Any Bonds Today?

Author Photo

Wars cost money. World wars cost lots of money. Having seen Germany overrun Poland, Denmark, Norway, Belgium, the Netherlands, France, and Luxembourg in a matter of months, President Franklin Roosevelt knew the United States would eventually be drawn into the conflict. As a result, he and other government officials began preparations for financing. Many sources indicate that Roosevelt’s advisors favored British economist John Maynard Keynes’s philosophy of tax increases and enforced savings programs which theoretically allows increased spending while lowering the risk of inflation.

US Secretary of the Treasury Henry Morgenthau, Jr. disagreed, preferring a voluntary loan system which he began planning a national defense bond program in the fall of 1940. The concept was to combine the attractiveness of baby bonds that had been implemented after the Great War with the patriotic element of WWI’s Liberty Bonds.

On the advice of political scientist Peter Odegard, the Treasury promoted the baby bonds as “defense

Author Photo

bonds.” Three new series of notes: Series E, F, and G with Series E targeted at individuals. Like the baby bones, they were sold for as little as $18.75 for a $25 bond that matured in ten years. Large denominations between $50 and $1000 were also available. For those who couldn’t afford to buy an entire bond at once, savings stamps could be purchased, then collected in a Treasury-approved stamp album until the individual had accumulated enough for a bond purchase.

Even wonder why Series E? They followed the long-forgotten Series A, B, C, and D during the Great Depression and marketed as a safe investment to encourage saving.

Unsurprisingly, there were committees to handle the savings bonds. The War Finance Committee was responsible for supervising sales, and the War Advertising Council handled promotion through a variety of means. Partially replacing the “drive” technique of WWI, a continual campaign was implemented that utilized a payroll deduction plan.

Hollywood got onboard and supported the bond program in many ways. Film stars and musicians attended bond rallies that were held across the nation. Celebrities conducted auctions such as Jack Benny’s violin and a kiss from Hedy Lamarr. The music industry also did its part. Sheet music often included patriotic messages on the front such as “Buy US Bonds and Stamps.” Kate Smith raised $39 million through a radio broadcast (similar to Jerry Lewis’s Muscular Dystrophy telethons from the 1950s through the 2010s). Irving Berlin wrote “Any Bonds Today” and contributed all his royalties to the program.Norman Rockwell’s painting series, Four Freedoms, toured the country and raised $132 million. Movie theaters and stadiums sometimes offered free admission with the purchase of a war bond that were sold in the lobby.

The government seems to have thought of everything. In addition to their defense bonds, they sold “civilian bonds,” mostly to member of historic peace churches such as Mennonites, Amish, Church of the Brethren, and Religious Society of Friends (Quakers). In total, 33,006 were sold totaling $6.74 million.

Over the course of the war, eight drives would be held raising approximately $185 billion toward the war effort.

________________

War’s Unexpected Gift

Love and war don’t mix. Or do they?

Eager to do even more for the war effort, nurse Gwen Milford puts in for a transfer from a convalescent hospital outside of London to an evac hospital headed across Europe. Leap-frogging from one location to the next, nothing goes as expected from stolen supplies to overwhelming numbers of casualties. Then, there’s the handsome doctor who seems to be assigned to her every shift. As another Christmas approaches without the war’s end, can she find room in her heart for love?

Purchase Link: https://books2read.com/u/4jG2wl

Linda Shenton Matchett writes happily-ever-after historical Christian fiction about second chances and women who overcome life’s challenges to be better versions of themselves.

Whether you choose her books set in the Old West or across the globe during WWII, you will be immersed in the past through rich detail. Follow the journeys of relatable characters whose faith is sorely tested, yet in the end, emerge triumphant. Be encouraged in your own faith-walk through stories of history and hope. Visit her at http://www.LindaShentonMatchett.com

A WWII Pilot's Incredible Survival Story in Alaska's Frozen Wilderness

By Mary Dodge Allen

On December 21, 1943, Lt. Leon Crane, a pilot with the U.S. Army Air Corps, became the sole survivor of a fiery plane crash on a mountain in Alaska’s remote wilderness. He had no food or supplies, no map, and the temperature was 40 below zero. But he was determined to make it back home.

