Sunday, November 6, 2011

Back from Norfolk, where the historian there gave me a grand tour of the streets Jack Tackett trod over a century ago. His dry goods store has been swallowed up by a huge pillared edifice but Simcoe's house still stands and one of his hotels has been converted to a condominium. Even more interesting: the post office where Jack mailed his love letters to Nancy is now the library where the historian works. The Episcopal and Christ Churches are still there, as well, but the roar of carrier jets and the sight of a battleship permanently moored within the city limits brought home how much has changed since Jack labored to support his family from Norfolk. (This is Simcoe's house today.)