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For photos of this episode, click here.Continuing our trek in Luray, Virginia, I meet with Isabela Graves from the Shenandoah Heritage Village Museum. She shares the incredible work she and her husband have been doing to preserve the history of the valley, and some truly spectacular artifacts housed there.Shenandoah Heritage VillageThe Shenandoah Heritage Village is a seven-acre re-creation of a small 19th-century farming community made up of restored historic buildings, cottage-style gardens, and a small vineyard with a scenic mountain backdrop. They even have a cafe and gem mining sluice!Iron StovesIt was a very complicated process, to create the highly decorated iron stoves. The artists would have to carve their designs to create a wooden mold. Then that carving would be pressed into very hard sand, so molten iron could be poured in. These different plates of iron would then be assembled into a stove that could replace large, dangerous hearths. They were safer, easier to cook with, and really revolutionized kitchen life for colonials. And they were made with incredibly elaborate designs.1539 BibleThis bible was not only an important religious relic but also a catalog of historic events. It was printed in Zurich, Switzerland in 1536 by Christopher Froschauer who was a printer of the Swiss Reformation.  It has illustrations painted by Hans Holbein the Younger, the King's Painter to Henry VIII of England.Episode Links: Shenandoah Heritage Village website: https://luraycaverns.com/attractions/shenandoah-heritage-village/

If you would like to see photos of this episode, click here.This week we head to Virginia to visit Luray Caverns, the most highly decorated caverns in the world according to the Smithsonian. In this episode, we hear from three professionals who share the history of the caverns, the science behind the decorating formations, and how The Great Stalacpipe Organ creates music.Phantom Chasers Luray Caverns was discovered on August 13th, 1878 by three local men: Andrew J. Campbell (a local tinsmith), William Campbell, and local photographer Benton Stebbins. These fellows were prospecting for a show cave as they knew of a cave in southern Virginia that was open and giving tours. If they could find a cave, they too could make some money.   They spent a whole summer looking at every sinkhole on every farmer's land, all around town. The townspeople thought they were crazy, calling them “Phantom Chasers”. Eventually, the group came across one particular sinkhole. When they put their hands down, they felt cool air coming out of a quarter-size hole in the ground. They enlarged the hole enough for one man, Andrew Campbell, to slide down on a rope with a candle in hand. They discovered what they were looking for, one of the largest caverns in the world.The Science of Cavern Decor Cavern formations are created when water on the surface infiltrates into the ground. It picks up minerals that are in the soil and rock as it seeps into the earth.  Eventually, it enters the cavern system through microscopic pores in the rock. As the water drips and flows in, it deposits those minerals along the ceilings, walls, and floors. And over many, many years those minerals build up and reconstitute into these larger formations.On average, scientists estimate that formations at Luray take around 120 years to grow one cubic inch. The largest formation in the cavern system is 40 feet tall, 120 feet in circumference at the base, and is an estimated seven and a half million years old. It’s called the Giant Redwood Tree as it resembles the trunk of a giant Sequoia.The Great Stalacpipe Organ Mr. Leland Sprinkles brought his son to Luray Caverns for his fifth birthday. At the time, tour guides would play a tune on the stalactites and stalagmites by striking them with a mallet. This gave Mr. Sprinkles, an engineer and organist, the idea to create a playable organ using the cave’s formations. With an agreement over a handshake, Sprinkles began developing the organ. He would scout for tones by striking the formations and pick those that were closest. Then he would tune them to concert pitch by sanding them down. It was first played in 1957  and is still in use today. It covers three and a half acres, making it the world’s largest natural musical instrument!Episode Links: Luray Caverns webpage: https://luraycaverns.com/ Discovery of Luray Caverns, Virginia by Russell H. Gurneebook: https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/discovery-of-luray-caverns-virginia_russell-h-gurnee/1801668/item/8715266/#edition=727824&idiq=32909429

