The Nearly Twins

and the Secret in the Mason Jar

© 2016 by Miriam Jones Bradley

All rights reserved

Illustrations by Jason Newsome

Printed in the United States of America

ISBN: 978-1-62020-566-2

eISBN: 978-1-62020-497-9

Cover Design and Page Layout by Hannah Nichols

Ebook Conversion by Anna Riebe Raats

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Dedication

The Bradley family moved into the Saluda, NC, area before the American Revolution, and since a few elements of this story reflect some of that family history, this book is dedicated to “the Bradleys”–to my husband’s late parents, Archie and Olivia Bradley, and the immediate family, to their ancestors, and to the extended connections. Those extended connections encompass many of the old families of the area, so the dedication includes in a general way all or most of Old Saluda.

Author’s Notes

This is a work of fiction in its entirety. Actual places and family names are used in a fictional manner and do not represent any real person.

When I started researching the history of Saluda, NC, I was overwhelmed. ALL of that really happened in little ol’ Saluda? Yes, indeed! It really was a tourist town where people from the “flatlands” went to escape the summer heat. There really was a seminary school, a famous baby hospital, and an annual seminar for pediatricians. And there really is an effort to save the old depot (www.historicsaluda.org).

The local family names used in the story are the names of old families in the area, but none of the characters’ personalities correspond with real people. Holbert’s Cove and Green River Cove are real places, but none of the features attributed to them are real. The story about when “the road took the farm” is true, and we hear that similar things happened to lots of families all over the country.

While researching for this book I watched a documentary on Netflix titled Alive Inside, which demonstrates the benefits of using music with dementia patients, specifically those with Alzheimer’s disease. Being a music lover and a nurse, I was intrigued. You can learn more about the program to provide iPods for patients at this website: www.musicandmemory.org.

Several people gave me specific help with the research. My husband, as always, was my first research partner, especially since his family is from Saluda. My sister-in-law spent an afternoon exploring the sites of the old hotels with me. Our friend Pooch Pace provided me with an invaluable tool, a copy of Saluda, N.C. 100 Years 1881-1981 Volumes I and II (Brewster, NY: Holly Hill Press, 1996). This was compiled by Anne Osborne and Charlene Pace. I have become a huge fan of these locally produced histories. In addition, at the Saluda Community Library I found books written by fourth-grade ...