Quarterly Look Back - 1st Quarter 2025 /  by Todd Henson

Looking back at the first quarter of 2025

So looking back to my intro to last year’s 1st quarter look back I reported it was in some ways a slow quarter. Well, it didn’t feel that way this year, at least not the latter part of the quarter. I continued struggling to do anything productive in the evenings after work, and some time on the weekends was taken away by work, prompting me to plan ahead enough to schedule some posts and emails in advance to assure I was still able to share something each week. Here’s hoping things slow down just a bit the rest of the year to allow a little more enjoyment intermixed with work.

Photography

My father and I continued our regular outings this quarter, something we both very much enjoy. Though we do still continue visiting some of the same locations we’ve also been purposefully choosing new directions to explore. Sometimes we don’t find much but other times we uncover another location that I turn into a blog post, some of which you may have read this quarter. If not, or if you’d like to revisit anything, then please take a look below at the posts I published. Click on any photo or link to read more and see all the photographs associated with the post.

Architecture

Grace Episcopal Church, The Plains, Virginia

A Visit to Occoquan Workhouse (2010)

Rector’s Warehouse and Station - Rectortown, Virginia

St. John’s Baptist Church and Moses Lodge - Hurleytown, Virginia

Best of the Year

My Favorite Books and Films in 2024

Best Photos of 2024: My Favorites of the Year

Field Notes Updates

Bullock’s Oriole Building a Nest at Barr Lake State Park

Mostly Photos

A Visit to the Office

Reflections at Pope’s Creek in Winter

Random Thoughts

Make Time For Playtime

Two Horses

Trip Report

Bunker Hill Train Club Open House 12/14/2024

Colonial Beach in Winter

Reading

There are so many classic books considered masterpieces and must-reads that I’ve yet to read. I’m working to integrate some of those into my regular reading, so this quarter I tackled The Iliad by Homer. I don’t know yet what I’ll try in the next quarter. I’m working on a list of books I’d love to read before I die, but I don’t want that list to become a shackle. I will continue reading new works as well as those that are simple entertainment, and rereading when the mood strikes me. But I’ll also continue tackling some of those masterworks, trying to round out my literary education.

The books I consumed this quarter (paper, ebook, and audio).

Here’s the full list of books read in the 1st quarter of 2025: Guitar Zero - The New Musician and the Science of Learning by Gary Marcus (2012), The Strange Tales of Oscar Zahn by Tri Vuong (2024), Shareholder Yield (2nd Edition) by Mebane Faber (2013 / 2024), Children of Dune (Dune Chronicles 3) by Frank Herbert (1976), Venus in the Blind Spot by Junji Ito (2019), Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz (2016), The Minority Report and Other Stories by Philip K. Dick (1987), Stormbringer (The Elric Saga 2) by Michael Moorcock (2021), The Iliad by Homer: A New Translation by Caroline Alexander (801 / 2015), Uzumaki: Spiral Into Horror (Deluxe Edition) by Junji Ito (2000), Bookshops & Bonedust by Travis Baldree (2023), Cards on the Table by Agatha Christie (1936), Black Paradox by Junji Ito (2009), How to Read Literature Like a Professor by Thomas C. Foster (2003).

And of those, my favorites were:

The Strange Tales of Oscar Zahn by Tri Vuong

I was fortunate to win a copy of this book through a goodreads giveaway. Before that I’d been completely unfamiliar with it and didn’t realize it started as a web comic. I ended up thoroughly enjoying this story of a floating skull in a trench coat going around solving supernatural problems. He has a heart of gold but there’s also something else about him, something more problematic. I’d love to read more.

Uzumaki: Spiral Into Horror (Deluxe Edition) by Junji Ito

Long ago I watched the Japanese movie, Uzumaki, based on Junji Ito’s work and thoroughly enjoyed the strangeness of it all. I was pleased to find my local library had a copy of the manga and quickly checked it out. Far stranger than the movie, I absolutely loved the crazy story and artwork, all those spirals, spirals everywhere.

