This six-page sales brochure was written in 1906 by Samuel West Peel as a way to entice potential buyers to purchase this extravagant property, which he commonly referred to as “The Oaks.” It reveals astounding details about the Peel home that had been lost for over a century, making it one of the most important items in our collection. For instance, we discovered that the Peel home had luxury bathrooms, electric lights, and indoor plumbing. It even tells us which specific apple varieties were grown in the Peel orchards.

The Peel house brochure also uncovers the mundane details of the property that had been forgotten until now. It recounts the number of cow barns, pastures, ponds, and more that were present during the Peel occupation. It also sites the locations of each of these features, which has allowed our team to accurately reconstruct an image of the vast Peel property for the first time in over a century. Further in this document, Mr. Peel writes proudly of Benton County as he says that it’s “one of the best in the State.” He also extends his pride to the “40,000 moral, intelligent people” living in Benton County. He continues by listing local Establishments that existed in Bentonville during that time, including businesses, buildings, churches, schools, and even “the largest and most extensive apple brandy distillery in the United States.”