Women of Resistance: Marie Heffenisch

Can you find Luxembourg on the map? I couldn’t until I read about today’s brave woman of resistance, Luxembourg native, Marie Heffenisch. Smaller than the US state of Rhode Island Luxembourg is a landlocked country bordered by Germany, Belgium, and France, and is ruled as a Grand Duchy (the last such country in the world). Wikipedia defines a Grand Duchy as “an independent, sovereign country or territory governed by a monarch with the title of Grand Duke or Duchess. Historically considered smaller and less powerful than a kingdom, this specific type of monarchy ranks between a regular duchy (ruled by a duke) and a kingdom.”

Nathalie Marie Olga Heffenisch was born October 14, 1902 into a middle-class family that owned a café. When she was twelve years old, Germany violated 

Luxembourg’s stance of neutrality and invaded during its efforts to defeat France during World War I. After the war, great political unrest rippled through the country because many citizens felt Duchess Marie Adélaïde had collaborated with the Germans. Her abdication was called for, and a rebellion occurred within the Luxembourgish Army that declared itself the army of the new republic. A referendum about abolishing the monarchy was taken but failed with almost eighty percent choosing to reject the establishment of a republic and to maintain the monarchy. Meanwhile, Belgium was pushing for annexation of Luxembourg. The duchess abdicated in favor of her sister Charlotte, and life slowly calmed down.

Then two decades later, Germany once again invaded Luxembourg, and a program of “Germanization” began. Within a year, resistance groups had formed that included aiding political refugees and hiding those evading conscription into the Wehrmacht. In 1942, the country was annexed into Germany.

When she was widowed in 1932, Marie took over management of the Hôtel Hengesch in Dudelange, and thanks to her experience working in her family’s restaurant business, grew the operation to a small-scale commercial enterprise. Having lived through the first German occupation as a young girl, she joined a resistance group at the war’s onset in 1940. At first, she hid men evading conscription, oversaw the production of forged papers, and allowed illegal newspapers and leaflets at the hotel. Eventually, she allowed meetings at her facility, aided in the distribution of underground publications, and forged documents.

It is unknown how the occupying forces discovered her involvement in the resistance, but she was arrested on June 17, 1944. Was she reported by a collaborator? Had a resistance member provided the information under torture? Did the Germans simply keep watch on the hotel as part of a larger operation?

At first Marie was imprisoned in Luxembourg time where she was interrogated. Very little is known about this time of her incarceration. She was eventually transferred to the dreaded Ravensbrück concentration camp, the primary camp for female prisoners where medical experiment, forced labor, and executions were part of everyday life. Numerous reports by other prisoners indicate that Marie shared generously from her small rations specifically to younger inmates.

Marie was liberated by the Soviet Army on April 30, 1945, and she returned to Luxembourg two months later where she went back into the hotel business. She was later awarded the Médaille de l’Ordre de la Resistance and passed away January 9, 1985.

____________________

Shetland Sunset

Bonded by a cause but an ocean apart, will their love survive a world war?

After months in Norway helping his cousins with their fishing business, American Askel Westgard seems trapped when the Germans invade until he has a chance to get back at the Occupiers as part of the Shetlandsgjengen, or Shetland gang, a group of fishermen who transport weapons and equipment from Shetland to Norway under cover of darkness. Unfortunately, the beautiful Norwegian woman he’s just met refuses to join him in safety. Will he ever see her again?

Distraught when the Germans overrun her beloved Norway, Tonje Bondevik refuses to take the occupation sitting down. She joins the fledgling resistance movement, deriving great satisfaction distributing the underground newspaper and performing acts of sabotage…until the day the Nazis come looking for her, and she must flee for her life. Perhaps she should have listened to the handsome Norwegian American when he offered to take her to Shetland.

Purchase link: https://books2read.com/u/4AWqJk

Linda Shenton Matchett writes happily-ever-after historical Christian fiction 

about second chances and women who overcome life’s challenges to be better versions of themselves. A native of Baltimore, Maryland, she was born a stone’s throw from Fort McHenry (of Star-Spangled Banner fame) and has lived in historical places all her life. She is a volunteer docent and archivist at the Wright Museum of WWII. She now lives in central New Hampshire where she explores the history of this great state, immerses herself in the imaginary worlds created by other authors, and drinks copious amounts of tea.

