Presidential Odds N Ends

Do you recognize this man? Probably not (and if you do, you are probably one of the few). That is the eleventh President of the United States, James K. Polk. He served 1845-1849. And while he actually had several major accomplishments while in office, he is one of those Presidents from the 19th century that, I think, most of don't know much about.

So in honor of the recent Presidential election, I decided to look at four 19th-century Presidents (all born in November, by the way) and give some bits of information and odd facts.


James K. Polk (1845-1849)

Polk was a Democrat from Tennessee who only served one term because he chose not to seek re-election. He died within a few months after leaving office. He was President during the Mexican War, which added a half-million square miles of new territory to the country.

• The first use of the telegraph for political news occurred with the announcement of Polk's nomination by the Democratic Party on May 29, 1844.
• At the age of 17, Polk became an early survivor of surgery. The year was 1812 and there was no anesthesia, so the doctor gave him some brandy, strapped him to a table, and removed gallstones that had been troubling him for most of his young life. 

Zachary Taylor (1849-1850)

Taylor succeeded Polk as the twelfth President. He served during the time leading up to the Civil War, with the dispute over the expansion of slavery into the new territories. 

• Was a member of the Whig party.
• Had been a professional soldier, and voted for the first time in 1848 when he ran for President.
• Despite being a slave holder himself, he was a firm nationalist and did not believe in sectionalism.
• Despite his opposition, Taylor's daughter Sarah eloped with Jefferson Davis, the future president of the Confederacy, in 1835. She died three months later of malaria.
• He died in office after serving one year, 127 days.

Franklin Pierce (1853-1857)

Pierce was the 14th President and served during the same turbulent period as Taylor leading up to the Civil War.

• Two months before he took office, his eleven year old son died, leaving both Pierce and his wife Jane grief-stricken and emotionally exhausted.
• Was a "dark horse" candidate for the Democratic party. He had served in both house of Congress by the time he was nominated, but he had been out of politics for about 10 years by the time of the convention.
• Pierce is the only elected President to not be renominated by his party.

James A. Garfield (1881)

Garfield was the 20th President of the United States. He is probably a bit more well-known than the other men profiled here, since he was the second president to be assassinated.

• Served as a brigadier general during the Civil War.
• Defeated General Winfield Hancock by only 10,000 popular votes in 1880.
• Was the last president to have been born in a log cabin.
• Term served was only 199 days.
• Garfield survived another 80 days after being shot by Charles Julius Guiteau. 

Books about James K. Polk

Books about Zachary Taylor

Books about Franklin Pierce

Books about James A. Garfield

-- Post by Tracy

Who We Are and What We Write

"It's a great day for geeks!"

I was standing in line, waiting to buy one of the pre-autographed books being offered, when I heard this come from the group of college students behind me. I didn't turn around to look at the speaker, but I could hear the excited smile in his voice all the same.

Besides, I really didn't need to see who was talking. You could tell, just by looking at the faces in the long book line, or standing in clusters throughout the room, or thronging ahead into the theater, that the sentiment was reflected by everybody present. Because if you were here tonight, then you had come to see Neil Gaiman -- an author of novels, short stories, and comic, who I've described to people as "sort of the rock star of sci-fi/fantasy writers."

Author Neil Gaiman

The author behind such books as American Gods, Anansi Boys, Coraline, and the graphic novel series Sandman, Gaiman had come to the Carnegie Music Hall in Oakland in honor of the fifteenth anniversary of his novel Stardust. Fans came out in throngs to the Wednesday event, which featured Gaiman talking about the writing process of Stardust (among other things) before doing some readings of his work and answering audience questions. The theater was packed, with fans wildly cheering and applauding when Gaiman arrived onstage.

Why such devotion?  For starter's, there's no denying Gaiman's appeal as a storyteller. It's not just that his written worlds are so unique and wildly weird (though they are), or that he weaves his plots so neatly and tightly (though he does). The style of the writing itself is pleasant to read, simple and poetic at the same time. His words first draw you in; you stay for the fantastical creations he comes up with. A fallen star revealed to be a woman with a broken leg, an infant rescued and brought up by ghosts, an "Other Mother" with buttons in the place of eyes -- no one writes books quite like Neil Gaiman.

