About The Willows |
When Cora Haworth’s sister was disowned after falling pregnant at fourteen, Cora and her husband took action: they founded the Willows Maternity Sanitarium. Established in 1905, it became the Ritz of maternity homes, offering massage and spa treatments to anonymous girls who’d learned too late the consequences of sex in a society that repaid their ignorance with ostracism.
In this fictionalized epistolary account based on true events, Beverly weaves together fascinating stories of the inhabitants of the Willows. Part One spans 1905 to 1930 and introduces readers to well-drawn and varied characters, women with unique stories that brought them to the Willows. Part Two covers 1930 to 1953 and follows the Willows as its numbers swell. From a devastating fire to the stock market crash to a shocking scandal involving a fraudulent adoption, this work takes you on a sweeping historical journey. Between 1905 and 1969, roughly thirty thousand babies were adopted from the Willows. From the early stigma of unwed pregnancy to the closing of the Willows due to the availability and prevalence of abortion, Unfortunate Women shines a light on the unsung heroism of the many women who’ve chosen to bless others by giving up something precious. |
Unfortunate Women: The Stories
Meet Heather, a homely girl who was raped by a boy at a dance at a military school. When her father commits suicide after the stock market crash, her place at the Willows is in jeopardy. Will Heather’s beautiful singing voice be her saving grace?
Audrey is a fifteen-year-old Tennessean and accomplished horsewoman. Without the Willows, she’d have worn a small town badge of shame.
Twenty-year-old finishing school student Emily is singular. The child of inherited money, Emily can choose whether she wants to keep her baby, the result of a liaison with a professor.
Each girl’s story is unique, but their experience binds them together as the source of blessing borne from what many saw as a curse.
Audrey is a fifteen-year-old Tennessean and accomplished horsewoman. Without the Willows, she’d have worn a small town badge of shame.
Twenty-year-old finishing school student Emily is singular. The child of inherited money, Emily can choose whether she wants to keep her baby, the result of a liaison with a professor.
Each girl’s story is unique, but their experience binds them together as the source of blessing borne from what many saw as a curse.
About the Author
Journalist and author Beverly Benson Van Horn is the co-founder of the Colorado newspaper, the Mineral County Miner and South Fork Tines. Beverly attended Christian College in Columbia, MO, as well as Kansas University, majoring in journalism. She went on to produce four audio books, based on pioneer women's diaries and authored three nonfiction books. She worked for various newspapers before co-founding the Colorado newspaper in 1975.
Beverly is the granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. E.P. Haworth, who founded The Willows Maternity Sanitarium. For many years, she spent time visiting her grandparents there. |
Other Books by the Author
Early History of Mineral and Rio Brande Counties, Colorado 1880 - 1980
Best Friends Are Like Suspenders: They Hold You Up When You Are Falling Down Civil War Record of D.M. Haworth Audio Books of Pioneer Women’s Diaries as Living Voices of the Past Series: Covered Wagon Women: Diaries and Letters from the Western Trails, 1850 by Margaret A. Frink Covered Wagon Women: Diaries and Letters from the Western Trails 1851 by Lucia Williams Vanished Arizona by Martha Summerhayes Desert Wife by Hilda Faunce |
Reviews
Karen Skaro - Georgia I loved every minute of it!! I feel like all of the characters are good friends of mine. I wish I could call each girl and see how their lives turned out! I was also a teacher and many of my students had experiences similar to those of the girls in your book. I actually taught a few classes in one of the establishments. GOOD JOB - A VERY GOOD READ. Joann Harper I look forward to reading it and learning more about this place that has such a strong tie to my family. My mother was born at The Willows in 1929. Despite multiple attempts to find some record of her birth mother, no information was ever found. My mom passed away in 2012, but I hold out hope that she got to meet her birth mom in heaven. Sandtoad - Amazon.com | 5.0 out of 5 stars | Must read for adoptees, lovers of history. What a fascinating read. It was an insight of the times and culture when unwed mothers were almost perceived as criminals. How fortunate these young women were to wait for the delivery of the child in a loving, non-judgmental atmosphere. Thanks to the author for sharing some of her family history. DMac - Amazon.com | 5.0 out of 5 stars | Brace for impact as you learn the joys and struggles associated with this untold part of our heritage. A quick and emotionally touching read. Fascinating tales of what it must have been like the first half of the 20th Century as an unwed mother. The story and the characters really draw you in from smiles to moments of choking back tears. Amazing to find out how many of the victims - young girls ignorant of what was happening to them in some cases - became the real heroines as they struggled to give up for adoption, the babies they bore and as a result, blessed so many families. The statistics in the back of the book add a depth of historical information not found elsewhere. The author performed the due diligence required to bring a sense of reality to this untold portion of our history. Buying copies for my children so they can enjoy this wonderful work. Lani Holmberg - Amazon.com | 5.0 out of 5 stars | Insightful and Delightful The book was both engaging and educational. I felt drawn to the girls and their unfortunate circumstances and wanted to know more. I’m looking forward to a sequel! I do hope that the many family members learn of their genealogy. Marsha McPheeters - Lawrence, KS Bev, I just finished reading the book about the "Willows". I couldn't put it down. Thanks for sharing. It amazes me that a couple (your grandparents) had the insight and faith that God instilled in them to make a difference because of a tragedy, provided for other girls and women a safe place. You presented all sides: the struggles faced with the fire, government regulations, etc, but they did not give up, the mother's right to privacy, the right of the child to find birth parents. It certainly was inspirational to read. So glad you put pen to paper. Mackenzie Holmberg - 22, Laramie, WY My Grandmother Bev (the author) wrote an amazing book! I've only heard stories about the Willows and this book just brought the Willows to life. The individual stories of the girls, paired with the letters from E.P. Haworth and Cora's diary, weave together an emotional, eye-opening account of what it was like to be a woman in the early 20th century, America. A great read and maybe a movie should be considered in the future??? So thankful my grandmother put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard?) so others and myself could understand more of our family history. |