Early Life
To escape the summer heat of Baltimore, Virginia’s parents, Ned and Barbara, purchased a home on 110 acres in Parkton, Maryland. Box Horn Farm had electricity and water but no central heat. After Ned’s tragic death in 1930, the family moved to the farm permanently. Virginia’s niece, Lorna Catling, remembers the home had a pot-bellied stove, “But it wasn’t comfortable. You’d roast in the front and freeze in the back.”
A Place for Refuge and Recuperation
Box Horn played an important role in Virginia’s formative years. It’s where she roamed the woods and developed her love of nature. After she lost her leg in a hunting accident in Turkey in December 1933, Virginia returned to the farm to recuperate. It’s at Box Horn where she learned to walk again with a new wooden leg she nicknamed, “Cuthbert.” A year later Virginia returned to a new position with the State Department in Venice, Italy. (photo courtesy of Lorna Catling)
Roadside Marker Honoring Virginia Hall (photo by the author)
Boxhorn Farm: Now a Memory
While Box Horn Farm was torn down to make way for road construction, a historical marker was erected near the place where the home stood. Here, I’m standing with Lorna and Linda Catling (Virginia’s relatives) at the marker’s dedication ceremony.
To see photos and learn more about Virginia’s life of espionage, click here: Virginia Hall blog.
Craig Gralley, a former CIA Senior Intelligence Officer, is the author of Hall of Mirrors–Virginia Hall, America’s Greatest Spy of WWII (Chrysalis, 2019)— A “Best Book of 2020”–Kirkus Reviews
“Hall of Mirrors,” a Kirkus Reviews “Best Book of 2020” has been called:
“A fascinating, electric account of a heroic woman.”—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
“Riveting . . . A tremendous read!”—Gen. David Petraeus (former CIA Director)
“An extraordinary accomplishment . . . A stunner!”—Peter Earnest, Founding Exec. Director, International Spy Museum
“Enthralling!”—Sarah Megan Thomas, Actress/Producer, “Liberte: A Call to Spy.”
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Thank you Veola for reading and commenting on my blog! Virginia Hall was an amazing woman! Best wishes, Craig
Wow that was odd. I just wrote an very long comment but
after I clicked submit my comment didn’t appear.
Grrrr… well I’m not writing all that over again. Anyhow, just wanted to say wonderful blog!
Hi Serena. I’m sorry your complete email wasn’t registered–but I am delighted that you enjoy the blog. It’s gratifying that people are reading and responding to it. It shouldn’t surprise me . . . Virginia Hall was an amazing woman. If you want to continue the discussion, I can be reached at Chrysalisbooksllc@gmail.com Thanks for taking the time to read and respond to my blog. Best wishes, Craig
I know this web page presents quality depending articles and extra stuff,
is there any other website which offers such things in quality?
Thanks for commenting on the quality of my blog. It took me quite some time to pull it together. I’m not aware of another blog on Virginia Hall. Good luck!
Thanks,
Craig
I’d like to visit the site of Box Horn Farm, since I live just an hour away. Where can I find the GPS or road the memorial sign is on? Is it in Parkton, MD? Many thanks!
Hi Elaine,
Sorry for not responding sooner. Like a lot of things these days, Boxhorn Farm was torn down to make way for an interstate highway, but I do have directions to the historic marker:
Heading North-East on 83, take the exit for York Road and turn right, heading south. The sign is on your right just past the Park Inn. If you hit the post office, you’ve gone too far.
I hope this helps . . . and thanks for responding to my blog!
Best,
Craig
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This is a WordPress site and I have a professional administrator to take care of those things.–C
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Thanks for the info on the historical marker and location. I’ve just started reading Sonia’s book about Virginia and just learned that you have written a biography about her. Given your career in intelligence were you able to examinne any material that Sonia couldn’? And, while reading her book it occured to me that it would make a great movie. I saw where you say a film is in the works. Any details on that? Is the script being developed from either of your books?
Actually, Sonia and I were in communication while we were writing our books. I reviewed a chapter of “A Woman of No Importance” for Sonia and helped her think through some of the CIA material. Yes, there are a few items that I found that she didn’t and of course, she found I lot that I didn’t either. The movie “A Call to Spy” was released in October–ad follows part of Virginia’s story (it’s now on NetFlix). I consulted on the project. Another movie, based on Sonia’s book is supposed to be in production but I haven’t seen much about it. It could be delayed by Covid. Thanks for your note! My book “Hall of Mirrors–Virginia Hall: America’s Greatest Spy of WWII was just named a “Best Book of 2020” by Kirkus.
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