Mary Todd Lincoln's House Museum in Lexington, Kentucky

Last month I shared about our visit to Abraham Lincoln’s Birthplace, so this month I want to share about our visit to Mary Todd Lincoln’s house in Lexington, Kentucky.

I first want to say that this house sits in downtown Lexington, with several modern amenities all around it. The fact that this has been preserved is amazing. And I found the history presented helping to tell a larger story about the Lincoln family, including the differences between Abraham and Mary’s backgrounds. As a Lincoln fan, this was a bucket list item, and I'm so grateful we had time on our trip to visit the museum.

The Outside 

There is a tiny parking lot in the back where you can enter a courtyard before walking around to the front of the house. The courtyard includes signs that share a historic overview. I'm putting these images in larger, so you can read them.

One of the most interesting things I learned in just the garden, was that Mary came from an affluent family, was well educated for a woman during that time period, and had a keen interest in politics. When she met Lincoln, this common interest is what brought them together.

The other interesting thing was that she had a brother who served in the confederate army during the civil war. Talk about a topic that divided a family! I can only imagine the stress this added to both these families lives. Besides having opposing views about slavery (Mary’s father owned slaves while at the same time opposed slavery - I know - a bit confusing), when her brother was killed, and her sister came to the White House to mourn with Mary, Mary was called out by some to be a south sympathizer for allowing her sister in the White House

In some ways Mary was in a no-win situation. But she was a strong woman, standing by her husband no matter what. It was documented she was a firm supporter of her husbands politics and never wavered on that point.

Once you walk through the gardens you enter onto the street to come in through the front door.

The Inside Highlights

Inside there is both a self-guided tour option and a tour guide option. Due to timing, we did the self-guided tour. The signs, the map, and the details presented made it enjoyable and educational.

I don’t have space to share all the pictures I took, but we were able to tour the parlor, the dining room, the kitchen area, the sitting rooms, and the bedrooms upstairs. The main bedroom included a small childs room extended within it, for the babies and toddlers to be taken care of.

Each room had a card pointing out highlights and the history on the room.

In one of the rooms was a Binder that had pictures of Mary in several of her White House Dresses. I enjoyed seeing new photos of her and the different styles she wore. The order shared a perspective of the scrutiny she was under.

 

 

In the sitting rooms, replica china from the white house were displayed.

 

In Summary

I have always been a fan of Lincoln and have enjoyed being able to visit his birthplace, the Lincoln theater in DC (along with the building across the street where he passed), reading books on him, and now learning more about his wife and her background. She had a huge influence on Lincoln becoming President. In almost every way, they were a team. I can't even imagine what his death must've been for her.

She didn't have family she could go back to or who would offer her support (her mother had passed when she was young and her step-mother wanted to get them out of the house as quickly as possible). And the media were not kind to her. Hard to escape the labels given on such a grand scale.

When I was reading through all the museums displays, I tried to see Mary and her choices later in life through her point of view. She faced a lot of challenges. And lost a lot.

If you'd like to learn more about Mary, this article from The Epoch Times on Mary (titled Maligned, Mistreated, and Mad: The Tragedy of Mary Lincoln) provides a lot more detail.

If you are ever in the Lexington area, I highly recommend a visit. There's also a small gift shop on the premises. You would need anywhere from 1-3 hours depending on how much you like to read and study what's provided.

 

 

Book 4 in Denise M. Colby's Best-laid Plans Series

California, 1870. Pastor William Baker built his life on steady faith and safe choices, but the arrival of Lydia Spencer upends everything. Independent and outspoken Lydia is unlike any woman he’s ever known. Lydia is a Pinkerton detective, undercover as a schoolteacher while tracking a dangerous crime boss. She’s determined to protect her friends in Washton even if it means keeping her distance from the kind, steadfast pastor who sees too much. But when Will and Lydia are thrown together in a search for truth they find themselves fighting not only for justice, but for a future neither had planned.

