My first husband Phil and I, before we were married, moved into this little house in Mansfield, Texas. It was 1971 or ’72; I was 19 and he was 21. A friend named Obie had found it first and went there to rent it, but for some reason it was not right for him. However, he came to our apartment straight away to tell us that we had to see it, that it was right for us. There was urgency in his voice and he convinced us to go right away to look at it. We currently were living in Arlington, Texas (Phil had been attending the University there).
We went the next day and it was right; we rented it and moved in. Mansfield at the time was a small hamlet south of Fort Worth and north of Midlothian, Texas, located on highway 287 with one blinking red light in town, at the highway. The house was located in the country over the preverbal “other side of the tracks”. It was sitting on 25 acres of grazing land and beyond that were 25 acres of woods. The house itself was one long room, with a kitchen at one end and the bathroom at the other; the living space was in-between. The whole wall facing out to the back yard acreage was glassed in from floor to ceiling, with an inside planter that had climbing geraniums growing that covered the windows. On the opposite wall was a wood burning fireplace where what looked like a Georgia O’Keefe painting hung.
We soon found out that this was the house where John Howard Griffin wrote the book “Black Like Me”. The main house, a couple hundred feet next door, was occupied by his mother-in-law, Mrs. Holland. She shared with us how proud she was of her son-in-law, and showed us some of his photographs. He was a photographer and put a book together on his photographs of his friend Thomas Merton, who was a trappist monk living at Our Lady of Gethsemane Abbey in Kentucky.
Evidently, he and Thomas Merton were very close and he visited Thomas many times. As you may be able to imagine, the house was magical; it was a magical time for Phil and I anyway with spiritual portals opening up and consciousness expanding. We feel like we were divinely guided to be in this house.
We eventually met Mr. Griffon, which was a highlight to our time there. We definitely felt touched by Thomas Merton, as well, and I continue to feel touched to this day.
I was sketchbooking back then; these thumbnails are some sketches I did while at Mansfield. Click to enlarge.
[...] katrinasmall wrote a fantastic post today on “John Howard Griffin, Thomas Merton and the house in Mansfield”Here’s ONLY a quick extractMy first husband Phil and I, before we were married, moved into this little house in Mansfield, Texas. It was 1971 or ’72; I was 19 and he was 21. A friend of ours had found it first and went there to rent it, but for some reason it was … [...]
These sketches are so full of expression! Can’t wait to see more. Got any Dr.’s offices to wait in or the like? Or maybe your husband’s feet while watching TV?
Fantastic sketches! Thanks for the link.
Thanks for the Merton story about Griffin.
Ha ha ! You left out the good parts!
Remember your powerful portrait of Guru Ram Dass?
I wrote a song about it, but guess I won’t post it here as the subject may be delicate! You didn’t mention Patrick! (No one knows where he is these days, it seems.) Remember the garden?
By the way, I have been in contact with Obie – he came to Jeff’s wake. He is a DJ on KNON now, played my CD a couple of times. Same old Obie, he hasn’t aged a lot. His spice business is successful. His ex-wife Linda passed away some years ago, unfortunately.
Anyway, I enjoyed the post – but only you and I know THE REST OF THE STORY…
Om Shiva Shankara…
pHIL
Good to read this post while I was verifying Griffin’s connection with Mansfield. Mrs. Holland was my kindergarten teacher at St. Andrew’s school in Ft. Worth circa 1960 and she was indeed proud of her son in law, who wrote one of the most important (and influential) books of the “American Century.”
Your sketches are lyrical, almost animated. Fun to look at.
Add ambiance to the fascinating story of this unique house & people associated with it. I read ‘Black Like Me’ in college. Compelling experiment for sure. Amazing your lives intertwined with the author and family.
An original Georgia O’Keefee on the wall. WOW! She’s one of my all-time FAVs. My Mom & I saw a retrospective of O’Keefe’s work at the LA Art Museum. Such a treat! My own pastel & watercolor style is not dissimilar to hers….but I don’t use traditional media much these days.
Thank you for the photos and the description of the house in which John Griffinf wrote “Black Like Me.” I too lived in that house, in 1974, for about 6 months when I was a student at Tarrent County Junior College. I had known the Griffins for years (Johnny Griffin, John Howard’s eldest son) was my best friend, and I was close to all his chilldren–Susie, Greg, and Amanda, whom we called Mandy. Mrs Holland, I remember, was called Bessie.)
Mr. Griffin (he was always “Mr. Griffin” to me) could nbot have been kinder, and his wife, Elizabeth, whom I knew as Ma, truly was a Ma–she was to me. I lived in that house, as I said, for 6 months, and then, afgter one semester at TCJC, I took the road, hitchiking across the county for the summer. I returned to Texas to study and TCU, and then on with my life.
Griffin, Merton, even Jacques Maritain spent time in that house. I remember the field facing the large front window: I would sometimes walk out into it and think about Thomas Merton also having walked there. (I believe was called Brother Louis, or Father Louis. . .)
Anyway, thanks for the memeory.