Episode 8: Marietta House MuseumFor photos of this episode, click here.This week we meet with Julia Rose at the Marietta House Museum. “Marietta House Museum houses the histories of multiple generations of families, free and enslaved, who lived and labored on the roughly 600 acres that made up Marietta Manor. The historic site holds the stories of how life was lived in agricultural Maryland from the Federal Era, Antebellum years, Civil War period, Jim Crow and Reconstruction through to the rise of the modern Civil Rights era in the early 20th century.” The work done at the house primarily focuses on the slavery era and understanding the mechanics of that system, and the paradox of the legal language of Liberty. Silenced stories of enslaved individuals are shared, as well as the different avenues (legal and illegal at the time) that they used to pursue their freedom.Gabriel Duval’s Law Office Gabriel Duval was a very successful lawyer for enslaved people and their families who were filing petitions for freedom, freeing over 100 individuals throughout his career. He became a Supreme court associate justice during the time of President Madison, and his law office is found next to the Marietta House. It had contained a library of over 500 books and by examining the language of these texts, and comparing them to influential writings of the time, we can better understand the legal language and the definition of Liberty. However: “All men are created equal” did not apply to all men, and even Duval himself was dichotomous in this nature.  The Butler family, who Gabriel Duval enslaved in 1805, sued for their freedom in 1828. Though Duval was a lawyer for enslaved people who were filing petitions for freedom, he fought the Butler family in court for over three years. Though they were eventually successful, the legality of freedom was anything but simplistic. We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness. — second paragraph of the United States Declaration of IndependenceEpisode Links: Marietta House Museum: https://www.pgparks.com/3072/Marietta-House-Museum Slavery Inventory Database: https://slaveryinventorydatabase.com/ Duval Family Association: https://www.duvalfamilyassociation.org/

For photos of this episode, click here. This week we meet with Robert Hicks, the previous Director of the Mutter Museum in Philadelphia. The Museum contains a collection of anatomical and pathological specimens, wax models, and antique medical equipment, and is part of The College of Physicians of Philadelphia. Along with the many preserved specimens in the macabre repository, you can find the liver of conjoined twins Chang and Eng Bunker, a 40 lb colon, and anthropodermic books (or books bound in human skin). Robert shares with us the history of some radioactive artifacts used by Marie Curie, including the Piezoelectric Quartz Electrometer, which is the oldest extant device for measuring radioactivity. We also learn about a very rare disorder called fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP), and an incredible individual who not only lived with the disorder but thrived through adversity and even donated her skeleton to be displayed at the Mutter (along with her jewelry, of course!).CAROL ANN ORZEL Carol Ann Orzel, born on April 20, 1959, was diagnosed with FOP as a child. When she was 23, she moved to a long-term care facility and spent the rest of her life there. Though her muscles were slowly turning to bone, she was a strong voice in disability activism, established communication networks with other individuals suffering from FOP, and advocated for more research into the disease (of which there currently is no cure). She was also quite the social butterfly, charming many with her bright personality and colorful jewelry. Upon her death, Carol wished for her skeleton to be displayed at the Mutter Museum, alongside the skeleton of Harry Raymond Eastlack Jr, who also suffered from FOP. She did have one condition, her jewelry must also be displayed next to her.MARIE CURIE Marie is best known for her pioneering research on radioactivity. She was a Polish and naturalized-French physicist and chemist who was the first woman to win a Nobel Prize, the only woman to win the Nobel Prize twice, and the first person to win the Nobel Prize in two scientific fields.Episode Links: Mutter Museum webpage: https://muttermuseum.org/ Carol and Harry, Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva (FOP), Mutter Museum: https://muttermuseum.org/exhibitions/harry-and-carol Harry Eastlack with FOP, Mutter online exhibit: http://memento.muttermuseum.org/detail/fibrodysplasia-ossificans-progressiva The glowing graphic novel "Radioactive: Marie & Pierre Curie, A Tale of Love and Fallout" by Lauren Redniss: http://laurenredniss.com/radioactive/ Dog Edition Conservation Canines: https://shows.dogpodcastnetwork.com/show/dog-edition/conservation-canines-dog-edition-51/  

