Weddings of the 1930's

After the shorter skirts and uptick in non-traditional weddings of the 1920's, brides-to-be of the 1930's were ready for something different. Two major influences molded couples' decisions about their weddings: the Depression and Hollywood--there was glamour, but on a budget. (And by the middle of the decade, there was official help, since dedicated bridal magazines first appeared at this time.)

A gust of wind hits Australian musical stars Cyril Ritchard and Madge Elliott after their wedding in 1935. Public Domain.

The overall look of wedding dresses was far more conservative than the previous decade's, with higher necklines, lower hemlines, and long trains and veils. Rich fabrics that reflected light, such as satin or shiny silk, were the choicest fabrics for 1930's brides, cut in the slimming styles favored by movie stars. Those fabrics were expensive, however, so brides often turned to rayon as a thriftier alternative. Sometimes, these dresses would be dyed and worn again.

If a bride couldn't splurge on fabric, then, as now, she might wear her best dress, or borrow a relative's or friend's dress. 

Attention was drawn to the waist in these dresses, a stark contrast to the drop-waist gowns of the previous decade. Belts, pleats, and ruching were all in vogue. For church weddings, long-sleeve styles were considered appropriate, but a bride might wear a sleeveless gown with a jacket over it for the ceremony. 

Most new brides wore white, but my grandmother married in her favorite color: pastel blue. A bride who'd been married before often wore pastel colors. Shoes, gloves, and hats were often dyed to match.

Eric and Lillian Webster's wedding day, 1934. Public Domain.

Early in the decade, many a bride still sported short hair, popular in the Roaring 20's. Styles changed, however, and brides curled their hair to frame their faces, or grew it as the years went on. 

Atop these new hairdos, brides favored veils, but expensive lace was replaced by tulle--and lots of it. Some veils went to the floor, anchored by regal-looking tiaras (comprised of real or fashion gems, for larger budgets, or starched lace for those watching their pennies), flower wreaths, or, more simply, pins, holding it snug to the head.

Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark anchored her veil with a tiara at her 1934 wedding. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Template:PD-US, Public Domain in original country.

Other brides preferred a hat: sunhats and halo hats were all the rage.

A bride didn't forget her makeup, either. The style was thin eyebrows--sometimes shaved off completely and drawn back on with a pencil--as well as false eyelashes, pale foundation, and eye shadow.

Flowers were part of the wedding, with bouquets as large as desired and afforded, but a corsage would do, as well.

By the end of the decade, "Gone with the Wind" was incredibly popular, and Victorian-influenced fashions were all the rage. Crinolines (hoop skirts) and leg o'mutton sleeves shaped wedding gowns, bedecked with ruffles and bows.

Grooms often wore tuxedos with suits with shoulder pads, felt hats or no hats, patterned ties or white ties--and he might have worn a mustache, too. Since a diamond ring could cost upwards of a hundred dollars, some grooms offered their brides much more affordable bands, lacking stones. 

Of course, bridesmaids and groomsmen made up the wedding party--the higher the number, more likely the wealthier the family paying for the wedding.

Church weddings were more fashionable than in the previous decade, and after the ceremony, the new marriage was celebrated with a reception including cake and toasts. Only the wealthy could afford large dinner or luncheon receptions.

Advertisement for DeLuxe Pastry Shoppes in Fort Wayne, Indiana, 1930's. Public Domain.

Bakers began to provide wedding cakes in the 1930's, making them more affordable and accessible to many people, and cake toppers were also new--available in Bakelite, porcelain, or even wood. It first became a tradition for the bride and groom to cut the cake together using a knife or sword.

Times would change again with the coming of World War II, but 1930's brides and grooms created personal, memorable, and stunning weddings that would not soon be forgotten.

**

Today is my final post for Heroes, Heroines & History. I have loved my time here, but at present, my current contracts are all for contemporary-set stories with Love Inspired. This month, however, I'm celebrating the release of my story While Shepherds Watch Are Keeping in Love's Pure Light, a Christmas novella collection. To learn more about the collection, please visit my website, www.susannedietze.com. 

To enter to win a copy, an Amazon card, and a Willow Tree Nativity set, use the rafflecopter form found here.

Thank you to all the readers and and members of HHH!

