1970 – 2000
 

Updates through 2004 included CHAPTER 1 – THE BEGINNING OF HOT SPRINGS VILLAGE.
 

The beginning of Hot Springs Village was described by Sandra Long in The Record, a publication of the Arkansas Historical Society. (Long, Sandra. “From the Dark Corner to a Thousand Points of Light.” The Record,  1995, Garland County Historical Society).
 

MARBLE TOWNSHIP – THE DARK CORNER
 

The “Dark Corner” of north Garland County where Hot Springs Village is located has a colorful though somewhat obscure history. In prehistoric times, lying just north of the fabled valley of No-wa-sa-lon (the place of healing waters), it was often traversed by bands of Indians who forged trails along the paths of least resistance as they journeyed to the magic springs.Later, according to some historians, the notorious conquistador Hernando DeSoto may have used one of these trails to arrive at Hot Springs in the fall of 1541.

This romantic legend, of course, provides the basis for the Spanish theme around which modern builders created the ambient of Hot Springs Village. The main thoroughfare is called DeSoto Boulevard, all the other streets bear Spanish names, and the official logo of the community depicts the helmeted head of a Spanish conquistador.

The Indians and Spanish explorers, however, were not the only early travelers in this area. The 1700’s saw French control of the lower Mississippi, and French trappers made their way along the old trails and streams to trade with the Indians for valuable furs, bear oil, and various minerals. The earliest maps of the area are in French, and many of the French names such as Glazier Peau, Fourche La Farve, and Petit Jean have survived to modern times. When pioneers began to settle the area in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, they made their roads and stagecoach routes along the same old trails, some of which became paved streets in Hot Springs Village after 1970.
 

Prior to 1873 the area later occupied by Hot Springs Village was designated as Marble Township and was located in Saline County. When Garland County was formed in 1973, a portion of the northwest corner of Saline County was moved across the border, thus dividing the old Marble Township between the two counties. Even though it now lies partly in Saline and partly in Garland County, the large township maintained its identity as one community just as Hot Springs Village does today.

Though the large area occupied by Marble Township was sparsely populated, mostly by farmers who scratched out their livings in bottom lands along the middle fork of the Saline River, Brush Creek, and Mill Creek, several small communities developed. In the early part of the twentieth century familiar names in and around the area were Old Beaudry, Marble, Whittington, Jessieville, 

Bethlehem, Mountain Valley, and Blue Springs.

Marble had a school and a church which is one of the oldest surviving churches in the state today. Whittington had a post office and a stage stop inn. Two of the most important gathering places in the Township were Aiken’s Store and Post Office and White’s Mill, both of which were located where Lake Cortez in the Village now lies.
 

Many dramatic events took place in Marble Township before and after the turn of the century. There were Civil War troop movements and skirmishes with Jayhawkers. Among the mountain people stories abounded of family feuds, weird superstitions, murders, and thievery. Heavily populated with moon shiners who found the secluded mountains to be ideal hiding places for their stills, the place developed an unsavory reputation as wild and dangerous, and thus came to be called the “Dark Corner” of Garland 

County.”
 

HOT SPRINGS VILLAGE – A NEW VISION
 

“The real story of the development of the Village tells of the happy coming together of several individuals who had the vision, the expertise, and the means to make a dream come true. It is a story of careful stewardship of the priceless gifts of nature and of success beyond any of the original hopes.John A. Cooper, Sr., an Arkansas native, was one of the first builders to conceive the possibility of well-planned, selfcontained communities that would fill the needs of a rapidly growing population of healthy, affluent retirees. After several failed attempts to get his idea off the drawing board in the 1960s, he was able to create a model community near Hardy in northeast Arkansas. With the success of Cherokee Village, he was on the way to a spectacular future.
 

