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Soldiers Monument in Castalia Cemetery
Today, my husband and I went to Castalia Cemetery where we put a rose on Wells Waite Miller’s grave and decided to investigate the Soldiers Monument. The Soldiers Monument was created by Hughes Granite and Marble Company of Clyde, Ohio. This was, at the time, apparently a well known granite company with its records now stored at the Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Library and Museum. The cost of Castalia Cemetery’s monument? $2,500. This didn’t account for the $500 needed to prepare the site and create the monument’s foundation, though, so the true cost was $3,000. The dedication took place in
Susan Eberhart Was Sinned Against
Susan Eberhart Was Sinned Against On a gloomy day in May 1873 Susan wore a lovely white dress described as cambric-flushed. Susan was perfectly willing to die. Susan wore a lovely white dress paid for by the sheriff. Susan was perfectly willing to die cheerful, confident and composed. Paid for by the sheriff Susan wore a calico sun bonnet. Cheerful, confident and composed Susan was escorted to the gallows. Susan wore a calico sun bonnet even though the day was gloomy. Susan was escorted to the gallows after making peace with God. Even though the day
Kinswomen Poem
Kinswomen Blood of kinswomen throbs through my veins twisting strands of shared DNA from women I’ve never known except when they whisper to me in my dreams. Oh, kinswomen, I’ve missed you. Welcome Home Home is where kinswomen linger after they have left the Earth still embracing loved ones shared memories connecting their inner hearts, spirits, and souls remembering lifetimes together Photo by Sandra Seitamaa on Unsplash
Wells Waite Miller: Filling in the Gaps, Part 2
I continue my research into forgotten Civil War hero Wells Waite Miller thanks to a book titled Margaretta Township and Castalia Village: Past and Present (Cold Creek Girl Scouts, 1976). You can find part one here where I fill in some gaps in my knowledge. Here’s the next set. Wells Waite Miller: Short Teaching Career After being seriously wounded at Gettysburg in 1863, Wells served in the position of captain in the Veteran Reserve Corp, effective April 1, 1864. He wanted to return to the regular Army but was denied the opportunity during the rest of the Civil War and
Wells Waite Miller: Filling in the Gaps, Part 1
Today, I headed to the library in Sandusky, Ohio to read a reference book titled Margaretta Township and Castalia Village: Past and Present (Cold Creek Girl Scouts, 1976). Thank you, Girl Scouts! In this slim volume of history, I hoped to find pieces of information to further fill out my understanding of Wells Waite Miller, a largely forgotten Civil War hero from Castalia—and I’m happy to report that I did. In this post and its sequels, I’ll link to previously written posts and add more details to the stories. More Details About the Castalia Massacre I’d previously written about a
Redemption by the River
In this poem, I imagine encountering the ghosts of ancestors along the river bed. Chilly mud dampens my knees as I kneel at the edge of the river. Relentless water ruts the earth, pummeling ancient boulders, stripping even grace bare. I’m hammered by heartbreak with ghostly mist my only witness. When I finally lift my head, the moon is my lantern and I see you, standing silently by the riverbank. My heart flutters, a tambourine, till I realize how long ago your tears fed this river in the opening by the pines. Your blood now flows in my