Book Tells Story Of Black & Kiddo

A book about a long-time Prairie Grove family, Keith and Dorris (Kiddo) Black, will be available for sale at one of the booths at the Clothesline Fair this weekend.

The book, Black & Kiddo, written by their daughter-inlaw Brenda Clem Black, tells the story of Keith and Dorris who moved to Salem Springs, southwest of Lincoln, in 1953 from New Mexico. The book was released on Aug. 15.

Brenda Black says Keith was a singing cowboy and woodcarver and Dorris was a quirky lady, well-beloved in the community.

The front cover of the book describes it as “A true story of dust, determination, and cowboy dreams.”

The Blacks moved to Salem Springs to escape a drought that had exceeded the drought of the Dust Bowl days. They brought cows with them and developed a dairy on a farm owned by “Tomato” Brown of Lincoln. In 1958, they merged their dairy with one at Phildale Farms and moved to the Prairie Grove Valley where the family managed the large dairy.

Their sons, Richard and Russell, with the help of their parents, showed Guernsey cattle at the fairs and won hundreds of awards and college scholarships over the next decade. In the 1960s, they were able to buy a portion of Phildale Farms at the corner of Highway 62 and 170, where they built a tri-level Fay Jones style rock house.

The remaining Phildale land became Sundowner Ranch. Black managed an exotic cattle ranching business on the Sundowner Ranch, along with its owner, Danny Thomas.

In later years, Keith Black became well-known for his woodcarvings and sculptures. He taught woodcarving for the Fayetteville community education program and exhibited at the Clothesline Fair and art galleys in several states and took commissions for public art, including the life-size coal miner “Antonio” in front of Tontitown’s City Hall.

Dorris (Kiddo) was very active in the community in many volunteer positions, including the Prairie Grove Women’s Club and Church of Christ activities. She served on the Battlefield Park Auxiliary and hosted the Morrow House in period clothing during the Clothesline Fair.

A large portion of the book is about the couple’s growing-up years. Kiddo grew up in west Texas and Black in northeastern New Mexico. Black once auditioned for the role of Roy Rogers and was barely beat out.

Brenda Black says the book is the product of eight years of writing and 20 years of thinking. Look for her booth at the Clothesline Fair and find out more about Black and Kiddo.

The book also is available at Nightbird Books in Fayetteville, Daisies & Olives in Prairie Grove and Westwood Gardens, which has locations in Fayetteville, Springdale and Rogers.

COURTESY PHOTO A new book called tells the story of Keith Black and Dorris (Kiddo) Black, their growing-up years and their years in the Prairie Grove area.