By 1969, the John A. Cooper Company had become one of the nation’s most successful planned community builders and, as the nationally recognized founder of a new industry, was ready for major expansion. At that time, two other influential men entered the picture with similar ideas for the location of an ambitious new retirement community project near Hot Springs. They were Senator 

Bus Canada, a long time friend of Cooper and Peter D. Joers, president of the Dierks Coal & Lumber Company.
 

Senator Canada had been impressed by Cooper’s concept of retirement communities and helped clear the way for their successful development by participating in legislation that allowed such developments to be incorporated under the laws of the State of Arkansas. As a former Garland County Sheriff, Canada was familiar with the forested Ouachitas in the northern part of the county and sought to convince his friend that this would make an ideal setting for a Cooper project. At the same time, Peter D. Joers, had his own vision of land development in the same area overlapping Garland and Saline Counties. He had proposed that Cooper purchase a section of land southeast of Jessieville from Dierks for the development of a new retirement complex.

Cooper came to Hot Springs in December of 1969 to meet with Canada for a tour of the property. After flying over the rolling terrain, he immediately saw its possibilities and the two men went straight to Joer’s office to discuss the project. Just two weeks later the deal was made. On December 23, 1969, the Cooper Company acquired 20,000 acres from Dierks Forests, Inc., a subsidiary of the Weyerhaeuser Company. 

At a press conference during a meeting of the Arkansas Industrial Development Commission on January 21, 1970, company president John A. Cooper, Jr. announced plans for the immediate development of Hot Springs Village. The project was off and running at an incredibly rapid pace. After ground breaking on February l5, the Village was officially opened on June l with the completion of the beautiful entrance park and an impressive, rustic stone building to house sales and administration offices, both designed by Arkansas’ premier architect,  E. Fay Jones from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville.
 

This building was occupied immediately by 50 agents intent on promoting the concept of the Village and attracting prospective property buyers. Plans for development of the first 4,000 acres called for an 18-hole championship golf course designed by Edmund Ault of Bethesda, Maryland, an elegant club house designed by E. Fay Jones, four parks, and a 200-acre lake all to be completed by the end of 1971. Infrastructure which provided for paved streets, electricity, water supply, telephone service, trash collection, and sewage disposal as well as police and fire protection promised all the state-of-the-art conveniences that could be found in the most modern of cities. All of these amenities, along with the beauty of the setting and the excitement of the rapid development which could be seen all around, must have fired the imaginations of many who were enticed to visit the location by Cooper’s efficient promotional efforts.
 

Peter Joers, who had retired from Dierks, became the first property owner when he purchased a lot in May. Having first pick, Joers chose a prime location which would overlook the soon-to-be-constructed DeSoto lake. Joers was followed by a number of other property owners during the next few months, and by November of that first year the Property Owners’ Association had been formed and the first 21 homes were under construction.
 

Through the active promotions of national sales offices which were established in Columbus, Akron, and Dayton, Ohio; Detroit, Chicago, Dallas, and Philadelphia, the Cooper Company expected to host 15,000 visitors to Hot Springs Village in 1970 and 25,000 in 1971. To accommodate all of these prospective buyers during the developmental state of the Village, the Company purchased the 350-room Velda Rose Motor Inn in downtown Hot Springs and made arrangements for guests to use the Belvedere clubhouse, golf course, and swimming pool while in the area to tour the Village. By 1972, however, the Village had its own facilities to provide these amenities. The elegant DeSoto Club and golf course were open, Lake DeSoto had been filled, and there was a large, picturesque, outdoor swimming pool. Guests could be housed in a number of speculation, model houses that had been built by the Company and were available for purchase or rental.
 

In the beginning, the 20,000 acres of rugged hills which were purchased for Hot Springs Village did indeed seem to be a “dark  corner” of the state. Composed of thick, barely penetrable forest; huge craggy upliftings of boulders; and rocky soil, this wilderness had held little promise of productive use for any but the timber industry. Yet, in just two short years after its acquisition by the Cooper Company, the first 4,000 acres were transformed into the nucleus of a new community that was to take its place very soon as one of Arkansas’ most beautiful and productive small cities.
 

