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.

Sarah Winnemucca - Advocate and Author by Nancy J. Farrier

Sarah Winnemucca, daughter of Chief Winnemucca, granddaughter of Chief Truckee (Chief of the whole Piute Nation), spent her adult life making people aware of the plight of her people. During her life, she worked as an educator, military scout and interpreter, and advocate of Native American Rights. Her book, Life Among the Piutes, by Sarah Winnemucca Hopkins, published in 1883, details the treatment of her people at the hands of the government. (For research, I started reading her book and couldn't put it down.)

Born sometime in 1844, Sarah was given the name, Thocmetony, which means shell flower. In her early years in Northern Nevada, the Paiutes and Washos were the only people inhabiting the area. Sarah talks in her book about the spring Festival of the Flowers where all the girls who had flower names would search to see if their flower was in bloom. They would gather the flowers and make wreaths, crowns or scarves to wear as they danced. As they walked, or danced, they would sing to themselves. The young men would often dance alongside them, especially if they were a sweetheart.

Shell Flower

Here is what Sarah would sing: “I, Sarah Winnemucca, am a shell-flower, such as I wear on my dress. My name is Thocmetony. I am so beautiful! Who will come and dance with me while I am so beautiful? Oh, come and be happy with me! I shall be beautiful while the earth lasts. Somebody will always admire me; and who will come and be happy with me in the Spirit-land? I shall be beautiful forever there. Yes, I shall be more beautiful than my shell-flower, my Thocmetony! Then, come, oh come, and dance and be happy with me!” (Life Among the Piutes, pg. 43)
. 

She recalls the time when her grandfather, Chief Truckee, first saw white people entering their land. His excitement can be seen in his recorded words, “My white brothers, — my long-looked for white brothers have come at last!” Chief Truckee’s gestures of peace were ignored and despite trying many times to extend friendship to the white people, he finally gave up, hoping the next party to come through would be friendlier. His hope came true in following years when Captain Fremont and his troops accepted his friendship. Chief Truckee and his men helped fight in the Bear War to defeat the Mexican army and win California for the United States of America.

When Sarah first accompanied her grandfather to California at age six, she was frightened of the new things she encountered: beds, chairs, unusual food, bright-colored dishes. Her grandfather insisted that Sarah and her sister become members of Major Ormsby’s household when Sarah turned thirteen. By fourteen, Sarah had acquired five languages. At sixteen, Sarah and her sister, Elma, attended a convent school in San Jose, CA—a request her grandfather made on his deathbed. The sisters weren’t allowed into the school officially, but Sarah continued to learn. 

Lewis Hopkins, Sarah's Husband

In 1872, Sarah went to Washington D.C. to speak out on behalf of her people, who were suffering injustices at the hand of Indian Agents on the reservation. In 1880, she again pleaded their cause before the Secretary of the Interior and President Rutherford B. Hayes. She gave more than 400 speeches on behalf of her people. 

In her book, Sarah says the following of her grandfather, “I can imagine his feelings, for I have drank deeply from the same cup. When I think of my past life, and the bitter trials I have endured, I can scarcely believe I live, and yet I do ; and, with the help of Him who notes the sparrow's fall, I mean to fight for my down-trodden race while life lasts.” She lived out this desire to the best of her ability.

I am amazed that such a young girl learned languages so quickly and had such determination. How about you? Do you speak more than one language? Have you ever given a speech or spoken for a cause you felt strongly about?

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.

Unexpected Legacies: Horatio Spafford

By Matthew J. Elliott

Upfront, I am compelled to warn you that the story I have to share for this post is not one to be taken lightly. Aside from how purposeful the words Horatio Spafford wrote over 150 years ago, there is a story behind what led him to the words of the song ‘It is Well with My Soul’. Some stories just need to be told, and that have been told before, but hit differently once you understand where they came from and this story is one of those. 