Leon Crane as a young airman, 1941 (Public Domain)

Lt. Crane was the co-pilot of a B-24 Liberator Bomber on a high-altitude training flight out of the U.S. Army’s Ladd Air Base in Fairbanks. They were flying at 25,000 ft., approximately 130 miles east of the air base, when an engine malfunction sent the bomber spiraling out of control. 

Lt. Crane struggled to regain control of the plane, along with the pilot, Lt. Harold Hoskins. But the powerful centrifugal force of the spiral dive made it impossible. They had enough time to radio a distress call, but not their location. After sounding the alarm to abandon ship, then they both donned parachutes. 

The B-24 Liberator that crashed in Alaska, 1943 (Public Domain)

When Lt. Crane leaped out the open bomb bay doors, he felt the shock of icy air slapping the exposed skin on his face and hands. He saw only one other crewman bail out - Sgt. Richard Pompeo. He watched Pompeo’s parachute as it drifted over a mountain ridge. Then the B-24 Liberator slammed against the frozen ground below him and burst into a ball of red flames. 

Photo of the B-24 crash site in Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve (Public Domain)

Alone in the Wilderness:

Lt. Crane landed in waist-high snow. He repeatedly shouted “Ho!” as loud as he could, but his shouts were met with silence. He was alone, and the temperature was nearly 40 below zero. He knew it would get colder as night fell. 

He looked toward the smoking crash site and realized the fiery explosion had probably destroyed all supplies, so he trudged down the mountain through the deep snow toward the river below. (The Charley River, a tributary of the Yukon River, in an area now known as the Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve.)

Lt. Crane was wearing a new down parka the Army had been experimenting with, and he knew this would help him stay warm. He also had his parachute, two matchbooks and a small knife. When he reached the river, he started a fire using a letter from his father that he had kept in his shirt pocket. He fed the fire with pine boughs, wrapped himself in the parachute, and sat through his first long night. In December, the night darkness lasts nearly 20 hours.

No Sign of Rescue:

After nine days of waiting for rescue, with no food or shelter, he decided he had to leave the area of the crash site. He began walking downstream, hoping the river might lead him to a town or encampment. The lack of food had weakened his body. He made slow progress as he trudged through the deep snow. 

Just before nightfall, he was overjoyed to find a small cabin! It was unlocked and unoccupied, but it held supplies of canned food, sugar, powdered milk, a fry pan and a cooking stove. He soon had a fire going and was drinking a cup of hot cocoa. The cabin also had a rifle, a tent, and a pair of moose-hide mittens.

(A backwoods miner and trapper named Phil Berail had built the cabin. The Charley River was a popular trapping area and locals often built rustic cabins along the traplines, which they stocked with supplies.)

A Brief Respite:

Lt. Crane had found shelter and food, but his ordeal was far from over. It was early January, freezing cold, and he was alone in a rugged, remote wilderness. He knew he needed to regain his strength and take care of his frostbitten hands and feet before he resumed his journey. 

During the next six weeks, he stayed in the cabin and rested, hoping to hear the sound of rescue aircraft or a dog team. He thought the cabin’s owner might return, but nobody did. By mid-February, his supplies were getting low. He decided to pack what he could, and he set out to find a town. 

Lt. Crane's Wilderness Journey (Public Domain)

The Last Miles:

For several days, he walked on the frozen Charley River dragging his supplies on a crude sled he made from a wooden washbasin. He fell through the ice twice and nearly drowned the second time. His supplies were almost gone when he came upon another rustic cabin. He rested a few days, gathered fresh supplies and moved on. Days later, he reached the Yukon River and found a sled trail that led to another cabin. He was relieved to see smoke rising from the chimney. It was March 9, 1944. His ordeal was over.

Rescue:

Albert Ames, the owner of the cabin, came out to meet this strange man in a tattered puffy jacket, with a black beard and wild hair. He was amazed to hear his story. Lt. Crane had survived nearly 80 days in the Alaskan wilderness, and he had walked over 120 miles downriver, alone, in frigid winter temperatures. 

Lt. Leon Crane was shocked when he saw himself in a mirror:

"I had a two-inch beard, black as coal; my hair was long and matted, covering my ears and coming down over my forehead. I looked like some strange species of prehistoric man. I was dirty, sunburned and wind-burned, and my eyes stared back at me from the centers of two deep black circles." 

