Thursday, August 28, 2025

Illuminating the Past - Lighting in the 18th and 19th Century by Jo-Ann Roberts

 



Let's face it...when we walk into a darkened room or come into the house late at night, we automatically flip the switch, and the space is filled with light. But for the pioneers, and before that, the colonists, illuminating a room wasn't quite that simple or automatic.

Folks in the 18th and 19th centuries rarely held nighttime activities, especially in rural America. They carried wood torches from place to place. Fireplaces were used for food preparation and domestic activities such as cleaning or reading. In larger cities, an iron basket held burning embers that illuminated the streets and walkways and were typically the homeowners' responsibility to maintain.

Rush Lights

A rushlight is a type of candle or miniature torch formed by soaking the dried pith of the rush plant in


fat or grease. For several centuries, rushlights were a common source of artificial light for the lower class in England. When the colonists settled in America, then pushed further west, they continued using the same method but with native plants. They were extremely inexpensive to make.

Candlesticks


Candlesticks came in various forms and were made from brass, pewter, tin, iron, and later glass. A familiar form included courting candles, which were used by fathers as a timer to determine the length of a suitor's visit. When the candle burned down to a specific length, the fella had to leave! Hog scraper candlesticks derived their name from a similar-looking device used to scrape bristles from a hog hide after slaughtering. Some primitive candlesticks could be as simple as an iron socketed spike driven into a piece of wood.


Candles


Tallow candles were made from rendered animal fat, typically from cattle, sheep, or hogs that were butchered in the fall. Tallow, even though it was a useful byproduct, did have its drawbacks...the foul odor that was emitted when burning, and its tendency to produce black smoke. They were also a tasty treat for mice and other rodents. 






Beeswax candles were the preferred choice for the upper class in the 18th century. However, since they were taxed at eight times the rate of a tallow, not many could afford them. Beeswax candles burned cleaner, lasted longer, and had a more pleasant scent. They could be hand-dipped or poured into a mold.

Lamps

Pan lamps were used as far back as the Greeks and Romans. It consisted of an open-top metal bowl to hold the fuel, with a channel to hold the wick. In the early years of the industry, before there was electricity, the mainstay of the carnivals and traveling shows was lit by the trusty "pan lamp".  These were safe and more dependable than torches or candles and were the lighting of choice for decades until electricity was made available to fairgrounds in rural America.


The "Betty lamp" was constructed of either iron, tin, or brass. By adding a cover to the top to confine the heat, it decreased the smoke and made the oil burn more effectively. Thought to be of German or Austrian origin, it came into use in 18th-century America. These lamps burned fish oil or fat trimmings and had wicks of twisted cloth. It differed from earlier oil/grease lamps in that it used an internal wick holder to eliminate the fuel drip that was common with older lamp designs. This internal wick holder feature made the Betty lamp design very popular.



Lanterns

Colonists and pioneers, known for their thrift and ingenuity, made lanterns out of materials available to them. The more popular lanterns in the 28th and mid-19th centuries were made of tin or wood. Tin lanterns, sometimes referred to as ship lanterns, were some of the earliest forms. They used boiled cow horn that was thinly shaved and made into panels to expose the light.


In 1775, a familiar four-sided tin and glass paneled design lantern was hung in the belfry of the Old North Church in Boston as Paul Revere stopped on his way to Charlestown to signal that the British were coming.



A common reproduction form of a lantern is one made of punched tin perforated outward. This design allows light to shine through while protecting the candle flame from extinguishing.







Chandeliers

The word chandelier is derived from the French "chandelle", meaning candle or candlelight, and became popular from the mid-1700s to the early 1800s in America. Constructed of wood, tin, pewter, or brass. By the mid-1800s, glass, along with lead crystal beads hanging from ornate arms, became the medium of choice for the upper class in America.


In this age of electricity, we take for granted the instant gratification of being able to flick on a switch, and our world instantaneously becomes illuminated. No dripping oil or wax to clean off the floor, no smelly scents permeating our homes. We are accustomed to having light, anytime and anyplace. The colonists and pioneers didn't have that luxury. They were, however, creative enough to adapt and develop lighting sources to extend the hours of the day. 

One can truly appreciate the ingenuity and resiliency of our forefathers and how they overcame the darkness.