Denise M. Colby writes historical romance sweetened with faith, hope, and love. She finds history fascinating and contemplates often how it was to live in the 1800's. Her debut novel, When Plans Go Awry, is a 2025 Carol Award finalist. Sign up for her newsletter at www.denisemcolby.com or follow Denise on Facebook, Instagram, Bookbub, Pinterest, or GoodReads.

When the Theater Came to Town: Bisbee's Comedians in Rural Kentucky

 Have you ever been to a tent show? Not a circus, but a real, live theatrical performance, complete with orchestra, magic, and vaudeville acts—all under a giant tent?

If you lived in rural America in the first half of the 20th century, chances are you would have attended more than once.

Tent shows traveled from town to town with their huge tents and a full cast of characters and crew. They’d arrive in a town, recruit local men to help erect the tent, and stay for three days to a week, with new shows each night. Tent sizes varied, but many were 60 feet wide by 145 feet long and seated up to 1,500, with one reported to hold 4,000 people.

Interior of a Bisbee's Comedians' tent

The typical tent show started at 8 p.m. with a concert by the orchestra, followed by a three- or four-act play, with vaudeville, magic, and musical numbers entertaining the audience between acts. Sometimes there would be an “after-show” for an additional cost.

For a dime or a quarter, families could enjoy an entire evening of live entertainment. Then a few days later, the whole thing disappeared down the road.

One popular tent show troupe was Bisbee’s Comedians, which played throughout Kentucky and Tennessee from 1928 to 1966. The troupe performed year after year in Cadiz, Kentucky.

Imagine the excitement when those trucks rolled into a small town where entertainment options were few. Before long, local men were helping raise an enormous canvas tent, musicians and actors were unloading equipment, and children gathered to watch the activity. For a few nights, the town had its own theater.

I wanted to capture some of that excitement when my heroine, Naomi, visits Cadiz in my novel Moonshine River:

Even from this distance, the canvas structure looked bigger than any building she’d ever seen. Men and boys crawled like ants around the outsides, tugging on ropes and pounding stakes into the ground. As she watched, the top of the tent stretched still higher until a man called, “Hold!” Four burly men scrambled to tie off the ropes. As others were able to let go of the ropes they’d been pulling, they stood back and stared up at the monstrosity.

Nearby sat six cargo trucks, each one painted with the name “Bisbee’s Comedians” in red and black letters. People crisscrossed from the trucks and cars to the tent, carrying chairs and other items needed for the show.

Naomi watched a chubby man with red hair and freckles wander among the onlookers. He shook hands with a man and woman, tickled the little boy with them, and said something that made them laugh. Then he hitched his pants above his waist, grinned, and moved on to another family.

Meet Toby

The freckled-faced man was a character known as “Toby,” a fixture with traveling tent shows. Sometimes the shows were even referred to as “Toby Shows” because of his popularity. A country bumpkin with red hair, freckles, blacked-out front tooth, ragged clothing and homespun humor, he was instantly recognizable. Hitching up his britches, he would employ slapstick, winks, facial contortions and theatrical gymnastics that delighted the audience.

Lawrence "Boob" Brasfield played
Toby with Bisbee's Comedians.

Typically, no matter the play being performed, Toby had a major part in it. He was usually portrayed as mischievous, naïve, and something of a rube. Often the plot revolved around a city-slicker coming to a small town and attempting to fool the gullible Toby with some unscrupulous scheme. In the third act, Toby always triumphed over the villain.

One actor who played Toby, and was sometimes called the “King of Tobys,” was Lawrence “Boob” Brasfield, who toured with the Bisbee company. One magazine article said, “Boob can just roll his eyes or look out over the crowds with his expression that has ‘vacancy’ written all over it, and he brings down the house.” He was a master at spontaneous aside-to-the-crowd remarks and ad libs.

