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newnoirstories · 6 months ago

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Mysterious Family Feud (Sequel)

(As always, the inclusion of religious or mystical themes or practices in my works does not constitute an endorsement of them. The following story contains references to violence, kidnapping, death, drugs, alcohol, parental neglect and also some implied adult situations, to HIV/AIDS, as well as references to mental illness and catatonia.)

"Jashi"

Chapter I

On a Summer day in 1991, on a less than glamorous Boston street, Paul Knudsen saw a peculiar sight. A woman, who would turn out to be central to his professional life, was walking down a gritty sidewalk as if it were a runway, dressed perfectly, designer everything, every hair in place. She looked oddly familiar to him.

"Excuse me, ma'am… have I seen you somewhere before?"

"Are you into fashion?"

"Not particularly, why?"

"Grace Martel is my name, and I have been in Vogue twice already."

"Sorry to bother you, Ms. Martel. Maybe my wife left a magazine around somewhere…"

"Your wife? Don't fool yourself, friend. I know a gay man when I see one… not that there's anything wrong with that."

With this strangest of introductions, Grace Martel resumed her catwalk strut.

By this time, Natalie Rome, Paul's wife, had established herself as a noted appraiser of antiques, as well as an expert lecturer on the subject. She insisted, however, that she would never go into the criminal side of the antiques world, wishing to avoid the drama her father and brother experienced, but fate had other plans.

For his part, Paul Knudsen looked after their infant son, Peter Knudsen, and did any research, whether in books or on computers, that Natalie was too busy to do.

Chapter II

The maelstrom of spite and violence that would soon engulf Natalie and Paul came in the form, outwardly at least, of two families in a sort of feud, not of the direct, rural sort of popular history, but a battle of one wealthy family and one even wealthier, beginning with a common source of division, Mammon.

One wintery day in 1962, John Clemens Martel, of whom Grace Martel was a great-niece, owed money to a man even wealthier than himself, one Porter Heraldson, the first of that name. In Heraldson's splendid mansion, negotiations gave way to raised voices, which gave way to blows, and finally, in circumstances that were never fully resolved, John Martel stabbed Porter Heraldson (the First) to death with a letter opener.

The prosecution portrayed the matter as out and out murder, premeditated, saying that Martel simply wanted to escape his debts. The defense, by contrast, claimed it was self-defense, that Heraldson had attacked Martel. The jury decided that there was, at least, reasonable doubt regarding the perhaps overly ambitious charge of murder in the first degree, and so John Clemens Martel was acquitted, walking free in what the Heraldson family, and all of their friends and sympathizers, regarded as an outrage, a travesty of justice.

To darken the waters still more, shortly after his acquittal, John Martel was struck and killed by a locomotive, and the Martel family, and its friends and partisans, insisted that this was the real act of murder, but nothing was ever proven, and no arrests were made. The death could have been self-inflicted, or it could have been an accident, and Martel had been drinking, albeit not heavily.

From the 1963 trial on, the two families, each with an interest in the occult, albeit from very different perspectives, hated each other, the Heraldsons, the wealthier of the two (having earned their money in early locomotive transport, making John Martel's death the more ironic) viewing the Martels as common criminals, and common in every way, while the Martels regarded the Heraldsons as diabolical spawn who purchased their way out of justice.

No deeper hate was ever felt than that between these two prominent Bostonian families.

Chapter III

Another dark world, one that would impose itself on Natalie and Paul, was that of Philip "Catatonic Phil" Dandolos. While his nickname might have been a humorous, albeit darkly humorous, play on "Punxsutawney Phil", there was nothing humorous about Phil's early life, unless, perhaps, from the point of view of absurdism.

Dandolos was, like the Martel family's ultimate origins, from Pennsylvania, born in 1965 in a particularly rough part of South Philadelphia. His mother abandoned him at birth, and his father was a brutal alcoholic. Philip ran away from home at fourteen, becoming a thief on the streets, and eventually selling not only stolen goods, but himself as well.

Dandolos, wishing to escape the memory of Philadelphia, moved to Boston, where the homosexual set soon regarded him as the most handsome young man in the city, and his clients included many wealthy men, whom Philip was not above blackmailing, if they wished to conceal their trysts.

A heavy user of absinthe and hashish, and rumored to follow the infamous Thelemite cult, Philip's nickname came from his strange trances. Some said that they were a form of psychotic disorder, others that they were induced by hashish, and yet others that they were states of supernatural possession. Be that as it may, Philip Dandolos was either desired or feared by all who knew him, though he had never been known to be physically violent, instead relying on lies, larceny and blackmail.

That one of his clients was, by the early 1990's, Porter Heraldson III (who made no attempts to hide his homosexuality), grandson of the slain Porter Heraldson, would prove to have some bearing on events that followed.

Chapter IV

Returning to the fatal game of human chess of the Heraldsons and the Martels, to understand the actions of Grace Martel, and also of her older brother, Henry "Hank" Martel, one must understand the hatred of all of Heraldson blood instilled in them by George Martel, brother of John, of mysterious demise.

A somewhat feminine, slender man, whose favorite hobby was embroidery, George was, by the early 90's, bedridden, but continued needlepoint, but all of his embroidered images were of Heraldsons meeting gruesome fates, which, with a background among the Pennsylvania Dutch (Germans), was part of a tradition of Hexerei, Pennsylvania German witchcraft, in the Martel family, despite the considerable (though still inferior to the Heraldsons) wealth made by the fashion designs of the late John Clemens Martel, still worn by some older women, such glamour contrasting with the family's rustic origins.

Grace Martel, apart from her love of fashion, was herself skilled in Hexerei, having owl feathers for curses on the Heraldson family, and also, in a more modern innovation, a hidden serpent tattoo that she regarded as having sinister mystical significance. Hank, by contrast, was an impulsive, cantankerous man of limited intelligence, without the cleverness for witchcraft, and lacking any understanding of crime, except for acts of the most crude, direct violence.

Grace Martel, in 1992, made an audacious move against Porter Heraldson III. As Heraldson was an avid collector of rare Japanese antiques, Grace read considerably on the topic, then had some fraudulent "Japanese" items, of no real antiquity, built, in an attempt to have them sold to Porter, not for the money, but to try to trick Porter into re-selling them to a buyer (actually an agent of the Martels), and Heraldson himself, though innocent, would be arrested in a serious case of fraud.

However, Porter took one look at the goods presented and scoffed, knowing instantly that they were fake. Now, of course, it was Grace Martel who was in potential legal peril, though she lied and claimed that she had been deceived about the authenticity of the goods. Porter was less offended by the attempt to frame him for a serious crime than by the "insult to my intellect" of such "crude forgeries".

Ironically, given her earlier claim to the married Paul Knudsen, Grace knew little of Porter Heraldson III's personal life, and so, when she called in person at his mansion, she was let in by a servant, and went straight to Porter's study, and attempted seduction, boldly revealing her tattoo.

