From fires to frauds, haunted places to haunting words, and everything (well, lots of things) in between, the 2018 Western History and Genealogy blog had it all! Here are six of our favorite stories from the past year, with a bonus seventh for good luck!
V IS FOR VICTORY! VICTORY MAIL, THAT IS.
Archivist Keli offers a visual trip down memory lane in honor the 76th anniversary of Victory Mail, or V-Mail, in its many forms and colors.
CONTINENTAL OIL REFINERY EXPLOSION AND FIRE
Librarian James gives us an explosive tale (we couldn’t help ourselves!) in this story of the Continental Oil Company (Conoco) refinery conflagration on October 3, 1978.
THE DEATH PENALTY IN COLORADO & THE DIY DEATH MACHINE
Librarian Brian’s investigation of Colorado’s self-hanging machine shows us the triumphs and pitfalls of this late 19th century attempt to make executions more humane.
SOLID MULDOON, OR THE CARDIFF GIANT HEADS WEST
Shelver Chris’s descriptions of hucksters always a delight, but this one about George Hull’s false petrified “giant” reminds us that “fake news” has existed since time immemorial.
Archivist Katie delivers a good old-fashioned ghost story in this true tale of the Gano house, or Bradmar, and its spine-tingling spirit antics.
ANTI-IMMIGRANT RHETORIC IS SLOW TO EVOLVE
With a KKK pamphlet in hand, Librarian Alex reminds us that the days, and certainly the language, of the Ku Klux Klan are not as distant as we would hope.
EXPLORING THE 15 FLOORS OF THE DANIELS & FISHER DEPARTMENT STORE
Finally we have an oldie but a goodie from December 2017 (I know, we're kind of cheating). Archivist Katie takes us on a tour through the Daniel’s and Fisher Department Store from the entrance to the tower.
Add new comment