Lt. Crane got cleaned up and spent the next two days regaining his strength. Then Albert Ames hitched up his sled team and mushed Lt. Crane to the Woodchopper mining camp along the Yukon River, 33 miles away. While there, Lt. Crane met trapper Phil Berail and thanked him for the use of his cabin. Berail said he was glad his cabin and supplies had helped him to survive. 

The mining camp had a small airstrip. Days later, a light aircraft flew Lt. Crane back to Ladd Air Field in Fairbanks to report to his commanding officer. 

Lt. Leon Crane during the October 1944 Recovery Mission (Public Domain)

Recovery Missions:

In October 1944, Lt. Crane led a recovery team to the crash site, and the remains of two of his crewmen were found. They searched the area near the last sighting of Richard Pompeo’s parachute, but his remains were never found. 

One of the B-24 Liberator's four propellors (C. Houlette, NPS)

In 2006, a team from the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command returned to the site and found metal buckles from a parachute and bone fragments of the pilot, Lt. Harold Hoskins. His remains were interred with military honors at Arlington National Cemetery.

Later Life:

Lt. Leon Crane returned home to Philadelphia, married and had six children. He became an aeronautical engineer and helped design the first helicopters. He passed away in 2002.

_______________

Mary Dodge Allen is currently finishing her sequel to Hunt for a Hometown Killer. She's won a Christian Indie Award, an Angel Book Award, and two Royal Palm Literary Awards (Florida Writer's Association). She and her husband live in Central Florida, where she has served as a volunteer with the local police department. Her childhood in Minnesota, land of 10,000 lakes, sparked her lifelong love of the outdoors. She has worked as a Teacher, Counselor and Social Worker. Her quirky sense of humor is energized by a passion for coffee and chocolate. She is a member of the Florida Writer's Association, American Christian Fiction Writers and Faith Hope and Love Christian Writers. 

Website: www.marydodgeallen.com

Mary's novel: Hunt for a Hometown Killer won the 2022 Christian Indie Award, First Place - Mystery/Suspense; and the 2022 Angel Book Award - Mystery/Suspense.

Click the link below to buy Hunt for a Hometown Killer at Amazon.com:

Hunt For A Hometown Killer: A Novel: Allen, Mary Dodge: 9781952369704: Amazon.com: Books

Link to Mary's Spotlight Interview:   Mary Dodge Allen Author Spotlight EA Books

When A Summer Vacation on a Steam Engine Turns Into a Historical Romance Series

By Donna Wichelman

Long before my Singing Silver Mine historical romance series came to pass, our family became fans of the Georgetown Loop Railroad living museum attraction in Georgetown, Colorado. The three-foot, narrow-gauge railroad through the Rocky Mountains provided a delightful summer excursion with our then four-year-old daughter only forty-five minutes west from Denver. Little did I know its importance in the history of Colorado would take a prominent place in a series I would write many years later.

Georgetown Loop Railroad Summer 1995: Donna's Gallery

Summer Fun on the Georgetown Railroad
Summer 1995: Donna's Gallery

The find of gold by Lewis Ralston at the confluence of the Clear Creek and South Platte River in Arvada and his return to the same site in present-day Arvada eight years later touched off the gold rush to the Rockies in 1858. The discovery set off a chain of events that eventually sent Kentuckians George F. Griffith and his brother David T. Griffith up the Clear Creek Canyon to the South Fork of the Clear Creek in June 1859.

The Griffith Brothers set up a camp on June 15th and found gold two days later. Not long afterward, they built a cabin at what is now Seventeenth and Main Streets in today’s Georgetown. By June 1860, they’d created their own mining district called the Griffith Mining District, and in the spring of 1861, David Griffith surveyed and platted the town of Georgetown with approximately forty residents and two mills.

Talk of a railroad in the Territory of Colorado was already underway by the mid-1860s with the influx of immigrants and a new ore on the scene—silver! The Colorado and Clear Creek RR incorporated in 1865 and reorganized as the Colorado Central and Pacific RR in 1866.

In 1867, John Evans and David Moffat incorporate Denver Pacific Railroad to build a railroad between Denver and Cheyenne to connect with the Transcontinental between New York and San Francisco. The railroad was completed in June 1869 and more people descended on the territory.

