Legends of America Newsletter, September, 2004


Legends Letter	September, 2004
Wow, do I have a lot going on lately! Dallas, Texas three weekends ago, then it was was the famous, White Cloud, Kansas flea market, noted by Redbook Magazine as one the top ten in the country, and this last week, I traveled the Mother Road from St. Louis, Missouri to Chicago, Illinois Alrighty -- it's "fess up" time. You know how I say "we" a lot on my website? Well, there really isn't any "we," it's just lil' ole me. Yes, I have some good friends that help me out with advice, my family gets "dragged" along on my adventures, and they all check out the website for "boo-boos" and suggestions. And, thanks to many of you, I also get corrections to my mistakes, submissions of articles and pictures, and lots of feedback. Seemed to me, in the beginning, that "we" sounded a little better than "I" in making for a "bigger sounding" website. Well, now, it is big! And, I'm havin' a heck of a time keepin' up with all of it. So, if you have a story or a photograph you would like to contribute to the cause "we" would love to feature you as a part of the Legends of America Team! Right now "we've" got Monty (a friend) on the team taking pictures of ghost towns in Montana, and another member - Ron, a Legends Reader, taking pictures and reporting back on the Route 66 Festival in Springfield, Illinois this weekend. Thanks everyone!!! If you're new to Legends of America, we focus on travel destinations that appeal to the nostalgic and historic minded. Not really interested in the glitter and glitz of the big cities, we hunt out those places with a little "elbow room," lots of history, and hidden attractions. I truly hope you enjoy the newsletter and the website!! Kathy Weiser, Owner/Editor	In this Edition: New Additions to the Website Newsletter Change Cimarron, New Mexico -Wild & Baudy Boomtown Featured Book- Goodbye God, I'm Going to Bodie Roadside Attractions Wild Bill Hickok & Calamity Jane The Haunted Lemp Mansion in St Louis, Missouri Coming Next Month: A Lil' More of the Northwest New Treasure Tales More Quirks and Roadside Oddities More new stuff at Rocky Mountain General Store!
New Additions to Legends of America
As promised, I got back on the Mother Road, and as usual, I did it with a passion! First, I collected up a whole bunch of Route 66 postcards and established four new Mother Road Postcard Galleries featuring all manner of vintage postcards of places along Route 66, some of which still exist today, and others that are, unfortunately, long gone. Then I added new stories on Illinois, Missouri and Oklahoma. And the wildest thing of all - a great new article for our newest addition to Legendary Route 66, a section called Personalities and Legends of the Road. Our first story features the Tatoo Man of Oklahoma. This crazy character has gone and gotten himself all tattooed with all manner of Route 66 symbols and places. You gotta check this out!! For the "coupla scenic highways" I promised, check out the Lewis & Clark Scenic Byway in Nebraska, where you travel the path of historic explorers, trappers, traders and Native Americans. And, after you head through Nebraska, check out what many say is one of the ten most beautiful drives in all of the USA - The Scenic 7 Byway that runs all the way through Arkansas. Speaking of Arkansas , we also added Judge Isaac Parker, for our Old West enthusiasts. Parker was long known as the "Hanging Judge" of Indian Territory. For over a year I've had a story "up" called The Mystery of Eagle Nest Lodge, in Eagle Nest, New Mexico. Last week I received an e-mail from Ann Tyer Walker of Santa Rosa, California with the subject of "Eureka!" Ann has solved the mystery and you can now see great updates to the article as well as a bucket load of pictures that she shared with us. Thanks Ann!! Last, but not least, I'm finally really truly focusing on the Rocky Mountain General Store to get lots of new products up that hopefully you will enjoy. I've just received a great shipment of Old West Books and new Travel Guides. You'll have to take a look. Plus I've got tons of new postcards , I'm working with three artists to display their work and following up some leads to begin to display more country store type items. Keep checking back because you're going to start seeing all kinds of new stuff soon! In the meantime, I better head on back to the dusty trail. See ya next month! Kathy Weiser Owner/Editor Legends of America	What our readers are saying about Legends of America: `What a wonderful web site....You have put a lot of time doing this and it wonderful of you to share it with us...I love old history and I love following stories about` Route 66`. Keep up the wonderful work.....Long live the` Mother Road`-- Rosemarie` Kathy - Enjoyed your site. I am fascinated with the history of our