Lessons We Can Learn From History: The Jewish Holocaust, Part 2

By Donna Wichelman

(Part II of a two-part series on the Raffle of the 10th of January 1944 (roundup of Jews) in the Gironde, France. See Part I, from September 4, 2026.)

In September, the first of a two-part article appeared in this blog about the Raffle, or roundup, of the 10th of January 1944 in German-occupied France, specifically Libourne in the Gironde. This past 10th of January marked the 82nd Anniversary of the event—something most of us find difficult to talk about because it’s so horrific. This two-part article is the story of one Jewish woman’s survival during one of the darkest times in our world’s history and how she has redeemed the abomination of the past.

Mme Josette Melinon and Donna: October 2023, Donna's Gallery

Mme Josette Melinon was only three years old when the French Vichy government, in collaboration with the German-occupied forces, rounded up 335 Jewish men, women, and children in the Bordeaux region. Two days later, 317 people were sent to Drancy Internment Camp outside of Paris and then deported to Auschwitz a few weeks later. Most of Josette’s extended family were part of that group, including her grandmother Kami and Kami’s brother.

Mme Josette Melinon and her Father: Mme Melinon's Archives

Kami’s brother was married to a Catholic wife, which gave his wife and children status as Catholics since religious affiliation was passed down through the mother’s side. Her brother retained Jewish status since his mother was Jewish. That meant that Kami’s brother, along with most of Josette’s family were interred at Drancy.

Kami’s brother had a skin disease, so his daughter (a Catholic) traveled by train to Drancy to take care of him. The Germans toyed with them, saying she could stay with her father if two people volunteered to be set free. But, of course, the Germans kept those volunteers’ papers so they could arrest them again later. Unfortunately, despite her Catholic status, his daughter’s decision led to internment at Auschwitz with her father. Many families were lost that way. They would try to discover what happened to their relatives, but then the Germans would take them away as well.

Another cousin was expecting a baby at Drancy. When it came time for her to deliver, they sent her to Rothschild Hospital. But she never saw her baby.

In September's blog post, we learned that Josette’s mother had also been taken to Drancy. But her story took a different turn while interned there. You see, part of the cruelty the Germans imposed was a system by which they determined who would be sent to Auschwitz. Identity papers were marked with an A, B, C, or D. No one knew what the letters meant except the Germans. Those deported to Auschwitz had Bs by their names. 

Jewish Identification Papers: Mme Josette Melinon's Archives

Josette’s mother’s paper had been marked with a B. But someone had done a good deed, crossed out the B, and wrote an A. This meant she would not be deported, but would be a prisoner instead, working as a nurse in the children's ward of Rothschild Hospital. It would be a pivotal role for her.

The Germans came to the hospital every Saturday to check on who had gotten better and who had died. Josette’s mother became part of a Resistance group that hid the children, telling the soldiers they were dead or too sick with an infectious disease to be released. Then they would shuffle the children off to families or hide them under tables covered with sheets if they didn't have enough time to get them out.

Mme Mother (Middle) as a Nurse at Rothschild Hospital, Paris: Mme Melinon's Archives

At the liberation of Paris, Josette’s mother helped members of the Resistance when they were injured or shot down in the streets. Afterward, when she finally came home, she rarely talked about her experiences except with a cousin.

Though most of Josette’s family was deported, one relative escaped. He was Josette’s cousin Myriam Errerra’s younger brother, Enri. When officials came to take the family away, he was in the house upstairs and didn’t move. He quickly got out of the house and walked along the roof until he could get down and find some friends he knew. They put him on a train to get him away from the trouble. Though guilt haunted him for years, his escape meant he could help others in the Resistance. 

Myriam and Enri Errerra as Children: Mme Melinon's Archives

Though Enri found friendships in the Resistance, his son told Josette that they always put him in the most dangerous places. They’d say, “He’s just a Jew,” a sign that even within the ranks of those fighting to win the war, racism wasn’t far from their doorstep.