To provide a little of background on why I selected this song. In truth, this is one song that is difficult for me to listen to. My father sang it at my mother’s memorial service in 2009 after cancer took her life much sooner than expected. While that is not a story for me to share with you in this post, knowing the story behind this song now gives me a much better understanding of the legacy ‘It is Well with My Soul’ has for us today. 

If you can imagine with me for a moment, or two…what it was like to live in the 1870s. There were no phones, computers, TVs, or even any type of vehicle we’d consider using today. It sounds like something the word would never survive today, doesn’t it? Now, let’s dig even deeper. Travel with me to Chicago, one of the nation’s biggest cities, and a bustling economy filled with opportunities to build something worth investing in. 

As we walk through the streets of this ever-growing environment, we find ourselves standing in front of a well-known district filled with thriving businesses and successful people living out their daily lives. Suddenly, everything changes! Out of nowhere, a huge, uncontrollable fire breaks out and changes everything. The once prosperous district is gone, and what’s more, the fire continues, killing hundreds of people and leaving a third of the population homeless. 

In the heart of a once vibrant metropolis, the feeling of desolation is overwhelming as the only visible sights for miles are blackened ashes and fragmented rocks. Almost everything in this society is beyond repair, leaving no choice but to start from scratch. The survivors are left in a state of complete shock. Their souls rattled to their very core, with little hope for a restoration of their former lives in any form. Many people ask themselves the same question: Does this mark the long-awaited culmination?

The road ahead leads us to a man named Horatio Spafford. He is a well-known lawyer, who invested his entire fortune into Chicago real estate. Much of which was no longer there. Recognizing this, he looks up at his wife and their four daughters. His mind becomes filled with fear and worry. Considering this, the family makes plans to journey to England for some time to recover and heal from the monumental loss they all had just endured. 

When the time comes to journey upon the sea to the old country, Horatio is unable to join his family because of other matters with the estate. He stays behind to tie up a few things and plans to join his family soon. As they depart, imagine his family waving to him from the ship as it leaves port and begins a journey it will never recover from. Along the way, their ship unexpectedly collides with another ship, resulting in the death of over 200 people, including his four daughters, at sea. 

Upon being rescued, Anna, his wife, sends a single note to tell her husband of what had transpired, “Saved and Alone, what should I do?” This note hits on so many levels, but Horatio immediately departs. Eventually, he finds his way to the exact spot where his daughters were lost. While the captain takes a break from the journey to remember those who have passed, Horatio stands in quiet contemplation. The significance of certain words are imprinted on his heart.

When peace like a river, attendeth my way,

When sorrows like sea billows roll—

Whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to know

It is well, it is well with my soul.

In the midst of this unprecedented storm, Horatio is given a gift. A promise that regardless of what he has faced, there is hope and it can be well with his soul. As the journey continued, he eventually reunited with his beloved, and things found a new routine once more. Nothing will ever be the same again, but there is something he can place his hope in. There is something he and his wife can hold on to. 

There is a profound depth to the story that extends beyond what has been mentioned in this post. In truth, immense tragedy marks Horatio and Anna’s path. While the rest of his story speaks to the unexpected legacy they have left behind, it is not my place to continue sharing their pain. Feel free to look it up, though, because it adds to their legacy’s value. It is a powerful story to discover as well. 

This article focuses on the message that was left behind. Horatio’s legacy, built through the words he wrote in the hymn we now call “It is Well with My Soul,” is meaningful to us all. The storms of life will always be there, doing everything they can to keep us from finding purpose in the pain and value of the trials we face. It is never easy to survive those storms.

Say what you will about the unexpected legacy of Horatio Spafford, but the proof is there. It is up to you to determine what you do with it. History has many stories that capture experiences like this, and each one has a lesson for us to learn from.  

  

~ Biography ~

Matthew James Elliott (M.J. Elliott) is a passionate writer who loves to encourage and inspire others. He has served in various ministry roles for over 15 years, which has given 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 happily married to Traci, and they have three children named Leyla, Caleb, and Hannah, who bring them immense joy and inspiration. As a writer, Matthew's goal is to share love, equip others, and edify them for the greater good. He loves connecting any amount of scripture to his stories and uses his knowledge of Biblical History to do so often.

