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”

Fallen Heroes: Specialist 4 Thomas Michael Struchen

The stories of fallen heroes are composed of long lists of “All American Boys.” Young men often went from their high school playing fields to the jungles of Vietnam within a few short months. They, like many heroes before them, gave their lives far from the people they loved and the country they served. TheContinue reading “Fallen Heroes: Specialist 4 Thomas Michael Struchen”

“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”

Fallen Heroes: Private Adam Frantz

Typically my fallen heroes stories focus on those who gave the ultimate sacrifice while in service. In this case I have chosen instead to look at the service of a man who fought for independence during the American Revolutionary War, became one of the earliest American settlers in Tuscarawas County, and yet somehow escaped attention.Continue reading “Fallen Heroes: Private Adam Frantz”

Fallen Heroes: Private William Bennet

I am always reminded of just how much military service to the United States is often the gateway to a future for many immigrants to our country. During the early 19th century many Irish immigrants arrived in America seeking a better life and many of them, or their sons, served their new country during theContinue reading “Fallen Heroes: Private William Bennet”

Fallen Heroes: Staff Sergeant Loren Ray Miller

The story of every fallen hero is a sad one to write, but occasionally I will come across one that seems more so. When I sit down to research each fallen hero I often come across efforts by others to document some aspect of that person’s life, showing me that they have not been completelyContinue reading “Fallen Heroes: Staff Sergeant Loren Ray Miller”

Fallen Heroes: Private First Class Thomas Alan Johnson

Bases, roads, hospitals and so much more are essential to the military’s operations and the soldiers responsible for constructing them are often overlooked. Much of their efforts are done under hostile enemy fire and can be just as dangerous as any other soldier’s duty. This is one of those cases. David Johnson (1857-1920), relocated fromContinue reading “Fallen Heroes: Private First Class Thomas Alan Johnson”

Fallen Heroes: Sergeant Daniel Reed

Some families suffered more losses than others during the American Civil War. In the case of Benjamin Reed (1801-1894) and his second wife Rachel (1829-1926), three sons perished in the war. It is difficult to imagine the scale of their loss. This is the story of one of those sons. Benjamin Reed was born inContinue reading “Fallen Heroes: Sergeant Daniel Reed”

Fallen Heroes: Signalman Second Class Charles Robert Maus

When one enters into military service, one does so knowing that there is a possibility that they may be killed while engaged with an enemy. Unfortunately, there is also the risk that one may be killed accidently by their own comrade-in-arms. Charles Robert Maus was the victim of just such an incident. The Maus familyContinue reading “Fallen Heroes: Signalman Second Class Charles Robert Maus”

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”