Porter, however, laughed derisively, "Martel, if you had listened to any gossip, which I thought was a favorite pastime of plebs [Porter's name for anyone he regarded as common or crass], you would know that I am utterly and thoroughly homosexual, and make no attempt to hide it, so you can put the money back in the purse, as it is in a currency I cannot use."

Chapter V

Natalie Rome's involvement in all of this came, early in 1993, through Yamazaki Sota, an elderly, very traditional Japanese man living in Boston. Yamazaki had in his possession a Karakuri Ningyo, an automaton or puppet used in Edo Period theatre, and apart from its perfect craftsmanship, it was also rumored to be possessed by an Oni, Japanese folklore's equivalent of a demon, as the result, legend had it, of an Onmyōdō practitioner centuries earlier breaking taboos and summoning such a being.

Rather than deter buyers, this legend increased the value, and many of the rising goth subculture would have purchased it if they had the money, but few had such cash. It must be understood, however, that Yamazaki Sota was most reluctant to sell this Karakuri puppet to anyone who was not Japanese, due to its associations with Onmyōdō, traditionally seen as an exclusively Japanese form of magic.

However, Yamazaki had a granddaughter, in need of expensive treatments for the cancer that threatened her young life, and so he tentatively agreed to sell the automaton to none other than Porter Heraldson III. Heraldson, in turn, brought in Natalie Rome, accompanied by Paul Knudsen, to appraise the item, and she arrived at a then staggering sum, for such an item: $200,000.

Without a moment's hesitation, however, Porter agreed to the price. He did not mention at the time, however, his primary reason for buying it. The Oni by which the puppet was said to be possessed was Shuten-dōji, believed to attack women, and Porter, having read deeply on the Edo Period, wished to invoke it to attack Grace Martel.

His reasons for taking such a drastic action went beyond the "insult to my intellect" of her attempt to frame him for fraud, but included also Grace giving free cocaine to Porter's heir, June Heraldson, his naive young nice, age 16, as part of her ongoing attempts to destroy the Heraldson family.

Even as Grace used Hexerei against Porter, Porter planned to use Onmyōdō, which he considered "far more powerful than the superstitions of rubes", against Grace. This would quite literally recoil on Heraldson, however, in a very physical and palpable way.

Chapter VI

The sale of the Karakuri Ningyo was arranged, in its legal formalities, by attorney Ralph Case, at a price of $200,000, and Porter immediately began calling the antique item "Shuten-dōji". Also owner of a Dreamachine, Porter was fascinated by the eyes, and so, one rainy night, when a voice seeming to come from within the puppet said, "Look me in the eyes. Look!", an intrigued Porter, keeping "Shuten-dōji" locked in his study, did precisely this, and it was his last action on earth.

With the mechanical sound of a spring, a knife went into the right eye of Heraldson. Discovered in such a terrible state by servants, the case was put in the hands of Detective Lou Meath, a weary, clumsy man of 64, just waiting to retire.

After reading of the matter the next morning, Paul expressed a very direct opinion to Natalie.

"Do you see this, Natalie? A sale you oversaw… you have to solve it, you know."

"Now, Paul, I told you, I will never be a detective," replied Natalie Rome.

"So, do you really want to leave the case in the capable [this last word overwhelmed with sarcasm] hands of Detective Meath? Have you met him?"

The look of chagrin on Natalie's face showed that she had met him.

"Natalie, you are the smartest person I have ever met. You could give the case to your father, but remember how he told you to do things on your own, without his help?"

"He meant appraisals, not investigating murders."

"Yes, but here you are- you know, what, twelve languages, or have I lost count? Do you really think this case is beyond you?"

"Despite the elements of subjectivity in such assessments of intellectual performance, I have been tested as having an intelligence quotient of 172."

"Now there's the Natalie I know!"

Chapter VII

Even Detective Meath could find certain evidence, or rather, those working for him could, and the only fingerprints found on the deadly puppet, other than those of Heraldson himself, were those of Grace Martel.

The matter was rather complicated, however, by the fact that several of Heraldson's most economically valuable Japanese antiques were missing, evidently stolen. The Martel residence was searched, but no trace of the items found.

However, when a neighbor mentioned that Philip Dandolos, having been given a key by Heraldson, visited the mansion that very night, and his apartment was inspected, there were the incriminating old objects of larceny. Dandolos admitted to the theft, but said that he found Porter already dead.

"I can prove I didn't kill him. When did he die?"

"Between six and seven," replied a uniformed officer.

"Ha… I was with Kevin, Kevin Courtney, another alleged client of mine at the time. He likes to take photos as trophies, but I keep the negatives, so if he denies it…"

While Dandolos was convicted of felony larceny, the rather graphic alibi proved him innocent of the murder itself, and so police attention turned back to Grace Martel.

Meanwhile, however, Yamazaki Sota was in a state of the blackest depression, believing that the mysterious death resulted from selling the Karakuri puppet to someone not Japanese. Drinking heavily, he considered taking his own life, until an old acquaintance, Charity Kobashi, found him, barely conscious, on a park bench.

Charity, herself far from young, had been raised very traditionally as well, but after moving to Boston, had converted to the Evangelical sort of Christianity, changing her given name accordingly.

"I am dishonored. I broke every tradition. I sold Onmyōdō for a price… what good am I now?" Yamazaki cried pitifully.

"Please, Yamazaki, listen," said Charity, "No one is dishonored in Jesus Christ. He loved thieves, he loved prostitutes. He saved their very souls, Yamazaki-san. He will save you."

Though Yamazaki did not know what to make of Charity's new religion, her reassurances did, at least save his life.

Chapter VIII

When Gabriel Westinghouse, a lover of the late Porter Heraldson III, reluctantly came forward, his evidence strengthened the case, as pertained to motive, against Grace Martel.

"Please, officers, don't tell my wife. I married this old-fashioned, sexless woman- a nice lady, and she doesn't expect me in the bedroom, much to my relief, but she would divorce me and leave me alone to die," pleaded Westinghouse.

"To die?" asked Meath.

"I have HIV, gentlemen. What do you think is going to happen to me? I'll tell my wife it's cancer or whatever it is, just not why my immunity is down."

"What do you know about the case?"

"I know that Porter thought the puppet was supernatural, some kind of Japanese magic. He was going to use it to curse Grace Martel. I asked why, and he said it was this old feud or hatred between his family and hers."

With this, the fingerprints and the fact that her live-in boyfriend was Ralph Case, who brokered the sale of the Karakuri Ningyo, Grace Martel was arrested for murder in the first degree.

Grace insisted that, although she had seen the puppet, which Ralph brought home, she claimed, she did not know what it was, and that, in an amorous game she was playing with Ralph, in which she was blindfolded and attempting to find him, she left fingerprints on it, initially mistaking it for him. She now claimed that she had been set up by Ralph Case, and her new defense team strengthened her claim by unearthing papers, which Grace insisted she had been told to sign, by Ralph Case, under false pretexts, that made him her sole beneficiary.