Ulysses S. Grant at Fort Humboldt, California

When the Civil War broke out in 1861, the future eighteenth President of the United States Ulysses S. Grant wasn't currently serving in the army. He worked at a family-run store in Galena, Illinois. In his earlier life, however, he had a military career--one that began at West Point, continued through the Mexican-American War, and ended in 1854 at a small, fog-shrouded fort in Northern California.

Ulysses S. Grant. Brady-Handy Photograph Collection, Library of Congress / Public domain

Grant's orders to go to California came in 1852, when he was serving as a quartermaster in Detroit. He and other members of the 4th Infantry Regiment set sail from New York to Panama.

Grant's wife Julia, eight-months pregnant with their second child, did not accompany him on the journey--a wise choice, considering the cholera outbreak that hit their company in Panama. The surviving members of the regiment sailed from Panama to San Francisco, arriving in September of 1852, five months after setting out from New York.

Grant was stationed at a few forts, including those in Benicia, California and  Vanouver, Washington, before he was promoted to Captain. In January of 1854, he was sent to Fort Humboldt on Humboldt Bay, north of San Francisco, to serve as quartermaster.

Fort Humboldt State Historic Park as it appears today. JP Smith / Public domain

Fort Humboldt was about a year old when Grant arrived, commanded by Brevet Lieutenant Colonel Robert C. Buchanan, a fellow veteran of the Mexican-American War. Comprised of just over a dozen buildings surrounding a central quad, the fort was not fenced, but it sat on a plateau overlooking the bay and Pacific Ocean. 

There were approximately forty men stationed there at the time, as well as a few wives and children (the fort doctor, Assistant Surgeon Simpson, lived in a house with his family). While the soldiers were called upon to intervene between conflicts between whites and the local populations, (most notably the so-called Red Cap War in 1855 and the Indian Island Massacre of 1860, when whites murdered up to 250 Wiyot people), it was fairly quiet during Grant's time at the fort.

Historic American Buildings Survey From Al Sondag Painting at G.G.I.E. (Taken from old photos) - Fort Humboldt, Eureka, Humboldt County, CA. Public Domain.

By all accounts, Grant was good at his job as quartermaster at the fort. He procured the standard rations of salt pork, salt, vinegar, sugar, and other staples, but also supplemented the soldiers' meat by purchasing local goods and hiring a hunter, Seth Kinman, to bring elk and other game to the fort. 

Grant was not happy at Fort Humboldt, however. The area was isolated. Though a decorated soldier, Grant had little use for protocol, and he did not get along with his commanding officer, the strict Colonel Buchanan. 

Worse, he did handle his separation from his wife Julia well. During his absence, she gave birth to their second son, Ulysses Jr. (later known as Buck). Lonely, depressed, and bored, Grant began to drink. 

He spent significant time at a nearby Eureka tavern, and it did not take much alcohol for him to become inebriated (a problem that would follow him into the Civil War, when he was likewise separated from Julia). Colonel Buchanan reprimanded him, and Grant is said to have responded that if he couldn't or wouldn't quit drinking, he would resign.

He didn't quit drinking, though, and facing a court martial, he resigned his commission, effective July 31, 1854. Buchanan never submitted a formal report against Grant, who returned to St. Louis, Missouri to reunite with his family.

Soldiers remained at the fort through the Civil War, and Fort Humboldt was formally abandoned in 1870.

Fort Humboldt hospital building, abandoned and dilapidated. Date unknown, Author unknown. Public Domain. Today it has been restored.

Today, the site is known as Fort Humboldt State Historic Park. The restored hospital still stands, and other buildings have been rebuilt, including Grant's former residence.

Despite the unpleasant memories of his time here, Grant is said to have thought California beautiful and hoped to return, which he did on his World Tour after the presidency. 

In an interesting twist, the son born after he set off on his California journey, Ulysses Grant Jr., did make California his home. He settled in San Diego in the late 1800's, where he became one of its most prominent and influential citizens.

**

Susanne Dietze's latest story, Frontier of Her Heart | The Soldier's Lady, is set at Fort Humboldt during Grant's time there. Captain Grant is a minor character in the story, as is Colonel Buchanan and a third historical figure, the larger-than-life hunter Seth Kinman.

A California native, she is the award-winning author of several award-winning romances. You can learn more on her website, www.susannedietze.com.

