Special offer

Bella Vista, AR Real Estate News

By James Dray
(Fathom Realty)
Joaquin Garcia was born in Havana, Cuba back in 1952. The family fled Cuba when he was nine moving to the Bronx, New York. He attended Mount Saint Michael Academy, where he received a full football scholarship to the University of Richmond. He applied for the FBI shortly after graduation, he was sworn in as a special agent in 1980.To say he had a colorful career would be an understatement. Let’s see, he successfully investigated corrupt politicians in Atlantic City, New Jersey, corrupt police officers in Hollywood Police Department, the Broward County Sheriff’s Office, Boston Police Department to name a few. He also worked undercover for various drug dealers and Colombian and Mexico. He served the FBI for 26 years before retiring. What you may not know about Joaquin “Jack” Garcia is tha...
Comments 18
By James Dray
(Fathom Realty)
Elmer L. Gaden Jr., was born in Brooklyn, New York back in 1923. He attended Brooklyn Technical High School in 1936. When WWII started he joined the Navy where he served in the Pacific Theater. He attended Columbia University on an accelerated schedule receiving he bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering.He continued his education receiving both a master’s degree and a doctorate, from Columbia. After graduation, he remained at Columbia as a professor for 26 years before becoming dean of the College of Engineering, Mathematics and Business Administration at the University of Vermont in 1974. He retired in 1994 and died in 2012, he was 88.What you may not know about Elmer is that he is considered as “the father of biochemical engineering”. He wrote a dissertation that quantified the amo...
Comments 19
By James Dray
(Fathom Realty)
Ethel Nagy was born in Philadelphia back in 1921. She had planned on pursuing a forestry career while attending college, but at that time no university would accept a female to that major. So, she turned to music. She was a trombonist in the Philadelphia Women’s Orchestra from 1939-40. While attending Temple University she worked for RCA Victor graduating in 1943. She must have liked working for RCA Victor because she stayed in 1984 after 44 years at RCA. She was nominated for a Grammy Award in 1967 and one in 1982 for the Best Historical Album category for The Tommy Dorsey/Frank Sinatra Sessions.What you may not know about Ethel Nagy Garbiel that she was the first female record producer for a major label and the frist female A&R producer in the industry, one other fact she also produce...
Comments 22
By James Dray
(Fathom Realty)
Rose Fortune was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania circa 1774. After the American Revolution, the family move to Nova Scotia when she was 10 years old. She started her own business carting luggage between the ferry docks and nearby homes and hotels. It’s didn’t take long before she became a trusted figure for travelers. The business she started continued in operation until 1980.Rose died in 1864, she was 89. She was buried in an unmarked grave in the Garrison Cemetery.What you may not know about Rose is that she was an African-American, she was also the first female police officer in Canada. Her job was to safeguard the property on the wharves and warehouses around Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia.Your day is worthwhile when you make someone smile, so give the free gift of a smile today
Comments 21
By James Dray
(Fathom Realty)
Alfred Civillon Fones was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut back in 1869. He graduated from the New York College of Dentistry in 1890. After graduation, he opened his office in Bridgeport. He was a licensed dentist until his death in 1938. Not much so, far right?   Well this is the rest of the story.What you may not know about Alfred is that during his time as a dentist he had an assistant (and his cousin) Irene M. Newman. Haven’t hear of Alfred or Irene? Will neither had I until now for what Alfred did was to have her clean the teeth and perform other preventive procedures making her the first dental hygienist. He opened up a school the Fones Clinic For Dental Hygienists in 1913 in a garage at 10 Washington Avenue in Bridgeport. The first class consisted of deans of the dental school, se...
Comments 22
By James Dray
(Fathom Realty)
Vigdis Finnbogadottir was born in Reykjavik, Iceland back in 1930 to Finnbogi and Sigriour. Her father was a civil engineer as well as a professor at the University of Iceland. After graduating from high school, she attended the University of Grenoble and the Sorbonne in Paris. After graduation, she taught French and French drama at the University.She also worked with the Reykjavik Theatre Company, until 1980.   In 1996, she became founding chair of the Council of Women World Leaders at the John. F. Kennedy School at Harvard University. Just a short two years later she was appointed president of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. What you may not know about Vigdis is that she served as the fourth President of Iceland from 980 to 1996. She was the world...
Comments 16
By James Dray
(Fathom Realty)
Jacob Fahlstrom was born in Stockholm, Sweden back in 1785. When he was 14 he took a job as a cabin boy on a ship owned by his uncle. The same year he was involved in a shipwreck off the coast of England. He made his way to London where he signed up with Lord Selkirk’s expedition to Hudson Bay.Once he arrived in the New World he became a fur trader, first for Hudson Bay and later for American Fur Company. With his interaction with the Native Americans he was bilingual, speaking much of their dialect.   He made his way to the Lake Superior region then onto Prairie du Chien to St. Croix Falls. In 1823, he married Marguerite, daughter of Pierre Bonga of the Lake Superior Chippewas. In 1841, he moved to Washington County Minnesota. He died in 1859.What you may not know about Jacob is that h...