When the Hot Springs Village project was first announced on January 21, 1970, plans called for infrastructure to provide for paved streets, electricity, water supply, telephone service, trash collection, and sewage disposal as well as police and fire protection. In short, future residents were promised all the conveniences that could be found in the most modern of cities when they retired to the peaceful tranquility of a natural setting.
 

During the first frenzy of activity beginning in early l970, the area nearest the front entrance off Highway 7 was alive with bulldozers, front-end loaders, gravel trucks, asphalt layers and all types of construction equipment. A maze of dirt roads was forged through the forest following carefully engineered plans for the first recreational areas, service centers, and residential subdivisions. 
 

Enough water, sewer, and electric lines were laid to accommodate construction of initial public buildings and residences. Two years later, by the end of 1972, the Village had 244 miles of roads, 20 miles of which were completely paved. It also had l5 miles of utility lines, water lines supplied by 10 wells, and more than 20 miles of sewer lines.”Evidence of the “Dark Corner” remain in 2000 on Beaudry Circle County Road and in the Village.

Beaudry Circle is for the most part, a “U” shaped road that intersects with Hwy. No. 7 near Jessieville School and north of Jessieville. The road leading from the Cortez Road Gate, Talley Cemetery Road, intersects with Beaudry Circle near the Marble Baptist Church which is still functioning. Dark Corner signs occur on roadside trees in several places on the north leg of Beaudry Circle Road. A lane leading out of the Village to a farmer’s property bears the street sign “Dark Corner Lane.” (See illustrations).
 

People who have lived in the area and those living in the area in 2000 do not know where or why the name “Dark Corner” was given to the area. Some speculate the name was assigned because at one time the Ku Klux Klan was active in the area or because a plantation was once owned by a black man. Dark Corner is much like a person’s nickname – someone assigned it!
 

In the Chapters that follow, the documented history of Hot Springs Village, with emphasis on evolution of the Property Owners’ Association and other entities that make a community, is presented.

 

CHAPTER 2 - COOPER COMMUNITIES, INC. IN HOT SPRINGS VILLAGE
 

INTRODUCTION
 

Cooper Communities, Inc. formerly the John A. Cooper Company and the Hot Springs Village Property Owners’ Association, two corporate entities have cooperated for 30 years in development of the Village. CCI planned, designed and constructed roads, water and sewer lines, lakes, golf courses, tennis courts, et al and deeded the facilities to the POA to manage and maintain. CCI preserved the environment by leaving about 40% of the forest relatively undisturbed in green belts and common property. Easements provided area for electric power and telephone lines beginning in 1970 and later for cable television lines. Main lines are above ground, extensions into subdivisions are underground. 
 

The Los Lagos timeshares will be marketed under the name Escapes to Hot Springs Village.
 

For the 30 years’ existence of Hot Springs Village, CCI has continued to install water mains and sewer lines, roads, lakes, and golf courses. The cost of construction of golf courses has for many years been shared by CCI and Hot Springs Village Property Owners’ Association.
 

In 1995 CCI and Club Corporation of America constructed a private golf course and country club (Diamante) with offices, 

restaurant and bar. CCA owns and operates the golf course and club; CCI owns the land (lots) in the Diamante area; the roads are owned and maintained by the POA. The members of Diamante are also members of the POA.
 

Construction of lakes by CCI began in 1970 and has continued. 

Chronology of Lake Construction

DATE NAME SURFACE AREA (ACRES)

1972 DeSoto 200

1972 Segovia 11

1973 Lago 100

1974 Pineda 62

1976 Coronado 380

1979 Cortez 245

1988 Balboa 944

1999 Isabella 24

2000 Granada 55

CCI has sold most of the lots it owns and will in the near future phase out most lot (home-site) sales and reduce greatly its construction of living units. In 1999 there were more than 32,000 property owners. Twenty-one percent of the property owners were residents and 79% non-residents. 