Haymaker's Punch

Haymaker's Punch, also known as Switchel, ginger-water, switchy and swizzle, has been around for at least a few hundred years, but it's finding renewed popularity as a healthy hydration drink--something of a historic Gatorade. Recipes vary, but Switchel always contains water, apple cider vinegar, sweetener (molasses, maple syrup, or honey), and ginger. 

https://images.app.goo.gl/AynYs7MViyH5WiSj7

Switchel's origins are something of a mystery: both the Caribbean and New England have been credited with crafting the recipe in the 1600s. Apple trees were first planted in Massachusetts by European settlers in the 1620's, and by 1775, 10% of all New England farms had a cider press. Hard apple cider was drunk by adults and children alike, but some of the hard cider was allowed to ferment into vinegar, which was used for preservation, medicine, and cleaning.

It was also used to make Switchel. Many colonial farmers harbored the belief that in hot weather, a stomach was left cold by perspiration and needed to be heated up by drinking alcohol or something that caused a warming sensation going down, like ginger or vinegar (Sarah Hand Meacham, Every Home a Distillery: Alcohol, Gender and Technology in the Colonial Chesapeake, page 10). At some point, colonists realized drinking vinegar and ginger in their water was both refreshing and revitalizing.

American Hay Harvest. Public Domain.

Switchel was in widespread use in America by the 19th century. Herman Melville mentions it in I and My Chimney, and Laura Ingalls Wilder refers to it (by the name of ginger-water) in The Long Winter. Its benefits as a hydrating, refreshing beverage made it particularly popular during harvest, which is where it got the name Haymaker's Punch.

Laura Ingalls Wilder. Public Domain.

What makes this drink so good at quenching thirst, both then and now?

As we know today, hydration isn't just about restoring water, but minerals as well, and drinking a large quantity of water quickly can make some overheated people ill. As Laura Ingalls Wilder wrote,  the "[g]inger-water would not make them sick, as plain cold water would when they were so hot."

Ginger may have given Switchel its taste and a sense of warmth, but cider vinegar with the mother in it is truly a key ingredient (the mother is a sediment of bacteria, enzymes and yeast). Vinegar, like ginger and natural sweeteners like molasses, are rich in potassium, natural electrolytes. 

Today, Switchel is a natural alternative to sports drinks or soda, made with ingredients many of us have on hand. If you'd like to try, here's a basic recipe that can be adapted according to preference. Oh, and yes, it is a little tart. If you've tried Kombucha, you may find them similar. 

For one serving:
Combine two cups water, 1-2 T. apple cider vinegar with the mother, 2 t. real maple syrup, honey or molasses, and either a shaving of fresh ginger or a few dashes ground ginger. Let it steep for an hour or two for the ginger flavor to soak in, and when ready, pour over ice and enjoy.

For stronger ginger flavor, boil fresh ginger in water for a few minutes. Allow the ginger-water to cool before mixing with the sweetener and vinegar, to protect the mother. 

Add ins? Fresh lemon juice or other fruit juice. However you make it, see if it cools you down on a hot summer day.

***
Have you ever heard of Haymaker's Punch before? Have you tried it?

***
Susanne Dietze makes Switchel by the pitcher for her family to enjoy. She is the author of award-winning stories with timeless heart, including The Blizzard Bride and the upcoming A Future For His Twins.

Weddings in the Roaring '20s

A hundred years ago, America was recovering from World War I, enjoying an economic boom, and the culture shifted. Jazz blossomed, technology such as automobiles, moving pictures, and radio were at hand, and women could vote. 

Bride Peggy Fish, 1920s, Public Domain

Many of these women either became or were influenced by Flappers, a generation of women who bobbed their hair, wore short skirts (to their knees), drove cars, wore makeup, smoked cigarettes in public, and even drank alcohol, despite Prohibition. In an age of flouted conventions, weddings changed, too, and many usual trappings or traditions were set aside to reflect the times.

Naturally, weddings are cultural affairs, and every wedding was different, but the 1920's saw a trend towards smaller, more informal weddings. Elopements were popular, as were wedding performed in city hall. Church weddings still occurred, of course, but for the first time, brides refused to have their fathers walk them down the aisle toward their grooms.

Alice Joyce and James Regan, Jr. married in July, 1920. Public Domain.

Reflecting current fashions, waistlines and necklines of wedding dresses dropped, and hems rose. Some went to the knee, others were shorter in the front and longer in the back. Atop bobbed hairdos, brides wore cloche hats, headdresses, or Juliet caps rather than veils (although the headgear often had a trailing veil attached). All these could be intricately embroidered or beaded, however: simpler wedding didn't necessarily mean less ornate.

