Mystery Solved

 

I'm an optimist—a stance made possible by not seeing obstacles as problems, only events needing solution.  This long-held feeling was firmly in place after writing "The Scrapbook Mystery" in 2003.  That is, if my previous article "Don't Burn Your Library" had uncovered the mystery, surely this follow-up article would solve it. 

 

Fueling my optimism was that both articles had been published in Inky Trail News and were also posted on my Web site for the entire world to view.  Another plus was I'd shared my quest for answers among writers' groups around the globe.  Without doubt, someone, somewhere, held a clue that would solve the mystery.  Time would tell. 

 

In the weeks following publication of "The Scrapbook Mystery," responses poured in.  For the most part, however, these were requests for copies of the poetry listed with the article; others were well wishes for solving the mystery.  This was gratifying, as it proved the article's reach, but it was also depressing as no response offered clue to Elizabeth Newton's whereabouts.  I was still convinced time would tell, but the question lurking in mind was, "How much time would it take?" 

 

This question of time weighed heavier as 2003 faded—then '04 and '05.  Well wishes and/or requests for copies of the poetry trickled and then ceased.  New Year's 2006 arrived.  The scrapbook had been in my possession for 3 years, and the woman before me had held it for over 25.  Given Elizabeth's most probable age at graduation, she'd be about 90, if she were still alive.  Would I ever learn the truth?  Reality nagged optimism.  My Web site was only one amid a sea of millions, so what was the chance of solving the mystery surrounding Elizabeth's lovely scrapbook?

 

Then one afternoon in February 2006, the phone rang.  My wife answered and then said, "Sandi Haynes wants to speak with you about an article you wrote."

 

Writers live for these words.  This had to be an editor or publisher wanting to print something I'd submitted.  Wrong.  This call was from one of Elizabeth Newton's granddaughters.  Within minutes, long-sought answers fell into place.

 

Here's the story from Sandi's point of view:

 

"It was Tuesday, February 7, 2006.  I was at work and had just finished lunch.  I checked email and then brought up Yahoo's Home Page.  My thought was to look up Uncle Ed's name and see what I could learn.  So I typed Edward H. Sandell into Yahoo Search and a bunch of Web sites came up.  I clicked on the first one and saw it was a list of those who had received medals of Honor.  Edward H. Sandell had received this medal back in 1942. 

 

"Then I realized the information I was looking at wasn't about Uncle Ed; this was about Grandpa Sandy.  At this point I remembered Uncle Ed's middle initial was "N."  I was about to type in the correct initial when I noticed the second Website that came up on the search.  It said 'Scrapbook Mystery.'  I clicked on it and did Control F to search for Sandell.

 

"There was a paragraph at mid page talking about an Allotment for Pay from Edward H. Sandell in the name of Mrs. Edward H. Sandell.  What was this about?  I paged back to the beginning and discovered Bob Burdick had written the article in December 2002.  He referred to a previous article he'd written, "Don't Burn Your Library," and how it had led a reader to contact him about a scrapbook she'd purchased from a used bookstore 25 years earlier. 

 

"The article described things in the scrapbook, like Elizabeth Placida Newton written on the inside cover.  I couldn't believe it.  That was my grandmother's name.  It talked about poetry, newspaper clippings, and a playbill of Elizabeth's senior class play.  I couldn't believe it!  This had to be my grandma! 

 

"The article concluded with a plea for help to solve the mystery and return the scrapbook to Elizabeth or her family.  Bob's contact information was listed with the article.  I immediately sent him an email to explain that I thought the woman he'd written about was my grandmother.  I also visited his Website to see where he lived.  I called my sister and read her the entire article.  We couldn't believe it! "

 

Mystery solved.

 

Sandi called me after she'd spoken with her sister, Nancy.  A few days later, after years of wandering, Elizabeth's scrapbook was on its way back home.

 

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