Frances and Stephen were unlikely friends. For one thing, she was seventeen years his senior. Beyond the obvious difference in their ages, the two could not have been more different.
The Hymn Writer and the President
The Hangman Who Went to the White House
The sheriff of Erie County, New York had a nickname. “Big Steve” earned this monicker because of his size, but it also referred to his character. In an era when graft and […]
Two Hotheaded Boys and Two Patient Mothers
David and Leslie had a couple of things in common: each had volatile tempers, and both of them had mothers who believed those tempers could and should be controlled. David was known […]
This is the King, and I’ll Be Your Pilot Today
Whenever you fly, you expect your pilot will have the highest qualifications. You take it for granted that he or she has the appropriate pilot’s license and training for that aircraft and […]
The Famous Pilot Who Crashed His First Solo Flight
Manny wanted nothing more than to be a pilot, but it just didn’t seem to be in the cards. How he managed to get his wings and become one of the most […]
What is the Real Reason Chicago is Known as the “Windy City”?
A city’s nickname can be just as powerful of an identifier as its proper name. Mention “Sin City,” and people think of Las Vegas. If you talk about the “Big Apple,” people […]
From Tyrant Teacher to Despicable Dictator
Benito Mussolini started out as a school teacher. He soon realized he was unsuited for the job. This was no shock to his students, who conferred a nickname upon their teacher: “The […]
What Happens When Buffalo Butt, Old Fart, Funny Face, and Thunder Child Mourn Beef/Pork/Bubba?
From the obituary of James Robert “Beef” Ward: James Robert “Beef” Ward, 39, passed away Thursday, September 1, 2005, at O.S.U. East Hospital. He will be sadly and sorely missed by his […]
Commonplace Fun Facts 