Deciding which newspapers to offer – Bond Hall Explosion edition…

July 26, 2024 by · Leave a Comment 

We are often asked how we decide which newspapers from our archives to collect and/or offer to other collectors. The answer is quite involved. Is it rare, and if so, is it desirable? Is it historic? A large portion of collectible issues relate to the plethora of events we all learned about in grade school. Does it tell of a sports or political milestone… a broken record… a tragedy… a discovery… an invention? Does it have content related to another collectible (ex., model train enthusiasts love to add newspapers featuring coverage of the development of the railroad). If the answer to any of these questions (and similar) is yes, chances are the newspaper will have value to a collector of historic newspapers. Requests from collectors are also a great way to discover new issues to offer, as are movie releases, current events which relate to the past, and new books (both non- and historical fiction).

One of my favorite “reasons” for exploring our archives in the hopes of finding something new to collect and/or to offer to others is the latter: historical fiction. I think part of the fun for me is discovering whether or not a particular event I read about is more “historical” or more “fiction”.

This trek was recently inspired when I became aware of author Michelle Collins Anderson’s new novel, “The Flower Sisters”.
A review by journalist James Gardener included in part: ““The Flower Sisters” is a must-read for anyone interested in the intersection of history, memory, and storytelling. Join Daisy Flowers on her quest for truth and justice”.

The outcome? The photo below from an issue of the Kansas City Journal for April 15, 1928 reveals what I surmised by a brief internet search. How horrible. Unfortunately, the cause still remains a mystery.

Note: What’s a Zizzer? A town can often be defined by a single sensational event – be it tragic (in this instance), historical (Williamsburg, VA), spectacular (Aspen, Colorado), etc. It is easy to forget that these locations have much more to explore than these single moments in time. While the Bond Dance Hall was truly horrific, there is no doubt those who have lived there over time see much more. Feel free to learn more about West Plains, Missouri at: West Plains. Perhaps “Zizzer” will become part of your vocabulary. Randon thought: I wonder if Dick Van Dyke ever had a local Zizzer?

 

Dramatic Headlines Speak for Themselves… Martin Luther King Jr Assassinated!

March 11, 2024 by · Leave a Comment 

The best headlines need no commentary. Such is the case with The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer, April 5, 1968, which featured a report on the assassination of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr:

“DR. KING IS SHOT TO DEATH”

Dramatic Headlines Speak for Themselves… Senator Robert Kennedy near death…

October 23, 2023 by · Leave a Comment 

The best headlines need no commentary. Such is the case with the LOS ANGELES TIMES, June 6, 1968, which had a pre-death report on the assassination of Senator Bobby Kennedy:

KENNEDY PARALYZED AND NEAR DEATH

They Never Saw it Coming… The Sinking of the Titanic.

December 9, 2022 by · Leave a Comment 

We may at times wonder what happens to a person as they experience a traumatic event. What drives them to react as they do? My brother-in-law, who served as a Marine, once told me that people rarely rise to a higher level of nobility when faced with crisis. They are either overcome by terror, or they default to their training.

As I read through an article covering testimonies of Titanic survivors printed in the Evening Tribune (San Diego) from April 23, 1912 (shown below), while I have no life experience to know firsthand, I had to admit he may be right. After considering the quotes of a lifeboat captain who was being questioned by Congress, it was clear he was surrounded by two types of individuals: your average everyday citizen and ship hands who had been trained to follow orders. Pondering this type situation, I would like to think I would respond differently, but perhaps I should put a bit of preparation alongside of my hope. Of course, how does one prepare for such a calamity?

Great Headlines Speak For Themselves… death of Knute Rockne…

April 27, 2017 by · Leave a Comment 

The best headlines need no commentary. Such is the case with the EVENING HERALD, Los Angeles, California, March 31, 1931“KNUTE ROCKNE KILLED”

Similar posts may be viewed at: Great Headlines Speak For Themselves

Great Headlines Speak For Themselves… the Hindenburg tragedy!

August 11, 2016 by · 2 Comments 

The best headlines need no commentary. Such is the case with the NEW YORK AMERICAN, May 7, 1937: “HINDENBURG EXPLODES AT LAKEHURST; 35 DEAD“:Blog-8-11-2016-Hindenburg

Great Headlines Speak For Themselves… Cocoanut Grove fire…

July 23, 2015 by · Leave a Comment 

The best headlines need no commentary. Such is the case with the LOS ANGELES TIMES, November 30, 1942: “FIRE KILLS 431 IN NIGHT CLUB“…Blog-7-23-2015-Cocoanut-Grove-Club-Fire

Great Headlines Speak For Themselves… death of Carole Lombard…

October 24, 2014 by · Leave a Comment 

The best headlines need no commentary. Such is the case with the LOS ANGELES EXAMINER, California, January 18, 1942: “CAROLE LOMBARD AND 21 OTHERS IN AIRLINER WRECK”Blog-10-10-2014-Carole-Lombard-death

The Traveler… the dam burst… the judge “solomonizes” it…

October 3, 2011 by · Leave a Comment 

In the travels of The New York Tribune dated October 3, 1911,  I found several reports on the destruction of the town of Austin, Pennsylvania. This occurred just a few days prior and was the result of the breaking of a fifty foot high and thirty foot wide concrete dam which then flooded this small town, destroying everything in its path.

In contrast to the above tragedy…  A bit of an amusing story is included of a court case which involved the owners of two cows, each of which became the mother to a calf. They wanted to have the court decide which rightfully owned the calf. The magistrate  literally took to the fields (the pasture) and “solomonized” his decision by the conduct of the cows and the calf.  See image for details.

~The Traveler