Ohio Scenes and Citizens

Last night we attended a play at Lakeside's Hoover Auditorium based on the life and letters of John and Mary Brown, formerly of Hudson, Ohio, before he became famous as a militant abolitionist.

Mary Brown sounded a bit familiar to me, so when I got home I browsed my little shelf of cottage books, many of which are about northern Ohio or the lake, and found "Ohio scenes and citizens" by Grace Goulder, a very popular Cleveland writer who died in 1984 at 91. Mine is an orange paperback in excellent condition, Landfall Press, 1973, reprinted from the 1950 World Publishing Co. The chapter on John Brown's wives is probably the only one I'd read in this collection of articles that originally appeared in the Cleveland Plain Dealer. Her work on Dianthe and Mary Brown is just a masterpiece of research, with material taken from letters diaries, interviews with relatives, and trips to archives, cemeteries and libraries. I didn't see anything that was in conflict with last night's presentation, although Mr. Artzner commented after the play that within the past decade there have been many new books on John Brown. Maybe so, but if you want to know anything about his wives, check out Grace Goulder. Really terrific.

So Your Husband's Gone to War!

This is another great book I picked up at a Memorial Day yard sale (how appropriate). It was only fifty cents, but what makes it special, besides the interesting content, is it still has the cover. That's unusual for a book going on 70 years old. When I checked on e-Bay I didn't see any that still had the cover. The book was given to someone named Emily on Christmas 1944--and I'm guessing she was entering this new experience of being the woman left behind. Oddly, the handwriting looks exactly like my mother's, who in March 1944 had to learn all the tips and tricks the author Ethel Gorham writes so well about as a war-time wife.

This was a very interesting book to research on a number of levels. I found a great review at "Library Thing" where people share reviews of books in their own collection. I particularly liked this one by a retired librarian, Mary Lou Miller, living in Nebraska:

There are chapters on loneliness, on budgets, on dealing with furloughs. She writes about coping with rationing, occupying lonely hours, and what to tell the children. She is honest about worries and fears, without being depressing. There is one whole chapter on learning to recognize uniforms and insignia (so you don't look like an idiot in front of your husband), and another excellent chapter on how to write the essential "letters from home."

Since 1942 was relatively early in the U.S. involvement, rationing hadn't progressed much beyond sugar and leather. The reality of Hitler's treatment of the Jews wasn't yet known (although she does protest the beating and humiliation of Jews on the streets of Europe, she did not know about the extermination camps). She speculates about what further changes are coming, and is often quite accurate in her predictions.

What I found most touching was the final chapter, where the author discusses the woes left over from the First War, and what lies in store after this war. She wants - as we all do - a better world after the suffering and sorrow of this global conflict. But the title of the chapter is "What Are You Waiting For?" Gorham's premise is that we must start now to make things better. She specifically mentions improving racial relations (How can we gain the trust of the Asian populations if we still think whites are superior?), an idea that seems quite a bit ahead of her time.

I found the many references to WWI very interesting--because that was the "big" war of Gorham's memory, even though she was a young child then. She thought Americans wouldn't make the same mistakes--like men returning from war to find their jobs taken by women. She was obviously a career woman and she really walks a tight rope on this advice.

So many women got their start financially in the last war. For years the success magazines have been full of the tales of their skyrocket rise. Now, in this war, women are really leaping ahead to fame. Where they took over a white-collar executive post before, or flowered into advertising, or headed a store, they're now running factories, publishing newspapers, poaching on purely male preserves.

And don't think the men don't know it. They remember the postwar employment horror tales. They remember the stories of boys who came back from France to find that the little girl who had taken the job over for the duration was now firmly entrenched in an important career. Taking herself seriously, to boot, so it wasn't fair to dislodge her, was it? They remember the uncles and fathers and older brothers who walked the streets looking for jobs, who found no jobs because there were women in them. . .