Sources:
https://grokipedia.com/page/marie_heffenisch
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marie_Heffenisch
https://www.rues-au-feminin.lu/streets/center/rue-marie-heffenisch/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luxembourg_Resistance
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luxembourg_in_World_War_II

Photo Credits:
Luxembourg: Encyclopedia Britannica

Photo of Marie: https://www.rues-au-feminin.lu/streets/south/rue-marie-carmes-heffenisch/

Hotel Bed: Pixabay/Erick Palacio

Ravensbruck: https://www.yadvashem.org/articles/general/women-in-ravensbrueck.html

Real Life Murders on an American Sailing Ship - and the Mystery Author Who Helped Arrange a Presidential Pardon

By Mary Dodge Allen

On July 5, 1896, a sailing ship, the Herbert Fuller, set sail from Boston, Massachusetts carrying a load of lumber bound for Argentina. Nine days later, in the early morning hours of July 14th, Captain Charles Nash, his wife Laura, and his second mate August Blomberg were found dead in their sleeping quarters - brutally murdered, with an axe. 

The Herbert Fuller (Public Domain)

That Fateful Night:

Captain Nash and his wife Laura were in their mid-thirties and childless, so Laura often traveled with her husband on sea voyages. The captain was sleeping in the 'after cabin' (chart room), while his wife slept in the captain's cabin. The second mate, August Blomberg, was sleeping in his room nearby.

Lester Monks, the son of a wealthy Boston family, was the first to discover the bodies. Monks was traveling as a last-minute guest, and because his family had connections with Captain Nash, he was allowed to sleep in the passenger's cabin, located in between the 'after cabin' (chart room) and the captain's cabin.

Diagram of Cabin Locations on the Herbert Fuller (Public Domain)

Diagram Above: 

The large rectangular 'after cabin' (chart room) where the captain was sleeping is on the left. 

The captain's cabin, where his wife was sleeping is in the right hand corner. 

The passenger cabin where Lester Monks was sleeping is immediately left of the captain's cabin, between it and the 'after cabin' (chart room).

Lester Monks claimed he woke up hearing a woman scream next door. After discovering the bodies of the captain and his wife, Monks alerted first mate, Thomas Bram, who was awake and keeping watch on deck. They both hurried to inform the second mate, August Blomberg, and found his murdered body. 

When they gave the crew this shocking news, it was decided the ship should turn back. Because of fierce winds and rough seas, they determined that the nearest port was Halifax, Nova Scotia. 

Instead of a burial at sea, they chose to return with the bodies. To avoid the stench of decomposition, they wrapped the three bodies in canvas shrouds, placed them inside the captain's folly boat (used to ferry people and goods to shore) and towed the small boat behind the ship. 

Suspicions and Conflicting Accounts:

During the seven-day voyage to Halifax, the remaining eight crewmen and passenger Monks were all on edge, knowing an axe murderer was among them. Each person wrote individual accounts of that night in the ship's logbook, along with their theories.

Eventually, Monks and several crewmen singled out two of the crew - the only ones awake and on duty that night - first mate Thomas Bram, who was on watch, and Charley Brown at the ship's wheel. Both men were placed in irons for the rest of the voyage.

The ship reached Halifax on July 21st, and everyone on board was jailed and interrogated. Canadian police officials had to sort through wild accusations and conflicting stories. Reporters, eager to get a scoop on these gruesome murders, also published conflicting accounts.

Newspaper account (Public Domain)

The police narrowed it down to three primary suspects:

Newspaper Drawing of Lester Monks (Public Domain)

Passenger Lester Hawthorne Monks: 

At age 20, he'd had a troubled past of heavy drinking and was a Harvard University dropout. His father, a prominent Boston businessman, had hoped a long sea voyage would help his son stop drinking and regain his health. But Monks had other ideas, bringing aboard bottles of brandy and whiskey, along with 60 bottles of beer.

Monks appeared nervous and his story varied, depending on who interviewed him. He claimed Bram was guilty because he had been drunk that night and acted suspiciously. (Others who knew Bram said he was a religious man who drank very little.)

Monks had occupied the cabin in between the sleeping quarters of the captain and his wife, and the partitions between the rooms were thin. Detectives questioned how he could sleep through the noise of three brutal axe murders, and then wake up and investigate after the deeds were done.

Strangely, Lester Monks was also reading a book in his cabin that night, written by W. Clark Russell, about shipmates committing murder and mutiny.

Newspaper Drawing of Charley Brown (Public Domain)

Crewman Charley Brown: 

He was a Swedish sailor whose real name was Justus Leopold Westerberg. He claimed that while he was at the ship's wheel that night, he looked through a small window in the captain's sleeping quarters and saw first mate Thomas Bram swinging an axe. But when Brown was relieved from duty an hour later, he made no mention of seeing this shocking sight to any crewman. 

Brown was considered peculiar by the crew, because he frequently muttered and talked to himself. He had also been hospitalized in Rotterdam for his paranoid delusions, and while in the hospital, he attempted to kill a nurse.

