After the Civil War, industrial giants along the Ohio River—think Carnegie Steel, the railroads, and early electrical firms—began sponsoring baseball and football teams as part of a larger push to shape worker behavior, boost morale, and anchor company loyalty. Before jumping into the quiz, here’s some background.

Industrial Culture Loved “Manly” Sports

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, steel mills, coal mines, and railroad yards weren't just workplaces—they were gritty proving grounds for “real men.”

* Baseball emphasized discipline, timing, and team cohesion—ideal traits for industrial workers.

* Football, especially in its early brutal form, was framed as a crucible of toughness and hierarchy. Company executives loved it for “character building.”

The captains of industry (cough-cough) started “works teams” not simply as morale boosters, but also as tools of corporate paternalism, offered up alongside housing, clinics, and “recreation grounds” to reduce turnover and, conveniently, undermine union organizing. I wrote about this in the Kentucky coal fields on my website because my maternal family experienced Henry Ford’s “largesse”.

Some players held nominal jobs—night watchman, messenger, or other make-work titles—but were effectively paid to win, not to work. By the early 1900s, companies like Carnegie Steel were recruiting ringers and paying salaries that rivaled the minor leagues, all while claiming amateur status.

Teams like the Youngstown Ohio Works and Homestead Library & Athletic Club dominated regional leagues and occasionally squared off against professional clubs in exhibition games. The line between amateur sport and industrial propaganda? Let’s just say it was easy to blur when the scoreboard looked good.

I was in Pittsburgh a couple of weeks ago at the Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum and will give you a longer story in a future newsletter.

When Works Teams Became Controversial

First get to know The Ohio–Pennsylvania League (O–P League)

* Founded: 1905 and featured franchises based in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. The league was founded by Charlie Morton and operated for eight seasons, with the Akron Champs winning four league championships.

* Level: The teams would be considered a Class C minor league by later standards, though such classifications weren’t fully formalized at the time.

* Region: Mostly small-to-mid-sized industrial cities along the Ohio River and its tributaries—including Youngstown, Niles, Canton, Akron, and New Castle, PA.

In the 1905 Ohio–Pennsylvania League season, the Youngstown Ohio Works—sponsored by Carnegie Steel—drew sharp criticism for paying its players nearly double the league average, despite claiming to be “amateur.” Local newspapers fretted that the team’s salaries threatened the entire league's viability by forcing smaller-town clubs to overspend or fold.

To make matters wilder, a riot broke out during a game in Niles, Ohio, triggered by a fight among fans that escalated into dozens flooding the field and interfering with play, revealing how tightly corporate ambition, sport, and public spectacle intertwined.

Works teams weren’t just mascots of industrial generosity—they were flashpoints for debates about fair play, regional pride, and the limits of corporate influence in civic space. And when fans stormed the field, they showed that sport still belonged to the community—not just the company.

From Works Teams to the Big Leagues

As the 20th century unfolded, the scrappy industrial teams of the Ohio River Valley gave way to the polished machinery of professional leagues. No longer rooted in a specific mill or factory, teams began to represent entire cities—and their fans. With that shift came new forces: advertising, syndication, star players, and spectacle. Sports were no longer just tools of corporate morale or community cohesion. They became business.

The relationship between fans and teams evolved too. Where once the pitcher might’ve been your neighbor or coworker, now he lived in a nicer part of town—or maybe another city altogether. But the ties didn’t break—they morphed. Media coverage, mascots, and radio broadcasts helped forge a new kind of loyalty, more symbolic than social. The rise of mass media didn’t just change the game; it changed who the game was for.

Note to my fantastic new subscribers:

Monthly trivia is for sport. It’s not a test of intelligence or character. I had to do a significant amount of research before writing this. Do your best and enjoy learning something new.

Would you share this quiz with someone else? Please?

QUESTIONS

Answers in the footnotes. Good luck.

* Which of the following are true about the Homestead Library & Athletic Club football team near Pittsburgh in the early 1900s? Select all that apply.

* Its roster included multiple Ivy League All-Americans recruited by William Chase Temple with unusually high salaries.

* The team emerged after the Homestead Steel strike of 1892, partly as a reputational salve. Critics later argued that its star-studded roster was a public distraction from the brutal union-busting that preceded it.

* The payroll in 1901 was publicly disclosed at $25,000—an enormous sum that drew criticism as elitist spectacle.

* Labor unions accused the athletic club of serving as distraction from the harsh conditions inside Carnegie’s steel mills.

* Why did industrial companies in Ohio River towns sponsor baseball and football teams after the Civil War, but not sports like badminton or basketball?Select all that apply.

A. Baseball and football aligned with masculine ideals prized by factory and mill culture.B. Badminton and basketball were seen as leisure or indoor sports, more associated with schools and churches.C. Outdoor team sports made better use of company-owned land and attracted large public crowds.D. Basketball’s origins in Canadian-American YMCA culture made it less aligned with factory-floor values.E. Football had a prestigious association with elite colleges, which company owners wanted to emulate.

* Which statements about early company-sponsored or community-supported sports in Ohio River towns are true? Select all that apply.

A. Youngstown, OH, was known for company-backed baseball teams like the Ohio Works, which blurred the line between amateur play and professional recruitment.B. Homestead, PA, supported powerhouse football teams backed by Carnegie-linked institutions, drawing national talent under the guise of amateurism.C. Inspired by World War II-era efforts like the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, many companies in the Ohio River region began sponsoring women's sports to support wartime morale and workplace equity.D. Evansville, IN, had a robust boxing scene tied to its riverfront economy and immigrant labor population, though it wasn’t directly employer-sponsored.E. Public athletic programs for women lagged behind men's, reflecting the gender norms of industrial paternalism and limited corporate investment in female recreation.

* Which of the following help explain how company-sponsored teams in Ohio River towns contributed to the rise of professional sports leagues in the U.S.?Select all that apply.

A. Companies began recruiting elite college athletes, which normalized the idea of paying players for performance—even while claiming "amateur" status.B. High-salary “works teams” created financial pressure on smaller clubs, accelerating the need for more formal league structures and revenue models.C. Factory teams pioneered rule changes like designated hitters and shorter innings to boost productivity at work.D. Local fan enthusiasm and press coverage helped build a media ecosystem that professional leagues would later rely on.E. Some “company men” who managed teams (like William Chase Temple) went on to shape or own professional franchises.

* How did the rise of professional sports leagues in the early 20th century change the relationship between teams, fans, and media in Ohio River towns and beyond? Select all that apply.

A. Games were increasingly covered by regional and national newspapers, helping transform local teams into entertainment brands.B. Factory workers began traveling long distances to follow their favorite teams, sparking the earliest forms of organized sports tourism.C. As professional teams replaced works teams, fans lost some of their personal connection to the players, who no longer worked or lived in the same communities.D. Professionalization led to more women attending games, since the new stadiums were cleaner and marketed as family-friendly venues.E. Local radio broadcasts in the 1920s and '30s created a shared experience across class and geography, reinforcing fan loyalty and team identity.

* Which of the following are true about the racial dynamics of early 20th-century works teams in Ohio River industrial towns? Select all that apply.

A. Most company-sponsored teams were white-only, even in racially mixed workplaces.B. Black athletes were sometimes invited to play if they could significantly improve the team’s performance.C. Black workers often formed their own teams through churches or Black civic organizations.D. Employers promoted Black participation in sports as a way to reduce racial tension in the workplace.E. Segregation in company sports mirrored the broader exclusion of Black workers from upward mobility and social visibility in factory culture.

