Page 85 - Family History

Family Stories

Laura’s internet search also turned up an interesting newspaper article about
Dimmock:

Marion J. Dimmock: ‘A forgotten treasure’ of Richmond’s Gilded Age

I decided to write a letter to the newspaper and to the author of the article to see if
he might be able to shed any light on the mystery book. I never got a response.
But later I took note of a name mentioned in the article as a source. I decided to

try to write a letter to that person but how to find him? Where do I send it? Once
again, Laura figures it out: scanning the internet for his name we find that he
belongs to an antique postcard club! She found the club online and so I left a
simple message there – something like: “Looking for Tom for help with
“mystery book” regarding Marion J. Dimmock.

Within hours I got an e-mail back – “I got a message that you were trying to
contact me. Tell me more ...”

We began a back-and-forth e-mail conversation. From the start he was quite
interested with the mystery book. I ended up sending him some page scans

including the HOME drawing. He had a history of service at the Library of
Virginia and was an expert on Dimmock. He was now retired but suggested that
I contact an acquaintance of his at the library. In the meantime, Laura and I
decide we want to donate the book to the library … so … I carefully wrap up the
mystery book and send it off to the Library of Virginia along with another

letter. Sometime later the two experts get together at the library to look at the
new acquisition. Weeks later I get this back from Tom:

Hello! I saw the Dimmock book today and I am so thankful for your gift to the library.

The photo of the architect is the earliest one we know. The drawing is exquisite. The
Library has his architectural drawings and plans but nothing as personal and charming as
this.

I had though the material might be earlier but the dates in the manuscript are from
1876 and 1879.

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