Newspaper Drawing of Thomas Bram (Public Domain)

First Mate Thomas Bram: 

He was an experienced sailor from Saint Kitts. The crew said he had often complained about the captain. And when Bram found the bloody axe, he immediately threw it overboard. He said he feared a mutiny and wanted to prevent the murderer from attacking again. Bram declared, "I assure you I did not commit the murders."

The Suspects Transported to Boston:

The U.S. consul general in Halifax began sorting through the evidence, and since the crimes happened on an American ship in international waters, he decided the Canadian officials had no authority in the matter. All of the jailed suspects boarded a steamer, which arrived in Boston harbor on July 27th.

Boston Newspaper Account (Public Domain)

Frank Monks - Lester's wealthy father - hired a Boston lawyer, who pointed out that Lester was a well-spoken man from a prominent family and also a Harvard student (omitting the dropout fact). Authorities quickly dismissed Lester Monks as a suspect.

The other crewmen were also dismissed, including Charley Brown, who claimed he couldn't have tied off the ship's wheel while in rough seas, long enough to commit three murders. 

This left Thomas Bram as the prime suspect.

During interrogation, Bram was told that Charley Brown claimed he saw him killing the captain through the 'after house' (chart room) window. Bram said, "He could not have seen me from there [the ship's wheel]."

This statement could have been interpreted in two ways: as an admission of guilt or a profession of innocence. Authorities claimed it proved his guilt. In 1897, Bram was convicted of the murders and sentenced to death.

But due to a violation of legal procedure, Bram was awarded a second trial. In 1898, he was found guilty again, but given a life sentence. Due to his good behavior, Bram was paroled in 1913. He continued maintaining his innocence and sought to have his name cleared.

Enter: A Best-Selling Mystery Author, known as the 'American Agatha Christie'

I wrote about this amazing author in an earlier blog: Mary Roberts Rinehart Blog

Mary Roberts Rinehart (Public Domain)

Mystery author Mary Roberts Rinehart learned about this murder case after Bram was paroled. She thought it would make an interesting plot for a novel. But as she conducted her detailed research, she came to believe that Bram was innocent.

Her fictional mystery novel, The After House, published in 1914, was loosely based on the real murder case. In it, the fictional crewman at the ship's wheel (based on Charley Brown) was the deranged axe murderer. And the fictional first mate (based on Thomas Bram) was framed by him.

The book cover (Public Domain)

Former President Theodore Roosevelt was a fan of her books. After reading The After House, he also believed Bram was innocent. He - along with other people of prominence - began campaigning for Bram, saying he deserved a presidential pardon. In 1919, President Woodrow Wilson issued Bram a full pardon.

Since that time, the three brutal and tragic murders committed on the sailing ship, Herbert Fuller have officially remained unsolved.

______________

Mary Dodge Allen is currently finishing her sequel to Hunt for a Hometown Killer. She's won a Christian Indie Award, an Angel Book Award, and two Royal Palm Literary Awards (Florida Writer's Association). She and her husband live in Central Florida. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Faith Hope and Love Christian Writers. 

Website: www.marydodgeallen.com

Recent release, anthology devotional: El Jireh, The God Who Provides

Mary's story, entitled: A Mother's Desperate Prayer, describes her struggle with guilt and despair after her young son is badly burned in a kitchen accident. When we are at the end of all we have, El Jireh provides what we need. 

Click the link below to purchase on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/El-Jireh-God-Who-Provides/dp/1963611608

Mary's novel: Hunt for a Hometown Killer won the 2022 Christian Indie Award, First Place - Mystery/Suspense; and the 2022 Angel Book Award - Mystery/Suspense.

Click the link below to buy Hunt for a Hometown Killer at Amazon.com:

Hunt For A Hometown Killer: A Novel: Allen, Mary Dodge: 9781952369704: Amazon.com: Books

Link to Mary's Spotlight Interview:   Mary Dodge Allen Author Spotlight EA Book

Why A Fresh Perspective on the German Occupation of France Provokes Reflection

 By Donna Wichelman

In June 2026, I returned to a series on World War Two I began in the spring of 2024. It's my desire now to reprise the series over the next months, as it is a topic that has fascinated me most of my life, listening to my parents talk about the era.

In October 2023, I had the privilege to interview several survivors from WWII: a gentleman and three lovely ladies. In June, I recalled the interview with René Avril, who passed away at the beginning of 2025. Today, I want to first honor Madame Marie-José Delage, who also sadly passed away in April 2025, and then flash back to the interview with Madame Delage and her friend Madame Pierrette Couillandeau, who told us much about their lives during the German occupation in Libourne, France.