Enri Errerra and Wife: Josette Melinon's Gallery

Fast-forward sixty years to 2004, when a teacher in Libourne took their middle school class to see an exhibition of Jewish children deported to Auschwitz. One of those children came from Libourne. The girl turned out to be Mme Melinon's cousin, Myriam Errera. When Mme Melinon realized the heartfelt desire of the class to understand the past, she became passionate about creating a foundation named after her cousin—the Association Souvenir Myriam Errera. The Association not only provides educational resources on the Jewish Holocaust, but it’s also a way to memorialize those who died.

Since the association's founding, a local school has been named after Myriam Errera. Josette also travels to the community schools each year to speak about the roundups, and the classes have a unit that addresses racism and anti-Semitism. In addition, every year, Libourne has a calendar of events that commemorate the Jewish Holocaust as well as the liberation of Libourne on 28 August 1944. See: Association Myriam 1.docx and an Article Published in Le Résistant on the Jewish Holocaust.

Libourne Commemoration Event: Mme Melinon's Archives

Page of Brochure from Mme Melinon's History Class: Mme Melinon's Archives

After hearing Josette's story, I asked her what she would say to the younger generation today about that time in history. She said she tells them it's important to realize not everything they hear in the media or online is true. Look at the people who followed Hitler without questioning what they were being told. It's the same with fake news today. Analyze what you see and hear and test it to see if it is true. Especially given how AI has invaded our world, I would have to agree with Josette.

I leave this blog with a letter from Myriam's father on their way to Auschwitz in February 1944. He threw it out the train window with the hope someone would find it and deliver it to her grandfather: 

We’re going away from Drancy today towards Metz and we will be in Dresden or Czechoslovakia. We send you back the money we have, because they took away all our money, jewels, the food we had in cans, they took 810 francs… the rest was saved as you can see. We’re 60 people in the carriage ... Everyone in families, thank goodness. There are quite a lot of people who are ill. Happily, until now we’ve been saved from this. The stay in Drancy was not too bad. We hope this war will soon end. We don’t know where we stay or if this letter and its contents comes to you. Thank God, because I suppose afterward you will not get any news and we won’t get out of this to get them to you. I hope you have as much courage as we do, because our courage here is magnificant to see, and our morale is excellent. We regret all our beasts [animals] that we’ve left behind. We hope that Marcel and you will take care of our little cat…Courage and come back soon. We kiss you hundreds and hundreds of times.

 Leonce Errerra 

Letter Written by Leonce Errerra to His Family in February 1944: Mme Melinon's Archives

 

Donna is an Angel Book Award-winning author of historical romance for A Song of Deliverance. Book 2, Rhythms of the Heart, is an interconnected stand-alone set in the same Victorian mining community of Georgetown, Colorado.

Weaving history and faith into stories of intrigue and redemption grew out of Donna's love of travel, history, and literature as a young adult while attending an international college in Wales, U.K. She enjoys developing plots that show how God's love abounds even in the profoundly difficult circumstances of our lives. Her stories reflect the hunger in all of us for love, belonging, and forgiveness.

Donna was a communications professional before becoming a full-time writer. Her short stories and articles have appeared in inspirational publications. Her romantic suspense novels, Light Out of Darkness and Undaunted Valor in her Waldensian Series, are available on Amazon. 

Donna and her husband of forty-one years participate in ministry at their local church in Colorado. They love spending time with their grandchildren and often bike, kayak, and travel. 

 

Norton I, Emperor of the United States by Nancy J. Farrier

 

What!! An Emperor of the United States. We are a democracy and have a president, not an emperor. Right? You might be surprised to find out we did have an unofficial Emperor, Norton I, who declared himself Emperor, September 17, 1859.

Joshua Abraham Norton was born in Britain, but grew up in South Africa when his parents moved there. In 1849, Norton headed for San Francisco, as did many who were interested in the gold rush. However, Norton didn’t try to pan for gold. Instead, he made money in real estate, turning his original investment funds in to a quarter million dollar fortune. 

In 1853, Norton tried to cash in on a rice shortage. His scheme came to naught when unexpected ships arrived in the harbor laden with rice. Norton lost everything and had to declare bankruptcy. For the next few years, no one heard anything from Norton.

