Creating Fiction From History: 4/27/2022

"I've made my decision, Father! I know you wanted me to stay here where it's safe, but I'm sick and tired of being SAFE!"

In actuality, Peter's father simply didn't want his beloved son running off and getting himself killed over across the pond. Though he did want Peter to stay in relatively safe little Waukon and take over the family business. But, that wasn't the point, was it?

Right now, John Arthur Hammond's concern was that his little boy would meet his fate on some bloody battlefield in a foreign country where there would be no one to cradle his broken body. Peter never really stopped to think about it, but his father had already lost an uncle, two brothers, and a son to the hell that is war. The fact of the matter was the latter of these, Peter's older brother, had bolstered Peter's decision to join the ranks of those who fought for freedom in war-torn Europe.

Our hero was born Peter Arthur Hammond on July the 4th, 1899. Waukon, Iowa, in those days, was connected to the Mississippi River Basin by means of the Waukon and Mississippi, a narrow gauge rail that ran through the rough terrain that is North-East Iowa, from Waukon to the community of Waukon Junction.

Peter had heard stories, but his father, though now the proprietor of a successful hardware store in Waukon, had worked side by side with several of the native Winnebagos when the line was being built. John had become personally familiar with the horrors of war during the Black Hawk War of 1832, before Waukon officially became 'Waukon.' Though Peter knew this story, he made the journey back East, to New York Harbor, the year of his 18th birthday.

This photograph is of Peter Arthur on his 17th birthday, where, unbeknownst to his parents, he was already pondering the most fateful decision of his life.

If you would like to create fiction from history with one of the museum's photos, please contact the Ledger at (406) 287-5301 or email whledger@gmail.com.