You can find Matthew's works on Amazon, Goodreads, Facebook, and His Website. He has written Devotionals, An Episodic Series, Novellas, and even Commentaries for The Gospel Daily.

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A Kindle Vella Story in progress, Read the first 10 episodes FREE!

One Man. His Continued Journey. Working to Build the Early Church. 

John Mark is haunted by his past, and there is one person he has never been able to reconcile with. Join him on his continuing missionary journey as he leaves Cyprus to search for Saul, now known as Paul, before the epic ending of his Missionary Journey in Cyprus. Who will he meet along the way and what lessons will he learn? Will this journey help him find the answers he seeks?

Unexpected Legacies: Joseph M. Scriven

By Matthew J. Elliott

Joseph M Scriven - keithbeattyonline

In my last article, I spent a great deal of time writing to you about unexpected legacies in unexpected ways. I talked about how sometimes even the smallest act can have the biggest impact on the world around you. 

Continuing our conversation, I imagined how E.M. Reynolds found the inspiration for her song. “Jesus Paid it All.” My primary focus was to bring new life to a story that has been told many times over. In the end. We put some energy into celebrating the not-so-well-known historical figures who left their own unexpected legacy.  

As I searched for a historical figure for this month’s article, I came upon the story of a young man who went through a great deal of hardship throughout his life. This story tells of friendship and pain, hope and loss. I will not pretend to understand how much pain Joseph M. Scriven endured, but I can speak to the impact the pains he faced in life had on his legacy in the end. 

Unfortunately, there is not much of a happy ending to the story behind the song this man wrote. Everyone knows how popular the song “What a Friend We Have in Jesus” is, don’t they? Well, the tragic story behind how this song started with the death of someone he held quite dear to his heart. However, let’s start at the beginning rather than the ending of this sad story. To do that, though, let us go back to the beginning of his story.

Joseph M. Scriven had lifelong hopes and dreams as a child growing up. In particular, one of his biggest streams was to find happiness through marriage. His parents had enough money to send him to the college of his choice. He dreamed of a life and service in the military, but, like many young men, companionship was a deep longing of his. 

When his military career practically failed because of health issues, he had to let go of that dream for a more realistic one. He still longed to find that place where he could find love. The end of his military career was just the beginning of all the things he would have to endure throughout his life.  

After his career in the military failed, Joseph returned home and fell in love with his childhood sweetheart. Despite wanting to stay behind, he pursued graduating from a non-military college. Once he was able to complete this academic adventure, he returned home intending to marry the childhood sweetheart he fell in love with. At some point, Joseph and his fiance planned a wedding. However, on the day before the wedding was to take place, Joseph and his sweetheart traveled to meet for unknown reasons. 

As they traveled along opposite sides of the riverbed close to where they lived, the two found themselves in an uneasy predicament. The ice from the riverbed had melted enough that when his fiance tried to cross it, she fell off her horse and drowned. All Joseph could do was stand there helplessly watching as his fiance died.

Honestly, there was nothing the man could have done to save his fiance. We do not know what else may have happened at this time in Joseph’s life, but something caused him to move to Canada two years later and take up the role of a teacher, and tutor, for our family in need.  

Catherine Roche - Porthopehistory

Unexpectedly, during his time in Port Hope Canada, Joseph fell in love with a young lady named Catherine Roche, who was related to the family of the child he was tutoring. This young lady and Joseph became quite close and while, at the time, she was still underage, they eventually reunited and became engaged as well. 

The two of them were engaged for almost a year before they planned their wedding. At the time, the young lady Joseph was to marry committed to converting to the faith that he lived by. For the wedding to even take place this time, the young lady would have to be baptized. 

However, she was already dealing with a sickness of her own. Upon getting baptized in the lake close to where her family lived, she became consumed with a better cold. It was winter when this baptism took place. Before Joseph knew it, his fiance had died because of the sickness she contracted after her baptism had taken place. 

