History as Prologue

Year: 2013

  • Griffin tornado

    Griffin tornado

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    by

    Mark Thomas
    in

    Here, we call it the Griffin Tornado The history books refer to it as the Tri-State Tornado of 1925. Meteorologists have named it the Murphysboro (Mo.) Tornado, after it’s general point of origin. However, in Posey County, Indiana, the devastation wrought on March 18, 1925 defies the distanced terms of scientists and newspaper writers. In…

  • Social studies, civil rights and the bigger picture

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    by

    Mark Thomas
    in ,

    Social studies, civil rights and the bigger picture There have been three presidential administrations, including the Obama Administration, since I last participated in a social studies methods class. Over the years, I’ve focused on units and lessons that support those broad themes of social studies without much deliberate thought given to those stemming concepts. Like all fundamentals…

  • Downtown Richmond Explosion – April 6, 1968

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    by

    Mark Thomas
    in

    I was nearly seven when I noticed the agitation in my parent’s voices and motions. It’s how youngsters interpret events beyond their limited world. The date was April 6, 1968 and the downtown area of our county seat, Richmond, Indiana, was devastated by a powerful explosion. I also recall seeing from 8 to 9 miles…

  • The Sparks of the Triangle Fire – Before and After

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    by

    Mark Thomas
    in

    Sparks of the Triangle Fire   On April 5, 1911, nearly a half-million people witnessed or marched in a symbolic funeral procession commemorating the victims of the Triangle Waist Company Fire. Organized by the International Ladies Garment Worker Union, (ILGWU), the cortege included a horse-drawn, empty hearse and an estimated 120 thousand protesters demanding improvements for…