Then in 1859, Norton made his big announcement. Wearing a navy uniform, complete with gold epaulets, he marched in a regal manner down the streets of San Francisco. He put this message in the San Francisco Bulletin newspaper, “At the peremptory request and desire of a large majority of the citizens…I, Joshua Norton…declare and proclaim myself Emperor of these United States.” His message further stated he would make alterations to the laws of the union to eradicate the evils of the country. 

The Bulletin printed the statement more as a joke than a serious claim, or Imperial decree. Over the next two decades, Norton I would take his reign seriously.  Citizens and visitors to San Francisco were treated to Norton’s grandiose behavior. People often greeted him on the streets with a bow. The city directory listed his occupation as Emperor. The newspaper printed his imperial proclamations and sought out news on him, because he sold papers.

Norton I with Bummer and Lazarus

One of Norton I’s, first decrees after becoming Emperor, was presumptuous to say the least. It read, “fraud and corruption prevent a fair and proper expression of the public voice…in consequence of which, we do hereby abolish Congress.” To Norton’s dismay, the leaders of the U.S. continued to meet. He then called for Gen. Winfield Scott to march on Washington and rout the legislators. The following year, he announced he had dissolved the democracy and instituted a monarchy, with himself as the head. He also added “Protector of Mexico” to his title.

As Norton’s popularity grew, stores sold photos and dolls of the emperor. Restaurants would waive his bill if he would allow them to post his imperial seal of approval of their establishment. When he attended plays, he was given one of the best seats in the house gratis, because his presence in the audience drew more of a crowd. 

In 1871, a printing house ran off special currency with Emperor Norton I, displaying his imperial seal. Although Norton remained very poor, people often gave him money in the guise of “paying taxes” to the realm. Norton passed out notes as his government bonds to people, and those papers continue to bring a handsome price today. 

One of Norton’s most famous edicts, caused quite a stir, years after his death. In the early 1870’s, Norton proclaimed that the city should construct a bridge between San Francisco and Oakland. At the time, his proclamation was considered impossible and ignored. His decree came to fruition in 1936 when the Bay Bridge was built. There have been efforts to rename the bridge in honor of Norton I. 

The Emperor spent his days among his subjects. He would play chess, visit libraries, or attend churches, but much of his time he spent walking his dogs, Bummer and Lazarus, about San Francisco. It was on one of these walks that Emperor Norton I dropped dead in the street of a stroke. The headline in the newspaper declared, “Norton the First, by the grace of God, Emperor of the United States and Protector of Mexico, departed this life.” Over 10,000 of his loyal subjects attended his funeral, many having enjoyed the eccentric man. 

Both Robert Louis Stevenson and Mark Twain wrote Norton I into one of their books. Twain used the Emperor as the model for his character, King, in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.

In 1980, San Francisco marked the 100^th anniversary of Emperor Norton I’s death. They had a ceremony at Market and Montgomery streets.

Have you ever heard of Emperor Norton I? Do you recall the character Mark Twain used in his book? I would love to hear your thoughts about Emperor Norton I.

Nancy J Farrier is an award-winning, New York Times best-selling author who lives in Southern Arizona in the Sonoran Desert. She loves the Southwest with its interesting historical past. When Nancy isn’t writing, she loves to read, do needlecraft, play with her cats and dog, and spend time with her family. You can read more about Nancy and her books on her website: nancyjfarrier.com.

All Things Pacific Northwest: Sacagawea

by Heidi Ennis

Welcome to All Things PNW—AKA things Heidi obsesses over and needs a captive audience to talk about. 😊 So here we are.

For my first post, I’d love to spend a little time with one of my favorite (and maybe least understood) women of American history: Sacagawea.


Courtesy U.S. National Parks
Sacagawea and Jean Baptiste, Salmon, Idaho.
Sculpture by Agnes Vincen Talbot. NPS photo, public domain.