Maybe winter just wasn’t his season, I don’t know, but based on my research, Joseph published a poem called “Pray Without Ceasing” at this juncture. This is the poem that would eventually become the words to the Hymn “What a Friend we have in Jesus.”

Scriven Residence - Porthopehistory

Ultimately, Joseph remained unmarried. Despite this, he managed to find a sense of purpose in the pain he experienced. For the rest of his life, the man focused on mentoring and tutoring young men, while also selflessly devoting his free time to helping his community with various tasks, aiming to make their lives a little easier. His life’s purpose was to remind anyone who experienced pain that Jesus was there as a friend to support and protect them. 

However, to this day, there is still a great mystery surrounding his own death. In truth, people have not been able to find much evidence of what took place. It is rumored that he drowned as well. That, however, is not the purpose of his legacy. The purpose of his legacy is one of overcoming a great deal of pain multiple times in life, and turning that pain into something useful and encouraging for those around them. This is where we find the unexpected legacy of Joseph M. Scriven.

~ Biography ~

Matthew James Elliott (M.J. Elliott) is a passionate writer who loves to encourage and inspire others. He has served in various ministry roles for over 15 years, which has given 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 happily married to Traci, and they have three children named Leyla, Caleb, and Hannah, who bring them immense joy and inspiration. As a writer, Matthew's goal is to share love, equip others, and edify them for the greater good. He loves connecting any amount of scripture to his stories and uses his knowledge of Biblical History to do so often.

You can find Matthew's works on Amazon, Goodreads, Facebook, and His Website. He has written Devotionals, An Episodic Series, Novellas, and even Commentaries for The Gospel Daily.

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The Cyprus Journal is Out! Have you grabbed Your copy?

One Young Man. His Significant Story. A Witness of the Early Church.

Many knew him as the young cousin to Barnabas the Encourager, the son of Mary who offered her home to honor the Savior and those who followed Him, or even the man who abandoned Paul on his First Missionary Journey, but there is more to his story. His story is one of new beginnings, a promise fulfilled, and a man who overcame fear of the unknown.

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The Oldest House in LA

By Nancy J. Farrier

 

Avila House, Wikimedia Commons

Tourists who visit Los Angeles enjoy going to Olvera Street, a short block full of touristy shops and cultural foods. I’ve been there and meandered through the shops to the sounds of Hispanic music and the noise of visitors. About the middle of the block is a charming home—the Avila House. The plaque on the house says it’s been there for almost 200 years. 

 

In 1818, Don Francisco Jose Avila, a ranchero and alcalde or mayor of Los Angeles, began to build a house in town. Many of the rancheros lived outside the town, but would keep homes closer to town so they could have friends over or for when they attended church. Don Francesco Avila was known for his hospitality when he entertained friends and family.

 

Church on Olvera Street
Photo by Pedro Szekely, Wikimedia Commons

Don Avila lived in the house with his wife, Encarnacion, and his two daughters. The
original home was much more spacious than the restored house on Olvera Street today. Don Avila’s house, made of sun-baked adobe bricks, had walls 2 ½ to 3 feet thick. The ceilings were 15 feet high and supported by cottonwood beams. They used natural tar from the Brea tar pits mixed with rocks and horsehair to coat and seal the roof. In the back they had a vineyard, one of many in the area. 

 

In 1832, Don Avila died. He had been 50 when he married 15-year-old Encarnacion. She and her two daughters continued to live in the Avila house. During the Mexican-American war, Robert “Fighting Bob” Stockton, a U.S. Navy Commander, commandeered the Avila House for a military headquarters. After Encarnacion’s death, her daughters lived in the house until 1868. 

 

Over the next few decades, the Avila house was rented out, made into a restaurant and became a rooming house for transients. I found conflicting accounts about the date when the Avila House was condemned and slated to be torn down, 1926, 1928, or 1932. The house had declined to the point where it wasn’t habitable.

