As I began this story, I wanted a rushed move for a bachelor to an unexpected new position, and a promotion, with his employer—the railroad. And I wanted a Poor Farm near Shepherd, Michigan. History treated me kindly, because both a major railroad center and a Poor House were in the area during the time frame of my story. I have a full-length novel, which became a Maggie Award Finalist in unpublished books, which ties into this story, currently entitled “Grand Exposé.” One day that book and the series, too, will be out in print, as God wills it.
Poor Farms, or Poor Houses, have a long history in particular before the Social Services movement began.
Yes, they really were called Poor Houses or Poor Farms, depending upon where you lived. I also refer to the location as the County Farm in this book. Some places housed only adults. Some had a mix of children and adults, as this book portrays. Some separated men from women and some did not. I was surprised to see the residents called inmates, but in some situations, apparently they were treated somewhat like prisoners—as they did in Victorian England as well.
When I worked in Lower Michigan, I visited Shepherd many times. It is easy to get to today, via the interstate. The town boasts a rail museum and I’ll admit that I’ve not been (yet!) but I hope to remedy that situation!
I struggled with a couple of my characters’ names—in particular one who wasn’t alive in the story but was a huge influence upon the hero and heroine. As I searched for Poor Farms in Michigan, I came across the right “friend” for Sonja. In real life, a Cora Degley was buried in a potter’s field near Shepherd. The article indicated that (sic), “It is probable that the medical department at the state unversity will demand the body for dissecting purposes.” Reading that sentence made me shudder. I used Cora’s name and we had her moved to a church cemetery, protecting her from the body snatchers from the university (or “unversity” as indicated in the post!).
Salt River, Michigan, burnt in 1887. The original Salt River was home to a sawmill and flour mill, which used the river’s power. Then railroad came into town in 1885. Stone buildings were built by Mr. Shepherd near the railroad line.
Acknowledgements
Thank you Father God. I don’t know why this wasn’t supposed to be the short story I planned but you know! God bless my little family for tolerating my frequent home location being in “story world”!
Thank you to the helpful citizens of Shepherd, Michigan who keep their history alive. Special thanks to Joyce Noyes who was so much help. She and her husband, Larry, are both charter members of the Shepherd Area Historical Society. Her husband is currently the President of the Society and Joyce served as an officer for many years. Joyce is also co-chair of the Little Red School House Museum in Shepherd who shared with me about Salt River, Shepherd, and the maple syrup traditions that they still have today.
Thank you to Patty Smith Hall and Niki Turner, who served as diligent critique partners to me on this project! Thank you to Gina Welborn for inviting me into the O’ Little Christmas Town collection and to Cynthia Hickey who designed the cover for us. I appreciate my editor, Narielle Living’s hard work and any errors are my own.
Thank you to my beta readers – Regina Fujitani my early Beta reader, Sonja Hoeke Nishimoto (and thanks for the use of your name!), Gracie Yost, and Tina Rice. I appreciate my advance readers – Caryl Kane, Deanna Stevens, Britney Adams, Sydney Anderson, Ann Ellison, Kay Davis Moorhouse, Martha Phillips, and Chris Granville.
God bless my Pagels’ Pals group, who provide me so much encouragement!!! And the Overcoming With God Angels for always being there for me!
A big hug and thank you to Libbie Cornett, my best friend, who introduced me to Christian historical fiction twenty-five years ago! I am so glad God put us together and I don’t believe I’d be writing Christian fiction if you’d not started me on that path!
Author Biography
Carrie Fancett Pagels “Hearts Overcoming Through Time” is an ECPA-bestselling, award-winning Christian historical fiction author. Working as a psychologist for twenty-five years failed to “cure” her overactive imagination. Carrie and her family reside in Virginia’s Historic Triangle, which is perfect for her fascination with history. Carrie enjoys reading, traveling, baking, and beading—but not all at the same time!
Visit Carrie’s blogs: OvercomingwithGod.com and ColonialQuills.org!
Contact Information: Website is www.CarrieFancettPagels.com
Carrie has an author page on Facebook, is on Twitter (cfpagels), goodreads, Pinterest, LinkedIn, and Google+.
Sign up for Carrie’s newsletter for special promotions! Giveaways with each newsletter!
Other books/stories by Carrie Fancett Pagels:
My Heart Belongs on Mackinac Island: Maude’s Mooring (Barbour, July 2017).
Seven Brides for Seven Mail-Order Husbands (Barbour, June 2017) includes Carrie’s novella “Dime Novel Suitor.”
ECPA Bestseller, The Blue Ribbon Brides Collection (Barbour, November 2017) includes Carrie’s novella “Requilted With Love.”
Saving the Marquise’s Granddaughter (White Rose/Pelican, June 2016). Romantic Times 4 Star rating
Tea Shop Folly (August, 2016) is Book One in The Christy Cousins series.
Return to Shirley Plantation: A Civil War Romance (Hearts Overcoming Press, January 2016) 2nd edition.
The Steeplechase (February, 2016) is set just before the War of 1812, in Williamsburg and Yorktown, Virginia.
The Fruitcake Challenge was a Selah Award finalist and a long list finalist for Family Fiction’s Book of the Year.
The Lumberjacks’ Ball is a short novel and Book Two in The Christy Lumber Camp Series (Hearts Overcoming Press, 2015) available in ebook and print.
Lilacs for Juliana (August, 2015) is Book 3 in The Christy Lumber Camp Series. Available in e-book and paperback editions.
Carrie’s short story, “Snowed In,” is published in Volume One, Tales of Faith and Family for the Holidays in Guidepost Books (2013) A Cup of Christmas Cheer.
Carrie contributed a chapter in the nonfiction book, God’s Provision in Tough Times, by Cynthia Howerter and LaTan Murphy, (Lighthouse of the Carolinas, 2013) on Amazon and Barnes and Noble, in E-book and paperback. This book was a Selah Award finalist.
The Substitute Bride: A Novella Page 9