GOLF COURSES
 

Design and construction of golf courses has been a CCI and POA cooperative venture since 1970. In 1970 CCI began construction of DeSoto golf course which opened 18 holes for play in 1972. CCI in 2000 continues to initiate plans and designs for golf courses and the 8th golf course is under construction. Details on construction of golf courses and the role played by CCI and the POA are included in the Chapter on Golf.

COMMERCIAL CENTERS
 

CCI will maintain an active presence in Hot Springs Village by virtue of Cooper Realty Investments dealing with commercial properties owned by CCI. Most commercial property in the Village is owned by CCI but some is privately owned. 
 

Commercial Centers designed and constructed by CCI are distributed for the most part throughout the west half of the Village. 
 

DeSoto Center constructed in 1970-71 was the first commercial area; Cordoba Center was developed soon thereafter and Este Center was developed in 1999. Most commercial properties have been constructed by CCI and leased and managed by Cooper Realty, Inc.The commercial centers are in reality service centers. There are no manufacturing businesses in the Village.
 

Financial, food, medical, dental, clothing, repair and most other services are available in the commercial centers. A radio station (KVRE-FM) and first newspaper LaVilla News are located in DeSoto Center.
 

There are six clusters of commercial properties that are considered Commercial Center:  DeSoto, Cordoba, Carmona, Plaza Carmona, Ponderosa and Este. CCI has stated that it does not plan to build additional Commercial Centers. A seventh commercial cluster has been designated as Fenix Center because Fenix Drive is its western boundary. This Center has been developed by several property owners who purchased land from Cooper Realty Investments.
 

Privately Owned Commercial Property
 

In 1991 CCI Cooper Realty Investments sold land to Charlie Hayes for the purpose of constructing a privately owned marina 

on Lake Balboa. This was CCI’s first venture in selling property for private commercial development. Since 1991 several property owners have developed commercial property on land purchased from CCI. 
 

It will be evident in future chapters that Hot Springs Village is much more than four corporations (Cooper Communities, Inc., Hot Springs Village Property Owners’ Association, Hot Springs Village Townhouse Association and Club Corporation of America. There are numerous clubs, organizations, churches, businesses, health and medical facilities, restaurants, and other entities that comprise a self-sufficient “small city”, Hot Springs Village. These facilities will be described in future chapters.

HISTORY OF HOT SPRINGS VILLAGE BEYOND 2000

2001 SUMMARY
 

Los Lagos added 16 new individual units for their Escapes! timeshare program.
 

Cooper Communities Inc. completed their lot sales at the end of 2003. They no longer have a Cooper Land Development office in Hot Springs Village. Cooper continues to operate Cooper Homes Inc. and Escapes! within Hot Springs Village.

Living Units – Townhomes

Divino Courts (1999) and Isabella Courts (2000) completed construction with 15 and 24 units respectively. Pacifica Villas began construction. 

Lakes Estrella (21.6 acres), Maria (27.1 acres), and Sophia (35.7 acres) began construction.

Homesites

There were 34,030 property owners in Hot Springs Village, 22% are residents and 78% are non-residents.

2004 SUMMARY

Living Units – Townhomes

Maderas Gardens began construction

Living Units – Timeshares

Los Lagos added three four-unit buildings for their Escapes! timeshare program.

 

CHAPTER 3 – HOT SPRINGS VILLAGE PROPERTY OWNERS’ ASSOCIATION
1970 TO 1975
 

The beginning of Hot Springs Village preceded its incorporation. In 1969 the John A. Cooper Co., headed by John A. Cooper, Sr., purchased several thousand acres of timberland from Dierks Forestry, a subsidiary of Weyerhaeuser. Soon thereafter 

construction began on the “Entrance Park” roadway and fountains, DeSoto Boulevard and the sales office building, which now is the local Cooper Timeshare office.
 

