Horace Henry Walp

In 2016, while walking with my beloved dog Lexi in a local graveyard in Quakertown, Pennsylvania, I came upon the gravesite of a young boy from the 1800s. The inscription on his stone touched me deeply, as he had passed away shortly after his eighth birthday. This encounter stayed with me for days, prompting me to sketch and draw him in a character form, along with his crow companion, Uli. Delving into local history, I discovered that the boy, Horace, was the oldest of six children and lived in Richland Center during the Gilded age. His father worked as a coal and hay merchant near the train station, where Horace would have experienced the sights and sounds of the bustling town, including marching bands and traveling shows. I even found photos of his father and uncle in their band uniforms. Horace's school records revealed his perfect attendance until his untimely death from diphtheria just days after his eighth birthday in May 1894. Inspired by his story, I hope to bring Horace's memory back to life through my drawings and writings. I believe that Horace was a remarkable child, and I feel privileged to have connected with his spirit.