The brown paper bag is often taken for granted. Before the invention of the sewing machine (1850s), goods were transported in baskets, barrels, or clay vessels. Often grocers wrapped items in flat brown paper which they tied with string. The sewing . . .
The critical issue for glass is the ability to adjust to temperature changes. Glass expands at different rates resulting in tension, cracks, and shattering. Three types of glassware are typically found in American kitchens:
In 1893, a German chemist . . .
Almanacs are known for predicting astronomical events, supplying historic climate information, forecasting weather patterns and recommending when farmers and gardeners should plant. Almanacs supply information from historical events and present conditions . . .
In ancient times sickness was terrifying because it was unpredictable and often deadly. Myths from the devil to God and beyond evolved to explain diseases.
The compound microscope created in the 1600s was key to finding answers. But how did that develop? . . .
From human beginnings, swimming and bathing were done naked. During the 1500-1700s, swimming was considered immoral and had to be justified on health grounds.
Modesty in the 1800s Victorian era was an issue at home as well as at the beach. Often bathing . . .
Over two centuries ago, the first cans were designed to sustain military campaigns. In 1772, the Dutch Navy carried salmon that had been cleaned, boiled in brine, smoked and placed in tin-plated iron boxes.
Napoleon also needed preserved food for his . . .
A new type of fastener, VELCRO, was marketed in 1955. It revolutionized the fastening industry. VELCRO is the Brand name of a company, not a general term for all the scratchy fastening systems. After the patent expired, other labels appeared with modifications . . .
The roulette wheel is a spinning horizontal wheel divided into 38 or 39 numbered and colored slots. The bowl, traditionally made of mahogany, is a fixed part of the roulette wheel. It is carefully polished to ensure smooth movement. In the center, . . .
I was recently asked if the Dunce Hat was real. Here is the answer:
Originally the Dunce hat was a symbol of high intelligence. It was worn by the respected scholars who followed John Duns Scotus (c. 1265-1308). Scotus was a Scottish Franciscan priest . . .
The European holiday customs centered around St. Nicholas; a charitable Catholic Turkish Bishop born in the 4th century. St. Nicholas was associated with gift giving to children on December 6, St. Nicholas Day.
In America, circa 1800s, the Puritans . . .
What do we know about the trinkets and treasures of the Christmas holiday season? When did all this hoopla happen?
Decorations are mentioned in descriptions of the Roman feast of Saturnalia which originated in the 5th century BC. Evergreen adornments . . .
Doris is the writer of her column titled “The History of Ordinary Things.”
My life in retirement is centered on “Collections & Connections”. I continue to install displays for small museums, libraries and public spaces. In . . .
In 1892, John Froelich of Girard, Iowa, introduced the pioneering 2-cylinder gas powered tractor engine capable of propelling the tractor forward and backward. Previously, steam-powered engines were used, but they were heavy, hard to maneuver, and . . .
Cave people may have played with small round balls. Clay balls have been found in the tombs of Egypt, in Native American burial grounds and in the ancient Aztec pyramids. Smooth stones, nuts, fruit pits and fired balls of clay were used for games. . . .
Lightning strikes are dangerous when they hit a structure resulting in a fire, or electrocution if they hit a person. Lightning is caused when excess negative electrical charge builds up in the clouds. It is discharged when a lightning bolt jumps from . . .
An umbrella, as well as a parasol, is a folding canopy supported by wooden or metal ribs that is usually mounted on a wooden, metal, or plastic pole. They fold and close along the pole and are opened when needed. The umbrella is used when it rains . . .
A crayon is a stick of pigmented wax used for writing or drawing. Wax crayons differ from pastels which use a dry binder such as Arabic gum powder mixed with the pigment. In oil pastels, the binder is a mixture of wax and oil.
Ancient Egyptians left . . .
The words ‘rocking chair’ appeared in the Oxford English Dictionary in 1787. Benjamin Franklin was credited with the invention in 1710, but probably early American cabinetmakers or farmers are responsible.
Historians believe the first armless rockers . . .
Overalls were originally essential workwear intended to be worn over the wearer’s clothes. The design of overalls is a bib attached to trousers with over the shoulder straps. Bib overalls, also known as dungarees, also had an enlarged crotch section . . .
How did early builders ensure the structures they were erecting were plumb vertically and horizontally? The principle they had observed is that a body of water is always horizontal, thus, a trough or channel filled with water can show horizontality.
When . . .
Do you wonder about the history of women’s undergarments? From the time of our origins until the 1500s, NO underwear was worn. This made toileting, i.e. squatting, easy. So, what was the purpose of early undergarments?
1500s – This century claims . . .
The Zamboni ice resurfacer was invented by Frank Zamboni, an Italian immigrant born at the turn of the century. In 1920, Frank and his brothers opened an auto repair shop, but soon switched to building and installing large refrigeration units for the . . .
The European holiday customs centered around St. Nicholas, a charitable Catholic Turkish Bishop born in the 4th century, was associated with gift giving to children on December 6, St. Nicholas Day.
In America, circa 1800s, the Puritans and other Calvinists . . .
Stockings refer to over-the-knee hosiery. They have been worn by European noble men for horseback riding since the 15th & 16th centuries. In 1560, Queen Elizabeth I began wearing knit silk stockings for their softness and comfort. They were held . . .
The 1862 Homestead Act, signed by Lincoln prior to the Civil War, was an important piece of legislation about federal land. The Homestead Act provided that any adult citizen who had never borne arms against the U.S. government could claim 160 acres . . .
We aren’t the first to wear feather accessories! The Neanderthals wore the darker feathers of birds of prey. Later, high-ranking Egyptians wore ostrich feathers in their hair as a symbol of allegiance to the Goddess of Truth. In 12th-century feathers . . .
Hillerich & Bradsby, Co. and Adirondack, Inc. dominated bat manufacturing during the early days of American baseball history. Following is an abbreviated timeline of the history and the specifications of the Bat and Baseball. You can be an educated . . .
