American Countryside

In a museum in Pikeville, Kentucky you’ll find a peace treaty between the states of Kentucky and West Virginia.  It is the resolution of a conflict we know between the Hatfields and McCoys – a struggle that engulfed two states and their respective governors... See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When the end of the Civil War occurred in 1865, some of the fighting in eastern Kentucky was just getting started.  And many people know the last names of some of those involved – the Hatfields and the McCoys... See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The terrain of eastern Kentucky makes travel a bit of an adventure yet today.  Roads and highways snake between the rugged hills of the Appalachian chain.  That difficulty in travel was highlighted during the Civil War... See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Many towns and cities put up Christmas decorations during the holiday season.  In this small town they put up a Christmas tree each year and interestingly, they place it in a somewhat precarious location... See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In east central Iowa you’ll find the small town of Lost Nation, Iowa.  Interestingly, the story of how it was named seems to be lost as well... See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 2020 the use of Aunt Jemima as a brand name was discontinued due to racial stereotypes.  However, the story behind the first person to become a living trademark is much bigger than that brand – it’s the story of woman dedicated to helping others... See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the 1830s a lady named Nancy Green was born into slavery near Mt. Sterling, Kentucky.  Although you may not believe you know her, there’s a chance you do because of a role she began later in life... See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Judson Welliver is just one of the famous folks from this small town.  If you’ve not heard of Judson, he was the first of the folks to occupy a position that creates some important words delivered to the nation and world See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you drive into Aledo, Illinois you will notice that it is the world’s capital for this particular item.  That proclamation draws thousands of folks here every year... See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the corner of one of Michael Dolan’s farm fields there is a place devoted to the story of Easter.  He never imagined what the place would become – today a site known as Reflections Park that attracts passing motorists as well as people from around the world... See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You’ve most likely never heard his name, but you’ve likely heard his music.  His family tried to dissuade him from majoring in music, but it turned out this small town musician hit it big with a new movie company... See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Many people like to be patriotic and support our troops.  This small town went well above and beyond, helping over 1.5 million soldiers all with volunteer labor and food... See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

He was a farm kid who discovered one of the most distant objects in our solar system.  And recently, his ashes were sent to that speck of light he discovered way back in 1930... See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This business is about a century and a half old and has been housed in the same building since before the 1900s.  It remains a draw for locals and visitors alike here along Main Street in Victoria, Texas... See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When this immigrant came to America he was looking for a job as a stone mason.  He ended up founding the oldest one of this type of business in the state of Texas... See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s the kind of place kids would love to climb around, on and through.  It’s also a place that tells an important part of America’s industrial age... See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s hard to imagine today’s largest city in Alabama didn’t even exist at the time of the Civil War.  However, in the years following that conflict, factors converged to spur quick growth... See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The cliché says, “a picture is worth a thousand words.”  Two pictures of Emmett Kelly said much about the man, and the story behind those photographs is still remembered today... See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you go to a circus you’ll probably see some clowns.  Most clowns smile and laugh.  This one did the opposite.  He never smiled and his routine became a headliner for some of the biggest shows in the world... See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A lot of kids love the circus.  Maybe some imagine joining the circus one day.  This kid did just that and his story is one that touched many lives... See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There have long been tensions between the U.S. and the middle east…but Chuck Scott believes today’s challenges stem from an incident decades ago…an ordeal in which he was held captive... See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When the Iranian hostage situation began…most of those Americans held would have told you the conflict would have lasted a week at most…but in the end, the ordeal would stretch for well over a year.  We visit with one of those men who spent 444 days as a prisoner... See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Considering world events, I thought it might be interesting to take a look back at an interview I did about twenty years ago with Chuck Scott.  Chuck had made several trips to the Middle East, but a new assignment in Tehran in 1979 impacted his life forever... See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

He is the biggest of his kind and you certainly won’t miss him if you drive into Audubon, Iowa.  He’s been in the movies and even an answer on Jeopardy... See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Some call this place the home of the generals.  It’s a fitting title because during the U.S. Civil War, nine generals all hailed from this one fairly small town... See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.