* Which of the following are true about Native American imagery in early 20th-century sports along the Ohio River and in its industrial towns? Select all that apply.

A. Many industrial or semi-pro teams in Ohio River towns used Native American names to project strength, bravery, and “warrior spirit”—values prized by factory owners and fans alike.B. Native-themed mascots were often introduced in towns where Indigenous communities still had a strong physical or political presence.C. The rise of Native imagery in Ohio River Valley sports coincided with federal Indian assimilation policies, such as Indian boarding schools and cultural bans.D. Teams often leaned into frontier myths, naming themselves after tribes who had historically lived—or fought—near the Ohio River.E. These team names reinforced ideals of manhood and toughness that paralleled factory labor expectations in mill towns like Wheeling, Cincinnati, and Evansville.

* Which of the following are true about immigrant-sponsored sports teams in Ohio River towns during the industrial era? Select all that apply.

A. Teams were often organized around specific ethnic groups, such as Polish, Irish, or Italian communities.B. These teams played exclusively in private leagues and were banned from company-sponsored fields.C. Ethnic leagues sometimes competed against company teams in informal exhibition games or town tournaments.D. Some teams were sponsored by saloons, churches, or ethnic halls—serving as a point of pride for new arrivals.E. Industrialists encouraged ethnic leagues as a way to foster multiculturalism and racial equity.

* How did “Blue Laws” affect early industrial sports culture in Ohio River towns?Select all that apply.

A. Some towns prohibited games on Sundays, the only rest day for many workers.B. Games played on Sundays were sometimes raided or fined by local authorities.C. Blue Laws were most strictly enforced in Catholic-majority towns.D. Labor unions and immigrant communities often pushed back against Blue Laws.E. Some industrialists supported Blue Laws to limit unruly gatherings of workers.

* What role did railroads play in shaping company sports rivalries in the Ohio River Valley? Select all that apply.

A. Teams from different towns used rail lines to compete in regional tournaments and exhibition games.B. Some industrialists owned both railroad companies and sports teams, consolidating control of transportation and publicity.C. “Rail Series” games were common—where towns along the same rail corridor played annual grudge matches.D. Players were required to work on the railroad in the off-season to maintain amateur status.E. Traveling teams helped spread company propaganda and brand loyalty to nearby towns.

Intermission

I found a video that claims to be the oldest video of a football game from 1903, when Princeton played Yale. Enjoy.

ANSWERS

Next week I’ll be fulfilling a 30-year dream: a week at the Chautauqua Institution. The main lecture series focuses on The Middle East: The Gulf States’ Emerging Influence, which promises to explore the region’s histories, demographies, and shifting power dynamics—especially among the members of the Gulf Cooperation Council, Iran, and Iraq. It’s an ambitious and timely program, centered on understanding these states in relation to each other and the broader Middle East, including the Israel–Palestine conflict.

I know just a little more than nothing about the Gulf States’ history, but most of it came from reading T.E. Lawrence’s biography and watching Lawrence of Arabia. Steep learning curve ahead of me there. I’m excited about that!

Not much Fodder from Chautauqua—But…

My spouse and I are road-tripping from home in North Carolina to Chautauqua, with a two-day stop in Pittsburgh to include a Pirates–Reds game. The Reds are scrapping for a wild card spot; the Pirates… not so much. But that’s not really why I’m going. I’m going because Matt’s excited—and for the view: skyline on one side, river and bridges on the other, right at golden hour. Matt’s never seen the skyline and I can’t wait to see his response.

Bring on the Parrot and Pierogis

Then there’s the mascot sideshow, which I suspect will be the real show for me. Word is that a giant green parrot might break into dance or trip a human-sized pierogi during the mid-inning sprint. The Great Pierogi Race is apparently a fan favorite, and honestly? I’m here for it. If you need me during innings five and six, hold that text—I need to see whether Cheese Chester can finally take down Sauerkraut Saul.

Start Boning Up for August Trivia

I’m thinking about a sports-themed August Trivia, so start boning up—you’ve been forewarned.

Meanwhile, I’ve been working on something much weightier.

I’ve Got a Book Deal—Now I Need a Title

NEWS FLASH: I’m writing a book for the University of Illinois Press! Would you help me find the perfect title? Here’s what it’s about:

For nearly a thousand miles, the Ohio River marked the line between slavery and freedom—a boundary drawn in water, and carried forward in memory, myth, and silence. Though often overshadowed by the Mason-Dixon Line or the Deep South, the Ohio remains America’s longest and only visible slavery border, its legacy still etched into the landscapes it divides.

In [TITLE], travel writer and narrative essayist Tamela Rich follows the river from Pittsburgh to Cairo, Illinois, stopping at courthouses, riverfront parks, faded historical markers, and places where no sign remains at all. What emerges is not a neat chronology, but a mosaic of reckoning: towns shaped by what they choose to remember—and what they quietly forget.

With a motorcyclist’s eye for detail and a memoirist’s restraint, Rich explores how the river’s legacy lives on in tourism slogans, plantation reenactments, Underground Railroad memorials, and gaps in the public record. This is not a story of reconciliation, but of recognition: of how borders shape belief, and how history lingers even in the rearview mirror.

You can give me your opinion for a title HERE. Thanks so much!

Let’s Meet Up?

I’ll be back in the region over the Labor Day Weekend. If you’re anywhere near Athens or Marietta, Ohio, please get in touch. I’d love to meet you in person.

When I started poking around for significant historical events in our region that took place in July, I came upon The Great Railroad Strike.

“Huh?”Same here.

Lately I’ve been diving into railroad history, thanks to a few of my spring motorcycle stops out West. My father’s family worked for the Santa Fe (now part of BNSF) and in a fascinating twist, his family tree contains union men and union busters. I’ll be talking about that in my new series, “Buckskin Rides Again,” beginning July 20.

Here’s what you need to know to crush this month’s quiz.

In the summer of 1877, the nation’s railroads ground to a halt—not because of weather or mechanical failure, but because tens of thousands of workers had had enough. Sparked by wage cuts on the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad in Martinsburg, West Virginia, the Great Railroad Strike quickly spread across the industrial heartland, disrupting cities from Pittsburgh to Chicago.

It was the first major, national labor uprising in U.S. history—an unplanned but powerful response to mounting frustrations over low pay, dangerous conditions, and unchecked corporate power during the Gilded Age.

The roots of the strike stretched back four years to the Panic of 1873, a financial crisis that triggered a long and brutal depression. Railroads overbuilt during boom times and then collapsed into bankruptcy, responding with layoffs, wage cuts, and speedups that made a hard job even harder. With few labor protections and no social safety net, workers were left to fend for themselves in a climate of growing desperation.

This quiz will explore key moments, people, and places involved in the 1877 strike. Don’t worry if you’re not a historian—each question is designed to deepen your understanding while testing what you already know. Think of it as a whistle-stop tour through one of the most pivotal labor movements in American history.

Here’s a quick summary of how it affected states in our 981 Project.

The strike’s legacy in Kentucky is worth a note. In Louisville, where white railroad workers decided not to strike, these workers ended up avoiding pay cuts by siding with the Louisville and Nashville (L&N) Railroad against a general strike by Black workers.

