Columns - Maryland 20878 - A magazine of Archetypal Towns and Villages of Country and City™

Quarterly

The Mississippi – Where the River Runs

By Graceann Macleod

The Mighty Mississippi runs from Minnesota all the way down to the Gulf of Mexico, and you could make up a lifetime of vacations visiting the cities along its banks. This year, when my husband and I found ourselves with a four-day travel window, we decided to trace just a short section of it, from St. Louis to Hannibal, Missouri. It was a delightful journey, full of surprises and towns that time seems to have forgotten.

St. Louis – Gateway to the West

We started our journey in the largest of the cities we would visit on this trip – St. Louis, Missouri. St. Louis has an exciting mix of history and modernity; a little something for everyone. Our immediate goal was to visit the Gateway Arch, but we made time to visit Cherokee Antique Row and to stroll along the river. On this hot but gloriously beautiful day, we started early to beat the heat, and got out our little maps in order to find the Antiques District we had read about at our hotel (a modern Holiday Inn built on the foundations and site of an historic stage stop and hospital, maintaining the original building’s integrity while providing all the modern conveniences). We found Cherokee Antique Row easily enough and were immediately charmed by the historic buildings and eclectic shops lining the streets. First we visited Hammonds Books, and spent a solid hour there without even ... click to continue

Monthly

Marie O'Donnell – The First Kentlands Child

By Marie O'Donnell

My grandfather worked for Mr. Kent, who I called "Uncle Otis," from around 1949 until his (my grandfather's) death in 1971. His name was David Bean, and he built many of the lakes on the estate including Lake Lynette, Lake Helene, and the one that the National Geographic building was located on. Only Inspiration Lake was there at the time we moved onto the estate.

We lived there, in the "manager's house" just down the hill from the mansion, from the time I was about 2 years of age until my great-grandmother became sick and we had to move in and take care of her.

My favorite rooms were the library and music room. I loved the library because of the beautiful blue oriental rug. Uncle Otis had his law books and many of the other books in the library rebound to match the colors in the rug. We would gather in the music room and he would play the organ. I used to sit on his lap and he would play "Beautiful Dreamer" for me. He was a very accomplished musician.

That is another reason ... click to continue