But I think another part of Neil Gaiman's appeal to his fans is the overwhelming feeling that he's one of them. Gaiman doesn't just write stories; he loves them, too, and is a fan of many of the same things his fans are. Before publishing two Sherlock Holmes stories and being inducted as a member of the Baker Street Irregulars, Gaiman had already been a lifelong fan of the Conan Doyle stories. He's penned an episode of the long-running British sci-fi series Doctor Who (with a second script currently in production) -- and had been watching the show since his childhood. He read Batman comics as a kid long before he wrote a graphic novel about the character. He understands his sci-fi/fantasy fans because he's one of them.

Gaiman and Cabal

What makes his geek-endearing "rock star" status all the more impressive is the fact that he so obviously doesn't see himself as a star. After gesturing firmly for the wild applause to stop after his entrance onstage, Gaiman proceeded to speak for an hour about the sparks of inspiration that had led him to write Stardust, as well as stories behind some of his other works (including his upcoming novel Ocean at the End of the Lane, due out next year). His speech was given in a warm, polite, very funny, and often deprecating fashion (of his World Fantasy Award for his comic A Midsummer's Night Dream, he remarked that the award is the "silver head of H.P. Lovecraft, looking like Easter Island. Years later, my friend made these little bowler hats and made it infinitely better.").

I see his point.

Later, Gaiman read a selection from Stardust, following later with a preview portion of his upcoming book Ocean at the End of the Lane. Before closing the evening with a poem ("The Day the Saucers Came"), Gaiman took some questions from the audience. Most were simple but interesting: his thoughts on the role of women in the fantasy genre, any tidbits about his upcoming episode of Doctor Who, how he approaches writing novels versus short stories versus comics.

But the best question came from a college student who wanted to know, essentially, what lovers of sci-fi and fantasy could do to find adventure in the mundane on-goings of the real world. How does anybody find adventure?

"I don't think you find adventures, I think you go out and have them," Gaiman said, before going on to tell a story about his recent experiences with Les Machines de l’île in Nantes, France. Inspired by Jules Vernes, Leonardo da Vinci, and the history of the city, the "Machines of the Isle of Nantes" feature such attractions as a giant, three-level carousal, and a forty-foot high mechanical elephant which groups of people can ride.

"This is something people wanted to see in the world," Gaiman said, of the team of artists and mechanics who had built Les Machines. "And so they went out and decided to make it. And they made it for other people to share. So, having an adventure ... I think you go out, and you make it."

Whether you're a geek or not -- that's pretty great advice.

"If you put me and John Grisham and Stephen King in front of a deserted boathouse by a lake, Grisham would write about a brave young lawyer who was fleeing the mob and who would hide in that boathouse, and Stephen King would write about the thing in the lake that came out of the lake and ate the people in the boathouse, and I would write about how the boathouse got up on chicken legs and walked away into the woods.

"That's just who we are and that's what we write."

Neil Gaiman in Pittsburgh - The Post Gazette blogs about the night's events.

Author Neil Gaiman Guest DJs at WYEP - The title says it all. Stop by 91.3 FM's website to hear the show!

"Neil Gaiman Writes a Final 'Love Letter to Batman'" - An interview with Wired about Gaiman's thoughts on the Caped Crusader.

Neil Gaiman's Blog - Full of personal anecdotes, news and updates about his writing and appearances, and the occasional Doctor Who reference.

Neil Gaiman's Pep Talk - In honor of National Novel Writing Month, Gaiman was asked to write a "pep talk" to writers struggling to finish their projects. Here's what he had to say about the creative process. (Recommended for all artists.)

- Books by Neil Gaiman

- Audiobooks by Neil Gaiman

- Graphic Novels by Neil Gaiman

- Films written by Neil Gaiman





-- Post by Ms. B

Elementary Reinvention

"When you reread a classic you do not see more in the book than you did before; you see more in you than was there before."

-- Clifton Fadiman

You regular readers will be unsurprised to hear that I am watching the new CBS show "Elementary," because of course I am, and that it's become my latest TV favorite, because of course it has. The show -- which places Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson in 21st-century New York City -- puts a unique spin on these oft-adapted characters, not just by shaking up the setting but by finding new ways to explore the iconic Conan Doyle stories.