Some white workers even formed their own militia to protect railroad property,” says Shannon M. Smith, a history professor at the College of St. Benedict and St. John’s University who has written about the 1877 strike in Louisville. “So rather than siding with other workers, they sided with the company.”

Note to my fantastic new subscribers:

Monthly trivia is for sport. It’s not a test of intelligence or character. I had to do a significant amount of research before writing this. Do your best and enjoy learning something new.

Would you share this quiz with someone else? Please?

QUESTIONS

Answers in the footnotes. Good luck.

* How did the Panic of 1873 contribute to the conditions that sparked the Great Railroad Strike of 1877? (Select all that apply)

A) It led to widespread railroad bankruptcies and aggressive cost-cuttingB) It triggered a long economic depression, increasing unemployment and worker desperationC) It caused major public investment in rail infrastructure, raising expectations for worker benefitsD) Railroad companies responded with repeated wage cuts and layoffsE) It hardened public opinion against organized labor and fueled anti-union sentiment

* Why didn’t the hardships caused by the Panic of 1873 lead to meaningful protections for railroad workers before the 1877 strike? (Select all that apply)

A) The federal government had no established system of unemployment relief or labor regulationB) The Supreme Court prioritized contract rights and property over collective labor actionC) Business leaders promoted the idea that free-market forces—not laws—should determine wages and conditionsD) Most state governments remained neutral, refusing to intervene in labor disputesE) The idea of federal intervention in the economy or social welfare was still politically unpopular

* What specific events in Martinsburg, West Virginia, triggered the beginning of the Great Railroad Strike of 1877? (Select all that apply)

A) The B&O Railroad announced another round of wage cuts during an ongoing economic depressionB) Workers were outraged by the hiring of Chinese immigrant labor to replace striking crewsC) Freight trains were made longer, increasing workload and danger without additional payD) Local militia forces refused to use violence against the strikers, prompting calls for federal troopsE) Strike leaders issued a coordinated call for national labor action from Martinsburg

* Why were railroad companies able to maintain poor working conditions with little pushback before 1877? (Select all that apply)

A) There were few or no labor laws regulating work conditionsB) Railroads had powerful allies in government and mediaC) Workers feared arrest or blacklisting if they organizedD) Most legal decisions favored company property rights over worker protectionsE) The country was recovering from a financial panic and jobs were scarce

* Which of the following accurately describes the leadership and ideology behind the Great Railroad Strike of 1877? (Select all that apply)

A) The strike was organized and led by the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW)B) European anarchist groups coordinated protests in multiple citiesC) The strike was largely spontaneous, with no centralized leadershipD) Local working-class communities often joined in, even if they weren’t railroad employeesE) The strike laid early groundwork for future labor organizing in the U.S.

* What were some of the longer-term effects of the Great Railroad Strike of 1877 on labor organizing in the United States? (Select all that apply)

A) It led directly to the founding of the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) B) It exposed the need for more coordinated labor action, spurring the growth of groups like the Knights of LaborC) It inspired future protests and strikes, including the 1886 Haymarket Affair in ChicagoD) It demonstrated that spontaneous uprisings could succeed without any formal organization or ideologyE) It contributed to public fears of radicalism, prompting crackdowns on labor and immigrant communities

* Which of the following are true about the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad (B&O), the company at the center of the 1877 strike? (Select all that apply)

A) It was one of the earliest railroads in the U.S., created to help Baltimore compete with New York’s Erie CanalB) Its route followed the Ohio River to connect eastern cities with expanding markets in the MidwestC) It was financed in part by the city of Baltimore, which held early stock in the companyD) The railroad carried both passengers and freight, including coal, grain, and manufactured goodsE) It played a strategic role in the Civil War, carrying Union troops and supplies

* Fraternal organizations (like the Freemasons, Odd Fellows, and Knights of Pythias) were everywhere in the 19th century and sometimes overlapped with working-class networks. Their mutual aid models later influenced the structure of labor unions and workers' benefit societies. What role did fraternal organizations (e.g., Freemasons, Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias) play in the Great Railroad Strike of 1877? (Select all that apply)

A) They organized secret meetings to plan strike actions across state linesB) They mostly stayed on the sidelines, focusing on charity and social orderC) Their networks sometimes helped strikers quietly, but not officiallyD) Their emphasis on mutual aid influenced the structure of future labor unionsE) They acted as formal mediators between railroad executives and strikers

* Which of the following are true about the Knights of Labor, one of the earliest national labor organizations in the U.S.? (Select all that apply)

A) They accepted both skilled and unskilled workers, including women and Black workersB) They were a secret society at first, but later grew into a mass movementC) They limited membership to railroad workers onlyD) They played a major role in organizing during the Great Railroad Strike of 1877E) They promoted the eight-hour workday and cooperative ownership of businesses

* What made the violence in Pittsburgh during the Great Railroad Strike of 1877 especially significant? (Select all that apply)

A) Local militia refused to take action, so the Pennsylvania National Guard was brought in from another cityB) Troops opened fire on strikers and bystanders, killing at least 20 peopleC) Enraged citizens responded by setting fire to railroad property, including cars and roundhousesD) The city’s business leaders paid the militia directly for protection servicesE) The event exposed class divisions not only between workers and owners, but between different cities and communities

Movie Trailer Intermission

I’m going “off topic” here but stay with me. While I rarely go to theaters for movies these days, I made two exceptions over the holiday weekend.

First up, This is Spinal Tap, which I saw back in the day (1984). It’s where “turn it up to eleven” originated, kids. I believe it’s the first “mocumentary” but some call it a “rockumentary” because it follows an English rock-n-roll/heavy metal band on its American tour.

Matt and I were in a theater full of fellow grayhairs, laughing until we cried—while also cringing at the casual misogyny baked into the script and lyrics. It’s a weird emotional split, holding both the hilarity and the discomfort. But we humans are built for contradiction. We do it all the time. On limited release through August 7, just in time for the September release of Spinal Tap II: The End Continues.

Next, F1, which is great storytelling. The only exception I take is the romance trope Hollywood can’t seem to resist. I can’t be giving anything away—it’s telescoped in the trailer, for heaven’t sake.

Hello friends,

My personal update is short and sweet: I am now a mother-in-law. My eldest son tied the knot on June 6 in a lovely garden ceremony. Arizona-based family joined us in North Carolina and we played cards, had a cookout, and sorted through a big box of family photos. Oh, the memories—remembered and made!

Life is short, my friends. Give love the room it needs to overcome your fears.

June has always been a month of thresholds—marriages, migrations, and moments that ripple outward. One such moment happened fifty-six years ago, when a river caught fire and Americans could no longer look away.

On June 22, 1969, the Cuyahoga River in Cleveland caught fire for at least the thirteenth time. That blaze gained national attention—especially after Time magazine published dramatic photos (actually from the 1952 fire) and highlighted it as a symbol of unchecked industrial pollution.

What does this have to do with the Ohio River? The Cuyahoga fire became a tipping point for public awareness. It wasn’t the largest fire, or the most destructive—but it was the one America saw. And it helped spark a movement that culminated in the Clean Water Act of 1972.

The Ohio River, running through the heart of the country’s manufacturing corridor, never made headlines for catching fire, but it was every bit as polluted. Its legacy was slow violence: toxic water, chronic illness, ecological collapse—and a long path toward repair.

This month’s quiz explores the murky legacy of Ohio River pollution.

