Now that it's getting closer, I should mention, yet again, my speaking engagement at the New Carlisle Public Library, 111 E. Lake Ave. in New Carlisle, Clark County, on Thursday, July 13 at 6:30PM. A good time will be had by all, I'm sure, though I have a sneaking suspicion that one day I'm going to be killed by an angry property owner at one of these things.
Speaking of public appearances where I might be killed, I've now met with the program coordinator at Zane State College and established the dates, titles, and formats of the classes I'll be conducting there. They're more workshops than actual classes, three hours long in each case, and can be attended individually or in total. Enrollment is the only detail not thoroughly worked out at this point. The classes are as follows:
So, on to today's website updates. First, there's a lot more to be found in Richland County, thanks to the contributions of Brett J. Mitchell. Brett is the author of the booklet Bandits, Stalkers, & Murder: Life of the Tetched Phoebe Wise, details of which can be found at www.historicalpreservation.org/phoebe. He sent me a copy of his work, along with a disk containing a number of images and meticulously researched news clippings, all concerning the life of this notorious Mansfield eccentric and hermit. Phoebe's life was pretty incredible; not only was she tortured by burglars seeking a nonexistent family fortune in the walls of her crumbling house (two of whom later escaped from jail), she was the victim of a violent stalker whom she eventually killed with a Winchester rifle by putting one .32 caliber round through the door of her house and into his right lung. Later in life she was pestered by more burglars, as well as local people who thought she was a witch, and became something of a local celebrity before she died in 1933. This is a picture of her from late in life:
Two new links to add as well. First there's Remarkable Ohio, a website seemingly dedicated to an analysis of Ohio history by exploring the sites marked with those metal historical plaques. It's a surprisingly professional and informative website. Secondly, I was flattered to discover a photography group on the image-hosting server Flickr named after and "loosely" inspired by my website. Click on it to see the amazing places people with actual photographic talent have explored: Flickr: Forgotten Ohio.
I know how shocking this must be, but I am still working on my next book, which has turned out to be quite a bit of writing work in the second and third draft stages, so I've had less time to update the website itself than I'd prefer. I have, however, kept up pretty nicely with e-mails. So, send me one if there's something on your mind. I plan to start posting questions, comments, and complaints on this page beginning with the next update. Also in store for the next update is something I've been wondering how to handle for a long time now: abandoned buildings, forgotten places, and weird ruins I've explored and photographed without having the slightest idea what they are or what to call them. On more than one occasion this has prevented me from adding fairly cool abandoned spots to the website, since "Unidentified Brick Buildings" makes for such a shitty title. Hopefully someone will know what a few of these places are. At the very least they'll get an exhibition.
Happy Fourth of July.
I am listening to:
I am reading:
FICTION - A Choir of Ill Children, by Tom Piccirilli
Fletch, by Gregory McDonald
NONFICTION - The Working Poor: Invisible in America, by David K. Shipler
Woody Guthrie: A Life, by Joe Klein
THE DARKNESS - One Way Ticket to Hell...And Back