The state's case against Grace Martel was weakening, unless they could try Grace Martel and Ralph Case as co-defendants. Case, however, had a backup plan in the form of Marge Schmidt.

Marge Schmidt was the tall, imposing, battle-scarred queen of the prison to which Grace had been sent, and was offered a re-opening of her case, by Ralph Case, with a likely reduced sentence, as well as untraceable money, laundered more than once, upon her release, in exchange for killing Grace in prison, then putting a shiv in the victim's hand, claiming self-defense.

Chapter IX

Meawhile, Natalie Rome realized that she needed legal counsel of her own, given her involvement with the deadly Karakuri Ningyo, so she brought in Stephen Martin, unaware of the potential conflict of interest that Martin was also assigned to manage the trust fund of June Heraldson. Paul Knudsen avoided Martin, saying that he did not "trust lawyers".

The following day, the day on which Schmidt was paid to attack Grace Martel, however, she had a change of heart, telling Ralph Case that she would not attack her new "girlfriend" for "anything". As such, Grace was now effectively second-in-command of all the prisoners, after Schmidt herself.

The same day, however, now in June, 1973, a most grotesque visitor boldly approached the front door of Natalie and Paul. Ciarán Brennan, who had come from Ireland some time in the fifties, was an escaped mental hospital patient, a heavy-set man suffering from the delusion that he was the great bareknuckle boxer John L. Sullivan.

Paul, rather half Ciarán's size, answered the front doorbell.

"Greetings, greetings, the great John L bids you a happy day."

"How can we help you?" replied a flustered, bewildered Paul Knudsen.

"You were wantin' to know about the Case case? The case of the man Case in the papers, the Case that they say killed a man with a robot?"

Vaguely discerning what Ciarán meant to say, and having gathered, from the man's shadow boxing, that he believed he was John L. Sullivan, Paul began addressing him as such.

"Yes, Mr. Sullivan, what do you know about Ralph Case?"

Just then, however, Paul realized that, despite Ciarán's bulk, he had sneaked past him into the home. Alarmed, he turned around to find "Sullivan" laughing jovially.

"You see how it's done when I go to knock out a man? Well, I laid eyes on this man, just like the picture in the paper, 'cept it's a mask, Mister, a mask."

"What is a mask?" chimed in Natalie, unafraid of their eccentric visitor.

"Why, Mr. Case's face is a mask! I saw him put it on in some bushes, but here's the rarest bit of all. I saw the face under the face at your front door!"

Chapter X

After a few telephone calls by Natalie Rome, including to the Boston Police Department, the case was complete: Ralph Case was an alias of Stephen Martin, and not only this, but Stephen Martin was a son of Samuel Matthews, alias Robert Cross, and thus an older half-brother of Paul Knudsen. Paul had suspected something of the sort, hence his discomfort around the attorney. As a taunt to his acquaintances, he chose the same initials his father had used, yet no one but Paul had ever suspected the truth.

Although Stephen Martin was arrested, without incident, for murder in the first degree, confident that his legal acumen would save him, news reached the Martel family that George Martel's condition was terminal. A recently released Grace Martel, though a bit tearful, said that she was not surprised, but Hank, by contrast, blamed the late Porter Heraldson's "Japanese magic", even from beyond the grave, and in a frenzy, ran out the door.

The tragedy of Hank Martel ran deeper than this one piece of sad medical news: His restless, rageful nature had led his wife to divorce him, and worse still, his daughter had been born without eyesight, which he likewise blamed on Onmyōdō, and on the Heraldson family. There was no telling what he might do now.

As a result of a faulty two-way radio and a narrow field of focus, meanwhile, Detective Louis Meath was still investigating the Heraldson mansion, unaware that the case had been solved. Natalie and Paul drove over to the mansion to tell Detective Meath that the matter was at an end.

However, a sudden thunderstorm seemed to proclaim that history would repeat itself, and that some form of madness would take a last stand against the Rome family, even as it had in such weather seventeen years before.

Chapter XI

Grace Martel had left a family heirloom at the Heraldson residence to place a curse on the house, but as it had sentimental value to George, and he was in his last days, she wished to retrieve it, even amidst the lightning. However, the bungling Detective Meath was still treating the spectral old place as a crime scene, unaware that the crime had been solved.

When Lou Meath confronted her, however, she simply, with customary audacity, showed her tattoo (and a lot of other skin), causing Lou to point, stutter and literally faint. Before she could recover the heirloom, however, her brother Hank showed up, knife in hand, ready to take "vengeance", believing it an injustice that the murderer of Porter Heraldson III had been arrested rather than rewarded.

Grace tried to reason with Hank, but he yelled at her, telling her not to "side with the enemy". To hold off the uniformed police, Hank threatened Detective Meath, who was just now beginning to stir, Lou muttering "I want you so bad", presumably about Grace.

This chaos thus greeted Natalie Rome and Paul Knudsen on their arrival, and, as Paul stepped up first, he was taken hostage, a knife against his throat, by a wild-eyed Henry Martel, who demanded that Stephen Martin be released from prison for his "good deed" of killing Porter.

Neither Natalie, Grace nor the uniformed cops could talk any sense into Hank, but by now, Detective Meath was conscious, or at least as aware as he ever had been, and bumped into a suit of antique Japanese armor, causing a loud crash that startled Hank. Given a moment to act, Paul elbowed his assailant in the ribs and escaped, and Henry was arrested by the uniformed (competent) officers.

"One more arrest, officers," said Natalie Rome, "Arrest Grace too."

"What! Ralph did the murder, not me!"

"Yes, but you distributed a controlled substance to a minor. This is June Heraldson's affidavit," said Natalie, handing one of the officers a document.

Grace Martel then did a curious thing, kissing Natalie on the cheek before allowing herself to be taken off by the officers.

On a calmer, happier day, Natalie Rome, wearing an old John Havlicek uniform that belonged to her father, strolled down the street to the Wang Theatre in Boston, to see a touring Broadway show, the star of which was her old friend Thomas Banerjee.

The end.

