The Dividing Wall of Hostility
Fifty-five years ago today, East Germany began constructing the Berlin Wall in order to stop the flood of citizens attempting enter to...
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ruthieburrell
Mar 13, 20164 min read
Stories: The Lifeblood of Memories
In recent months, a few of you have asked about why I’m posting less often on this blog—apologies for not giving an explanation sooner....
ruthieburrell
Jan 8, 20163 min read
Triumphs and Tragedies of New Year’s Day
For many years, New Year’s Day has been a time of looking back and looking forward—a day of two faces. This becomes all the more apparent...
ruthieburrell
Oct 9, 20153 min read
St Paul’s: Standing in the Fire
In times of chaos, the holy places become refuges, symbols of tenacious, desperate hope. Because no matter how bad things get, no matter...
ruthieburrell
Sep 11, 20154 min read
Where Were You When . . . ?
It’s a question we have a tendency to ask regarding important historical events. Where were you when you found out about Pearl Harbor?...
ruthieburrell
Jul 10, 20153 min read
Reinventing the Colosseum
People died here. The trapdoor would open, and out would come a monster—a wild boar, a wolf, a lion, a rhinoceros. The slave or prisoner...
ruthieburrell
Jun 12, 20154 min read
Single-Minded: A Look at the Lives of Florence Nightingale and Clara Barton
Two women, born in 1820 and 1821 respectively. One known for her nursing work in the Crimean War, the other for hers in the Civil War....
ruthieburrell
May 8, 20154 min read
Celebrating Victory and Hope: The 70th Anniversary of VE Day
Seventy years ago today, VE Day was celebrated in both Britain and the United States, marking the end of World War II in Europe. I could...
ruthieburrell
Apr 17, 20153 min read
Paul Revere: A Messenger’s Tale
Listen, my children, and you shall hear Of the midnight ride of Paul Revere, On the eighteenth of April, in Seventy-five; Hardly a man...
ruthieburrell
Mar 14, 20154 min read
Pages from the Past
Last month I attended a family history and genealogy conference in Salt Lake City as part of my job for one of the companies I work for....
ruthieburrell
Feb 13, 20152 min read
3 Legends of Valentine’s Day
Since Valentine’s Day is tomorrow, I thought it would be interesting to learn a little more about how and why the holiday first began....
ruthieburrell
Jan 16, 20152 min read
The Today of the Past
At first glance, one day is a mundane thing. Twenty-four hours seems pretty insignificant when compared to the whole of history. I often...
ruthieburrell
Dec 12, 20143 min read
Peace on Earth: The Christmas Truce of 1914
Ironically, I wrote this post a week before seeing the Sainsbury’s ad telling the same story. I thought about changing it but decided a...
ruthieburrell
Nov 16, 20149 min read
Living a Century, Part 2
Bonus Post! Part 2 of a piece written in honor of my great-grandfather, Charles Maxwell Overholt, November 16, 1912 – March 25, 2013....
ruthieburrell
Nov 14, 20147 min read
Living a Century, Part 1
Part 1 of a piece written in honor of my great-grandfather, Charles Maxwell Overholt, November 16, 1912 – March 25, 2013. Part 2 will be...
ruthieburrell
Oct 17, 20143 min read
Six Bizarre (but True) Stories from History
In my opinion, bizarre news stories – the ones that make me stop and think, Huh? – are the best kind. Below are six such stories. But...
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