A Night Under the Big Tent

Jess Bisbee founded his traveling show in 1928. He was the son of a circus and vaudeville magician, and had performed in several vaudeville shows as a magician and with Ringling Brothers Circus as a musician. The troupe was advertised as Zarlington and Bisbee Comedians, then Bisbee and Zarlington, then Bisbee-Nero’s Comedians, and finally as Bisbee’s Comedians for most of its existence.

The company toured from April until late November, primarily in Kentucky and Tennessee. Winter quarters were in White Station, Tennessee, now part of Memphis.

The shows promised family-friendly entertainment. Jess Bisbee said, “The people we show to like a play that has a story with laughs. They don’t go much for pure slapstick, but they do want good, clean laughs. And they even like an occasional tear with their laughs. That’s what we try to give them.”

A sensational ad in the Fulton, Ky.,

newspaper captured attention.

Ticket prices in the early years were 10 cents—promoted as “Depression Prices,” with reserved seats available for an additional 10 cents “If U Want ‘em!” In later years, the price increased to 25 cents. Commonly, a lady would be admitted free on Monday night with one paid adult ticket.

Newspaper advertisements and articles touted the show. In 1934, a news article claimed Bisbee’s was “one of the best shows of its kind on the road at the present time.”

Plays presented by Bisbee’s over the years included such titles as “Chickens,” billed as “a riotous three-act comedy,” “Uncle Tom’s Cabin,” and “My Blue Heaven.”
 
Besides Brasfield, featured artists included Mahala, the Master Magician, and Roenro, “one of the most outstanding jugglers of the present day stage.”

Jess Bisbee as Mahala, the Master Magician, used a large

circular saw in his act to "cut" a woman in half.

Bisbee’s typically returned to the same towns every year and were eagerly awaited. Some years, inclement weather took its toll—although the ads typically proclaimed the show would be in a “waterproof tent.”

When the Tents Came Down

At their peak in the early 1900s, there were an estimated 700 to 800 traveling troupes. An article in the New York Times in 1927 stated, “the canvas playhouses of the country now constitute a more extensive business than Broadway and all the rest of the legitimate theatre industry put together.” Even as late as 1949, the Times reported the tent shows would bring “drama and variety to 15,000 communities,” playing to a total audience of over 75 million.

But the entertainment industry was changing. With the advent of television, popularity of the tent shows declined. In Kentucky, where once there were as many as 15 traveling companies, the Courier-Journal reported in 1948 that Bisbee’s was “the only three-act comedy-and-drammer [sic] tent show left in the South.”

However, upon its return to Cadiz that year, more than a thousand customers crowded into the tent. Joe Creason said it was “a crowd almost equal to the population of the Trigg County seat. People were wedged shoulder to shoulder in the ‘roost,’ that unreserved-seat section in the back of the tent.”

Jess Bisbee died in 1955, and Billy Choate, who had been traveling with Bisbee’s since 1942, acquired the company. By 1964, Bisbee’s Comedians was one of only two remaining tent shows. The last season was in 1966, when Choate attempted to keep going by setting up at a Kentucky resort for the whole summer.

In Parsons, Tennessee, however, a volunteer organization strives to preserve and continue the Toby Show experience. The Parsons Arts Council is the caretaker of what is believed to be the last remaining repertory tent company, donated to them in 2006. The collection includes a 45-by-90-foot tent, three 1942 stake trucks, hundreds of original scripts, costumes, century-old painted drops, blue folding chairs, and other “necessities of the road.” An associated group, the Rivertime Players, gave several performances in 2026 of “A Tribute to the Tent Show Troupers.”

It’s hard today to imagine a traveling theatrical company attracting an audience nearly as large as the population of the town itself. But for generations of rural Americans, the arrival of the big tent meant several nights of music, laughter, drama, magic—and, of course, Toby.

Have you ever attended a tent show? Or did your parents or grandparents ever tell you about one coming to town?