For photos of this episode, click here.This week we meet with Kristin DeGrace at the Chesapeake Beach Railway Museum in Maryland. She shares with us the incredible dream behind a vacation paradise destination, getting buried alive to make a living during the Great Depression, and about a railway trying to stay relevant in a changing world. “In the late 1800s, a group of Colorado railroad men shared a dream to build a world-class seaside destination on the shores of the Chesapeake and a railroad to connect it to Washington, D.C. The official opening ceremony for the railway took place on June 9, 1900, and the last train departed on April 15, 1935. The amusements continued until the 1970s, evolving with the times. During its heyday, the Chesapeake Beach Resort attracted tens of thousands of people. However, changing tastes, wars, damaging storms, the great depression—experiences that are familiar to us today – all conspired to bring this enterprise to a close. The town created by this grand endeavor lives on, and the traces of its beginnings are evident everywhere. The Chesapeake Beach Railway Museum (CBRM) tells the story of these men, the dream they built, and the town that continues to redefine the story.”                            -Chesapeake Beach Railway MuseumEpisode Links: Chesapeake Beach Railway Museum webpage: https://chesapeakebeachrailwaymuseum.com/

For pictures of this episode, click here.This week we meet with Robert Emerson at Old Fort Niagara in New York. The first fortified structure on the area was built in 1678 and has a few rebuilds and remodeling done since. In the 17th and 18th centuries, the roads were abysmal and the best way to travel was by water. And the great lakes created this water superhighway, so the location of the Fort at the mouth of the Niagara River was coveted by the French, British, and Americans.  Also situated in the fort, is the French Castle, built in 1726. We learn why this castle was meant to look like a peaceful place of business rather than the fortification it was, who occupied the fort throughout its lifetime, and the Star-Spangled Banner’s older sister flag, the 1813 Garrison flag.Episode Links: Fort Niagara website: https://www.oldfortniagara.org/ Dog Edition episode I produced: https://shows.dogpodcastnetwork.com/show/dog-edition/conservation-canines-dog-edition-51/

 For photos of this episode, click here. This week we meet with Laura Scharle at the Indian River Life-Saving Station Museum in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. Life saving stations were erected along the Eastern coastline, at about 5 - 7 mile intervals. The purpose of these stations was to offer rescue and first aid to victims of shipwrecks. A precursor to today’s U.S. Coast Guard, the United States Lifesaving Service staffed these stations with trained servicemen who practiced drills during the day, and conducted beach-patrols at night.  The station at Indian River was originally in 1876, but was moved to its present location in 1877 due to a sand dune building up around the station. It has since been restored to it’s 1905 appearance. Breeches Buoy A lyle gun was used to deploy the breeches buoy:  a gun and carriage of solid bronze weighing 186 pounds would fire a 17 pound steel projectile with a line attached. Once this whip line was secured to the mast of the ship in distress,  the hozer line would be strung up. Hanging from the hozer line was a life ring with a pair of pants sewn to it. Using the system as a zip-line, sailors could be pulled from the sinking vessel to safety on shore. Beach Patrols Beach patrols were a daily part of life for the men working the stations, and between nightly patrols and daily drills, there may have been a man or two who would rather take a quick nap than complete their patrol. With the life saving stations only about 5 to 7 miles apart from each other, the men walking the patrols would meet in the middle, one heading South, the other North) and exchange surfman’s checks with their corresponding identification information. This ensured no one skipped out on doing their portion of the patrol! If a water source like a river inlet blocked the path to next station, a patrol clock would be installed. This clock would punch out a time on a piece of paper (effectively acting as the first punch clock) to show the guard completed his route.  Episode Links: Indian River Life Saving Station webpage: https://destateparks.com/History/IRLifeSavingStation U.S. Life-saving Station Service Heritage Association: https://uslife-savingservice.org/station/locate-a-station/

