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■ GENTRY: a hidden gem By Brittany Smith Westside Community Guide O ne of the incredible hidden gems of the Natural State is right here in Northwest Arkansas, in the town of Gentry that is situated along the western border of Benton County. Gentry is home to multiple prominent businesses, is growing rapidly with the help of the community, and offers visitors one-of-a-kind experiences that can rarely be found anywhere else in the state. Gentry was established in 1894 as a result of the incoming railroad system, and the town became a central hub for the increasing fruit-growing industry. e city was once surrounded by fruit farms, including apple orchards and small berry farms. Gentry was also a prime industry for shipping, evaporating, and canning of fruit, and was even named Orchard for a short time before renamed Gentry, aer the president of the railroad. Although it maintained an agriculture identity up until the late 1900s, the city has since grown from its fruit-producing days and now is home to multiple big businesses, as well as several small local businesses located in the historic downtown area. A couple of those big businesses in Gentry are SWEPCO and McKee Foods. In the 1970s the Southwestern Electric Power Company constructed a plant that still provides power today and SWEPCO Lake has become a popular attraction for fishing and recreation for the community and surrounding areas. McKee Foods Corporation established a manufacturing Westside Eagle Observer/RANDY MOLL Bryan Parsons of Springdale works to start an 1886 Farrar and Trefts oilfied steam engine at the Tired Iron of the Ozarks show in Gentry 6 – 2021 2021 Westside Community Guide https://shop.harpsfood.com/ HARPS H O M E T O W N F R E S H TM shop.harpsfood.com 300 S Gentry Blvd Gentry 800 1st Ave Se GrAvette Keepin' the Home Fires Burnin' Come see our displays and let us help you create the perfect home environment. STOVES • FIREPLACES • INSERTS 1021 S. GENTRy BLVd. GENTRy, AR 72734 • 479-736-3100 www.SpavinawStove.com sales@spavinawstove.com