Shhh...secrets

Have you ever wondered if your house had a secret tunnel at one time? 

 

Or perhaps a famous (or infamous) occupant?

Your home may have a fascinating history, and the process of uncovering your home’s past can be a fun and worthwhile project. House Histories: A guide to tracing the genealogy of your home by Sally Light and How to Research your house: Every home tells a story by Pamela Brooks are great books to help you get started. If you would prefer to watch instead of read, the HGTV series If walls could talk...explores homes rich in history.

This featured photo of a house on Michigan Ave is from the Benke photograph collection, to find more click on this link Images of Manitowoc. 

Epic, Wicked, Classic

What is a classic?  The definition of a classic is threefold.  A classic work of literature has universal appeal, expresses an artistic quality, and stands the test of time.  One of the goals of the selectors of our library is to find the "hottest reads" (Nora Roberts, James Patterson) for the readers in our community.  However, we also work diligently to maintain a collection of books that meet the above criteria of a classic or in Victor Hugo's case, offer our readers an epic tale of poverty, vice, and redemption.  How does this particular book stand the test of time?  After all, isn't it just a love story and a condemnation of France's legal system of the time?  Response:  haven't you heard the phrase "class warfare" used in the news and by various politicians recently?

Moving on from the French, Charles Dickens' books about poverty and the social injustice in England also stand the test of time.  Most of us have read David Copperfield for a school assignment or watched A Christmas Carol during the month of December.  Have you tried Oliver Twist, Bleak House, A Tale of Two Cities, or Great Expectations?  If you can't stomach all the wicked characters that live in Dickens' books, consider another English author like Thomas Hardy. His book, Far From the Madding Crowd has similar themes to Dickens' but uses a pastoral setting.  If you like love stories to end happily, any Jane Austen title will do.  Austen has a special gift for blending social commentary in with an old-fashioned romance. 
American classics cannot be forgotten.  The Awakening by Kate Chopin is every bit as relevant (and depressing) as any Thomas Hardy novel.  Edgar Allan Poe is known for his stories of horror and suspense but his tales go far beyond a mere mystery.  Finally, what early American author captures the spirit of adventure better that James Fennimore Cooper?  He is best known for The Last of the Mohicans but did you know that it's part of a series of five books about early American frontier life featuring Natty Bumppo?  Or is it Hawkeye?  La Longue Carabine?  Pathfinder?  Deerslayer?  Finally, if you're a true Wisconsinite and you enjoy stories about early America, you will be eager to revisit August William Derleth. 

So put the brain candy aside for now, and pick up some meat and potatoes.  Enjoy a classic today!

 

American Pickers

Do you know these guys?  If you don't, well, you should get to know them. Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz became famous when their lives as pickers were turned into a highly rated television show on the History Channel.  A new book now recounts their story and teaches the reader how to become a picker.  American Pickers Guide to Picking was written by Libby Callaway with input from Mike, Frank, Danielle and a number of other experts and pickers.  Libby's mother dealt in antiques and Libby met a lot of pickers that her mother bought items from.  She was surprised when she met Mike Wolfe for the first time in December of 2008 because he was so different from the people her mother dealt with.  Mike was young, handsome, and charming. Libby and Mike met when they were both visiting a mutual friend, a photographer. 

Mike got bored during a photo shoot of women in lingerie and asked to borrow a scooter.  He was back in 30 minutes with an enamel Oliver Tractor sign from the 1940's that he was able to sell within minutes, more than doubling his money.  Libby was stunned.  She had never heard of someone driving around and finding likely sellers of antiques and collectibles.  She couldn’t imagine herself knocking on doors but greatly admired someone who could. 

Interesting tidbits related in the book include Mike’s strategy of looking at ads in old magazines.  A few years ago, he saw an ad for a 1912 Indian racing motorcycle.  Even though the journal was from the 1970’s, he called and found out that the motorcycle had never been sold.  He immediately got on a plane and flew to Florida to try and make a deal.  The owner was very reluctant to sell, but Mike used his winning personality to eventually make a deal. 

George, who Mike and Frank turn to when they need an expert opinion, offers this advice: “You can’t just go out picking if you don’t know anything.  You should have either a very specialized knowledge or a very broad knowledge,  You have to know a lot about a little or a little about a lot.”  Mike and Frank obviously know a little about a lot and a lot about a little.  Read this book and you’ll know a little bit more yourself.

Don't have cable?  You can watch the first season of American Pickers by checking out this DVD from the Library.