For photos of this episode, click here.  This week we meet with Bob Beggs, co-founder of the American Helicopter Museum and Education Center in West Chester, Pennsylvania. He shares with us the process of establishing a museum and what progressive programs have been developed there. We discuss rotor heads, whirly girls, and the impressive ingenuity of rotary flight, as well as Harold Pitcairn and his Collier Award for his development of the autogyro and the human-powered, award-winning Aerovelo Atlas helicopter. Whirly-Girls The Whirly-Girls are an international organization of women helicopter pilots that was developed “in hopes of sharing information and camaraderie regardless of country, race, religion or politics”-Jean Ross Howard Phelan, founder and first president of the organization. The first Whirly Girl, Hanna Reistch (WG#1) was the first woman in the world to fly a helicopter, an FW-61 Focke-Achegelis. She also holds the world record for sustained flight and altitude in gliders, flew horizontal bombers, dive-bombers, fighter planes, and a ME 163 rocket plane. She was the only person, male or female to ever successfully fly the V-1 rocket.Harold Frederick Pitcairn Harold is credited with developing the autogyro, the precursor to rotary-wing helicopters. For this, he won the Collier Award, which is a prestigious award given to someone in the aviation industry for the most significant accomplishment in aviation that year. The Collier Award trophy is kept at the National Air and Space Museum in D.C., but each winner is given a personal, mini replica. Harold’s trophy is now on display at the American Helicopter Museum. Find a list of all the Collier Award Winners, click here: https://www.curatorschoicepodcast.com/collier-trophy-award-winnersAerovelo Atlas The Aerovelo Atlas is the first human-powered helicopter that achieved the goals of the American Helicopter Society International’s Igor I. Sikorsky Human Powered Helicopter Competition. It was designed by Dr. Todd Reichert and Dr. Cameron Robertson of the University of Toronto and constructed with the help of students and graduates of the University. Steering was accomplished by leaning the bicycle to tilt the rotor axes. On June 13, 2013, the Aerovelo team flew the Atlas for 64 seconds and achieved an altitude of 3.3 meters (11 feet) in a Toronto area arena, and captured the $250,000 prize.Episode Links: American Helicopter Museum and Education Center webpage: https://americanhelicopter.museum/ Whirly-Girls International Women Helicopter Pilots webpage: https://whirlygirls.org/history/ Aerovelo website: http://www.aerovelo.com/

For photos of this episode, click here.This week we meet with Tim Baxter at the Oakwood Cemetery in Niagara Falls, New York. Historic Oakwood Cemetery was founded in 1852 on land donated by Lavinia Porter, daughter of Judge Augustus Porter (who is also one of the acknowledged founders of Niagara Falls). The Oakwood landscape we know today dates from an original design drawn in 1852 by noted civil engineer T.D. Judah. Drake Whitney, and consists of 18.5 acres of land in downtown Niagara Falls. Oakwood today contains many outstanding examples of funerary art including obelisks, sarcophagi, and beautiful statuary. Additionally, the landscape is lush with mature plantings and trees, many dating from the earliest time of the cemetery.Annie TaylorAmong those buried at Oakwood Cemetery is Annie Taylor, the first person to travel over the falls in a barrel. Annie wrote a book about her trip and in it she describes her inspiration for making the dangerous ride over the Falls:  “For two years I had been constantly studying, when not occupied in teaching, what I could do to make money-to make it honestly and quickly. All kinds of schemes ran riot through my brain. Reading in a New York paper about people going to the Pan-American Exposition, and from there to Niagara Falls, the idea came to me like a flash of light, “Go over the Niagara Falls in a barrel. No one has ever accomplished this feat.” -Over the Falls: Annie Taylor’s story of her trip Homan WalshAlso laid to rest at Oakwood is Homan Walsh, the young kite flyer whose kite and progressively larger ropes sent the cable across the gorge for the suspension bridge. In the mid 1800’s, the area around Niagara Falls was growing in terms of population and recognition as a tourist destination. To increase the opportunities of travel for the Niagara area, a bridge was needed to connect the Canada side of the Gorge with the United States side. The Niagara Gorge is 800 feet across and up to 200 feet deep, and many ideas were concocted to complete this challenging task. However, a kite competition in 1848 proved successful! With an award of $10 (or $5, depending on your source) for the first person to fly their kite across the Gorge, Homan Walsh entered the competition with his kit ‘Union’, and won! Using his kite’s string, stronger string was attached an pulled across, followed with steel cables, until a small cable car could be ridden across the Gorge. This process created the foundation for the Niagara Falls Suspension Bridge, which stood from 1855 to 1897 and played an important role not only in tourist activity and everyday transportation between two countries, but also as an important escape route of the Underground Railroad. Episode Links: Niagara Falls Oakwood Cemetery: https://oakwoodniagara.org/ “Over the Falls”, written by Annie Taylor in 1902 about her trip over Horseshoe Falls : https://archive.org/details/overfallsannieed00tayluoft/page/n3/mode/2up “The Kite that Bridged a River” article from Kit History: http://www.kitehistory.com/Miscellaneous/Homan_Walsh.htm The Kite That Bridged Two Nations – The Musical: https://thekitemusical.com/

