Category: American Countryside
Gambling Over a Pocketwatch
In a movie “western” you might see two gunslingers fire their pistols at each other in the town square. That’s exactly what happened here. It…
Deadly Tensions
When the Civil War ended, there were still many unsettled scores of course. Towns along the border with North and South were especially prone to…
Don’t Break Down Here
If your car breaks down you probably call for help, or walk if needed. Here, if your car breaks down it could likely mean your…
Laying Out the Streets from Afar
The folks back in Europe were only trying to help lay out the streets of a fledgling town. Too bad they couldn’t actually see the…
The St. Thomas Historic Trust
Many cruise ships pull into the main harbor on St. Thomas every week. Most of those who visit don’t understand the centuries old history of…
The One Successful Coal Strike
In 1892 there were four coal workers strikes taking place in north America. Only one was successful. The location of that strike and the people…
The Coaling Ladies of St. Thomas
The coaling ladies of St. Thomas loaded coal for steamships in wicker baskets for about a penny per trip. But why were they paid in…
A Penny For a Basket of Coal
The historic photos of their work will amaze you. Hundreds of ladies with one hundred pound loads in their wicker baskets, day after day, for…
The Unexpected Inhabitants of the Virgin Islands
So if you take a trip to the tropical forested hills of the Virgin Islands you might expect to see some wildlife. But one of…
300 Years of Remains
Take a walk around the US Virgin Island of St. John and you’ll find numerous remains from the old sugar plantation days. In fact, roads…