Creating Fiction from History: 7/20/2022

Marbella and Dinae Washington were, respectively, both the daughters of a mixed-race couple from Panora, Iowa, in what has now been designated a Guthrie County Historical Village. Just a hundred feet or so from the Middle Racoon River, the Washington girls were both born water babies, even though Dinae was adopted by the Washingtons just before her fifth birthday. Even though Marbella was a couple of years older, Dinae soon all but surpassed her sister with her readiness to the water!

Grover and Dinah Washington had moved from their respective states back East, in the year 1851, to Iowa, which had just become the second state to legalize interracial marriage. Marbella, who would be their only natural-born child, was born later that year. After much heart-wrenching, the Washingtons decided to adopt a sister for Marbella, Dinae, who also happened to be the product of an interracial couple that wasn't as fortunate as the Washingtons. Dinae (not her birth name) was added to the family in 1858, just years before the conflict between the Southern and Northern states broke out. That may be another story for another day, however, as this story & this day belong to Dinae and Marbella!

The late 50s and early 60s were, for the Washington girls, both the time of their lives and the beginning of their hardships. Even though they were legally the products of interracial marriage and lived in such a small town as Panora, our heroines still experienced somewhat of the stigma that naturally from such pairings.

As such, the sisters, who were closer than twins despite the difference in age, became used to depending on each other for their subsistence. This would serve them well, later in life, when the conflict mentioned above rendered them both orphans. Marbella was 15 and Dinae 13 when their parents left this earthly plane. Hardily, both girls had been prepared for such an event and moved closer to Des Moines, where this photograph was taken on the second anniversary of their parent's passing. The girls opened an orphanage the next year.

If you would like to create fiction from history with one of the museum's photos, please contact the Ledger at (406) 287-5301 or email whledger@gmail.com.