For pictures of this episode, click here. Starting off the new year and season two, we meet at Historic Sotterley and speak with Katherine Humphries, who is the Education Coordinator, and Jeanne Pirtle, who is the Director of Educational Programming and Partnerships. Sotterley is a historic plantation, with parts of the house dating back to 1703. It has survived 3 major wars, hurricanes, lightning strikes, and numerous renovations, and today is an interpretive site comprised of 94 acres of land, over 20 authentic historical structures, and a sustainable farm that donates food to local pantries. For this episode, we focus on the Chinese Chippendale Banister, which was constructed ~1780, and the portrait of Sarah Satterlee, whose artist was a mystery until a curator from the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery visited and thought the style looked familiar! Episode Links: Official Historic Sotterley webpage: https://www.sotterley.org/ Met Museum’s artifact “The Gentleman and Cabinet-maker's Director: Being a Large Collection of Designs of Household Furniture in the Gothic, Chinese and Modern Taste 1754”: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/591840 Seth Cheney’s painting of James Jackosn, circa 1842, at the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery: https://npg.si.edu/object/npg_NPG.98.126?destination=edan-search/default_search%3Fedan_local%3D1%26edan_q%3Dseth%252Bcheney%26edan_fq%255B0%255D%3Donline_visual_material%253Atrue Sotterleys Recognitions and Awards 2012 Designated a Middle Passage Ceremonies and Port Marker’s Project Site 2017 Maryland Sustainable Growth Award for Preservation & Conservation 2018 Maryland Preservation Award for Slave Cabin Exhibit dedicated to Agnes Kane Callum 2019 Designated a UNESCO Site of Memory for the Slave Route Project 2020 Maryland Preservation Award for Excellence in Public Programming for Common Ground

Happy New Year!And welcome to Season 2 of Curator's Choice! So, for today's episode, I thought it could be fun to do a year review of the podcast, talk about some of the success, some of the not-so-great moments, and give you a sneak peek of what the next year will look like and what goals I have for the podcast. 31 regular episodes 5 bonus episodes 3,143 downloads 26 different museums and historical places 36 different people interviewed 12 different states and territories Over 57 artifacts, historic people, exhibits, or fossils featured What a year! Thank you so much for your support and for listening to Curator's Choice!  Cheers!Ayla

For photos of this episode, click here.This week we meet with Heather Stapleton, who is the Executive Director at The Heritage Center and Indian River Citrus Museum in Vero Beach, Florida. She shares with us the amazing story of their Micro and Mighty Museum, and what makes the citrus from the Indian River District so special (it is the only district in Florida whose name is protected by the Federal Trade Commission).Sour Oranges Though Florida’s state flower is the orange blossom, citrus is not native to the Sunshine State and was introduced by the Spanish explorers. It was known by sailors in the 1700s that oranges prevented scurvy on the long ocean voyages, and Queen Isabella required that each Spanish sailor takes with them 100 sour orange seeds and “plant” them along the southern coast. Then, years later, they would have fresh fruit to stave off Vitamin C deficiency on their return journey. These seeds were probably transported in olive jars, like the one recovered by famous treasure hunter Mel Fisher from the 1715 Spanish Plate Fleet Wreck.Episode Links: Indian River Citrus Museum: https://www.veroheritage.org/citrus-museum/ Indian River Citrus Museum’s Oral Histories: “Stories from the Grove” https://www.veroheritage.org/-stories-from-the-groves/ Florida Cowboy’s article: https://www.flamingomag.com/2021/10/18/how-these-ranchers-are-carrying-on-the-little-known-legacy-of-florida-cowboys/

