The discussion of the making of the uniquely American long rifle is a subject most often associated with Pennsylvania or Kentucky. There were, however, gunsmiths who produced these artistic and practical objects in other regions. Many of those gunsmiths, like the subject of this story, learned their trade in a gunsmith shop in Pennsylvania. TheyContinue reading ““For Both White Men and Indians”: Tuscarawas County Gunsmith George Biddle”
Category Archives: Tuscarawas County Stories
“To Avoid Ridicule From Others”: 1961 Gnadenhutten UFO
Having gone through a number of the Project Blue Book files available online, I decided instead to look at local UFO sightings that have been reported to groups dedicated to documenting such occurrences. The following account of an encounter from 1961 was reported to one of these organizations by an anonymous individual I will callContinue reading ““To Avoid Ridicule From Others”: 1961 Gnadenhutten UFO”
“Evaluated as Unknown”: A UFO Sighting in Carrollton
I thought I would pay another visit to the Project Blue Book files to see if any other local UFO sightings were investigated by the United States Air Force. The following is one such sighting from neighboring Carroll County in July 1956. The young doctor and his wife were entertaining their two young nieces atContinue reading ““Evaluated as Unknown”: A UFO Sighting in Carrollton”
“Witches at their Old Tricks”: The Stone Creek Witch of 1870
When strange happenings occur within a community, the public’s perception of the validity of those happenings often hinge on the credibility of the witnesses. The family in this case was a well known and respected family and their unusual experience in the spring of 1870 was documented in the local newspaper. Henry Fisher (1795-1882) andContinue reading ““Witches at their Old Tricks”: The Stone Creek Witch of 1870″
The Goshen Road Ghost
Ghost stories capture the imagination of the reader perhaps more than most, and local ones even more so. A ghost story is more fun to read when you are familiar with an area, its history, its lore, and landmarks. During the spring of 1904, the south side of New Philadelphia made the papers when twoContinue reading “The Goshen Road Ghost”
“Everyone Thinks I Am Crazy”: A UFO Sighting in Tuscarawas County
Sometimes when you are doing research on a subject, you accidently stumble upon the unexpected. This is one of those cases. While researching a fallen hero, and unrelated to his story, I came across a document on a UFO sighting that occurred in New Philadelphia, Ohio in 1968. There was no way I was notContinue reading ““Everyone Thinks I Am Crazy”: A UFO Sighting in Tuscarawas County”
Ghost of Hummel Valley: A Tuscarawas Haunting
Nothing captures the imagination more than a good ghost story, and newspapers are always willing to print them to sell papers. The 1922 case of the ghost haunting the Plotner family was covered in several editions of the New Philadelphia paper and carried by newspapers all over Ohio. John Emerson (1789-1838) immigrated with his familyContinue reading “Ghost of Hummel Valley: A Tuscarawas Haunting”
A Titanic Dover Mystery
While exploring a 1912 issue of a local newspaper, I came across the paper’s reporting on the RMS Titanic disaster. Included in that report was a reference to individuals who were allegedly on the ship, making their way to Dover and a new life in America. It was a thread I could not help butContinue reading “A Titanic Dover Mystery”
The New Castle Coal Mine Accident and the Death of Frank C. Stow
Frank C. Stow (1858-1901) wore many hats in his short life. He worked as a plumber at the time of his death, but had been a general laborer, the Courthouse janitor, a constable, the jailer, a fireman, as well as being reported an excellent dancer. Frank was very active and liked in the community, butContinue reading “The New Castle Coal Mine Accident and the Death of Frank C. Stow”
Burned, Broken & Illness: The 1883 Winkler Family Tragedy
The development of heavy industry in Tuscarawas County in the 19th century led to an influx of immigration from all over the European continent. Among the immigrant families that relocated to the county was the Winkler family from Switzerland. Four brothers hoped to start a new life in America and bring the rest of theirContinue reading “Burned, Broken & Illness: The 1883 Winkler Family Tragedy”
Tuscarawas County Stories 