Tag: history
Part 5: A new career path for Charlie
In the early 1900s, hard farm work and illness tested the Myers family. With his brother Harry apprenticing in Pittsburgh and his mother hospitalized, young Charlie gave all his earnings to support her surgery, reuniting the family on their Ohio farm.
Halloween roots: How ancient Celtic farm rituals shaped the holiday
Halloween isn’t just modern commercial hype. Discover how the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain—rooted in harvest rhythms, herding livestock, bonfires and carved turnips—traveled across the Atlantic to become the traditions and trick-or-treating we celebrate today.
Part 4: Starting over in Ohio
After losing her husband and daughter, Laura returned to Ohio in May 1897 with five young sons. Thrust into farm labor, 12-year-old Charlie stepped up as the man of the house, helping the family navigate tragedy, heavy plows, and a fresh start on a small Spring Valley farm.
Smiths forked over plenty of talent to create prized utensils
Once a simple hearth tool, the pioneer toasting fork became a showcase of early American craftsmanship. Blacksmiths and whitesmiths used intricate filing, inlays, and punchwork to turn these mundane utensils into cherished wedding gifts and enduring folk art.
Historic Law Reed Huss Farm honored with Ohio historical marker
The historic Law Reed Huss Farm in Harrison County has been dedicated with an Ohio Historical Marker, celebrating 180 years of continuous family farming. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the preserved farmstead offers a look into 19th- and 20th-century agriculture.
Part 3: Tragedy befalls the family
In the late 1890s, a Pittsburgh family's thriving life was shattered by a typhoid epidemic and sudden loss. After losing his sister and father, 12-year-old Charlie Myers boarded a train to an Ohio farm to begin life anew. Read Part 3 of the Myers family history.
Call it hatcheling, hackeling or hetcheling — you’ll get the point
Before flax could be spun into fine linen thread, early craftspeople relied on hatcheling. Learn about the specialized hatchelsmiths who built these spiked iron tools and how decorated hatchels evolved from essential farm equipment into prized early American folk art.
How a child’s gleeful innocence brought grandpa’s sparkle back
After a tragic 1946 loss silenced a family's joy, a toddler's playful bond with her great-grandfather Charlie brought back his sparkle. From shaking straw bales for circus peanuts to farm truck rides, reflect on the special memories that healed a grieving heart.
How soybeans took over the American diet – without anyone noticing
Soybeans are hiding in plain sight across the American food supply. Trace the fascinating history of how a crop once grown strictly for animal feed evolved into an essential ingredient found in everyday groceries, industrial manufacturing, and renewable biofuels.
Flax braking and scutching: Pioneer methods for making linen
Antiques expert and journalist Paul Locher explores the pioneer-era process of flax braking and scutching. Discover how early Americans used wooden brakes, scutching knives, and community bees to transform harvested flax straw into fine linen and coarse tow.
