Month: January 2015
A Jewish Family’s Challenges in Nazi Germany
We resume our moving conversation today with Henry Straus as he share his family’s challenges living as Jews in a country where the Nazis were…
Growing Up Jewish in Germany
From his earliest memories, Henry Straus remembers discrimination. As a young Jewish boy living in a German city, his family faced laws that stripped them…
The Union Army’s Order Number 11
In the summer of 1863 the Union Army issued Order Number 11, an edict that forced every resident living in Bates County, Missouri to leave…
Clearing Out the County
If two people are arguing, perhaps it’s best they both stop and take a rest from one another. That was the situation in Bates County,…
Tensions on the Missouri – Kansas Border
In the decade leading up to the Civil War, tensions rose along Kansas’ border with Missouri. Even if one tried to stay out of harm’s…
A Place Called Penneytown
Virginia Houston holds a unique distinction. She was the last child born in Penneytown. It’s a fact that holds much significance in her life and…
Establishing a City for Newly Freed Slaves
Establishing a new city can take plenty of planning. Now imagine trying to begin that new town when others are very motivated to stop you….
Jim the Wonder Dog
Any betting man or woman would love to know the winners before placing a wager. The people of Marshall, Missouri know that there was once…
Going Beyond the Basic Dog Tricks
Many people have dogs and some of us have even taught our dogs to do tricks. But Sam had a very unusual dog, for it…
More Than An Excellent Hunting Dog
It all began quite by accident. A pup mysteriously arrived on a train, addressed to a man who loved to hunt. That pup grew to…