Thank you for your story, Brad. I did not know that Thomas Merton had also stayed at the house; I am so honored and feel blessed, indeed. I wish there was a way to see the book of photographs that Mr. Griffon made of Thomas Merton again. If there were a photo of him at the house in Mansfield, that would be a truly wonderful thing to see.
-Katrina
Good page.. i will definitely come back again:D
Thank you very much for the Photos, I too it seems along with alot of folks lived in that house. I lived there from 1990-1992. I am John Howard Griffin’s youngest daughter, & all of us kids ( 1 sister, & 2 brothers) actually lived in that house in Mansfield at some point in our lives. I loved it out there, it was a place that I always felt safe, & felt like those peple that were there before me, ( my dad, Thomas Merton, Jaques), were all there with me. That house was a residence to so many people over the years, & I hope that it made them as happy as it did me!
Thank you!
Thank you for sharing your story, Amanda.
More and more I read how great the house was from those who were touched by it, in its extreme simplicity, and how special that we all got to live there.
More memories are that in the kitchen we had a bookmark of Meher Baba on the wall that said “Don’t worry, be happy”.
Mrs. Holland stressed how important it was to wash out the empty cans of food that were put in the garbage so we wouldn’t attract pests.
Datura grew in the back yard.
At dusk, in the country stillness, I would hear the cries and wails of the Penticostals somewhere off in the near distance.
When I was born, my parents & siblings were all living in that house, you can imagine, 2 adults & 3 babies literally all in there, but they made it work. When I was 2 months old, my parents rented a house in Ft Worth, which we were in for many years.. I think probably close to 20. My mom stayed there after my father passed away in 1980, for a few years, & then she remarried & they moved into another house in Ft. Worth just the 2 of them. My Sister Susie, as well as I had gotten married, & both of my brothers had moved out on their own, so for me that is the house that I grew up in, but spent lots of time at my Grandmother’s house there in Mansfield, so I remember lots of people living in that little white house.. Many many interesting people!
Yes my grandmother was adimant about washing out the cans to make sure that it didn’t attract any bugs! She was quite a character, & lived to be almost 100. She was just 7 months prior to turning 100 before she passed away.
Thanks Amanda. When did your grandmother pass away? And does the property still belong to your family? I tried to find the house on Google Earth, but not knowing the address, it was not possible.
I’d be so very interested in any photos you could share of the little white house, the land and your grandmother’s house. Are there any pictures of Thomas Merton and Jaques when they lived in that house? I’d be so very grateful to get to see them.
I remeber, too, Mrs. Holland showing us a published picture book your dad made that had pictures of Thomas Merton, et al, in it. It was a large format book. Is that book with your family, too?
You can write me privately. Go to my website http://www.katrinasmallstudios.com and you will find a link to my email there.
Hello: Very interesting. However, it is unlikely that Father Louis, (Thomas Merton) ever stayed at John Howard Griffin’s home there in Mansfield. Jacques Maritain could have. JHG spent week’s on end at Merton’s hermitage on Mt. Olivet at Gethsemani in Kentucky in the late 60’s early 70’s. researching a biography that he was to do on Thomas Merton. I cannot recommend JHG’s memoir, “Scattered Shadows”, enough. A truly amazing story.
I have lived in Mansfield for the last 11 years. Right after I moved there I read Black Like Me. I wondered then where exactly the house was located. Is the house still there? Can you tell me the location? Would just like to drive by and see it. I am a bibliophile and history nut.
Dwain, it’s been so long ago I couldn’t say. One would hopw it is still there.
Dwain,
The house is still there as far as I know. My 2 brothers were actually still living out there until a yr or so ago, & they sold their acreage that was deeded to them. last time was I was out there the grass was completely overgrown, & you could not even see the house from the road, but it is about 2.2 miles from old downtown Mansfield on the left side. It is a very small little white house, & the side of it is actually facing the road, but you have to go up a long driveway which was red dirt. My grandmother’s house was the main house & that is or was somewhat visible from the road. Like I said all of the property that we all owned has been sold, so they may have torn down both of the houses by now.
Thanks so much. I am honored that you responded. If you don’t mind, what road and which direction from Mansfield? I assume you are probably referring to old Mansfield Highway which would probably been the main road to Mansfield at the time. Thanks again.
Dwain
Hi Dwain,
Yes that is it. it you were coming into old Downtown Mansfield from The mansfield Hwy from Ft. Worth, then once you get to the Main Stoplight, you take a right, & it is right at 2.2 miles on the left.
Hi Amanda, this is Scott Losoya, if you remember me from ‘way back when’, there are a few of us from St. A’s who have joined up on facebook. I’ve wondered about you and how you are, a little searching found you on this thread. Hope all is well. If you like you can contact me through my website at Body-Mind-Spirit.com
Thanks so much. When I get a chance, I’ll see if I can find it.
Ok good luck!
Hi Scott!
Of course I remember you.. I remember lots of people from St. A’s.. So great to hear from you.. I did look up your website, & sent you a message.