Rich In Florida History — The Cromptons Was Ahead of Its Time

Robin Peroldo
Aug 24, 2017 · 5 min read

Critics patronized her, but Mary J. Holmes was a fearless writer who wrestled with the controversial subjects of slavery and feminism in the south.

The first line of The Cromptons reads, “The streamer ‘Hatty’ which plied between Jacksonville and Enterprise was late, and the people who had come down from the Brock House to the landing had waited a half an hour before a puff of smoke in the distance told that she was coming.”

To most people this line this first line of a novel has little special meaning. But, if you have an interest in Volusia County history, it may have peaked your interest.

The title of chapter one is, “A Stranger at the Brock House.” Its setting was lost in 1937, when the real Brock House razed to make way for the Methodist Children’s Home. Not only was the Brock House a real hotel, but the streamer — “Hatty” — and its captain are something of legend in Volusia County.

Holmes’ description of the Brock House and Enterprise is so realistic, reading her novel is like stepping back in time and living through the history and cruelty of life along the St. Johns River in Antebellum Florida.

The steamboat “Hattie,” docked at the Brock House, Enterprise, FL

“Oh, the river ! — the beautiful river!” she said. “It brings things back, — the boat I went in ; not like that,” and she pointed to a large, handsome steamboat lying at the wharf. “Not like that. “What was its name?”

“Strange I remember it when I have forgotten so much. And he was with me, — my father. Wasn’t he my father?”

- The Cromptons

But this review isn’t about the history of Enterprise or the age of steamboats on the St. Johns River. It’s about a tremendous novel, rich in history and literary substance overlooked in it’s time. And it’s about a writer, undervalued and mistreated by critics because she dared to write about things white men didn’t want to hear.

Mary J. Holmes was born in Brookfield, Massachusetts in 1825. Her family lived in a modest household. Her parents, Preston and Fanny Hawes, encouraged intellectual pursuits. She may have also received influence from her uncle Rev. Joel Hawes (also a writer).

Mary J. Holmes — 1897

Holmes published her first story when she was 15 years old. On August 9, 1849 she married Daniel Holmes, a graduate of Yale College. They moved to Versailles, Kentucky; and it’s this small town that inspired many of the rural settings in her novels.

The Holmes traveled extensively, but settled in Brockport, New York. It was there Daniel Holmes passed the bar and went into practice and local politics. Mary wrote. They had no children. Their happy and supportive marriage was the model she used for several of the unions in her novels.

Holmes was a prolific writer, but critics disregarded her work for their “happy endings and predictable characters.” It was not uncommon at, the turn of the century, for critics to classify women as sentimental writers and downplay their value so they did not overshadow their male counterparts.

One of her last novels, The Cromptons was first published in 1899 with a larger publication in 1902, follows three generations as they navigate the consequences of class divide and slavery.

It begins with Eudora, a southern “cracker” belle of Enterprise, who is abandoned by her rich northern lover. He is too ashamed to acknowledge her, and their daughter Amy is raised by the ex-slaves once owned by her family.

In its time The Cromptons was poorly received by critics, who had acquired a taste for patronizing Holmes’ work. One critic from the Courier-Journal (Louisville, Kentucky) published this review in 1902:

“Mary J. Holmes is the author of more than thirty books, and for years has held the affection and admiration of a certain class of fiction readers. She writes love stories of no literary value, but they teach good lessons, where the good are always victorious over the wicked.”

Although,“popular among a certain class of people,” critics failed to acknowledge her passion for tackling controversial subjects. She often wrote about gender, race, class, slavery, and the Civil War with an ease unheard of in her time.

One critic from the New York Times, after more or less reciting the entire plot of the story, called The Cromptons “thoroughly harmless.” He also said Holmes could never “stoop to the ignominy of a heroine who hadn’t a ‘flowerlike face,’ or at least, ‘beautiful wistful eyes’.”

Holmes’ main characters were usually women. A common theme in her stories was the plight of a heroine of little means, who found herself in unfair or dangerous situations. Then, using only her wit and determination, would create her own happy ending.

Books by Mary J. Holmes

Her work can be jarring to the modern reader for its use of the racial language of her time. But her plots leave little doubt about Holmes’ feelings about slavery and the class divide. She often depicted slaves or ex-slaves as sympathetic characters rich white men as villains.

“You mean you belong to Miss Dora’s grandmother?” Mr. Mason asked, while Jake looked more disgusted than ever.

Not to know Miss Dory was bad enough, but not to know who he was was much worse.

“Lor’ bless your soul, Mas’r Mason, I don’t belong to nobody but myself.”

- The Cromptons

In The Cromptons, Holmes wrestles with the dense themes of interracial families, broken homes, mental illness and the detrimental effects of slavery and the Civil War in Florida. She does this masterfully and without apology.

“Don’t cry so,” she said. “You frighten me.”

Amy put her aside, and answered. “I must cry; it cools my brain. There are oceans yet to come, — all the pent-up tears if the years- since he told me you were dead. I am so glad to cry.”

- The Cromptons

Holmes’ work is gaining more and more notice from today’s literary scholars. It was my interest in Volusia County history that drew me to her work. But I find it is the fearlessness and empowering nature of her writing that keeps me coming back.

It may be 100 years late, but it is my pleasure to refute the initial reviews of The Cromptons. On the subject of her happy endings, I will only say this: With so little opportunity offered to women and minorities in her time, perhaps Holmes felt they were due a few happy endings. Endings that, with any luck, will outlive the snide and petty remarks of her critics.

Sources:

The Crompton Family — A Critical Review published in The New York Times, Sept. 13th, 1902

Review of The Cromptons — The Courier-Journal, Louisville KY,
Sept 6th, 1902

Florida History

)

Robin Peroldo

Written by

Proud Florida writer who enjoys nature and history. Robin’s work has appeared in the Orlando Weekly and Deep South Literary magazine.

Florida History

Tales about Florida’s past and how it relates to our present.

Welcome to a place where words matter. On Medium, smart voices and original ideas take center stage - with no ads in sight. Watch
Follow all the topics you care about, and we’ll deliver the best stories for you to your homepage and inbox. Explore
Get unlimited access to the best stories on Medium — and support writers while you’re at it. Just $5/month. Upgrade