She believes in a woman's right to work, in war or peace, if she wants to. The fact that employers discriminated against the men who returned after the last war, that they didn't keep their fanfare promises, and that many women didn't get out of jobs that were given them on a temporary basis don't alter that right."

What a wonderful read for Memorial Day, a day when we honor the war dead, beginning with the Civil War in 1868.

Notes on the author: GORHAM--Ethel. Of Westport, CT., died Wednesday, November 17, 2004, after a short illness, age 94. In her long career, Mrs. Gorham was the author of several novels & non-fiction books, a noted peace activist, an advertising executive and a loving wife and mother. She is survived by her children Deborah and John, by two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her husband Charles O. Gorham and by her daughter Abigail Gorham. Donations in her memory may be made to the NAACP, the Friends of the Westport Connecticut Library, or the charity of your choice

Author of “So your husband’s gone to war!” Recommended by Eleanor Roosevelt in her column "My Day," May 3, 1943

Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary

The only thing more fun than poking around a Lakeside yard sale is finding a bargain for one dollar. This book, purchased on Oak Street near 5th on May 23, 2009 looks new. I did find some papers in it, so it has been used. When new it retails for about $25, but on used book sites it's quite a bit less.

I spent several hours looking at it last night, and although I'd planned to leave it at our lake house, I'm going to take it home and remove some less satisfactory, less readable Bible sources. Why would anyone get rid of such a nice book? I think because it is conservative. Many of the editors and writers are Baptist. The illustrations are fabulous--particularly interesting (and worth a dollar by themselves) are the entries on Ephesus, which we just visited in March. But I really appreciate its fairness--something you never find in a liberal, scholarly compilation, who like to pretend that evangelicals and fundamentalists scholars don't exist or it's an oxymoron. Here's the product review:

The Holman Bible Dictionary edited by Trent C. Butler has become one of the best-selling Bible reference tools since its publication in 1991. Now this revised, updated and expanded edition called the Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary offers even greater value to Bible students and teachers with over 250 new articles, new maps and charts, and 90 new contributors. This book is designed both for those who need information quickly and those who want in depth treatments of hundreds of topics. Each entry begins with a brief definition of the word followed by more detailed information. Through its more than 700 full-color graphics, this book brings readers right into the world of the Bible and enables them to better understand the Scriptures.

Features: Exhaustive definitions of people, places, things and events-dealing with every subject in the Bible

Over 700 full-color photos, illustrations and charts.

Unique scale drawings and reconstructions of biblical places and objects based on careful archaeological research.

Over 60 new, full-color maps with map index

Major articles on theological topics, collective articles on plants, animals, occupations, etc.

Pronunciation guide for all proper nouns and other hard-to-pronounce words.

Up-to-date archaeological information from excavations in Israel.

Timeline that compares biblical history to world history

Summary definitions that begin each entry for quick reference.

A variety of Bible translations used-the only dictionary that includes the HCSB, NIV, KJV, RSV, NRSV,REB, NASB, ESV, and TEV.

Many articles based on the original languages, but written in a user-friendly style. Technical language and abbreviations are avoided.

Extensive cross-referencing of related articles

"Quicktabs": marginal alphabetical guides for quick and easy location of information

Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Revised and Expanded, Chad Brand, Charles Draper, Archie England, general editors. Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville, 2003. (Hardcover)
ISBN: 0805428364
ISBN-13: 9780805428360
Scripture quotations, unless otherwise noted, are taken from the Holman Christian Standard Bible.

Out the door, no room for more

After getting a look at my messy bookshelves I decided it was time for a bit more culling.

Martyrs' Davy by Michael Kelly
An alphabetical life by Wendy Werris
A new prescription for women's health by Bernadine Healy
Abraham by Bruce Feiler
Working men by Michael Dorris (d. 1997)
Lake Wobegon Days by Garrison Keillor
Cloud Chamber by Michael Dorris
The Crown of Columbus by Michael Dorris
A heart a cross and a flag by Peggy Noonan
This Week's short short stories by Stewart Beach, c1947
A book of the short story by E. A. Cross, c1934
Sophie's World by Jostein Gaarder.