The Cooper Co. plan was to open up to 25 regional sales offices to sell lots and to invite customers to visit Hot Springs Village a couple of days with Cooper Co. providing free housing and golf.
 

To house the visitors and to provide office space for Cooper Co. and POA staff, John A Cooper Co. purchased the Velda Rose Motel and tower in Hot Springs in 1970 very soon after the incorporation of Hot Springs Village.
 

On April 16, 1970, the Articles of Incorporation of Hot Springs Village Property Owners’ Association were executed by three incorporators (Article XIII)

The Articles of Incorporation were filed April 20, 1970 in Arkansas with John A. Cooper, Jr. as registered agent. (Article 

XI).

Article XII states “The affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by a Board of five (5) Directors who need not be members of the corporation.”  The five Directors and their terms were listed:

John A. Cooper, Jr. 1976

J. F. Gore 1976

Wayne E. Sheneman 1975

Weston Tucker 1975

Harold S. Bemis 1974
 

The Board of Directors of the newly incorporated Hot Springs Village Property Owners’ Association were John A. Cooper 

Co. employees or associates.
 

John A. Cooper, Jr. President of John A. Cooper Co. was also the President of the Board of Directors of the Property Owners’ Association for a short time. Wayne E. Sheneman, Senior Vice President Cooper Co., served as President of the POA 1970-75; J. F. Gore, a brother-inlaw of John Jr. and a Senior official in the John A. Cooper Co. was selected to serve on the Board as was Weston Tucker, a Vice President in the John A. Cooper Co. and Project Manager for development of Hot Springs Village. Harold S. Bemis, West Memphis, Tennessee, who had been a business associate of John A. Cooper, Sr., was selected to serve on the POA Board.
 

Selection of employees of the Cooper Company to serve on the POA Board of Directors was John A. Cooper, Jr.’s plan to move the development of the Hot Springs Village Property Owners’ Association into a productive functioning body immediately since there were no resident property owners available to be selected or elected.
 

The first selected Board of Directors selected/elected new board members when a sitting Board member resigned or was reassigned. Only John A. Cooper employees and close business associates were available to serve on the POA Board until 1974. (See CH. 5)In December 1974 Article XII was amended to increase the number of Directors to seven (7).The Developer (CCI) produced the Hot Springs Village Covenants and Restrictions that associated Hot Springs Village Property Owners’ Association (POA) and the developer (CCI) in perpetuity.
 

The Articles of Incorporation have been amended several times. An amendment to Article III dated May 4, 1972, shows Wayne E. Sheneman as President and Harold S. Bemis, Secretary. The amendment dated December 3, 1974 shows Sheneman as President and Elwood Bell, Secretary. The five member Board of Directors of the Property Owners’ Association employed the first General Manager in 1970, according to a report in early minutes. John Whelan, who was a brother-in-law of John A. Cooper, Jr. held the position of General Manager from 1970 to late 1974. The Whelan’s remain residents of Hot Springs to this date.

 

The members of the Standing Committees, which were described in the Bylaws, were selected by the Board of Directors. 
 

Initially, all members of Standing Committees were CCI representatives; the transition from CCI to POA representatives occurred gradually as resident property owners became available. By the year 1973 all members selected to serve on Standing Committees were residents. 
 

The Architectural Control Committee (ACC) was formed and apparently functioning in 1971 and 1972. The first official minutes were dated April 9, 1973, the second set of minutes were dated April 16, 1973. In attendance were John Whelan, Elwood Bell, Eben Daggett, Jim Sandstrum and Cal Kepner, each of whom was CCI associated with CCI. The minutes are brief noting only construction applications to be considered.
 

In the last months of 1973, Cal Kepner apparently no longer served on the ACC. In January 8, 1974 minutes of the ACC, Weston Tucker is listed as a member of the committee.
 

During the spring and summer of 1974, Weston Tucker was Chairman of the ACC. It is unclear who was Chairman of the ACC in 1973. In November 1974 Weston Tucker resigned from the ACC.
 