Comments 15
By James Dray
(Fathom Realty)
Henri Fabre was born in Marseille, France back in 1882. Sorry I could not find anything about his family or upbringing. He attended the Jesuit College of Marseilles studying in advanced sciences. After graduation, he studied airplane and propeller designs. In 1910 patented something he had invented. He sold his invention to Glen Curtiss and Gabriel Voisin and as they say the rest is history. He died in 1984, he was 101 years young. What you may not know about Henri is that he invented and flew the first successful seaplane. Your day is worthwhile when you make someone smile, so give the free gift of a smile today
Comments 15
By James Dray
(Fathom Realty)
Robert Geoffrey Edwards was born in Batley, Yorkshire, England back in 1925. After graduation from high school he served with the British Army. He graduated with an Ordinary degree before attending the University of Edinburgh where he graduated with a PhD in 1955. He moved to California to finish his postdoctoral work at the California Institute of Technology.He returned to England in 1963 working at the Ford Foundation Research Fellow at the Department of Physiology.He died in Cambridge, England in 2013 from a long lung illness. Okay so here is the teaser, anyone remember when Louise Brown made national news back in 1978? What you may not know about Sir Robert Geoffrey Edwards is that was the physiologist to successfully use IVF, in-vitro fertilization. Louise Brown was the first “test...
Comments 17
By James Dray
(Fathom Realty)
William C. Durant was born in Boston, Massachusetts back in 1861 to William and Rebecca. He dropped out of high school to work in his grandfather’s lumberyard. In 1886, he co-founded the Flint Road Cart Company, starting out with a $2,000.00 start-up capital he transformed it into a 2-million-dollar company with sales nationwide.With his fortune, intact he assumed control of the troubled Buick Motor Company. Under his supervision it became the best-selling automobile in America, outperforming Ford, Cadillac and Oldsmobile. I could go on, but it would take three days, so let’s get to it.What you may not know about William is that he co-founded a company which you may have heard of General Motors. He also was the founder of another company Frigidaire. He died in 1947, he was 85.Your day i...
Comments 18
By James Dray
(Fathom Realty)
Ferdinand Durang was born in Baltimore, Maryland circa 1785 to John, sorry I don’t have his mother’s name. In fact, I don’t have nothing about his early childhood. What I can tell you is that he was an American actor performing around the Baltimore area. He was a member of the Bowery Theatre Company. He did in 1831While the history books don’t have a lot of information on him, they do have one important fact that I’ll bet you didn’t know. For in October of 1814 while performing at Captain McCauley’s tavern he was the first person to publicly sing “The Star-Spangled Banner”.Your day is worthwhile when you make someone smile, so give the free gift of a smile today
Comments 16
By James Dray
(Fathom Realty)
Allen Balcom DuMont was born in Brooklyn, New York back in 1901 to William and Lillian. When he was 10 he was stricken with polio. He was quarantined in his family’s apartment for almost a year. During that time to keep his young son busy he brought him books and magazines while he was bedridden. In 1914, the family moved to Montclair, New Jersey where he graduated from Montclair High School. After graduation, he attended Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York. In 1924, he worked for the Westinghouse Lamp Company where he was placed in charge of the radio tube production. In a short amount of time he was able to increase the production for 500 a day to 50,000 tubes per day. He left Westinghouse in 1928 and worked for several other places he died in 1965, he was 64.What you m...
Comments 18
By James Dray
(Fathom Realty)
Arthur E. Drumm was born in Marysville, Ohio back in 1929 to Francis and Evelyn. He graduated from the Marysville High School in 1948, at which time he enlisted in the United States Marine Corp.Once he was discharged he returned to Marysville where he worked on his own farm until he was in his mid 30’s. in 1964, he opened up his own business and as they say the rest is history. By the 1970’s he sold his product not only locally but nationwide. He obtained several patents for his invention. In 1990 he merged his business, then he went off on another adventure which he sold in 1999. He died in 2014, he was 84.What you may not know about Arthur is that the business he started up was the modern street sweeping broom industry. Your day is worthwhile when you make someone smile, so give the f...
Comments 18
By James Dray
(Fathom Realty)
Benjamin Elbert was born in Iredell County, North Carolina back in 1894. Sorry but that is about it for what I could find of his childhood. He served in the United States Army during World War I. He worked in the dry-cleaning business owning one in Charlotte. He was the first mayor of Charlotte from 1935 to 1941 to be directly elected by voters.In 1946, President Franklin D. Roosevelt ask him to find a way to clean the fleece-lined fur trimmed flight jackets for the soldiers flying in World War II. He was awarded a government contract which became a thriving business in the fur trade. From 1953-1955 he directed the North Carolina Department of Conservation and Development. What you may not know about Benjamin “Ben” Douglas is that he also administered the construction of an airport in C...
