The Steward family’s church in Angel of Mercy is St. Andrew’s in Barrie, Ontario. Why St. Andrew’s? The church is Presbyterian, which kept with the family’s Scottish roots. I also used it because Presbyterian was a very large denomination at the turn of the 20th century. History of St. Andrew’s St. Andrew’s began in 1843. […]
The Inspiration Behind an Angel’s Hometown
The hometown of my main character in Angel of Mercy, Henrietta Steward, is Barrie, Ontario. Many real-life buildings were the inspiration for her family and friends’ homes and workplaces. Without leaving many spoilers, here are a sampling of photos that inspired places in the novel: These houses were the model for the Steward home which […]
Automobile: From Obscure Invention to War Tool
Contrary to popular belief, the automobile has been around for more than a century. The vehicles just didn’t become practical until about 100 years ago. The first automobile was developed in the 18th century and was steam powered. In the 19th century, the first hydrogen-powered car was invented and the first electric one was developed. […]
A Brief History of Royal Victoria Hospital — Barrie, Ontario
My fictional character Hettie Steward worked at her hometown hospital, Royal Victoria, in the year between finishing nursing school and joining the Canadian Army Medical Corps, Even though the hospital plays a very small role in Angel of Mercy, its history gives us an interesting glimpse into medical care during the first part of the […]