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As a native New Englander, I found this book particularly interesting. I, of course, had some knowledge of the historical importance of the area, such as the Salem Witch Trials. However, this book really dives into a deeper level and explores more than what I think the average person may know. It also goes into some interesting aspects such as the symbolism and type of materials used for markers. Paired with amazing photography, this book really provides a unique take on the graveyards of the area.
Amazing photography and unique insight about the cemeteries of the area. The author does a great job of bringing both history and stories together in such a way that pairs well with the images.
Fascinating and superbly researched story. What begins as an unsolved mystery from decades past blossoms into an investigation that slowly unravels layers of information unearthed over years. Through painstaking research and dogged pursuit, the authors, along with a determined puzzle-solving accomplice, dive deeper and deeper into the background of Boston's most famous orphan in an effort to discover his true origins. The story is well crafted and will keep you turning the pages as the lineage detectives use every resource available to recreate timelines and events that could possibly answer the questions of who this baby's parents were and why he would end up abandoned by his mother on one of the most celebratory days in US history. Terrific read, highly recommended.
This meticulously researched book is wonderful on so many levels. It provides a snapshot, a tableau of a few ordinary people in Boston during an extraordinary moment in our history (the day WW2 ended) and the role they each play in a newborn's fate. Author David Kruh's knowledge of his beloved quirky Boston shines through. The book helped me understand what it must have felt like to be at the "home front" during WW2; the watershed event of our parent’s (or grandparent’s) lives.The author's writing style is warm and personal. Here is how he describes the long-awaited moment when news of victory was announced: "...wild cheers echoed up and down Newspaper Row. Like a match to a lake of gasoline, the news raced in all directions along Boston's tiny streets and alleyways and broad avenues, into and up to the top floors of buildings and down into the subways."Finally, I thought I was pretty good at researching history and genealogy. This book humbled me. Mr Kruh's perseverance and tireless effort to track down every lead, every 80 year old clue was astounding. Now THAT is research. The investigative dead ends and disappointments, as well as the exhilarating triumphs are shared. Simply a terrific book.
I thoroughly enjoyed Brian Braden’s Abandoned Wiregrass: Three Notch Road. It is a fascinating look at the complex history of the Wiregrass region and the road that helped shape it.What struck me most was the way Brian combines that history with his photography. The haunting images of abandoned homes, barns, buildings, and other remnants of the past are balanced by photographs of monuments, beautiful capitols, and other places that help tell the broader story of the region. His names for some of the abandoned structures—such as Autumn Barn, Goldenrod House, and Pasture Barn—give them a personality of their own and make the photographs even more memorable.There is also a deeper message running through the book that I found especially compelling. Brian connects the depopulation of the Wiregrass with the gradual abandonment of its buildings, communities, and ultimately some of its heritage. The photographs reinforce that message beautifully. These are not simply pictures of old structures; they are reminders of the people and history that once occupied them and of what can disappear when those stories are no longer preserved.I was also fascinated by the story of Captain Burch. Brian’s account of his life was one of my favorite parts of the book and left me with a genuine admiration for him and the role he played in the history of the area.The photography throughout the book is beautiful, haunting, and inspiring, and the historical narrative gave me a much greater appreciation for the Wiregrass and Three Notch Road. An excellent book for anyone interested in Southern history, local heritage, forgotten places, or photography.