Shadows of the Past (The Martin Preserve: A Fictional Account of One Family's Impact)

Newlyweds Richard and Emily Barton, like most others, faced hard times as they weathered the Great Depression in the flatland delta of rural Arkansas. Before their marriage in 1937, they had already struggled, Richard with a tough upbringing, and Emily with the loss of her husband, father of her two children—and both with extreme poverty. Now as the depression dragged on, the pair put their strong faith and their willing spirits together and changed their own fortunes and the course of an entire town. After a newspaper reporter brought national attention to the duck hunting preserve the Bartons had begun, hunters began writing to make reservations in such large numbers that more lodging and new duck blinds had to be built, dogs had to be trained—more work than the small Barton family could handle alone. With the help of Frenchie, a colorful Cajun ex-convict, the Bartons experienced success that they never dreamed of, and in reaching out, helped others gain self-respect and hope. But not everyone was happy about the enterprise. As the family extended kindness to others, there were some who disagreed with the way people from other cultures and colors were treated—some who had the means and the support to bring the Bartons’ growing success to a crashing halt. Shadows of the Past will take you into the lives of unforgettable characters who demonstrate the transformative power of faith in God and love for fellow man.