History Rocks

[jhtonnan]

Lately, I have been reading the book 1776 by David McCullough.  To be honest, for a history book, it is quite absorbing and I have been having trouble putting it down, even to go to bed to catch up on much needed sleep during the week.  It just goes to show how the facts of history can be as interesting as any fiction in the hands of a capable

Comments

[jennybeans_girl]

Funny, I just finished reading "The Johnstown Flood." I believe that was one of McCoullough's earlier works.

I picked it up for two reasons. One, Johnstown was the town in which I was born. Two, I discovered that one of my great-great-great grandmothers survived the flood when I uncovered her obituary (scroll to read text of obit if you wish). I knew some of the history, but McCoullough certainly wrote about the events with clarity, dismissing many of the myths of the tragedy that pervade my hometown.

I'll have to see if the library has a copy of 1776. I enjoy history, particular books that focus on colonial America through the Civil War. It sounds as if it is right up my alley.

[jhtonnan]

I seem to remember being told that I also had ancestors who survived the Johnstown flood.  It is sort of odd how deeply rooted my family tree really is in Pennsylvania history given how much of an outsider I felt when I moved there as a teen.  I had seen mention of that book among McCullough's other works and I agree it is interesting that you had recently been reading it.  I had considered checking out that book as well as his book "John Adams" which is the basis for a new HBO mini-series.

[jennybeans_girl]

Well I was considering following up the Johnstown Flood book with his "Truman." I had seen the play, Give'em Hell Harry, years ago. I respected many things about the man and would like to learn more about him.

I'd be curious to know the surname of your possible ancestor. Johnstown was one of the proverbial "melting pot" communities, though predominantly Eastern European with a smathering of Italian, German, and Irish heritage. During my trip to Western PA to visit my grandparents, I did manage to tour Johnstown's Heritage Discovery Center. It was fascinating, and the museum had a very interesting approach to conveying its information.

[jhtonnan]

I've e-mailed my father if he can shed any light on the ancestors we had in Johnstown and await a reply. I think that is may have been ancestors on my grandmother's side as my partilineal side doesn't immigrate to the US until the twentieth century. I am far from an expert on Harry Truman so McCullough's book on that subject would likely be a good choice of reading for me as well. :)