Nor did all brides wear white. Some wore black as a statement against the "white wedding" idea, but other brides chose gowns of other colors to suit their tastes. Bridesmaids wore matching or complementary gowns.

New York Bridesmaids, early 1920s. Public Domain.

Brides wore makeup in the 1920's, as well, even if it meant they had to make it themselves. Many a young lady mixed charcoal with petroleum jelly to create eyeliner and shadow.

Bouquets were not tiny in this decade. On the contrary, brides favored large, trailing bouquets--for themselves as well as their bridesmaids.

1929 Wedding. Public Domain.

Wedding cake was an important part of a reception, of course. Often brides or members of their families baked a sponge cake, but sent it to a confectioner's shop to be iced. Others decorated the cakes themselves, and in the spirit of the times, the icing was piped into Art Deco designs like chevrons, or the cakes were topped with feathers, flowers, or other ornamentation.

The photograph is Australian, but it shows the tiered cake, food, and decorations well. 1920s, Public Domain.

White icing was still popular, since white refined sugar was expensive and had become a symbol of affluence.

One thing is clear: American weddings of the Roaring '20s reflected the changing culture.

**

Carousel Dreams includes The Carousel Wedding by Susanne Dietze, set in 1922 San Diego, California.

Susanne is an award-winning author of stories with timeless heart.

The Island of California

While California has only been an American state since 1850, California has been known as a place of sunshine, gold, and riches since the early 16th century...in literature, at any rate. 

Map of California, 1650, Johannes Vingboos. Public Domain. The compass rose is pointing to the approximate location of modern day San Diego.

Back in 1510, a Castilian author named Garci Rodriguez de Montalvo wrote a chivalric romance called Las Sergas de Esplandián (which is cited in Don Quixote). The fictional island of California is mentioned, ruled by Queen Calafia, and it's a pretty amazing-sounding place. The land is rugged, but it's inhabited by women only, and there's gold for the taking.

Renaissance-era Europeans were entranced, and believed the account must be true. In 1533, explorer Fortún Ximénez discovered the southern portion of what is now Baja California--a peninsula that was often mistaken for an island for quite some time. He died, but two years later, Hernán Cortés arrived at the bay, attempting to start a colony there. Even though the native population (which included men) weren't dripping with gold jewelry, the idea that this must be the fabled California stuck.

Conquistador Hernán Cortés by Paolo Giovio. Public Domain.

In 1539, however, Cortés sent Francisco de Ulloa northward along the Gulf and Pacific coasts. At the head of the Gulf, Ulloa reached the mouth of the Colorado River, so 16th century maps began to show Baja California as a peninsula. 

Satellite view of Baja California. Public Domain.

Within several years, however, European maps returned to depicting California as an island. The 1602 journal kept by one Father Antonio de la Ascension, sailing up the coast with Sebastian Vizcaino, insisted California was separated from the rest of North America by the "Mediterranean Sea of California." This seemed to be enough evidence for European mapmakers.

It wasn't until almost a hundred years later that a Jesuit missionary and cartographer, Father Eusebius Francisco Kino, set off to find new people and eventually came to the Colorado River, near what is now Yuma, Arizona. He proved California was fixed to the rest of the continent, but the matter was not entirely put to rest until the time of the American Revolutionary War, around 1775, when Juan Bautista de Anza explored the area between Sonora and California coast.

Juan Bautista de Anza, photographic reproduction of an oil painting by Fray Orsi, 1774. Public Domain.

The lure of the California myth was strong, and while it was no longer regarded as an island, myths of California remain. The promise of gold, sunshine, and plenty has drawn millions--and it should be noted that two thirds of all fruits produced in America, and one third of its vegetables, are grown in California. (Click here.)

***




California native Susanne Dietze is a RITA-nominated author who's seen her books on the ECPA and Publisher's Weekly Bestseller lists for inspirational fiction. Her latest novel is The Blizzard Bride. Learn more about her on her website, www.susannedietze.com.

German Chocolate Cake's Sweet History

Germany is known for numerous tasty desserts: lebkuchen, Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte (Black Forest cake), Bienenstich (bee sting cake), Rote Grütze (Red Berry Pudding), streusels, linzers, and dozens more.

But ironically, one dessert that did not originate in Germany is German Chocolate Cake.

https://images.app.goo.gl/52Yu6Uki6cdvuotJ9

German Chocolate Cake is a layered chocolate cake, topped and filled with a pecan-coconut frosting. Sometimes, chocolate frosting is used on the sides, and maraschino cherries occasionally appear as a garnish.

