Suzy's Doozies and Suzy's Musings

 

 

My column of fun historical tidbits, "Suzy's Doozies," was published in the weekly Freeport Focus in Freeport, Illinois from April of 2005 through December of 2007.  Before that I had a similar column, "Suzy's Musings," published in the Freeport iNK from 2001 to 2005.  

 

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My columns are 200-word articles on a short, historical tidbit - perfect bathroom-size reading!  This one appeared in the Freeport iNK on December 12, 2002.

      The first pens used in America were quill pens. 

      Quills are the large, stiff feathers from the tail of a goose or swan.  Soft when plucked from the bird, the quills were cured by burying them in hot sand until they dried.  Because the sharpened tips are fragile, they were sold unsharpened.  The new owner prepared his quill by cutting the end to form the nib.

      The first steel pen was developed in England in 1803.  In 1825 easier methods of fashioning the steel nibs were invented, and the steel pens started to replace quills. 

      Neither quills nor steel pens actually held ink.  The writer sat with an open jar of ink, dipping his pen after every ten words or so.  Practice was required to prevent spilling the inkwell or dribbling the ink, and students spent many hours practicing penmanship (“manning” their pens).

      In 1884 the fountain pen was invented, containing a reservoir of ink.  Fountain pens still took practice, as pressing too hard created an ink blot or could break the nib.  They were also very expensive, and children continued to use quills or steel nib pens.  Fountain pens became a popular graduation gift, signifying the writer’s entrance into the adult world and adult responsibilities. 

Suzy's Musings & More is a soft-covered book with over 160 pages of short historical tidbits and longer historical articles.  The book contains 130 of my "Musings," plus 23 longer articles on national and Stephenson County history that appeared in the iNK between May 2001and July 2003.

 

The longer Historical articles include:

 

  • How the Freeport Park District was formed due to an untimely death, gambling - and free beer!

  • A primer on the Lincoln-Douglas Debate - just what were those guys talking about, anyway?

  • The Pledge of Allegiance and how it changed.  And changed.  And changed.

  • Moving the Debate Boulder.  Yep, it was moved - and more than once! 

  • A very short history of the very short history of the Stephens Car in Freeport.

 

 

 

Books are just $15 each.  There are four ways to purchase your copy. 

 

1.  Books can be purchased through this website . . .

 

 

    Click to use PayPal's secure system to charge the book to your credit card or your PayPal account.  Your PayPal account or credit card statement will show "Suzy Beggin, Shepherdess" as the business paid.

     

    Books can be shipped anywhere in the U.S.  A shipping charge will automatically be added at: $4 for one book, $6 for two or  $9 for three to six books.

    Suzy's Musings & More

    by Suzy Beggin

    $15.00

 

 

2.  Books can be purchased at the locations listed below . . .

 

  • Book World, 1834 S. West Avenue, Freeport (In the Meadows Mall, near Quiznos).  Open every day! 

 

  • Freeport / Stephenson County Convention & Visitors Bureau, 4596 US Route 20 East, Freeport, IL.  Heading west, you'll hit the new Visitors Center building just before you hit Freeport.  Check out the cool new building, the always-changing tourism exhibits, and buy my book.  A portion of the sales of my book purchased at the Visitors Center goes to the Center to promote the Freeport and Stephenson County area.

 

  • Freeport Arts Center Gift Shop, 121 N. Harlem Avenue, Freeport.  Open Tuesdays 10 am to 6 pm, Wednesdays thru Friday 10 am to 5 pm and Saturday and Sunday from Noon to 5 pm.  A portion of the sales of my book purchased at the Freeport Arts Center goes to the Freeport Arts Center.

 

  • Stephenson County Historical Society Gift Shop, 1440 S. Carroll Avenue, Freeport.  Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from Noon to 4 pm.  A portion of the sales of my book purchased at the Stephenson County Historical Society goes to the Historical Society. 

 

  • Freeport Press, 1031 W. Empire Street (across from Cannova's), Freeport.  Weekdays, 9 to 5.  Freeport Press printed Suzy's Musings & More and has graciously offered to sell the books at their location too. 

 

 

3.  Books can be ordered by regular mail . . .  

 

To order by regular mail send a check or money order made out to Suzy Beggin at P.O. Box 54, Stockton, IL  61085.  Include $15 per book plus $4 shipping for one book, $6 for two, $9 for three to six books, $12 for seven to thirteen books and $15 for fourteen or more books.

 

 

 

4.  Or books can be purchased at one of my local events.  

 

Plus then you get the thrill of meeting me!  Visit my events page to see where I'll be.  Please note that some events require an admission charge, and if I am aware of an admission charge then I have it stated in my event listing. 

 

 

Thank you for your interest!

 

Suzy Beggin

Suzy@SuzyBeggin.com 

P.O. Box 54

Stockton, IL  61085

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This webpage is hosted by Suzy Beggin, Shepherdess.  Learn more about me and my sheep at www.SuzyBeggin.com.