Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them. Deuteronomy 4:9
I apologize for the lack of blog posts over the past month, but I’ve been pursuing another venture…historical research! I’ve always been intrigued by history, especially local (Texas) history. I suppose it’s something I picked up from my dad who’s quite the history buff himself.
Dad has a way of talking about things from the past that makes history come to life. For instance, I can remember him taking me and at least one of my brothers to the capture site of Santa Anna (President of Mexico and commander of the Mexican army). This extremely significant and yet little known historical site is located next to the Pasadena Paper Mill front gate, facing the Houston Ship Channel. After I had children, Dad and Mom took them to the site…along with the San Jacinto Monument and the Battleship Texas.
When I was a young child my family went on a road trip from Houston, Texas to Destin, Florida. Along the way, my father took us through the Civil War battleground at Vicksburg, Mississippi. At the age of eight (?), I thought that was the most boring thing we ever could have done. Now that I’m…well, let’s just say I’m grown up, I wish I could remember more about it.
My love for history has encouraged me in my latest writing project. I decided to write a book series based around the Lighthouse at Point Bolivar, Texas. I’ve always been intrigued by lighthouses and this one in particular because I have a familial connection to the current owners, (who, unfortunately I’ve never met).
The first book in the series is based on a fictional family who has been called away from their home in New Orleans to man the lighthouse during the Civil War only to find when they arrive that it has been dismantled completely because of the war. The book is a romance of a forbidden nature involving a Union soldier and a southern girl. Sounds interesting, right?
1. There was a Confederate ship Named the CSS McRae (My maiden name)
2. During Hurricane Ike, part of the Civil War Ship Monticello washed up on the Alabama coastline
3. The penitentiary in Huntsville, Texas was built BEFORE the outbreak of the Civil War
4. During the Civil War the penitentiary sold more than two million yards of cotton and nearly 300,000 yards of wool to both civilians and the Confederacy. Wartime production made a profit of $800,000
I had no idea combining historical facts with a fictional account could be so much fun. Please pray for me as I pursue this exciting new endeavor.
5 comments:
You my friend have the talent to write what ever your heart desires and it will be WONDERFUL . I know because I have read, seen & hear your work. I love ya BUNCHES Amy
Oh thank you so much Anonymous Amy! That's such a sweet comment. I just pray that God continues to bless me with the ability to write for His glory because it is truly one of the great loves of my life
To add to your story about Santa Anna's capture site, I think Dad was spurred to educate us on this point because while babysitting us one time our uncle had told us some tall tales and he wanted to set us straight.
Another thing I learned that day is that paper mills smell horribly.
Hey Pmcd9, I don't remember the story our uncle told us. That's funny. I must agree...paper mills do smell horrible. Thanks for your comment. :-)
Time seems to dilute the facts that surround the Amazing battle that took place at the Alamo. Those brave men did not hold out thinking that they would win, but knew that if Gen. Sam Houston was given enough time, he would turn the table on a greatly depleated Mexican force. I feel fortunate to live only a few miles where Gen. Sam did exactly that. Thanks Annette for your wonderful blog. Dad
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