“This grand structure was built by W. M. Duncan and his associates, and contains one hundred guest rooms in addition to spacious parlors and dens.... The hotel will be conducted strictly on the European plan, in connection with a first-class cafe on the second floor, occupying the entire depth of the north end of the building on this floor.... A special feature and a most attractive one is the feasible plan of easy fire escapes, as from each story to the Basin Park reservation, back of the hotel, iron bridges will be built so that in case of fire the entire house, were it crowded, could be emptied in three minutes. There is complete fire protection throughout the building, although it is practically fire-proof.... The cost of this hotel in its entirety, including furnishings, will exceed $50,000....” The grand opening mentioned above took place July 1, 1905, forty-nine years ago and the hotel has been in continuous operation since that date. If it were built today it would cost several times as much as it did half a century ago. The Basin Park occupies a central position in the down-town section of Eureka Springs and is adjacent to the Basin Circle Park which contains the famous Basin Spring. The structure has been featured in Ripley’s “Believe It or Not” as “An eight story hotel with every floor a ground floor.” Bridge-walks at the rear of the building lead to the Basin Park Reservation, a wooded tract owned by the city and originally containing twenty-eight acres. The top floor contains the popular Roof Garden and Ball Room. The hotel is strictly modern throughout with automatic elevator and bath facilities. The Basin Park changed ownership several times in the half-century, but the man most closely associated with its operation through the years is Claude A. Fuller, attorney and former mayor and congressman. The hotel was owned and managed by Joe Parkhill, nephew of Mr. Fuller, from 1945 to 1954. Early this year it was purchased by Mr. and Mrs. Pat Mathews. Mrs. Mathews is the former Dorothy Fuller, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. C. A. Fuller. The Mathews have added new furnishings and made other improvements since assuming management. XXIX THE CRESCENT Although upon a summer day, You’ll lightly turn from me away, When autumn leaves are scattered wide, You’ll often linger by my side. But when the snow the earth doth cover, Then you will be my ardent lover.