New Book = Hometown Celebrations

Liberal, KANSAS!!!

Liberal, KS - The town was founded in 1888.  Water was very scarce in the 1880’s but S.S. Rogers had dug a well on his homestead and offered free water to the visitors and their livestock who passed through the area.  This was unusual because water was not free.  The surprised visitors would comment to Rogers that “this was mighty liberal of you”.  The name caught on and was known to travelers as Liberal.  Kansas has always been considered a conservative state.

How America got it's name

In 1497, Amerigo Vespucci discovered a new continent when he landed in present day South America. During this time, map makers were trying to decide on a new name for Vespucci’s continent. Famous German map maker, Martin Waldseemuller, created a map signifying this new continent as “America” in honor of Amerigo Vespucci. The map maker chose the Latin version of Amerigo because he wanted to have the new name of the continent end in an “a” similar to other continents like Africa and Asia. The name “America” and other derivatives of Amerigo caught on and became very popular in naming the “New World”. Names like Americus, Liberty and Independence followed and became synonymous with the spirit of freedoms being found in this new land.


Photo courtesy of Library of Congress

World's Largest Penny - Woodruff, Wisconsin

Woodruff, Wisconsin

1n 1954, Dr. Kate Newcomb had a dream about building a new hospital for this community. She became a surprise guest on the television program "This is your Life". During the program, she asked the listeners to send in just a penny to make her dream come true. Over $106,000 came in and Dr. Kate's dream came true!

Nicodemus, Kansas

Nicodemus, KS – First Black Community


In 1877, Reverend W.H. Smith and 300 former slaves established this community. The town started without any buildings and the citizens lived in dugouts on the Kansas prairie. The community recruited many former slaves from Kentucky and the town was thriving by 1885. During this time, the town consisted of three general stores, one bank, two newspapers, three churches, and numerous houses. The railroads never came and the town did not prosper. Like so many towns in the 1800’s the railroad was vital to a new town’s success. Today, the town still remains as a testament to the spirit and achievements of African-American culture. During the last weekend of July, the town celebrates “Homecoming”. Many former citizens and descendants come to celebrate from near and far. Nicodemus has also become a National Historic Site.

Hobo Convention in Britt, Iowa

Britt, Iowa

Hobo Convention

The Hobo Convention has been going on in this community since 1900. In 1899, the town leaders were able to convince the leaders of Tourist Union #63 to move their convention permanently from Chicago to Britt, Iowa. You see, Tourist Union #63 members were real hobos. In the 19th century traveling migrant workers were often arrested for vagrancy when not employed. However, if you were a member of a union, you were given free passage on a train to your next destination. These workers used this loophole, created a union, and were able to travel free across the United States to find work. These types of union workers became known as hobos and there was a very large number of them. So for the town of Britt to land a big convention from Chicago was a big deal. In the late 1890’s, it was estimated there were over 500,000 hobos in the United States. Today, the tradition is more of a family affair which is held in August. This weekend event includes a parade, crowning of a Hobo King and Queen, and serving mulligan stew in the city park. Real hobos still come here to celebrate and exchange stories with the locals. If you venture downtown, you can even visit the one and only Hobo Museum.  Also, across the street is Mary Jo's Hobo Restaurant.  This is a great place to eat and you will see many pictures of famous hobos.

A town by the name of tuxedo!

Tuxedo, New York

In 1886, Pierre Lorillard IV built an exclusive country club here. He named it the “Tuxedo Club”. It was a private country club and only exclusive socialites were included in its membership. One of its members was wealthy millionaire, James Potter. Potter was friends with Edward VII of England, the Prince of Wales. The Prince fancied Potter’s wife, Cora, and invited both of them to come visit him in England. Potter was impressed with Edward’s smoking jacket. The Prince replied that it was manufactured by the Henry Poole Company in England and that the company had exclusively designed it for him. Potter liked the Prince’s suit so well that he had a duplicate made. When Potter returned to his hometown to show it off, his wealthy friends at the Tuxedo County Club were ecstatic. It was such a hit that all of the country club members started sporting this new fashion in apparel and the tuxedo became the popular attire for the club’s social events. Later, other wealthy American socialites joined in on the new fashion. However, no one knows for sure how impressed Cora Potter was with the Prince of Wale’s tuxedo. I guess only the Prince and Cora know!


Photo courtesy of Library of Congress