It was through the husband of a very good friend of mine that I learned of Madame Delage's passing. He shared with me a ten-page document of her professional contributions as a professor emerita at Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts and a patrologist who was a scholar of the history, life, and writings of the early Christian Church fathers. This included analyzing texts and studying ancient languages from the first to the eighth centuries C.E. Her study of particular interest and a specialty she became known for was the Life of Saint Caesarius of Arles, who lived from 470 to 542 C.E and served as Bishop of Arles in the sixth century. 

Marie-José Delage, Donna's Gallery, October 2023

Though I had known Madame Delage led a full and illustrious life, I hadn't understood the extent of her contribution to intellectual and religious communities around the world. It made me even more grateful for the opportunity to interview her about her life during the occupation. Her contribution to my research can't be overstated. I've used many of her thoughts and material for my novel. But even more poignant is the resounding question regarding her life and the lives of many others that must be asked: what would have been lost to the world if Adolf Hitler had had his way?

Thankfully, her story lives on in this blog and the pages of the book I'm writing.

In some ways, said Madame Delage and Madame Couillandeau, as children, they understood little of what occurred in June 1940 when the Germans occupied their community of Libourne. But their lives had been changed nonetheless.

Donna with Mme Marie-José Delage, October 2023: Donna's Gallery

Madame Pierrette Couillandeau and Madame Marie-José Delage pointing to a bullet hole in their building from the war: Donna's Gallery, October 2023

Madame Delage was on holiday (vacation) with her mom and aunts in Arcachon, a popular seaside resort on the Atlantic coast fifty-five kilometers (thirty-four miles) southwest of Bordeaux. Someone came to say there was a call for her mother. When her mom took the call, Madame Delage's father said they must return home immediately if they wanted to see him, because he'd been recalled to serve in the French military. In the end, they met in Bordeaux.

Madame Delage's father had served in World War I in the artillery department and came back wounded and with what we would call today, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Like so many servicemen before and after him, he never spoke of his experiences; he couldn't.

So when the French military recalled Madame Delage's father to the service, he was shocked. Though they didn't send him to the front, they posted him in Pottier, several hours north of Libourne, to be a guard in charge of the station there. After the Germans occupied France, the German Army sent him to a factory near Bergerac, where they made gunpowder.

German Soldier Stationed in Libourne, Libourne City Archives

Tragically, the experience proved to be Madame Delage's father's undoing. He rang his wife to say he was escaping to Canada, and they would never see him again; she never did.

Life continued as usual in Libourne for Madame Delage and Madame Couillandeau. They played as children, their families doing the best they could to survive the terror that had struck France and the rest of the world. The Germans set up a puppet regime under Marshal Philippe Pétain's Vichy government. A Nazi flag flew on the Libourne Town Hall. All the while, German guards were posted at various stations across town and near the demarcation line into Free France twenty kilometers away.

Nazi Flag on Libourne Town Hall, Libourne City Archives

German troops in Libourne meant the townspeople didn't have enough to eat since German soldiers requisitioned the crops, and everyone else got the leftovers. But Madame Delage and Madame Couillandeau's families found a solution to their hunger. A family they knew in a nearby town whose children attended school in Libourne had taken in children from the north whose families sent them away early on to escape the Germans. Between all the children, they were able to partition the rations. They also bartered with one another for various other needs.

One of the most difficult hardships for French families was how husbands were snatched from their families, leaving the wives to manage on their own with their children. Wives might receive letters once a month and then didn't hear from their husbands for quite some time. The neighbors would postulate that the husband was dead, but then another letter would appear in the post box. They just didn't know if the day would arrive when their husband wouldn't come home.

While it was never easy to know who fought for the Resistance, many ordinary people resisted in their own ways. One lady had a grocery shop. When the Germans came in to buy food, she would play with them, slicing their cheese thinly or saying she couldn't hear them. Another woman managed to help Jews escape over the line of demarcation. Clandestine networks worked everywhere to help Jewish families hide in their homes or escape across the demarcation line.

French Resistance the Day after Liberation, Libourne City Archives

Madame Delage knew someone who had heard of a German soldier stationed near the demarcation line who was also a Benedictine monk. A compassionate man, he helped Jews and others escape into Free France. At one point, the monk came between a young person and their parents and paid for his compassion with his life.

Many anecdotes exist of those who helped at risk to their own lives. "These people who we viewed as ordinary people," Madame Delage said, "turned out to be heroes."

Indeed, when liberation finally came to Libourne on 29 August 1944, the Germans retreated, but not before they blew up a central bridge over the Dordogne River and killed eight people. Still, in the midst of the chaos, the celebrations commenced the next day. Flags flew, garland hung on balcony railings and windows, and people crowded onto the Place Abel Surchamp, Libourne's city square, as the Libournais clamored and cheered the Resistance troops who had fought the good fight for the long-awaited day. 

