In the days before videos, we had to rely on the sketchy accounts of kicking mishaps from the local papers to learn what happens when pigs fly. Also a new old word, "charivari".

Life could be risky in the small towns in Southern Indiana where I grew up in the 1960's, but going back in time, based on the old newspaper articles, things weren't much safer in the old days. From shooting at hats to teaching butchers how to kill cattle, there were lots of unusual ways folks met their demise back in the days.

Stolen turkeys, lost turkeys, greased pigs and a recipe for head cheese.

More stories of narrow escapes from an unpleasant demise, with some helpful hints for how to tell if someone isn't quite dead.

Modesty was our watchword in Southern Indiana back in the day, so the idea of public nudity made us want to run away. Here are a few stories from the old papers about the days when scanty attire struck fear in the hearts of shy Hoosiers.