Jeanne Meeks's Blog

We can’t live without our phones, email, TV, and podcasts. How did the people of yore manage? In a 17th-century French village, news traveled at the pace of footsteps and farm carts, stitched together by habit, ritual, and the human love of a good story. Most peasants lived within a few kilometers of one another … Continue reading Gossip and News: How 17th Century French Peasants Shared Information

Some would say my time is better spent writing, but I’ve had a heck of a good time designing my book covers,  business cards, posters for book fairs, book signings, art shows, and other book selling opportunities. That’s creative, too, right? I’ve used  PicMonkey.com, for years to edit my digital photographs or use their stock photos … Continue reading Creative DIY Marketing: Design Your Own Bookmarks

Historical articles always catch my eye, but it irks me when they use false information. I’m getting better at sensing the fakes. The canoe on the left looks fabulous and too good to be true, so I dug into it. The canoe (just the bottom of it) on the right is the actual find. That’s … Continue reading Why do they lie?

cyndi Lauper and peasant girl could never exchange names.

funeral then and now, casket, flowers, candles. French peasants at wake, modern funeral

Lizzie Borden took and axe and gave her mother 40 whacks.

In 1650 rural France, justice was swift and visible, especially for the poor. Most rural areas fell under the jurisdiction of the local seigneur (lord) who meted out justice. A peasant unable to pay his debts or found guilty of minor offenses, such as petty theft, insults, drunkenness, or selling goods without license, rarely faced … Continue reading Prisons – Then & Now

Built in 1858, the Old Joliet Prison stands as one of Illinois’ most enduring—and chilling—historical landmarks. Constructed with local limestone, its Gothic architecture and imposing walls once symbolized the harsh justice of the 19th century. Over its 150 years of operation, the prison housed thousands of inmates, including infamous criminals like John Wayne Gacy (for … Continue reading The Old Joliet Prison: From Fortress of Stone to Haunted Landmark

A “Main Street” for America was the idea behind the promotion of Route 66 as a link between Chicago and Los Angeles in 1926. During the 1938 Depression, it became the path for many thousands of hopeful migrants fleeing the dust bowl and headed for California. Paving of the entire highway was a New Deal … Continue reading Rocket Man

ghostly woman in white in cemetery