Music Meets Drama

With many thanks to Margaret Haylock for authoring this article about the Gena Branscombe concert in Picton, Ontario on August 15, 2026. To say the least, The Gena Branscombe Project is thrilled to bring her music home! If you are in the area, please plan on attending. https://www.intelligencer.ca/news/local-news/picton-to-the-world-concert-celebrating-music-of-gena-branscombe   #bringingbackbranscombe #genabranscombe #womancomposer #CanadianComposer #pictonontario #BringingBranscombeHome #Canadianmusic #MargaretHaylock #TheGenaBranscombeProject #FromPictontotheWorld #OurCanadaFromSeatoSea  

Destruction of cemeteries is a painful process for the family members whose relatives’ grave markers have been harmed.   Is the thrill of doing something bad and maybe never getting caught what gives the perpetrators the right to cause this harm?   Does being disrespectful of other people’s property ever cross their minds?   In June of this year, the 140 year old Glenwood Cemetery in Picton, Ontario was vandalized with headstones and monuments nearly being destroyed and 150 of them being toppled off their foundations.   The cemetery estimated it would cost $150,000 to make all the repairs.   Fund raising has begun.   Fortunately, my friend and helpful research colleague in Picton, John D. Lyons, went to the cemetery to inquire about Branscombe family records only to find out that their headstone had been harmed.   Buried in this cemetery are Gena Branscombe’s father - Henry William Branscombe, her mother – Sara Elizabeth Allison Bransco...

As prolific a letter writer and correspondent as Miss Branscombe was, it never ceases to surprise me when one of her letters appears on E-bay for sale.   For many years the owner of the letter held onto it.  They or someone processing their estate made the decision to put it up for sale.  Maybe there was hope that a Branscombe family member or someone with knowledge of the writer would purchase the letter understanding the importance of its message. An undated letter of Miss Branscombe’s was listed on E-bay and, of course, I acquired it.  The address at the top of the letter is 180 Claremont Avenue, New York, NY where she resided with her family after their return to the city from Mountain Lakes, NJ.  The salutation is to a Miss Diane. The first paragraph acknowledges that Gena knew Diane’s mother and that she had driven by their “fine old place” belonging to the family.  Apologies are said for Diane’s mother not feeling well.  There is...

With my recent and ongoing research about Miss Branscombe’s life, I have had the pleasure of making new friends in Canada.   Little is known about Gena’s younger years as she did not keep diaries.  There are no records of her activities in the local school.  When I began making contacts in Picton, I found people who would then give me other names, phone numbers and e-mail addresses of someone who might have information.  One surprise was being in touch with one of Gena’s relatives!  All of these people were more than willing to help me in my quest for information from over 100 years ago.  One individual, who has been generous beyond what words can express, was willing to make trips to historical societies where their records are not online.  I have received copies of pictures, newspaper articles, family lineage charts, letters and much more.  One cannot offer enough “thank yous” to my new found Picton friends for their help. At t...