But first, let’s go down Memory Lane with this SNL skit for Swill Water, with pitchman Bill Murray. (Swill is reputedly sourced from Lake Erie).

Note to my fantastic new subscribers:

Monthly trivia is for sport. It’s not a test of intelligence or character. I couldn’t answer these questions without a significant amount of research, either! Do your best and enjoy learning something new.

Would you share this quiz with someone else? Please?

QUESTIONS

Answers in the footnotes. Have fun (despite the subject matter)!

* True or false? Matchbox once sold a Swill Water delivery truck toy.

* How did the environmental crises of the Cuyahoga and Ohio rivers differ in terms of public impact and perception? More than one applies.

* The Cuyahoga River caught fire multiple times, becoming a national symbol of pollution.

* The Ohio River was less polluted than the Cuyahoga and received little attention.

* The Ohio River suffered chronic industrial and sewage pollution but lacked a dramatic event to trigger public outrage.

* Both rivers experienced visible and dangerous pollution, but only the Cuyahoga catalyzed federal environmental reform.

* Which of the following factors help explain why the Cuyahoga River caught fire while the Ohio River did not, despite both suffering significant industrial pollution? More than one may apply.

* The Cuyahoga's lower stretch is slow-moving and canal-like, allowing flammable substances to accumulate.

* The Ohio River's faster current and larger volume dispersed pollutants more effectively.

* The Cuyahoga passed directly through dense clusters of oil refineries and steel mills.

* The Ohio River was better regulated and kept cleaner during the industrial era.

* Which of the following statements accurately describe historical and current restrictions on swimming in the Ohio River? Choose more than one answer.

* In many industrial-era cities, swimming in the Ohio River was banned or strongly discouraged due to health risks.

* The Clean Water Act immediately made all sections of the Ohio River safe for recreational use.

* Combined sewer overflows (CSOs) still lead to modern-day swimming advisories after heavy rain.

* ORSANCO (The Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission) and local agencies have continued to monitor bacteria levels and advise against swimming in certain areas.

* What were typical forms of industrial waste discharged into the Ohio River before the 1970s? Choose as many as apply.

* Heavy metals

* Oil and grease

* Plastic pellets

* Slaughterhouse refuse

* How can pollution from a small industrial spill—like one near Union Carbide’s Institute, West Virginia plant in 1985—ultimately affect the Ohio River, even if toxins aren’t dumped directly into it? More than one applies.

* The chemicals can travel through connected creeks and tributaries that feed the river

* Rainfall and groundwater flow can carry pollutants downstream over time

* Some pollutants may settle in soil or sediment but later remobilize during storms or floods

* The Ohio River watershed includes many smaller waterways that drain into it

* You may have missed the 2019 film, Dark Waters. Based on a true story, the film follows Rob Bilott, a corporate defense attorney (played by Mark Ruffalo) who takes on an environmental lawsuit against DuPont. The case centers on decades of PFAS pollution in Parkersburg, West Virginia, where DuPont knowingly released toxic chemicals, evaded regulation, and spread PFAS globally—into drinking water, bloodstreams, and ecosystems. For the record, PFAS is the entire chemical family, while PFOA is one (very toxic and infamous) member. Which of the following elements depicted in the film Dark Waters are factually accurate? More than one applies.

* DuPont classified PFOA as proprietary and did not inform regulators of its environmental impact

* The plant’s smokestacks regularly emitted PFOA-containing dust, contributing to air pollution downwind

* The EPA had already banned PFOA by the time Rob Bilott filed his lawsuit

* Blood testing revealed that nearly the entire local population had PFOA in their systems

* Which pollution incident is generally regarded as the worst single environmental disaster on the Ohio River during the 20th century?

* The 1964 barge explosion and oil spill near Owensboro, Kentucky

* The 1988 Ashland petroleum tank spill that contaminated the Ohio River and Pittsburgh’s drinking water

* The 1950s mass fish kill near Cincinnati due to raw industrial sewage discharges

* The 1977 toxic waste release from a chemical plant near Louisville, Kentucky, following a flood

* Why does pollution in the Ohio River often spike after heavy rain? One of these answers is incorrect.

* Combined sewer systems overflow and release untreated waste into the river

* Rainfall increases groundwater filtration, cleaning up the river

* Stormwater runoff carries agricultural chemicals and animal waste into the watershed

* Urban surfaces funnel oil, debris, and heavy metals into the river via storm drains

* Which of the following factors contributed to the harmful algal bloom (HAB) that covered over 600 miles of the Ohio River in 2015? More than one is correct.

* Excess fertilizer and manure runoff from farmland

* High summer temperatures and low river flow

* Industrial oil spills from upriver plants

* Heavy rainfall flushing nutrients into the river

Intermission (Good News!)

The Ohio River Way National Water Trail has been designated as a national water trail, joining the Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail as part of the National Trails System.

The Ohio River Way is a 308-mile water trail spanning sections of Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana. The route takes paddlers—kayaks and canoes as well as motorized watercraft—past small river towns and metropolitan centers like Louisville. Falls of the Ohio and gateway communities Jeffersonville, Clarksville and New Albany are an integral part of the Ohio River Way. Source.

ANSWERS

I recently visited a restored archeological site in the Sonoran Desert. Today it’s known as Besh Ba Gowah, a term roughly translated from the Apache meaning “place of metal.”

Besh Ba Gowah made me realize how little I knew about native people in the Ohio River Valley, and that’s what inspired this month’s trivia quiz.

Did it ever occur to you that there are no Indian reservations in the Ohio River border states? Why is that?

Today, the absence of federally recognized reservations in the Ohio River border states is largely due to three factors: 1) historical displacement, 2) lack of territorial continuity leading to assimilation, and 3) the erosion of Native sovereignty through federal policies that led to economic control of these peoples by the U.S. government.

While some tribes in the region, like the Shawnee and Miami, have regained federal recognition in recent decades, they do not have large, contiguous reservations like those in the western U.S.

You might first think this happened as a result of the Indian Removal Act of 1830, which initiated a mass exodus of Native Americans, particularly from the southeastern U.S., to what is now Oklahoma, known as the Trail of Tears. While many tribes in the Ohio River border states were forcibly removed, some, like the Shawnee and Miami, were fragmented and dispersed across various regions. Those who remained were often not granted land rights or reservations.

However, the effort to erase Indian peoples and culture began much earlier than that Act. Land treaties and military conflict forced tribes in the Ohio Valley to cede large portions of their land. The Treaty of Greenville (1795), which followed the defeat of Native forces in the Battle of Fallen Timbers (1794), is a notable example of such a land cession. Tribes were often coerced or manipulated into giving up their territories in exchange for meager concessions, setting the stage for further removal.

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the U.S. government adopted policies of assimilation aimed at integrating Native Americans into mainstream American society. The Dawes Act of 1887, which sought to break up tribal lands into individual allotments, further weakened Native communities and prevented the establishment of reservations.

As a result of these policies, Native American populations in the Ohio River border states were marginalized, and many tribes lost federal recognition, making it difficult for them to claim land for reservations. Tribal members were often forced into state-controlled systems, which did not allow for the formation of reservations.

This website by the Chickasaw Nation is a treasure trove of video interviews and other resources.

Now on to the quiz!

Note to my fantastic new subscribers:

Monthly trivia is for sport. It’s not a test of intelligence or character. I couldn’t answer these questions without a significant amount of research, either! Do your best and enjoy learning something new.

Would you share this quiz with someone else? Please?

