Blog

      We talk about how divided our society and political discourse are today. Avoid discussing politics at family gatherings, we say; don't want to trigger an outburst from Aunt Edna or Cousin Eddie. This pales compared to the deep divisions during the Civil War: North vs South, Slave vs Free, States rights vs one Union. Virginia had seceded […]

     Pardon the weather-speak. I'm talking about the Thanksgiving Day Blizzard of 1950. It was a POWERFUL storm with snowfall, temperature, and wind records that still stand. Technically, it was a large extropical cyclone - think of a wintertime land-based hurricane. "Explosive cyclogenesis" means that the storm strengthened explosively and […]

     In the middle of an Ohio winter, there are periods of cold, dreary weather. Not to worry - days will be  getting longer. Here’s an easy, cost effective cabin fever relief idea: take a drive on local roads. You will see signs for towns, streets, and points of interest. Each name has a story behind it.      Start on State Route (S R) […]

      Do you know what "Toponymy" means? I didn't. It refers to a study of place names. Every place has a name, it seems. "Places" can be  towns, counties, roads, neighborhoods, bodies of water - even stars in the heavens. They are often named for people (for example, Putnam Street), other places (Lowell named for Lowell MA), a local landmark […]

Marietta Earthworks drawing by Winthrop Sargent: CLICK ON LINK BELOW. Scroll to see comments by an official of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, a key to notes in the drawing, and Sargent’s original transmittal letter, and the earthworks drawing.https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:VA6C2:78a4a6af-cf99-4bfa-97df-3c825f635d25Marietta […]

     Sometimes Marietta connections turn up in unexpected places. My wife and I visited the Hawaiian Island of Oahu. The iconic Iolani Palace stands out in bustling downtown Honolulu. Should we visit? Sounded interesting – but with traffic jams and parking? Good luck with that. We decided to go for it.Iolani Palace with its unique American […]

      The naval gunboat USS Marietta (PG-15) made quite a splash, you could say, when presented with a silver table service by the citizens of Marietta, Ohio, the vessel's namesake, on Sept 1, 1899, on the second anniversary of her commissioning in San Francisco.  USS Marietta. CLICK TO ENLARGE. Picture postcard from the Hugh C. Leighton Co. […]

     September 16, 1862, near Sharpsburg, Maryland: "There was a drizzling rain...the night was dismal. Nothing can be more solemn than a period of silent waiting for the summons to battle...," recalls Mariettan Major Rufus R. Dawes, second in command of the Union Army Wisconsin 6th Volunteer Infantry Regiment. Quotes unless noted are from his […]

     Ohio State played Ohio University on Saturday September 13, 2025. A heated in-state rivalry? Not really. It was a "warm-up" game for OSU; the Buckeyes won 37-9. The prior game against OU was September 18, 2010. OSU won that one 43-7, but an unexpected game day event captured all the attention.      The Sunday Columbus Dispatch front […]

Campus Martius FeastWritten in 1792 by Anselm Tupper Scroll down to see the story behind the poem. Click HERE to view original documentWhen Savage Nations on their wayTo Pitt--at Marietta layAll Campus Martius did combineTo ask the Chieftains, there to dine-Of ev'ry class--attends them there And thundering cannon rent the airCampus Beaux flock'd […]