Sacagawea doesn’t belong only to the Pacific Northwest, of course. But the Corps of Discovery forever changed the culture—and soon the landscape—of the Columbia River region. So I claim dibs on a mini Sacagawea history lesson.

First, a disclaimer: Sacagawea’s true story is still passionately debated. Even her name is debated. How to pronounce it. What it means. In Hidatsa, Sacagawea means Bird Woman, but in Shoshone her name translates as Canoe Launcher.

Much of what we know comes from the Journals of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, accounts shaped by the perspectives, translations, and prejudices of the men who wrote them. Then upon returning home, the journals were edited.

Modern Historians now look to Native oral histories and tribal traditions. The MHA Sacagawea Project Board, representing the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara peoples, is working to preserve and clarify her story. You can read more here.

What do we know?

Sacagawea was young, probably only sixteen or seventeen when she traveled west with Lewis and Clark. According to the commonly told account, she had been taken from her people during a raid as a child and later married Toussaint Charbonneau, a French-Canadian fur trader possibly thirty years her senior. 🙁

And then—because apparently this adventure wasn’t difficult enough—she had a baby. Sacagawea gave birth to her son, Jean Baptiste Charbonneau, on February 11, 1805, at Fort Mandan.

Here is one of those historical details you simply cannot make up.

Her labor was long and painful, and Captain Lewis recorded one of the men in their group suggested that she be given a small amount of crushed rattlesnake rattle mixed with water in hopes of speeding things along. Of course someone had one, she took it, and ten minutes later, the baby was born. Hmmm.

Two months later, Sacagawea headed west with the expedition, carrying tiny Jean Baptiste. Sixteen years old. A newborn. The Rocky Mountains. Thirty-some armed soldiers and frontiersmen. Sounds relaxing.

Then came one of those moments that makes my novelist brain go absolutely crazy.

When the expedition reached the Shoshone in 1805, Sacagawea discovered that their chief, Cameahwait, was her brother. Can you imagine? She had been taken away as a child. Years had passed. She had married and become a mother—and suddenly there he was.

The Corps desperately needed horses to cross the mountains, and Sacagawea’s connection with the Shoshone helped establish trust.

Remember playing telephone as a kid? That's kind of what they did...

During negotiations, a message might travel from Lewis in English, to François Labiche in French, to Charbonneau in Hidatsa, to Sacagawea in Shoshone—and then all the way back again. Try negotiating for horses that way. But they did it, probably more because of Sacagawea's connection to the tribe, then the telephone game.

But by October 1805, the Corps was descending the Columbia River toward the Pacific.

Imagine seeing a large group of armed strangers approaching in canoes—and then noticing a young woman carrying a baby among them. That mattered.

In fact, Clark recorded an encounter in which a PNW tribe who had initially hidden in fear became less afraid after seeing Sacagawea and her child. Her presence meant peace.

“the sight of This Indian woman, wife to one of our interprs. confirmed those people of our friendly intentions, as no woman ever accompanies a war party of Indians in this quarter”

I love that. Sometimes simply her being there changed the conversation.

Eventually the Corps reached Fort Clatsop, near present-day Astoria, Oregon, where they spent the winter of 1805–06.


Reconstruction of Fort Clatsop, winter encampment of the Corps of Discovery,
Lewis and Clark National Historical Park.
National Park Service photo, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

Have you been to Astoria in winter? This is not Palm Springs, folks.

In fact, Patrick Gass complained that during their months there, they experienced only twelve rain-free days. And only six with any sunshine. Rain. Mud. Wet clothes. Smoke. Illness. And Sacagawea had a baby.

She was T. O. U. G. H.

After the expedition, Sacagawea’s story becomes frustratingly murky.

The traditional documentary account says she died at Fort Manuel in 1812, at about twenty-five. But some Native oral traditions tell a different story: the woman who died may have been Sacagawea’s sister—also one of Charbonneau’s wives—and Sacagawea may have lived many more years, with additional children and grandchildren.

More than two hundred years later, we still don’t know exactly how her story ended.

But her son, Jean Baptiste, had quite a life of his own. Educated in St. Louis, he spent years in Europe before returning West as a guide, interpreter, and mountain man. He died in eastern Oregon in 1866.