QUESTIONS

Answers in the footnotes. Have fun!

* What was the primary effect of the 1763 Treaty of Paris, following the end of the French and Indian War, on Native American tribes living in the Ohio River Valley?

* It granted Native Americans sovereignty over their lands

* It established new boundaries that restricted Native Americans to specific territories

* It allowed Native Americans to trade freely with European settlers.

* It recognized Native American alliances with the French

* The Treaty of Greenville (1795) was significant because it marked a major land cession by Native tribes in the Ohio River Valley. What did the U.S. government promise in exchange? More than one may apply.

* Monetary compensation and trade goods for the land

* A formal apology for the destruction of Native villages

* Military support in protecting Native lands from further encroachment

* The return of some land taken by settlers

* Which Native American leader, who fought to protect his people’s land from European encroachment in the Ohio River Valley, became well-known after his leadership during the Battle of Tippecanoe in 1811?

* Tecumseh

* Pontiac

* Blue Jacket

* Standing Bear

* What were the main reasons for passing the Indian Removal Act of 1830? More than one applies.

* To relocate Native American tribes to reservations in the western territories

* To provide land for European settlers to expand westward

* To grant Native American tribes sovereignty over their lands

* To forcibly assimilate Native Americans into European-American agricultural practices

* The U.S. government created reservations for Native American tribes in the 19th century. Legislators didn’t come up with this concept on their own. What practices elsewhere inspired this policy? Yes, this is an essay question.

* Why were Native American tribes in the Ohio River border states (like the Shawnee and Miami) particularly vulnerable to displacement during the early 19th century? More than one may apply.

* They had no alliances with other tribes

* Their lands were in the path of settlers moving westward

* They lacked military power to resist U.S. forces

* They had assimilated into European farming practices

* Which of the following Native American tribes played a role in the resistance against European settlers in the Ohio River Valley during the 18th century? (Select all that apply)

* Shawnee

* Miami

* Iroquois

* Cherokee

* Which factor made the Dawes Act of 1887 particularly damaging to Native tribes in the Ohio River border states?

* It forced Native Americans to abandon their communal way of life and adopt European-style farming practices.

* It granted Native American tribes full autonomy over their lands, allowing them to govern themselves.

* It divided tribal lands into individual allotments, causing a loss of collective control and leading to the sale of surplus lands to non-Native settlers.

* It created permanent reservations for Native tribes, offering them protection from further displacement by European settlers.

* I can’t resist another Tecumseh question. The War of 1812 was a conflict between the United States and Great Britain, driven by issues such as trade restrictions, impressment of American sailors, and British support of Native American resistance to U.S. expansion. Which of the following statements about Tecumseh and his role in the War of 1812 are correct? Select all that apply.

* Tecumseh fought alongside British forces against the United States during the War of 1812.

* Tecumseh’s primary goal was to defeat the British and secure Native American sovereignty.

* Tecumseh led the Shawnee and other Native American tribes in an alliance with the British to resist U.S. expansion.

* Tecumseh was killed in the Battle of New Orleans, where he fought for the American cause.

* Which of the following Native American tribes originally from the Ohio River Border States have gained federal recognition in recent years? More than one may apply.

* Shawnee Tribe

* Miami Tribe of Oklahoma

* Delaware Tribe of Indians

* Pequot Tribe

ANSWERS

I’m sending this from somewhere between North Carolina and Phoenix, Arizona during my trip to visit family. I had to delay my motorcycle trip by five days waiting for the turbulent storms to dissipate in the lower Midwest and upper South, which has led to extremely high waters along our beloved Ohio River. The Associated Press has revived historical memories of the Great Flood of 1937, which killed 385 people and left approximately one million homeless from Pittsburgh to Cairo, Illinois.

I wrote my last newsletter about the Covington flood wall murals, which have been doing strong work this spring, and I’m continuing the theme today with flood wall mural trivia.

Note to my fantastic new subscribers:

Monthly trivia is for sport. It’s not a test of intelligence or character. I couldn’t answer these questions without a significant amount of research, either! Do your best and enjoy learning something new. Oh, and if you do, would you share the quiz with someone else?

QUESTIONS

Answers in the footnotes.

* Who painted the Covington flood wall murals?a) Diego Rivera started them before his death. His large frescoes helped establish the mural movement.b) Robert Dafford painted them all. He’s an internationally acclaimed mural artist and blues enthusiast from Louisiana who has painted more than 400 murals in the United States and Europe.c) Thomas Hart Benton, a Missouri native who was at the forefront of the Regionalist art movement. His fluid, sculpted figures showed everyday people in scenes of life in the United States.d) Shepard Fairey, an American contemporary artist, activist and founder of OBEY Clothing who emerged from the skateboarding scene.

* What is the primary purpose of the murals? Only one applies.a) To advertise local businessesb) To beautify the city with abstract artc) To depict and preserve the region’s layered historyd) To showcase modern Kentucky life

* What river(s) does the Covington flood wall protect against? More than one may apply.a) Kentucky Riverb) Licking Riverc) Ohio Riverd) Sciota River

* The mural that features the Roebling Suspension Bridge highlights a major architectural achievement linking Covington and Cincinnati. What role did this bridge play in regional commerce, and why was its construction significant for Covington’s identity? More than one answer may apply.

* It facilitated the transport of goods between Covington and Cincinnati, strengthening the region’s role as a key industrial hub.

* Until the invention of the Model T, it was primarily a pedestrian bridge that connected two cultural districts in the region, boosting tourism and art exchange.

* Its engineering innovation—as the first major suspension bridge in the U.S. to use wire cables—made it an architectural marvel of its time while helping solidify Covington's identity by connecting it to the economic and cultural heart of Cincinnati.

* It was the first bridge to connect Covington to the rest of the United States, fostering a boom in agricultural exports.

* The mural known as Resident Artists, features Frank Duveneck and John Farney. Which of the following is true of these artists? Choose wisely.

* The inclusion of John Farney and Frank Duveneck suggests that Covington’s cultural history was primarily shaped by international art movements rather than local artists.

* The inclusion of Frank Duveneck and John Farney highlights Covington’s strong cultural and artistic legacy, which extended beyond its industrial growth in the late 19th century.

* A mural depicting the Latonia Race Track shows a lively day at what was once one of the most prestigious Thoroughbred tracks in the country. Which of the following is true about the mural and what it represents, historically? Choose one.

* In the mural, the jockey in red silks wears a badge with the initials “A.J.” This is widely understood to be a tribute to Alonzo “Lonnie” Clayton, one of the most successful Black jockeys in American horse racing history.

* The mural shows the grand reopening of the racetrack in the 1950s, after World War II prompted a decades-long closure.

* The jockeys in the mural are all modeled after famous Triple Crown winners, despite none ever racing at Latonia.

* The mural known as Covington Churches features several of Covington’s historically and architecturally significant churches, depicting the city’s religious diversity. True or false: One of the houses of worship in that mural is a Jewish temple.

* Also depicted in that mural is the Western Baptist Theological Institute, founded in Covington in the 1840s. The seminary owned a large amount of land in the region. What happened to this land after the seminary dissolved over disagreements about whether ministers could enslave people?

a) The land was sold to local businesses for commercial development.b) It was repurposed as a public park and remains a popular site for community events.c) The land became part of Northern Kentucky University's original campus and other civic developments.d) The land was used to create a historic landmark to honor the seminary’s contributions to education.