Sources:

The Billboard, July 31, 1948

The Billboard, June 18, 1955

Rivertime Players

Rod Brasfield Historical Marker 

A History of Tennessee Arts, “The Traveling Toby Tent Show”, University of Tennessee Press, September 30, 2004

Bisbee's Comedians, A Bisbee Family History

Newspapers.com, various newspapers and dates

Multi-award-winning author Marie Wells Coutu finds beauty in surprising places, like undiscovered treasures, old houses, and gnarly trees. All three books in her Mended Vessels series, contemporary stories based on the lives of biblical women, have won awards in multiple contests. She is currently working on historical romances set in her native western Kentucky in the 1930s and ‘40s. Moonshine River, the first book in her Between the Rivers Legacy series, releases Sept. 22, 2026. Learn more at www.MarieWellsCoutu.com.

She'll break the law to save her mother. He'll uphold it to save her soul.

After her father’s sudden death, Naomi Ross is left with an impossible choice: let her ailing mother go without desperately needed treatment—or take over the illegal whiskey business she never wanted.

Then Cullen Downs comes home.

Naomi has loved the preacher’s son since childhood, but Cullen is no longer the young man who left Golden Pond. Disgraced by his own mistakes, he’s returned determined to reclaim his faith and fight the liquor trade that nearly ruined his life.

That puts him squarely against the woman he can’t seem to stop loving.

With Prohibition crumbling and danger closing in from moonshiners, a corrupt lawman, and Chicago gangsters, Naomi’s desperate choices threaten more than her freedom. They could cost her Cullen—and the future she never dared believe could be hers.

In the rugged hills of Depression-era Kentucky, two people on opposite sides of the law must discover whether love can survive betrayal, whether good intentions can justify wrong choices, and whether God’s grace is big enough to redeem them both.

Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park by Denise M. Colby

On a recent trip, I had the privilege to visit the Lincoln Birthplace National Park. Located in Larue County, Kentucky, it is comprised of a visitor center (with museum and gift shop), grounds to walk around and picnic on, and a memorial building housing a replica of the one-room log cabin Lincoln was born and raised in until he was two.

What is the Lincoln Birthplace National Park?

The actual location of the park is where Lincoln was born and lived until he was two. Originally when they built the memorial they believed the cabin was the original, but later it was discovered it was not. That is marked clearly on one of the signs providing details of the park.

There is a second park called Knob Creek connected to this one. Down the way about 15 minutes, is where the family moved when Lincoln was 2. He lived there until age 7 and then the family moved to a homestead in Indiana (which is preserved as the Lincoln Boyhood National Museum.

The Memorial Building

They built the memorial building with key features. Sixteen windows, Sixteen rosettes on the celing, sixteen fence poles, all represent what number president he was. There are 56 steps from the base to reach the building representing what age Lincoln died.

Theodore Roosevelt began construction and President Taft was the one who dedicated it after completion.

There is a sinking spring deep underneath the memorial, which is where the original farm had gotten its name.

The Visitor Center

The museum in the visitor center highlights the family history (tracing back to 1550) and displays furniture and tools used during the timeframe of Lincoln’s birth. His father was a carpenter and there’s a table he built on display. There’s also a family Bible. There’s even a game called Gateway to the Presidency.

 

Other Lincoln Things to See

The general vicinity celebrates the connection to Abraham Lincoln. In nearby Springfield, there’s a Lincoln Legacy Museum. We didn’t stop, but according to TripAdvisor it is a great spot to stop. Springfield proudly promotes that they are where Thomas Lincoln and Nancy Hanks met and were married before leasing the land at Sinking Springs.

As we drove through Hodgenville, they had a statue of Lincoln in the center of town facing a statue of Lincoln as a young boy. The boy statue includes a dog, and I was hoping it was Fido, but Fido was Lincoln’s dog as an adult and this one was his childhood pet.

 

In downtown Lexington, there is the Mary Todd Lincoln house. We toured that as well, and I’ll share that in another post. I will say it was interesting to see the differences with how each of them were raised.

