Great grandfather Joseph Edward Thompson must have wanted future generations to find the homes he built as a young man in Bisbee, Arizona, in 1905-06. Why else would he have paid an architect to brand them with his initials, J.E.T.? Unfortunately, the J.E.T. brand, which was painted on the homes, was nowhere to be found on a recent […]
Meany and Babushka Admired Each Other’s Handiwork
Andrea Calfee sent along this wonderful picture of Meany and Bill Thompson, which was taken by Andrea’s mother, Galia Kelsey, at their home in Eastchester, N.Y., circa 1951-1952. Meany, who was a marvelous seamstress, is wearing a beautiful beaded belt made by Andrea’s grandmother. “Meany and ‘Babushka’ had a mutual admiration society going,” Andrea remembers. […]
Thompson Colonnade Greets Visitors to Butte Cemetery
A graceful granite colonnade framing several modest gravestones greets visitors to the Mount Moriah Cemetery in Butte, Montana. This is the place where William Thompson (1838-1900) and Annie Maria Boyce Thompson (1846-1894) were buried, along with two of their children, Arthur and Flora. A year before he died, eldest son William Boyce Thompson, who wasn’t particularly religious, commissioned […]
Visit to Thompson Park Provides Unintended Consequences
As the sign says, you can’t drive a recreational vehicle off-road in Thompson Park. You aren’t supposed to shoot anything inside the park, either. But apparently it’s okay to leave your dog’s droppings all over the place. At least that’s what I learned, the hard way, during my visit to the park in Butte, Montana, […]
Mother’s Agonizing Childbirth Made Disbelievers Out of Some Thompson Boys
Anne Marie Boyce attended church at least once every Sunday. She often went to prayer meetings on Wednesday night. She regularly cooked dinner for ministers. She was steadfast in her faith. But when this “invalid” woman who suffered from Bright’s disease was screaming out in agony during the birth of her 10th child, God was a […]
Cobourg Graveyard Romp Turns Up Few Clues, Just Buried Tombstones
The lawn beside the old St. Peter’s Church in Cobourg, Ontario, is so rough it would be easy to turn an ankle. The cause can’t be roots—only a few forlorn pines and maples ring the periphery. Even so, the forces of erosion haven’t worked their magic to create a level lawn. That’s because the side yard is full of sunken […]