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catravandece · 10 months ago

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Every time it rains out here my constant low level "go west" urge kicks up and I fantasize about moving to Portland where I can hear rain all the time and also be surrounded by lesbians

#it speaks #then the cost of living reality hits and i black back in #if i ever win the lottery tho im retiring out there #i mean i could also move to philly and be surrounded by lesbians but then id have to live in pennsylvania yuck #one of these days im gonna vacation in japan during the rainy season just watch me #fuck i love rain

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packedwithpackards · 1 year ago

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Doctor John H. Packard, his Irish servants, and generational wealth

Photos from page 570 of Physicians and Surgeons of America, page 353 of University of Pennsylvania: Its History, Influence, Equipment and Characteristics; with Biographical Sketches and Portraits of Founders, Benefactors, Officers and Alumni, Volume 2

In January 2021, I wrote about my ancestor, John Hooker Packard (my fourth cousin five times removed), noting that he has a personal estate of $5,000, arguing it had an inflated worth of $161,400, according to Measuring Worth, "putting him in the top 10% (or even higher) today", relying on calculations from CNN Money. I further noted that he became as successful as he did in his "respected profession" (a doctor) by "standing on the backs of others". In light of my recent two posts about Captain Samuel Packard and my 9th great-grandfather Samuel Packard, I decided to reassess my calculations and come to another determination in this post, and do a deeper dive into my ancestor. This goes a different direction than my post about how Dr. Packard favored gas chambers as a method to kill prisoners, focusing on Packard's wealth.

As I noted in my January 2021 post, he had at least three servants working for him (Mary Hassan, Bridget Welsh, and Ellen McBride) in 1860, and a prominent physician to say the least from my first post about him. While I could focus on his role in the U.S. Navy during the Civil War, his "radical cure" for hernia, amputation of a hip-joint, surgeons of the 19th century, oblique inguinal hernia, and urethral fistula. Similarly, there's the Report of a committee of the associate medical members of the Sanitary Commission on the subject of the treatment of fractures in military surgery with Dr. Packard as chairman, his lectures on inflammation, or anything else. [1]

This "eminent Philadelphia surgeon" was more than a person who advocated for ether to anesthesia for "brief, painful procedures" and for training of nurses. He also published a 1863 manual on minor surgery which includes methods for dulling pain and bandages, 1870 handbook on operative surgery, a 1880 book about how people can benefit from sea-air and sea-bathing, and many others. [2]

With that, let me move back to Doctor Packard and his wealth. The 1860 census which listed the three Irish servants living in his household lists a $5,000 personal estate:

1860 census document that lists three Irish servants in the Packard household

The relative value of this $5,000 dollars is best expressed as real value or real wealth, which measures the purchasing power of income or wealth by its ability to buy goods and services. That comes to $168,000.00 in 2021 values. This is not far above the median household wealth in 2021 in the U.S. is $140,800, according to the Census Bureau. It is assumed that this wealth was partially or completely passed to the children he had with Elizabeth Wood (1835-1897):

Elizabeth Dwight (1859-1915)

Charles Stuart Wood (1860-1937)

Frederick Adolphus (1862-1902)

John Hooker (1865-1947)

Francis Randolph (1870-1950)

George Randolph (1873-1936)

Elizabeth was the daughter of two Quakers, Charles S. Wood and Juliana Fitz Randolph. At age 22, she married Dr. Packard in June 1857 at Church of the Epiphany, and was likely living in Manayunk Upper Ward, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where she was living in 1850. By 1860 she was living in Philadelphia Ward 8 with the three aforementioned servants, Dr. Packard, her son Elizabeth D., and Charles S.W. [3]

By 1870, Dr. Packard had a real estate of $106,000 and personal estate of $2,000. His wife even had a personal estate of $10,000! There were their five children (Elizabeth D., Charles S.W., Fred H., John H., and Francis R.) and four servants. Three of these servants (Margaret Robinson, Mary Campbell, and Mary Runistell?) and one in England (George McBann). That says a lot about his wealth and it is interesting that Elizabeth has that much wealth as well. That connects to what Claire Cushman writes about in the first chapter of Supreme Court Decisions and Women's Rights: under coverture rules, implemented under an attitude known as "romantic paternalism", a woman could not make contracts, write wills, sue or be sued, or own property, as that all belonged to the husband. However, there were married women's property laws beginning to be passed in the mid-19th century, increasing the rights of married women to control their own property, but limitations remained in place. Pennsylvania passed a law similar to New York in 1845 which increased married women's property rights. [4]

1870 census listing for the Packard household in Philadelphia Ward 8 District 23, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania [5] Four servants are listed in this household, one more than in 1870.

By 1880, Dr. Packard was still listed as a physician, while his wife Elizabeth was said to be keeping house. Their daughter Elizabeth was at home, Charles S.W. was a clerk, Frederick A. was at Pennsylvania University, John H., Frank R., and George R. were at school. They were still living at 1931 Spruce Street. [6] When Dr. Packard's wife, Elizabeth, died in March 11, 1897 in Devon, Pennsylvania, her estate was said to include personal property of $10,000 and $28,000 in real estate in Chester County, Pennsylvania, as noted in a petition by her sons Frederick and Charles S.W. not long after her death. Other documents in her probate include her last will and testament on in which she left Dr. Packard "all her money in stocks, bonds, mortgages, real estate", including granted her property in Devon, along with any other personal or household property. After her death, her children renounced their right to be administrators of her estate, since she had appointed Frederick and Charles S.W. as her executors on September 20, 1896. [7] Here is the text of her last will and testament in July 1892:

I leave my property in Devon, including 13 acres, house, stable gardener's cottage, and everything belonging to the place my dear husband John Hooker Packard. He is to do as he chooses with the property, sell or rent it, and after paying off all the debts, if he sells it, to invest the principal as he sees fit and have entire control of the interest during his life time and at his death the children shall divide the some. I leave him also, that is my husband (John Hooker Packard) for his life, all the money invested in stocks, bonds, mortgages, real estate, or any other way invested that I received from my mother's estate after her death. The interest to be paid to him as long as he lives and after his death to be given to my children principal and interest share and share alike. I leave him anything that he wishes for his own use, of my household and personal property and after he takes what he wishes. I leave my son Francis Randolph Packard all that he wishes, the residence to be divided among the rest of my children. My books I leave to my husband. I wish the sum of $2,000 to be taken at once from any principal and be divided equal by between my husband John H. Packard and my son Francis R. Packard. Any money coming to me from Aunt Hannah Randolph's estate I leave to my husband John H. Packard, the same to be invested by him and for him to use the interest therefore during his life and at his death the principle to return to my children, share and share alike. [8]

Only five years after Elizabeth's death, her son, Frederick Adolphus, another accomplished doctor, would die of typhoid fever in Philadelphia on November 1, 1902, at age 40. While he married a woman named Katharine Paul Shippen on June 1, 1893 in Philadelphia, they did not have children. Unfortunately, I can't find them in the 1900 census. It also does not seem he wrote a will. So, any property he held at his death is not known. [9] However, there are indications that the wealth of Elizabeth passed on. When Dr. Packard died in 1907, it did not seem he had a probate, although he likely had substantial funds when he died in a hotel in Atlantic City. In contrast, when Elizabeth Dwight died in 1915, The Wilkes-Barre Record stated on April 7 that she gifted $500 to her brother Francis R. and had a personal estate of $40,000. In something that definitely raised eyebrows for me, the remainder of her estate was given to her friend Lucy Huston Sturdevant. The latter lived at the Hotel Sterling, which happens to be a place once managed by one of my ancestors, Robert Mills, the namesake for one of my ancestors, Stanley Sterling Mills.