Book 4 in the Best-laid Plans Series releases May 26, 2026

California, 1870. Pastor William Baker built his life on steady faith and safe choices, but the arrival of Lydia Spencer upends everything. Independent and outspoken Lydia is unlike any woman he’s ever known. Lydia is a Pinkerton detective, undercover as a schoolteacher while tracking a dangerous crime boss. She’s determined to protect her friends in Washton even if it means keeping her distance from the kind, steadfast pastor who sees too much. But when Will and Lydia are thrown together in a search for truth they find themselves fighting not only for justice, but for a future neither had planned.

Denise M. Colby writes historical romance sweetened with faith, hope, and love. She finds history fascinating and contemplates often how it was to live in the 1800's. Her debut novel, When Plans Go Awry, is a 2025 Carol Award finalist. Sign up for her newsletter at www.denisemcolby.com or follow Denise on Facebook, Instagram, Bookbub, Pinterest, or GoodReads.

Miss Minnette Goes to Broadway and Back

If you’ve been to a Broadway show in New York City, you likely admired the opulent grandeur of the theatre, reminiscent of the early 1900s. Ornate moldings and gilded plaster carvings cover every available surface. The proscenium arch is typically highlighted with gold leaf-covered motifs reflecting the building’s architectural style—rococo, art deco, or beaux-arts.

The proscenium arch, ceiling, and box seats adjacent
to the stage of the Lyceum Theatre are typical of the
detailed design features of early-1900s Broadway
theatres that have been preserved or restored.

Then, when the production began, if you’re like me, you sat open-mouthed as you became immersed in the story and in awe of the performers’ talent.

A number of years ago, I came across these photos and a brief story about a Broadway actress from a tiny town in western Kentucky, which piqued my curiosity. She was born Minnie Vogel and went to New York City about 1909, where she used the stage name Minnette. According to an article in Between the Rivers magazine, she starred in the Broadway play Ray’s Down the Pike Co. Her family believed she may have written the play herself, but no one seems to know how she made the 900-plus mile trip at the age of 18 from Star Lime Works to the big city.

The story intrigued me because Minnette shared little information about her time in New York once she returned home. No records exist of an actress of her name or a play by that title on Broadway (although there was an actress named Minnette Barrett, who performed on Broadway from 1907 to 1953). This raised questions of what happened while this small-town girl was in New York City, and my speculations became the basis for my short story, “All That Glitters,” although I chose the 1930s for my setting.

As part of my research, I found five prominent theaters that were built between 1901 and 1913, when Minnette left the city, and are still in use today:

• The New Amsterdam Theatre: opened in 1903 with A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Home of the Ziegfeld Follies from 1913-1927, and is one of a few operating under its original name.

• The Lyceum Theatre: opened in 1903 with a production of The Proud Prince. Oldest continually operating as a legitimate theater space in New York City. Retained its original name throughout its history.

• The Palace Theatre: opened in 1913 with Miss Civilization. During the height of the Vaudeville era, the Palace was considered the most desirable venue by Vaudevillian performers.

• The Schubert Theatre: opened in 1913 with Easy Come, Easy Go. Connected by a private road to its sister theatre, the Booth.

• The Booth Theater: opened in 1913 with a production of The Great Adventure. Named after the famed actor Edwin Booth, brother of Lincoln assassin John Wilkes Booth.

The mysterious Miss Minnette had a “successful” career, as described by her pastor, but “it did not prove for her good.” Nevertheless, before her death she wrote, “Praise to God I die happy, although I know not the hour my Lord cometh. Do not cry, but just be glad. God bless you all. Meet me in heaven.”

Minnette was no doubt one of many performers whose short-term fame faded into obscurity.

Next month, I’ll share about other historic Broadway theaters and how the area became known as the Great White Way.

