Tail Gait

Dear Reader,

In 2005, the National Trust for Historic Preservation named Camp Security in York County, Pennsylvania, on a list of America’s eleven most endangered historic places. For two hundred twenty-five years, the prisoner-of-war camp had suffered nothing other than normal farming disturbances. A local developer wanted to build a 105-house subdivision on this land, thereby rendering it useless to archaeological examination.

In 1979, a team of professional archaeologists examined just two acres of the camp, recovering more than fifteen thousand artifacts. Given the severe time limitations under which they worked, there was no way to discover what remained hidden on the thirty acres remaining.

Carol Tanzola, a luminous soul with a passion for history, for finding out just who we were and who we are, couldn’t abide this. Like many people who think about civilizations, the past, wars, et cetera, Carol knew that one can judge a time, a people by how they treat military prisoners, to say nothing of how they treat women, animals, or those unable to compete due to physical or mental infirmity. A woman with a deep sense of fairness as well as curiosity, she started Friends of Camp Security.

As with all such nonprofit organizations, they discovered that fund-raising is the second oldest profession.

Undaunted, they pressed on. The developer was not charmed. The Friends never gave up and over time the local newspaper began to keep track of goings-on. The York Historical Society also took note. (This organization is housed in a wonderful home off York Square.)

More than twelve years later, Carol and the Friends have finally saved Camp Security for all Americans. Over the years much will be unearthed about how people lived, their pastimes, their old pipes, et cetera. There’s hope that the grave sites of those who died in the unfortunate sweeps of fever will be found. Perhaps the archaeologists will find medical information, as well. It’s quite exciting.

On a personal note, Carol is a fellow foxhunter, and we met through this rapturous love at the Pennsylvania Horse Show held at the end of October. It’s the last of the great indoor shows. Madison Square Garden is gone. Washington hangs on but changes venue. But the Penn National remains what it has always been: fierce competition, elegance, and fabulous horses.

Over the years we stayed in touch. I should add here that Carol, Jim, and their two daughters are all crazy fun so I looked forward to any communication and always to the big show.

I could never write big checks. I live with the typical writers’ curse: chicken one day, feathers the next. But I promised Carol that I’d find a way to put Camp Security into a mystery. And so I did. I will continue to revisit the camp and York in the future. In fact, I’m surprised that York County, in particular, and southeastern Pennsylvania, in general, haven’t been the backdrop for more novels. Apart from the area’s physical beauty and history, the people present an array of delicious contradictions. What writer could ask for more?

Well, I’ve nattered on but the long struggle to save Camp Security reaffirmed my faith in Americans. One person can make a difference.

In this case, it was Carol Tanzola.

Well done, Madam.

Always and Ever,