I suppose you can tell I loved Michael Dorris' writing. Never did believe the tales told about him after his suicide and he wasn't around to defend himself. Supposedly he was part native American, but it's hard to prove--anyone can say it. But he did adopt 3 native American children, all of whom had some problems with alcoholic birth mothers as I recall. Euro-Americans are so guilt ridden they often elevate people of native parentage to a special status. Still, I liked his writing, and he believed so passionately that he could make a difference in the life of a damaged child. Call it suicide, but I'd call it a broken heart.

And Peggy Noonan. Flippity flop, where to hop? Where will her garden grow next? Not on my bookshelves.

I've pretty much cleaned out most of my short story books, both the how-to's and the collections thereof. In the 90s I had a lot of fun writing short stories, so I liked to read other authors to see how they managed to pack a punch in a few pages. The short stories of 40-50 years ago were much better than today, but no one writes that way any more.

Bernadine Healy was head of the College of Medicine for awhile at Ohio State when I was still working. She was attractive and on TV a lot. Went on to NIH. Appears in articles from time to time.

Michael Kelly (1957-2003) was the journalist and editor (The Atlantic) the libs loved to hate because he reported on the Iraq war. Then he was killed and they were so angry because he deprived them of their favorite target. Such hysteria. As bad as BDS. May have been the start of that when they had to move on to a new host for their parasitic behavior. I don't think I ever even cracked this one open.

I think I picked up the Wendy Werris book because she used to work for Pickwick, and so did I. She has a blog that she writes in about twice a year. Tsk, tsk.

The Bruce Feiler book was for our book club. I think I missed that meeting.

Dear old Garrison Keillor. I loved to listen to his old radio show. He's wandered a bit. That movie, "Prairie Home Companion" he did a few years ago was good--sort of recaptured the feel. Some of the performers had been at Lakeside.

Sophie's world came highly recommended, and I bought it intending to read, but could never get into it. The blurb says "a wondrous journey of intellect and imagination that will make you look at life through the eyes of a child again." I suspect it was too late.

I'm trying to decide if I want to get rid of The Norton Anthology of American Literature, 2 (very fat) vol., 3rd ed. You can probably get them for $2 or so--so cheap you could start a fire with them. However, because editors keep revising what is "American" you almost want to hang on to them. This edition is from the late 80s. When I pulled it off the shelf I took some time to read Anne Bradstreet's poetry about her children leaving the nest. She may have been the first to think of it as "empty nest syndrome." It's a terribly painful time. I'm sure she causes a lot of conflicted feelings among feminists--I mean, she's our earliest published woman poet, but she's so. . . so. . . womanly.

Out the door--cleaning my office

All these titles looked good at the time, but I haven't read them, probably won't. So I've put them in a plastic bag, and they'll go to the library book sale next trip. It's tough culling books.

And you call yourself a Christian. CCDA. After 2005, but n.d. UALC library freebie box.

The cardiac arrhythmias. 2d ed. 1975. There's a DVM signature on the inside, so I've probably had this one a decade. Anything about A-fib I need to know I can find on the internet.

The Christmas train. by David Baldacci. pb. 2004. Bought at the library sale, but never read it. Fiction.

The complete idiot's guide to football, 2nd ed. 2001. Nothing will ever make me like football, not even reading about it. I bought it used--probably library sale.

Finding common ground. Moody. 1999. UALC library freebie box.

Helping people through grief. Bethany. 1987. UALC library freebie box.

A medical and spiritual guide to living with cancer. 1993. I took out the medical part and just kept the spiritual, so it begins with Ch. 9. New ed. 2004.

Rewriting writing; a rhetoric and handbook. 1987. Probably from an OSU book sale. I've probably used it a few times.