Sources

Between the Rivers magazine, Issue 22, 2011, Grand Rivers, KY

www.broadwayworld.com

www.spotlightonbroadway.com

IBDB | The Official Source For Broadway Information

Multi-award-winning author Marie Wells Coutu finds beauty in surprising places, like undiscovered treasures, old houses, and gnarly trees. All three books in her Mended Vessels series, contemporary stories based on the lives of biblical women, have won awards in multiple contests. She is currently working on historical romances set in her native western Kentucky in the 1930s and ‘40s. An unpublished novel, Shifting Currents, placed second in the inspirational category of the nationally recognized Maggie Awards. Learn more at www.MarieWellsCoutu.com.

Her historical short story, “All That Glistens,” was included in the 2023 Saturday Evening Post Great American Fiction collection and is now available free when you sign up for Marie's newsletter here. In her newsletter, she shares about her writing, historical tidbits, recommended books, and sometimes recipes.

The Pioneer Playhouse — Oldest Outdoor Theatre in Kentucky

   __By Tiffany Amber Stockton__

In September, the pack horse librarians and the WPA got a nod here on my day of the month through mention of a play performed at a special location. I promised I'd return this month with more information about the Pioneer Playhouse, and here it is!

Bringing Broadway to the Bluegrass!

Given the nickname of "Theatre Under the Stars," The Pioneer Playhouse in Danville, Kentucky exists as the creative endeavor of Col. Eben C. Henson, who founded the playhouse in 1950 and, with a team, hand built it from recycled materials spanning 200 years. Through Henson's family lines, the playhouse has four generations of ties to the town of Danville. They just closed on their 75th season.

Henson wanted to bring big city theatre to a small town, following a movement at the time to offer summer stock theatre outside of New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles. Actors there could come to outdoor theatres such as the Pioneer Playhouse to spread their acting wings. They gained additional skills working with local actors and others from around the country, and entertained audiences who otherwise might never see a live play. At one time, rooms flanking either side of the outdoor stage housed actors for the summer—ladies on one side and gentlemen on the other.

Notable alumni include John Travolta, Lee Majors, and Jim Varney. In 1962, it received the honor of the first theater in the nation to gain legal status as a State Theater. The open-air performances offer a unique experience, complete with rustic charm and 19th Century antiques, including a box office used in a movie starring Elizabeth Taylor (Raintree County - 1956) and an authentic log cabin in a movie featuring Kris Kristofferson (Pharoah's Army - 1995).

As an added bonus, attendees can enjoy dinner before the performance, a meal served with southern hospitality in a comfortable outdoor seating area. The Old Danville Firehouse bell announces dinner, and live music accompanies the meal, lending additional charm to the rustic setting.

After Henson's 2004 death, his widow Charlotte and daughter Holly ran the theater, with Holly as artistic director until her 2012 death. Robby Henson, another sibling, then took over as artistic director, and his sister Heather became managing director. Charlotte, who selected plays, passed away in February of this year, but her children continue to keep the legacy alive.

NOW IT'S YOUR TURN:

* Have you ever viewed a live play performed in an outdoor space? Where?

* Are there any outdoor theatres in your area?

* Do you enjoy live plays or performances? If so, what is your favorite venue?

** This note is for our email readers. Please do not reply via email with any comments. View the blog online and scroll down to the comments section.

Come back on the 9th of each month for my next foray into historical tidbits to share.

For those interested in my life as an author and everyday gal, what I'm currently reading, historical tidbits, recommended reads, and industry news about other authors, subscribe to my monthly newsletter. The latest edition was just sent out last week. Receive a FREE e-book of Magic of the Swan just for subscribing.

BIO

Tiffany Amber Stockton has embellished stories since childhood, thanks to a very active imagination and notations of talking entirely too much. Honing those skills led her to careers as an award-winning, best-selling author and speaker, while also working as a professional copywriter/copyeditor. She loves to share life-changing products and ideas with others to help improve their lives in a variety of ways, but especially from the inside out.

