Fort Greene

Visited the local park where a Walt Whitman impersonator stalks park-goers with 'Leaves of Grass'. He wasn't there today though.

The park is named after General Nathanael Greene and a fort which he supervised the building of - Greene was an American revolutionary general who helped Washington in the Battle of Long Island in 1776.

The big monument in the middle and the crypt, now the visitor centre, is erected in the memory of the patriots who died on the British prison ships during the American revolution.

I walked a little further along, down Myrtle Avenue. Debs says that this was once called Murder Avenue, when things were much rougher here. Further I made my way through council housing (I think, some American version of) called after Walt Whitman, nosed at people taking their kids out on a Sunday afternoon and thought of London estates, rolled up at the Expressway to Queens. I didn't go any further though.

Brooklyn Deb and Baynard Rush Hall

I'm in sunny Brooklyn staying with Debs in the most beautiful wooden house, built before the Civil War a couple of doors down from where Marianne Moore lived. It's an early three story frame house, built in 1853. Walt Whitman was a carpenter round here actually, and might have had a hand in the construction. It's now a row house. It's earlier than the other brownstone houses that are so classic around here, and which were constructed after the civil war.

In this strange tenement of open hardwood staircases and Deb's wonderful art a chap called Baynard Rush Hall once died. His father was George Washington's physician. A pretty famous American family, who had an important role in persuading Washington to take up his public office (apparently). I only stay in the very best places.

Baynard Rush Hall was a writer and teacher who began the University of Indiana. He was the first owner of this house. Dixie Kline Richardson has written his biography.

Baynard had a lot of kids but they all died before him. So sad.

If Deborah had never opened the letter addressed to 'Occupant' written by Dixie, when she was investigating Baynard, and called her back, she'd never know about it. And such an interesting history. Dixie must have spent years and years researching her book. Very beautiful.

There is a lot of American history in this house and in this street. I feel very, very privileged to be staying here.