As the mining districts of Central City-Black Hawk and Griffith Mining continued to grow, so did the desire to establish railroads to transport ore down the mountain. The Colorado Central and Pacific became the Colorado Central RR and laid 11 miles up the Clear Creek from Golden. By 1870, the Colorado Central had connected with the Denver Pacific and Kansas Pacific at Jersey Junction two miles north of Denver.

However, with the dawn of a new decade came Eastern interests and political wrangling among corporate entities, and the Union Pacific, Colorado Central, and Denver Pacific/Kansas Pacific jockeyed for control. Still, miles of track continued to be laid along the Clear Creek and into Central City and Black Hawk, and locomotives were delivered to Golden until the end of 1872.

Then the financial crisis of 1873 struck. The nation had already been hard hit, but now Colorado and the railroads were feeling the crunch. Though grading continued and routes were still laid, the Colorado Central found itself unable to pay its bills. Between financial woes, weather-related blockages, and corporate squabbling, the people of Georgetown had to wait another four years for the Colorado Central Railroad to reach them.

Despite the delay of a railroad, Georgetown continued to prosper and burst at the seams with people from all parts of the globe who’d made their fortunes in silver. There was every reason for the town to be optimistic as the train finally rode into town in August 1877. Georgetown had become the Silver Queen of Colorado.

Georgetown Narrow Gauge Railroad
iStock-471011565

As it turned out, the title was short-lived when Leadville overtook Georgetown with its rich silver veins and people began to migrate once again at the end of the decade. But the Georgetown Loop was an engineering marvel for its day, having devised “a system of curves and bridges reducing the average grade to three percent … including three hairpin turns, four bridges, and a thirty-degree horseshoe curve from Georgetown to Silver Plume,” says the Georgetown Loop RR website. The $3 train ride became one of Colorado’s “must see” attractions.

Today, the Georgetown Loop RR still amazes and attracts people from all over the world who want an “old time” experience on a narrow-gauge train through the astounding terrain of the Colorado Rockies. Along the route, the visitor can also disembark for a tour of the Lebanon Silver Mine—a once prolific source of silver in the district. They also offer a gold-panning experience. An Autumn Fest runs through the month of October when actors make the experience fun and engaging by dressing up as characters from the 1870s.  Then, beginning in November/December, they run a Santa North Pole adventure and Santa’s Lighted Forest trains.

Actors Portraying 1870s Characters, Georgetown Loop Railroad
October 2018: Donna's Gallery

Lebanon Silver Mine Tunnel, Georgetown Loop Railway
October 2018: Donna's Gallery

For more information about the Georgetown Loop Railroad and its holiday events visit https://www.georgetownlooprr.com/

And if you are a train aficionado and interested in a historically immersive experience about train travel in Colorado, visit the Colorado Railroad Museum in Golden, Colorado https://coloradorailroadmuseum.org/. 

Weaving history and faith into stories of intrigue and redemption grew out of Donna's love of travel, history, and literature as a young adult while attending the United World College of the Atlantic--an international college in Wales, U.K. She enjoys developing plots that show how God's love abounds even in the profoundly difficult circumstances of our lives. Her stories reflect the hunger in all of us for love, belonging, and forgiveness.

Donna was a communications professional before writing full-time. Her short stories and articles have appeared in inspirational publications. She has two indie-published romantic suspense novels, Light Out of Darkness and Undaunted Valor, in her Waldensian Series. Her Gilded Age historical romance, A Song of Deliverance, will be released by Scrivenings Press in December 2024.

Donna and her husband of forty years participate in ministry at their local church in Colorado. They love spending time with their grandchildren and bike, kayak, and travel whenever possible.

Still Rockin' at Castle Farms

At the end of the last post, Rockin’ at Castle Farms, we left off with John VanHaver. He was the second owner of Castle Farms and an artisan in the 1960s. VanHaver worked with what remained of the dilapidated buildings on the farm. He converted the horse barn to use for metal working. To give a measure of protection from fire, he removed the beams from the hay loft. Notice the vertical rectangular slots in the stonework at the top of the stone walls in the photo at left (with the later restored roof). This is where the beams rested to support the structure and the original loft. Without the loft in place, he was able to use this building with a forge to create his works of art. On other sites he hosted art shows and workshops.

