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Saddle up, partners as Jennie and Dianne 'shoot' the breeze with Josh Taylor of the Wild West Extravaganza Podcast (and YouTube channel) while they pay their respects at the graveside of infamous outlaw Billy the Kid and his Ordinary Extraordinary life and legacy that ended before it had barely begun.

Available on YouTube: https://youtu.be/DcdxHH7S8cc?si=unnJIo-w_DCJJKxm

Ticket link to the 35th Annual Cemetery Crawl at Central City's IOOF Cemetery: Gilpin Historical Society 35th Annual Cemetery Crawl: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/gilpin-historical-society-35th-annual-cemetery-crawl-tickets-934551547837?aff=ebdsshother&utm_share_source=listing_android

Tickets for the 4th annual Beyond the Grave: Mary Shelley's Frankenstein at Evergreen Cemetery in Colorado Springs, Colorado can be purchased here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/beyond-the-grave-mary-shelleys-frankenstein-tickets-986081605627

For more "true tales from the wild and woolly west", check out the Wild West Extravaganza podcast: https://www.wildwestextra.com/

Photo Credits:
*Portrait of Billy the Kid - Public Domain
*'Billy the Kid' Tombstone - Public Domain
*'Pals' Tombstone - www.fortsumner.net
*Ft. Sumner Cemetery Gate - M.Robinson

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In part 1 of "The Great Eiffel Tower Swindle" Jennie and Dianne share the humble beginnings of a man who became known as one of the world's greatest swindlers, Victor "The Count" Lustig; and left listeners hanging after recounting his notorious first sale of the Eiffel Tower in 1925. In part 2 the ladies follow Lustig's escape from authorities in Paris and his return to the US to continue his life of crime and cons, only to be brought down by one of his greatest weaknesses...an Ordinary Extraordinary woman!

Available on YouTube: https://youtu.be/mFb3MLHqqXU?si=buZwcgG6kJtYpNGl

Ticket link to the 35th Annual Cemetery Crawl at Central City's IOOF Cemetery: Gilpin Historical Society 35th Annual Cemetery Crawl: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/gilpin-historical-society-35th-annual-cemetery-crawl-tickets-934551547837?aff=ebdsshother&utm_share_source=listing_android

Tickets for the 4th annual Beyond the Grave: Mary Shelley's Frankenstein at Evergreen Cemetery in Colorado Springs, Colorado can be purchased here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/beyond-the-grave-mary-shelleys-frankenstein-tickets-986081605627

Photo of Lustig grave by: Rick Gleason and posted to: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/176656691/victor-lustig#view-photo=152334006

Resources used to research this episode include: Various news articles found on www.newspapers.com & documents from www.ancestry.com

Laidlaw, Katherine. "The con man who sold the Eiffel Tower — twice ." https://thehustle.co/. 15 Mar. 2024. thehustle.co/originals/the-con-man-who-sold-the-eiffel-tower-twice-1. Accessed 4 Aug. 2024.

King, Gilbert. "The Smoothest Con Man That Ever Lived ." https://www.smithsonianmag.com/. 22 Aug. 2012. www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-smoothest-con-man-that-ever-lived-29861908/. Accessed 4 Aug. 2024.

Linning, Stephanie . "The man who conned the world ." https://www.dailymail.co.uk/. 12 Aug. 2021. www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-9880185/The-man-conned-world-Audacious-scams-career-criminal-Victor-Lustig-told-new-book.html. Accessed 4 Aug. 2024.

Malvenuti, Edorardo. "Victor Lustig, the Bohemian Scarlet Pimpernel." https://www.progetto.cz/. 27 Oct. 2020. www.progetto.cz/victor-lustig-la-primula-rossa-boema/?lang=en#:~:text=A%20savoir%20faire%20blending%20with,end%20Victor%20Lustig's%20maritime%20adventure. Accessed 4 Aug. 2024.

Sanford, Christopher . The Man Who Conned the World Victor Lustig. 1st ed., 2022. Gloucestershire, The History Press, 2022, pp. 1 - 320.

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As the world's eyes are on Paris for the Olympics, we're looking back at a different kind of champion - the con artist who sold the Eiffel Tower not once, but twice! We're shining a light on the Ordinary Extraordinary story of Victor Lustig who sold the unsellable and swindled the unsuspecting. Join Dianne and Jennie for part one of a tale of deception and daring that's as thrilling as any Olympic event!

