La Saline is a sweeping work of historical fiction that tells the story of Salina, Oklahoma, from its beginnings as a frontier trading post to its present-day identity as a community of memory and resilience. Through richly drawn characters-traders, Cherokee leaders, Osage families, Freedmen laborers, and modern-day descendants-the novel follows the threads of history across wars, floods, festivals, and quiet seasons of survival.
At the center of it all stands the stone springhouse, built in 1844, which becomes the silent witness to every chapter of the town's story. From the Trail of Tears to the Civil War, from industrial growth to preservation battles, the springhouse anchors the people of Salina in their shared heritage.
Blending fact with imagination, La Saline honors the struggles and triumphs of generations, culminating in a modern rededication ceremony where all families gather to celebrate their common story.