19th Amendment - Votes For Women

 Tomorrow is the 104th anniversary. On August 18, 1920, the 19th Amendment to the US Constitution was ratified, giving all women who were US citizens the right to vote. Only 104 years! If you're a feminist, remember this anniversary...share it...shout it...be proud...and go to the polls and vote as if this right is going to be taken from you! 

Ask the older generations of women you know what it was like to live and survive before you were born. Know women's history (your history) and pass it on. 

I remember what it was like when I was younger...the things I had to endure just to get a job, keep a job, to be considered, etc. Oh, the things I could tell and share. It was worse for my mother's generation and even worse for my grandmother. 

My grandmother was born before women had the right to vote. Yet, she spent her entire adult life never believing she had the right when she actually did; she never believed her voice was relevant. I can't remember her ever voting, and to this day it is something that breaks my heart. 

We stand on the shoulders of women who came before us. Remember. Fight. Stand up for yourself! Vote!

Vote...Votes for women!

80th Anniversary of D-Day #DDay80

 Tomorrow, June 6, 2024, is the 80th anniversary of the world’s largest amphibious operation, led by land, air, and sea forces of the Allied Armies during World War II. The D-Day Landings in Normandy, France ultimately led to the liberation of France and Europe, preserving freedom and defeating Hitler’s Nazi regime. The Battle of Normandy, codename “Operation Overlord”, lasted from June 6, 1944 to August 30, 1944, with the liberation of Paris on August 25, 1944.

The loss of life on D-Day was catastrophic. Over 4,400 Allied troops were killed, with more than 5,000 wounded. The Battle of Normandy saw 73,000 Allied forces killed, and 153,000 wounded. The numbers are unimaginable. 

The last few days have seen celebrations and remembrances begin along the Normandy coast. Veterans from the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Belgium, Denmark, Holland, Norway, Poland, Australia, and France made their way to honor and remember those who gave the greatest sacrifice. 

I’ve followed much of the proceedings online. It has been heartwarming and so moving to see the number of D-Day veterans who have been able to make the journey; also notable…witnessing the warm welcome and respect those brave individuals have received. The surviving number of WWII veterans is dwindling, with this special celebration likely to be the last the world will see of any who served at that time. How different life would be today if not for them.

Last year, I was fortunate to visit the Normandy coast of France. I stood overlooking the cliffs at Pointe du Hoc; reflected silently at the beauty and serenity of the Normandy American Cemetery in Colleville-sur-Mer, where nearly 9,400 US soldiers are buried; and I walked along Omaha Beach, experiencing the peaceful surroundings and unable to imagine the horrors of June 6, 1944. I’ve shared some of my photographs below. Someday I will return. 

We must never forget our veterans and their sacrifice. Cherish the memories of those still amongst us, honor the sacrifices of those who are not. It is with good reason they are known as being part of ‘The Greatest Generation’. 

France

 I recently returned from a trip to France that included visits to Paris, Versailles, and the Normandy coast, with stops at Pointe du Hoc, Omaha Beach and the Normandy American Cemetery. It was a wonderful, itinerary-filled time that I will never forget. 

Below is a screenshot of some of those photos I took, in addition to a few others not from this vacation. In doing it this way, it will at least make it a little harder for the entitled bunch to steal them. 

Honestly, I've gotten really tired of this. So tired that I've consulted an attorney. I will see where this takes me with the copyright and trademark violations, Intellectual Property theft of ideas, harassment and taunting (from the past and going forward). I have a right to this blog and to continue with it; I also own and have rights regarding content. Nearly twelve years of content. 

I have written a few blog posts in the past about this problem. If you like something here, that's great and I appreciate it. If you want to use it, first ask permission. Then give credit and/or monetary compensation for the use of it, especially if you are going to make money from it and claim it as your own. It is what you would demand for your own work, and it's the right thing to do. 

More photographs will be added to my Fine Art America and Pixels sites as I go through them. Please visit Veronica-batterson.pixels.com to take a look. Thanks to all of the honest folks who do! 

Gettysburg, History and Folklore

   

Sachs Covered Bridge, Gettysburg

A few years ago, I was taking photographs at various spots in Memphis and wandered through Elmwood Cemetery. Established in 1852, the 80-acre cemetery is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The dramatic entry bridge, the elaborate monuments and markers, and the beautiful landscaping (especially during the spring) provide stunning natural backdrops for landscape photography. It also offers inspiration.

For some reason, historical cemeteries give me ideas for stories. I don’t intentionally look to them for divine intervention, it just happens sometimes. This was the case with my book, Williamsburg Hill. The basis of the story was set around Ridge Cemetery in southern Illinois. Now it seems Elmwood Cemetery has given me the same jolt of motivation to finally get started on another historical fiction novel. 

