Tags
book review, Colorado, history, Nothing Daunted, old west, reading, Wickenden, writing
This book, written by the granddaughter of one of the two society girls, recounts the experiences of two young college-educated Easterners during their one and only season as rural school teachers in an isolated mining and ranching community in northern Colorado.
The circumstances of the story are as unlikely as they are recognizable. In the first years of the 20th Century, it was rare for women to graduate from college. More rare, was for two women to develop a sister/friend bond with as much glue as what Dorothy Woodruff and Rosamond Underwood enjoyed. Following their graduation, both women traveled together for an extended stay in Europe. Returning to the states and approaching their 30’s, both women uncharacteristically remained unmarried, fancy-free, and footloose.
Providing adequate education to the children of settlers in the tiny, far-flung communities in the west was an ever-present dilemma in the early 1900’s. Through a haphazard string of connections, the settlement of Elkhead, Colorado, scored an unforeseen bonanza with the hiring of the two eastern friends to teach in their newly constructed school. It is unlikely that either woman would have had the courage to leave the comforts of home for the vast unknown wilderness without each other’s moral support. But together, they were a formidable force with unwavering principles and devotion to their young charges.
I was drawn to this book for its setting in an area near where I grew up. Additionally, the story of two headstrong young women, bucking traditional expectations, piqued my interest. Wickenden did meticulous research to flesh out the letters and old documents that she already had from her grandmother. The book is well written and scrupulously cited. My only complaint is based upon my own expectations about the subject matter. Nearly half the book details the women’s early friendship, education, and world travel. For example, there are lengthy descriptions of ancillary characters in France who then play no role in the balance of the book. While true history buffs may enjoy the first half of the book, I would have been satisfied with half the amount of background information. Recognizing my impatience is important to me as a writer because it demonstrates that ubiquitous conundrum of what to put in and what to leave out.
Once the girls finally reach Hayden, Colorado, the narrative takes off. The two remarkable women adapt with amazing grace to the rigors of riding western saddle ponies through three-wire snow accumulations, waking to find their quilt covered with three inches of fresh powder, and accommodating a one room schoolhouse to the needs of twelve learning levels. The community itself exhibits western grace in its acceptance and nurturing of the greenhorns.
I appreciated the Epilogue, which describes the teachers’ lives after their memorable year in Colorado and summarizes what happened to the Elkhead community after they left. As one of their students remarked in 1974, “I don’t believe there ever was a community that was affected more by two people than we were by those two girls.” Likewise, that year spent in Colorado was a pivotal moment in time for the teachers—a time when they both learned how to “take life by the throat and deal with” whatever came their way.
dfb said:
Sounds great – I need to read more books like this. I am fascinated by recent American history and Americana. Great post, very interesting.
LikeLike
rangewriter said:
Thanks, glad you enjoyed it.
LikeLike
Sybil said:
Sounds like a wonderful story. Do you think that they were likely, more than just “friends” ? And were in fact a couple ?
LikeLike
rangewriter said:
Sybil, that is the same question that went through my mind when I read the blurb about the book. I read closely with that in mind (not that it matters). and came away thinking probably not. One woman was engaged to a fellow from Michigan (I think it was) during the time she was in Colorado. And the other woman married one of the bachelors from Colorado. They were married within a week of each other, attending each other’s weddings and remained devoted friends throughout their lengthy lives. One woman’s husband died fairly young and she then married the other bachelor who had fallen for her during her “schoolmarm” days. Of course, it is possible, because things like that were never referenced nor accepted, but based on the way they lived the rest of their lives, I think these were just a pair of very independent women who found solace with each other growing up in a straight-laced, upper-class, east coast community.
LikeLike
Sybil said:
Great answer Linda.
LikeLike
Nate Shenk said:
Linda I’m trying to find a good old west biography (e.g. Curly Bill, Sam Bass) to read…do you have any suggestions on one that you think is great, but not that well known? I know that’s a random thing to ask, but I have a feeling you’d be the right gal to ask and I love a good biography!
Somewhat off topic, but great review in today’s post 🙂
LikeLike
rangewriter said:
Oh my, what a fun question you’ve asked! I’m not much on the old legends of the west, but I love good historical western literature. Much of what I’m familiar with may have more of a female perspective than what you’re looking for, but let me throw a few titles your way:
Into the Wild by John Krakaur
The book that the current movie Buck was based on The Faraway Horses
Beyond the Hundredth Meridian by Charles Stegner (anything by Stegner is amazing…Angle of Repose is an historical novel about the area I live in)
Crazy Horse: The Strange Man of the Ogalalas by Vine Deloria (author is Native American)
Crazy Horse by Larry McMurtry
Oh dear. I didn’t think I could think of any, but look at this…this list might keep you busy for a while. I have more thoughts if you’re interested. Not sure these are exactly what you had in mind, but they’re all good.
LikeLike
merry203 said:
I’ll write down the name. I’m sure it’ll be a wonderful book to read =)
LikeLike
Dia said:
I love these kinds of histories. I read one a while back about a woman and her daughter who, on a bet from a society lady from New York, walked from Spokane (I think it was Spokane) across the country to New York back in the late 1800s. They wound up garnering quite a bit of press, and did it in order to try to save the family farm. They arrived something like a week late and the society lady reneged on the bet (which was a sizable amount of money.) They had to work in New York City for something like a year to earn the money to return home and, once they got there, were shamed by their family for undertaking the trip. Evidently it wasn’t considered a very womanly thing to do.
It was pretty fascinating. The end of this book sounds a LOT better. Great write-up.
LikeLike