Currently, she lives with her husband and fellow author, Stuart Vaughn Stockton, along with their two children, one dog, and three cats in southeastern Kentucky. In her 20+ years as a professional writer, she has sold twenty-six (26) books so far and has agent representation with Tamela Murray of the Steve Laube Agency. You can find her on Facebook and GoodReads.

That Book Woman and the Pack Horse Librarians of Kentucky

  __By Tiffany Amber Stockton__

In August, I covered bathing costumes and swimwear to wrap up the summer. Since I recently saw a play performed on this topic and school is back in session after summer break, let's take a look at some amazing women who personally increased literacy rates between WWI and WWII and beyond.

That Book Woman!

Next month, I'll go into more detail about The Pioneer Playhouse in Danville, Kentucky, as it was the site of a play I recently attended with other local authors. Based off Heather Henson's children's book of the same name, That Book Woman showcased the bravery and ingenuity of the ladies who came to be known as Packhorse Librarians.

Many books have been written on this subject, and books delivered by horseback to remote areas has stretched far beyond just the Appalachian Mountain region. Given the sometimes treacherous conditions under which these women delivered books and the animosity they often faced, their lasting tale comes as no surprise.

Picture this: it’s 1935, and you’re in the rugged hills of Eastern Kentucky. Roads are scarce, and the nearest library might as well be on the moon. But wait—here comes your hero on horseback, not with a six-shooter but with a saddlebag full of books!

This isn’t the plot of a Western; it’s the Pack Horse Library Project, a real-life story of grit and determination. These brave "book women" saddled up to deliver knowledge to the most isolated communities. They didn’t just drop off books—they brought the world to people who had never seen it.

Imagine riding 50 to 80 miles a week, navigating rocky paths and crossing rivers, sometimes on foot or by rowboat. Your cargo? Damaged books, old magazines, and out-of-date textbooks that bigger libraries didn’t want anymore. But to these mountain families, they were treasures.

Demand was high, and the book women had to get creative. They made scrapbooks full of magazine clippings, local recipes, and sewing patterns. Soon, the locals joined in, creating their own scrapbooks with family histories and child-rearing advice. These homemade collections became a beloved part of the library’s offerings.

By 1936, the need for more books was clear. Enter Lena Nofcier and her Penny Fund Plan. She rallied the Kentucky PTA, boy scouts, Sunday schools, and anyone who would listen to donate or gather books. Her efforts were so successful that eight new pack horse libraries were born.

At its peak, the program served nearly 100,000 people across 30 libraries. It brought adventure, travel, and romance to the mountains, sparking imaginations and fostering a love for reading in children and adults alike.

Sadly, the program ended in 1943 when funding was cut. But the legacy of the pack horse librarians lived on, inspiring the introduction of bookmobiles in the late 1950s.

So next time you curl up with a good book, think of those brave librarians. They didn’t just deliver books; they delivered hope, knowledge, and a glimpse of a world beyond the hills.

The Pack Horse Librarians of Kentucky played a significant role in promoting literacy and access to education in rural areas during a time of great need. Their efforts helped bridge the educational gap and brought reading materials to communities that would have otherwise been without them. Today, their story serves as a testament to the power of innovative library services and the dedication of librarians who went above and beyond to serve their communities.

NOW IT'S YOUR TURN:

* What was your first introduction to books and reading?

* Do you recall your first visit to a library? When was the last time you utilized a library?

* Have you ever been visited by a bookmobile service? Where? They're basically the modern-day version of a pack horse librarian, just on wheels.

** This note is for our email readers. Please do not reply via email with any comments. View the blog online and scroll down to the comments section.

Come back on the 9th of each month for my next foray into historical tidbits to share.

For those interested in my life as an author and everyday gal, what I'm currently reading, historical tidbits, recommended reads, and industry news about other authors, subscribe to my monthly newsletter. The latest edition was just sent out last week. Receive a FREE e-book of Magic of the Swan just for subscribing.