* The mural known as 1913: Federal Ball Park captures the energy of a baseball game in the early 20th-century with players, fans, and the iconic stadium in the background. True or false: Federal Ball Park was the home of the Cincinnati Reds before they moved to Crosley Field in 1912.

* Which of the following best describes the challenges and benefits of integrating more murals into Covington’s urban landscape, considering recent initiatives the development of immersive public art?

* Mural expansion would likely face little resistance, with most community members favoring its aesthetic value and historical preservation benefits.

* Integrating more murals would enhance Covington’s cultural identity, but it could be challenged by concerns over historical accuracy, economic costs, and the preservation of existing architecture.

* Covington is committed to expanding its mural project as part of an effort to revitalize the city and attract tourists.

* The city of Covington is focused on creating new murals specifically to erase older, controversial historical representations.

INTERMISSION

Mark your calendars if you live between Portsmouth, Ohio and Louisville, Kentucky. For the fifth year, paddlers will complete the Ohio River Way Challenge, an extraordinary expedition in 30-foot voyager canoes from May 5-15. Details here!

I can’t make it this year, but it’s on my calendar for 2026!

ANSWERS

In 2023, I wrote about the flood wall murals in Covington, Kentucky, and the stories they tell have stayed with me. Robert Dafford, a historical muralist, led the team that painted scenes capturing the city’s development along the Ohio River as well as similar projects in Paducah, and in Portsmouth, Ohio. From the first Americans to call the region home and the colonists who displaced them, to the influence of German immigrants and religious communities, Dafford’s artistry can turn even the most disinterested onlooker into a history lover.

Dafford’s murals are more than decorative—they’re acts of historical recovery. The Meeting at the Point initially seems like a typical scene of early American exploration, but a closer look reveals a Native American figure in the background—a silent witness to the coming displacement. Kennedy's Ferry and Landing celebrates economic prosperity, but if you zoom in, Dafford quietly acknowledges the labor of African-Americans powering the region’s boom. These subtle inclusions tell a fuller story—exactly the kinds now being scrubbed from classrooms, parks, and other public spaces.

This trend is not abstract. For example, in Florida and Texas, new curriculum laws restrict how teachers can address slavery, systemic racism, and the civil rights movement. Florida even blocked an Advanced Placement African American Studies course, declaring it “lacking in educational value.”

At the federal level, the National Park Service recently stripped Harriet Tubman and slavery from its Underground Railroad webpage, reframing the Underground Railroad not as a network for escape from slavery, but as “one of the most significant expressions of the American civil rights movement” that “bridged the divides of race.” This effort to obscure the harsh realities of slavery and downplay the profound struggle for freedom reflects a broader trend: sanitizing painful aspects of history.

This erasure of difficult truths is even taking place in The U.S. Naval Academy, whose library removed hundreds of books on civil rights and the Holocaust under new guidelines targeting so-called “divisive” materials.

In Washington, D.C., the words “Black Lives Matter” have been scrubbed from the street outside the White House—wiped out not by the hands of vandals, but by city officials, likely in response to shifting political winds. What began as a powerful public statement now serves as a reminder of how quickly symbols of justice and accountability can be erased.

In today’s partisan political climate, with interest groups trying to reshape what version of history we pass down and how we understand our cultural roots, I sometimes wonder if these murals would even get the civic green light today. Would Dafford’s quiet insistence on including inconvenient truths survive a public meeting?

As a travel writer, my work often takes me on a journey through history, inspired by the places I visit and the people I encounter. A small historical marker can spark deep research as I unravel stories of where people lived, fought, or died. History feels more real to me when it’s tied to specific places and personalities, and the murals invite us to engage with history in the very places where it unfolded, offering a powerful, accessible form of education. They serve as a reminder that history is not just something to learn from books, but something we can experience firsthand—woven into the fabric of the spaces we inhabit. No admission fee. No curated exhibit. Just layers of story, waiting for someone to pause and take it in.

These murals stand in sharp contrast to the ongoing debate over Confederate monuments. I’ve had many conversations with people who argue that these statues should remain—not as celebrations of the Confederacy, but as tools for teaching history. They view them as reminders of a painful past, something we shouldn’t forget or remove from public gaze. On the surface, that sounds reasonable. How can we learn from history if we don’t confront it?

But here’s the problem: Confederate monuments don’t just teach history—they glorify a past rooted in white supremacy and the brutal exploitation of human beings. These statues were often erected not in the immediate aftermath of the Civil War, but decades later, during the height of Jim Crow and the Civil Rights Movement, as assertions of white dominance. They are not neutral. They were designed to send a message—and they still do.

Removing Confederate monuments has nothing to do with erasing history—and everything to do with refusing to honor a legacy of inhumanity.

If our goal is education, there are better ways. Germany offers a powerful example. The country teaches the history of the Holocaust in depth and with gravity, but you won’t find statues of Hitler or Goebbels in public squares. Instead, you’ll find memorials to the victims—stumbling stones set into sidewalks, museums, and plaques that acknowledge the horror without glorifying its architects. The Germans chose to remember without revering.

That distinction matters. We can and must preserve history, even the darkest parts. But we don’t need to place the dark stories on pedestals—literally or figuratively. That’s why I find Dafford’s murals so powerful. They don’t scold or preach. They don’t demand a single takeaway. Instead, they offer layered stories—some easy to spot, others tucked into the background—waiting for a curious eye to catch the Native figure or the Black laborers on Kennedy’s dock.

One mural in particular, The Flight of the Garner Family depicts a quiet moment: Margaret Garner, an enslaved woman, crossing the frozen Ohio River with her family in 1856, fleeing toward freedom. It’s a tense and quiet scene: bundled figures on the ice, with Covington in the distance. Dafford doesn’t portray the tragic aftermath—Garner’s desperate act to prevent her daughter from being returned to slavery by taking the girl’s life. By illustrating the moment of flight, he invites viewers into a fuller, more complicated narrative.

As we grapple with what should be preserved in our public spaces, the murals in Covington remind us that history is more complex than we often admit. It’s not always about celebrating heroes; it’s about giving voice to the forgotten, the marginalized, and those whose stories have been silenced. By doing so, we learn not just about the past, but about who we are and who we want to be.

Stories of real people make abstract lessons tangible and relatable. They allow us to emotionally connect with history, see ourselves in the past, and better understand the world we live in today.

Here’s a video explaining the history and nuances of all the murals by author and historian Karl Lietzenmayer. Enjoy!

Hello, friends.

For my personal update, I’ve been working with Joan Lunden on her legacy memoir, which will be published in March of 2026. Joan was the longest-running female host ever on early morning television, and her post-Good Morning America career has been equally fascinating and full. I’ll let you know when she settles on a title and cover design.

Next week, I’m headed out on my motorcycle to visit family in Arizona. I'm thinking of stopping in Roswell, New Mexico, because I am a connoisseur of roadside kitsch and conspiracy theories. The weather should be splendid. I’ll post the occasional picture on Instagram if you’re interested.

I’ll be back on the Ohio River in late August/early September for a BMW motorcycle rally in Athens, Ohio. If you’d like to get together, please reach out. I’d love to meet you in person.

Alright, on to the quiz. If you’ve read The Ghosts of Eden Park, you’re familiar with the role of the Ohio River in bootlegging, but it’s been used for lots of other illicit businesses over the years. Let’s see how you do with these ten questions.

