Additional thoughts

Editor’s note: This column originally appeared in the July 22, 2010 edition of the Daily Mail.

My fellow columnists have written their memories and appreciation of Pat Brophy, who died last week. I was not able to attend the service for him, but wanted to express some personal thoughts about our resident historian and self-proclaimed curmudgeon.

Probably 40 years ago my late brother Ralph, who was editor of the school bulletin of the National Geographic Magazine, contacted Pat for help in researching Halley’s Bluff for an article he was writing. The younger and more energetic Pat of that time, not only gave Ralph the information he needed, but actually went with him to explore the bluffs and the formations hollowed out at the base of the bluffs. Ralph continued his friendship with Pat after that event.

Another brother, Harold, became a friend of Pat’s through Harold’s efforts to retain the old jail as a historical museum, and his suggestion of the name ”Bushwhacker” for the museum and the celebration held about the history of our area. The rest of the family appreciated Pat’s persistence in keeping the story alive and mentioning Harold’s name as one who had begun the effort to retain the old jail. Each time Harold came “back home” he tried to arrange a visit with Pat.

I have always thought that Pat felt that my writings were only so much silliness. He probably was right in that, but he did compliment my ability to produce so many articles and columns along with my books. One reason I was able to do so was that I didn’t have to do hours of research about something in the past. I just called Pat and he was always gracious enough to give me all the information I needed. I will miss having this pipeline to the past that was in Pat’s head.

We disagreed on many things, usually about women’s role in history, and he was always quick to point out any errors I made in my articles. What angered me the most was that he was usually correct when he did point out an error. He wanted to get me in a literary discussion in the paper, but I wouldn’t bite. That did not appeal to me at all since I wanted my columns to be light hearted.

My sister Ellen, who writes historical novels, also contacted Pat at times to clarify an idea or to get a fact. Pat admired her writing and also shared his writings with Ellen, sometimes even before they were published. He appreciated the fact that her novels often dealt with local history, and that was something very dear to his heart. They probably would have been on opposite sides in the Civil War, but he still approved of keeping local history alive, even in fictional work.

Before the present museum was established Pat had a little office beside the old jail building. He called me one day to come see some information he had received about the Ellis Domestic Science Club. He knew of my mother’s part in creating this club and felt I would enjoy seeing the old club books he had found in some contributions he had received for the museum. I was impressed that he took the time and had remembered the connection I had to the club. It was this attention to little details in anything pertaining to our area that made him a historic character in his own lifetime.

He will be missed.