by Shanna Hatfield
Two years ago, I decided to write my first historical romance story. While debating whether to use a real town or make one up for the setting, I happened across information about the town of Hardman, in Eastern Oregon.
Although classified as a ghost town today, Hardman was a happening place to be in the 1880s with a skating rink, four churches, a school, and newspaper office among the many businesses located there.
John F. Royse, reportedly one of the most successful
farmers in the area, and his brother, were said to be the first permanent
settlers in the Hardman country.
Originally named Dairyville, the town was popular as
a freighting center and saw promising growth in its early days. Dairyville
became known as Raw Dog, while a mile away a rival settlement sprang up, known
as Yellow Dog.
Stagecoaches and wagon trains traveling north and
south through eastern Oregon and Washington found a convenient stopping point
in both Raw Dog and Yellow Dog. The rivalry between the two locations escalated
as they competed over which town would secure the stagecoach depot for the
area. When Raw Dog received a permanent
stagecoach station, the two towns became one, known as Dogtown.
The town’s name changed to Hardman in 1881 when
David N. Hardman, an old pioneer farmer, moved to town and brought the post
office with him, by consent of the government, which he previously operated
from his farm. The town took the name of the post office and became generally
known as Hardman.
It
was rumored the railroad would go through Hardman in the late 1880s. When it
was routed through Heppner twenty miles to the north, it was a devastating blow to the community,
effectively stunting future growth of the town.
By
the 1920s, trucks replaced horses, mail
routes changed and Hardman began its decline. The last business in Hardman closed in 1968.
One sunny morning, I begged Captain Cavedweller (aka hubby) to go for a drive and check out what was left of the town.
We drove... and drove... and drove.
Some of the views, like the one above, were quite spectacular. Others, not quite as much. I think a highlight on part of the trip was contemplating if a particular bit of roadkill was a skunk or a porcupine. We doubled back to confirm it was a porcupine - ironically and tragically killed next to a road marker for Porcupine Lane.
Finally, we arrived in Hardman. It didn't take long to explore what's left of the town.
Ramshackle is a kind description for many of the buildings.
After seeing the old houses in their current state, it really made me wonder what the town looked like back in the 1890s, the time frame of my
Hardman Holidays series.
That curious part of me that wishes I could find some photos from back then can't help but paint the buildings and restore them in my mind's eye.
This is the location of where the school sat, on the little rise before dropping into the heart of town.
The school plays a big role in the third book in the series,
The Christmas Calamity, releasing Nov. 13.
Dependable and solid, Arlan Guthry relishes his orderly life as a banker’s assistant in Hardman, Oregon.
However, his uncluttered world tilts off kilter when the beautiful and enigmatic prestidigitator Alexandra Janowski arrives in town. With a broken-down wagon and a lack of finances, Alex takes a temporary position as the schoolteacher, just until Christmas. It gives her plenty of time to spin magic and trouble in her wake as the holiday season approaches.
Here's an excerpt from the book:
He stopped at the mercantile and
perused the goods, searching for something special to share with Alex. Settling
on a box of chocolates, he paid for them and smiled when Aleta gave her approval
on his selection.
“You chose some of the best
confections in the store, Arlan. You can’t go wrong with these.”
He thanked her, slid the box into
his coat pocket, and hurried on his way to the school. Halfway there he noticed
Alex lurking in the alley behind the saloon.
Quietly walking around behind
her, he tapped her on the shoulder. She spun around with a hand over her mouth
to stifle her scream. Recognition replaced fear and she swatted him on the
shoulder then grabbed his hand, pulling him deeper into the shadows of the
alley.
“What are you doing?” she hissed,
glancing around to make sure they’d gone unnoticed. “You’re going to get me
killed, you ninny.”
“What are you talking about?” His
breath stirred the curls near her ear as he leaned close, keeping his voice
low. “I was on my way to see you and bring you a surprise when I noticed you prowling
around in the alley. I think I’m the one with a right to know what you’re about.”
“I’m getting ready to kill a man
so you best stand back and be quiet...”
You’re
Invited to PARTY!
You’re invited to join in the online
Cowboys & Christmas Facebook Party Thursday, Nov. 13 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
(PST). Drop in anytime during those four hours to enter to win great prizes,
chat with guest authors, and more! Here’s the link to the party: http://tinyurl.com/cowboychristmasparty
To enter the drawing for an Amazon gift
card, autographed books, chocolates, original western artwork, and more fun
goodies, fill out this form.
Nov 7 through Dec. 24, I'll donate 10
percent of the net proceeds from all book sales to the Justin
Cowboy Crisis Fund. The JCCF is a
non-profit organization that assists rodeo athletes who’ve sustained
catastrophic injuries and are unable to work for an extended period.
About
Shanna Hatfield
A hopeless
romantic with a bit of sarcasm thrown in for good measure, Shanna Hatfield is a
bestselling author of sweet romantic fiction written with a healthy dose of
humor. In addition to blogging and eating too much chocolate, she is completely
smitten with her husband, lovingly known as Captain Cavedweller.
Shanna creates character-driven romances
with realistic heroes and heroines. Her historical westerns have been described
as “reminiscent of the era captured by Bonanza and The Virginian” while her
contemporary works have been called “laugh-out-loud funny, and a little
heart-pumping sexy without being explicit in any way.”
She is a member of Western Writers of
America, Women Writing the West, and Romance Writers of America.
Find Shanna’s books at:
Shanna loves to hear from readers! Follow
her online:
December 1st, my contemporary western
romance, Bridled Heart, will re-release with a new cover and updated material. I interviewed
World Champion bareback rider Bobby Mote and his wife to make the hero in the
book ring true. The hero, Holt Reynolds, has his sights set on the World
Champion bareback title when he becomes intrigued with ER nurse, Gina Montgomery.
In the book, they both have a past they’d like to forget, but that same past defines them. From
December 1-10th during the National Finals Rodeo this book will
be available for $.99 in ebook. The end of the book is set during the National Finals in Las Vegas.
