Episodes

  • Arlington National Cemetery with Dr. Allison Finklestein.

    Arlington National Cemetery with Dr. Allison Finklestein.
    Aug 10 2024

    Arlington National Cemetery, located in Arlington, Virginia, has a rich and poignant history. It began as the estate of George Washington Parke Custis, the adopted grandson of George Washington. The estate was called Arlington House. Freedman's Village was an important settlement established during and after the American Civil War. Located in Arlington. The village was established by the U.S. government as part of a broader effort to assist newly freed slaves transitioning from slavery to freedom. It was part of the larger Freedmen's Bureau initiative, which aimed to provide relief, education, and employment opportunities to freed people.Dr. Allison S. Finklestein serves as Senior Historian at Arlington National Cemetery. She earned her Ph.D. in U.S. History from the University of Maryland, College Park, where she also studied historic preservation. Her first book, "Forgotten Veterans, Invisible Memorials: How American Women Commemorated the Great War, 1917-1945", was published by the University of Alabama Press in 2021 and released in paperback in September 2023. It won the Mid-Atlantic Regional Archives Conference's 2022 Arline Custer Memorial Award for best book. From 2017 to 2018 the Arlington County Board appointed her as the Chair of the Arlington World War I Commemoration Task Force.


    Show notes at

    Historyfromthehomestead.com
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    29 mins
  • SS GulfAmerica sinking 1942.

    SS GulfAmerica sinking 1942.
    Jun 30 2024
    In 1942 during World War 2 Nazi U-Boats brazenly prowled just off the East coast on the United States sinking merchant shipping vital to our war effort. But the most spectacular sinking of them all occurred in April 1942 when U-123 commanded by Reinhard Hardegen sank the tanker SS GulfAmerica only a mere 5 miles off the coast of Jacksonville Florida in full view of beachgoers!
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    43 mins
  • Big Muskie, World's Largest Dragline.

    Big Muskie, World's Largest Dragline.
    Jun 1 2024
    The Big Muskie was a model 4250-W dragline and was the only one ever built by the Bucyrus-Erie. This Mammoth Dragline became the largest dragline in the World! (A record that still stands). This massive machine weighs in at a whooping 27 MILLION pounds! It spent 22 years in Ohio removing overburden from the vast coalfields. it removed over 608,000,000 cubic yards of dirt which twice the amount of dirt removed to build the Panama Canal!
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    55 mins
  • Quecreek Mine Rescue with Former Pennsylvania Governor Mark Schweiker.

    Quecreek Mine Rescue with Former Pennsylvania Governor Mark Schweiker.
    Apr 14 2024
    In the dark depths of the Quecreek mine, a disaster struck that would test the limits of human resilience and courage. It was a fateful night on July 24th, 2002, when nine miners found themselves trapped underground, their only lifeline to the surface cut off by a sudden flood of water from the poorly mapped Saxman mine. As the water rose around them, panic and desperation threatened to consume their spirits. But above ground, a different kind of energy was building - one of determination, unity, and unwavering resolve. The call for help rang out across the region, and soon, a small army of rescuers descended upon the mine, ready to do whatever it took to bring their fellow men back to safety. Former Governor Mark Schweiker, a beacon of hope and leadership in the midst of chaos, spearheaded the rescue efforts with unwavering dedication. From coordinating the influx of manpower and machinery to providing support and guidance to the trapped miners' families, Governor Schweiker's office played a pivotal role in the monumental task at hand. Days turned into nights, and the world held its breath as the rescue operation unfolded with painstaking precision. Inch by inch, foot by foot, the rescuers battled against time to reach the stranded miners. And finally, on July 28th, 2002, a collective sigh of relief echoed through the crowd as all nine men emerged from the darkness, battered but unbroken, their spirits buoyed by the unwavering support of their rescuers and the entire community. As Governor Schweiker reflects on those harrowing days, he shares not just a story of survival and triumph, but a testament to the indomitable spirit of humanity in the face of adversity. The Quecreek mine disaster may have tested their limits, but it also revealed the boundless depths of courage, compassion, and camaraderie that lie within us all.
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    1 hr and 1 min
  • Moon Trees with Dave Williams.

    Moon Trees with Dave Williams.
    Mar 14 2024
    In 1971 United State Forest Service Chief Edward Cliff convinced former smoke jumper turned astronaut Stuart Roosa to take tree seeds on his trip to the moon on Apollo 14. The seeds returned to Earth safely and were later germinated and planted around the country for the bicentennial celebration of America.
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    26 mins
  • Reed Gold Mine with Larry Neal.

    Reed Gold Mine with Larry Neal.
    Feb 15 2024
    Conrad Reed's discovery of a 17-pound gold nugget in Little Meadow Creek in 1799 marked the beginning of the gold rush in North Carolina. Initially used as a doorstop, the nugget was later identified as gold by a jeweler in Fayetteville. Despite not fully understanding its value, Conrad's father, John Reed, sold the nugget for $3.50, a mere fraction of its actual worth. Recognizing the potential of their land, John Reed organized a small-scale gold mining operation around 1803. Soon after, a slave named Peter discovered a 28-pound gold nugget, further affirming the presence of substantial gold deposits on the property. Inspired by these findings, Reed shifted his focus to placer mining, a technique that involves extracting gold from streambeds using simple tools. As time passed, John Reed transitioned to underground mining in 1831, which involved digging shafts and tunnels to access deeper gold veins. His mining efforts proved successful, and he amassed significant wealth from the gold found on his property.
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    28 mins
  • Horseshoe Curve with Matthew Wolff.

    Horseshoe Curve with Matthew Wolff.
    Jan 15 2024
    In 1854 the “World Famous Horseshoe Curve” was completed after 3 years of back breaking work by mostly Irish immigrants. Opening this important stretch of railway shortened a trip across Pennsylvania by days! Altoona Railroaders Museum archive manger Matthew Wolff joins me as we explore this Famous Landmark.
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    31 mins
  • The Worlds Oldest Rollercoaster! With Dave Hahner.

    The Worlds Oldest Rollercoaster! With Dave Hahner.
    Dec 15 2023
    Nestled in the Altoona Pennsylvania area is a small side friction rollercoaster named Leap-The-Dips. Built in 1902 Leap-The-Dips has the distinction of being the oldest operating coaster in the World! Joining me is American Coaster Enthusiasts member and historian David Hahner. ACE was instrumental in helping to restore this coaster to operational condition.
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    40 mins