Today, that day is still remembered all across France and celebrated on VE-Day--Victory in Europe Day--May 8th every year. 

Bridge Blown Up by the Retreating Germans, Libourne City Archives

Donna is an Angel Book Award-winning author of Historical Romance for A Song of Deliverance. Book Two in the Silver Singing Mine series, Rhythms of the Heart, was released in November 2025. Weaving history and faith into stories of intrigue and redemption grew out of Donna's love of travel, history, and literature as a young adult while attending an international college in Wales, U.K. She enjoys developing plots that show how God's love abounds even in the profoundly difficult circumstances of our lives. Her stories reflect the hunger in all of us for love, belonging, and forgiveness.

Donna was a communications professional before becoming a full-time writer. Her short stories and articles have appeared in inspirational publications. She has two indie-published romantic suspense novels, Light Out of Darkness and Undaunted Valor, in her Waldensian Series. 

Donna and her husband of forty-one years participate in ministry at their local church in Colorado. They love spending time with their grandchildren and bike, kayak, and travel whenever possible. 

Spotlight: Donna Wichelman

Hello, I'm Donna Wichelman, and I'm thrilled to give you an up-close and personal look into my writing life and what led me to become an author. Thank you for joining me.

My appreciation for history and geography developed in childhood since my parents traveled by car from Ohio across the United States and Canada almost every summer to visit family in Washington State. As an only child on those road trips, our travels sparked my imagination. I developed stories of great adventures crossing the prairie in a covered wagon, charting our course in the Badlands and Black Hills of South Dakota, walking the beaches along the Oregon coast where I'd meet my true love, and scaling the mountains near Banff or Jasper National Park in the Rocky Mountains of Canada. Or perhaps we would be attacked by bears in Yellowstone National Park—a true story, by the way—and needed rescuing from the terrifying creatures hounding us.

In my last two years of high school, a unique opportunity allowed me to attend the United World College of the Atlantic—an international boarding school in Wales. While most of the students lived in dormitories on the “hill,” I lived in a two-room, ten-girl dorm inside the 13th- to 14th-century St. Donat’s Castle outside Llantwit Major, Wales, on the Bristol Channel. Though the castle has none of Hogwarts’ magic, it does have a legendary ghost, Lady Anne, who roams the halls. Living with international students and having the chance to travel throughout Europe further engaged my interest in history, literature, and culture.

St.Donat's Castle, Llantwit Major, Wales: Donna's Gallery 1975

As I headed into my adult years, I loved developing stories from learning about the history and culture of various settings. My first attempt at writing a historical romance was the first book in a series titled the Long White Cloud based on Captain James Cook's arrival in New Zealand in the late eighteenth century. Agent Steve Laube sent it to committee at Bethany House Publishers, but they rejected it, and the manuscript still sits on my computer. The experience taught me, however, that I needed to develop my craft and hone my writing skills.

My next project wasn't historical fiction, but it had a huge historical and spiritual component as a contemporary romantic suspense novel set in the Waldensian Valleys of the French and Italian Alps. I had become fascinated by this ancient Christian sect that endured centuries of persecution similar to the Huguenots. Some say these courageous men and women of faith banded together in 1170 A.D under Peter Waldo. Others say they hail from the first-century church fathers. In Light Out of Darkness, I wanted to create a story that explored the idea of an older origin. So in the book, A prestigious art exhibition turns into a horrific spectacle when a murder sends an art curator and professor on a hunt for a highly sought-after painting. At stake is a two-thousand-year-old drama unfolding in the contemporary world of the Italian Alps. 

The sequel, Undaunted Valor, continues the story as Professor Alessandro Marianni's grandmother is kidnapped, and he and Jamie Holbrooke must follow the trail of the Waldensians' Glorious Return from exile in Switzerland back to their home valleys. As they do, they will have to weather a rainstorm on a mountain trail, negotiate a dangerous waterfall, outmaneuver a car chase, and defy an assassin's gun with undaunted valor to find Lucianna Marianni.

By the time I wrote my Angel Book Award-winning novel, A Song of Deliverance, I knew I wanted to remain in the historical fiction genre. So when, on a family vacation, I stood on a crest overlooking the Atlantic Ocean on the Dingle Peninsula in Ireland, I imagined a poor woman in nineteenth-century Ireland destined to emigrate to America. At that point, it was only a small leap to develop a story set in the nineteenth-century community of Georgetown, Colorado, which still retains its Victorian ambiance dating back to its history steeped in the gold and silver mining industry. Thus, a story was born about a poor Irish woman whose hopes for a better life in Colorado crumble after a mining disaster, and she must find the faith and courage to create a new life for herself. As she does, Anna Sullivan helps the mine’s owner uncover the nefarious deeds of his nemesis and falls in love with the mining mogul.