The property changed hands again to an individual that used the location to host rock concerts from the 1970s through the early 1990s. At this time, little remained of the original buildings. What did exist was in poor shape. The concerts were held in the open area that now leads to the formal garden, portrayed in the header photo at the top of this post. There were exterior walls left on the horse and cow barns (at sides in the same photo above) that served as barriers. From the Beach Boys to John Denver, Alabama to Amy Grant, crowds of up to 20,000 rocked the grounds to listen to musicians among the ruins.

                

The owner built apartment on site so that he could remain on the weekend. He did not live there. He only stayed for concert nights so he did not have to drive. Why? US 31, the road at the entrance to the property, featured parked cars where people partied on the highway. Circulation was impassable. As you can imagine, the towns people were not fond of this proprietor. In the end, he did not pay his taxes. His estate lost the property.

During much of the time when the third owner held the farm, the current owner Linda Mueller and her family visited often. At one time, they hoped to purchase the property. Alas, the price was too steep. Later, it went up for auction. Richard Mueller, Linda's husband, owned forty-five Dominos franchises at the time. Richard sold enough Dominos franchises to buy the property for around $300,000 in 2001. Then the long road of renovations commenced. While the major retrofits and building ended in 2005, they do add and improve on the regular. Richard, along with his investors, one being his friend Tom Monaghan, the founder of Dominos, poured at least nineteen million into the property to date. You read that correctly, nineteen million dollars. While the current site hosts around 200 weddings a year, this revenue helps but does not cover that cost.

       .

There are seven locations for weddings on the grounds. Multiple ceremonies can be held in one day. The highest number of weddings in one weekend was thirteen!

Historic guided tours, entrance tickets, school and local group events also provide income. If you notice the capital letters on plaques in the photo at left below, these are part of the scavenger hunt for children’s programs. Another attraction for the young and old is the train exhibit. These tracks remain during the winter. Everything else is removed and brought into storage. In the spring, train engines with brushes run to clean and clear the track. How neat is that?

It is evident in every direction that Linda does not maintain this property with the sole hope of profit. Her love for the history, buildings, and property flow into every aspect. She is known to tend the gardens herself. Unafraid of hard work, she can often be seen digging in the soil or designing a new facet to the parcel. 

Built in 1918, this treasure thrives 106 years later. A part is owed to the visions of Albert Loeb who first acquired the land and foremost to Linda and her family whose dream long ago became the happily ever after visitors enjoy today.

.

A sincere thank you to our tour guide, Betsy. She holds a wealth of

knowledge that she shared in stories and personal experience. Betsy made our adventure at Castle Farms much richer than if we would have strolled the grounds alone. We recommend the tour for sure. Would you like to see Castle Farms? 

As a child, Rebecca loved to write. She nurtured this skill as an educator and later as an editor for an online magazine. Rebecca then joined the Cru Ministry - NBS2GO/Neighbor Bible Studies 2GO, at its inception. She serves as the YouVersion Content Creator, with over 125 Plans, in 44 languages on the Bible.com app.

Rebecca lives near the mountains with her husband and a rescued dog named Ranger. She is a proud mom of a soldier. If it were up to Rebecca, she would be traveling - right now. First up, trips to see their two grown sons. As a member of ACFW and FHLCW, she tackles the craft of fiction while learning from a host of generous writers. Connect with Rebecca: Facebook Goodreads Instagram Pinterest X/Twitter

Happy November, everyone! With the holiday season approaching, I wanted to transport you to Bethlehem and visit the site of the birth of Christ.

The exterior of the Church of the Nativity
By Neil Ward - Church of the Nativity, CC

While Bethlehem is in the country of Israel, it is under the Palestinian Authority, so our tour bus was subject to searches from both Israeli and Palestinian military as we entered and exited the city. While much of the city has been modernized and is occupied by people today, there are still remnants of its rich history. Tucked away in the heart of Bethlehem, the Church of the Nativity stands as a testament to the enduring legacy of Christianity. This revered site, believed to be the birthplace of Jesus Christ, has been a sacred pilgrimage destination for centuries. As we delve into its rich history, you'll discover why this iconic landmark remains a powerful symbol of faith.


