Clever American Engineer Builds End-On Dam at Niagara Falls
An inventive engineer Isham Randolph, famed for the Chicago canal work, designed a seven-foot dam turned on end to raise Niagara River water by ten inches during an ice jam. Constructed of concrete with an iron backbone and wooden wedges, the obelisk dam withstood shocks and successfully increased water depth as spectators watched on November 9, 1905.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Ishim, Randolph
Chicago Drainage Canal
Niagara River
Horseshoe Fall
Niagara
Mr. Randolph
Niagara Falls
Intervala
William Rittenhousen
Wedding Superstitions and Historic Notes from New York Prisons
A collage of wedding lore and antique legal tidbits. It cites superstitions such as spiders on dresses, fairies dreams, and rings dropping during nuptials, plus historical notes on New York State Prison established 1797, mutinies, transfers, and a Greenwich hotel advertisement near the prison. It ends with quips from Kansas City Star about lawyers delaying cases and a London judge on egg staleness during elections.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
New York
New York State
West Tenth Street
New York City
Greenwich Hotel
Greenwich
Federal Hall
Bing Sing
New York Press
Addison
London
Famous Loving Cups and Their Makers in English Guilds
The Henry VIII grace cup of the Barbers' company is famed for its four globular bells and Tudor motifs. The Skinners' company features a peacock cup with an engraved gift inscription from 1642. A tangled note discusses calls for public regulation of roaming dogs amid unrelated lines from the New York Tribune.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Barbers’ Company of London
Hal
Barbers
Guild of Surgeons
Skinners’ Company
Mary
Richard Robinson
Thomas Smith
James Peacock
Skinners
New York Tribune
Court Fools Who Owned Whole Towns
Huard attached to Holmound Ironsides is recorded as England’s first court jester. He owned Walworth by kingly grant, held it through four reigns, and left for Rome where he died. Before departing he deeded the town to Canterbury Cathedral, placing the document on its altar.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Huard
Holmound Ironsides
Walworth
England
Rome
Canterbury
Gallet
Galet
Bayeux
William the Conqueror
Charity and Fashion Conversational Quips at Church
A New York Press remark on a church gathering sparks wry humor about economy and charity. A husband quotes that charity is the finest garment, while a wife retorts husbands prefer wives to wear it. The banter touches on social spending, etiquette, and appearances in society.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
New York Press
Charity
The Fun of It and a Rule Breaking Boy
A teacher asks why Tommy acted out and he admits it was for fun. The child defends the act with a playful remark about fun being the motive despite rules being violated.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Tommy
Philadelphia Prdas
Sacred rules in courtship echoed by Mrs Beecher tale
A fragment from a tale relates Mrs Beecher and Mrs Henry Ward noting that during courtship Mr Her once dropped into poetry to praise his sweetheart. The piece hints at sacred traditions and a brief verse from the suitor, with more context cut off as a local office detail appears.
Beecher Treasured Poem Hidden From Offer of Reward
Mr Bonner offered $5000 to Mrs Beecher to recite a treasured poem. She declined and kept the verse hidden, a cherished remnant of her husband. Robert Bonner later doubled the offer but never obtained the poem.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Mr.Bonner
Mrs. Beecher
Mr. Beecher
Robert Bonner
Antique Persian Rugs and Vegetable Dyes Debate
A rug seller argues antique Persian rugs dyed with vegetable dyes outperform modern anilines. Vegetable dyes cost more and deepen in color as the rug ages, while aniline dyes from coal tar fade, leaving colors near white when at their peak. The speaker warns that cheap anilines harm rug weavers as opium harms China.
Also Mentioned on This Page
Kansas City Star
Washburn
O. K
Carter
Sanford
Arnold
Rand
The
Seng
Plymouth
Majestic
the Vindicator and Republican Co
Estherville
Iowa
Beecher’s
Lane
Las
Howard Graves
EK. T. Sondros
James Esprset , Oashler
Estherville State Bank
Estherville,owa
Roper
Werb -Vincent
Theo
J. P. Kirby
First National Bank
Ville
Board OF Directors
Doey
Bere
This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!