The Histories of Herbert and Sylvia Hartman

Herodotus’ Style of Writing

1.      It is said that the joining of Sylvia Washel (now Sylvia Hartman) and Herbert Hartman in marriage occurred after many years of being acquaintances and later in a relationship. According to Sylvia Hartman, who dwells in Nottingham, she met the latter while working at a store on the street of her residence. I soon discovered she was fourteen at the time that she first saw Herbert. Sylvia claimed Herbert was always hanging out on the corner near her work and home. Being only fourteen at the time, she said she didn’t pay much attention to him.

2.      It came to pass that I also spoke to Herbert Hartman, who resides in Nottingham, who gave his account of the couple’s first meeting. Herbert said that the store where she worked was a variety store and many young people chose to hang out there. I was also told that they did not really strike up a friendship but they were acquaintances. When prompted, Sylvia said that she asked him out on their first date but she could not remember where they went. At the time, she was sixteen and he was twenty. Herbert, however, remembered that their first date was to a play at her school, Seton High School.

3.      As said by Sylvia, the relationship took off from there. Herbert stated that most of their dates from that point on were to the cinema, out to eat, or just hanging out at one of their houses. Two years after they began dating, Herbert decided it was time to propose. During that time period it was customary for the man to ask the woman’s father for her hand in marriage. Herbert said he went and asked her father, Andrew Washel from Baltimore, for her hand and Andrew accepted. Soon thereafter, Herby proposed. Sylvia thinks they were at her house after a date when he asked her to marry him. Sylvia said she was overjoyed and of course she accepted.

4.      The relationship, nonetheless, took a turn for the worst a year later according to Herbert. As reported by Sylvia, Herbert was drafted to the service to fight in the Korean War. Herbert said he was sent away to fight a year after the beginning of the engagement. Sylvia said that when he went away no engagement plans had been made yet. I found out from Sylvia of Nottingham that another year passed of her love being in the service before she realized she could no longer be in the relationship. Herbert said she wrote him an eighteen page Dear John letter to break off the engagement and explain why. I was also told that she gave the engagement ring back to Herbert’s mother, Katherine Hartman.

5.      As I heard from Herbert Hartman, he remained two total years in the service before returning home. Sylvia said that when Herby came home there was still tension between them so they remained friends. Herbert told me he was still a little angry at Sylvia and so was his mother. Despite this, Sylvia claimed they were dating again within another year. Although I heard other things from Herbert who claimed they began dating again within six months of his return. I determined from my interviews that this time around Herbert was hesitant to propose again until two years later. Sylvia said Herbert proposed again with the same ring and once again she accepted.

6.      As told by Sylvia and Herbert, the wedding took place on February 20, 1954. Herbert said he was twenty-five at the time, and she was twenty-one. Herbert told me his best man was a friend from work; he said his brother was not the best man because there was a six year age difference. Upon asking Sylvia who her maid of honor was she said Barbara from Seton High School. In spite of the first broken engagement Sylvia thinks that none of the parents had any opposition to her and Herby’s marriage.

7.      I learned that the couple’s honeymoon took place in New York and when they returned to Maryland they took up a home in Baltimore. Sylvia Hartman and Hebert Hartman agreed on the fact that they produced three children from their marriage. They both told me that they have been married for fifty-six years. I took the liberty of speaking with their middle child Joanne of Bel Air, who had two children. She said her children are Katherine Clarke and I. 

 Thucydides’ Style of Writing

            Emily Clarke, a Marylander, wrote the history of how Herbert Hartman and Sylvia Washel met. As proven by a certificate of birth, Herbert Nicholas Hartman was born to Martin Hartman and Katherine Sauer of Baltimore on the day of November 1, 1928. Also documented by birth certificate, was the birth of Sylvia Washel born Charlotte Sylvia Washel to Andrew Washel and Catherine Taltus of Baltimore. Her date of birth was September 7, 1932.

            Herbert and Sylvia met while Sylvia was working in Mr. Paul’s variety store on the corner of North Curley Street Baltimore, Maryland. Sylvia also took up residence on North Curley Street. After investigation, Clarke found the house deed of 161 North Curley Street which belonged to Andrew and Catherine Washel verifying Sylvia’s home. Based on a Seton High School play program and a 1951 Seton High School graduation program, it can be ascertained that Herbert and Sylvia went on their first date to a play at Sylvia’s school, Seton High School.

            In the year 1951, Herbert proposed to Sylvia with an engagement ring, asking for her hand in marriage (see Works Cited for picture of engagement ring). On February 6, 1951 Herbert was drafted into military service. Upon looking at the United States Military Draft Form, Herbert was in the military from February 1951 to February 1953. In 1952, Sylvia sent Herbert an 18 page Dear John letter that Herbert has to this day, breaking off their engagement. A year later when Herbert was released from the military service, he returned to Baltimore. By 1954, Herbert and Sylvia had begun dating once again and Herbert re-proposed with the same ring as the first time.
            According to the Certificate of Marriage, Herbert Nicholas Hartman and Sylvia Washel were married on February 20, 1954. Herbert, twenty-five at the time, and Sylvia, twenty-one at the time, were married by Father Edward Eckle, a Catholic priest (see Works Cited for Certificate of Marriage and wedding photo). Confirmed by Clarke through a wedding photo, a friend named Barbara from Seton High School was the maid of honor to Sylvia.

                After the wedding, the couple moved into the address of 26 North Potomac Street. The house deed was archived in records belonging to the city of Baltimore, Maryland. Five years after the marriage took place Sylvia and Herbert had their first child, Michael Andrew Hartman. The Certificate of Birth was found in the records at Lutheran Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland. Michael was born on June 11, 1959. In 1964, Sylvia and Herbert produced their second child, Joanne. Joanne’s Birth Certificate was discovered in the annals of St. Joseph’s Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland. Sylvia had Joanne on December 27. The husband and wife had their third and final child Paul, on March 23, 1966. Paul’s Birth Certificate was kept in the records at St. Joseph’s hospital.

            The middle child, Joanne, eventually married Brian Thomas Clarke in 1988 which is consistent with their Certificate of Marriage. Brian and Joanne had two daughters, Katherine Clarke and Emily Clarke. Katherine’s birth records are kept in Franklin Square Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland. Emily’s birth records are kept in Greater Baltimore Medical Center in Baltimore, Maryland.

Works Cited

Birth Certificate of Herbert Nicholas Hartman

Birth Certificate of Charlotte Sylvia Washel

Birth Certificate of Michael Andrew Hartman

Birth Certificate of Joanne Louise Hartman

Birth Certificate of Paul David Hartman

Birth Certificate of Katherine Anna Clarke

Birth Certificate of Emily Anne Clarke

House Deed of 161 North Curley Street

House of 26 North Potomac Street

Seton High School Play Program

1951 Seton High School Graduation Program

Engagement Ring

Sylvia’s Wedding Band

Herbert’s Wedding Band

Wedding Photo of Herbert and Sylvia Hartman (February 20, 1954)

Certificate of Marriage of Herbert N. Hartman and Sylvia Washel

Certificate of Marriage of Brian T. Clarke and Joanne L. Hartman

Military Draft Papers of Herbert Hartman

Dear John Letter from Sylvia to Herbert