When that “this could be it” moment happened, I had walked in front of a headstone for a man whose profession happened to be in the theatre. He had been a ‘Scenic Artist’ in the 1800s. For those who don’t know the relevance of this, my husband’s early professional career was as a Theatrical Designer. We live and breathe the theatre, and the business side of it. I don’t believe in coincidence, but I do think most things happen for a reason or for some purpose. The fact that I randomly saw this gravesite said something. It actually gave me a good shake and yelled, “There’s a story! Write about it.” 

I immediately attempted to find information on this man and documented all that I came across. Surprisingly, for the era and what he did for a living, there was more than to be expected. But there were plenty of gaps and holes to fill, dead ends, and dwindling trails that went nowhere. The more I couldn’t find, the more that I wanted to know. 

Then due to the pandemic and shut downs across the country, it became harder to find anything. Research was at a standstill, and my 19th-century Scenic Artist grew quiet. The muse wasn’t speaking. It seemed he was waiting for me to get it right. 

Interestingly, it was a trip to Gettysburg that brought him back to life. For those who are still planning a visit, don’t pass up seeing the Cyclorama. To say it leaves a person speechless is an understatement. Painted by artist Paul Philippoteaux, the massive Cyclorama depicts Picket’s Charge, the final attack of the Battle of Gettysburg. 

As I stood in the center of the room where the Gettysburg Cyclorama was housed, listening to the narration of the timeline, and viewing this magnificent art, I remembered. Philippoteaux had hired artists to work on the painting. The muse stepped out of the shadows; there he was again, reminding me that he, the Scenic Painter resting in Elmwood Cemetery, had been commissioned to work on a Civil War painting. Was I viewing his work? It was another good shake, a reminder, a path to take. Once again, I had direction and became excited to take on the challenge of writing this story. 

Our lodging in Gettysburg

Regarding Gettysburg, it was a trip that I’d wanted to take for a very long time, and it didn’t disappoint. We stayed in an historic house for the long weekend, walked the battlefields and the cemeteries, worked in getting to the museum (and Cyclorama), visited (and walked across) the Sachs Covered Bridge. The area is vast and overwhelming; I took a lot of photographs, but we only had time for the highlights. There’s so much history there. And yes, ghosts. It’s said that the Sachs Covered Bridge is extremely haunted. Our time there was during daylight hours and I got quite a few orbs and unexplained weirdness in a lot of photos; I can’t imagine how ‘visibly active’ it is at night. Since it’s rather isolated and off the beaten path, I think it would be a creepy attempt anyway, and one I would not do.

As for the research, the man in Elmwood Cemetery died before work on the Gettysburg Cyclorama began, but did paint a Civil War panorama in 1863. There’s no disappointment in that for me. The journey to Gettysburg brought the story back to me, and there are so many potential storylines. A local historian in Memphis has been generous in finding some information, as well. I also suspect, as I shared a few times regarding Williamsburg Hill, this book, too, will be based a lot on folklore rather than historical accuracy. 

Finally, I’ll give a few clues. I enjoy dual/multiple timelines to tie a big story together, so that’s the plan for this one. I’ll share his surname later, but the man in Elmwood’s given name is ‘Sam’…and that’s how the readers will know him. I will make him as true to his history as I can. But along the way, there’s a fictional ‘Josephine’ that will, perhaps, affect his life. Other plans in the outline include the Yellow Fever epidemic, the mighty Mississippi River, Memphis, famous actors of that era, and another Sam…Samuel Langhorne Clemons, also known as Mark Twain. 

That’s the plan for now. But things change, stories evolve, and folklore will be a big part if it’s needed. As I always say and always mean, thank you to all who continue reading what I share. 

Seneca Falls Convention of 1848

On this date in history, July 19, 1848, the first women's rights convention in the United States was held in Seneca Falls, New York. One hundred and seventy-two years ago! This two day meeting launched the women's suffrage movement that would ultimately lead to the 19th Amendment to the Constitution being ratified which gave women the right to vote. It took over seventy years.

Adopted were the Declaration of Sentiments, modeled after the Declaration of Independence, demanding women have equality with men under the law in education and employment, among other things. Many believe this convention started the women's rights movement that continues today.

Elizabeth Cady Stanton opened the convention with the following, "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men and women are created equal."

Say her name. Know her name. Remember her name.

Williamsburg Hill - Published

It has been a while since my last book was published, so I've forgotten everything that has to happen post-publishing...a lot! At some point, it's worthy of a blog post. So is the writing, proofreading, editing, rewriting, submitting, publishing process, which will include the nitty gritty of submitting to literary agents (and it's not pretty). But this post is about the finished product.

