Mossy Feet Books – Author Paul R. Wonning
Books About Indiana History, United States History and Garden Guides
Salisbury was created, and incorporated, in 1811 to serve as the county seat of Wayne County. A log court house, jail and a few other buildings were constructed by William Commons. This log courthouse served the county for about 4 years before Salisbury residents constructed a brick court house in 1816. Continue reading The Salisbury Courthouse in Centerville Indiana
The General Court of the Massachusetts Bay Colony condemned Margaret Jones to hang for the crime of witchcraft on June 13, 1648. Mrs. Jones was the first victim executed for this crime in Massachusetts. She was probably not the first ever accused. But Witch Finder General, Matthew Hopkins’ methods provided a framework of gathering evidence. Accusers used his methods to gather the evidence used to convict her. The accounts of her trial and execution come from Governor John Winthrop, who presided over the trial, and John Hale. Authorities also charged her husband with witchcraft. He was not convicted. Continue reading First Execution for Witchcraft – Margaret Jones Hanged
Located in Fountain City, Indiana, the Levi Coffin Home was the site of an important stop on the Underground Railroad system that ferreted escaped slaves out of the country and on to Canada. Continue reading Levi Coffin State Historic Site
January 10, 1776 “Common Sense” By Thomas Paine Published
Few men were as influential to the cause of American independence as Thomas Paine. His forty-seven page pamphlet “Common Sense,” published in 1776, became the most read pamphlet in the colonies. Many historians feel that most of the 2.5 million Americans either read it, or had it read to them. Many estimate that printers published over 400,000 copies. Many newspapers at the time printed the entire text of the document. Continue reading Pivotal Event in American History – Thomas Paine Publishes Common Sense
Located on the Indiana University campus in Bloomington between the Herman B Wells Library, the Eskenazi Museum of Art, and the School of Public Health, the 11-acre arboretum occupies what was the IU football field 10th Street Stadium. The arboretum is named to honor Jesse H. and Beulah Chanley Cox. Continue reading Sample Chapter – Jesse H. and Beulah Chanley Cox Arboretum
Indiana possesses a wealth of botanical gardens, allowing plant researchers to study the plants growing there as well as provide casual visitors a place to learn about, and enjoy, them. Readers of Indiana Botanical Gardens will discover the history of botanical gardens in addition to listings of the world’s, United States and Indiana’s botanical gardens. Continue reading Visiting Indiana’s Public and Botanical Gardens
There are few things more satisfying to a writer than scribbling the last few words of a book. I have published many books over the years and that feeling of “I finished it,” followed by a smile of satisfaction when I hit the “Save,” button. Continue reading A Smile of Satisfaction
The traditional first basketball game held in Indiana was between the Crawfordsville and Lafayette YMCA’s after Nicholas C. McCay introduced the game to Indiana. Recent research by blogger S. Chandler Lighty has uncovered earlier reports of basketball in Indiana. Continue reading Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame
Dorchester MA Forms First School Funded By Local Taxes – 1639In this episode we learn about the first colonial school … Continue reading Dorchester MA Forms First School Funded By Local Taxes – 1639
Anyway, I was looking at my Substack dashboards and noticed that even though I have not posted in months, I have gained a few followers. Seeing this, I have determined that I should fire this forum back up and start posting. I will be uploading mostly the same content as I was, only from time to time I plan to post pieces like this. Some will be funny, some will be serious and others may be completely off the wall. It will depend on how the earth is spinning that day. Continue reading Writing My Life Away
Constructed as part of the Indiana Mammoth Internal Improvement Act of 1836 signed by Governor Noah Noble on January 27, 1836, the Whitewater Canal was to form an integral part of southeastern and eastern Indiana’s transportation system. The ambitious act, in concert with the Panic of 1837, bankrupted the state and brought a major political party to its knees. Continue reading Whitewater Valley Railroad