In Rhythms of the Heart, Book 2 in the Singing Silver Mine Series, Life as Cassie Munro knew it ended the day her husband and children were ripped away in a deadly train disaster. Will she ever find happiness again living with her parents in the community of Georgetown, Colorado? It will take one doctor with his own ill-fated past to help her mend a broken heart.

My current work in progress, Power of the Thorn, is a World War Two slip-time novel, meaning dual timelines, set in 1940s occupied France and some parts of the contemporary timeline in Denver, Colorado. The war has fascinated me since I was a child, listening to my parents talk about living through some of the darkest days in the history of the United States and the world. Much has been written about the war over the last eighty-six years. My hope is to bring a fresh perspective on those times.

Thank you for stopping by and letting me share a little bit of me with you. I hope knowing my history gives you a little flavor of who I am as an author and the kinds of books I like to write. I'd love to hear about what you do and the kinds of books you love to read. I'll be giving away one of my books of your choice to a lucky person who comments on this blog.

Website: Donna Wichelman.com

Instagram: Instagram, Facebook, BookBub, Amazon

Weird Inventions That Saved Lives: Pigeon Vest

Blogger: Amber Lemus

Continuing our series on Weird Inventions That Saved Lives, today we discover a device created by the company, Maidenform. Most women are familiar with this company and have probably purchased one of their products at one point or another. However, did you know this company played an important role in saving lives during WWII?

It is well known that during WWII, many companies that made products during peacetime had to find a way to repurpose and fit into a wartime economy. Maidenform was not exempt from this phenomenon. But how does a company that usually makes undergarments for women adapt to wartime? By making something to strap to soldier’s chests, of course. 

I know this sounds very strange, but bear with me for a moment, because it actually made a lot of sense.

The most reliable form of communication for the US and its allies during WWII were carrier pigeons. These were less likely to be intercepted by the enemy and 95% of the messages delivered this way were successful. There was actually an army of 56,000 pigeons trained to serve in WWII. But while the pigeons could fly themselves back to base, getting them on the ground with the units who needed them was the challenge. That’s where Maidenform came in. 

Pigeon vest blueprint. 
 National Museum of American History, Archives Center,
Maidenform Collection, 1922-1997. 

Maidenform designed and produced two devices that aided in getting the pigeons where they needed to be. The first option was for them to travel along with the soldiers. They designed “pigeon vests” that securely cradled the birds to the chest of the paratroopers as they deployed to their positions. The vest was shaped to the pigeon’s body, holding true to Maidenform’s slogan, “There’s a Maiden Form for every type of figure.” The pigeon vest was strapped to the outer jacket of the paratrooper, as pictured below. The birds could then be released with a message when the unit was on the ground and needed to send one.

Pigeon in pigeon vest harnessed to a paratrooper.
National Museum of American History, Archives Center,
Maidenform Collection, 1922-1997. 

The other method was to deliver pigeons to troops already on the ground. Maidenform also designed and produced “pigeon parachutes” which attached to a cage and would float the birds down to the troops below. 

Between these two devices, the army could use the birds to communicate effectively and without enemy interference. 

As strange as these inventions are, they saved many lives, howbeit in an indirect way. Carrier pigeons saved thousands during WWII, including one instance when a message to call off a bombing was successfully delivered by a pigeon, saving the lives of over 1,000 allied troops. 

*****

Two-time winner of the Christian Indie Award, Amber Lemus writes enthralling non-fiction for children and adults alike. She has a passion for travel, history, books and her Savior, so her writing is centered around faith, family and history.

She lives at the foot of the Rocky Mountains with her prince charming and two boys. Between enjoying life as a boy mom, and spinning stories out of soap bubbles, Amber loves to connect with readers and hang out on Goodreads with other bookish peoples.

Amber is a proud member of the American Christian Fiction Writers Association. Visit her online at www.AmberLemus.com/ and download a FREE story by subscribing to her Newsletter!

Echoes of the Ancient New Testament Cities: Pergamum and Thyatira

Matthew James Elliott

Here we are again with two more of the churches from the book of Revelation, and these two churches are nothing compared to the two churches I shared about in last month's post, Smyrna and Philadelphia. In truth, there are some similarities, but when it comes down to it, Pergamum and Thyatira had their own struggles, and they were significant enough to be noted in the vision given to the Apostle John. 

By stepping into the history of these two churches, we are going to dig into some troubling details about how the early believers often faced political terror and even financial ruin because of their faith. The story's background involves false rituals and forced circumstances that oppose the very idea of spiritual freedom. That only hits the surface of how deep the story goes with these two. 

The struggles they faced were important.

