Synopses & Reviews
From the story behind the crack in the Liberty Bell to the tale of how a small leak triggered the Three Mile Island nuclear disaster, It Happened in Pennsylvania takes readers on a behind-the-scenes look at intriguing people and episodes from the Keystone State's past.
Here you'll find out whether or not the Battle of Gettysburg was an attempt by Confederates to capture shoes, and how Frank W. Woolworth nickel-and-dimed his way to purchasing the Woolworth building for $13.2 million-cash. You'll meet the engineer who turned a spring into a popular toy, the doctor who spontaneously combusted, and the World War II-era Pittsburgh-Philadelphia football team called the Steagles.
In an easy-to-read style that's entertaining and informative, authors Fran Capo and Scott Bruce recount twenty-eight of the most captivating and unusual moments from Pennsylvania's history.
Synopsis
This guide is a collection of thirty fascinating events that helped make Pennsylvania what it is today. From the witches of PA to the Expedition that changed the world, authors Fran Capo and Scott Bruce write with a comedic yet dramatic flair and an easy to read style that will entertain readers as they learn more about the colorful, and sometimes wacky history of Pennsylvania.
About the Author
Fran Capo is a freelance writer, standup comic, lecturer, and the
Guinness Book of World Records' Fastest Talking Female. This Queens College graduate has appeared on more than 248 radio shows and 98 TV shows, including
Larry King Live, Entertainment Tonight, and
Good Morning America.Scott Bruce is a professional comedian who has been performing in every available venue, including television, radio, stage, colleges, cruise ships, and comedy clubs. He is currently the new host of The Pennsylvania Game, a television trivia show that airs on PBS.
Table of Contents
Preface
Acknowledgments
A Witch in Pennsylvania1683
For Whom the Bell Cracked1752
The Birth of a Nation1776
Up, Up, and Away!1793
An Expedition in Search of a Beginning1803
The Eastern State Penitentiary1829
The Christiana Riot1851
The Lost Children of the Alleghenies1856
Well
Thats a Deep Subject1859
The Battle of Gettysburg1863
Memorial Day in Boalsburg18641865
The Handprint on the Wall1877
A Million-Dollar Baby Is Born1879
Punxsutawney Phil1887
Water, Water Everywhere and Way Too Much to Drink1889
The Birth of Professional Football1892
Tragedy at 700 Feet Below1911
Fill er Up: Convenience on the Road1913
The First Armored Car Robbery in History1927
Getting Gypped on the Jeep1940
The Road to the Future: The Pennsylvania Turnpike1940
A Shrine for the Lion1942
The Steagles1943
The Toy That Walked into Fame1945
The Death Fog1948
The Homer by the Fielder1960
A Greyhound Bus and a Load of Bananas1965
Roswell Comes to Pennsylvania1965
The Mysterious Demise of Dr. Bentley1966
Siamese Twins Set a Precedent1977
Thirty Minutes to Meltdown1979
Heroes in the Sky2001
A Potpourri of Pennsylvania Facts
Bibliography and Further Reading
Index
About the Authors