Available on YouTube: https://youtu.be/jRlO4DAjtKs?si=NjFD9WP4X6cN9IqS

Ticket link to the 35th Annual Cemetery Crawl at Central City's IOOF Cemetery: Gilpin Historical Society 35th Annual Cemetery Crawl: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/gilpin-historical-society-35th-annual-cemetery-crawl-tickets-934551547837?aff=ebdsshother&utm_share_source=listing_android

Photo of Lustig grave by: Rick Gleason and posted to: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/176656691/victor-lustig#view-photo=152334006

Resources used to research this episode include: Various news articles found on www.newspapers.com & documents from www.ancestry.com

Laidlaw, Katherine. "The con man who sold the Eiffel Tower — twice ." https://thehustle.co/. 15 Mar. 2024. thehustle.co/originals/the-con-man-who-sold-the-eiffel-tower-twice-1. Accessed 4 Aug. 2024.

King, Gilbert. "The Smoothest Con Man That Ever Lived ." https://www.smithsonianmag.com/. 22 Aug. 2012. www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-smoothest-con-man-that-ever-lived-29861908/. Accessed 4 Aug. 2024.

Linning, Stephanie . "The man who conned the world ." https://www.dailymail.co.uk/. 12 Aug. 2021. www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-9880185/The-man-conned-world-Audacious-scams-career-criminal-Victor-Lustig-told-new-book.html. Accessed 4 Aug. 2024.

Malvenuti, Edorardo. "Victor Lustig, the Bohemian Scarlet Pimpernel." https://www.progetto.cz/. 27 Oct. 2020. www.progetto.cz/victor-lustig-la-primula-rossa-boema/?lang=en#:~:text=A%20savoir%20faire%20blending%20with,end%20Victor%20Lustig's%20maritime%20adventure. Accessed 4 Aug. 2024.

Sanford, Christopher . The Man Who Conned the World Victor Lustig. 1st ed., 2022. Gloucestershire, The History Press, 2022, pp. 1 - 320.

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On this episode of The Ordinary Extraordinary Cemetery, Jennie and Dianne pay a virtual visit to the graveside of a man who truly made a "splash" not only in America, but around the world. Join them as they relate
the fascinating story of John Michael Kohler, the man credited as the inventor of the modern bathtub. From his humble beginnings as a young farm child in Austria to his journey as an immigrant in America, Kohler's life was a true rags-to-riches tale. Join us as we explore his rise to success in building the Kohler business in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, his charitable works, and his involvement with the Masons and Odd Fellows. Plus, discover how he made a splash in local politics as the mayor of Sheboygan in 1892! It's an ordinary life turned extraordinary!

Learn more about the Kohler company here:
https://www.kohlercompany.com/

Learn about the John Michael Kohler Arts Center here: https://www.jmkac.org/

Photo Credits:
John Michael Kohler: Public Domain

Photo of portrait of
Elizabeth "Lillie" Vollrath Kohler: Debra Shadd

Photo of Kohler house: Debra Shadd

Photos of Kohler Family Graves: Joe Selinski

Resources used to research this episode include:

Publishing , Excelsior . "John M. Kohler." https://freepages.rootsweb.com/. freepages.rootsweb.com/~sheboygan/genealogy/bios623.htm. Accessed 21 July 2024.

, Herostratus. "John Michael Kohler." https://en.m.wikipedia.org/. edited by Theanonymoustypist, 23 Jan. 2024. en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Michael_Kohler. Accessed 21 July 2024.

, Kohler. "Our History ." https://www.kohler.com/. www.kohler.com/en/about-us/our-heritage. Accessed 21 July 2024.

Historical Collections , Harvard Business School . "1873: Off the Rails." https://www.library.hbs.edu/. www.library.hbs.edu/hc/crises/1873.html. Accessed 21 July 2024.

"History of enamelware - kitchen & household ." http://www.oldandinteresting.com/. 5 Mar. 2012. www.oldandinteresting.com/enamelware-history.aspx. Accessed 21 July 2024.

Dipple, Beth. "History Uncovered: Location, location, location – Kohler and Vollrath companies' first homes ." https://www.sheboygansun.com/. 29 Dec. 2021. www.sheboygansun.com/history/history-uncovered-location-location-location-kohler-and-vollrath-companies-first-homes/article_9ffd3928-68c8-11ec-864f-1b7c2d61bad2.html. Accessed 21 July 2024.

Selinski, Joe. "John Michael Kohler." https://www.findagrave.com/. edited by Linda Belmonte, 21 May 2006. www.findagrave.com/memorial/14351528/john_michael_kohler. Accessed 21 July 2024.

Made In Wisconsin. 1987, pp. 17 - 23.

Broman, Thomas. "The Early History of the Kohler Company ." https://wi101.wisc.edu/. 2 Nov. 2020. wi101.wisc.edu/the-early-history-of-the-kohler-company/. Accessed 21 July 2024.