The outcome of the struggle was powerful.

~ Pergamum ~

Acropolis in Pergamum by Friedrich Thierch – 1882.

In Revelation 2:12-17, John is given a letter for the church in Pergamum. It encourages them because of their faithfulness. The one who has a sharp, double-edged sword speaks to them and says, “You did not refuse to tell about your faith in me even when your leaders were killed before you.” This is a direct correlation to the fact that Pergamum was the seat of imperial authority. It was the capital of Roman Asia and a political power with massive stone monuments dedicated to gods like Zeus (the king of the gods) and Asclepius (the serpent god of healing). 

Long before John received the Revelation, Pergamum was already Asia's first city to receive permission to build temples like the Altar of Zeus and the Asclepion. The Altar of Zeus was a massive, chair-shaped stone altar that overlooked the city, and the Asclepion was a medical center famous throughout the world at that time. In 29 BC, the Romans built the first Imperial Cult Temple in this city.  Needless to say, when Jesus said, “This is where Satan lives,” you can guess who he was talking about. 

Pergamon was an aristocratic city dominated by the false teachings of Balaam and the Nicolaitans. When it came to standing up for their beliefs, one man stood out to me, and his name was Antipas. Scripture indicates he was the man killed for his faith, but a local legend about him being sealed inside a bronze bull and burned alive particularly struck me. Talk about scary, right?

Despite the brutality of this death, there is some good news: later in the letter, Jesus promises, “I will give hidden manna to everyone who stands firm and a white stone with a new name engraved upon it .” This is a promise of restoration. Instead of bowing to Rome, Jesus promised believers something much more powerful than Rome. 

~ Thyatira ~

Unlike Pergamum, Thyatira was a practical, working-class city that existed in the valleys of Asia along the major trade routes. Similar to how things were in Smyrna, trade guilds were the main attraction. In many historical accounts that I found regarding this city, it is a common belief that this city had a monopoly on trade guilds. Do you remember the story of Lydia in Acts 16? Well, she was from this city.

Ruins of Thyatira - Wikipedia

Thyatira had more active trade unions than almost any other city in ancient Asia. People knew the city for its clothing and dyes, potters and bakers, and, to throw things back to Pergamum for a quick reflection, bronze-smiths. Here is something to think about: Thyatira would have supplied the bronze that Antipas may have been sealed inside before he was martyred. It's incredible to think how connected the cities these 7 churches were in actually are, isn’t it? 

In Revelation 2:18-29, which is the longest letter of the seven, by the way, at 12 verses, we learn a great deal about the city. It was a city filled with false teachings, just like Pergamum, but the difference here was that this is by far the worst warning and the most encouraging promise. Basically, Jesus states that judgment will be cast and many will suffer greatly because of it, but those who stand firm in my teaching will have the ultimate victory. 

The church gave in to the teachings of a woman whom Jesus called a Jezebel.  Her influence likely combined the pagan practices with guild expectations, making compromise feel unavoidable. If you know your Old Testament history, Jezebel was one of the worst villains in biblical history. The entire city was controlled by these false teachers and the requirements of the guilds. If you weren't someone who followed these two groups, you had no chance of a life free from suffering.

The deep secrets hidden by these two groups left the city haunted by fear and led to compromise to save themselves from it. 

~ Bringing the History Home ~

Both of these churches teach us two powerful messages. From Pergamum, we learn that intimidation does not define our future. From Thyatira, we are reminded that even in the midst of overwhelming odds, we do not have to compromise our beliefs or deny who we truly are. In the vision given to John, Jesus acknowledges both the struggles these two churches endured and the hope they would have if they chose to let go. 

In whatever we face, standing up for what we claim to believe does not have to lead us into fear or compromise; it can give us courage we can live out in our daily lives. In our faithfulness, we are promised a “white stone and given a new name,” but we are also promised the “ultimate victory” in those same struggles that have held us down in life. I encourage you to look into the deeper meaning behind these letters. Who knows, you may even learn something for yourself.

~ Biography ~

Matthew James Elliott (M.J. Elliott) is a passionate writer who loves to encourage and inspire others. He served in various ministry roles for over 15 years, which gave him a unique perspective on people and Biblical History. Matthew holds a degree in Biblical Studies from Oklahoma Wesleyan University, with a focus on Pastoral Care, Christian Education, and Worship.

Matthew is married and has three wonderful children who bring him immense joy and inspiration. One of his favorite things to do with them is to share stories they can someday learn from. When writing a story, he aspires to minister to others with love, equip them with encouragement, and use the gift God has given him as a writer to help readers experience God in a real and meaningful way.

Find Matthew on Amazon, Goodreads, Facebook, BookBub, and His Website. He has written Devotionals, An Episodic Series, Novellas, and Commentaries for The Gospel Daily.

