American Countryside

You often don’t think about making a dessert that resembled a 50 foot high flood levee.  That’s what this bakery did though, and what resulted was a lot of folks coming through the doors... See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It all began when Mary Hostetter had to bake 30,000 cookies for Christmas.  When she survived that challenge, she figured she might just be able to handle anything – that is until a 50 foot wall of water headed her way... See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Some of the nation’s most successful businesses began in someone’s home.  That’s the case for Mary, who turned her need to provide for two young children into an opportunity to serve people dessert... See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Every May a century-old place of business rumbles back to life. It’s quite a sight to see as gears and belts began to turn just as they did many decades ago… See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What business does every community need? When these towns in Kansas were founded in 1800s, this was a vital item and you could find them in almost every town across the state. Today, it’s hard to find one like this anywhere in the country… See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When someone in our military dies in the line of duty, we often memorialize them and their service, and rightly so.  But life must somehow go on for the service member’s family.  That’s where this organization steps in... See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the middle of his most trying time, Rocky Sickmann wondered if God was still there – if God would get him out of a horrible situation.  It was then a prayer was answered in a most interesting way... See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

January 20th, 1981 was inauguration day in the U.S.  It was also the day a 444 day hostage crisis ended in Iran... See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For those of use old enough to remember the events of 1979 and 1980, we may recall the plight of 52 U.S. hostages held in Iran.  Rocky Sickmann was one of those held for 444 days... See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rocky Sickmann was in a position to change the course of U.S. history.  If he had pulled the trigger on his weapon, perhaps the last three plus decades of America’s involvement overseas would be far different... See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bar Harbor, Maine is a place many people like to come and enjoy the state’s coastline and nearby Acadia National Park.  One of the draws for visitors is the lobstering that takes place here and that’s were folks like Mark step in to tell the interesting story... See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In most states you can get a license to drive at the age of 16.  In this state you can get a license to do this at half that age.  This is the story of a demanding career that still attracts kids to the work... See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you go to a nice restaurant that serves seafood, one of the highest dollar items is usually lobster.  A lot of folks think eating lobster is a delicacy worth the price.  However, in a moment I’ll take you to meet some long time lobsterman who tell the history of lobster and the fine dining option it has become today... See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today you could get a ticket if you don’t drive on your side of the road.  But in 1917, Dr. June McCarroll could not get drivers to understand what seems so obvious today... See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dueling was a way to solve serious disputes early in our nation’s history.  However it’s this duel in 1859 that’s said to have ended the practice and changed American history in its wake... See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Many 19th century immigrants came to the U.S. on ships.  When these enterprising men arrived, they found a unique use for their boat... See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The eastern end of the Pony Express was in St. Joseph, Missouri.  You can still go and see the stables yet today.  So where was the other end of the route?  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If your home or business flooded, you might seek higher ground.  Here, the people didn’t go somewhere else, they just began raising all of their buildings... See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It was just an ordinary field until the winter of 1862.  That’s when floodwaters pushed onto the land and a town sprang up that would become one this state’s largest cities... See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You’ve heard of Noah’s flood.  This city had it worse it terms of numbers of straight days of rain.  What resulted is an event still a part of the lore of this place... See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Many of us have worn the blue and gold jacket of the Future Farmers of America – the FFA.  Today I’ll take you to the town that claims the founder of the organization.  His gravestone even says as much... See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Did you ever imagine you might turn a collection into your own museum?  This man has museums within museums.  In fact, you might call him a collector of museums... See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s a good chance you’ve never heard of Harold Bell Wright.  He was one of the top author’s a century ago, selling books at an amazing pace, and helping found a city in the process... See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The parents of every young kids, and some old ones, know they love their toys.  Tom Beck set out to put as many of those toys in one place as possible... See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What should you do with your time when you retire?  Tom and Wendy Beck took an adventure that resulted in the largest collection of its kind... See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.