Tuesday Tidbits

Oct. 17, 2023

In the Shadow of Tombstones: Cemetery Superstitions

For as long as there have been burial grounds, there have been superstitions about what you should or should not do when visiting them. Some of these include:  Avoid Stepping on Graves: Many people believe it is disrespectful and bad luck to s…

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Oct. 10, 2023

A Bolt from the Past: Salem's Caleb Pickman and the Lightning Tree

Often the best stories, whether they are true or legendary, begin with the phrase "Once upon a time". I was reminded of this story last night when we were recording this week's episode of the podcast and so we will begin with... Once upon a time, t…

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Sept. 19, 2023

Hulda of Sleepy Hollow: Herbalist, Healer, Hero

Sleepy Hollow, New York's most well-known haunting story is that of the headless horseman, a Hessian soldier who quite literally lost his head during the Revolutionary War. He rides his coal black steed throughout the countryside in search of his mi…

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Sept. 12, 2023

The Life and Contributions of Dr. John Cuming: A Concord Icon

Meet Dr. John Cuming, a man, who, according to his headstone, was a much beloved member of Concord society. He was born on March 1, 1728, in Concord, Massachusetts. His father, Mr. Robert Cuming, had immigrated from Scotland around 1715 and settled …

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Aug. 29, 2023

Dancing 'til Dawn: The Love Story of John and Maude Rohling

John Phillip Rohling and Maude Elizabeth Mitchell Rohling were married on March 2, 1899. The two had been sweethearts as teens, but in reality they grew up together in Black Hawk, Colorado, which was one of the towns connected with the first gold mi…

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Aug. 15, 2023

Sailor's Lament, Cowboy's Call

Tuesday Tidbit... There are a plethora of historical careers that were extremely dangerous and could oftentimes be lonely. These jobs inspired poetry and song. Two such jobs included being a sailor and being a cowboy.  One of the most famous …

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Aug. 8, 2023

A Glimpse into History: The Life and Epitaph of Miss Elizabeth Blood

There are times when the story of someone's life and death is engraved upon their headstone and that is all we may ever know about them. In memory of Miss Elizabeth Blood, born on March 21, 1741, in Concord, Massachusetts, and departed this life on…

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Aug. 1, 2023

Eternal Reminders: Hourglasses and Skeletons as Markers of Mortality

Our views on death and mortality have definitely changed over the centuries. With improvement in living conditions, medical care, etc, collectively as a society we tend to shy away from the finality of death and try to look beyond to what the afterl…

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July 25, 2023

Wyoming Becomes a Territory

July 25th, 1868, a significant chapter in American history began as President Andrew Johnson signed the incorporation of Wyoming as a territory. However, the history of this land dates back over 12,000 years when indigenous peoples, including the Cl…

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July 11, 2023

The Tragic Tale of Captain William Browne and the Shipwrecked Brutus

In the annals of maritime history, tales of shipwrecks have always held a poignant allure. One such tragic event took place on the night of February 21, 1802, off the coast of Cape Cod. It was during this fateful voyage that Commander William Browne…

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