by Donna Klein Early Attempts at Creating a Sewing Machine One of the greatest inventions of the Victorian era is the sewing machine, but its roots run all the way back to the 18th century. After more than 20,000 years of hand sewing, and nearly 300 years after the advent of the first [...]
It's Winter – Time to Grab a Sled and Find a Hill! We finally got our first big snowfall of the season up here in Northern Michigan – just in time for the New Year! I haven't been sledding in years, but I just might have to get out and do a little this winter. [...]
By Donna Klein Trains and Change Trains have always held a certain fascination for me. I love the sound of trains; the whistles, the vibrations, the rhythm of the wheels on the rails. Oh, the places you can go by train. Oh, the things you can see! Oh, the changes that came to [...]
Updated February 3, 2019 The groundhog has spoken and depending upon where you live, the prediction is either six more weeks of winter or early spring. Whatever way it turns out, there is definitely more winter to come. I started to think about what Victorian ladies wore during winter. Winter Outer Garments During the 1840s [...]
New Year celebrations have changed over time, even from the beginning to the end of the Victorian era. Prince Albert may have introduced the tradition of the Christmas tree from Germany, but Queen Victoria was obsessed with everything Scottish. There was no bigger holiday during the year in Scotland than New Year’s Eve and Day where it is known as Hogmanay or Hegmena and the Queen passed her passion on to her subjects.
by Donna Klein Charles Dickens, the Victorian Era, and Today's Christmas Traditions An annual holiday tradition in my house is watching “A Christmas Carol,” based on the novella by Charles Dickens. It got me thinking, 'what was Christmas really like in Dickens' day, and what is his influence on how we celebrate the [...]
by Donna Klein I love non-commercial radio, which means WCMU where I live. As I was driving earlier this week, the station was conducting a fundraiser for heating assistance. Fundraisers usually mean the more popular selections of classical music are played. It was no surprise that holiday music was the fare of the day, [...]
By Donna Klein Thanksgiving During the Gilded Age Thanksgiving is here! As I thought about the holiday, I wondered what it was like during the glory years of the characters on Downton Abbey. I know the British don't celebrate Thanksgiving, but what was it like for their American counterparts? What was Thanksgiving like [...]
What Made Sister Blandina Segale's Service in the Old West Extraordinary? Sister Blandina Segale wrote a memoir of her time in Colorado Territory, titled At the End of the Santa Fe Trail. Stories of her adventures while serving in the Old West have been featured in novels, television programs, histories, and even a comic book. The CBS [...]