The ACC minutes of August 30, 1974 showed that ll names of persons not associated with CCI were submitted (presumably to John Cooper, Jr.) to be considered for appointment to the committee by the Board of Directors of CCI. On September 26, 1974, the minutes indicate Fred Garritson and Tom Cofer were added to the ACC committee. The transition from a committee comprised of only CCI persons to a committee of CCI and POA members had begun.
 

The names of Lloyd Stephens, Leroy Harrington were submitted to CCI for approval of appointment to the ACC, according to the January 10, 1975 minutes of the Committee.
 

The minutes of January 27, 1975 indicate that Elwood Bell,Jim Sandstrum, Tom Cofer and Lloyd Stephens were members present and that Roger Needham, ACC Administrator also was present. The minutes noted that Lloyd Miller and Leroy Harrington had been approved by CCI.
 

The membership of the ACC gradually changed from all CCI mrmbers to members of the POA in 1974-75.The minutes of meeting of the POA Board of Directors dated June 25, 1975 state: “The following directors, constituting a quorum, were present: 

 

Also present were Elwood Bell, Vice-President and General Manager of the Association; Roger Needham, Assistant to the General Manager; William Putman, Treasurer; Terry Edwards, Director – Recreation Division; Don Schnipper, Association Legal Counsel; Don Wooten, Chief of Security; Lyle Huffer, Greens Superintendent; and other guests.”
 

According to the minutes, the first meetings of three Standing Committees were in the Spring of 1973/  The committees and date of their first meeting were:

Construction and Maintenance
 

The membership of the Construction and Maintenance Committee (C & M) shown on the May 19, 1973 minutes: “Cecil Carter, Thomas Cofer, Laurence Perry, Wilfred Slager, Wilbur Scoville and John Whelan, Executive Officer.” 

The minutes go on to say “Replacements to be appointed by the Property Owners’ Association Board.”  Cecil Carter was the first Chairman and Wilfred Schlager, Secretary.
 

In December 9, 1975 the C & M minutes show the members to be: “George Keith, Don Payne, Larry Perry, Wilfred Schlager, Wilbur Scoville, David Benbow, and Phil Bower.” Wilbur Scoville was Chairman and Phil Bower, Secretary. All members were resident property owners.
 

Recreation
 

“The first meeting of the POA Recreation Committee was held on June 6, 1973. The two opening paragraphs of the minutes 

state: “The meeting was opened by Terry Edwards, Parks and Recreation Director, with a recommendation to elect a chairman and a secretary for the committee and also three (3) members to serve two (2) years and two (2) members to serve one (l) year. The members drew for terms which seemed to be the only fair way to go about it.”

 

Mrs. Jean McCollough and Mr. Edward Pape drew one (l) year terms. Mr. Allen Penniman, Mr. E. F. Vahrenkamp and Mrs. Kathy Presley drew two (2) year terms.” E. F. Vahrenkamp was elected Chairman and Kathy Presley, Secretary. 

 

The Recreation Committee met December 2, 1975. John Myron, Chairman, Allen Bishop, Secretary, Lynette Grady, Clodine Grant and Glen Lund attended.
 

Social
 

“The first regular meeting of the Social Committee of Hot Springs Village was held at the DeSoto Clubhouse, Hot Springs 

Village at 11:00 AM, May 19, 1973.”
 

“The meeting was called to order and the following Committee members were present:  Mrs. Marie Sarver, Mrs. Carlene 

Lorenzen, Mrs. Marion Robinette, Mr. George Barker. Mr. Albert Toler was not present due to another commitment. Also present was Mr. John Whelan, General Manager, Property Owners’ Association.” 

Carlene Lorenzen was the first chairman and George Barker, Secretary.

The last meeting of the Social Committee in 1975 was on December 5. Members present were:  Peg Hunter, Marion Robinette, Edwin Rice, Harold Meredith and Paul Bewie, Peg Hunter was Chairman, Paul Bewie, Secretary.
 

