Jack McBride White, Writer

Helen in Clear Spring

 

This is a painting of Helen Starliper by Rebecca Loya. It's created from an old photograph of Helen taken somewhere around 1940, maybe 10 years before she was driven to a state hospital just outside Sykesville, Maryland, in the backseat of a sheriff's car, never to see her home again.

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The picture was taken in Clear Spring, Maryland, a town of 350, or so. In the picture Helen is actually leaning down and smiling at one of her children.

 

The boys in the picture below that are two of Helen's four sons, Bob on the left and Sid on the right. The dog is Bob's.

 

So what’s the story about?

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