It is named not for its country of origin, however, but to honor the man who developed the type of chocolate used.

Samuel "Sammy" German was an Englishman who came to Dorchester, Massachusetts in the mid 19th-century, and found a job at America's first chocolate factory, Baker's Chocolate Company. Baker's was started in 1764 (then known as Hannon's Best Chocolates, although John Hannon and Dr. James Baker were partners.)

For over eighty years, the company produced cakes of chocolate for use as drinking chocolate, and by the California Gold Rush in 1849, Baker's Chocolate (now under the direction of Walter Baker) was found across America.

Baker's Cocoa Advertisement, January 1919 Issue of Overland Monthly. Public Domain.

In 1852, however, Sammy German had an idea. He developed a new type of chocolate, one that contained more sugar. This sweeter chocolate could be used for baking, and it's said Walter Baker bought the recipe for a whopping $1000. From that point on, the chocolate was sold as "Baker's German's Sweet Chocolate."

Over a hundred years later, on June 3, 1957, The Dallas Morning News printed a recipe of the day: "German's Chocolate Cake" submitted by Mrs. George Clay. The cake, with the pecan-coconut frosting, became an instant hit. Some sources claim that the recipe was in wider circulation at the time, but Mrs. Clay's recipe has been credited as the one that drew Baker's attention.

General Foods owned Baker's by this time, and they shared Mrs. Clay's recipe with other American newspapers.  Sales of Baker's Chocolate increased by 73%, and the cake became an American favorite.

Still available, even on Amazon!

Along the way, the apostrophe in "German's" was lost, and the cake is now known as German Chocolate Cake. Baker's is now owned by Kraft Heinz, and the recipe is still going strong. In fact, the recipe is usually printed right on the box.

And if you're not a cake person? Don't despair. German Chocolate is available as a flavoring in beverage syrups and coffees, too. 

June 11 is National German Chocolate Cake Day in America. Are you tempted to celebrate it with a slice this year?

***

Susanne Dietze began writing love stories in high school, casting her friends in the starring roles. Today, she's an award-winning, RWA RITA®-nominated author who's seen her work on the ECPA, Amazon, and Publisher's Weekly Bestseller Lists for Inspirational Fiction. To learn more, visit her website, www.susannedietze.com, and sign up for her newsletter: http://eepurl.com/bRldfv

Her latest is novel is The Blizzard Bride.

Mary Had a Little Lamb and the Fascinating Woman who Wrote It

You've probably heard the nursery rhyme and perhaps even sung the song:

Mary had a little lamb,

   Its fleece was white as snow,

And every where that Mary went

   The lamb was sure to go;

He followed her to school one day—

   That was against the rule,

It made the children laugh and play,

   To see a lamb at school.

Did you know it is based on truth?

In May of 1830, a woman by the name of Sarah Josepha Hale published the three verses, "Mary Had a Little Lamb," in her collection, Poems for Our Children. 

Sarah Josepha Hale, 1831, by James Reid Lambdin. After her husband died, Hale wore black for the rest of her life. Public Domain.

Mrs. Hale had been publishing poetry and fiction since 1823, a year after her husband David's untimely death. With five small children to support, the former schoolteacher took to writing. Her late husband's Freemasons lodge supported her in her fist publication, a poetry collection called The Genius of Oblivion.

After the publication of her novel Northwood: Life North and South in 1827, making her one of the first female novelists in America as well as one of the first authors to write about slavery. After this publication, she was invited to move to Boston to become editor of Ladies' Magazine.  

It was during this period when she wrote "Mary's Lamb" (the original title), drawing on her experience teaching school before she married. At a small school near her home of Newport, New Hampshire, Hale was astonished one morning when her student, Mary, came to school followed by her pet lamb. 

1902 Mother Goose by William Wallace Denslow. Public Domain.

Hale couldn't allow the distracting lamb to stay in class, so Mary had to place it outside until school was dismissed for the day. When Mary came outside to collect it, it ran to her. Hale admired Mary's devotion and care for her pet.

The final two verses in Mother Goose, 1902. Public Domain.

A few years later, Mason Lowell turned the verses into the song so many of us have sung over the years.

Meanwhile, Hale continued on with her work. When Ladies' Magazine was purchased by Godey's Ladies' Book, Hale was requested to stay on as editor, a position she held for forty years until she was 89 years old. 