country and I also like to travel. I experienced some of the back roads and small "off the beaten path" towns of Kansas this past summer on a bicycle when I participated in Bike Across Kansas. I think your site will be a great success. -- Tammy `Great site for history of old west. My Brother in Law Fred Lambert turned me on to Cimarron [New Mexico] History because of his relatives. Great Grand Father Henri and Great Uncle Fred. I enjoy studying Clay Allison and the other Gunslingers. You have brought these men alive. Thanks -- Stan` `This looks like a great, comprehensive site for history of America buffs, like me. I'm afraid to wade in, I might get lost for days! Congrats on being YAHOO!'s 'pick of the day' site. - Maureen` *Tell us what you* think!**
Newsletter Mailing List Change
If you missed this last month's notification of the newsletter change, this is your last chance to sign up!! The number of subscribers to the newsletter has increased dramatically and to accommodate this I have moved to utilizing a provider called Bravenet to send the letter and keep the mailing list updated with new subscribers, bad addresses, etc. If you want to continue receiving the free Legends Letter, please respond to the new subscription e-mail you will be receiving shortly.	Hey, if you like the newsletter, forward it on to your friends!! They too can receive updates when we add new content, provide product specials from our Rocky Mountain General Store, and more! Click HERE to sign up for the newsletter.
Featured Travel Destination
Cimarron, New Mexico - Wild & Baudy Boomtown - Situated upon the largest land grant in U.S. history and along the Santa Fe Trail, Cimarron was a very wild place in the second half of the nineteenth century. When gold was discovered at nearby Baldy Mountain in 1866, men began to flood the area, building homes and mining upon the land grant which belonged to Lucien B. Maxwell. Maxwell did little about the numerous squatters other than charge them tolls for using his roads, and rents and royalties for their claims. However, Maxwell soon sold the 2 million acre grant in 1870 and it wound up in the hands of foreign investors, who were not so tolerant of the numerous squatters. It was about this time that the notorious gunfighter, Clay Allison,, landed in the area and he and his cowboy friends made Cimarron a regular Saturday night party place. Between the cowboys and the miners, Cimarron was a very rowdy town and the new Maxwell Land Grant Company sought to overcome that by the introduction of order and culture. However, they had little success. By 1875, Cimarron's reputation for lawlessness was at an all time high and local war had broken out between the Land Grant Men and the area settlers. The new owners of the Maxwell Land Grant were busy attempting to evict the squatters, settlers, farmers and miners. However, the settlers, having invested their lives and money into homes and businesses were not prepared to leave. The local war became known as the Colfax County War, where as many as 200 men lost their lives. Today, Cimarron is a sleepy little village nestled just at the top of beautiful Cimarron Canyon in Northeast New Mexico. Providing numerous opportunities to explore its rich history and mountainous surrounds, Cimarron is a "must see" when you're in New Mexico.	Postcard Mania!! First, it was Outhouse Madness, now it's Postcard Mania. Yeah, well, my friends and family would tell you that this is "normal" for me. Did you know that postcard collecting is the 2nd most popular hobby in the world? Only behind stamp collecting. Ohmagosh, at the White Cloud Flea Market, I just went nuts! I guess I'm determined to have the widest array of postcards on the internet. End result: I've just got tons and tons of new postcards at the Rocky Mountain General Store. Check them out for a virtual tour through the American West or add to your collection!! See them all HERE!
Featured Travel Guides and Books
We found a great new author!! Calamity Jan. How appropriate, huh? Jan writes great ghost town mystery books. Oriented to youth, these historical fiction books not only offer entertainment, but also a few lessons for their readers. Goodbye God, I'm Going to Bodie -- Calamity Jan, a/k/a Jan Pierson When 12-year-old Meggie and her best friend, Paige, uncover the missing diary in the ghost town of Bodie, California, they have no idea what secrets had been buried for over a hundred years. Bodie - once known as "The wildest mining camp in the West" - comes to life through the words of Anna Louise Lockmoor. Who is this girl whose words, "Goodbye God, I'm going to Bodie" have become a legend? Why was she afraid? What was she hiding? New Fiction - $9.99 - Sorry, this book discontinued	From the Rocky Mountain General Store Ashley's Rustic Beaded Crosses Sorry, these have been discontinued.
