David,
I am half way through your Missing Faces piece. Aftere reading for the ninth or tenth time your hot smoking gun the famous "what can be done with the land" letter I have to stop and ask you, before I waste any more time on this: does it get any better than this? Do you ever provide any real evidence that MacDonald and Whigham actually designed Merion? I mean all I have read half way through this is some very laughable conjecture on your part. Should I continue?
Mr. Anderson:
Continue with what? My Essay? Or your critique?
As for my essay, I would stop reading. I cannot imagine that you'd learn much from the second half.
But as to your criticisms, by all means continue if you'd like. You've not addressed much of anything in my essay so far, so I doubt you need to read the second half before you continue with you criticism.
I am curious though, what essay are you reading? I don't recall claiming a "smoking gun," nor do I recall claiming that Macdonald designed Merion. Perhaps you read another essay all together.
You also claim that my essay offers no evidence to support my inferences or conclusions, but if you are actually referring to the inferences and conclusions in my essay as opposed to ones you made up, then I need some clarification.
What are you talking about? I offer the following outline of the topics as a point of reference, so you will not be overburden you and your response:
1. The Legendary Merion East: A World Class Course Rooted in a Masterly Routing
2. The Legendary Hugh Wilson
3. Merion’s Creation Story
4. Golfing on Land Leased and Borrowed, Merion Fails in its Efforts to -Purchase Current Site
5. Developers Speculate on Merion’s Golfing Future
6. H.H. Barker Plans a Golf Course
7. H.G. Lloyd Offers Merion’s Members A Chance to Share the -Potential Profits
8. Merion’s Site Committee Brings in Macdonald and Whigham
9. Merion Purchased the Land they Needed for their Golf Course.
10. Haverford Development Company Acquires 21 Acre “Dallas Estate”
11. Merion Secures 117 Acres from Haverford Development Company
12. Merion’s Unsecured Three Acres
13. Richard Francis Fixes the Routing Plan
14. Merion Completes Its Purchase
15. Experts at Work Preparing Plans for the Course
16. The Construction Committee Gets off to a “Good Start” at N.G.L.A.
17. Wilson did not Travel Overseas to Study Until After He Had Built and Seeded Merion East
20. Macdonald and Whigham Return to Merion to Further Assist with the Layout
21. Wilson and His Committee Construct the Golf Course
22. Wilson Travels Abroad to Get Ideas for the Course
23. Reviews Praise New Course, Note Overseas Design Influence
24. The Next Step: Analyzing the Golf Course.
The first three (3)sections of my essay (1-3) were somewhat introductory, covering the greatness of Merion East and particularly its rouing, briefly summarizing of the many contributions that Hugh I. Wilson made to golf and Merion, tracing largely accepted version of Merion's history during this time period, and summarizing the major points at which I offer an alternative historical account.
The next twenty (20) sections of my essay (4-23) provide a historical analysis of certain aspects of the early origins of Merion East. While any historical analysis necessarily builds on existing historical accounts,
every one of these twenty (20) sections also offers facts and analysis that have never before been disseminated, at least not publicly.[/b]The last section of my essay[/b] (24) provides the only first-hand statement as to the degree of early Macdonald's involvement, other than Hugh Wilson's long misunderstood description of his (and his Committee's) visit to NGLA discussed mostly in sections 16-17 and 22.) This section also offers a brief preview if the next step in my analysis.
Since I posted my essay, two new facts have come to light. The first was interesting but has little or no bearing on my essay. The second (CBM's letter) impacts my understanding of what was in the letter that the site Committee had described as having encompassed M&W's views as to what could be done with the property.
While I am still considering the impact of this letter, so far I have determined that the CBM letter has almost nothing to do with the vast majority the new material and analysis presented in my essay. I am reconsidering a few of my inferences and conclusoins, but so far most remain very much intact, and some are even stronger than ever.
So, Mr. Anderson, I am left wonder what you are talking about? Did you even bother to read the first half?
Thanks in advance for your carefully considered response.