July 8, 2021Chevy Chase, Maryland Six years ago, in April, 2015, I came across a microfilm article from the Richmond, Virginia Times-Dispatch, dated June 1, 1913. It’s a round-up feature on some of the men recently elected to Congress who, it claims, never can become president of the United States. […]
October 16, 1906John Kehoe House221 W. Cervantes StreetPensacola, Florida The old man had a nice setup here, that’s for sure. I’m staying John Kehoe’s old room with Minnie and Fannie Kehoe. Even as the Kehoes were mourning their father, it all seemed serendipitous — at least that’s what Fannie said […]
June 10, 2021Chevy Chase, Maryland Before we jump into the next chapter of Emmett’s life, let’s set the scene: In September, 1906, we know that Emmett moved to Pensacola. He moved in with family friends; specifically, the John Kehoe family, at 221 West Cervantes Street in Pensacola. John Kehoe was […]
June 5, 2021Chevy Chase, Maryland Knowing what I know about Emmett’s life, it’s ironic (or maybe, a kind-of foreshadowing) that Emmett moved to Pensacola, Florida, on September 26, 1906, merely one day ahead of one of the most devastating hurricanes in history to hit the Florida Panhandle. I suppose he […]
May 22, 2021Chevy Chase, Maryland In early June, 1906, it was probably a tough call for Emmett on what he would do after Nicholas Van Sant had discovered what was actually going on with their law practice. I sincerely doubt Emmett went to rehab, even through the generosity and circumspect-ness […]
May 11, 2021Chevy Chase, Maryland Even though I’ve been writing Emmett Wilson’s chapters on and off since I found him back in 2013, and I feel like I know him fairly well, there’s still new things I’m discovering about his story that trickle in now and then. I feel pretty […]
April 30, 2021Chevy Chase, Maryland If you’ve been following the blog-version story of Emmett Wilson, I broke down his career/life into a series of mulligans, or do-overs. It isn’t my trying to be dismissive of his efforts (after all, all of us, especially in early adulthood, try on different jobs, […]
May 25, 1906Van Sant & WilsonSterling, Illinois4:45 pm There was a knock at my office door. “Come in.” The door opened slightly. Miss Delp stuck her head in. “Mr. Van Sant to see you, Mr. Wilson.“Please show him in.” The door opened wider to admit Nick, who started a bit […]
May 25, 1906Van Sant & WilsonSterling, Illinois There are black circles under my eyes; a wrinkled red crease impressed on my cheek from my coat. I’d used it as a pillow, wadded up under my head, to sleep on my office sofa. I don’t remember doing that; hell. I don’t […]
May 24, 1906State Bank of SterlingSterling, Illinois The last bank customer had left over an hour ago; Nicholas Van Sant’s private secretary was straightening his desk and packing his briefcase prior to leaving. Frank came over to his desk. Howard glanced at Nicholas Van Sant’s closed door, turned to Frank, […]
Tell my story. 