Sharing your life mission every day. Zondervan. 2002. UALC library freebie box.

The sisters have their say. Elm Hill Books. 2005.

1,001 computer hints and tips. Readers Digest. 2001. Gift.

Columbus The Musical Crossroads

David Meyers knows more about the Columbus music scene than anyone I know, and he has a new book in the Arcadia series, Images of America, called Columbus The Musical Crossroads. It follows the usual format of about 130 pages and 2 photos per page with text. That's probably murder for a guy like Dave who has boxes of research and documentation, but it's fun for the reader.

“Columbus has long been known for its musicians. Unlike New York, San Francisco, Kansas City, Nashville, or even Cincinnati, however, it has never had a definable “scene.” Still, some truly remarkable music has been made in this musical crossroads by the many outstanding musicians who have called it home. Since 1900, Columbus has grown from the 28th- to the 15th-largest city in the United States. During this period, it has developed into a musically vibrant community that has nurtured the talents of such artists as Elsie Janis, Ted Lewis, Nancy Wilson, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Dwight Yoakam, Bow Wow, and Rascal Flatts. But, in many instances, those who chose to remain at home were as good and, perhaps, even better.”

I have only leafed through it (my husband brought it back to Lakeside with him), but I think Columbus boomers will get a kick out of Chapter 8, "Out of the Garage," which features the local high school rock and roll bands of the 1960s.

"Every high school had its personal favorite, and at Thomas Worthington it was the Dantes. Anchored by the precocious guitar work of Dave Workman and lead singer Barry Hayden's Mick Jagger-Ray Davies posturing, the quintet, which included Lynn Wehr, Joey Hinton, and Carter Holliday, had the best equipment and dressed in the latest mod clothing purchased on trips to New York.

Within a couple of years, at least one member of the band was earning more than his father playing weekends and holidays from school. The Dantes released three 45s before they found out the hard way that opportunities were limied for a cover band, no matter how good it might be." p. 110

Other Columbus teen bands of the 60s: The Triumphs; Vadicans; The 5th Order (Electras); The Grayps; The Rebounds; The Epics; The Shilohs; The Toads; The Thirteenth Dilemmas; The Dubonnets (Phantom Duck); The Trolls; The Edicates; Lapse of Time; In-Men; Four O'clock Balloon; The Fugitives.

Cross posted at Collecting My Thoughts.

American Shelter; an illustrated encyclopedia of the American house

Today I am the porch hostess at Green Gables, a cottage in Lakeside, Ohio, which is on the 52nd Annual Tour of Homes. I'm supposed to check off tickets and tell the guests, "Green Gables was built as a cottage in 1883 and is Steamboat Gothic style. S.R. Gill, a founder of Lakeside, had hoped that all new buildings would be built in this style, copying the Steamboat Gothic style found in Martha's Vineyard. . . point out the original Gothic windows, ornate bargeboard, gingerbread gable pendant."

Not to be picky, but according to American Shelter (Lester Walker, 1981), a book I bought at the Port Clinton book sale many years ago, Green Gables is actually Carpenter Gothic, not Steamboat Gothic.

The invention of powered saws for cutting wood, and the popularization of the new ballon frame gave the American carpenter the tools he needed. The result was a building phenomenon unique to this country. . . The Carpenter Gothic Style is characterized chiefly by its profusion of decorative sawn details (gingerbread). . . Carpenter Gothic houses were being constructed all over te nation during the mid19th century. Some cities such as Cape May, NJ; OakBluffs, Martha's Venyard, MA; and San Francisco became famous for the whimsical forms the decoration too on their buildings."

American shelter; an illustrated encyclopedia of the American house by Lester Walker, Overlook Press, 1981.
Location: Lakeside, Ohio bookshelf
ISBN 0-87951-131-1

Begins with the American Indians and ends with post-modern. Wonderful illustrations. Purchased as a discard (Ida Rupp Port Clinton) many years ago for $1.