Here's one final fun fact: Seaman.

I have decided this is how Sacagawea and baby Jean Baptiste survived the whole ordeal... they had a dog.

Seaman with Lewis and Clark, St. Charles, Missouri.
Dr. David Goodrich/NOAA Photo Library,
via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0.

Seaman was Meriwether Lewis’s enormous Newfoundland who crossed the continent with the Corps. Funny story: Someone even tried to steal him near the Columbia River on the return journey. He chased away bison and bears. But how did they get him in those canoes?

Finally, this is what stays with me most about Sacagawea. History can debate her name, her family, even the length of her life. Huge pieces of who she was have simply disappeared from the written record.

But she was never unknown to God.

He knew the frightened child taken from home. He knew the young woman carrying her baby across mountains and rivers. He knew every loss, every reunion, every ordinary day that no explorer thought important enough to write down.

And He knew the rest of her story—the parts history lost.

So many lives vanish from the pages of history. But never from the heart of the One who made us.

Until next time,

Heidi
Psalm 19:14





Heidi Ennis writes faith-filled historical fiction set along the Columbia River, where faith, hope, and love unfold in the rugged wilderness of the Pacific Northwest. Inspired by real history and the wild beauty of the region she calls home, she writes stories filled with danger, courage, faith, and unexpected love.

When she’s not writing, Heidi is usually exploring forest trails and river valleys with coffee in hand and a dog or two nearby, gathering bits of Pacific Northwest history for her next story.

Follow Heidi for new releases, sneak peeks, and stories that lift the heart.
At the Foot of Mountains

Echoes of the Ancient New Testament Cities: Alexandria

Matthew J. Elliott

AI Illustration of Alexandria

It has been over two years since I released my novel, The Cyprus Journal, featuring John Mark as the main character. As I dove into history, researching everything I possibly could to bring that novel to life, I discovered historical information about a journey that the character could have taken to the city of Alexandria. 

Everything within me wanted to tell that story right then and there, but for one reason or another, I ended up focusing that story on his Journey’s to Cyprus. I still plan to go back there some day, but because there was no historical fact-checker confirming this story actually took place, I believe it may be more of a fictional possibility. 

Alexandria is one of those cities that simply fascinates me. It feels like a place where cultures meet, ideals collide, and faith finds its foundational beat. There is a lot of history behind this city, but for the sake of this series, I think it's best to stay within the New Testament timeline.  I have briefly spoken about this city before over the years as a blogger for this community, but I have never dove deep enough into the history surrounding Alexandria until... well… today, or the day you are reading this article. 

The first biblical hint of Alexandria's connection to Christianity appears at Pentecost. Oddly enough, this little story shows up in my upcoming book titled A Broken Embrace. Among the crowd hearing Peter’s sermon were visitors from Alexandria. (Acts 2:5-12). Many scholars believe this included Jews from Alexandria. 

Inside the Library of Alexandria - Britannica

Why? Well, because Alexandria had one of the biggest Jewish communities outside of Judea. If this is true, then it would have been these visitors who carried the message of Jesus back to Alexandria before any missionary found their way there. 

The city of Alexandria is only mentioned four times in scripture, and only in the book of Acts. That doesn't give us a lot of scriptural background, but it does give us enough to dig deep into historical resources to learn more. The clearest biblical narrative for the city of Alexandria is Apollos. (Acts 18:24-28). 

Luke describes him as mighty in the Scriptures and as a man shaped by the intellectual culture of his city. Apollos is the first named Christian from Alexandria, and is a reminder to us all that the gospel did not only grow because of fishermen and tax collectors, but also among scholars and deep thinkers. This also tells us something important about the city. Christianity in Alexandria likely began within the Jewish community, then gradually expanded outward as Gentiles encountered its message. 

