thehistory

Well, if you've made it this far into this website and you don't know a bit of history about the Trixie Belden books, than you're probably here by mistake! But in a desire to be helpful...

The Bob-Whites of the Glen: a group of 7 teenagers in a semi-secret club dedicated to helping out others. They usually managed to run into a mystery along the way that just had to be solved. The club consisted of Trixie Belden, Jim Frayne, Honey Wheeler, Mart Belden, Brian Belden, Diana Lynch, and Dan Mangan.

The Bob-Whites were formed late one summer several years ago. Honey had just moved into the Manor House and after a bit of intial wariness she and Trixie became best friends. That very same day they discovered Jim sleeping on a mattress in his great-uncle's decrepit mansion, Ten-Acres, which was right next to the Manor House. Jim had run away from a cruel step-father, hoping to find refuge with his uncle. The three became very tight and a "special" friendship started between Jim and Trixie. After Jim had run away and been found again, and Trixie's older brothers had returned from camp the Bob-Whites were born. Soon after that Diana Lynch was inducted into the club. Last but not least was Dan Mangan...he came from the city on parole for gang related offenses. In the series he spent a lot of his time chopping wood

The Bob-Whites and their families lived in a small town in upstate New York, named Sleepyside-on-the-Hudson. All the kids (except the assorted little brothers and sisters) attend Sleepyside Junior Senior High. When the books ended Trixie was an eternal freshman in highschool.

So that's the very basic info. Below are descriptions of each of the Bob-Whites, scanned directly from book #18, Mystery of the Phantom Grasshopper. I chose this book because the description of Brian amused me for some reason...If you want more info. than all this I suggest consulting the books themselves or any of the Trixie Web-Sites on my Links page.

Lively and inquisitive, Trixie was attracted to mysteries like a magnet. She seemed to have a special knack for solving cases that baffled police and detectives. Once, Trixie had helped capture a gang of sheep rustlers out in Iowa. Another time, she'd led the FBI to a spy ring operating on the Mississippi River. It was no wonder that she dreamed of the day when she and Honey, her best friend, would form the Belden-Wheeler Detective Agency.

Honey and Jim lived at Manor House, a beautiful large estate on the hill above the Beldens' Crabapple Farm. Honey had been delicate and shy when she moved to Sleepyside-on-the-Hudson, but now she was healthy and outgoing. Honey, who loved to sew, had designed and made the red jackets worn by each of the club members.

Jim was heir to a fortune of his own. Someday, Jim hoped to use his inheritance to open a school for homeless boys. Jim had been homeless himself until the Wheelers had adopted him, and he knew how badly such boys needed help and guidance. Jim had taught his friends the Bob-White whistle that was the club's secret signal and had inspired the club's name. He and Trixie were co-presidents.

Brian was a charter member of the club. Serious and quiet, he planned to become a doctor and work with Jim at his home for boys.

Mart was the secretary treasurer. He enjoyed confusing the others by using big words.

Di came from a wealthy family, like Honey, and lived in a great stone mansion farther down the road from Crabapple Farm. Di was the prettiest girl in school, with long black hair and big violet eyes. But she, too, had been lonely and unhappy until Trixie and the others had made her their friend.

Dan Mangan, the seventh club member, was the nephew of Bill Regan, the man in charge of the Wheelers' stable of riding horses. Dan had been a city tough, in trouble with the police, until Regan had brought him to Sleepyside. Now he lived with Mr. Maypenny, the Wheelers' elderly gamekeeper, and helped care for the wild game preserve. The friendship of the Bob-Whites had encouraged Dan to change his tough ways.