My book, Williamsburg Hill, is now published and available for purchase in paperback and Kindle on Amazon (Williamsburg Hill). A little back cover blurb is included below. It's mainly historical fiction, but crosses a few genres. If you're interested in the backstory of how this book came to be, a recent blog post explains it (backstory). The beautiful Ridge Cemetery plays prominently. Thank you to all who have purchased it so far. It's appreciated. Also, it's part of the Kindle Unlimited promotion on Amazon, so for those of you participating in that, it's a free read. That might apply to Prime members, as well. At any rate, thank you, and please, please, please...reviews are so very appreciated.
And that Halloween post isn't going to happen. Apologies, but I've been a little busy.

About the story...

When history touches the present through an old ghost town, its cemetery, and an ancestral piece of furniture passed down through the ages, a story connecting two generations and eras unfolds.  

Chicago, 2015.  One year after her divorce, Chicago antique dealer Rose Beecham suddenly acquires a beautiful 19^th century dressing table at auction. Intending to resell it, something about the piece of furniture makes her hesitate. Tagged with the maker’s mark Dunaway Carpentry, Established 1840, Williamsburg Hill, Illinois underneath it, Rose finds a hidden compartment in one of the drawers revealing a garnet ring and an old daguerreotype of a young couple.  One other item remains hidden within the drawer, just out of reach. Instincts tell her that is the answer to the item’s provenance, and she must find a way to retrieve it. But someone else is looking for the heirloom and is determined to acquire it at any cost. With the help of Robert Moray, the Scottish man who has reentered Rose’s life, they piece together the mystery, leading her to discover ancestors that she never knew existed, and allowing a reconnection with her adoptive family.

Williamsburg Hill, Illinois, 1880.  Evelyn Williams travels to Williamsburg Hill from St. Louis to visit her aunt, and to escape a ghost from her past. She meets Frederic Dunaway, a man descended from Potawatomi heritage whose family built much of Williamsburg. Can he protect Evelyn from the person who is in search of her because of the valuable land she will inherit?  As outlaws close in, and the new railroad threatens the future of the town and stagecoach line, things aren’t as they appear to be. With danger looming, including murder, will Evelyn heed the ramblings of a grizzled old loner named Erastus who says the dead speak to him?

Lake Winnepesaukah

When my daughter was in college, she spent a summer working at Cedar Point, an amusement park in Sandusky, Ohio.  Calling itself the “Roller Coaster Capital of the World”, it has seventeen coasters in addition to nineteen thrill rides.  Given that billing, I suppose the family and kid oriented rides in the park don’t garner as much attention, but there is something for everyone.  I saw this when we returned to collect her at the end of that memorable summer.

I should add that my daughter loves roller coasters so it was probably a dream job for her at the time.  She returned to the park recently for a fun weekend with her husband, and I couldn’t help strolling down memory lane, recalling my own amusement park experience.  While I like to think her love for coasters might be from me in some small way, it really isn’t.  She also loves horror movies, and well, that definitely is not from me, but coasters/horror films/being scared out of your wits might go hand-in-hand.  I do, however, have fond memories of an amusement park that I grew up loving.

At Lake Winnepesaukah

In 1924, Carl and Minette Dixon purchased approximately 100 acres around a nine-acre lake in Rossville, Georgia (just under ten miles from Chattanooga, Tennessee) with the intent of creating a family swimming and picnic park.  On June 1, 1925, it opened to 5,000 guests.  A year later, the Dixons added a concrete swimming pool which was one of the largest in the south and the amusement park was founded.  Named “Lake Winnepesaukah” (its Native American meaning being “bountiful waters” or “beautiful lake of the highlands”), the park saw its first ride within the year.  The Boat Chute, designed and built by the park’s founder, is the oldest and last mill chute water ride in the U.S. according to the National Amusement Park Historical Association.  It remains one of the most popular rides in the park today.

Staples of the park followed: Mad Mouse Roller Coaster (1960), Cannonball Roller Coaster (1967), Antique Carousel (1968), and The Castle (1969).  While the swimming pool was eventually removed, the rides took its place, and no one seemed to mind.  In addition, the Ferris Wheel, Alpine Way (Sky Lift), Antique Cars, and Bumper Cars can still be enjoyed today.

As a child, I remember the Kiddie Boats, Swings, Motorcycles, Train, and picnics under the shelter.  The spectacle to see was always the beautiful Carousel, or “Merry-Go-Round” as I remember calling it.  It is one of the oldest and largest carousels in the United States and features 68 hand-carved wooden horses, and was originally featured in Atlanta in 1916. I loved it even when I grew taller and brave enough for the “older” rides.

