Tag Archives: history

ICYMI – The Diary of Pvt. Orrin Brown 1864-1865

In honor of the 150th anniversary of the American Civil War, I blogged the diary of my ancestor Pvt. Orrin Brown, Co. E, 14th Michigan Infantry, who marched through Georgia and the Carolinas with General Sherman. It remains some of … Continue reading

Posted in Economy, Policy, Pursuit of Happiness | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

The Martyr Richard Woodman

Martyr: 1: a person who voluntarily suffers death as the penalty of witnessing to and refusing to renounce a religion. 2: a person who sacrifices something of great value and especially life itself for the sake of principle. It is difficult … Continue reading

Posted in Policy, Pursuit of Happiness | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

The 11th Hour of the 11th Day of the 11th Month

At the 11th minute of the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, the year of our Lord 1918, an Armistice came into effect ending open hostilities in the War to End all Wars.  The peace took … Continue reading

Posted in Policy | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Denver’s Civic Center Park

The Civic Center in Denver, at the intersection of Colfax and Broadway, is the beating heart of Colorado, stretching from the Colorado Capitol to Denver City Hall.  The statue on the west steps of the Capitol Building is a Civil … Continue reading

Posted in Pursuit of Happiness | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Modernism Overlooking Tradition

Pagosa Springs, Colorado, is a tourist town, and we want to encourage our visitors to stop downtown and admire the scenery…and our shops. Pagosa Springs also has a rich heritage and tradition as a Western, Mountain town, far from fancy … Continue reading

Posted in Pursuit of Happiness | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Spring 1918 on the Western Front

In March 1918, Bolshevik Russia signed the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk with the Central Powers ending the Great War on the Eastern Front. This freed up Germany for Operation Michael and a last great Spring Offensive on the Western Front. The German … Continue reading

Posted in Policy | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Winter 1918 on the Eastern Front

While the Bolsheviks seized power in Russia in the October Revolution in early November 1917, their revolution continued to sport contradictions between the Old Style and the New through the Winter of 1918.  On 1 Feb 1919 Old Style, Russia … Continue reading

Posted in Policy | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Kukla, Fran & Ollie: A Nation of Immigrants

Burr Tillstrom—the puppeteer behind the Kukla, Fran & Ollie children’s show—is my family’s claim to fame. I missed his centenary last autumn.  Franklin Burr Tillstrom was born 13 October 1917 in Chicago, Illinois, and had an older brother Richard (1911-2008). … Continue reading

Posted in Pursuit of Happiness | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Telluride, Bluegrass and the Cross of Gold (Repost #APACO17)

My first time into Telluride I was coming in from the East. The summer was hot and dry; the Colorado backcountry better suited to rattlesnakes than trout water. I had been camping up the Black Canyon of the Gunnison, some … Continue reading

Posted in Pursuit of Happiness | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Declaring That a State of War Exists: 6 April 1917

On this date, 6 April 1917,  in response to a request by President Wilson on 2 April, the United States Congress approved America’s entry into the Great War, which came to be known as World War I. Joint Resolution Passed by … Continue reading

Posted in Policy | Tagged , , | 1 Comment