Lizzie Borden
August 12, 2025
Lizzie Borden The Lizzie Borden House, located in Fall River, MA, brags that it is the most haunted home in the U.S. and there are
Despite the cacophony of horns you hear throughout NYC, it is actually illegal to honk your car horn if there is no actual danger.
I love NYC. Which is odd because I’m not always a fan of crowds, or people in general, but there’s something about the energy of the city that is almost contagious. I think one of things about New York that fascinates me so much is the amount of growth it had in such a short period of time. The humble beginnings of New York are pretty well documented thanks to aptly titled books like: A brief description of New-York: formerly called New-Netherlands. : With the places thereunto adjoyning. Together with the manner of its scituation, fertility of the soyle, healthfulness of the climate, and the commodities thence produced. Also some directions and advice to such as shall go thither: an account of what commodities they shall take with them; the profit and pleasure that may accrew to them thereby. Likewise a brief relation of the customs of the Indians there by Daniel Denton, published in 1670. There can be no confusion as to what this book is about with a title like that.
Mr. Denton writes in detail about the landscape and people of the New York coast calling Long Island a fine plain with great grass (literal) and commenting on the plethora of plants and animals. Timber, oaks, walnut trees, birch, holly, deer, bear, wolves, foxes, skunks, and of course pigeons.
Daniel seemed to be torn on the topic of the Native Americans on Long Island and New York as he speaks firstly of their hobbies (football and cards) and that the few left are “no ways hurtful but rather serviceable to the English, and it is to be admired…” However, he then goes on to say that their numbers decreased due to the “Hand of God” and that the “Divine Hand makes way for them (the English), by removing or cutting off the Indians, either by Wars one with the other, or by some raging mortal Disease.” He also notes that the Native Americans thoroughly enjoy their drink, but only if they can get fully intoxicated, and then sometimes they have a little rumble and kill each other.
You can see more on Old New York here (coming soon).
Lets condense the history of one of America’s oldest and most important cities:
In 1664 the Brits yoinked New Amsterdam from the Dutch. The population grew steadily with a wide variety of immigrants pouring in. Then in the 1760’s people started to hate Britain in the U.S. pretty much everywhere and especially in NYC. Like the rebellious teen it is, NYC was grounded and controlled by the British as a military base in 1783. Fast forward, the war is won and NYC is getting its bearings when thanks to its coast line, bays, and completion of the Erie Canal, it becomes the trading capital of the U.S. It also loses its title of the nation’s capital thanks to a mutual agreement between Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson to move the capital to DC (as they said “wouldn’t you like to live a little closer to home?”).
The country's first capital, the site of America's first explosive urban expansion
The era began with the formation of the consolidated city of the five boroughs in 1898, with a total population of 3.4 million
As NYC moved into the 19th century it became an economic super power and revolutionized industry, health care, press, and education. The New York Herald started in 1835, and the birth of journalism followed with stories of everyday crime and violence popping up on the front pages. Thanks to temperance and into Prohibition, Women’s Suffrage, and Civil Rights, there was no shortage of riots and protests to also cover in the media. NYC biggest influence historically (and presently) is it’s mix of cultures. The 1800’s saw a massive increase in immigrants that didn’t seem to slow down much into the 1900’s. The early 20th century brought on WWI, The Great Depression, and Prohibition, just to name a few biggies. Somehow in the midst of all this excitement, NYC hosted the World’s Fair in 1939. From the mid to late 1900’s there were more opportunities for riots and protests, Civil Rights being a huge issue for the city.
Lizzie Borden The Lizzie Borden House, located in Fall River, MA, brags that it is the most haunted home in the U.S. and there are
Great Molasses Flood The North End of the Boston was flooded with two millions gallons of syrup after a storage tank collapsed. The waves of
Pennsylvania Witches Arguably, the most well known of the cryptids is Bigfoot. He has a following of believers and those who have claimed to