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My September 20th Release...


There’s always one risk in life worth taking.
Caroline Stoddard clung to Sister Benedict’s words like a lifeline as the train took her across the country from Boston to Pine Ridge, Colorado. After learning the orphanage was closing and she’d be without a roof over her head and her teaching position, she couldn’t have been more surprised when the Prioress referred her to Millie Crenshaw, owner of the Westward Home and Hearts Matrimonial Agency.

But life had another surprise in store for Caroline when she stepped off the train in Pine Ridge, Colorado. Instead of the new start she expected with James Murdock, her intended groom, he is nowhere to be found. With only a few coins to her name and no reason to return to Boston, she’s determined to make the best of it in this rugged land.

As the deputy sheriff in Pine Ridge, Knox Manning is haunted by a robbery gone wrong, making him question his ability to protect the town, and a stranded woman at the train depot with nowhere to go is the last thing he needs. But walking away isn’t in his nature. The badge he wears is both an anchor and a burden, one that caused him to sacrifice the one thing he always wanted—a chance for a home and a family.

Just as they begin to see each other in ways neither expected, and Knox dares to dream about a future with Caroline, the town of Pine Ridge is threatened by the same outlaws he’d been tracking for two years.

When Caroline is abducted, Knox realizes the gang had given him something worth fighting for—worth dying for, if necessary.

But more importantly, worth living for.




Wednesday, August 20, 2025

It was a Lulu

Post by Doris McCraw

aka Angela Raines

Image (C) Doris McCraw

This short post is about a short-lived 'town' by the name of Lulu City. Lulu City came into existence around 1879 after silver was found in the area. This was at the height of the silver boom in Colorado.

As with most mining boom towns, Lulu City grew quickly. At one point, it was said to have 40 'houses', a post office, a barber shop, general stores, and a hotel. 

By 1881-1882, the weather and low-grade ore led to a loss of many of the miners. In 1884, the government closed the post office, and by 1885, the site was a ghost town.



How did the town get its name? Allegedly, it is named for the daughter of one of the primary backers of the company that built the town, Benjamin F. Burnett. He, along with his business partner, William Blake, were the backers of the Middle Park and Grand River Improvement Company. 

Like all towns of the era, it had its fair share of violence. However, as such a short-lived town, there is little press about the incidents.

For those who might like to swew what remains of this 'town', you can hike there along an old wagon trail that was used during its heyday. The site is located on the western side of Rocky Mountain National Park. Yes, this site plays a part in my upcoming National Park Bride book.


Until Next Time: Stay safe, Stay happy, and Stay healthy. 

Doris







Tuesday, August 19, 2025

Cowboy Saying - “All Healed up and Haired Over”

 


“That trouble’s behind me now. It’s healed up and haired over.”

At first hearing, the phrase sounds a little rough, but it’s pure frontier poetry. Literally, it comes from ranch life. Cowboys spent their days around cattle and horses, and they saw firsthand how wounds mended. When a brand or a cut or scrape finally closed and fresh hair grew over the scar, the animal was considered sound again. That image made its way into cowboy talk, describing not just physical recovery but also emotional or spiritual healing.

In other words, when something was “healed up and haired over,” it was truly in the past. 

A cowboy might say it after patching up from a rope burn, or when letting go of an old quarrel around the campfire. It meant: the hurt’s gone, the scar’s there, but life has moved on.

The phrase also captures the cowboy spirit. It’s resilient, unsentimental, and practical. There was no time to dwell on past injuries, whether of the body or the heart. Once healed, it was time to saddle up and ride forward. Today, the saying still works as a down-to-earth way of telling someone: I’m over it. The scar’s there, but it doesn’t hurt anymore.

How about you? Have you ever heard this saying before? Used it yourself? Could you see yourself using it now? Let me know in a comment!

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Friday, August 15, 2025

Columbia, California's, Earliest Barbers by Zina Abbott


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There are three primary reasons why I enjoy writing stories set in Columbia, California. First, it has an exciting California gold rush history. Second, the center of town has been preserved as a California State Park with many of the historical buildings restored to their original state. Third, between the existing newspaper accounts, census records, cemetery records, and posted research--particularly by Floyd D. P. Øydegaard--there are a lot of historical facts available.

