One Woman's Opinion
Welcome to “One Woman’s Opinion,” a long term feature of the Southside Sentinel, written by Urbanna resident Mary Wakefield Buxton. Traditionally a humorist, Mary has written a column on all subjects and sometimes in very serious vein. Along with writing a column for the Sentinel since 1984, she is also author of 14 books about life and love in Tidewater, Virginia. Click here for available books.
A Great Lakes Odyssey — Part 6
Part 1 • Part 2 • Part 3 • Part 4 • Part 5
Reuniting with Grandfather’s ‘Good Ship Tobermory’ on its 100th birthday
Walking through the “freighter museum” at Sault Historic Sites in the city of Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., with Dennis and Tunee Dougherty, the owners and restorers of my grandfather’s boat, “Tobermory II,” was a short course in the history of Great Lakes ships.
There were many splendid exhibits but the “piece de resistance” for me was the three exhibit display showing the three lives...
A Great Lakes Odyssey — Part 5
Part 1 • Part 2 • Part 3 • Part 4
Reuniting with Grandfather’s ‘Good Ship Tobermory’ on its 100th birthday
Dennis Dougherty of Sault Ste Marie, Mich., spent many years fondly looking out at the “Champion,” (F.W. Wakefield’s...
A Great Lakes Odyssey — Part 4
Part 1 • Part 2 • Part 3
Reuniting with Grandfather’s ‘Good Ship Tobermory’ on its 100th birthday
We had made it as far as Lansing, Mich., by air and now needed to travel by car...
A Great Lakes Odyssey — Part 3
Part 1 • Part 2
Reuniting with Grandfather’s beloved ‘Tobermory II’ ship on its 100th birthday
My grandfather, F.W. Wakefield, may have built an iron ship to last 100 years, but he did not...
A Great Lakes Odyssey — Part 2
Part 1
Reuniting with Grandfather’s ‘Good Ship Tobermory’ on its 100th birthday
I never knew my grandfather, but family tales of him coming to America from Birmingham, England, with his parents in 1872 at...
A Great Lakes Odyssey — Part 1
Reuniting with Grandfather’s ‘Good Ship Tobermory’ on its 100th birthday
URBANNA — I guess one might say it was like making a pilgrimage to Canterbury or Jerusalem. Or waking up as a child...
‘Oyster Fest provides decades of memories’
Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7,
Part 8, Part 9, Part 10, Part 11, Part 12, Part 13, Part 14, Part 15
It occurred to me that this year’s Urbanna Oyster Festival was my 40th. That’s a lot of...
Wooden Boatbuilding Week in D’ville was fun!
Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7,
Part 8, Part 9, Part 10, Part 11, Part 12, Part 13, Part 14
URBANNA — Every summer the Deltaville Maritime Museum offers a family wooden boat-building camp. The program is offered...
Dog Friends group morphs to Middlesex Pet Friends for Life
Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8, Part 9, Part 10, Part 11, Part 12, Part 13
URBANNA - There are many dog lovers in Middlesex County. Something here attracts people who love dogs. Perhaps it...
Red alert! Father falls in love not long after wife’s passing
Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8, Part 9, Part 10, Part 11, Part 12
URBANNA — Just as life was settling down in Middlesex County and the days were humming along pretty well, Mother...
