November 26, 1895

The first group of Italians hired by Austin Corbin to work his plantation at Sunnyside (Chicot County) came to the United States aboard the Chateau Vquen and docked at the port of New Orleans. When they arrived at Sunnyside, the immigrants were faced with contaminated water, poor sanitation, mosquitoes, and disease and eventually left for northwest Arkansas under the leadership of Father Pietro Bandini, who founded Tontitown (Washington County) as their refuge.