50 Years Ago

From the Herald and Democrat in 1968

Firing the best golf of the year, the JBU Golf Team swept the first annual Ozark College golf tournament at Joplin, Mo. "When every man on the squad improves anywhere from 10 to 25 percent during the course of the season, you know it has to be a thrilling and exciting climax to pull off a victory in the first tournament the team has ever entered," exclaimed Coach Parker.

Members of the team were Larry Alexander, John Young, Duane Brandsgaard, Stewart Springfield and John Herman. Brandsgaard did not participate in the Ozark Tournament as it was a four-man team tourney.

30 Years Ago

From the Herald-Democrat in 1988

Once Benton County was known as the home of the Big Red Apple.

Between 1890 and 1910, this county produced more apples than any other county in the United States, and Siloam Springs and vicinity did its part to contribute to the record crops.

In 1895, over 30,000 bushels of apples were shipped out of Siloam Springs and in 1904, 187 railroad cars left the local depot loaded with the fruit. And, in addition to apples shipped out by rail, many bushels were processed at local evaporators, vinegar plants and cider plants. At one time the world's largest apple cider vinegar plant was located in Siloam Springs. The plant burned in 1916.

The Era of the Big Red Apple began to come to a close in the 1920s when disease invaded many of the orchards. The depression of the 1930s saw many orchards abandoned; there were few markets for produce, prices were low and funds were not available for sprays and other production costs. But, the Siloam Springs Museum's new exhibit served as a reminder of the time when apple and other fruit production was a mainstay of the local economy and Benton County was known across the country as the home of The Big Red Apple.

10 years Ago

From the Herald-Leader in 2008

Grace Nast, 13, of Siloam Springs, received third prize in the February 2008 Cricket League photography competition of Cricket magazine.

Each entrant was asked to submit a magazine cover photo. Nast's photo, "Waiting for Spring," appeared in the May/June 2008 issue.