~ Highlighted Release ~

If you're curious about The Hope of Inheritance or any of my books, you can keep up with me on REAMStories or Facebook. The Hope of Inheritance was selected as the book of the month for my Biblical Fiction Facebook Authors Group, so keep your eyes on my Facebook for some fun things this month. You can also read Mysteries in Ephesus, Season 2 of The Ephesus Pages on REAM Right Now!

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In the aftermath of the Great Fire of 64 AD, Rome lies in ruins. Emperor Nero and his ruthless Prefect of the City, Lysias, unleash a wave of persecution that threatens the very existence of the early church.

Nathaniel, a seasoned scribe and longtime companion of Luke, records the journeys that will shape the future of the faith as it was taught by those who walked with Christ. They are known as The Founders.

From the destruction of Colossae to the tribulations in Ephesus… From the Council of Corinth to the shattered streets of Rome… Nathaniel and his brother Zadok witness courage, betrayal, and the final days of two of the greatest founders — Peter and Paul.

Four men are chosen.

Their message will change everything.

Hope will rise again.

Black Bart, Gentleman Outlaw by Nancy J. Farrier

Wells Fargo Stage

The Wells Fargo stagecoach skidded to a stop in front of the armed man, clad in a long, soiled duster. His face and head were covered with an old flour sack with two holes cut for him to see through. His double-barreled shotgun, held at a jaunty angle, suggested he would put it to use in an instant if the driver didn’t stop.

“Please, throw down the box.” The bandit called out to the driver, then glancing around at the rocks, he raised his voice to be heard by everyone. “If he dares shoot, give him a volley, boys.” The stagecoach driver’s heart thumped as he noted at least six guns pointed at him from the surrounding rocks. 

The driver grabbed the strongbox from underneath his seat and tossed it down to the outlaw. He called back to his passengers to stay calm and not panic. One of the women became so distraught she threw her purse out to the outlaw. The hooded bandit crossed to the bag, picked it up and handed it back in to the woman. He said, “Madam, I do not wish your money.” Thus, the robber earned the name, Black Bart, the gentleman outlaw. 

Charles Boles, (Black Bart, aka Charles Bolton) resided in San Francisco in the 1870’s. He was an older gentleman in his 50’s with white hair, a nice grandfatherly type. He preferred fancier clothes, walked about with a cane, and enjoyed strolling about his neighborhood. No one who knew him would have guessed he also had lived a life as a bandit. Not this refined gentleman. 

Black Bart was different than many outlaws. He worked alone and didn’t rob every stage he heard about. He invested his money in small businesses, and only robbed Wells Fargo stages when he needed more funds. He loved stay in nice hotels and eat at fine restaurants. 

Bart treated women with great respect, as he did all the victims on the stages he robbed. On more than one occasion he refused to take the valuables and money from a flustered lady passenger. He always tried to assure them he meant no harm to them, but only wanted what Wells Fargo had to offer. 

Charles Boles knew of a popular dime store novel featuring a feared outlaw dressed in black. When he took the name of Black Bart, he capitalized on a known fear, even though he never dressed in black and didn’t resemble the description of the dime store novel’s outlaw. The one thing all the stage drivers remembered about Bart was his clear, blue eyes, shining out from the holes in the flour sack. They couldn’t forget the color of those eyes.

Black Bart began to write poems, which he left at the site of his robberies. He signed them P o 8, which stumped the lawmen who were trying to catch him. He always disappeared without a trace. Even the poems gave no clue as to who Bart might be or where to find him.

Black Bart’s life of crime came to an end after a robbery he committed in November 1883. The sheriff who investigated the robbery examined the ground closely and found a handkerchief which contained a laundry mark. The handkerchief was taken to San Francisco and a search began for the laundry that used this mark. They found the correct laundry and as they were questioning the owner, Charles Boles, the owner of the handkerchief came through the doors.

Boles spent over six years in prison, but the story has it that after he was released, he disappeared. Another robbery occurred and the bandit left a poem. Upon examination it was agreed this poem was a copycat. Rumor has it that Bart was so successful in his efforts against Wells Fargo that the company paid him a yearly stipend to cease from robbing their stagecoaches, and he did.

Have you ever heard about Black Bart, the gentleman bandit? Can you guess why he signed his notes P o 8? Thank you for stopping by.

Nancy J Farrier is an award-winning, New York Times best-selling author who lives in Southern Arizona in the Sonoran Desert. She loves the Southwest with its interesting historical past. When Nancy isn’t writing, she loves to read, do needlecraft, play with her cats and dog, and spend time with her family. You can read more about Nancy and her books on her website: nancyjfarrier.com.