"Elementary" is hardly the only modern re-imagination of Sherlock Holmes -- we've got Sherlock, House, Bones, and Monk, to name but a few -- but I love this one for its characters. Jonny Lee Miller gives us a Sherlock Holmes who is damaged but striving to be better, and Lucy Liu's Dr. Joan Watson (yes, Joan) has found a wonderful balance between supporting the detective but refusing to stand for any insults or nonsense.

But Sherlock Holmes is hardly the only character from classic literature to be reinvented for a more modern age. There's a plethora of films, shows -- and novels -- that take inspiration from the classics, or adapt old stories with a new and fresh twist. I like to think this shows not a failure of imagination on the part of today's authors -- but rather a love for the iconic characters from across literary history. It gives authors and readers alike a chance to take a fresh look at stories that have become a part of the pop culture landscape.

So take a look at these authors' updated "masterpieces," as they add new (and modern!) twists to iconic tales:

A Thousand Acres by Jane Smiley. (King Lear)

This 1992 Pulitzer Prize-winner for Fiction re-imagines Shakespeare's King Lear on a thousand-acre farm in Iowa. Larry Cook has decided to pass ownership of the family farm onto his three daughters, but his youngest objects. What follows is a chain of events which will reveal dark secrets that will twist the family apart forever.

State of Wonder by Ann Patchett. (Heart of Darkness)

Conrad's Heart of Darkness characters may be traveling the Congo, while Patchett's Marina Singh is navigating the Amazon. But the parallels between stories remain, as Marina enters the Amazon, intent on finding a missing scientist from a research fielding team and reporting back on the team's progress. What she finds, instead, is a shocking medical discovery which head scientist Annick Swenson is determined to keep under wraps.

What Happened to Anna K. by Irina Reyn. (Anna Karenina)

Anna Karenina becomes a modern-day heroine living in a Russian Jewish community in Queens, New York. Like Tolstoy's original, Anna K. is comfortable but somewhat complacent in her marriage to an older, prominent businessman. Then she meets David, a writer who shares Anna's grand dreams for better things. The resulting melodrama provides a contemporary take on Tolstoy's classic.

Going Bovine by Libba Bray. (Don Quixote)

Describing this funny, quirky, satirical YA read is hard enough, when you try to explain the trials and tribulations of 16-year-old Cameron. Cameron just wants to survive high school with as little effort as possible -- which is sort of ironic, since he's just found out that he's sick and is going to die. Luckily for Cameron, he gets some help in the form of a loony, sugar-obssessed angel (who may or may not be a hallucination), who promises Cameron that there's a cure for his disease. He just has to go on a little road trip to find it. Don't worry, he's got one of those yard gnomes to help him out ...

Finding out that Bray structured this wacky, wild adventure on the Cervantes classic only makes its unusual charms that much more engaging. You don't have to be a teen to like this one.

Tighter by Adele Griffin. (The Turn of the Screw)


Inspired by the Henry James ghost story, 17-year-old Jamie has been hired as a summer au pair, only to uncover a shocking tragedy that claimed the lives of a young couple on the New England island of Little Bly. What's more, Jamie finds she has the ability to sense the ghosts of the young couple. Jamie is left fighting to uncover the mystery -- while struggling to keep a clear line drawn between the world of the living ... and the world of the dead.

Batman: Noel by by Lee Bermejo. (A Christmas Carol)

This graphic novel opens by narrating the story of the hapless Bob Cratchett, and, despite the modern-day slang of that narration, there isn't much to differentiate it from the classic Dickens version. At least, until you look at the artwork, and discover that Bob Cratchett is actually a small-time thief -- and Ebenezer Scrooge is none other than Batman himself. But it's not riches that Batman is refusing to share, and the lesson he learns in this Christmas tale -- with some unexpected help from three "ghosts" -- is wholly Batman. With gorgeously illuminated artwork and a clever premise, you can't go wrong with a Christmas read this inspired.