Scripture never tells us the story of a missionary journey to Egypt, but that does not mean it did not happen. Alexandrian Jews regularly traveled to the city. We first hear about that during Stephen’s story. (Acts 6:8-10). Ships sailed constantly between Alexandria and the port cities of the coast of Cyprus, Judea, and Italy. Some of the stories we remember about people traveling on ships during the missionary journeys were about traveling on Alexandrian Ships. (Acts 27:1-6; 28:11-15)

Most historians agree that Christianity arrived in the city very shortly after Pentecost and between 30-40 AD. They believe it began quietly without the drama we see in the Acts of the Apostles. I like that idea. Small groups meeting in homes. Scriptures being openly taught. Faith growing in the margins of a city known for its libraries, philosophical schools, lighthouses. Sounds kind of nice. While it wasn’t always that way. It is believed that this is how it all began. 

Now to the reason I brought John Mark into this article in the first place. While this is a story that I could not back up with historical fact, it is a tradition shaped by centuries of Egyptian Christian Memory. The story goes that John Mark, the man who abandoned Saul and Barnabas, went back to Jerusalem after the first missionary journey and then, years later, before the council of elders, traveled to Alexandria on a mission assigned to him by Peter and James.  

Alexandrian Cobbler (Shoemaker)

There, he met a humble cobbler named Anianus, whose hand was wounded while repairing John Mark's own Sandal. As payment for the repair, John Mark tended to his needs and shared the gospel from the cobbler's home. According to this tradition, that home became the first gathering place for Alexandrian believers. 

Is this a viable answer to how the church began? I can’t completely claim that, but I can claim that regardless of the truth behind it, there is absolutely a deep meaning to it. According to the traditional view, this story was passed down for ages, and it reflects a deep truth about the gospel movement. God often begins great works through quiet encounters and ordinary people. Whether or not John Mark personally founded the church in Alexandria, this story captures the heart of the early church. 

Between 38 and 66 AD, Alexandria erupted into sporadic violence, culminating alongside the Judean revolt. This instability fractured local communities. Early believers, still viewed within the broader Jewish community, navigated a city where their identity carried life-or-death risks. Even as the church grew, this crisis touched every household. The resilience forged at its birth rooted believers in faith through these trials with Rome. 

The birth of the church may have included the story of the cobbler, and it may not have. One thing for certain is that it was shaped by men and women we will never know. Alexandria teaches us that the gospel needs willing hearts, open homes, and the courage to follow Christ in a world that does not always understand. Those seeds grow in unexpected places, through unexpected people, and through movements that shape history.

 ~ Biography ~

Matthew James Elliott (M.J. Elliott) is a passionate writer who loves to encourage and inspire others. He served in various ministry roles for over 15 years, which gave him a unique perspective on people and Biblical History. Matthew holds a degree in Biblical Studies from Oklahoma Wesleyan University, with a focus on Pastoral Care, Christian Education, and Worship.

Matthew is married and has three wonderful children who bring him immense joy and inspiration. One of his favorite things to do with them is to share stories they can someday learn from. When writing a story, he aspires to minister to others with love, equip them with encouragement, and use the gift God has given him as a writer to help readers experience God in a real and meaningful way.

Find Matthew on Amazon, Goodreads, Facebook, BookBub, and His Website. He has written Devotionals, An Episodic Series, Novellas, and Commentaries for The Gospel Daily.

~ Highlighted Release ~

It has been a while since I highlighted this release, but starting 10/14, it will be on sale. If you want a reminder, I will be announcing the discounted price in my monthly newsletter.

One Young Man. His Significant Story. A Witness of the Early Church.

Many knew him as the young cousin to Barnabas the Encourager, the son of Mary who offered her home to honor the Savior and those who followed Him, or even the man who abandoned Paul on his First Missionary Journey, but there is more to his story. His story is one of new beginnings, a promise fulfilled, and a man who overcame fear of the unknown.

HHH September Book Day!

7 BOOKS YOU'LL WANT TO ADD TO YOUR TBR LIST!

ALONE: STORIES TO REVIVE THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS
by Tiffany Amber Stockton, et. al. (short story collection)

Tis the season to be jolly...or is it? ALONE showcases eleven stories to remind us that not everyone looks forward to the lights, the tree, and the excitement of the holidays. But they also illustrate how loneliness can become a community, and kindness can arrive through the tiniest of actions. No one should spend Christmas alone. Togetherness really can transform your heart and home. Fill your cup and cozy up with all the characters of ALONE for some authentic holiday goodness.

