In the Garden...
by
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Who will tell my story? Who will care? I smile sweetly for the camera. What else can I do? When someone looks upon this photo years from now, what will they think of me? Or will they even think of me, at all? Will they think of Sam only, and marvel at the difference in age between this eccentric and his young bride? I sit beside my husband in our “Cabin Home”, our daughter Emily Jane nestled safely between us on one of the velvet upholstered sofas, and I think of the journey which has brought me here. I think of the spirit which has haunted the house in which we reside and the fears I have lived with most every day. Those who look upon this photograph will see what they want to see, I suppose, but will they ever know the truth about what really happened in the life of Emma Brozek Dinsmoor in Lucas, Kansas back in the 1920’s? Just looking at our picture you can see that my husband, Samuel Perry Dinsmoor, is old enough to be my grandfather – possibly even my great grandfather. I am now twenty three years of age and he recently turned eighty four. We were married in 1924 and will soon celebrate our third anniversary. I say ‘celebrate’, but remain conflicted in my feelings towards the life I have chosen and what the future may hold. You may even say I am tormented, in a way.
Am I living in the Garden of Eden or the Garden of Hell? I suppose only God knows, and He isn’t talking. At least…not to me. Not yet, anyway.
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About the Book
It was the spring of 1924 and the little town of Lucas, Kansas, was about to be changed forevermore. Emma Brozek had accepted the friendship and eventually the unlikely affections of her eighty one year old employer, Samuel Perry Dinsmoor, the eccentric sculptor of The Garden of Eden. She was twenty years of age – an innocent and beautiful young woman. She was also my grandfather’s sister. Their scandalous marriage is well documented, as is the birth of their two children. Thousands of photos have been taken of The Garden (now listed on the National Register of Historic Places), many books and articles have been written about my ancestors, and in recent years much information has been available via the internet. But…I don’t believe any of this tells the whole story. I’ve always felt there is much more to their unconventional relationship than what has been reported. Mine is a fictionalized account, but inspired by real events. It is a love story…and a ghost story. It is based on a place which really exists and you can tour for a nominal fee. It is a quiet and cold dwelling which takes you back in time the minute you step through the door and smell the musty scent of yesteryear. Some intangible history lies just beyond your grasp, but when you close your eyes and open your mind you can sense something which has passed before. The Garden continues to intrigue thousands of visitors every year, and the residents of my hometown. For those of us who know the place, it will haunt us for all of our days. There is nowhere else on earth like The Garden of Eden and I invite you to join me as we travel back to 1924 and explore the strange story of Emma and Sam.
About the Author
Laura Marie (Rounkles) Balster grew up in Lucas, Kansas, as the youngest of seven children. She was greatly influenced by her childhood experiences in this small Midwest town, and is proud of her Czech (and Native American Indian) heritage. The literary arts have always held a special place in Laura’s heart, and writing has been one of her passions. When in high school, she had a poem selected for publication and was paid tribute as a “Young Kansas Writer”. Laura attended Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas, graduating Summa Cum Laude in 1991. Earning a Bachelor of Arts degree, she majored in Political Science and received a minor in English. Laura is also the author of “Brandy,” a novel published in 2010. She lives with her family in Maryville, Illinois.