Photo Credit Double Life of William Brodie In the late 18th Century, a man named William Brodie was greatly respected in the city of Edinburgh, Scotland. Brodie hobnobbed with society and other uppercrust folks of the city. Known citywide as Deacon Brodie, wherever there was a prestigious event, he was inevitably there, holding court. […]
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Category: oddities
Death Valley: Strange But Beautiful
A Visit to Death Valley: Unlike Any Other Place on Earth All photos courtesy of Judy Schweitzer, from our family album, unless otherwise indicated. Death Valley is a composite of oddities and anomalies that covers an area of about 3,000 square miles of otherworldly views and scenery that may make you feel as though […]
A Light Bulb Burning For 115 Years?
Photo Credit A Light Bulb Burning For 115 Years? In a Livermore, California firehouse, hangs a bare bulb, now known as The Centennial Light. It’s burned almost continuously for 115 years. Impossible? Yes it is now, but it wasn’t when the bulb was originally made by Shelby Electric. True, it doesn’t shine as brightly now […]
Mystery of Disappearing Cattle
Cattle on the range. Photo Credit Northeastern Nevada Ranchers The ranchers who raise cattle for a living in Northeastern Nevada around Elko, Humboldt, Eureka, Lander, White Pine and Nye, began noticing something strange happening to their herds. Every day or so, the herd would be one or two short. Now, if you know anything about […]
Dying To Be Healthy
Dying To Be Healthy In 1910, Earl Edward Erdman, a City of Seattle Civil Engineer had a good life. Still, he had a few aches and pains and became convinced that through the process of fasting, bodily toxins would be removed. Erdman was dying to be healthy, he wanted happiness and a long rewarding life. […]
Lizzie Borden: American Mystery
Photo Credit Lizzie Borden: American Murder Mystery On August 4, 1892, in Fall River, Massachusetts, a woman discovered her father dead on the living room couch. It was a gruesome scene, clearly showing that someone had taken an axe or hatchet to the man. Among the massive injuries, one of his eyeballs was cut cleanly […]
The Celestial Bed
The Temple of Health, Royal Terrace of the Adelphi In 1781 London, childless couples paid to spend a night together in the Celestial Bed in the Temple of Health, Royal Terrace of the Adelphi. The fee ranged up to 500 pounds, payable to one Dr. John Graham, a physician from Edinburgh, Scotland. He was a […]
What Were Orphan Trains?
Photo Credit What Were Orphan Trains? On September 20, 1854, a train set out from New York bound for Dowagiac, Michigan. Aboard were 46 10-to-12 year old boys and girls heading for new homes and parents. It was the first of the phenomenon known as Orphan Trains. But what’s the story behind them? Street Urchins […]
The Story of Arlington
The Story of Arlington During the Civil War many southern landowners lost the rights to their home and property, due to a law enacted by the Union Congress that allowed the North to levy taxes on property that fell into their hands. Since the landowners were unable to cross lines to pay their taxes, the land […]
Killed By A Bird
Photo Credit Belying the beauty in the photo above, can you believe someone could be killed by a bird? Have you ever heard of such a thing? What do you know about a bird named Cassowary? This is a tale you may not believe, but it’s well documented. Cassowaries are big flightless birds, weighing […]