Comments 17
By James Dray
(Fathom Realty)
Ted DeVita was born in Deep Creek Lake, Maryland back in 1962. His father Vincent was a doctor who diagnosed his son’s illness in 1972. He was admitted to the National Institutes of Hearth Clinical Center. At the time scientists and physicians tried all known treatments for his condition.Due to his rare condition, he was placed in a room where few people were allowed to visit him. Sadly, he died when he was 18. What you may not know about Ted is that he suffered from severe aplastic anemia, a condition in which the body is suddenly unable to produce new blood cells and platelets. Ted’s body had no effective immune system. While you may not know or heard of Ted you surely know the movie that was made of his short life, The Boy in the Plastic Bubble.Your day is worthwhile when you make so...
Comments 17
By James Dray
(Fathom Realty)
Lucila Gamero Moncada was born in Danli, Honduras to Manuel and Camila. She was educated at the Colegio La Educacion. She wanted to study medicine but at the time she was prevented from doing so. Her father was a doctor so he taught her medicine. She practiced as both a physician and pharmacist, taking over her father’s clinic and running the family pharmacy.She later received a diploma of Medicine and Surgery from the dean of the Faculty of Medicine. In 1924, she was appointed the head of the Hospital de Sangre in Danli. She married Gilberto and they had two children. She died in 1964, she was 90.What you may not know about Lucila Gamero de Medina is that she was also a Honduran romantic novelist. She was the first woman in Honduras to produce literary work and in Central America to pu...
Comments 16
By James Dray
(Fathom Realty)
Lydia Barrington was born in Dublin, Ireland to John and Mary back in 1728. The family moved to Philadelphia where her husband worked as a tutor and she worked as a midwife. She was a Quaker however their oldest son Charles served with the 2nd Pennsylvania Regiment of the Continental Army.During the occupation of Philadelphia in 1777 by the British on September 27, 1777 Major John Andre requested the use of her home for General William Howe. All of the family was ordered to go to bed. Instead of sleeping she listened to the soldiers discuss their plans for an upcoming engagement with the Continental Army. The following morning, she was given permission to go get some flour in Frankford. While in Frankford she passed the information onto Colonel Craig of the Light Horse division. When th...
Comments 21
By James Dray
(Fathom Realty)
Margaret Dorothea Craighill was born in Southport, North Carolina back in 1898 to William and Mary. She earned her Bachelor of Arts and Master of Science degrees from the University of Wisconsin in 1921. After graduation, she worked with the Chemical Warfare Department of the United States Army. She continued her studies at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine graduating with her MD in 1924. She held several positions until the outbreak of WWII. She was assigned as the Women’s Consultant to the Surgeon General of the United States Mary commanding the Women’s Health and Welfare Unit. After the war ended she worked for a brief time at the Women’s Medical College of Pennsylvania. She returned to the Army working at the Veterans Administration in Topeka, Kansas. She died in 1977,...
Comments 21
By James Dray
(Fathom Realty)
William Cooper was born in Smithtown, Pennsylvania back in 1754 to James and Hannah. While there is no record as to his education what I could find is that he first worked as a wheelwright in Byberry. He moved to Burlington, New Jersey. During the 1780’s he worked as a storekeeper in Burlington, New Jersey.After the Revolutionary War, he acquired several thousand acres near the Susquehanna River. In 1791, he was appointed as a county judge. Later he was elected to two terms in Congress, representing the Federalist Party. He died in 1809 at the age of 55.What you may not know about William is that he was the founder of Cooperstown, New York and was the father of James Fenimore Cooper.Your day is worthwhile when you make someone smile, so give the free gift of a smile today
Comments 15
By James Dray
(Fathom Realty)
Jack Leroy Cooper was born in Memphis, Tennessee back in 1888 to William and Lavina. He left home when he was ten moving to Cincinnati, Ohio where his was a successful boxer in his teens and a semi-professional baseball player. By 1905, he was working in vaudeville on the Theater Owners Booking Association.His role was as a circuit singer and dancer which soon he was running his own touring troupe with his wife. I don’t have a time frame but he began writing for newspapers in Memphis and Indianapolis. He moved to Chicago in the 1920’s where he wrote theater reviews for the Chicago Defender. He retired in 1959 and died in Chicago in 1970, he was 81.What you may not know about Jack is that he was the first African-American radio disc jockey. He started in 1926 again retiring in 1959. In 2...
Comments 15
Bella Vista, AR Real Estate Professionals