Press release
Carl Albert State College is set to welcome The Western Districtplay, written by Dr. Brandon Chase Goldsmith, to its Poteau campus on October 24thand 25thin the Hamilton Auditorium.
CASC History Instructor, Allexcia Rankin, has been awarded the Julian J. Rothbaum Endowed Professorship and the Dean Worley Endowed Professorship. The funding from these professorships will allow CASC to bring The Western District to CASC’s campus and the Poteau community. The free event is sponsored by the CASC History Club and is open to the public.
On May 8, 1871 the Western District Court of Arkansas was relocated from Van Buren to a site famously known throughout the River Valley as Fort Smith’s “Hole in the Wall” saloon. The district was then expanded to include Indian Territory, thus making it the largest jurisdiction in the United States at that time.
In a mere 14 months and 20 days, the new district transformed into the most corrupt courthouse in the entire country.
Set in the late 1800’s, The Western Districtbrings-to-life a portion of River Valley history that has only recently been discovered. Dr. Brandon Chase Goldsmith curated the play to tell the never-before-told story of corruption, how the First National Bank was founded, and unveil the real reasons Judge Isaac Parker came to the Fort Smith court.
CASC would like to invite all community members to attend this free event and learn more about the untold history behind our region. For more information, please contact CASC History Instructor Allexcia Rankin at atrankin@carlalbert.edu, or Dr. Goldsmith atfwrbrandon@hotmail.com.
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