Black Beauty was a landmark in the animal welfare movement. It also spawned a genre of English language animal fiction told from the animals’ POV. It wasn’t until (I think) the 1930s when the Pullein-Thompson sisters started writing and publishing stories from the perspective of girls and boys who rode horses that this changed to the modern pony books I grew up on. I loved Black Beauty as a younger reader, and still admire it today as an amazing piece of Victorian social history. There is a lot in there that aligns to the temperance and evangelical movements. Thank you for a wonderful read. As a horse girl, I loved the photo of you with Beebe.
You brought back memories for me too. I loved the book and movie about Black Beauty and I'm pretty sure that is where my love of horses came from. Loved this memory jogger!
This little slice of life was so delicious! I loved the details about your special place — so magical, and without TV reception too! Imagine that. 😆 I also enjoyed the tidbits about Black Beauty, which I adored as a child too. I will be reading this again.
It's hard to imagine now, but Winnipeg and Grand Forks were the nearest broadcast television stations and it wasn't until cable television arrived in the 1980s that anyone in Warroad could spend time in front of a television set. As a city kid, I thought there were more interesting things to do than watch TV. I'm glad to hear we have in common our childhood affection for the book Black Beauty. Thanks for reading and I consider re-reading a compliment!
Hard to believe Canada, the railroad and Marvin Windows were so close. It all says so much about colonialism and place: the national boundaries, the infrastructure and extracting business interweaved with your family and first people indigenous. Your work illuminates history in a way that’s accessible and relatable. And so recent I tend to forget. Especially in this day and age of screen time I’m glad we didn’t grow up with cellphones. We interacted so much more with the natural world. Thankful for your stories and how much you enjoyed nightlife away from the cities. I loved that part too!!
I was never bored back then. Even though they didn't even have a mall! I practically grew up inside Brookdale and there was Southdale plus downtown Minneapolis with its Mary Tyler Moore mall scene. But the Trading Post proved more interesting. It was the Vietnam War playing on television screens and guys hitchhiked north and then took a train ride to freedom across the border. This more recent history is easier to forget or to not think of in historical context, but in reliving my own fierce attachments to this place it is also to a time that has passed away. And what do I want from the past to bring forward into the future? That connection with the natural world and all sentient beings. National boundaries and colonialism are at the root of so much distress and turmoil around the world and here in our neighborhoods. What I'm learning about this place seems to change the way I see everything else.
I appreciate your layered interweaving historical perspectives Jill ! The malls were at least a shared community with other humans but now looks like a good launch to Amazon maybe? 🤔
the malls where were teens hung out and aspirations created for consumer culture, that's for sure. Sears, JC Penny, Daytons, Donaldsons -- these were flagship department stores that don't even exist anymore. Is retail shopping the last dinosaur or why did the last good shoe store close and how can I pair shoes without trying them on? I remember working at Southdale part-time over the holidays at a fabric store and what a fun experience that was with women. Another part-time at Sears in the shoe department. Shopping for new stuff was what what we were groomed to do as the generation to buy and belong; and if you belong your duty is to buy more.
Beautiful, Jill. Black Beauty was my favorite childhood book, too. I read it over and over and wept each time with sadness and relief. I love seeing you in the land where you're rooted with the animals and humans there--and your description of the night drew me right in. I imagine a night of fireflies like the Missouri nights on my Grandparent's farm where my dad was raised. So beautiful with sweet nostalgia.
I envision you as a young girl holding your grandfather's hand under the night sky looking up. The dancing stars in the fields and overhead is a magical sight.
I didn't either! I recall my first edition was an illustrated one for children, but I think my sister still has the hardback edition we read as kids. I'm not sure I want to see any of the stage or screen versions as it is such a potent childhood memory based on the book. Thanks for reading!
I was intrigued that draft dodgers hung out at night waiting to jump a train . Seems like something my mother would have been aware of, but we didn’t return the the Upper Midwest until 1973, so maybe she wasn’t (or never shared with me.)
I don't know much about northern Maine and whether they jumped trains into Canada from there. Would be interesting to find out. The more I learn about this one small town in Minnesota, the more I discover the history is connected to other places and times. Thanks for reading.
The photographs are pretty special, especially our family photo for the church directory. Mom made out dresses. Yellow. I don't think I have anything in my wardrobe today that is yellow.
Black Beauty was a landmark in the animal welfare movement. It also spawned a genre of English language animal fiction told from the animals’ POV. It wasn’t until (I think) the 1930s when the Pullein-Thompson sisters started writing and publishing stories from the perspective of girls and boys who rode horses that this changed to the modern pony books I grew up on. I loved Black Beauty as a younger reader, and still admire it today as an amazing piece of Victorian social history. There is a lot in there that aligns to the temperance and evangelical movements. Thank you for a wonderful read. As a horse girl, I loved the photo of you with Beebe.
I'm so glad I had Black Beauty as a kid to balance out the popular television program with Mr. Ed, the talking horse.
Beautiful read, Jill! It felt as if I was there. Timeless memories of a child's sense of place and belonging.
