Category Archives: History

“When Books Went to War”

Posted on December 29, 2017 by Silver in the Barn

I read literature because I find traces of my private self within its pages. All my qualities -admirable and abundantly less so – are there, and in recognizing them I feel a lovely sense of relief that I’m not entirely … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, History | Tagged | 46 Comments

War Stories: The Painting

Posted on April 20, 2015 by Silver in the Barn

I grew up listening to war stories told by my father, US Army Signal Corps, and my mother, a German child of WWII. This is the third in the series. The others are here and here. And maybe even here, now that … Continue reading →

Posted in History | Tagged , , , , , , , | 157 Comments

The Old House Whispers

Posted on March 2, 2015 by Silver in the Barn

The old house had long been a mystery to me. I discovered it while walking in a state-owned wildlife refuge just around the corner from my own old house. I turned a corner and there it sat, overgrown with vines and saplings and peering out … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Random Ruminations | Tagged , , , , , , , | 179 Comments

Freezing in Florida

Posted on February 26, 2015 by Silver in the Barn

The only difference between this post and being trapped at somebody’s house as they whip out their laptop to regale you with vacation pictures is that here you have the option to move on. But I will attempt to lure you … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, History, Humor, Travel, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | 135 Comments

Weekly Photo Challenge: Serenity: Gone Hollywood

Posted on January 17, 2015 by Silver in the Barn

I have a love affair with a cemetery. Hollywood Cemetery is the jewel in Richmond’s crown. Were you to visit just one site in our city to capture its essence, it would have to be here, I think. Sitting high on … Continue reading →

Posted in Challenges, History | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 102 Comments

Tying Up Loose Ends

Posted on January 12, 2015 by Silver in the Barn

Following up on a few recent posts from 2014 Remember that turtle rescue expedition that BH flew for Pilots N Paws? The one I couldn’t go on because the entire plane was jam-packed with Chiquita banana boxes filled with endangered … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Random Ruminations, Travel | Tagged , , , , , | 120 Comments

Weekly Photo Challenge: Shadowed

Posted on January 9, 2015 by Silver in the Barn

Richmond, Virginia is a city teeming with historic buildings, both grand and small. Lately I’ve been trying my hand at capturing the smaller details of these buildings which can be so easily overlooked in the face of the entire structure. … Continue reading →

Posted in Challenges, History | Tagged , , , , | 74 Comments

Office Christmas Party 1925

Posted on December 16, 2014 by Silver in the Barn

My favorite website for vintage photography is Shorpy.com.  Their annual Christmas tradition is to post this photograph. As they so aptly caption it: Washington, D.C., 1925. “Western Electric Co. group.” There are enough little dramas playing out here to keep … Continue reading →

Posted in History | Tagged , , , | 109 Comments

“Dear Mrs. Kennedy,”

Posted on November 21, 2014 by Silver in the Barn

Within days of the President’s assassination, the letters began to arrive. Some were addressed simply “Mrs. Kennedy, White House, Washington, DC.” A shocked and grieving nation could find no other way to express its anguish than to write condolence letters to the young widow whose comportment through … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, History | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 51 Comments

“My Folks Don’t Want Me To Talk About Slavery”

Posted on November 17, 2014 by Silver in the Barn

  The complicated legacy of the American South is beautifully captured in Kate Campbell’s song. My regular readers know I’m fascinated with history and the Civil War and slavery in particular. The little book I excerpt in this post has haunted me … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, History | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 79 Comments