. Across the street
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