Steve Pateman grew up in the WJ Brooks shoe factory owned by his father. He knew the entire process and could run any machine in the factory. In the early 1990s, Steve took over the company. WJ Brooks made standard men's dress shoes in Northamptonshire, England. The company had been in business since 1889. As … Continue reading WJ Brooks
Category: Blog Posts
Melvil Dewey
Melville Dewey was born on December 10, 1851 to Joel and Eliza Dewey in Adams Center, New York. While a student at Amherst College, Melville started the Library Bureau in 1876. The company sold library supplies. The same year, he received a copyright for his system of library organization that would come to be known … Continue reading Melvil Dewey
Jap Herron
Emily Grant Hutchings was born on January 30, 1870 in Hannibal, Missouri to Carl Schmidt and his wife. Carl was a minister and Emily's mother was a doctor. Emily and her husband, Edwin, met Mark Twain (also from Hannibal) in June 1902. Emily and Mark Twain exchanged a few letters about writing after their meeting. … Continue reading Jap Herron
Letchworth Village
Letchworth Village was a mental hospital that opened in Thiells, New York in 1911. Letchworth was built in response to current mental health facilities. It aimed to provide more humane treatment than the asylums before it. Those that could work grew crops and tended to livestock. By 1921, the hospital was more of a work … Continue reading Letchworth Village
James Hepburn
Built in 1215, Dragsholm Castle is one of the oldest non-religious buildings in Denmark. It was the only castle in Zealand to survive the Count’s Feud of 1534. From 1536-1664, it was used as a prison for the highest-ranking prisoners, mostly noblemen and clergy. The former owner, Joachim Rønnow, was imprisoned there. The castle was … Continue reading James Hepburn
Rabies
Rabies is a virus. Infection occurs when an infected animal scratches or bites another animal or human. Another way to spread the virus is getting infected saliva in the eyes, nose or mouth. Dogs most often contract the virus, but humans in the Americas are more likely to contract Rabies from a bat than a … Continue reading Rabies
Graham Young
On April 21, 1962, Fred Young went into his back garden. There he found his wife, Molly, on the ground and in extreme pain. His 14 year old son, Graham, was close by, watching. Molly was rushed to the hospital and died that night. Her cause of death was a prolapse of the spinal bone. … Continue reading Graham Young
Elizabeth Amirian
27 year old Elizabeth Amirian, known to friends and family as Bipsy, was a singer and piano player living in Murrieta, California at the time of her death. She was engaged to 25 year old Mickey Wagstaff. Their intended wedding date was less than a month away. Elizabeth had expressed some reservation about her upcoming … Continue reading Elizabeth Amirian
Rossa Richter
Rossa Richter was born in 1863 to Ernst and Susanne Richter in London, England. Ernst was a talent agent and Susanne was a dancer. Both worked for the circus. Rossa’s first performance was in a pantomime of Cinderella when she was 4 or 5 years old. She took ballet and gymnastics. When she was 6 … Continue reading Rossa Richter
Mirin Darnell
Arnold Gerrit Henskes was born August 6, 1912 in Rotterdam, Netherlands. He was an artist and he ran a design firm until he was 33 years old. During this time, he claimed to have had several paranormal experiences. One of these experiences occurred after the death of his niece, Hannie, whom he had never met. … Continue reading Mirin Darnell