Many of the Christian sites in Israel are in dispute and have multiple places where the event may have taken place. For example, the Tomb of Christ has two sites that both claim to be the actual place where Christ was buried: the Garden Tomb (claimed by protestants) and the Church of the Holy Sepulcher (claimed by Catholics). However, Christ's birthplace in Bethlehem is not one of those places. Perhaps the reason that it is considered one of the most credible sites is because of how early it was revered as the place of Christ's birth. As early as 248 A.D. we have record of a Greek Philosopher mentioning that the site was held to be the place of the Nativity.

In Bethlehem the cave is pointed out where He was born, and the manger in the cave where He was wrapped in swaddling clothes. And the rumor is in those places, and among foreigners of the Faith, that indeed Jesus was born in this cave who is worshiped and reverenced by the Christians.
~ Origen of Alexandria, Contra Celsum 248 A.D.

In 333 AD, Emperor Constantine, the first Christian Roman Emperor, commissioned the construction of the original basilica. His mother, Helena, a devout Christian, played a pivotal role in identifying the site where Jesus was born. The church's design reflected the simplicity and elegance of early Christian architecture.

Interior of the church
Public Domain

Over the centuries, the church has undergone significant transformations. Following a devastating fire in 529 AD, Emperor Justinian rebuilt the church in grand Byzantine style, complete with stunning mosaics and marble. Later, the Crusaders renovated and fortified the structure, adding Gothic elements that still awe visitors today.


Under Ottoman rule, the church underwent further changes. A contentious dispute between the Ottoman Empire, Britain, France, and Russia in 1852 led to the infamous "Status Quo" agreement, which has maintained the church's integrity to this day.


In 2012, the Church of the Nativity earned UNESCO World Heritage status, recognizing its cultural and historical significance. Restoration efforts have preserved the ancient mosaics, frescoes, and architectural nuances that transport visitors back in time.

The Silver Star below the altar of the Nativity

By User:Rossnixon Public Domain

As you step into the church, the weight of history and devotion envelops you. There is a lavish basilica above, and a stairwell that leads to the cave beneath it where it is believed that Mary gave birth. The entire cavern is coated in gold and marble, which was a bit disappointing to me, because I had hoped to get more of an idea of what the cave may have looked like during the time of Jesus. There was a marble altar to commemorate the manger, and a silver star marks a spot on the floor which claims to be the exact spot where Jesus was "born". I found that odd, personally. The star is about one foot square in size, so I don't know if that is supposed to be where Mary was laying, or what the case may be. It was still an absolutely breathtaking experience to stand in that place.


Adjoining the Chruch of the Nativity is Saint Catherine's Church which has access to caves beneath. These caves are more authentic and untouched than the gold-coated cavern. This side of the caves is known to be the place where Joseph received the dream warning him to flee to Egypt, and where Saint Jerome hid out to translate the Bible. I enjoyed this side of the grotto much more, as I felt it was closer to how Mary would have experienced it.

The Church of the Nativity is more than just a historical site – it's a tangible connection to the beginnings of Christianity. Countless pilgrims have travelled to Bethlehem to honor the beginning of the Greatest Story Ever Told. Being there was certainly transformational for me and I couldn't wait to write about it in one of my stories.

*****

Two-time winner of the Christian Indie Award for historical fiction, Amber Lemus inspires hearts through enthralling tales She has a passion for travel, history, books and her Savior. This combination results in what her readers call "historical fiction at its finest".

She lives near the Ozarks in her "casita" with her prince charming. Between enjoying life as a boy mom, and spinning stories out of soap bubbles, Amber loves to connect with readers and hang out on Goodreads with other bookish peoples.

Amber is a proud member of the American Christian Fiction Writers Association. Visit her online at http://www.amberlemus.com/ and download a FREE story by subscribing to her Newsletter!

Unexpected Legacies: Louisa M. R. Stead

Matthew J Elliott

It is a busy season for many of us, and with the ‘Big’ holidays just around the corner, things are not going to cool off any time soon. We also have an election coming up, and while I do not advocate for promoting any candidate, it is important to take a few moments to focus on the motivations behind the choices we make before all the chaos of that election, and the upcoming holidays ensue. Sometimes it’s better to put our focus on something a little more heavenly than what the world brings.

While I have typically been highlighting the painful memories of certain songs or authors, today, I’d rather focus on the message left behind by the person. In truth, there is a bit of sadness to the story behind ‘Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus’. She struggled with health issues for most of her life. Despite failing to accomplish her goal of becoming a missionary to China, Louisa married William Stead and together they had a daughter named Lily. 

