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A One-Horse Open Obscenity: The Revolting Origin of Jingle Bells

by Kate Dolan | Dec 22, 2020 | 19th Century America, Articles, Holidays, Latest Posts, Living History

  I intended to write about why we sing the song “Jingle Bells” at Christmas, but after doing some research, I now wonder why we sing the song at all. If people knew the origin of Jingle Bells, it would disappear faster than you can say “cancel culture.” Jingle...

Election 2020 — Could Things Be Worse? Looking at The Ugly Election of 1828

by Kate Dolan | Oct 19, 2020 | 19th Century America, Latest Posts, Living History

When you contemplate Election 2020, it is pretty easy to despair for the future of our nation. But it could be worse. Maybe. Nearly 200 years ago, a relatively young United States endured an election cycle of truly nasty proportions. And that was without social media,...

How Memorial Day Became the Start of Summer

by Kate Dolan | May 25, 2020 | 19th Century America, Holidays

When did Memorial Day become the start of summer? While some people lay flags on the graves of the fallen during Memorial Day weekend, far more people celebrate this solemn holiday by stripping off their clothes and heading for the nearest pool or beach.  When did...

Amanda Smith: Overcoming Obstacles Through Faith

by Kate Dolan | Mar 13, 2020 | 19th Century America, Articles, Faith, Latest Posts, Living History

Since I did not write the blog post I’d planned for Black History Month, I thought I’d cover February and March (Women’s History Month) with a few words about Amanda Berry Smith, who was born in rural Baltimore County in 1837. Amanda’s parents were enslaved to the...

Not Dead Yet – Waterloo Village Still Worth Visiting Despite All Attempts to Destroy it

by Kate Dolan | Nov 16, 2019 | 19th Century America, Articles, Latest Posts, Living History, Travel

Expectations were low as we headed to historic Wateloo Village in northwest New Jersey. Even so, when we first arrived, it appeared that those sea-level expectations were too high. The 19th Century canal town is now owned by the state of New Jersey and all appearances...

The Augusta Canal – What’s the Opposite of Obsolete?

by Kate Dolan | Nov 12, 2019 | 19th Century America, Articles, Latest Posts, Living History, Travel

We learned all about American canals in school, or so I thought.  In the days before trains, men loaded goods onto canal barges.  Then the barges would be pulled slowly by draft animals trudging up the tow path.  It was a slow means of transportation, but still faster...
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  • A One-Horse Open Obscenity: The Revolting Origin of Jingle Bells
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