Photo credit: Clermont, the first steam ship, designed by Robert Fulton, 1807. Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images Known for developing the first commercially successful steamboat with the help of business partner Robert […]
Author Archives: Sharon Virts
Thomas Jackson and the origins of Memorial Day
Mourners at Jackson’s grave On May 10, 1863, “Stonewall” Jackson died after being accidentally shot at the battle of Chancellorsville. Known as one of the most gifted tactical commanders in US History, […]
#DidYouKnow – April Fools’
#DidYouKnow – The origin of April Fools’ Day is unknown but it is one of the most widely known holidays in the Western world. It appears to be an ancient […]
A Box of Books for Christmas
From my earliest days, my world has been filled with writing and reading. When I was growing up, my parents had little money to spend on non-essentials, and Christmastime was […]
The Lovely Lee Sisters of Coton Farm
“The sisters were surrounded by a gaggle of doting admirers. Winnie Lee, the fiery, red-haired, hazel eyed beauty, was directly behind Fanny, sitting in an oversized chair between the fair-haired […]
American Romanticism: 19th Century Literature & Ideology
The 19th Century was an incredibly rich time in American history. In the wake of the American Revolution and the War of 1812, the United States was still at the […]
Living History: Coton Farm
When Thomas Lee (1690-1750) of Stratford Hall, first saw the land where the Potomac River and Goose Creek met, he made arrangements to have 800 acres of that land set […]
Big Lies in a Small Town Book Review
For this month’s book club, I selected Big Lies in a Small Town, by Diane Chamberlain. After the seriousness of last month’s pick, I wanted a lighter story for April. Why […]
The Nickel Boys Book Review
For this month’s book club, I selected The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehouse. Why I chose this book? Released in 2019, The Nickel Boys was named by Time Magazine as one of the ten […]
Influenza Pandemics in the 19th Century
Throughout human history, epidemics have had enormous impact on the civilizations of the world. From great plaques to disfiguring disease, mankind has been at constant war with these invisible enemies. […]
