Mickey Starling reporter3@greenepublishing.com First coming to use in the 1800s, “keep your chin up” came to be a popular expression for encouraging people to press on through difficult circumstances and to never…
Category: History
Lost for words: Gee willikers! I’m feeling just peachy!
Mickey Starling reporter3@greenepublishing.com In our continuing pursuit of trivial knowledge pertaining to rarely used words or phrases, this week’s offerings originate in the mid 20th century and are of Anglo-American origin. The…
Lost for words: Are you feeling hunky-dory and right as rain?
Mickey Starling reporter3@greenepublishing.com In our continuing quest to shed light on phrases common in the past but fading fast, “right as rain” and “hunky dory” are two cheery references that leave the…
A cake for a cold day
Hailey Heseltine news@greenepublishing.com When the chilly weather rolls in, I feel like baking. There’s nothing quite like feeling the warmth of the oven radiate through the kitchen, mixing up something yummy and…
Mishaps and molasses
Hailey Heseltine ECB Publishing, Inc. While flipping through the pages of my 1872 copy of “Dr. Chase’s Recipes or Information for Everybody,” a 19th-century guide on making sweets, medicines, lacquer and everything…
At a loss for words: “Jalopy” has made it to the scrapyard
Mickey Starling reporter3@greenepublishing.com As a teenager, I was proud of the various jalopies that miraculously got me to and from school. A jalopy was a wonderful sight for the parents of my…
Deals, delights and disasters-the origins of Black Friday
Hailey Haseltine news@greenepublishing.com Today’s the day—the day after Thanksgiving, when millions of Americans will venture out into the retail world in pursuit of the best deals to be found year-round. Black Friday…
HOW THE MCHS COWBOYS FIRST SADDLED UP
Mickey Starling reporter3@greenepublishing.com Madison High School, formerly located where Madison County Memorial Hospital now resides on Crane Avenue, was nearing the end of its glorious history as I entered my senior year…
The rich history of old films
Have you watched a movie in the theater or at home and wondered about it? Have you wondered about its inspiration, the people involved and the first films ever introduced that laid…
The lost town of Port Leon
Hailey Heseltine news@greenepublishing.com The towns we see in North Florida today, such as Monticello, Madison, Live Oak, Perry, Quincy and more, are relatively few when compared to the ones that were originally…
A short history: Madison County’s earliest known people
Life in Madison County 2024 Contributor Artifacts from local archaeological digs show that Madison County aborigines were camping around Hutto Pond, three miles southwest of the City of Madison, about 10,000 years…
Where do our wedding traditions come from?
Heather Ainsley news@greenepublishing.com Weddings are undoubtedly an important part of life. The tradition of wedding ceremonies has existed for thousands of years as one of the many things we share in common…
Learning across history
Hailey Heseltine news@greenepublishing.com August has just begun, and now, it’s a time known to Florida residents as the peak of the back-to-school season. With less than two weeks until school starts in…
At the root of it all
Hailey Heseltine news@greenepublishing.com Many people think of English as one of several Romance languages, a group of languages that emerged from Late Latin in Europe, some of which are Spanish, Italian, French…
One small step
Hailey Heseltine news@greenepublishing.com July 20, 1969, was a tremendous day in history. This famous day marked vast accomplishments in many fields of science at once, especially astronomy. It also sparked the imagination…
Behind the name
Hailey Heseltine news@greenepublishing.com What’s in a name? Names are words we choose to call a specific person, place or thing by, and names are usually not chosen without reason. Most things have…
Sixty years of the Civil Rights Act
Hailey Heseltine news@greenepublishing.com As of Tuesday, July 2, 2024, it has been 60 years since the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was signed into law. This act was the result of a…
Remembering “Storybook Peter Pan”
For many years, a miniature horse, named “Storybook Peter Pan” appeared in parades in Greenville, to the delight of children and adults as well. He lived into his 30s, and thoroughly enjoyed…
The surprising origin of the Tour de France
Hailey Heseltine news@greenepublishing.com Historically, newspapers have played a bigger role in cultural development than we may realize. Important literary works, such as short stories and poems, were often published in papers before…
Finding a place in the state
Hailey Heseltine news@greenepublishing.com The Florida we know today is comprised of 67 separate counties. The separation of counties is intended to provide citizens with adequate access to government services, and Florida certainly…