Roadside Attractions
Henry's Rabbit Ranch in Staunton, Illinois - Rabbits, rabbits and more rabbits are at this quirky roadside attraction in Staunton, Illinois. But, more than just rabbits, this is a Route 66 Landmark attraction that provides visitors with a peek of all kinds of Route 66 and Highway memorabilia, along with stories of the Mother Road that you will hear from owners Rich and Linda Henry. World's Largest Totem Pole Near Foyil, Oklahoma - Listed on the National Register of Historic Places and claiming the title of the World’s Largest Concrete Totem Pole, Ed Galloway's Totem Pole Park features a 90 foot totem pole that towers over the area in a vivid array of folk art colors. Taking 11 years to build, Ed Galloway worked seven days a week from 5:00 a.m. to sunset to build this beautiful tower and park. Just east of Route 66, this is a side trip worth taking!!	Have you got a great tale about the Mother Road, a Ghost Story, a legend in your State, or a photograph you would like to show on our site? Send it on!! We'll be happy to feature you on Legends of America. Send us an E-mail or submit your story on- line by clicking HERE
The Old West
Wild Bill Hickok & Calamity Jane With the popularity of HBO's Deadwood Series (which I was glued to by the way,) I just had to write about that part of the Old West. From Wild Bill Hickok to Calamity Jane to the rough and tumble down of Deadwood, South Dakota, we've got it all right here on Legends of America. Wild Bill was considered one of the best shots in all of the Wild West, if not the best. Traveling from Illinois, to Missouri, to Kansas, to Nebraska, to Colorado, and finally Deadwood, South Dakota, this drifter/gunfighter/gambler got "around," at least until that cowardly Jack McCall shot him from behind. As, for Calamity Jane, she really was a tough "ole bird" and though she liked to say that she and Wild Bill were romantically involved, there is very little to support those stories. The two were, however, good friends, partially because of their love of drinking and probably because there were no two others in the Wild West who could exaggerate their exploits more than this pair. I can only just imagine how their conversations might have gone.	From the Rocky Mountain General Store Calamity Jane, Notorious Frontier Character - Vintage color postcard. Postmarked from Deadwood, South Dakota on October 14, 1911 with intact one cent stamp. This is the rarest postcard in our collection and we have only one available.
Ghosts and Mysteries
The Haunted Lemp Mansion in St Louis, Missouri Said to be one of the ten most haunted places in America, the Lemp Mansion in St. Louis, Missouri, continues to play host to the tragic Lemp family. Over the years, the mansion was transformed from the stately home of millionaires, to office space, decaying into a run-down boarding house, and finally restored to its current status as a Bed and Breakfast Inn and Dinner Theater. The Lemp family built a fortune in the late 1800s with a large brewery in St. Louis. However, over the years, the patriarch of the family, as well as three of his children, would take their own lives with a gun. Today, it is said that apparitions are seen within the old mansion, voices are heard, glasses will often lift off the bar and fly into the air by themselves, and numerous other strange events occur with regularity. We recently heard from one of our readers who stayed at the Lemp Mansion but insists that he and his wife were so disturbed by some of the spiritual shenanigans that they will not return.	Bumper Sticker Wisdom Life is not permanent. Do not take it seriously Suburbia: Where they cut down all the trees and then name streets after them. Now That You Are Kissing My Bumper... Wanna Get Married?!?!?! I used up all my sick days so I called in dead!
Feedback and Suggestions
We always appreciate feedback about the website and our newsletter. Do you have a suggestion about content that you would like to see, or perhaps, would like to contribute a photograph or a story? We would love to hear about it! We also want to hear about suggestions for improvement. See a link that doesn't work or a picture that doesn't appear -- please let us know. Just drop us a line at our Email address and tell us what you think. This newsletter is copyrighted© 2004 by Legends of America. Our reader's e-mail addresses are never sold, rented or otherwise made public. To unsubscribe, click here	Legends of America A Travel Guide for the Nostalgic & Historic Minded 28926 Cedar Hill Loop Warsaw, MO 65355 913-708-5119 Kathy Weiser Owner/Editor www.legendsofamerica.com Email