Lucy was well-healed, born to a prominent family, daughter of General Ebenezer Warren Sturdevant and Lucy Huston. Her obituary in 1940 described her as a member of one of the oldest families in Wilkes-Barre, insisting that her home was in Wilkes-Barre rather than anywhere else. As it turns out, Elizabeth and Lucy were more than friends. [10] The 1900 census lists Elizabeth as the partner of Lucy, with a South Carolinian cook named Lena Brooks and a South Carolinian maid named Martha Mook living in the same household in Buncombe, North Carolina:

Elizabeth and Lucy living together in the 1900 census [11]

Although I can't find records of either one in the 1910 census, it is significant that Lucy was the executor of Elizabeth's estate. Elizabeth seems to have a bit of a high-class about herself as well, hosting tea parties with her sister, going to Nantucket, while her death certificate says she was single, just like Lucy's. According to a February 1883 passport application, Lucy was 5 foot 6 inches, had blue eyes, light hair, and fair complexion. [12] Unlike Elizabeth, Lucy was known for her short stories and articles. In 1909, only a few years before Elizabeth's death, she published a short story in Atlantic Monthly entitled "A North-West End". Then, in 1915, she published a story within in the Best Short Stories of 1915. A search of her name pulls up many other stories, either about an untrained nurse, the waterfront, flags, schools, Quaker teachers, mainly in Atlantic Monthly, now known as The Atlantic. [13]

As the internet saying goes, they're gay, good for them. I had somewhat predicted I would focus on topics like this, including a question from Christine E. Sleeter in Genealogy journal in June 2020, in a January 2021 post: "How might a family historian tease out clues of LGBTQ family members in the past?" I would be more than happy to write more about Elizabeth and Lucy in the future, and do more of a deep dive. Lucy and Elizabeth seems to have a committed relationship, a union that wasn't called marriage, but falls into the labels of "life partnerships”, “romantic friendships”, “Boston marriages” or something else entirely. Some have noted that the use of “partner” as a relationship designation in 20th-century census records is something that "might identify LGBTQ relationships", even though it is not, on its own, a "completely reliable means of identifying same-sex couples in the census" although has been used by enumerators.

Moving on from this topic, and toward the conclusion of this post, some children of Elizabeth and Doctor Packard had home values in the tens of thousands. In 1930, the home of George R. and his wife Elizabeth Waln Wistar Brown was worth $50,000. The same was the case for Francis Randolph, who was living with his wife Margaret Harshman, with a home valued the same. This differed from Charles S.W. who rented a house the same year, only worth $975 dollars. Similarly, John H. also rented a house, only worth $500 dollars. Charles and John were both wage/salary workers. [14]

In sum, you could say there was some generational wealth, i.e. any assets families pass down to their children or grandchildren, whether cash, investment funds, stocks and bonds, properties or companies, but it didn't pass to all of the children of Elizabeth and Doctor Packard, only some of them.

Notes

[1] See "On a modification of the "invagination" method of operating for the radical cure of hernia" (1895?), "On amputation at the hip-joint" (1865?), "On some of the surgeons of the last century" (1888?), "On the anatomy of oblique inguinal hernia, with special reference to the operation for its radical cure, and a description of a modified procedure for this purpose" (1895?), "Traumatic separation of the lower epiphysis of the femur" (1890?), and "Urethral fistula, treated by means of the elastic ligature" (1877?). Also see "Minutes of transcriptions and business; Sept. 29, 1857 to Apr. 14, 1887, 1857-1887" (1857, mentioned), "The present state of microscopical science, medically considered" (1859), "Sea-air and sea-bathing" (1880), "A hand-book of operative surgery" (1870), "Records, 1846-1919" (mentioned), "John Fries Frazer papers, 1834-1871" (mentioned), and "Records, 1855-1909" (mentioned).

[2] See "John H. Packard’s Primary Ether Anesthesia" (2001 article), "Training of nurses for the sick ; Social Science Association of Philadelphia ; read before the Association January 20, 1876" (his speech), A manual of minor surgery (1863), A Hand-book of Operative Surgery (1870), Sea Air and Sea Bathing (1880). Others are listed here.

[3] "Pennsylvania and New Jersey, U.S., Church and Town Records, 1669-2013" via Historical Society of Pennsylvania; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Historic Pennsylvania Church and Town Records; Reel: 231, page 385 of 573; "1850 United States Federal Census", Year: 1850; Census Place: Manayunk Upper Ward, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Roll: 808; Page: 111a, Seventh Census of the United States, 1850; (National Archives Microfilm Publication M432, 1009 rolls); Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29; National Archives, Washington, D.C.; "1860 United States Federal Census", Year: 1860; Census Place: Philadelphia Ward 8, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Roll: M653_1158; Page: 6; Family History Library Film: 805158, 1860 U.S. census, population schedule. NARA microfilm publication M653, 1,438 rolls. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d. Page 723 of U.S., Encyclopedia of American Quaker Genealogy, Vol I–VI, 1607-1943, specifically Encyclopedia of American Quaker Genealogy Vol. II, lists Elizabeth as a daughter of Charles S. and Juliana. Additionally, page 404 of The descendants of Rev Thomas Hooker, Hartford, Connecticut, 1586-1908 notes her as daughter of Charles Stuart and Juliana (Fitz Randolph) Wood and says she was born May 2, 1835 in Philadelphia.

[4] "Romantic Paternalism" in Supreme Court Decisions and Women's Rights: Milestones to Equality (ed. Claire Cushman, Washington, D.C.: CQ Press, 2001), 1-2. While it is not directly stated, it is implied that Cushman wrote this section of the chapter. I originally got this book in college when I took a women in the law class. Definitely a valuable resource which I never knew I needed. The Married Women's Property Acts in the United States Wikipedia page is actually a good resource, especially citing many articles in the sources section if you wish to dive deeper into this subject.

[5] "1870 United States Federal Census", Year: 1870; Census Place: Philadelphia Ward 8 District 23, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Roll: M593_1393; Page: 119B, 1870 U.S. census, population schedules. NARA microfilm publication M593, 1,761 rolls. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.Minnesota census schedules for 1870. NARA microfilm publication T132, 13 rolls. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.

[6] "1880 United States Federal Census", Year: 1880; Census Place: Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Roll: 1170; Page: 206C; Enumeration District: 129, Tenth Census of the United States, 1880. (NARA microfilm publication T9, 1,454 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C.

[7] "Pennsylvania, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1683-1993", Pennsylvania Probate Record; Probate Place: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Notes: Wills, No 568-593, 1897, Pennsylvania County, District and Probate Courts, Pages 199 to 216. The last will and testament is on pages 202 to 206.

[8] This document is very hard to follow, so I may have missed something, but this is pretty accurate, I believe. The whole text of the last will and testament is available as a downloadable PDF. The entire will and probate in its original form and order, of all the pages, is available in a PDF here.

