Contest Winners… “In Search for the Unusual and Bizarre”

March 18, 2009 by · Leave a Comment 

AND the winners are…

A few weeks ago the History’s Newsstand Blog ran a contest asking members to contribute unusual and/or bizarre articles they’ve discovered through the years.  Many unique entries were submitted, and the voting, done by both members and staff, resulted in a photo finish.  The results:

1st Place ($100 website gift certificate) -Phil Howland who submitted a St. Louis Missouri Republican, June 22, 1826, regarding “A MISSOURI TRAPPER”

2nd Place ($50 website gift certificate) – Joe Rainone, who submitted THE DAY’S DOINGS,  February 10, 1872, regarding General Custer and Miss Spotted Tale”

3rd Place ($25 website gift certificate) -Erik Anderson, who submitted The Gentleman’s Magazine, dated March, 1732, regarding “Vampires”

The entire text all of entries may be viewed at:

“In Search for the Unusual and Bizarre”


Thanks to all those who took the time to submit an entry.  Many members indicated by e-mail as to how much the enjoyed reading the entries.  The MISSOURI TRAPPER:

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Filed under: Contests, Unusual, Fun & Bizarre
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Humorous content: Patience, my dear…

February 28, 2009 by · Leave a Comment 

A brief bit in the “Ocean Chronicle” newspaper of February 14, 1887 reads:

” ‘My dear’, said a young wife to her husband, ‘you have never taken me to the cemetery yet!’ ‘No, my love,’ he replied: ‘that is a pleasure I have yet in anticipation.’ “

No comments necessary.  🙂

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A Bizarre Report: Maybe she was angry about her name…

February 21, 2009 by · Leave a Comment 

The “Courier of New Hampshire” newspaper from Concord, Nov. 21, 1795 has a page 3 item:

“Whereas my wife Sukey, having behaved herself much unbecoming a kind and dutiful Wife, and treated me in a cruel and inhuman manner, by beating, bruising, and otherwise ill-treating me–and having taken from me, without my leave and consent, and carried from my house our only child Robert Osgood, in the 7th year of his age; I therefore hereby forbid any persons harbouring or trusting said Sukey and Robert, or either of them, on my account, as I shall not pay any debt of their contracting after the date of this public notice.”

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Believable?

September 27, 2008 by · Leave a Comment 

A Columbian Centinel newspaper from Boston, 1829, contains an obituary for a man who was reported to be 104 years old at his death and was married at age 18, and noting his wife had just died earlier in the year. This means they were were married for 86 years.  Although this is possible,     I often times question the validity of reports in early newspapers. However, a Google search notes that the Guinness Book of World Records records this marriage as the longest on record.

Believe it or not!

Have you ever read an account of something too extraordinary to be believed? Feel free to share with us.

Filed under: The Hobby
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