. . . or rich. And I am looking for someone equally beautiful and rich to marry. This seems to be the theme of many ads in Matrimonial News, published throughout the 1870s, ‘80s, and 90s. Without digital cameras, the reader had to rely on a subjective description. Maudie, in the article above, claims to be beautiful, exquisite and have well defined features. Wow. Who wouldn’t be interested? She is particular about the gentleman she seeks. Could a man grow a mustache to meet t

In 1876, Lake City, Colorado boasted a population of eight hundred to a thousand people—a metropolis, as the Silver World newspaper frequently reminded people. One hundred twenty-four businesses lined the streets, and that doesn’t include schools, churches, railroads, and doctors. Today, a town that size is lucky to have a bar and a tiny grocery store. Fifteen lawyers practiced there. Fifteen!!! That is one lawyer for every 50-60 people. They advertised in the newspaper and p

Newspapers are always looking for exciting news. But what happens when times are dull? Seriously? “Dull times?” Wasn’t life in 1878 Colorado exciting enough? These were the days of shootouts in the streets and frequent gold strikes. And, is it possible to be spicy and newsy at the same time? Does the spice take away from the newsiness and vice-versa? The world was dangerous, and ads like these appeared in the paper. Quicksilver is pure mercury (as in poison). It was used to s

My second novella “Mending Sarah’s Heart” in a Thimbles and Threads Collection releases on July 1st. A novella is shorter than a full novel, but longer than a short story—if that isn’t a fluffy definition, I don’t know what is. There are four novellas in the collection, each written by a different author. Rose, the heroine of my first novella, carried a sewing basket everywhere she went. She used her sister Sarah’s seamstress shop as an excuse to get to know the ladies of the

In the late 1800’s everyone was eating fresh oysters, even in Colorado. And I’m not talking Rocky Mountain Oysters, which would be another blog entirely. These were actual oysters—from the ocean. In reading through historic newspapers of Colorado mining towns, I ran across advertisements for fresh oysters. Note the word fresh. Canning technology existed. But fresh oysters? These big ads in Lake City Colorado’s Silver World newspaper in 1878 piqued my curiosity. And it wasn’t