Note to my fantastic new subscribers:

Monthly trivia is for sport. It’s not a test of intelligence or character. I couldn’t answer these questions without a significant amount of research, either! Do your best and enjoy learning something new.

Would you share this quiz with someone else? Please?

QUESTIONS

Answers in the footnotes. Have fun!

* Going back to the 18th and early 19th centuries, Ohio River criminal syndicates capitalized on the river's ever-growing traffic to evade taxes or to smuggle contraband humans and goods. We’ll come back to the trafficking of humans in a later question. What goods were the basis for most of the criminal activity along the river? More than one may apply.

* Tobacco and alcohol

* Counterfeit currency

* Everyday goods like textiles and grains

* Newport, Kentucky, became a major hub for organized crime in the 1940s and 1950s while neighboring Covington, Kentucky, and Cincinnati, Ohio, did not. Which of the following reasons best explains Newport’s “success” as a crime town? More than one applies.

* It was small enough that local law enforcement could be easily influenced, but close enough to a major city (Cincinnati) to draw in big-money gambling customers.

* Figures like Newport Police Chief Frank "Screw" Andrews openly worked with crime bosses rather than against them.

* Unlike Ohio, Kentucky had looser gambling laws, creating a gray area where illegal casinos could flourish with little state interference.

* Newport had a history of vice industries dating back to the 1800s, including brothels and saloons that made illegal activity feel like "business as usual."

* Las Vegas-style casino operators, like Moe Dalitz (who later helped develop the Vegas Strip), used Newport as a testing ground before heading west.

* Newport, Kentucky, was known as a mini Las Vegas due to its numerous illegal casinos. Which famous mob family was heavily involved in running these operations? Hint: It’s the oldest of the “Five Families” that dominate the New York and New Jersey region.a) The Genovese Familyb) The Gambino Familyc) The Dalitz Family

* Which Ohio River city was used as a stand-in for New York City to film the recent gangster movie, The Alto Knights, starring Robert De Niro?

* Pittsburgh

* Cincinnati

* Louisville

* The Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 effectively criminalized freedom for escaped enslaved people, which was a major force in Ohio River border states. While it didn’t classify freedom seekers as criminals by legal definition, it subjected them to punishment, forced capture, and denial of rights in ways that mirrored criminal prosecution—without any of the legal protections given to actual criminals. Which of the following is true of this Act? More than one applies.

* Unlike other legal systems where crimes have statutes of limitations, a fugitive slave could be hunted for life—even if they had lived freely for decades.

* Anyone who helped a fugitive slave—whether by providing shelter, food, or transportation—could face fines of up to $1,000 (roughly $35,000 today) and six months in prison.

* Slavery was legal under U.S. law at the time, so escaping from bondage was considered a violation of property law, similar to stealing a horse—except the “stolen property” was the person’s own body.

* Freedom seekers were subject to hot metal branding, known as the “scar-based identification system.” This was believed to deter repeat escape attempts.

* Blackbirding is the nickname for kidnapping free Black people and illegally selling them into slavery. If you watched the movie or read the book, Ten Years a Slave you will know about this history. Which of the following statements best describes how blackbirding networks operated north of the Ohio River before the Civil War? Choose one.

* They were loosely organized groups of bounty hunters who only targeted escaped enslaved people.

* They were well-organized operations involving kidnappers, corrupt officials, and Southern enslavers who conspired to abduct free Black people.

* They were illegal and faced harsh prosecution in free states like Indiana and Ohio.

* They were primarily based in the Deep South and had no real influence in the Midwest.

* A final question on human trafficking. What’s the difference between trafficking and smuggling human beings? Yes, this is an essay question.

* The 1962 film, How the West Was Won, featured Jimmy Stewart as a mountain man floating down the Ohio River with a group. Along the way, they stop at Cave-In-Rock, Illinois, where they meet a group of pirates led by Walter Brennan's character, Alabama Colonel Hawkins. Hawkins’ character was based on a real pirate who led a gang of outlaws there after the Revolutionary War. What was the name of the notorious gang at Cave-In-Rock?

a) The James-Younger Gang (as in Jesse James)b) The Harpe Brothersc) The Exterminatorsd) The Mason Gang

* Which Ohio River city’s police chief was a Prohibition-Era bootlegger?a) Newport, Kentuckyb) Madison, Indianac) Evansville, Indianad) Paducah, Kentucky

* How did Kentucky, the heart of American bourbon production, handle Prohibition? Yes, this is an essay question, but I have faith in you.

INTERMISSION

Did you watch the Ken Burns documentary Prohibition? Here’s the trailer.

ANSWERS

Hello friends!

I don’t often share personal news here, but exceptional times call for exceptional correspondence. As I mentioned in my other newsletter, I’m taking comfort in simple pleasures these days, including knitting and crocheting while binge listening to the Thursday Murder Club series. The movie adaptation is coming out on Netflix this year.

Here’s an afghan I finished (left) and another that I’m making for my son’s birthday in March (right). I’m sprinting to the finish with that one!

I hope you are able to find something to do with your hands or body to balance some of the negativity that’s relentlessly assaulting our heads and hearts.

Now, on to the quiz! This (loosely) ties Ohio River towns and culture with that of the ancient Greeks and Romans. I’m told Gladiator II was a stinker, and if you skipped it, I don’t think your quiz score will suffer. Good luck!

Note to my fantastic new subscribers:

Monthly trivia is for sport. It’s not a test of intelligence or character. I couldn’t answer these questions without a significant amount of research, either! Do your best and enjoy learning something new. Oh, and would you share it with someone else?

QUESTIONS

Answers in the footnotes.

* Which Kentucky city along the Ohio River is named after the first emperor of Rome?

* Nero

* Augusta

* Julius

* Hadrian

* What Indiana town takes its name from the famous site that marked the end of Sparta’s dominance in the Greek world?

* Marathon

* Troy

* Thermopylae

* Delphi

* The word “Sparta” reminds me of the 1960 movie Spartacus starring Kirk Douglas. Stay with me as I get you to an Ohio River connection. Spartacus (the book and movie) is about the historic slave revolt of 73 BCE. Spartacus's rebellion was the largest slave revolt in Roman history. The screenplay was written by the blacklisted Dalton Trumbo, who served time in a federal prison after being found in contempt of Congress in 1950. In which Ohio River city did Trumbo serve his federal sentence?

* Ashland, Kentucky

* Cincinnati, Ohio

* Marion, Illinois

* Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

* I’m not going to give you the obvious question about Cincinnatus being the namesake of Cincinnati. Instead, I’ll tell you that the city was was originally named "Losantiville." Now, can you tell me why?

* The Losant family was first to settle the area. Their land lies across from the Licking River where it empties into the Ohio.

* It was supposed to be named Loganville, but the signmaker’s apprentice screwed up the letter “g” and it looked like an “s.” The town’s fathers let it slide after the signmaker said he would donate the sign.

* It’s a portmanteau combining

* L, for Licking River

* os, Greek for mouth

* anti, Latin for opposite

* ville, French for town

* In which state would you find the Ohio River town of Rome? More than one may apply.

* Ohio

* Kentucky

* Indiana

* Illinois

* What famous Roman phrase associated with Julius Caesar means "I came, I saw, I conquered," and could describe early settlers’ ambitions along the Ohio River?