For photos of this episode, click here.Part 3 of 3This week, for our third and final installment of the American Civil War Museum series, we meet with Robert Hancock, who is a Senior Curator and Director of Collections. The museum manages over 15,000 artifacts and over 150,000 manuscript items, and we talk to Robert about just a few of them. Though many items have been a part of the museum’s collection since the beginning, such as Robert E. Lee’s colt revolver, other items are new acquisitions that are to be preserved for future generations who wish to learn more about history. Changing Signs and Statues Below is an embedded presentation from the online exhibit: Birth of Monument Avenue. It discusses the origins of Richmond’s most contested and beloved boulevard, and features objects from the American Civil War Museum, the Library of Virginia, The Valentine, and the Virginia Museum of History and Culture. Episode Links: American Civil War Museum webpage: https://acwm.org/ On Monument Avenue online exhibits: https://onmonumentave.com/ American Civil War Museum online collections database: https://acwm.pastperfectonline.com/ General Robert E. Lee's Parole and Citizenship article from the National Archives: https://www.archives.gov/publications/prologue/2005/spring/piece-lee

Hello everyone! I am so excited to announce that Curator’s Choice Patreon is live!  Visit it here: https://www.patreon.com/curatorschoice If you would like to support this podcast by becoming a Patron, I have a couple of different affordable options and support tiers. You can choose to become a “historian” supporter for $2 a month, which will come with my sincere gratitude and early episode access, or you can choose to become a “curator” supporter for $5 a month, which will also come with my sincere gratitude, early episode access, and a monthly Patron-exclusive bonus episode! Thank you all so much for listening and for joining me on each new museum adventure!

For photos of this episode, click here.This week we meet with Ana Edwards for our second installment of a three-part series featuring the American Civil War Museum in Richmond, Virginia. Ana tells us about the history of Jefferson Davis, the President of the Confederate States, and home life in the “White House of the Confederacy” during his Presidency. We also discuss the complex relationships between enslavers, free blacks, and the enslaved, and the vision of the Confederacy as displayed in the museum’s Southern Ambitions exhibit.Gasoliers Just prior to the Civil War, Lewis Crenshaw completed a glamorous renovation on the “house with many names”, aimed at making the house a showcase of the prestigious neighborhood. Along with adding a 3rd story, he also purchased exquisite gasoliers that tapped into a local coal gas plant. With this modernization, the lights in the home were fueled with gas instead of coal and were much more energy-intensive to use, requiring each lamp to be individually turned on and lit with a match. There were 15 lights in the house, each with 2 to 6 lamps a piece!Episode Links: American Civil War Museum webpage: https://acwm.org/ The Baltimore Sun article about The Home of Jeff Davis: https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-1999-08-08-9908100462-story.html

For photos of this episode, click here.For the first episode of our three-part series at the American Civil War Museum, we meet with Chris Graham. He is the Curator of Exhibitions and shares with us the history of the Civil War in Richmond and how Tredegar Iron works influenced the location of the Confederate Capital.  He also tells us about a map of the Battle of First Mananas etched on a sheet as well as a modern-day relic from the Civil War that can be found in your own pocket (most likely, anyway)!Episode Links: American Civil War Museum webpage: https://acwm.org/

For photos of this episode, click here.For our second October bonus episode, we speak with Katy Perrine, who is a paranormal tour guide at the Trans Allegheny Lunatic Asylum and the co-owner of Appalachian Oddities. During this episode, we cover the tools of the trade for paranormal investigations, stories about the asylum and the infamous lobotomist Walter Freeman, and how Katy’s work at the asylum and knowledge of the macabre led to the establishment of her wild and wonderfully weird business venture. Appalachian Oddities is a store for the love of all things odd and interesting. They support and encourage talented artisans throughout the Appalachian region and beyond offer an interesting experience for anyone looking for something not always found in stores. WALTER FREEMAN IIFreeman was an American doctor who developed the “revolutionary” medical procedure called the transorbital lobotomy. Modeled after Dr. Egas Moniz’s leucotomy procedure,  Freeman’s "ice pick" lobotomy and was performed by inserting a metal pick near the corner of the eyes and moving the pick in an arc to sever the connections of the prefrontal cortex in the frontal lobe of the brain. Freeman claimed that this severed the bad connections in the brain, which were the cause of melancholy and mental disturbances, and allowed new positive connections to grow that would lead to positive behaviors. Though some lobotomized patients did see improvement, the procedure was vastly traumatic, leading to infection and often times death. Though his career ended in disgrace, Freeman performed an estimated 2,500 ice pick lobotomies in 23 states, including at least 787 lobotomies at the State Hospital (later the Trans Allegheny Lunatic Asylum). Episode Links: Appalachian Oddities webpage: https://www.appalachianodditieswv.com/ Lunatic: The Rise and Fall of an American Asylum by Edward S. Gleason: https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/25954367-lunatic “Psychosurgery, ethics, and media: a history of Walter Freeman and the lobotomy”, written by James P. Caruso and Jason P. Sheehan, DOI: 10.3171/2017.6.FOCUS17257: https://thejns.org/focus/view/journals/neurosurg-focus/43/3/article-pE6.xml