Thanks, Stephanie. There is a certain timelessness to this place on Lake of the Woods. The past is always present for me there.
When I look at the photos of you as a child I can see your child-self in you as you are now.
Sure do enjoy reading about the beauty of this place, back in time, along with viewing the photos.
Thanks, Linda, and I know you understand the beauty of a night sky. Hope you didn't laugh too hard at those photos of me as a kid.
This is beautiful! Seems so reminiscent of my own childhood in rural Idaho. We rode horses every Saturday at a friend's house. Really lovely!
Friends with horses are the best kind of friends. How lucky you were to have that kind of rural childhood experience. Magnificent creatures.
You brought back memories for me too. I loved the book and movie about Black Beauty and I'm pretty sure that is where my love of horses came from. Loved this memory jogger!
That book certainly touched many of our lives when we were younger readers. I'm glad to know you read it too!
This little slice of life was so delicious! I loved the details about your special place — so magical, and without TV reception too! Imagine that. 😆 I also enjoyed the tidbits about Black Beauty, which I adored as a child too. I will be reading this again.
It's hard to imagine now, but Winnipeg and Grand Forks were the nearest broadcast television stations and it wasn't until cable television arrived in the 1980s that anyone in Warroad could spend time in front of a television set. As a city kid, I thought there were more interesting things to do than watch TV. I'm glad to hear we have in common our childhood affection for the book Black Beauty. Thanks for reading and I consider re-reading a compliment!
Hard to believe Canada, the railroad and Marvin Windows were so close. It all says so much about colonialism and place: the national boundaries, the infrastructure and extracting business interweaved with your family and first people indigenous. Your work illuminates history in a way that’s accessible and relatable. And so recent I tend to forget. Especially in this day and age of screen time I’m glad we didn’t grow up with cellphones. We interacted so much more with the natural world. Thankful for your stories and how much you enjoyed nightlife away from the cities. I loved that part too!!
I was never bored back then. Even though they didn't even have a mall! I practically grew up inside Brookdale and there was Southdale plus downtown Minneapolis with its Mary Tyler Moore mall scene. But the Trading Post proved more interesting. It was the Vietnam War playing on television screens and guys hitchhiked north and then took a train ride to freedom across the border. This more recent history is easier to forget or to not think of in historical context, but in reliving my own fierce attachments to this place it is also to a time that has passed away. And what do I want from the past to bring forward into the future? That connection with the natural world and all sentient beings. National boundaries and colonialism are at the root of so much distress and turmoil around the world and here in our neighborhoods. What I'm learning about this place seems to change the way I see everything else.
I appreciate your layered interweaving historical perspectives Jill ! The malls were at least a shared community with other humans but now looks like a good launch to Amazon maybe? 🤔
the malls where were teens hung out and aspirations created for consumer culture, that's for sure. Sears, JC Penny, Daytons, Donaldsons -- these were flagship department stores that don't even exist anymore. Is retail shopping the last dinosaur or why did the last good shoe store close and how can I pair shoes without trying them on? I remember working at Southdale part-time over the holidays at a fabric store and what a fun experience that was with women. Another part-time at Sears in the shoe department. Shopping for new stuff was what what we were groomed to do as the generation to buy and belong; and if you belong your duty is to buy more.
Beautiful memories, Jill. I can feel your heart's connection to this borderland, the place and all who live there. It clearly is your querencia!
Querencia is such a lovely new word. Thank you for that gift!
Beautiful, Jill. Black Beauty was my favorite childhood book, too. I read it over and over and wept each time with sadness and relief. I love seeing you in the land where you're rooted with the animals and humans there--and your description of the night drew me right in. I imagine a night of fireflies like the Missouri nights on my Grandparent's farm where my dad was raised. So beautiful with sweet nostalgia.
I envision you as a young girl holding your grandfather's hand under the night sky looking up. The dancing stars in the fields and overhead is a magical sight.
Love, love, LOVE your description of night in this piece. And I love the story.
Thanks!
I didn't realize that there have been eight films of Black Beauty, dating back to the era of silents. Plus a stage play and series. Wow.
I didn't either! I recall my first edition was an illustrated one for children, but I think my sister still has the hardback edition we read as kids. I'm not sure I want to see any of the stage or screen versions as it is such a potent childhood memory based on the book. Thanks for reading!
I was intrigued that draft dodgers hung out at night waiting to jump a train . Seems like something my mother would have been aware of, but we didn’t return the the Upper Midwest until 1973, so maybe she wasn’t (or never shared with me.)
This would have been the late 1960s. Your mother may not have known about this route for those who resisted the draft.
We lived in northern Maine until summer of 1973. She was respectful of military members and active in the anti Vietnam War movement
I don't know much about northern Maine and whether they jumped trains into Canada from there. Would be interesting to find out. The more I learn about this one small town in Minnesota, the more I discover the history is connected to other places and times. Thanks for reading.
I love the pictures too of you and your cut offs holding the horse and that family photo!! 🥰
The photographs are pretty special, especially our family photo for the church directory. Mom made out dresses. Yellow. I don't think I have anything in my wardrobe today that is yellow.