BIO

Tiffany Amber Stockton has been crafting and embellishing stories since childhood, when she was accused of having a very active imagination and cited with talking entirely too much. Today, she has honed those skills to become an award-winning, best-selling author and speaker who is also a professional copywriter/copyeditor. She loves to share life-changing products and ideas with others to help improve their lives in a variety of ways.

She lives with her husband and fellow author, Stuart Vaughn Stockton, along with their two children, one dog, and three cats in southeastern Kentucky. In the 20+ years she's been a professional writer, she has sold twenty-six (26) books so far and is represented by Tamela Murray of the Steve Laube Agency. You can find her on Facebook and GoodReads.

Name Origins of the Unites States Part II + giveaway

 By Tiffany Amber Stockton

In May, my children and I visited the Pine Mountain Settlement School in southeastern Kentucky. Amazing little place, nestled in the middle of the mountains, miles from any town. You can read last month's post if you missed it.

Today, it's time for the next 10 state name history stories. So, let's go!

STATE NAMES and their ORIGINS

Hawaii comes from the Polynesian word hawaiki, meaning place of the Gods. It was, however, originally named the Sandwich Islands by James Cook in the late 1700s.

Idaho has notorious roots in the Athabaskan word idaahe, meaning enemy. It was originally applied to part of Colorado before being given to the Gem State.

Illinois has a silent "s" at the end, because it's of French origin. "Illinois" means "Land of Illini," giving a nod to the Native American population. "Illini" is the Algonquin word for "man" or "warrior." This land east of the Appalachians and south of the Great Lakes became the center of significant battles.

Indiana, as you might expect, stems from the English word Indian. The Latin suffix tacked on the end roughly means "land of the." During the early years of America, many native tribes were well-established in these areas.

Iowa comes from the Dakota word yuxba, meaning sleepy ones.

Kansas references the Kansa tribe, meaning people of the south wind. Makes sense for tornado alley.

Kentucky is yet another state named for the river running through it, inspired by the Shawnee word for on the meadow.

Louisiana, like Georgia, was named for a regent of the times, specifically, Louis XIV of France.

Maine has uncertain origins. Though it's worth noting that Maine was also the name of a traditional province in France.

Maryland is a tip of the hat from King Charles I to his wife Henrietta Maria. Some husbands give jewelry; King Charles gave naming rights to an entire state.

And that's all for today. If you're like me and LOVE puzzles, download this PDF for some puzzle challenge fun. You might be able to solve it on your own without reading the rest of the blogs in this set, or you can save it and add to it in future months. :)

NOW IT'S YOUR TURN:

* Which one of these states was the most fascinating to you?

* Do you live in any of these 10 states? If so, did you know this was the origin of its name?

* What do you think might be the origin of any of the other 30 states? (You'll learn about them throughout the rest of the year.)

** This note is for our email readers. Please do not reply via email with any comments. View the blog online and scroll down to the comments section.

Leave answers to these questions or any comments you might have on this post in the comment box below. For those of you who have stuck around this far, I'm sending a FREE autographed book to one person every month from the comments left on each of my blog posts. You never know when your comment will be a winner! Subscribe to comments so you'll know if you've won and need to get me your mailing information.

Come back on the 9th of July for my next foray into historical tidbits to share.

For those interested in my "fictional" life as an author and industry news about other authors, subscribe to my quarterly newsletter. Receive a FREE omitted chapter from my book, A Grand Design, just for subscribing!

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BIO

Tiffany Amber Stockton has been crafting and embellishing stories since childhood, when she was accused of having a very active imagination and cited with talking entirely too much. Today, she has honed those skills to become an award-winning, best-selling author and speaker who is also a professional copywriter/copyeditor. She loves to share life-changing products and ideas with others to help improve their lives in a variety of ways.

She lives with her husband and fellow author, Stuart Vaughn Stockton, along with their two children and four cats in southeastern Kentucky. In the 20 years she's been a professional writer, she has sold twenty-six (26) books so far and is represented by Tamela Murray of the Steve Laube Agency. You can find her on Facebook and GoodReads.