SERIES CONTEXT This post serves as an overview of the Patrick family line, connecting individual stories into a broader narrative that spans generations—from Scotland to early American settlement and beyond. Over generations, the Patrick family continued moving west. What began as migration became expansion—carrying the family from Scotland and early America across the country to…
This story is a narrative reconstruction inspired by family history, place, and imagination. Portland, Oregon July 1929 “Marcie! Frankie! I need your help picking out the green beans.” “Oh, mama I wish there weren’t so many of them to pick. It’s gonna take the rest of the day. I wanna go down to the creek!”…
The Big Darby Plain in Union County, Ohio shaped the lives of early settlers like the Patrick family. Through land, labor, and legacy, their story begins here.
This story is a narrative reconstruction inspired by family history, place, and imagination. 1952, 7220 SE 84th Ave Portland, Oregon, The new machine was the best invention ever! Girtha marveled at the ease of setting the numbers, pulling the lever and cutting checks for her busy contracting business. Lately her fingers went numb then throbbed…
This story is a narrative reconstruction inspired by family history, place, and imagination. Girtha looked around furtively, hid her face with her hat veil and hoped no one she knew would see her in this part of town. She had never been in a tavern before. The air felt sketchy, mingling stale perfume, gin and…
This story is a narrative reconstruction inspired by family history, place, and imagination. Girtha slumped at the overflowing family table. Edgar was buried over a month ago and along with the condolence cards and letters of sympathy falling through the mail slot, bills started to pour in as well. Everything had been tossed on the…
This story is a narrative reconstruction inspired by family history, place, and imagination. The boys on the police force were attentive to Girtha after Edgar’s death. Wives brought in frozen casseroles. Patrol cars cruised by during the night to reassure her as she realized she was alone and unprotected without Edgar. The brotherhood took responsibility…
This story is a narrative reconstruction inspired by family history, place, and imagination. Girtha was alone sitting with Edgar at the funeral parlor. It was their last night together. She didn’t want to imagine her husband in the ground covered with the cold earth, his twinkling eyes shut, his infectious laughter quiet forever. She sat…
This story is a narrative reconstruction inspired by family history, place, and imagination. Edgar had planned to get the foundation jacked up over the weekend. It was mild January morning with no rain in sight. The house on the back lot did not have a basement and the sills were sagging. He spent the morning…
This story is a narrative reconstruction inspired by family history, place, and imagination. Girtha was a welder and worked in the shipyard along with her daughter Frankie during WWII. She had no prior work experience and had been at home all during their marriage. Edgar had worked as a logger and a policeman. Girtha tended…