For pictures of this episode, click here. This week we meet with Bethany Cutright, Office Manager at the Trans Allegheny Lunatic Asylum. Though known as one of the most haunted places in North America, it was originally designed to be a place of help and healing for the mentally ill. Bethany shares with us the intent of the Kirkbride plan and architecture of the hospital, the art programs designed to open communication and create a positive outlet for patients, and the exceptional work of the Irish, Scottish, and German immigrant stonemasons with their unique signatures and styles.Stonemason Gargoyles When construction began on the Hospital in 1858, many of the stonemasons were immigrants from Ireland, Scotland, and Germany. They each brought their own styles and skill, and their creativity is displayed in the form of 8 faces located on the original ward of the Hospital. Bethany was able to recover original payroll records from some of these workers: Mr. Wright who was born in Scotland and Mr. May who was born in Germany. To denote which stone block was crafted by which stonemason, they had their own “signatures”, which were series of patterns in hash-marks on the edges of each block.Art Program The art program at the hospital was designed to give patients the opportunity to express themselves in ways they couldn't otherwise; some individuals may have been unable to speak, but they could paint or draw as a form of expression. It was a creative way to open communications between patients and doctors, and it gave them something fun to do. They could also sell their artwork for some income. The hospital even had its own kiln for pottery projects. Episode Links: Trans Allegheny Lunatic Asylum webpage: http://www.trans-alleghenylunaticasylum.com/ Dorothea Dix Biography: https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/dorothea-dix Jacks, Kim, "Weston State Hospital" (2008). Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports. 857: https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1860&context=etd Lunatic: The Rise and Fall of an American Asylum by Edward S. Gleason: https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/25954367-lunatic

For pictures of this episode, click here.For the first bonus episode of October, we meet with Todd Turner at Appalachian Glass. Keeping on with last week’s glass theme, this week we learn from Todd all the tricks of the trade for handmade glass, including what elements are combined to make glass, how it is molded and colored, and the three generations of craftsman that makes Appalachian Glass so special.Soda Lime Crystal Ingredients silica sand lyme soda ash feldspar selenium cobalt urbium After doing the interview, Todd offered Dakota and me the amazing opportunity to get hands-on with the glass-making process. We made a glass tumbler and a leaf imprinted mug, and they turned out amazing! 

For pictures of this episode, click here. Happy October! For the first episode of our mini-series “October in Weston, West Virginia”, we meet with Larry Woods at the Museum of American Glass. We talk about the impressive history of glass; from glass made in ancient Rome and Egypt, to its production from the late 1700s until after the Civil War, and specifically, the more recent history of glass in the small town of Weston. Though none now remain, at one point in time Weston had 5 glass factories, and the region was considered a global center of glassmaking.Mini Glass Mansion The astounding Glass Mansion featured at the museum was made with almost 1,200 pieces of glass, has 2 stories, 13 rooms, and the largest section of the dollhouse weighs over 100 lbs. It was created by Linda Young, commissioned by Barbara and Bernie Bischoff as their 50th wedding anniversary present.Steuben Art Glass Collection The museum’s Steuben Glass Collection is comprised of over 200 pieces, with a single piece alone weighing 33.5 pounds! Steuben glass is considered the finest crystal you can find because of its reflective characteristics.Episode Links: Museum of American Glass: http://magwv.com/ Stueben Glass Company: https://www.steuben.com/ Journal of Antiques and Collectibles, Building a Glass Museum by the Numbers: https://journalofantiques.com/features/building-glass-museum-numbers/