HEART'S DESIRE
By Linda Hoover

In 1880 Boston, upper-class, Julia Phillips’s father betroths her to wealthy Lucien Harris to cover up a tragic secret. She has no interest in Lucien, but Jacob Anderson, a kind jewelry store clerk has captured her attention. Their mutual attraction grows into love, and he wants to be the man she marries. Julia feels increasing pressure from Lucien to pretend she’s happy about the upcoming wedding. Then, she discovers the arranged marriage is based on blackmail. Her family will be ruined if she doesn’t comply. Will God make a way for Jacob and Julia to have their heart’s desire?

MOLLY’S MISUNDERSTANDING: SECRETS CAN LEAD TO THE BIGGEST
SCANDALS OF ALL
by Cheryl Rae Johnson

Two Hearts. Two Secrets. And the truth that will set them free. As the new lady's maid at Pennick Place, Molly Edwards is determined to hide her secrets. Hotel manager, Miles VanPelt, threatens to stand in her way until Molly spots him lurking about her run-down neighborhood. Why would he be in such a shabby place? Uncovering his secret might be what keeps her safe, until scandal rocks them both. Set in the late 1800s, Molly’s Misunderstanding is the third book in the Chattanooga Hearts Christian Historical Romance Series, but can be read as a stand-alone.

SWEDISH SUNRISE
by Linda Shenton Matchett




Espionage. Diplomacy. Resistance. Is there any room for love? Weeks after being accepted into America’s Office of Strategic Services, Birgit Westgard finds herself in Stockholm, Sweden - “Casablanca of the North.” The job is supposed to be easy: typing and filing. Then her handsome boss taps her to be his “plus-one” at social events where they collect intelligence, plant propaganda, and dance the nights away. How much longer can she remain impervious to his charm?



Texas Redeemed
by Sherry Shindelar

Cora Scott used to dream of falling in love. But the frontier has scrubbed such notions out of her. She’s had enough of waiting on men who can’t be counted on. By the end of the war, she’s lost everyone except for her little brother. Determined to hold onto the family land, she returns to her abandoned ranch, only to realize they can’t survive there on their own. When the dark-haired Yankee with haunted eyes shows up offering to help, she’s slow to respond. He’s a troubled man, and she’s had enough trouble. But her heart isn’t listening.

UNPUZZLING THE PAST

1990s Cozy Mystery. Edited By Mary Davis, Written by Mary L. Chase

When secrets and lies are uncovered, will Mar be able to put the pieces together to learn the truth? A year after the death of her mom, Margaret Ross discovers the proverbial skeleton in the closet. Most families have a secret or two. Some are best left alone. Others need to be brought to the light of day to heal old wounds. With the help of her best friend, a lawyer, and a handsome doctor, Mar determines to hunt down all the facts. When she does, will she find what she’s searching for? Or should she let this puzzle R.I.P.?

WORTH KEEPING
by Kimberly Keagan

Max Dennison arrives at Akethorpe Hall with every intention of selling the English country estate he’s inherited. Instead, he finds himself drawn into the life of a West Suffolk village—and increasingly captivated by the vicar's daughter.

Eliza Davies has long since learned that trusting the wrong person can come at a high cost. The last thing she needs is a charming American who has no intention of staying.

As summer unfolds, unexpected friendships, family secrets, and difficult choices begin to reshape both their futures. But when duty and opportunity pull in opposite directions, Max and Eliza must decide what matters most—and what is truly worth keeping.

 

 

 

 

Hatpins As Weapons

Hatpins were originally created for head coverings. They could be fancy or practical. Made from precious metals and gemstones or a common metal and faux stone. Makers marketed to various levels of society. They went from extremely ornate and expensive to simple and functional. The heyday for hatpins was 1880's to 1920's.