* Alea Iacta Est

* Carpe Diem

* Sic Semper Tyrannis

* Veni, Vidi, Vici

* The term "Athenaeum" derives its name from Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom and refers to institutions dedicated to education, arts, or culture. What states have Athenaeums located near the Ohio River? More than one may apply

* Illinois

* Indiana

* Kentucky

* Ohio

* Pennsylvania

* West Virginia

* How many American states have cities, towns, counties, villages, townships and boroughs named “Athens?”

* Surprisingly, only 8

* At least 13 (a baker’s dozen)

* 27, which is more than half

* Are any Ohio River cities named for Roman deities? C’mon, this is a 50/50 opportunity to gain a point.

* Several schools and universities in the river area have mascots inspired by Greek and Roman figures. Which of the following mascots is NEITHER Greek nor Roman?

* Argonaut

* Gorlock

* Hoplite

* Minotaur

INTERMISSION

Pittsburgh in 50 Maps, is a book right up the 981 Project’s alley.

Whether you call it the Steel City, the City of Bridges, City of Champions, Hell with the Lid Off, or even the Paris of Appalachia, Pittsburgh’s distinctive character is undeniable. Pittsburgh in 50 Maps considers the boundaries of the city’s 90 distinct neighborhoods (plus Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood), the legacy of the steel industry, and how immigration continues to shape the city. You’ll also find the areas with the highest concentrations of bike lanes, supermarkets, tree cover, and fiberglass dinosaurs. Each colorful map offers a new perspective on one of America’s most consistently surprising cities and the people who live here.

ANSWERS

I’m officially an old timer, since I can give you a first-hand account of the 1977 & ‘78 blizzards. Technically, the ‘78 blizzard was more intense because of the record-breaking snowfall and extreme winds. I grew up in Central Ohio, about 30 miles east of Columbus. After a good week or so at home, we ventured out to the grocery store and were shocked that the snow reached power/phone lines.

The weather forecast called for frigid conditions and heavy snowfall, but I tell you, when I saw LIGHTNING and heard THUNDER in the middle of that storm, I thought doomsday had arrived.

Before you dismiss my observation as fanciful, this phenomenon is known as thundersnow. Watch Jim Cantore do the thundersnow dance here!

Okay, if you want to call it a “winter thunderstorm,” that’s an acceptable answer for TV Jeopardy contestants, but you’re gonna hafta accept being called a spoil sport or a kill joy by the rest of us. Your choice.

Another thing I recall is that Mom’s tropical fish aquarium froze. No, not like a block of ice, more like a slurry of the consistency we got from the old Icee Drink machines at Sears stores. I was pretty sad about the little angelfish and tetras suspended there as if Samantha on Bewitched had put a spell on them, but here’s the real miracle: those fish survived! No kidding. I think we were out of power for a good week, but once we got it back, the slurry melted and the fish swam around like nothing had happened.

With that, it’s time for January Trivia, focused on the history, pop culture, and earth science behind winter weather in the region. This should be fun!

Note to my fantastic new subscribers:

Monthly trivia is for sport. It’s not a test of intelligence or character. I couldn’t answer these questions without a significant amount of research, either! Do your best and enjoy learning something new. Oh, and would you share it with someone else?

QUESTIONS

I’m going for quality over quantity this month using these nine questions. Answers in the footnotes.

* What conditions produce thundersnow? Choose one.

* Exactly the same conditions that produce thunderstorms. Duh! That’s to say, when there is moisture, static electricity/instability, and a lifting mechanism in the atmosphere (known as convection).

* Basically the same conditions that produce thunderstorms, with the addition of snowflakes and sleet pellets that collide in the clouds, creating static charges. The static builds up until it's discharged as lightning. The lightning generates intense heat, which causes the air to rapidly expand and produce thunder.

* Where is thundersnow most common in the United States? More than one may apply.

* The Great Lakes region

* Around the Great Salt Lake

* The Northeast during nor'easters

* The entire length of the Ohio River froze during the winter of 1917-1918. What happened as a result? More than one may apply.

* As temperatures dropped, ice flows formed and sharp ice pierced ship hulls or piled on decks, weighing down and sinking 36 boats.

* The Great Ice Gorge of the Ohio River formed and finally broke on February 12, after holding firm for 58 days.

* More than 100 coal barges were lost and coal yards along the river were flooded. The shortage of coal almost shut down the power plant that supplied heat and light to Cincinnati.

* The harbor and the canal at Louisville were kept open by breaking the ice with dynamite because the ice boats weren’t up to the task.

* Now it’s time to talk about the blizzard of 1977, which was caused by a strong blocking high over the Arctic Ocean that brought Arctic air into the central and eastern United States. The cold air combined with a build-up of precipitation and wind to create a severe blizzard. Which of the following is true? More than one applies.

* January 18, 1977 the temperature in the Cincinnati area was -25°F, the coldest day in that city’s history since the National Weather Service began keeping official records in the nineteenth century.

* Louisville saw significant snowfall, compounded by high winds that created drifts several feet deep. Some rural areas nearby were completely cut off. The city opened emergency shelters in schools and other public buildings.

* Indiana farmers lost livestock due to the extreme cold and inability to transport feed.

* Huntington, West Virginia, experienced issues with frozen water mains, leading to water shortages.

* True or false: The Ohio River became a “frozen highway” in 1977 from Huntington, West Virginia, to Evansville, Indiana, because the ice could support the weight of a person and in limited areas, even motor vehicles.

* Let’s compare the ‘77 and ‘78 storms. The Blizzard of 1977 was caused by a combination of extreme cold (from Arctic air) and high winds, with snow already on the ground due to prolonged cold weather prior to the storm. The Great Blizzard of 1978 was different in which key ways? More than one is correct.

* The storm was caused by an explosive low-pressure system comparable to a Category 3 hurricane.

* Wind gusts reached up to 70 mph, causing severe drifting and whiteouts.

* Wind chills of -40°F (compared to -60°F in 1977).

* Which of the following were “breakthroughs” after these two storms? Choose as many as apply.

* The National Weather Service (NWS) recognized the need for more accurate weather prediction models, including increased reliance on satellite imagery.

* Automobile manufacturers began incorporating features such as heated seats and rear defrosters.

* Cities developed and implemented snow emergency routes and plans to ensure more efficient snow removal and emergency response in future storms.

* The North Face, Columbia Sportswear, and Patagonia intensified their focus on developing high-performance outerwear, incorporating advanced insulation materials to provide better protection against extreme cold.

* Okay, sports fans. Did either blizzard affect the Cincinnati Bengals football schedules?

* In the 1970s, the freezing of the Ohio River was a rare event, but it was not uncommon in the mid-19th century. There are several accounts of enslaved people crossing “ice bridges” over the river from Kentucky in search of freedom. Their stories, reported in newspapers and fictionalized, made up an important component of the public discourse in advance of the US Civil War. Which of the stories below is based in fact?

* Uncle Tom’s Cabin tells the story of Eliza Harris, who crossed the partially frozen Ohio River with her child to reach freedom in Ohio.

* Beloved embellishes the story of Margaret Garner, who crossed the icy river with her family into Cincinnati, where she killed her daughter, claiming it was better for her go home to God than back to slavery.

* The Price of Freedom tells the story of the Oberlin-Wellington Rescue and centers the people of Oberlin, Ohio, who sheltered Kentuckians John and Frank after they rode stolen horses across the frozen river. Found guilty of violating the Fugitive Slave Act, 37 townsmen were sentenced to three months in prison.

ANSWERS