What makes you think Barbara had a previous marriage? You said Hal was a widower; clearly he had a previous marriage and provided Barbara with a stepson. Maybe there are some details you left out, but based on what you wrote here there's no evidence she had a previous marriage.
See above about her daughter, born in 1935, based on a 1950 census report. She married Hal in 1945. Based on that, I assumed Barbara had been married before but I couldn't find any records of it.
Thank you for doing so much research and putting so much positive energy into this substack. I love it. I was a history major in college (go IU) and love connecting history to my passion gardening. The info is so fascinating, factual and interesting. Thanks so much. Basilbecky
I love Hal Borland ! Have almost all his books, this quote is from his book Beyond Your Doorstep, (1996 0 dedicated to Barbara, for whom I pick the first violet. This is the last paragraph in the book. " Even the best books and magazines are essentially no more than a table of contents for the vast volume of material that waits anyone in the dooryard and beyond. The big, definitive book about nature is nature itself.
Love that dedication! I don't know why I've just "discovered" Hal Borland in the last several years, but am happy now to have also "met" his wife, Barbara. I have five of Hal's book, and of course, Barbara's one and only gardening book.
What makes you think Barbara had a previous marriage? You said Hal was a widower; clearly he had a previous marriage and provided Barbara with a stepson. Maybe there are some details you left out, but based on what you wrote here there's no evidence she had a previous marriage.
See above about her daughter, born in 1935, based on a 1950 census report. She married Hal in 1945. Based on that, I assumed Barbara had been married before but I couldn't find any records of it.
Thank you for doing so much research and putting so much positive energy into this substack. I love it. I was a history major in college (go IU) and love connecting history to my passion gardening. The info is so fascinating, factual and interesting. Thanks so much. Basilbecky
You're welcome. I enjoy doing it!
I love Hal Borland ! Have almost all his books, this quote is from his book Beyond Your Doorstep, (1996 0 dedicated to Barbara, for whom I pick the first violet. This is the last paragraph in the book. " Even the best books and magazines are essentially no more than a table of contents for the vast volume of material that waits anyone in the dooryard and beyond. The big, definitive book about nature is nature itself.
Love that dedication! I don't know why I've just "discovered" Hal Borland in the last several years, but am happy now to have also "met" his wife, Barbara. I have five of Hal's book, and of course, Barbara's one and only gardening book.