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This week on the Ordinary Extraordinary Cemetery podcast Jennie and Dianne review their recent "gravestone preservation workshop" after attending the "48 State Tour" hosted by Atlas Preservation at Evergreen Cemetery in Colorado Springs, Colorado. They share what they learned and what was accomplished while working alongside others whose enthusiasm for cemetery preservation is infectious! They also announce some details about this year's Beyond the Grave fundraising event this coming October as well as the 35th Annual Cemetery Crawl at Central City's IOOF Cemetery on August 24th where Jennie is excited to once again be a historical reenactor.

Now on Yo Tube: https://youtu.be/gXohAt9OPv8?si=MHbGh5wGMwDF4EO_

Ticket link to the 35th Annual Cemetery Crawl at Central City's IOOF Cemetery: Gilpin Historical Society 35th Annual Cemetery Crawl: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/gilpin-historical-society-35th-annual-cemetery-crawl-tickets-934551547837?aff=ebdsshother&utm_share_source=listing_android

To learn more about Atlas Preservation's "48 State Tour", click here: https://atlaspreservation.com/

To learn more about Epoch Preservation, click here: https://epochpreservation.com/

National Center for Preservation Technology and Training:
https://www.nps.gov/subjects/ncptt/index.htm

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This week on the Ordinary Extraordinary Cemetery podcast Jennie and Dianne chat about Dianne's recent East Coast adventures in Rhode Island and Massachusetts. Dianne shares about the many historical locations she visited including the Lizzie Borden house in Fall River Massachusetts, sites important to the American revolution and of course several of America's oldest cemeteries. Get ready for a dose of history, humor and inspiration to explore history in your own backyard!

Now on YouTube! https://youtu.be/Rrzm1xKSkSY?si=BNGrhQV2Vbjtu_x_

To shop Hart and Horn click here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/HartandHorn

If you are interested in visiting some of the sites mentioned in this episode, follow the links below to learn more:

In Providence, Rhode Island: https://www.goprovidence.com/things-to-do/historic-providence/historic-attractions/?bounds=false&view=list&sort=qualityScore

In Fall River, Massachusetts:
Lizzie Borden House: https://lizzie-borden.com/
Additional Historical Sites: https://stantonhouseinn.com/things-to-do-in-fall-river-ma-attractions

In Ipswich, Massachusetts: https://historicipswich.net/

In Salem, Massachusetts:
Salem Witch Museum: https://salemwitchmuseum.com/
The House of the Seven Gables: https://7gables.org/
The Peabody Essex Museum: https://www.pem.org/
The Charter Street Cemetery: https://www.charterstreetcemetery.com/
All things Salem: https://www.salem.org/

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Happy Birthday America, or as Americans say, "Happy 4th of July!" Jennie and Dianne celebrate America's birthday with author and presidential historian Kurt Deion as he recounts his adventures in his book "Presidential Grave Hunter: One Kid's Quest to Visit the Tombs of Every President and Vice President". From sneaking past Secret Service agents to gaining entry to a private family burial ground, Kurt's Ordinary Extraordinary story is a captivating exploration of American history and the power of a child's curiosity that has continued to spark his imagination and love for history and cemeteries well into adulthood!

Available on YouTube: https://youtu.be/VGnKf4b4bGE?si=M0RfXgHiSy5cnEbv

To learn more about Kurt Deion or to purchase his book, "Presidential Grave Hunter: One Kid's Quest to Visit the Tombs of Every President and Vice President", click here: https://www.kurtshistoricsites.com/

To learn more about Atlas Preservation's "48 State Tour", click here: https://atlaspreservation.com/

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In this episode of the "Ordinary Extraordinary Cemetery" podcast, Jennie chats with Sandra K. Doyle, a former deathcare industry professional turned author. Sandra's book, "MY LIFE AT THE CEMETERY: IT'S NOT AS DEAD AS YOU THINK", is a heartwarming and sometimes humorous collection of stories from her fourteen years working in the industry. She shares her Ordinary Extraordinary experiences and the valuable lessons she's learned along the way, inspiring us to appreciate the beauty in life. It is Sandy's prayer that "when you read these stories, you'll realize that we all have unique life experiences and that we can all learn from what others go through on this journey of life and death." 🪦

Links to purchase "MY LIFE AT THE CEMETERY: IT'S NOT AS DEAD AS YOU THINK" include: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/my-life-at-the-cemetery-sandy-doyle/1143770850?ean=9798886446616

https://www.amazon.com/My-Life-Cemetery-Spiritual-Journey/dp/B0CBNSM3XD?source=ps-sl-shoppingads-lpcontext&ref_=fplfs&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&dplnkId=4783d6c3-9c09-409c-9308-c388fd0c4660

To learn more about Optimist International, click here: https://www.optimist.org/aboutoi.cfm

Now available on YouTube: https://youtu.be/hag-MkkNjDg?si=f5aD4a1nGN0DQGOg

To learn more about Atlas Preservation's "48 State Tour", click here: https://atlaspreservation.com/