[9] For a profile of Frederick see pages 872-873 of Howard Atwood Kelly, A Cyclopedia of American Medical Biography: Comprising the Lives of Eminent Deceased Physicians and Surgeons from 1610 to 1910, Vol. 1 (W.B. Saunders Company, 1920). The biography of him is written by his brother, Francis R. Packard. He is also listed on page 367 of Biographical catalogue of the matriculates of the college: together with lists of the members of the college faculty ... of University of Pennsylvania within U.S., College Student Lists, 1763-1924. Katherine and Frederick having no children is confirmed by the 1910 census (Year: 1910; Census Place: Philadelphia Ward 7, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Roll: T624_1389; Page: 3B; Enumeration District: 0108; FHL microfilm: 1375402, Thirteenth Census of the United States, 1910 (NARA microfilm publication T624, 1,178 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C.) which lists Katherine as widowed and notes that she has zero children. Their marriage is noted in page 245 of Pennsylvania and New Jersey, U.S., Church and Town Records, 1669-2013 collection (Historical Society of Pennsylvania; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Historic Pennsylvania Church and Town Records; Reel: 232, Historic Pennsylvania Church and Town Records. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Historical Society of Pennsylvania. Methodist Church Records. Valley Forge, Pennsylvania: Eastern Pennsylvania United Methodist Church Commission on Archives and History.) Page 299 of Index to Wills, 1900-1924, M-S for Philadelphia within Pennsylvania, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1683-1993 (page 299 of 499) lists no entries for any Packards in 1901 or 1902.

[10] Although there is a Lucy H Sturdevant who married a man named Ziba M Faser in 25 Sep 1873, this is not her as she was born in 1860 and would have been 13 at the time of this marriage. For more on that Lucy, see Lucy A S Faser in the 1900 United States Federal Census, for example.

[11] 1900 United States Federal Census, Year: 1900; Census Place: Asheville Ward 3, Buncombe, North Carolina; Roll: 1184; Page: 14; Enumeration District: 0137; FHL microfilm: 1241184, Enumeration District: 0137; Description: Asheville City, Ward 3 (pt) beginning at the intersection of College and N Main, and thence NW with N Main to the City limits, thence south with City limits to Monford Ave, thence SE with Monford Ave to Haywood to French Broad Ave, thence S with French Broad Ave to Patton Ave, thence E with Patton Ave to Court Square, thence with N Main to the beginning; Includes all of Election Precinct 5, United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Twelfth Census of the United States, 1900. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1900. T623, 1854 rolls.

[12] "U.S., Passport Applications, 1795-1925 for Lucy H Sturdevant", Passport Applications, 1795-1905, 1882-1887, Roll 253 - 01 Dec 1882-28 Feb 1883, National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Washington D.C.; Roll #: 253; Volume #: Roll 253 - 01 Dec 1882-28 Feb 1883, Volume: Roll 253 - 01 Dec 1882-28 Feb 1883, Selected Passports. National Archives, Washington, D.C.; "Lucy Huston Sturdevant" in the Pennsylvania, U.S., Death Certificates, 1906-1968, Pennsylvania Historic and Museum Commission; Harrisburg, PA; Pennsylvania (State). Death Certificates, 1906-1968; Certificate Number Range: 057301-060300, certificate number 58216, Pennsylvania (State). Death certificates, 1906–1968. Series 11.90 (1,905 cartons). Records of the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Record Group 11. Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Her death certificate says she died of nephritis. Also see "1884 Dec 18 Elizabeth D Packard and Charles Packard Wife announce 5 o'clock tea on Dec 31" clipping from The Philadelphia Inquirer, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 18 Dec 1884, Page 3, "1915 Apr 1 Elizabeth D Packard Died March 31, 1915 of 61 West Ross Wilkes-Barre" clipping from The Times Leader, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, 01 Apr 1915, Page 24; "Obituary for Elizabeth B. PACKARD" clipping from Wilkes-Barre Times Leader, the Evening News, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, 02 Apr 1915, Page 3, "1911 May 14 Elizabeth D Packard to Nantucket for the summer" clipping from The Philadelphia Inquirer, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 14 May 1911, Page 27; "In her will, Elizabeth D. Packard makes Lucy Huston Sturdevant executrix of her estate" clipping from Wilkes-Barre Semi-Weekly Record, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, 09 Apr 1915, Page 8.

[13] See "An Untrained Nurse", pages 820 to 829 in The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 107, "On the Water Front" in Atlantic Monthly, "Flag-Root" in The Atlantic, Volume 112, pages 112 to 118. There's also "The Cent School" in 1903, "Two Quaker Teachers" (also see here).

[14] 1930 United States Federal Census for George R Packard, Pennsylvania, Montgomery, Lower Merion, District 0059, Year: 1930; Census Place: Lower Merion, Montgomery, Pennsylvania; Page: 2B; Enumeration District: 0059; FHL microfilm: 2341816, District: 0059; Description: LOWER MERION TOWNSHIP (PART) BOUNDED BY (N) MATSON FORD RD., WEST CONSHOHOCKEN BOROUGH LIMITS; (E) SCHUYLKILL RIVER; (S) SPRING MILL RD.; (W) COUNTY LINE RD, United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Fifteenth Census of the United States, 1930. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1930. T626, 2,667 rolls; 1930 United States Federal Census for Charles S W Packard, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Philadelphia (Districts 251-500), District 0292, Year: 1930; Census Place: Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Page: 10A; Enumeration District: 0292; FHL microfilm: 2341830, District: 0292; Description: PHILADELPHIA CITY, WARD 8 (PART), BOUNDED BY (N) LOCUST; (E) S. 13TH; (S) SPRUCE; (W) S. 21ST, United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Fifteenth Census of the United States, 1930. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1930. T626, 2,667 rolls; 1930 United States Federal Census for John H Packard, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Newtown, District 0105, Year: 1930; Census Place: Newtown, Delaware, Pennsylvania; Page: 15A; Enumeration District: 0105; FHL microfilm: 2341766, District: 0105; Description: NEWTOWN (NEWTON) TOWNSHIP, United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Fifteenth Census of the United States, 1930. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1930. T626, 2,667 rolls; 1930 United States Federal Census for Francis R Packard, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Philadelphia (Districts 251-500), District 0280, Year: 1930; Census Place: Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Page: 31A; Enumeration District: 0280; FHL microfilm: 2341829, District: 0280; Description: PHILADELPHIA CITY, WARD 7 (PART), BOUNDED BY (N) SPRUCE; (E) S. 16TH; (S) WAVERLY; (W) S. 20TH, United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Fifteenth Census of the United States, 1930. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1930. T626, 2,667 rolls.

Note: This was originally posted on Dec. 12, 2022 on the main Packed with Packards WordPress blog (it can also be found on the Wayback Machine here). My research is still ongoing, so some conclusions in this piece may change in the future.

