The Magdalene Laundries is a horrific stain on Ireland’s history. Unfortunately, one that was allowed to continue until the 1990s. Originally a place to rehabilitate fallen women, these workhouses also held those who were orphaned or abused, according to a New York Times article entitled, “These Women Survived Ireland’s Magdalene Laundries. They’re Ready to Talk,” written by Ed O’Loughlin (June 6, 2018). Treatment at these facilities was unspeakable, but if you’d like to learn more, I encourage you to look up the Times article.
Through the early 1900s, Irish immigrants were often looked down upon in America, but the so-called “Black Irish” even more so. It is unlikely this group of immigrants were of African-American descent. Rather, the term more likely refers to their looks since they usually had black hair, dark eyes, and darker complexions, similar to Katy. However, because they did not look like a traditional Irish immigrant, the term was a derogatory one primarily used in America by non-immigrants and Irish immigrants alike.
According to the history page of the College of Veterinary Medicine at Cornell University, Florence Kimball became the first woman in America to receive a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 1910. In fact, seven of the first eleven female DVMs graduated from Cornell. As a nod to this historic opportunity, Katy also received her degree from this prestigious university.
The Wisconsin dairy strikes of 1933 were a culmination of several factors, including low dairy prices, crop-killing drought, and the economic depression affecting the nation (and the world). As portrayed in this story, the first two strikes, in February and May, were increasingly violent with little change brought about. (The report of violence from Joey’s chief is from actual events.) Will the farmers in Eagle choose to strike for a third time? Find out in A Strike to the Heart, releasing in April 2022 from Heritage Beacon Fiction, an imprint of Iron Stream Media. Then stay tuned for the Christmas novella releasing in September 2022.
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Thank you for reading Katy’s story. I enjoyed delving into her hidden past while she stood between her patients and their owners as the milk strikes created a tumultuous present. I hope you’ll join me for our return to Eagle when Lily must choose whether to trust her family or the man who saves her life.