Stormbringer by Michael Moorcock

I’m continuing to enjoy my exploration of the classic Elric sword & sorcery stories, ones I wish I’d read when much younger. This second volume felt like it would be the final one, and yet there is still more to read, so I look forward to seeing what’s next.

Cards on the Table by Agatha Christie

This was a fun one. An eccentric host obsessed with murder has invited a group of people to a party and says he did so because each person is either a murderer or someone who investigates or writes about them. Of course, he is then murdered at his own party, leaving Hercule Poirot, Superintendent Battle, Colonel Race, and Ariadne Oliver to solve the crime.

Movies, Shows & Anime

Favorite, or notable, films I watched this quarter.

This quarter there was a mix of rewatches of old favorites along with some first time views of new-to-me movies. I also found enough time for a short anime series from many years back.

My favorite movie was Greyhound (2020), starring Tom Hanks commanding a destroyer escorting an international convoy of ships across the Atlantic. But before they make it across they encounter and are hunted by a pack of Nazi U-boats. A short and yet very impactful film that I felt did a great job portraying the difficult decisions made in times of war.

My next favorite was a rewatch of The Faculty (1998), a horror film I loved when it first came out and loved again this time around. I enjoyed how it paid homage to the literary science fiction and horror stories that came before.

Another great movie was Finch (2021), a science fiction post-apocalyptic film starring Tom Hanks and a couple AI robots he pieced together, along with a live dog he takes care of. Not many characters, but lots of depth.

On the animated front I finally watched the anime series Paranoia Agent (2004) by Satoshi Kon. What a wild and crazy ride, just as one would expect of his work. It spiraled deeper and deeper into paranoia as the series progressed, and by the end of the final episode (number 13) one is left wondering what they just watched.

Also on the animated front was a rewatch of the classic Rankin Bass production of The Hobbit (1977) based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s book. This was a favorite as a kid and it was great rewatching.

I watched the highly acclaimed Martin Scorsese film, Killers of the Flower Moon (2023), a very well made and impactful story, but one that felt far too long and didn’t fully capture my attention. And I watched Ghosted (2023) and Monster Hunter (2020), both of which I found very forgettable.

Music

This quarter I continued finding and listening to new tracks by favorite artists. The first two are different styles of rock, and the third is for those who prefer a softer sound. I love all of these songs and have listened to each multiple times this quarter.

The Warning - Hell You Call A Dream (Live From Time Square)

It’s so great to see the continued growth and success of this fairly young trio of sisters originating from Mexico. In this video they perform live from Times Square in New York.

AVANTASIA - The Witch (featuring Tommy Karevik)

Here’s another great new track from Avantasia featuring their typical catchy choruses and fantastic (and fantastical) musical storytelling. I never tire of this group.

華風月 -「悠久の地」(Eternal Land)

And finally, for something a bit softer, here is a beautiful composition by Yuko Suzuhana, with her on the piano, Daisuke Kaminaga playing the shakuhachi (bamboo flute) and Kiyoshi Ibukuro playing the koto. All three are also members of the group Wagakki Band, another favorite of mine.

 

Life

As mentioned in the intro this quarter felt a bit busier than I’d have preferred, at least busier with elements I derive far less enjoyment from. So I’m hopeful there’ll be a slight shift this next quarter, either in the mix of activities or in my perceptions of them. Sometimes all it takes is a mental shift in perspective, but of course that can be a challenge to implement.

Thankfully, though, there have been many opportunities to enjoy things that bring me pleasure: outings with my father; dinner and time spent with family; a bit of quiet time with a hot cup of freshly ground coffee; time spent staring at words on a page or screen, transforming those words into images, videos, sounds, scents, emotions, knowledge; exploring the local area and discovering all sorts of new places and locations, researching and learning about these places and past events, creating photographs to show what still remains; creating photographs of anything and everything that catches my attention; listening to some great music and watching some entertaining movies and shows; and putting these very words down for you to read along with any interactions we’re fortunate to have with one another.