                                                                        Public Domain
Pins go back to the Middle Ages in Britain and Europe, where they were used to hold a wimple or a veil that proper ladies wore to cover their hair. The picture above is a wimple.

In 1800, hatpin making was a cottage industry usually involving the whole family. They were time-consuming to make, resulting in small amounts available at a time.

In 1820, pins were imported from France to meet consumer demand, but Parliament didn’t like the effect it had on the balance of trade. They passed an Act restricting the sale of hatpins to January one and two each year. Women saved their money throughout the year to buy pins. This could be the source of the term “pin money.”

In 1832, a pin-making machine was patented in the United States. It soon put those who made pins by hand out of business. Within two years, France and Britain also had machines.  

   

Public Domain

In 1848, bonnets were secured by tying ribbons or strings under the chin. By the late 1800s, fashion changes made hatpins even more popular. The Charles Horner jewelry business in Britian became a leader in high-quality mass-produced hatpins. Tiffany and Co. was a leader in the U.S.


                                  Public Domain
By 1908, hats had become large, possibly even enormous by some standards, and were covered in silk flowers, bird feathers and other decorations. The larger the hat, the longer the hatpin. When a group of English suffragists were brought into a courtroom in England, the judge made them take off their hats because he was afraid they might start using their hatpins as weapons.

The idea of pins as weapons was valid. More and more women were joining the workforce and had to venture out alone to ride the trolleys or other modes of transportation. Unfortunately, some men took the opportunity to make inappropriate advances. The women called those men “mashers.” A young woman from Kansas working in New York City had a day off and went out to see the sights. The man sitting beside her in the stagecoach kept getting closer until he put his arm around her, letting it settle on her lower back. She whipped out her 12” hatpin and jabbed him in the arm. He screamed and got off at the next stop.

     Public Domain

Newspapers across the country reported one incident after another of women defending themselves. Society was slowly changing from expecting female dependence on men to recognizing their desire and ability to defend themselves. Working women and suffragists spoke out against “mashers” and said a woman should have the right to move about the city without fear of being accosted. The spokesman for the Chicago Vice Commission stated women who wanted to avoid unwanted attention needed to dress modestly–no painted cheeks or show of ankle. One suffragette countered that the problem wasn’t the fashion. It was “the vileness of the ‘masher’ mind.”

Some detractors found a more subtle way to address the problem. It wasn’t women’s changing roles they objected to. It was their mode of self-defense. Innocent men were falling victim to the “hatpin peril.” By 1909, the hatpin was considered an international threat. Police chiefs in Hamburg and Paris considered measures to regulate the length of the pin.

In March 1910, the Chicago city council, whose only members were men, held a proceeding to pass an ordinance banning hatpins longer than 9”. A woman caught in violation would be arrested and fined $50. The ordinance passed 68-2. Similar laws were passed in other large cities.

 Public Domain

In Sydney, Australia, a large group of women went to jail rather than pay a fine for wearing a “murderous weapon” in their hats. Even conservative London ladies refused to buy hatpin point protectors. The outrage over hatpins declined when WWI started and died entirely when bobbed hair came into fashion.

You might enjoy reading one of the articles where I got some of this information.

'The Hatpin Peril" by Abbot Kahler April 24, 2014  The Smithsonian Magazine

THE HATPIN PERIL

I’m glad those kinds of hats went out of fashion. I can’t imagine how the ladies didn’t stab themselves with the pin. I enjoy writing and reading about that time in history, but I'm happy with the way we dress and the conveniences we have now.

Linda lives in west central Ohio with her husband and grandson. She writes Fun Faith-Filled Historical Christian Romance.

Linda has been writing since childhood, but her publishing career started with writing columns and a middle-grade serial for the South Charleston Spectator. A retired librarian, she now enjoys being a full-time author in her home office. She writes not only to entertain but to encourage readers with God’s faithfulness.

You are invited to visit her website, Linda Hoover Books, to learn more about her and her books. You can stay in touch when you subscribe to her newsletter, and as a thank you, you’ll receive a novella, Joel & Ella.

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