DFL Runner: Blog

Those of you who are Harry's fans know perfectly well where a sizable portion of Chapter 3 (and, indeed, the setting of Dayton itself) came from.

For those of you who are not... Harry once said that "Mr. Tanner" came from a review he read in the New York Times that was "unbelievably cruel, but I imagined what came before and what came after and came up with the story."

The "real" Mr. Tanner is still alive, and is named Martin Tubridy. He gave two performances at The Town Hall in New York City, one in 1971 and one in 1972. These were the reviews:

Tubridy Makes Song Debut

Tubridy Performs in Second Recital

It's not altogether clear which one prompted the song, as the "Mr. Martin Tanner, baritone..." bridge appears to borrow from both of them.

It happens that Martin Tubridy didn't even learn of the song's existence until more than 30 years later. The song's chorus includes "O Holy Night" being sung in countermelody, and when Harry's brother Steve performed a concert in Connecticut in 2016, the man himself appeared and sang that part.

Although I admit to still being partial to that duty being performed by Harry's bassist and backup singer, Big John Wallace.

Those of you who have been following me for the past several years know that I spend part of the run-up to Christmas working with our local mall's Santa. I have been on vacation this week, but this elf reports for duty once again in the morning.

Chapter 4 will be posted on Saturday, and may my U.S. readers have a delightful Thanksgiving.

I refer you to my blog entry from earlier this week. "Dwight" is named after Medal of Honor recipient Dwight Hal Johnson, the subject of Harry's 1975 song, "Bummer." Links to the song are there.

Making a repeat appearance from Chapter 1 are:

"The Day They Closed the Factory Down" with regard to James Crane's fate, and the family being bought off in exchange for not making a fuss. Incidentally, the whole thing about factory management making moves on the widows has historical precedent as well.

"I Wanna Learn a Love Song" with regard to Harry's and Ella's private time during their courtship.

Chapter 3 coming on Saturday the 22nd. Have a good week, everyone.

DFLR

... is the final resting place of Sgt. Dwight Hal Johnson, the subject of the song "Bummer" on Harry's 1975 album, "Portrait Gallery." Although the song takes several liberties, particularly with respect to his early life, the message of the song is wholly accurate: that Sgt. Johnson went overseas, served his country, and came home to an America that heard the phrase "black Medal of Honor recipient" and cared more about the first word than the other four.

He was shot to death by a convenience store clerk. Most sources report that he was shot while trying to rob the store. But a handful of sources suggest that he was buying diapers, and the clerk shot him after mistaking him for a different black man who had robbed the store earlier in the evening. Detroit police didn't do a whole lot of investigation into the matter. It was easy enough to decide that he must have had malicious intent - after all, why else would a man with military training be carrying a gun while walking around inner-city Detroit at 11:30 at night?

A character who is Sgt. Johnson's namesake will appear in the next chapter of "Mail Order Annie." In the meantime, set aside about ten minutes and click below. And on this Veterans Day, remember - and pay tribute to - one who deserved a better ending than he received.

"Bummer" by Harry Chapin (with lyrics)

Sgt. Johnson's Medal of Honor citation

Sgt. Johnson's final resting place

Today, I yield this space to men who will live forever, courtesy of another incredible singer-songwriter.

1. Michael E. Armagost, 37 – Third Mate, Iron River, Wisconsin
2. Fred J. Beetcher, 56 – Porter, Superior, Wisconsin
3. Thomas D. Bentsen, 23 – Oiler, St. Joseph, Michigan
4. Edward F. Bindon, 47 – First Assistant Engineer, Fairport Harbor, Ohio
5. Thomas D. Borgeson, 41 – Maintenance Man, Duluth, Minnesota
6. Oliver J. Champeau, 41 – Third Assistant Engineer, Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin
7. Nolan S. Church, 55 – Porter, Silver Bay, Minnesota
8. Ransom E. Cundy, 53 – Watchman, Superior, Wisconsin
9. Thomas E. Edwards, 50 – Second Assistant Engineer, Oregon, Ohio
10. Russell G. Haskell, 40 – Second Assistant Engineer, Millbury, Ohio
11. George J. Holl, 60 – Chief Engineer, Cabot, Pennsylvania
12. Bruce L. Hudson, 22 – Deck Hand, North Olmsted, Ohio
13. Allen G. Kalmon, 43 – Second Cook, Washburn, Wisconsin
14. Gordon F. MacLellan, 30 – Wiper, Clearwater, Florida
15. Joseph W. Mazes, 59 – Special Maintenance Man, Ashland, Wisconsin
16. John H. McCarthy, 62 – First Mate, Bay Village, Ohio
17. Ernest M. McSorley, 63 – Captain, Toledo, Ohio
18. Eugene W. O’Brien, 50 – Wheelsman, Toledo, Ohio
19. Karl A. Peckol, 20 – Watchman, Ashtabula, Ohio
20. John J. Poviach, 59 – Wheelsman, Bradenton, Florida
21. James A. Pratt, 44 – Second Mate, Lakewood, Ohio
22. Robert C. Rafferty, 62 – Steward, Toledo, Ohio
23. Paul M. Riippa, 22 – Deck Hand, Ashtabula, Ohio
24. John D. Simmons, 63 – Wheelsman, Ashland, Wisconsin
25. William J. Spengler, 59 – Watchman, Toledo, Ohio
26. Mark A. Thomas, 21 – Deck Hand, Richmond Heights, Ohio
27. Ralph G. Walton, 58 – Oiler, Fremont, Ohio
28. David E. Weiss, 22 – Cadet, Agoura, California
29. Blaine H. Wilhelm, 52 – Oiler, Moquah, Wisconsin

Reportedly, it will also chime a 30th time today:
30. Gordon M. Lightfoot Jr., 84 – Toronto, Ontario

After reading a chapter I recently sent to him, my editor, jetson63, joked that perhaps I ought to indicate in each chapter where a Harry Chapin song should be played while reading.

So... why not?

First of all, here are the two big ones:

"From a review I read in the New York Times; unbelievably cruel, but I imagined what came before and what came after and wrote this story." - HC

"... I guess I am your husband; hello, I'm Harry Crane."

And then within Chapter 1...

The railway foreman's daughter... because Fargo didn't have a mayor in 1873.

"Six days a week, he would wake up..."

The factory owner buying the Burke family's silence about dangerous working conditions.

Harry feeling both his and Ella's heartbeats as he checks the fit of her dress.
This, incidentally, is the (generally) true story of how Harry met his wife, Sandy.