While the wooden roller coaster was recognized for its vertical drops and speeds up to 50 mph, I gravitated toward the rides that would spin and fling.  The Scrambler, Tilt-a-Whirl and Bobsled (now known as the Matterhorn) provided my fix for thrills at the amusement park level, but my favorite ride was called “The Spider”.  Spinning, flinging, up, down and all around, simultaneously.  Other than those who got sick on it, who couldn’t love it?  While I can proudly say that I never lost my lunch, I was once the unfortunate recipient of someone who wasn’t so lucky.  Maybe that’s why the beloved ride is no longer in operation.

As for those roller coasters (and this is for my daughter):  if I had to choose a favorite, I would head south a couple of hours. The Mindbender at Six Flags Over Georgia in Atlanta was it for me.  Three loops.  I suppose that’s all anyone needs to say about it, but by today’s standards it is probably rather mild.  And while the large mega-parks no longer appeal to me because of huge crowds and long lines, I do have a special fondness for Six Flags Over Georgia.  Hey, when you got to see Cheap Trick in concert there in the early 1980s as part of your admission price, how can it not be special?  But give me Lake Winnie any day.

Lake Winnepesaukah holds many memories for me; it was my introduction to amusement parks, and provided a lot of childhood fun.  It was special and something to look forward to during those carefree days of summer.  Years later when I worked in television, I was at Lake Winnie producing a television show and judging a weekly “Battle of the Bands” competition. Fast forward a few years and I, too, introduced my small children to the excitement of the amusement park rides.  I watched while they rode and laughed on the same rides of my youth.  Full circle.

For over 90 years, the park continues to be family-owned and operated with nearly 40 rides and attractions. A five-acre waterpark was added just a few years ago.  Lake Winnepesaukah was named by Travel and Leisure Magazine as one of America’s Top 10 Family Amusement Parks.   For more information, visit the website at www.lakewinnie.com.

Caledonia

Flying over Edinburgh Castle

Historically, the word “Caledonia” is the Latin name given to northern Britain when Britannia was occupied by the Roman Empire; poetically, it is the name used when referring to Scotland. When Scottish singer and songwriter Dougie MacLean became homesick for his native country in 1977, he wrote a folk ballad expressing the depth of his love for the place of his birth. His Caledonia has been covered by many artists over the years, but I think the most beautiful version is his own.  It is widely recognized, often by many, as the unofficial anthem of the country. 

When I visited Edinburgh a few months ago, my husband and I enjoyed a couple of day tours from the city.  One took us into the Highlands and it was a long day but worth every hour of the journey.  Our guide was informative, witty and eager to share a great deal of knowledge not only about what we were seeing, but also about the music of Scottish artists.  We listened to many singers, including MacLean, which accompanied our views of the beautiful Scottish scenery.  All were interspersed with the rich history of Caledonia, and it was easy to see and understand why there is love and pride for such a wonderful place.

 While there were many highlights on that particular day, seeing Ardverikie Castle on the shore of Loch Laggan, and being able to photograph and interact with some Highland cattle (or “hairy coos” to the locals) were pretty special to me.  Ardverike, by the way, was the estate used as the fictional “Glenbogle” in the BBC series Monarch of the Glen, which ran from 2000-2005.  Being a “boglie”, it was interesting to learn there are six cottages on the grounds for vacation and holiday rentals.  Perhaps that will go on the bucket list for next time. 

Edinburgh

As some of my ancestral ties are in Scotland, I like to think that’s the reason I’m drawn to it.  The history of the Jacobites and all of those Kings named James appeal to me.  And Ben Nevis, Fort William, Rob Roy, Robert the Bruce, William Wallace, Mary Queen of Scots, Robert Burns, Sir Walter Scott, Alexander Graham Bell.  The telephone, television, penicillin, radar, lawn mower, toaster, refrigerator, criminal fingerprinting…all due to Scottish inventors. The list is long; the history extensive.

I’ve enjoyed many Burns Night suppers, Highland Games, and The Feast of the Haggis events (even though I always extend the haggis to my husband in exchange for his scotch).  A Scottish character plays prominently in my latest manuscript which is out with agents right now; a fictional male lead with ties to Caledonia will be featured in the next one that I’m currently researching.  It seems writers wish to tell stories with a Caledonian plot, and readers enjoy being taken on that fictional journey.  There is something mystical about the place. 