Throughout her career, she continued with other projects, as well, and one of the things she was most passionate about was ensuring Thanksgiving became a national holiday. She sent letters to Presidents Taylor, Fillmore, Pierce, and Buchanan on the topic, to no avail, but her letter to President Lincoln helped him decide to support legislation establishing it as a holiday in 1863.

Hale's letter to President Lincoln urging him to make Thanksgiving a national holiday, 1863. Library of Congress, Public Domain.

No one ever forgot "Mary's Lamb" and in 1877, the year of her retirement, Thomas Edison chose Hale's poem to be the very first thing he ever recorded on his new invention, the phonograph.

Hale died in 1879, but is remembered for her role as a proponent of women, a historic preservationist, and the woman who persuaded President Lincoln to make Thanksgiving a national holiday. 

***

Susanne Dietze is the award-winning author of stories with Timeless Heart, including The Blizzard Bride from Barbour Publishing. You can learn more about her on her website, www.susannedietze.com.

Origins of the U.S. Secret Service, + a Giveaway

While the United States Secret Service (USSS) is one of the oldest federal law enforcement agencies in America, dating to the Civil War. While the Secret Service is known today for providing protection to the President and his family, part of the Department of Homeland Security, it was originally part of the Treasury Department, founded to combat counterfeiting of American currency.

1880 Legal Tender, Public Domain, National Numismatic Collection, National Museum of American History.

Before the Civil War, American money was much different than it is today. Over a thousand individual banks issued their own bills, called banknotes, and government paper currency was limited to Treasury notes, fractional currency, and postal currency, which could be redeemed for postage but was also used as money. During the Civil War, the federal government also introduced "greenbacks" as national currency, but banknotes and other currencies were still in circulation after the war.

With so many varieties of currency, it wasn't hard to create fakes to fool the unsuspecting. The US Marshals Service was tasked with curbing counterfeiters along with their other duties, and hired detectives to assist--Allen Pinkerton, for example. But in the meantime, an estimated third to half of all currency in circulation in America was counterfeit, which created problems to the national economy.

Hugh McCulloch at the approximate time the Secret Service was founded. Public Domain.

In 1865, Secretary of the Treasury Hugh McCulloch advised President Abraham Lincoln to establish an agency to combat counterfeiting, and President Lincoln signed the paperwork on April 14, 1865, the very day he was assassinated at Ford's Theatre in Washington, D.C. 

While the idea of creating an organization to provide presidential protection was discussed after the assassination, it was not originally part of the Secret Service's role when it was officially begun on July 6, 1865 under its first chief, William Wood. National Headquarters were established in the Treasury Building in Washington. Operatives were hired primarily for their experience as detectives.

Operatives were not paid particularly well for their services, and they were expected to write daily reports to their superiors. They were well versed with the world of counterfeiting and its techniques, which varied from engraving to painting replica bills, a time-consuming process.

By all accounts, the Secret Service was an immediate success, but it had a large job to do. Budgetary restrictions capped the number of agents employed, and some operatives were responsible for enormous districts that spanned several states. Within two years, the Secret Service's responsibilities broadened to include other frauds against the government, from battling smugglers to investigating the Ku Klux Klan.

The Secret Service created rules to help with investigations that influenced law enforcement procedures. Suspects were often photographed by professional photographers after arrest, and operatives recorded identifying details about the suspect as well as the arrest and investigation. 

In 1869, the chief, Hiram C. Whitley, granted permission for operatives to obtain badges if they so wished, but they weren't issued until 1873. Alas, there is no information as to what these first badges looked like, but a the 1875 design remains. The star's five points each signify one of the agency's core values: justice, duty, courage, honesty and loyalty.

Badge from 1875-1890. Public Domain.

In 1890, the badge was redesigned so the smaller size would fit easier into the agents' commission books.

1890 Badge. Public Domain.

While the Secret Service continued to fight currency and other frauds, two more presidents were assassinated: James A Garfield (1881) and William McKinely (1901). It would take another 36 years before the Congress gave the Secret Service the job of protecting the President, although in 1902, there were just two agents assigned to this particular task.

The role rapidly expanded and today, it's what the Secret Service is known for more than any of its other responsibilities. Additionally, American currency has many security features to make counterfeiting far more difficult than in years past. 


Today, counterfeit money comprises about 0.01% of American currency.