 

Christine Sterling

That’s when socialite, Christine Sterling moved to Los Angeles. She loved the city and enjoyed looking at the older areas. She went to the street where the Avila house was, now a grimy alley filled with sewage, and popular with transients and criminals. Christine read the notice condemning the building and began a massive and successful campaign to save the Avila House. 

 

Today the Avila House is a museum, decorated as the home would have been in 1840. The only original piece of furniture is a black, lacquered table, thought to be a gift to Francisco when he married Encarnacion.

 

Many visiting dignitaries, movie stars and celebrities have visited the Avila House. Senator John Kennedy is reported to have stepped on the horseshoe at the entryway between the chapel and the kitchen and said, “I wish to be President.” Other famous people have been entertained there in years past.

One of my books starts out in Olvera Street and mentions the Avila House. Read about it below:

The Ranchero's Gift

When Maya Garza’s step-father drags her to the cantina, planning to auction her off to cover his debts, she is desperate to escape. She sees no hope as she stands atop the table with a room full of men leering at her. Yaniv Madrigal is searching for his brother, and he can’t believe his eyes when he finds him bidding for a young woman. A woman who has the look of a trapped animal. Yaniv is even more shocked when he outbids his brother. Will Maya ever be free? Will Yaniv make peace with what he’s done? Find the book here. 

 

Nancy J Farrier is an award-winning, 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.

An Army Wife's Recipes and Hints

 With Nancy J. Farrier

 

I have a copy of an old army wife’s cookbook. There are many recipes, some household hints, and some home remedies. This cookbook, printed in 1972, came from a loose-bound book penned by Army wife, Alice Kirk Grierson. In the cookbook, the recipes have been modernized some to make them adaptable to today’s culture and foods. I’d like to look at some of the terms and ways of cooking shown by the notes done by Alice Grierson. I hope you find this as fascinating as I do.

 

About the author: Alice Kirk Greirson came from a well-to-do family. She didn’t have to struggle as an army wife, but often waited to join her husband at a new post until the servants had done the moving and setting up for her. Her husband, Ben, joined the regular army in 1866 at the rank of Colonel. Alice followed him from post to post until 1888 when she died.

 

RUSK: Rusk today is described as a hard bread, similar to the bread you might find in an Italian restaurant where you would soak it in a balsamic vinaigrette before consuming. In this cookbook, the rusk is more of a sweet bread that can be altered to your specification with spices and fruit, such as raisins. 

 

Photo by Barthateslisa, Wikimedia Commons

Rusk

1 C. Sugar

2 Eggs

Butter, the size of 2 eggs

2 C. Milk

6 C. Flour

6 tsp. Baking Powder

Raisins

Spices

 

Bake at once. Makes 2 loaves.

 

As you can see, this is a bare bones recipe and could be adjusted according to taste. I love that the butter is the size of 2 eggs.

 

Photo by Diana Kuleniuk on Unsplash

Another interesting recipe with unusual measurements is the one for coconut cookies.

2 Eggs

3 Teacups white sugar

1 Teacup Butter

1 Teacup Sour Cream

1 Scant tsp Soda

5 Teacups Flour

1 Large Coconut, grated

Roll in sugar and drop on the pans. Add nuts last.

 

My hands hurt at the thought of grating a whole coconut. Using teacups to measure is interesting. Were all teacups the same size then? How did the recipe change if you used bigger teacups?

 

There is a fascinating story included about an army wife who invited a family of seventeen over for dinner. This included their children. The wife was just putting finishing touches on the meal and the family was at the doorway to the dining room when the ceiling overhead broke and fell on the wife and the table. The dishes were filled with plaster and the wife covered in plaster and dust. She was okay and the family returned to the other room while she cleaned up, cooked another meal, and served them all. 

 

Household Hints and Remedies

 

Looking at the past and how they made items for their household and what remedies they used is always interesting. Today, we can go to the store and find hair dye in multiple colors. In this book is a recipe for hair dye that is so different from what we have today. And, I believe, a bit dangerous to use.