BOARD OF DIRECTORS
 

First Meeting
 

The first meeting of the Board of Directors was in April, 1970. The minutes of the meeting state: “A joint meeting of the Incorporators and Directors of the Hot Springs Village Property Owners’ Association, hereinafter called “Association,” was held in the offices of John A. Cooper Company, Hot Springs, Arkansas at 1:30 PM on the 20th day of April, 1970, pursuant to waiver of notice as to said meeting.”

First Directors
 

John A. Cooper, Jr. was elected as Temporary Chairman and Harold S. Bemis was elected as Temporary Secretary.”
 

The incorporators then elected Directors with stated terms of office:

“John A. Cooper, Jr.  Hot Springs Village, AR
Annual Meeting 1976 and Bella Vista Village, AR 

J. F. Gore Bella Vista, AR   Annual Meeting 1976

Wayne E. Sheneman Bella Vista, AR Annual Meeting 1975

Weston Tucker Hot Springs Village, AR   Annual Meeting 1975

Harold S. Bemis West Memphis, AR  Annual Meeting 1974

First Officers
 

“ . . .The next order of business would be the adoption of Bylaws for the Association. Bylaws, which had been prepared by John Smith, Attorney. . . .the Bylaws were unanimously adopted.”
 

The Directors then adopted a Resolution that states: “. . . the President and Secretary of the Hot Springs Village Property owners Association are authorized to execute, in the name of the Association, the Declaration dated April 20, 1970. . .”
 

The Resolution continues, “Be It Further Resolved, that the Hot Springs Village Property Owners’ Association assumes and discharges the obligation placed upon it by the Declaration as provided in the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws of the 

Association.”
 

The minutes of the April 20, 1970 meeting of the Board of Directors were signed by Wayne Sheneman, President and Harold S. Bemis, Secretary.
 

Board Meeting May 23, 1970
 

The Board of Directors meeting on May 23, 1970, was concerned with the need for additional officers. John Riordan was selected Vice President, John Whelan, General Manager, and Eben Daggett, Assistant Secretary.
 

The decision was made to initiate the annual assessment on the first day of the second month following the contract of sale of a lot or living unit.
 

Temporary Membership Cards, Permanent Membership Cards, Employee’s Pass Card, and John A. Cooper Company Vehicle Sticker were described and being issued, according to minutes of the Board of Directors meeting held at the meeting Velda Rose Towers, Hot Springs June 17, 1970.
 

In addition Thomas Dees was elected Treasurer of the Board of Directors.

The minutes of August 26, 1970 show that . . . “it was determined that the Association enter into a reciprocal Agreement withBella Vista Country Club concerning use of recreational facilities. . .”
 

There also was discussion of the Architectural Control Committee, concerning whether the Cooper Company Board of Directors or the Association Board of Directors should appoint members to the committee. The Association appointed members . . . “identical to the group appointed by John A. Cooper Company”. Marvin Frank, Louis Casey and Weston Tucker were appointed.
 

The November 18, 1970, minutes indicate discussion of “underground electricity”. The minutes state:  “Next to be discussed was the Arkansas Power & Light Contract concerning the installation of underground electricity and street lights. Upon motion made and seconded, the Board approved the signing of the contract with Arkansas Power & Light providing for the installation of underground electricity and street lights.” 
 

This contract concerned electricity in subdivisions, even though the minutes suggest all electrical service in the Hot Springs Village.
 

The Board of Directors continued to meet at the Velda Rose Towers until August 1971 when the meetings move to Bentonville continuing until April 1972. The DeSoto Club was the primary meeting place for the Board of Directors until March 

1976.
 

A special meeting of the Board of Directors of the Hot Springs Village Property Owners’ Association, Hot Springs Village, Arkansas, was held at 10:00 AM, March 28, 1975, at the Community Room, Fire and Security Building, Hot Springs Village,