by B.L. Unkel | Jul 3, 2021 | History
Tomorrow is July 4th, our country’s birthday. But rather than talk about the American Revolution, let’s jump ahead almost one hundred fifty years to an American hero known simply as “Sergeant York.” For most people, York’s hero status comes from his actions during...
by B.L. Unkel | Jun 12, 2021 | History
As I mentioned in last week’s DYK, after the Revolutionary War, North Carolina (NC) claimed the land to its west. But this action came with complications, namely frontier settlers. The settlers complained about the lack of protection and the way their problems were...
by B.L. Unkel | Jun 5, 2021 | History
There are many interesting facts, stories, and legends about Tennessee. In honor of my adopted state’s 225th birthday, I’ve decided to share some of them with you this month. Today, let’s look at a few interesting facts from Tennessee’s history. Early...
by B.L. Unkel | May 15, 2021 | History
Like the honeybee, the peanut plant is not native to North America. But it did originate in the Americas, just somewhere in South America, most likely Peru or Brazil. Spreading the Peanuts There is evidence that peanuts were around as far back as 1,500 BC....
by B.L. Unkel | May 8, 2021 | History
Tomorrow is Mother’s Day. Do you know the history behind it? It began with the ancient Greeks and Romans. They honored their mother goddesses with festivals. Fast-forward to the sixteenth century and you’ll find “Mothering Sunday.” This was a Christian holiday...
by B.L. Unkel | Apr 24, 2021 | History
Have you ever heard of a Courting Candle? I hadn’t. Not until a recent visit to a local museum. According to the museum’s exhibit, a father used a courting candle to limit the length of time a suitor could spend with his daughter. When the candle burned down to the...