-- Post by Ms. B

Remembering Our Veterans

This Sunday is Veterans Day (officially observed Monday, November 12th, by the Federal and State governments, since it falls on a Sunday), when we remember and thank those that have served in the military. The holiday began as Armistice Day, as a remembrance of the end of World War I, which officially ended on June 28, 1919 with the signing of the Treaty of Versailles. But the actual fighting ended on November 11, 1918 at 11 AM, which was the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month. A year later, President Woodrow Wilson marked the occasion with these words:

To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country's service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nation...

In 1954, President Eisenhower signed a law changing the name from "Armistice Day" to "Veterans Day," and making November 11 a legal holiday. Wilson's original idea was to observe the day with parades and public meetings and a brief, two-minute suspension of business at 11 AM. Today, we still celebrate with parades and memorial services.

Great Britain, Canada, and Australia also honor their veterans on November 11, although they call their holiday Remembrance Day. In Canada, it is used as a day to remember all those who have served in their military, while in Australia, it is a day to remember those soldiers who have died. In Great Britain, the day is celebrated on the second Sunday of November. It is popular in Great Britain and its Commonwealth countries to wear a poppy as a sign of remembrance. This emblem grew popular upon the publication of the poem "In Flanders Fields," by John McRae.

Find out more:

Veterans Day FAQ - The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs answers some frequently asked questions regarding Veterans Day.

Statistics about Veterans - The U.S. Census Bureau provides information about American veterans.

Veterans Day Discounts - Many restaurants and stores provide discounts for veterans. Check out this link for specific places.

Veterans Day Celebrations - A list of the events happening in Allegheny County to honor veterans.


For Further Reading about World War I:

The First World War: A Complete History by Martin Gilbert

The First World War, 1914-1918 by Gerd Hardach

The Last Days of Innocence: America At War, 1917-1918 by Meiron Harries and Susie Harries

When Europe Went Mad: A Brief History of the First World War by Terence T. Finn

A Stillness Heard Round the World by Stanley Weintraub

The Great War and the Shaping of the 20th Century by Jay Winter and Blaine Baggett




-- Post by Tracy

Death on Swift Wings

The solid gold coffin of King Tutankhamen

It's one of the most famous faces in human history -- but not for the reasons we think.

November 4th marked the 90th anniversary of the discovery of the entrance to the tomb of King Tutankhamen (originally found in 1922). The discovery of the tomb's entrance came some 31 years after British archaeologist Howard Carter and his workmen had arrived in Egypt to begin studying the history of Ancient Egypt. When Carter arrived, many of the Egyptian rulers had already been discovered in their final resting places -- but the discovery of minor pharaoh Tut had yet to be made. 

It was on that November 4th when Carter and his men found a step leading into the tomb -- and 22 days later, Carter and his fellow archaeologist, Lord Carnarvon, entered the chambers of the tomb itself. 

It took years for the thousands of objects that Carter and his team had found in the four-room tomb to be fully recovered. But the biggest prize was undeniably the red quartzite sarcophagus of the king himself, containing layers of nesting boxes and coffins (the final coffin was made of solid gold) and, finally, the mummy of King Tutankhamen himself. The mummy was over 3,000 years old, still wearing the gold mask in which he'd been buried.

King Tut's Death Mask

King Tut instantly became a sensation. Today, many remember him as one of the greatest kings of Egypt (thanks to the golden treasures of his tomb) -- and also for the deadly Curse of the Pharaohs, known to have killed many members of those foolish enough to disturb his tomb, including Lord Carnarvon himself.

But, like many stories across history, the popularly-known facts don't have it quite right. What's more, the truth of this boy-king (he died in his late teens) is even more fascinating than the myth. 

Debunking the myth of the "King Tut Curse" is simple enough. Lord Carnarvon came to Egypt already suffering from chronic illness, long before he entered the tomb. After his death, however, the media of the day quickly spun sensational stories heralding the mummy's curse, with false stories about mysterious inscriptions ("Death will come on swift wings whoever disturbs the pharaoh"), the death of workmen, and blackouts in Cairo. (Read more about the debunked myth here.)

But of greater interest, at least to me, is the story of King Tut himself, who is remembered as one of Egypt's most powerful and beloved pharaohs. But the truth is that Tutankhamen himself was a relatively minor pharaoh from Egyptian history. The exquisite treasures found in his tomb would actually have been standard fare for any king of Egypt; what sets Tutankhamen apart is that he was one of those few pharaohs to not have his tomb disturbed and desecrated by grave robbers.

