The official blog of Denise M. Baran-Unland, author. Discover her books for all ages at bryonyseries.com.
Showing posts with label 19th Century history. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 19th Century history. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 20, 2021
Wednesday, January 15, 2020
McVicker's Theatre in Chicago
If you like history, you might enjoy these links about McVicker's Theatre, which only exists in historical documents and in Bryony and Before The Blood: Henry Matthews.
I tried to keep descriptions in both scenes true to the 1884 version of the theater.
Dion Boucicault's ‘Robert Emmet’ really did open at
McVicker's in 1884, and the reviews to which Henry and Brumfeldt refer
in both books came from real reviews.
For anyone curious, here are some links to the history. One piece of trivia not in my books is that John Wilkes Boothe once performed there.
My goal this year is to take a tour of all the places (and sites, for those places that no longer exist) in Chicago that I featured in Before The Blood.
Thursday, October 18, 2018
BryonySeries Throwback Thursday: A Drink of Water, Victorian-style
Thursday, September 23, 2010
A Drink of Water, Victorian-style
What did people do before taps and water bottles?
* They installed cisterns and spouts, since rainwater was considered to be purer than even spring water.
* Location was important. As early as 1860, health officials warned that cisterns and wells should be kept away from sink drains, barnyards, and decayed animals.
* Lead pipes, however, were considered dangerous only if the water was very pure. However, if water contained certain neutral salts, it barred lead's harmful effects. Lead poisoning could be detected by a characteristic blue line on the edge of the front teeth's gums.
* Drinking water with decaying vegetable matter was once assumed to be safe, due to the protective action of gastric juices.
* Many sewers at that time emptied into the local river, also the source for municipal drinking water.
BLEH!
* They installed cisterns and spouts, since rainwater was considered to be purer than even spring water.
* Location was important. As early as 1860, health officials warned that cisterns and wells should be kept away from sink drains, barnyards, and decayed animals.
* Lead pipes, however, were considered dangerous only if the water was very pure. However, if water contained certain neutral salts, it barred lead's harmful effects. Lead poisoning could be detected by a characteristic blue line on the edge of the front teeth's gums.
* Drinking water with decaying vegetable matter was once assumed to be safe, due to the protective action of gastric juices.
* Many sewers at that time emptied into the local river, also the source for municipal drinking water.
BLEH!
at 1:54 AM
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