Since I knew a year ago I would be writing about a barber, I chose to set my book in Columbia. I knew I would find a lot of information about what it had been like to be a barber in a gold rush town that grew big enough population-wise that for a few decades, it held the status of an incorporated city.

Between 1851--the city's founding--and the 1870s, there were not as many barbers as there were saloon-keepers. Saloon-keepers probably outnumbered all other occupations combined. Still, there were quite a few. 

Columbia barbershop and barber pole

The white pole with with alternating blue and red stripe separated by white stripes existed then as a way for customers to identify a business as a barbershop. However, many barber poles in Columbia were not cylindrical, nor did they stand vertically straight. The picture above shows the front of one Columbia barbershop. Others had poles attached to the wall so the pole hung over the walkway at an angle.

An interesting fact about barbers applied to almost everywhere in the United States, not just Columbia. Most barbers were Black or mulatto. In an article on Black barbers, it pointed out that in the early days of San Francisco, sixteen Black barbers dominated the profession. In Los Angeles, at one point, a single Black barber did the majority of the paid barbering work.

Discrimination and disparaging attitudes toward Blacks in earlier centuries included White thinking that Blacks were primarily suitable for performing services to benefit White men. Therefore, barbering was seen as an appropriate occupation for a Black or mulatto man. Many a White master made arrangements for an illegitimate mulatto son to train as a barber in order for him to have an occupation that would give him a better life than most jobs available to Blacks. 

Black barber in 1861 news illustration

Many Black barbers made good money--more than what many White men made in their occupations. Many became quite wealthy. One Atlanta, Georgia, barber became a millionaire. In spite of their understanding of the White attitude that allowed them to develop good businesses patronized by White customers, Black barbers laughed all the way to the bank. 

Blacks fended off White interference by catering to the White perception that Blacks were there to serve. They also carefully developed a tradition for involving other Black entry into the craft by preserving the artisan system--similar to the old trade guilds--and inventing first-class barber shops. They accepted apprentices and controlled their entry into journeyman status,and their ability to eventually obtain their own shops. by keeping the profession exclusive, to a great degree, they fended off outside competition and interference.


It was due to this research back in late 2024 that I made the decision to choose a mulatto barber to be the love interest of my secondary character in A Surprise for Christmas. 

A breakdown of the men who started barbershops in Columbia, California, supports this theory. I took most of my data from the information compiled by Mr. Ã˜ydegaard. I could not find any barbers I could definitely identify as White Americans who came from the East. Here is what I could find:

Barbers of unknown race or origin: 6 

(Mr. Ã˜ydegaard speculated that some barbers whose race was unavailable on existing records could have been Black or mulatto. Two I listed had French-sounding names, but were not among barbers identified as having immigrated from France.)

Barbers from France: 4

Barbers from Germany: 1

Charles Koch, from Prussia, and interior of his barbershop

Barbers from Prussia: 2 

(Prior to 1881, Germany and Prussia were considered two separate political entities.) 

Mulatto: 5

Black: 2

Two men, James Barker, Black; and J.A. Cousins, mulatto, operated a Shaving Emporium on the west side of Main Street. Later another barber, R. Henderson, identified in the records as a colored, also worked for James Barker. Other barbers had their own shops. some were in buildings the barbers owned.

Eagle Cotage-restored, they did not include the barbershop.

Some barbershops were attached to other businesses, such as the shop by the original Eagle Cotage. The building provided 100 cots for local miners. (This building burned three times, 1854, 1857, and 1861. Soon after, the land beneath the building was mined using hydraulic mining techniques. It was rebuilt as a display in the mid-1900s for the state park, but the planners did not include the early barbershop entrance.)

 

My book, Mail-Order Barber, is about a White barber who, like many residents of the Columbia area, came from New England. He would have been an anomaly in the multi-national, multi-racial group of Columbia barbers. However, I think you will enjoy the story. 

To find the book description and purchase options, 

please CLICK HERE

 

 

 

Sources:

http://www.columbiagazette.com/barbers.html

http://www.columbiagazette.com/blackbarber.htm

https://www.freshlyfaded.com/blog/2014/2/11/black-barber-history-and-racist-white-beards