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nerdykeppie · 2 years ago

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Spider & Jake grew up in Pennsylvania, surrounded by Revolutionary War messaging. It's pretty clear that we are in a time when Join or Die fits the queer/LGBTQIA+ community as well. The infighting is endless and pointless, and the people who don't want us to continue to exist? They're not fighting amongst themselves.

So here's Join or Die -- because sometimes Spider comes up with an idea for something at noon, and by dinnertime it's on the site. Use code JOIN23 for 20% off this new design until April 24th, 11:59PM PST.

And before anybody asks (as if this isn't the perfect proof of concept), Spider is a butch lesbian and here's his statement on the lesbian flag which they choose to use for his art.

#join or die #queer pride #lgbtq #trans pride #nerdykeppie

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reasonsforhope · 11 months ago

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"The New York City Council voted to ban most uses of solitary confinement in city jails Wednesday [December 20, 2023], passing the measure with enough votes to override a veto from Mayor Eric Adams.

The measure would ban the use of solitary confinement beyond four hours and during certain emergencies. That four hour period would be for "de-escalation" in situations where a detainee has caused someone else physical harm or risks doing so. The resolution would also require the city's jails to allow every person detained to spend at least 14 hours outside of their cells each day.

The bill, which had 38 co-sponsors, was passed 39 to 7. It will now go to the mayor, who can sign the bill or veto it within 30 days. If Mayor Adams vetoes the bill, it will get sent back to the council, which can override the veto with a vote from two-thirds of the members. The 39 votes for the bill today make up 76% of the 51-member council. At a press conference ahead of the vote today [December 20, 2023], Council speaker Adrienne Adams indicated the council would seek [a veto] override if necessary.

For his part, Mayor Adams has signaled he is indeed considering vetoing the bill...

The United Nations has said solitary confinement can amount to torture, and multiple studies suggest its use can have serious consequences on a person's physical and mental health, including an increased risk of PTSD, dying by suicide, and having high blood pressure.

One 2019 study found people who had spent time in solitary confinement in prison were more likely to die in the first year after their release than people who had not spent time in solitary confinement. They were especially likely to die from suicide, homicide and opioid overdose.

Black and Hispanic men have been found to be overrepresented among those placed in solitary confinement – as have gay, lesbian and bisexual people.

The resolution in New York comes amid scrutiny over deaths in the jail complex on Rikers Island. Last month, the federal government joined efforts to wrest control of the facility from the mayor, and give it to an outside authority.

In August 2021, 25-year-old Brandon Rodriguez died while in solitary confinement at Rikers. He had been in pre-trial detention at the jail for less than a week. His mother, Tamara Carter, says his death was ruled a suicide and that he was in a mental health crisis at the time of his confinement.

"I know for Brandon, he should have been put in the infirmary. He should have been seeing a psychiatrist. He should have been being watched," she said.

She says the passage of the bill feels like a form of justice for her.

"Brandon wasn't nothing. He was my son. He was an uncle. A brother. A grandson. And he's very, very missed," she told NPR. "I couldn't save my son. But if I joined this fight, maybe I could save somebody else's son." ...

New York City is not the first U.S. city to limit the use of solitary confinement in its jails, though it is the largest. In 2021, voters in Pennsylvania's Allegheny County, which includes Pittsburgh, passed a measure to restrict solitary confinement except in cases of lockdowns and emergencies. The sheriff in Illinois' Cook County, which includes Chicago, has said the Cook County jail – one of the country's largest – has also stopped using solitary confinement...

Naila Awan, the interim co-director of policy at the New York Civil Liberties Union, says that New York making this change could have larger influence across the country.

"As folks look at what New York has done, other larger jails that are not quite the size of Rikers will be able to say, 'If New York City is able to do this, then we too can implement similar programs here, that it's within our capacity and capabilities," Awan says. "And to the extent that we are able to get this implemented and folks see the success, I think we could see a real shift in the way that individuals are treated behind bars.""

-via NPR, December 20, 2023

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transit-fag · 11 months ago

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#polls

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nellasbookplanet · 4 months ago

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Book recs: werewolves

Want your monsters a little hairier? Then this list is for you! Whether you prefer your werewolf books fantasy, horror, slice of life, or romance, this list has a something for everyone (especially if you want your werewolves queer!)

For more details on the books, continue under the readmore. Titles marked with * are my personal favorites. And as always, feel free to share your own recs in the notes!

If you want more book recs, check out my masterpost of rec lists!

Lobizona (Wolves of No World series) by Romina Garber

Young adult. As an undocumented immigrant, Manu has been told her existence is illegal. When her mother is arrested by ICE, Manu is left alone, and decides to seek out the only connection she has left: her dead father's criminal connections. Here she finds a secret underworld of Argentinian folklore, where a seventh daughter is a bruja and a seventh son is a lobizón - a werewolf. But as Manu understands more about who and what she is, she comes to realize her self is seen as forbidden in more ways than one, and that she will have to fight for her way to exist. Tackles heavy subjects in a more lighthearted magic school setting.

Empire of Wild by Cherie Dimaline

Horror. Nearly a year ago, Joan's husband Victor disappeared seemingly into thin air. That is, until Joan stumbles across a revival tent where the local Métis have gathered to listen to the charismatic preacher Eugene Wolff - a man with Victor's face. But when she faces him, he doesn't recognize her at all, claiming his mission is only to spread the word of Jesus. Only, that is far from all he's doing. Now Joan must find out the truth of what happened to her husband.

Lycanthropy and Other Chronic Illnesses by Kristen O'Neal*

Young adult. Priya had plans to go to Stanford, but is derailed when the fallout from lyme disease puts her back, making her question if she'll ever get back to normal. Luckily she has her discord support group with whom she can chat and vent about her illness. Even more - she has Brigid, online fandom friend and fellow chronic illness sufferer. But when Brigid disappears from the web without warning, Priya must drive to Pennsylvania to make sure her friend is okay - and finds that Brigid's condition is a bit hairier than she expected.

Santa Olivia (Santa Olivia duology) by Jacqueline Carey*

Is this werewolf fiction? Technically not. It's sci-fi more than fantasy or horror, with a plot reminiscent of superhero stories. It follows Loup Garron, a young girl growing up in Santa Olivia, an isolated town by the border between the US and Mexico, where the inhabitants aren't allowed to leave. Loup is the daughter of a "Wolf Man", a soldier enhanced with wolven traits which she have now inherited, allowing her to take a stand against the soldiers keeping her small home town oppressed. Also features a main f/f couple!

A Wolf Steps in Blood by Tamara Jerée*

Novella, lesbian soulmate romance. Red wolves went extinct in Alabama long ago - except for the ancestors of Yasmine's family, who were saved by witches putting a spell on them, allowing them to take human form to hide. Now, that spell is growing weaker, and Yasmine is struggling for control with her wolf. When a chance encounter with the exiled blood witch Kalta reveals the two to be not only fated mates but also the possible answer to the pack's struggles, Yasmine and Kalta both must work together to overcome the grief in their hearts and save their families.