After tragedy struck, her husband died trying to save a young boy from drowning in the ocean. Louisa and Lily found themselves destitute, with only a prayer to guide them. However, faced with this loss, Louisa found the courage to pray and seek guidance. In the end, that prayer paid off and eventually, she became compelled to write the hymn we all know. While we all know and love the words of this classic hymn, that is not where the most impactful aspects of her legacy lie.

Rather, the most impactful aspects of her legacy come from the missionary she became after the tragedy struck. Less than a year after Stead penned the chorus of her song, she and Lily moved out of the country and became missionaries in Africa. While she was living there, Louisa married a gentleman named Robert Wodehouse. As they began to experience their life together, they both worked in various African countries. They were all about serving others and sharing a message of hope with those around them. Many came to believe through their ministry. 

Louisa’s health issues continued through all of this and eventually, she had to return to America. However, once the healing came, the missionary could not stay in one place. Instead, she returned to the missionary field in Rhodesia. This is where Louisa would spend the rest of her days ministering anywhere the road would take her. In time, Lily became interested in being a missionary like her mother and chose to pursue the same calling. 

So again, the legacy was not in the song “Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus.” It was about the courage Louisa showed through her dedication to serving as a missionary to so many in Africa. It was through this determination and dedication that her daughter Lily found her own path and several South African churches flourished. Louisa trusted that in all things, it was truly so sweet to trust in Jesus. Regardless of what she faced, Louisa continued to believe in the calling she felt she should embrace.  

As each day passes, we are confronted with many difficult trials and choices that require our attention. While overcoming the pain of those hard moments is not always easy, we can look at others as an example. Louisa trusted in something bigger than herself and things worked out for her. While she still endured pain and sickness throughout her life, she accomplished many things. We can do so as well. What are some ways we can pursue our own unexpected legacy? Share your thoughts in the comments below. I’ll be looking to reply to any comment I see.

 

See you in the pages and sooner than you think!!

Matt

PS (Next Time, The Unexpected Legacies Series, will be traveling back to ancient biblical times. It's going to be fun and I can't wait to go back there.)
PSS (I will be giving away a few copies of my newest book, The Cyprus Journal, at the Mid-Month Madness Takeover this month. Are you coming?)

~ Biography ~

Matthew James Elliott (M.J. Elliott) is a passionate writer who loves to encourage and inspire others. He has served in various ministry roles for over 15 years, which has given him a unique perspective on people and Biblical History. Matthew holds a degree in Biblical Studies from Oklahoma Wesleyan University, with a focus on Pastoral Care, Christian Education, and Worship.

Matthew is happily married to Traci, and they have three children named Leyla, Caleb, and Hannah, who bring them immense joy and inspiration. As a writer, Matthew's goal is to share love, equip others, and edify them for the greater good. He loves connecting any amount of scripture to his stories and uses his knowledge of Biblical History to do so often.

You can find Matthew's works on Amazon, Goodreads, Facebook, and His Website. He has written Devotionals, An Episodic Series, Novellas, and even Commentaries for The Gospel Daily.

~ Highlighted Release ~

A Paperback Exclusive, Finding Philemon, The Entire Limited Series!

A Former Slave. His Emotional Journey. Searching For The Way Home.

Are you ready to dive into a captivating series that delves into the journey of a young runaway slave who discovers God in his quest for redemption? Finding Philemon is exactly that kind of series. Come along on this unexpected journey as Onesimus faces the haunting demons of his past and witness his story unfold before your eyes in this first-hand account of someone many know little about.

Charles T Harvey and the Soo Locks

 

My husband and I recently took a vacation to Upper Michigan. We traveled all over the upper peninsula of Michigan. One of the sites we went to see was the Soo Locks. The history behind it was so interesting because the project was so enormous and they didn't have the machinery we have today.

The Soo Locks Today

Lake Superior has only one waterway to the lower Great Lakes and that is the St. Marys River. When you are standing there watching the locks work, it's hard to imagine what this was like before. The St. Marys River had rapids caused by a twenty-one foot drop over three-quarters of a mile. This made it impossible for ships to get their cargo where they needed it to go. They would have to unload all their cargo and carry around the rapids to be reloaded on another vessel if they wanted to continue by ship.

