Author: Paul

Author Paul R. Wonning considers himself an "Indiana Hound," because he likes to "sniff" out the interesting places and history of Indiana and then use his books to reveal them to his readers. He also enjoys gardening, American history and dabbles in writing fantasy and humorous fiction.
Podcast - United States History Timeline, Timeline of United States History

British Evacuate Boston

The British evacuation began at four o’clock AM. By ten o’clock AM they had loaded 10,000 troops and about 1500 Loyalist citizens that wished to depart Boston on ships. Howe issued orders when the evacuation began to burn the city if the rebels interfered with the evacuation. The British had 120 ships on hand to use to transport the people and soldiers to a temporary sanctuary in Halifax, in Nova Scotia. They left a large quantity of supplies behind. A short time after the Union Jack had disappeared; soldiers of the Continental Army marched into Boston, flags flying and fifes playing “Yankee Doodle Dandy.”
A wary General Washington, fearing British attack on New York, dispatched five regiments of his troops towards that city with General William Heath in command. Continue reading British Evacuate Boston

Podcast - Indiana Places and History, Road Trip Indiana Series

Congressional Medal of Honor Memorial

Landscape architects Ann Reed and Eric Fulford received the commission to design the Memorial. Workers began preparing the site in November 1998 with actual construction beginning in January 1999. The memorial consists of two overlapping circular arcs. Access to the memorial is by concrete ramps and stairs. It is about 800 feet long and 48 feet wide. The dedication took place on Memorial Day, May 28, 1999. The Memorial honors the nations Medal of Honor’s recipients. Continue reading Congressional Medal of Honor Memorial

Podcast - United States History Timeline

British General Howe’s Unpleasant Surprise

March 2, 1776 – Americans Begin Shelling British Troops In Boston
At the beginning of 1776 the situation at Boston in the early stages of the American Revolution was an uneasy draw. British troops controlled the city and the harbor. American troops surrounded the city. The high hills of Dorchester Heights commanded the city, but neither side wanted to occupy them. The British commander, General William Howe, remembered the results of the earlier battle, the Battle of Bunker Hill. Though the British won that battle, the results were horrendous. British losses had been high as they suffered 226 killed, 828 wounded, these mostly officers. Howe decided another victory like that would ruin him.
General George Washington wanted to take the hills, but his army was under equipped, having little artillery. About 2000 of his 9000 man army had no muskets. The Continental Army was not ready for such a maneuver. Continue reading British General Howe’s Unpleasant Surprise

Podcast - Indiana Places and History, Road Trip Indiana Series

Fort Harrison State Park

Training, Induction and Release Facility
During the First and Second World Wars, many young Indiana men were inducted and released from Fort Harrison. The fort served as a training facility for officers. During World War II, the Fort also served as a detention center for many Italian and German Prisoners of War. The Army established a Military Police training center in the Fort in 1942. At war’s end, the Army declared the Fort as surplus property. The Army did not abandon the Fort, using it as a National Guard training facility. The Benjamin Harrison Air Force Base operated there from 1948 until 1950 until the equipment and personnel were moved to Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Michigan. Until 1990, the fort served as a training facility for various Army activities and in 1965, the Defense Information School moved there. Continue reading Fort Harrison State Park

Podcast - Indiana Places and History, Road Trip Indiana Series

American Legion’s National Headquarters in Indianapolis, Indiana

World War I had ended with the signing of the Armistice on November 11, 1918. The end of the war did not mean that the doughboys stationed in Europe would get to come home. Rumors circulated that the delay in bringing them home revolved around the Bolshevik revolution in Russia, Finland, Germany, and Hungary. However, it may not have been possible for the troops to all return due to logistics. Continue reading American Legion’s National Headquarters in Indianapolis, Indiana

Podcast - United States History Timeline, Timeline of United States History

Congress Invites Canadians to Join the Struggle

One of Congress’ main goals of launching the Canada invasion in June 1775 was to bring the Canadians into their cause as the 14th colony. This effort had failed, but their efforts continued. On February 14 a messenger arrived from Canada, authorized by General Wooster, to carry a message to the members of Congress. The Committee of Correspondence conferred with the man on February 14 and relayed their report on the meeting. Continue reading Congress Invites Canadians to Join the Struggle

Podcast - Indiana Places and History, Road Trip Indiana Series

Visiting Hayes Arboretum

The Nature Center, located in a former dairy barn, offers plenty to do for an afternoon’s relaxation. A bird viewing room is equipped with comfortable chairs and a large window overlooking a bird feeding station. Birds of all kinds and squirrels can be seen actively feeding at the various types of bird feeders. The Nature Center is located in an old renovated dairy barn that was originally constructed in 1833. Continue reading Visiting Hayes Arboretum

Podcast - United States History Timeline, Timeline of United States History

Set to Invade South Carolina – General Cornwallis Departs Cork, Ireland

Charles Cornwallis, 1st Marques Cornwallis had retired to southern England to recruit troops to participate in this action. He gathered a force of about 2500 recruits and sailed for Cork to unite with Commodore Sir Peter Parker. With the fleet and the troops assembled, Parker and Cornwallis sailed from Cork on his way to South Carolina. Ethan Allen, whom the British had captured earlier, languished below decks as a prisoner. Continue reading Set to Invade South Carolina – General Cornwallis Departs Cork, Ireland

Podcast - Indiana Places and History, Road Trip Indiana Series

Madonna of the Trail Monument

Forming a Committee
The DAR National organization appointed a committee to come up with an idea to honor the hardy pioneer mothers that journeyed west with their families to settle the west. The committee first proposed to have painted wooden markers along the route of the National Road Trail honoring the women. This idea was superseded by the concept of placing 12 statues in various states along the route. The DAR commissioned August Leimbach to sculpt the statues. Composed of Missouri granite, the statues are identical and are 10 feet high and weigh 5 tons. There is one statue in each of state, each of which is along the National Old Trails Road. Continue reading Madonna of the Trail Monument

Podcast - United States History Timeline, Timeline of United States History, United States History Series

1776 – The Week of February 1 – 7

King George Appointed Admiral Richard Howe as Commander of North American Operations on February 2, 1776. After completing his studies at Eton Coollege, he entered the British Navy in 1740 at the age of 14. He rose in rank, attaining the rank of Rear Admiral in 1765. Sympathetic to the colonies, Howe had opposed many of the provisions of the Stamp Act. He collaborated with Benjamin Franklin, whom he had become acquainted with while Franklin lived in London, with a peace plan that failed. Continue reading 1776 – The Week of February 1 – 7

Gardener's Guide to Growing Your Vegetable Garden, Sample Chapter

Sample Chapter – Gardeners Guide to Growing Beets

Beets are propagated by planting seeds. The beet seed is what botanists call a multi-germ seed. This is because the “seed,” is actually two or three seeds attached to each other. This happens because beet flowers occur in a cluster and the petals of two or more flowers fuse together as the seeds mature. The result is the multi-germ seed that the gardener plants. Most of the time, both seeds germinate together, resulting in two, or even three, seedlings occupying the spot where one seedling should be. For this reason, the gardener needs to thin the seedlings to give the plants more room to grow. The thinned seedlings may be added to a salad, so they do not go to waste. Continue reading Sample Chapter – Gardeners Guide to Growing Beets