Another bucket list visit for me will be seeing the ruins of (New) Slains Castle on Cruden Bay in Aberdeenshire (between Aberdeen and Peterhead), built after 1597 and rebuilt in the early nineteenth century.  It reportedly was Bram Stoker’s inspiration when he wrote Dracula; it was also part of the historical fiction of The Winter Sea by Susanna Kearsley.  Its location was just a little too far north for us to make this last visit.

Finally, as for MacLean’s Caledonia, I agree with a reviewer that said, “One of the best songs ever written to express love for a person’s home nation…”  The lyrics follow below. It, along with many of his other songs including Some Hearts, Weather Eye, Loving One, The Gift (Fly Away), and Feel So Near, can be found on iTunes.

Caledonia

I don’t know if you can see the changes that have come over me

In these last few days I’ve been afraid that I might drift away

So I’ve been telling old stories, singing songs, that make me think about where I come from

That’s the reason why I seem so far away today

Let me tell you that I love you and I think about you all the time

Caledonia you’re calling me and now I’m going home

But if I should become a stranger you know that it would make me more than sad

Caledonia’s been everything I’ve ever had

I have moved and I’ve kept on moving, proved the points that I needed proving

Lost the friends that I needed losing, found others on the way

I have tried and I’ve kept on trying, stolen dreams, yes there’s no denying

I have traveled hard sometimes with conscience flying somewhere in the wind

Let me tell you that I love you and I think about you all the time

Caledonia you’re calling me and now I’m going home

But if I should become a stranger you know that it would make me more than sad

Caledonia’s been everything I’ve ever had

Now I’m sitting here before the fire, the empty room the forest choir

The flames that couldn’t get any higher they’ve withered now they’ve gone

But I’m steady thinking, my way is clear and I know what I will do tomorrow

When the hands have shaken and the kisses flow then I will disappear

Let me tell you that I love you and I think about you all the time

Caledonia you’re calling me and now I’m going home

But if I should become a stranger you know that it would make me more than sad

Caledonia’s been everything I’ve ever had

Historic Ridge Cemetery, Williamsburg Hill, IL - Deserving of Respect

Ridge Cemetery - Williamsburg Hill, Illinois

Nearly two years ago, I wrote a blog post about visiting an area in Illinois that was once known as Williamsburg Hill.  When the railroad bypassed the town in the late 1880s and the stagecoach line ceased to exist, residents deserted the village out of necessity.  The only thing remaining from that era rests on the hill itself:  Ridge Cemetery.

After viewing that beautiful and, yes, strange place, I decided I’d found the perfect setting for my next book.  Fictional townspeople have come alive in Williamsburg and Ridge Cemetery plays a prominent role in my story.  The first draft is finished and is now undergoing rewrites.  While I’m happy to share the status of my book, which is titled Williamsburg Hill, I’d also like to share something else.

In March of this year, vandals struck Ridge Cemetery.  Three adults and one juvenile from nearby towns were eventually arrested and face felony counts of unlawful vandalism of a gravestone.  According to a Go Fund Me Page that was started to cover the cost of repairs to the cemetery, approximately 122 headstones were knocked over and damaged.  The news reported destruction was done to some tombstones weighing more than a thousand pounds. 

Only road to Ridge Cemetery

Fortunately, enough money was raised to reset the stones, the brush was cleared, and the grounds were cleaned.  I visited the area again in May of this year for a bit of last minute research, and wasn’t aware of the destruction that had occurred just two months prior.  It was only a few weeks ago that I was informed of what had happened.  Kudos to the special volunteers who worked diligently in a short amount of time to restore the grounds to a place deserving of respect and honor, not one of contempt.

While the cemetery is isolated and difficult to find if you don’t know the area, it is open for anyone to visit.  There have been stories of odd events that supposedly occurred there over the decades, which more than likely attract the strange and curious sorts.  For all of the tales that might scare or intrigue about this nineteenth century place, it seems the only thing to fear are those living and breathing folks who wish to do damage.

Surname used in my book

Ridge Cemetery and Williamsburg Hill spoke to me of a rich background that didn’t evolve into anything greater, but simply ended.  The idea to visit took root as a story to write and I love history.  So seeing the cemetery appealed to me, especially because I thought it had something to say.  And it does.  One doesn’t have to write a book to hear it.  It speaks of families, hardships, lives lost suddenly, prosperity, tragedy, long years of existence, illness, stillbirth and disease.  It whispers of differences during life, but shouts that in the end everyone ends up in the same place together.  It exists as a reminder of those who came before us, and a place all of us will eventually face.  We should listen because it has a lot to say.

The volunteers who worked hard to restore it after the recent destruction know this.  It’s unfortunate that some with nothing but anger inside of them do not.