Mongrels by Stephen Graham Jones

Horror. A coming-of-age story following a boy and his aunt Libby and uncle Darren, living on the road and staying outside the law. They're all outsiders, but Libby and Darren are mongrels, mixedbloods, werewolves waiting to see if their nephew is like them or not. The boy, meanwhile, must decide if the wandering life of his family is for him, or if he belongs somewhere else.

How to Be a Werewolf by Shawn Lenore*

Graphic novel, available as printed or webcomic. Malaya was bitten by a wolf as a child, and ever since she has lived an isolated life with her family, working in their coffee shop and fearing she will lose control of her wolf side. Having never met another werewolf, Malaya knows little of what she is - until she meets a stranger claiming to be like her, and that she's far from alone. But the more she gets involved with other werewolves, the more she also gets dragged into the dangerous conflicts between packs.

Artie and the Wolf Moon by Olivia Stephens

Middle grade graphic novel. One night, young Artie witnesses something incredible - her own mother turning into a wolf. She finds out she's from a lineage of werewolves, and to help her awaken her abilities her mother invites family friends who are like them. A new world opens up for Artie, but so do dark secrets: werewolves have a deadly enemy, and it's coming back for them.

Bored Gay Werewolf by Tony Santorella

Brian is a slacker, having dropped out from college, working as a waiter, and spending his nights drinking with his friends - except the nights when he turns into a werewolf, of course. But after having slipped and killed a jogger, Brian is noticed by fellow werewolf Tyler, who's working on a self-help startup for werewolves and offers to mentor Brian. At first Tyler's methods helps Brian get back on his feet, but the more he learns of Tyler's expansion plans, the more he realizes he might be bad news. A good read if you want a funny, goofy take down of toxic masculinity that doesn't take itself very seriously.

Such Sharp Teeth by Kim Harrison*

When her pregnant twin sister is left by her boyfriend, Rory decides to go back to her home town and stay with her for a time. But the town is also the home of old childhood trauma, and something wild is roaming the woods. When she gets attacked and mauled one night, Rory's successful life is changed forever. Lycanthropy used as a metaphor for female rage, trauma, and bad coping mechanisms.

What Big Teeth by Rose Szabo

Young adult horror. It's been years since Eleanor Zarrin last saw her family, having been sent away to boarding school when she was little. But after a bloody misstep, Eleanor must flee the school and return home to her family's manor. Here she's reminded of her family's darker side, and that she has never been able to run and hunt in the woods alongside them. But in a family of wolves Eleanor is something else - and even more dangerous.

Red Hood by Elana K. Arnold

Young adult horror. A take on the little red riding hood tale where the girl is both the victim of the wolf and the huntsman who slays it. After a particularly embarrassing incident, young Bisou flees into the woods, only to be faced with a predatory wolf. To her shock, their face-off ends with the wolf dead, not Bisou. Even more shocking: the dead wolf turns into a boy. Suddenly, Bisou finds herself a hunter and a protector, routing out the wolves who masquerade as boys. Visceral and bloody, but pretty feminism 101 in its portrayal.

Fear the Wolf by Stefanie Gilmour

Urban fantasy. Alex never wanted to be a werewolf, but when a latent gene was triggered by a traumatic event, causing her to shift, she had no choice but to accept her new reality. Now she stays under the radar, avoiding other werewolves as she tries to keep a job and keep her temper under control, fearing that she will be discovered or even hurt someone. The only person outside her family who knows her secret is Emma, a wizard and Alex's closest friend. But when Emma gets a new boyfriend and starts acting strangely at the same time as attacks and disappearances of supernatural citizens are on the rise, Alex might have no other choice but to get involved in the local werewolf community to fight back.

Kitty and the Midnight Hour by Carrie Vaughn

Urban fantasy. Kitty Norville is a midnight radio host and a werewolf, having been turned after a traumatic attack. Stuck in an abusive pack, Kitty needs an outlet, and decides to use her radio midnight hour to speak about the supernatural. Soon others like her are calling in, seeking advice, and Kitty's life is looking up - but in drawing attention to the supernatural, she has also put a target on her back, and someone wants to make her shut up, no matter what.

No Gods, No Monsters by Cadwell Turnbull

When Laina's brother gets shot and killed, a video recording the incident reveals something shocking: a giant wolf which, when shot, turns into a naked man. The video gets leaked, and little by little monsters start coming out into the open. But there’s a reason monsters have decided to step put of hiding, something otherworldly and far more dangerous than them. Follows a large cast of characters, among them members of a werewolf pack.

Bonus AKA I haven't read these yet but they seem really cool

Rules for Werewolves by Kirk Lynn

A story told entirely in dialogue, Rules For Werewolves follows a group of young outsiders, drifting from place to place and squatting in empty suburban houses as they try to build a life in a world that has no room for them,

Howl by Shaun David Hutchinson

Young adult. New kid in town, Virgil Knox, has been attacked by a monster. Only, no one believes it was actually a monster, insisting it must've been a bear. But Virgil knows it was really a monster, and now he fears that it will come back for him - or that he will become one himself.

The Devourers by Indra Das

In Kolkata, India, college professor Alok encounters a mysterious stranger who tells him a story of a race of people at once man and beast, and a wanderer in 17th century Mughal who is torn between two worlds.

Thor by Wayne Smith

Thor the German Shepherd is devoted to his suburban family, and when Uncle Ted comes to live with his family, that devotion is put to the test. For Ted is no longer human, and Thor can sense that there is something dark and dangerous hiding inside him, something which he must keep his family safe from.

Wild by Meghan O'Brien

Selene leads a lonely life, avoiding forming close relationships to keep herself and others safe as she turns into a remorseless wolf creature every full moon. Eve is a forensic pathologist who has sworn off romantic relationships after having had an ex cheat on her, focusing instead on catching murderers. But when a masked man attacks Eve and Selene comes to her rescue, the two become unavoidably intertwined as a monster even more dangerous than Selene stalks the streets.

Wolfsong by T.J. Klune

Ox Matheson's neighbors, the Bennett family, aren't ordinary people: they're shapeshifters, able to turn into wolves. Intrigued by their lifestyle, Ox becomes close to the youngest son, Joe. But when murder comes to town, Joe ends up leaving, and won't return until years later. Now adults, the feelings between them can't be denied any longer.

#lobizona #empire of wild #lycanthropy and other chronic illnesses #santa olivia #a wolf steps in blood #mongrels #how to be a werewolf #artie and the wolf moon #bored gay werewolf #such sharp teeth #what big teeth #red hood #fear the wolf #kitty and the midnight hour #no gods no monsters #nella talks books #werewolves

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