07/09/2021
Officers' Row 1904 is a work of historical fiction, based on a true story, that captures a bygone era of Army glory in San Diego at the turn of the 20th century. Yes, you read that right — Army glory. The Army’s presence is a little-known chapter in the more dominant naval history locally, yet crucial to the development of early Point Loma, San Diego and Coronado. Before the Navy, there was the Army — both at North Island and at Fort Rosecrans. The book also relives the tragic explosion of the USS Bennington that took the lives of 65 men — another major piece of San Diego history that has all but been forgotten over time. The explosion took place on July 21, 1905 in San Diego Bay. It remains one of the most terrible peacetime military disasters of all time. Politics, romance, and tragedy unfold as high society embraces the local military and the two worlds unite. Based on research unearthed by the author while living in those historic quarters. Written by Navy wife and historian Mary Ellen Cortellini who, a century later, found herself sitting on the front porch of her new home at Officers’ Row looking out across San Diego Bay. It’s a smart-looking, quick-read that brings to life many forgotten pieces of the past, while adding personalities and personal interaction based on written accounts of the time. The author has a splendid appreciation for turn-of-the-century romance. Her attention to late-Victorian detail, both in her characters and of the era, provide a lovely backdrop to the story. Portions of the proceeds from the sale of this book will benefit families of fallen EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) personnel. 104 color/sepia photos, paintings, drawings, illustrations. Merriam Press Historical Fiction.
Officers' Row 1904