In parting, I want to thank you for all your support throughout this quarter. There’s a good chance I’d continue doing this just for myself, even if no one read any of it. But it makes it so much more meaningful knowing there’s even one person out there who finds this interesting enough to share a little time reading what I write and viewing the photos I create. So thank you!

Have a great 2nd quarter!

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St John’s Baptist Church and Moses Lodge - Hurleytown, Virginia /  by Todd Henson

St. John’s Baptist Church and Moses Lodge

If you’ve ever driven along Green Road in Hurleytown, part of Midland, Virginia, you may recognize these buildings, St. John’s Baptist Church and Moses Lodge, also known as St. John’s Odd Fellows Hall. I found them thanks to my father, who knows I enjoy seeing and photographing older buildings, and who learned of these through a friend (so thanks to family and friends!).

After I photograph buildings like these I love trying to find some history to go along with them. In this case each building had some clues. The church had a sign on the side of it indicating it had been rebuilt in 1931. And Moses Lodge had a sign that was a bit difficult to fully read, but said “BREWER DELIGHT” and something about “MOSES” and “ORGANIZED APRIL.6.1905”. Also, the church is still actively used and their website indicated it was originally erected in Hurleytown on September 17, 1894.

A sign on St. John’s Baptist Church indicating it was rebuilt in 1931.

A sign on Moses Lodge indicating it was organized on April 6, 1905.

After doing more searching I found a document in the Special Collections of the Virginia Department of Historic Resources titled: “Phase I Architectural Survey of Selected African American Historic Resources” from 2021. This was a fantastic bit of research where I learned that distinct African American communities were established throughout Fauquier County largely due to segregation laws and housing discrimination of the time. These communities were usually centered around a church and a school. In this case we have Hurleytown with a church and a lodge, or hall.

St. John’s Baptist Church

Hurleytown is named after Lawson Hurley, a farmer who purchased land in the area after the Civil War. In 1880 Hurley was described as “a 56-year old African American who could not read or write, but who owned…” and tilled land. It’s said a church was in the community as early as 1869, but it was 1894 that the land where St. John’s Baptist Church resides was granted by Samuel and Belle Smith. Later, in 1910, the Smiths deeded more land to the trustees of the “Moses and Juvenile Lodge of Hurleytown.” Moses Lodge, also called St. John’s Odd Fellows Hall was build in 1905. And the church was rebuilt in 1931 after a devastating fire destroyed the original building. The new building is described in the survey as “a one-story, three-bay, vernacular church building with some Gothic Revival-style elements.”

Moses Lodge, or St. John’s Odd Fellows Hall

The lodge appeared to go by various names, Moses Lodge, St. John’s Odd Fellows Hall, and possibly the Moses and Juvenile Lodge of Hurleytown. The Order of the Odd Fellows was an historic fraternal order. There were apparently at least two different Orders of Odd Fellows and it’s not clear which of these the hall may have been associated with. And given the name Moses Lodge, it’s unclear whether this may have in some way been associated with the Ancient United Order of the Sons and Daughters, Brothers and Sisters of Moses, another fraternal group of the time.

St. John’s Baptist Church and Odd Fellows Hall

I hope you enjoyed these fascinating pieces of local history and views of the buildings.

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Reflections at Pope’s Creek in Winter /  by Todd Henson

Reflections on Pope’s Creek in winter as seen from the visitor’s center of George Washington Birthplace National Monument in Virginia

During a visit to George Washington Birthplace National Monument in Westmoreland County, Virginia, around mid-January of 2025, my father and I found a quiet and calm scene of winter as we looked out over Pope’s Creek, one of a great many tidal tributaries of the Potomac River.

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