Meet Me at the Wall

Arriving Sweet Briar
In the inaugural episode of 'Meet Me at the Wall,' our hosts introduce a podcast dedicated to uncovering and bringing to life the history of Anne's grandmother, Florence Westgate. Anne details how her deep dive into letters written to her Grandmother led her to write historical fiction based on real-life nuggets of history such as Florence's romantic entanglements and the tight-knit community of Sweet Briar College. The hosts ponder the ephemeral nature of modern communications compared to the lasting legacy of handwritten letters, and also touch on the historical context of the changing oil industry and its impact on their families.  The episode includes sketches inspired by these letters, setting the stage for a season devoted to the 1920s.

00:00 Introduction to Meet Me at the Wall
01:30 Discovering the Letters
04:13 Time Traveling with Florence
08:53 The Sweetbriar Girls
11:40 Sketches and Scenes from the 1920s
25:25 Truth or Historical Fiction
30:21 Ink on Paper vs. The Cloud
32:13 The Oil Business and Community Impact
34:10 Conclusion and Next Episode Preview

The Tryst
From Reggie's relentless affection to Ben's sincere courtship, this episode delves into Florence's challenging decision between her suitors. Offering insights into the Sweetbriar College era, the hosts touch upon the historical context and familial influences shaping Florence's choices. Additionally, the show features a touching segment recounting Anne’s recent visit to connect with a descendant of one of Florence’s friends, providing a rich tapestry of both personal and historical narratives.

00:43 Confessions
01:32 The Tryst: Unveiling Secrets
04:10 Love Letters and Romantic Gestures
08:48 Overlapping Engagements
11:11 Sketches and Scenes from the 1920s
27:20 Fact or Historical Fiction
36:29 A Special Meeting

All That is Shiney

Anne explores a thread linking one of Ben's letters to Florence with the bobbed hair craze. Anecdotes from history are shared, like a surprise trip to Baltimore and surprising details about the wedding reception. The episode concludes anticipating the challenges and joys of Florence and Ben's early married life in future episodes.

01:32 The Magic of the Letters
03:32 Florence and Ben's Engagement Letters
05:50 Wedding Preparations and Reflections
09:57 Sketches and Scenes from the 1920s
21:02 Discussing the Wedding Episode
25:44 Fact or Historical Fiction
30:27 Ted's History Uncovered
33:34 Exploring the Pullman Porters
34:49 Looking Ahead: Married Life

In this episode we share facinating finds including a ticket from the Delaware Lackawanna and Western Railroad, a letter written at the Waldorf Historia, and other historical ephemera. The hosts dive deep into the significance of Pullman Porters, Walter's friendship, and of course, adventures with Ben and Florence. Whether detailing life milestones or unexpected mishaps, this podcast continues to intertwine personal history with broader historical events.

00:54 Office News and Discoveries
01:44 Unveiling an Ephemera Surprise
04:31 The Pullman Porters' Legacy
10:29 Grandmother's Journal and Wedding Memories
16:21 Setting the Record Straight
17:30 Dating the Sweetbriar Photograph
18:24 Sketches and Scenes from the 1920s
31:45 Followups about Characters in the Sketches
33:10 Fact or Historical Fiction
35:28 Reflecting on Communication and Connection
38:27 Closing Thoughts and Next Episode Teasers

Tea Set Blues

In this episode of we learn about the adventurous life of Walter Critchlow, as well as Florence's early years of marriage and starting a family.  We also discuss how certain traits and tendencies can pass down through generations.

00:53 The Podcast Cookies
02:08 Influence of the Podcast on Personal Discoveries
04:05 Family Literary Tendencies
10:24 Sketches and Scenes from the 1920s
24:58 Walter's Flight and Historical Insights
28:36 Fact or Historical Fiction: Walter's Crash
34:05 Family Dynamics and Reflections
35:30 Florence's Church Switch

Return the Coat

In this episode we wrap up the sketches set in the 1920s and reflect on lessons learned from Anne and Betsy’s research.  We discuss the emotional impacts of uncovering family letters and connecting with descendants of past family friends.

01:17 Discoveries at the Local Bookstore
02:16 Reflecting on the End of the 1920s
03:41 Research Challenges and Discoveries
06:17 Connecting with Descendants
10:05 The Value of Ephemeral Letters
14:20 Sketches and Scenes from the 1920s
25:36 Reflecting on Family History
26:30 Fact or Historical Fiction
31:04 Letters from the Past