Listed in Arkansas Register of Historic Places on 04/03/13
SUMMARY
The Sadler House is being nominated to the Arkansas Register of Historic Places under Criterion B for its association with Anna Sadler. Anna Sadler is locally significant as a performer and artist. She was also later married to R. S. Wilson, one-time U.S. Attorney. Anna Sadler began performing at about twelve years old in 1908, and performed regionally from Van Buren to Eureka Springs, as well as became a local civic activist.
ELABORATION
The Sadler House was built in about 1878. The family that had the house built is unknown; and records exist of the house’s sale before 1893. At that time the house was sold to a Mr. Giles Lucas. Finally, the house made its way into the Sadler family’s hands in July 1899. It remained in family hands for 86 years, being sold by Mary Sadler in 1985 upon her retirement.[1]
Anna Florence Sadler was born in Paris, Logan County, Arkansas, on May 6, 1890. Her parents were Grace Gray Sadler and William Potts Sadler, and she had seven siblings.[2] After a short time living in a house on Broadway, the family moved to 505 N. 14th St. in Van Buren. It was in this house that Anna Sadler Wilson would grow up, in this house she would practice for many of her public performances, and it was in this house that she lived with her husband R. S. Wilson. She continued to live in the house on 14th Street nearly until her death in 1981.
From her early days, Anna was surrounded by books. She recounted to one person that she was raised in a “house with a bookcase in every room.”[3] This close connection with literature eventually blossomed into a young girl’s dream of being an actress. With her desire to be an actress, Anna Sadler began at an early age to take elocution lessons. She practiced her speaking and began to participate in competitions. In May 1903, Sadler won the Diamond Medal, the highest honor to be awarded in the state for speaking by the Women’s Christian Temperance Union.[4] While she undoubtedly worked hard to win this medal, she also had to do many competitions. She had previously “won five silver medals, a gold medal, and a grand gold medal. She won her first silver medal in May 1901; her first gold medal at the Springfield Chautauqua June 21, 1902, and her grand gold medal at Van Buren on May 1 of the present year.”[5]
Anna’s love for public speaking allowed her to have a blossoming career at an early age. She put on performances around the region featuring skits, readings and songs. Her voice was often heard in Van Buren, her hometown, but was also heard in places like Morrilton and Eureka Springs. One example of her performances was advertised in the Eureka Springs Daily Times-Echo on August 10, 1908. Anna was to put on a performance at the Eureka Opera House on August 13th. She was advertised as both a reader and an impersonator. The program included three musical selections, six skits and readings, and one dramatic presentation of the “Potion Scene from ‘Romeo and Juliet.’” Admission to this show was only 25₵.[6]
Another production of Miss Sadler’s from 1908 was her representation of Juliet at the King Opera House. As her niece wrote in 1977,
“Anna excelled in theatrical productions, including her most outstanding performance as “Juliet”, in Shakespeares’ [sic] Rome and Juliet. Miss Margaret Wood, under the sponsorship of the Village Improvement Club, presented Anna in a special recital at the old King’s Opera House. (now Bob Burns Theater) The One Hundred Dollar proceeds were the first donated toward the fountain and statue, “Hebe”, on the courthouse lawn.”[7]
As Anna grew older, she continued to develop her talents. She began to not only read and impersonate, but also to write her own performances. In 1926, at Van Buren’s First Annual Strawberry Festival, Anna Sadler wrote and directed a pageant that was performed for all the festival-goers. It was very well received, and led to her being an important contributor to the yearly spring festival.[8] Anna Sadler sought educational opportunities outside northwest Arkansas in her pursuit of being an actress. She first attended Chicago’s Columbia School of Expression, as well as studied in St. Louis, and Kansas City, MO.[9] After these various studies, Anna Sadler returned to Van Buren and moved back into the house at 505 N. 14th St. After several years of pursuing acting, Anna Sadler had decided she would like to become a teacher. She spent the rest of her career teaching in Van Buren’s schools.[10]
Anna Sadler continued to be involved with her local community. As a teacher she led her students in plays, recitals, and dances. She tried to encourage in students the same love for acting as she had herself.[11] Anna Sadler was also engaged with several other civic organizations. She participated in her local Methodist Church, as well as helped direct the annual Van Buren Maypole Dance. Miss Sadler was a past regent of the Mary Fuller Percival Chapter of The Daughters of the American Revolution. She was also at one time the president of the United Daughters of the Confederacy.[12]
Anna Sadler married R. S. Wilson, who was a U. S. Attorney. Together they lived in her family home until his death in 1954.[13] After her husband’s death, Anna and her sister Pauline continued to live in their childhood home.
[2] Charlotte Faber Bendt, “Anna Sadler Wilson: Distinguished Citizen,” Script of Award Presentation, 1977. On file in AHPP Office, 1.
[3] Isabel Laws Peale, “U. S. Attorney’s Wife Had Dreams of Being Actress,” Unknown. On file in AHPP Office.
[4] Unknown, “Arkansas’ Champion Girl Speaker,” Southwest Times Record, May 30,1902. On file in AHPP Office.
[5] Ibid.
[6] Unknown, “Eureka Opera House,” Eureka Daily Times-Echo, August 10, 1908. On file in AHPP Office.
[7] Bendt, “Distinguished Citizen,” 2.
[8] Unknown, “Writer of Pageant,” Southwest Times Record, April 10, 1927. On file in AHPP Office.
[9] Peale, “U. S. Attorney’s.”
[10] Ibid.
[11] Ibid.
[12] Bendt, “Distinguished Citizen,” 5.
[13] Bendt, “Distinguished Citizen,” 5.
SIGNIFICANCE
Anna Sadler Wilson is a very important person in the town of Van Buren. Through her years of regional performances, and her later years working to better her community and the people in it, Anna Sadler Wilson was always community-minded. When she first got paid to act as Juliet at King’s Opera House, she chose to donate the money raised from the performance toward the construction of a local monument. After her years away from home pursuing acting, Anna Sadler Wilson went on to become a potent local force. She introduced children to drama and acting, as well as was involved with several local organizations. She celebrated her history and heritage through pageants and her involvement with the Daughters of the American Revolution and the United Daughters of the Confederacy. Besides Ann Sadler Wilson’s lifetime commitment to community involvement, the other constant in her life was her home. She grew up in, and spent nearly all of her years living at 505 N. 14th St. It was in every way her home, her rehearsal studio, and her place of relaxation. For all of these reasons, the Sadler House is significant under Criterion B for the Arkansas Register of Historic Places.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Bendt, Charlotte Faber. “Anna Sadler Wilson: Distinguished Citizen.” Script of Award Presentation. 1977. On file in AHPP Office.
Peale, Isabel Laws. “U. S. Attorney’s Wife Had Dreams of Being Actress.” Unknown. On file in AHPP Office.
Unknown. “Arkansas’ Champion Girl Speaker.” Southwest Times Record. May 30,1902. On file in AHPP Office.
Unknown. “Eureka Opera House.” Eureka Daily Times-Echo. August 10, 1908. On file in AHPP Office.
Unknown. “Writer of Pageant.” Southwest Times Record. April 10, 1927. On file in AHPP Office.