The need was great in the booming lumber area to allow ships to travel from Lake Superior to the lower Great Lakes, so the State of Michigan decided to contract the building of locks. The project would have a two-year deadline and was financed by a congressional land grant of 750,000 acres.

Charles T Harvey was a twenty-two-year-old salesman, recovering from typhoid fever at the time. But Charles saw an opportunity and used his skill as a salesman to convince his employer, E&T Fairbanks of Vermont and other investors to commit to the building of the locks. They won the contract and Harvey became the general superintendent. He moved to Sault Ste. Marie and oversaw hundreds of workers, tradesman, and even engineers.

Charles Harvey

Harvey had an eye for the future and he knew what they were asking for wasn't going to be enough. He requested they accommodate the largest steamships on the lakes, 70 feet wide and 350 feet long. His wish was granted. It was quite a challenge to meet the two-year deadline of their contract. One of his obstacles was lack of a workforce. There were not enough men to do the job that needed to be done. So, they shipped men from Detroit and New York up to the Sault. When the work was in its full swing on the lock between two and three thousand men were employed. And with that came more problems, housing all these bodies that arrived, medical needs, cholera, and working in extreme conditions.  

With a workforce in hand, Harvey started removing several feet of bedrock from the St. Marys River. But after the 1854 shipping season had closed the men discovered a 30,000 square foot rock ledge they were unprepared for. Winter was fast upon them, and they lacked the tools to be able to remove this massive rock. Unfortunately, there was no place to purchase the equipment they needed and if they waited for spring and the tools to get there it would be impossible to meet that 2-year deadline in their contract. Not meeting it would mean they would not only lose the contract but would lose all of the money the investors had put up.

The 'Hammer'

Harvey wouldn't be deterred. Instead, he and his workers put their heads together and came up with a solution. They would build a punch with what materials they had access to. "A bar of tempered steel formed the tip and rings made from a ship's propeller reinforced it. Attached to an oak beam, the whole punch weighed three tons. To shatter the ledge, a barge secured to the piers used a steam engine to lift and drop the 'hammer' in a grid over the entire ledge leaving pieces no larger than a man's hand."

Barge and Hammer

With the hammer Harvey and his men built, they were able to meet their deadline and fulfil their contract. The lock was called "The State Lock". The opening of Lake Superior to the lower Great Lakes allowed products and raw materials to flow freely to the UP. That encouraged the industrial growth of the area. 

The Early Lock

Charles Harvey founded a town named after him, Harvey, Michigan. But even that didn't keep him there. The bright lights of New York called to Mr. Harvey as it did many entrepreneurs. He left for New York City and helped to solve the gridlock of streetcars, horse-drawn omnibuses, carriages and wagons by building an elevated railway.

He couldn’t very well hear God if he wasn’t listening. He needed to lay his life before God and let him direct it instead of trying to manipulate things to his liking.

Kirsten Macleod is in a bind. Her father’s last will and testament stipulates that she must either marry, lead the plantation into a first-year profit, or forfeit it to her uncle. But marriage is proving no easy option. Every suitor seems more enamored with the land than with her. Until her handsome neighbor sweeps into her stable to the rescue… of her beloved horse.

Silas Westbrook’s last year at veterinary school ends abruptly when he is called home to care for his young orphaned sisters. Troubles compound when he finds an insurmountable lien on the only home they’ve ever known, and the unscrupulous banker is calling in the loan. The neighbor’s kind-hearted and beautiful stable girl, Krissy, provides the feminine influence the girls desperately need. If only he had a future to offer her. But to save his sisters from poverty, he should set his sights on Krissy’s wealthy relative Kirsten Macleod, the elusive new heiress. Surely this hard-working and unassuming young lady and the landowner could not be one and the same?

Debbie Lynne Costello is the author of Sword of Forgiveness, Amazon's #1 seller for Historical Christian Romance. She has enjoyed writing stories since she was eight years old. She raised her family and then embarked on her own career of writing the stories that had been begging to be told. She writes in the medieval/renaissance period as well as 19th century. She and her husband have four children and live in upstate South Carolina with their 4 dogs, 4 horses, miniature donkey, and 12 ducks. Life is good!

*quote from the Soo Lock Museum.