The Earthquake
It was a sunny, warm and pleasant day in New England. The colonists were involved in their normal, everyday activities. In Plymouth, some of the settlers had adjourned a meeting to discuss a proposed migration to another area. In Newberry, Massachusetts, the town residents were attending a town meeting. Farmers worked in their fields and wives tended their chores. Sometime between one and two o’clock a curious, low rumble began in the north. The rumble increased, like low thunder as it approached. People paused in their tracks, wondering at the sound. Continue reading The New England Earthquake of 1638 – Like Elvis, the Pilgrims Were All Shook Up
The third of seven children born to Milton Wright and Susan Catherine Koerner Wright, Wilbur was born near Millville, Indiana. The family would remain in Indiana until 1869, when Milton Wright, a Bishop in the United Brethren Church, moved to Dayton, Ohio. The Wrights would return to Indiana in 1881, where Wilbur and his younger brother Orville took up kite flying. Continue reading Birthplace of Wilbur Wright and Museum
People celebrate St. Patrick’s Day by wearing green, displaying shamrocks and drinking green beer. The origins of St. Patrick’s Day celebrations and parades date back to almost the beginning of colonization. Continue reading The First Recorded Celebration Of St. Patrick’s Day in Boston
Owned and operated by the Indiana Audubon Society, the Mary Gray Bird Sanctuary was established in 1943. Connersville resident Alice Green Gray donated a 264 acre tract of land to the Society in 1943 as a memorial to her daughter, Mary, who had passed away in 1940. Alice passed away that year and her husband, Congressman Finley H. Gray, willed additional acreage to that upon his death in 1947. The sanctuary now totaled over 600 acres. Over the years gifts from members have allowed the Society to acquire more land, bringing the total current acreage to over 700 acres. Continue reading The Mary Alice Gray Bird Sanctuary
The charter granted by the Crown on March 3, 1629 stated that the Massachusetts Bay Colony’s General Court had to meet on an annual basis. This General Court admitted new freemen, chose officers, and made laws and ordinances for the good and welfare of the company. These laws could not conflict with Britain’s laws. The first meeting of this General Court at Boston occurred on October 19, 1630. The main order of business was to admit freemen to the colony. Continue reading Representative Government Birthed in Colonial America
The Province of Maryland began life as a propriety colony of Cecil Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore. In theory, all land in the British Empire belonged to the King. He could divide it amongst his subjects any way he saw fit. The king used this type of colony to reward loyal supporters. The proprietor became, in effect, the supreme ruler of the colony. Of course, the proprietor was ultimately subject to the King. Lord Baltimore established the colony in 1632 as a refuge for Catholics. Religious wars in Europe caused many Catholics to face persecution. This was especially true in England during this time. Continue reading Podcast – King Charles I Grants 2nd Lord Baltimore Rights To Chesapeake Bay Area
The Minnetrista complex consists of the land once owned by the Ball Brothers, Muncie’s leading family of industrialists and philanthropists. All five Ball Brothers had homes along the 6 acre strip of land between the White River and Minnetrista Avenue. The brothers coined the name “Minnetrista,” from the Sioux word for water, “mna,” and the English word “tryst.” “Mna,” is pronounced as “mini.” The word means “a gathering place by the water.” Four of the five Ball brother’s homes still stand on the site Continue reading Podcast – Visiting the Minnetrista At Muncie, Indiana
In a precursor to Hine’s Raid and Morgan’s Raid, Confederate colonel Adam Rankin Johnson captured the town of Newburgh, Indiana using two “Quaker Guns” as a ruse to subdue the town and to his nickname, Stovepipe Johnson. Continue reading Podcast/Video – Historical Site – Newburgh Raid
After a trial in Plymouth for murder, the jury convicted John Billington of murder. Massachusetts Governor William Bradford, after consultation with the Massachusetts Bay Colony governor, decreed death by hanging for the convicted murderer. Continue reading The First Execution for a Crime in British North America
Mossy Feet Books - Author Paul R. Wonning 