***

The Blizzard Bride

Abigail Bracey arrives in Nebraska in January 1888 to teach school…and to execute a task for the government: to identify a student as the hidden son of a murderous counterfeiter—the man who killed her father.

Secret Service Agent Dashiell Lassiter wants to protect Abby, but when a horrifying blizzard sweeps over them, can Abby and Dash set aside the pain from their pasts and work together to catch a counterfeiter and protect his son—if they survive the storm?

***

Have you ever been in a snowstorm?

I'm giving away a copy to one person who comments before 11:59 am February 4, 2020, PST. Winner announced here. US-only, please. Void where prohibited.


***

Susanne Dietze began writing stories in high school, placing her friends in the starring roles. Today she's a RWA-RITA nominated author. Learn more at www.susannedietze.com.

The Children's Blizzard of 1888

An intense, horrible blizzard hit with violent force over the plains states and territories of the United States on January 12, 1888, at the same time that many children were leaving school for the day. Two hundred and thirty-five people died, and 213 of them were children, which is why the storm is referred to as the Children's Blizzard, Schoolhouse Blizzard, or Schoolchildren's Blizzard (not to be confused with the "Great Blizzard of 1888" which struck later).

Frank Leslie's Weekly, January 28, 1888 - Scenes and Incidents from the Recent Terrible Blizzard in Dakota. Public Domain.

Earlier in January, the affected area had received snow, followed by freezing temperatures. Oddly, the weather turned mild for many on the morning of January 12, with a southern wind melting ice. Children and adults alike left their coats at home when they went about their days, anticipating a warmer day. 

The arrival of the storm was sudden and shocking. Survivors described it as a wall of dark cloud descending from the northeast with a roar like a hurricane or train. The wind's furious blasts suffocated animals and whipped up the existing snow on the ground, crushing it and turning it into a crystallized powder, fine as flour, that seeped into every crevice it could find, including keyholes. The powdery snow stung skin, and also reduced visibility to a few steps. In some places, the temperature dropped a hundred degrees Fahrenheit in twenty-four hours.

The storm hit as many children were leaving school for the day, and many who had already been dismissed were caught in it. For those who were still in session when the storm hit, the majority were kept inside by teachers, but not all. A few well-intentioned teachers sent their students home where they thought they'd be safer, and others found they had no choice but to leave the schoolhouse. 

One such teacher was 19-year-old Minnie Freeman of Ord, Nebraska, who was forced to abandon the schoolhouse with her students when the roof blew off their sod schoolhouse. Legend says she tied her students together with rope, although one of the students dispute this. Regardless, they made it safely to her home a mile away. 

Minnie Mae Freeman Penney (1868-1943). From Find a Grave.

Lois Royce was from Plainview, Nebraska was not as fortunate. She and three students (two 9-year-old boys and a 6-year-old girl) stayed at the schoolhouse but had used up their fuel by three o'clock. Since Lois lived less than a hundred yards from the school, they decided to go there. Unfortunately, they couldn't see where they were going and they became lost. Only Lois survived, and her frostbitten feet had to be amputated.

One farmer, William Kampen of Nebraska, stumbled to a stranger's barn and kept warm by lying with the pigs. Meanwhile, his wife gave birth alone and stayed in bed with her baby to keep warm, since they had no more fuel.

The stories of loss are harrowing and tragic, but there are also stories of heroic compassion and survival. The parents of Great Plains, South Dakota, tied ropes to the house closest to the school and used it as a guide to rescue the children and their teacher. Daniel Freeman of Homestead, Nebraska, no relation to Minnie, offered food and a violin to feed and entertain the children stuck at the adjacent school. 

Other folks opened their homes to strangers, used their drays to transport children, and searched for the lost and missing.

Less than a foot of snow fell in some places, and other areas were buried, but it was the existing snow on the ground paired with the gale-force winds and bitter temperatures that caused terrible damage to life, livestock, and property.

Photographer and specific location unknown, 1888. Note the snow is not terribly deep, although in other places, the drifts were very high. Public Domain.

The tragedy gripped America's attention, and some of the teachers, like Minnie Freeman, were lauded as true heroines. 

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Coming February 2020

The Blizzard Bride | Daughters of the Mayflower Book 11

A Blizzard Changes Everything...

Author Susanne Dietze is the bestselling, award-winning author of several romances. Learn more about her and her new release about the Children's Blizzard, The Blizzard Bride, on her website, www.susannedietze.com.