 

Hair Dye

½ Drachma Sugar of Lead

1 Drachma Lac Sulphur

2 Ounces Glycerine

2 Ounces Rose Water

1 Ounce Bay Rum

Put the sugar of lead and Sulphur in a pint of boiling rain water. Let stand until cold. Add remaining ingredients after a thorough mixing of the glycerine with the rose water and rum. 

 

Photo by Dan Renco on Unsplash

How to Remove Dirt from the Eye

Take a hog’s bristle, double so as to form a loop. Lift the eyelid and gently insert the loop over the eyeball, which will cause a disagreeable feeling. Now close the lid down upon the bristle, which may now be withdrawn. The dirt will surely be on the bristle.

 

 

There are many more gems in this small cookbook. Every time I pull it from the shelves to scan through, I find another fascinating bit from the past. I often wonder how they shared these bits of wisdom for the time and where they found these ingredients. Were they easily found at the mercantile? Did the army wives get together to share recipes and remedies? 

 

This is a fascinating time. Do you have any old recipes or hints passed down through your family? I would love to hear about them.

 

Nancy J Farrier is an award-winning 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 spend time with her family. You can read more about Nancy and her books on her website: nancyjfarrier.com.

 

 

Puzzle Blocks and Cube Puzzles

by Anita Mae Draper

Map block puzzle, 20th century. Courtesy of © McCord Museum

Colored puzzle blocks like the one in the map puzzle image above, courtesy of the © McCord Museum, have been around since Louis Prang presented chromolithography to the world in 1897. Before then, what was called color lithography was lackluster in appearance and often monotone and dull. With Prang's new process using bright multi-colors, imaginations soared for children and adults alike.

Puzzles blocks are created by pasting parts of a large image on hollow blocks of wood. Since a block has six sides, each puzzle box contained a card showing what each completed puzzle looked like. A page from the 1880-81 McLoughlin Brothers' Catalogue of Games shows a listing of what were called cube puzzles. The list shows a variety of topics, including stories our children still read today. 

McLoughlin Brothers Catalogue of Games, 1880-1881. Public Domain, Courtesy American Antiquarian Society

The puzzles were challenging when similar images of the same topic were included in one box, especially so before the use of chromolithography. Interestingly, the left side of the McLoughlin Bros catalog page shows puzzles called comic and transformation cubes which don't necessarily match. This type invites the imagination to create characters, animals, or things without feeling the need to solve a puzzle. 

In 1898, McLoughlin Bros of New York printed this block puzzle of children playing. The colors show the exquisite detailing of the images, similar to the oil paintings which Louis Prang envisioned when he created the chromolithography process. 

Puzzle blocks of this caliber are still available if one takes the time to search out them out. I found this set online at SS Moore Antiques on Rubylane where they were kind enough to let me use the images. My research into puzzle blocks showed that because the pictures were pasted onto the wood cubes, corners tend to show the most wear, and cards grow brittle. Both blocks and cards are often lost over the years, yet they are still valuable if you like to display vintage items in your decor. 

Although the cube puzzles were eye-catching in stores, it would be many years before catalogues advertising them, or any other toys, were printed in color. 

McLoughlin Bro.'s Catalogue, 1900. Public Domain, Courtesy American Antiquarian Society 

If you're interested in puzzles and game boards, check out my previous posts:

Sep 5, 2020 - Dissected Puzzles in Jane Austen's world

Aug 5, 2020 - Carom and Crokinole

July 5, 2020 - The Reach for Success Board Game

June 5, 2020 - Virtue Board Games

May 5, 2020 - Geographical Board Games

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Anita Mae Draper served a 20-year term working on air bases in the communication trade of the Canadian Armed Forces before retiring to the open skies of the prairies. She uses her experience and love of history to pepper her stories of yesteryear's romance with realism as well as faith. Anita Mae Draper's published stories appear in Barbour Publishing, WhiteFire Publishing, and Guideposts Books. Readers can enrich their story experience with visual references by checking out Anita's Pinterest boards. All links available on her website at www.anitamaedraper.com