Tutankhamen's stepmom, Queen Nefertiti

Tutankhamen was born in 1341 BCE. His father was King Akhenaten, who created an uproar during his time as pharaoh with the creation of a mostly-monotheistic new religion. In a time when Egyptian religion centered around an entire pantheon of deities (including the sun god, Ra; and the god of all creation, Amun), Akhenaten decreed a new religion, worshipping only Aten, the sun. At Akhenaten's side in this new religion was Queen Nefertiti, Akhenaten's wife -- and Tutankhamen's stepmother.

After Akhenaten died, and Tutankhamen took over as king (in 1333 BCE), Tut did his best to return the traditional deities and belief system of Egypt. He restored Thebes as the religious capital of Egypt, and Memphis as the administrative center of the kingdom (his father had moved both the administrative and religious capitals to the city of Akhetaten). Tut went so far as to change his name to Tutankhamen (he had been born "Tutankhamun").

The new king's devotion to the old ways restored the ancient religion to Egypt -- but Tutankhamen's rule was short-lived. He died around the age of 19, and went down in history as a relatively minor king ... until the twentieth century.


Find out more:

King Tut Revealed - National Geographic takes a look at the results of modern forensics and high-tech imaging on the mummy of King Tut.

A Frail King - The Ancient Egyptians viewed their royalty as gods, but most were all-too-human. Genetic testing revealed the physical weaknesses of King Tut.

The Process of Mummification!  I recommend waiting until after you've eaten to read this one.


For further reading:

Tutankhamen: The Search for an Egyptian King by Joyce Tyldesley.

Treasures of Tutankhamun published by the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Genesis of the Pharaohs: Dramatic New Discoveries Rewrite the Origins of Ancient Egypt by Toby Wilkinson.

Egyptian Art, In the Days of the Pharaohs, 3100-320 BC by Cyril Aldred.

Nefertiti: Egypt's Sun Queen by Joyce Tyldesley.



-- Post by Ms. B

The Golden Age of Radio

KDKA, November 2, 1920 - East Pittsburgh, PA

Are you sick and tired of all the political ads that are being shown almost non-stop on television? Are you tired of phone calls for one of the many candidates up for election on November 6th? For most of us, it's hard to imagine a time when we weren't inundated with all of this political advertising. But there was a day when the American people weren't connected with the world 24/7. There was a time when people got all of their information from their local newspaper. There was no television, no radio, and definitely no cell phones! Most people didn't even have a regular landline phone in their home.

On November 2, 1920, right here in Southwestern Pennsylvania, the age of information (kind of) started. On that night, from a room on top of one of the Westinghouse buildings in East Pittsburgh, four hours of election results were broadcast. Communication would never be the same. At the most, a thousand people heard that first broadcast. Those people found out before the rest of the country that Warren G. Harding was to be the next President of the United States. Everyone else would have to wait for the next edition of their local newspaper.

By the next Presidential election, all of that would change. In 1922, WEAF in New York City (which later became WNBC) became the first commercial radio station. Its advertising wasn't as we know it today, but it established the precedent that commercial broadcasting was viable.

The 1920s saw the growth in the number of stations throughout the country and the number of radios in American homes. By the 1930s, about 90 percent of Americans owned at least one radio. This was the beginning of the Golden Age of radio.

The basic format was music, news, and other programming. Much of the programming would be theatrical productions, such as dramas, comedies, soap operas, westerns, and such. Many of these radio shows would go on to be television shows as well (Perry Mason, The Lone Ranger, The Guiding Light).

Listen to that historic broadcast here.

So to celebrate the beginnings of radio broadcasting, here are some of the most well-known moments in radio history.

The Hindenburg Disaster

Hindenburg disaster, New Jersey - May 6, 1937

Dirigibles, or Zeppelins as they came to be known, had been around since the late 19th century. They had been invented by a French man, but it wasn't until German Graf Ferdinand von Zeppelin that the crafts were remodeled into viable flying machines. By 1937, Zeppelins had been used by the Germans during World War I and had flown across the Atlantic many times. Still, it was always a big event when an airship was going to land in America. So, Herb Morrison, of WLS in Chicago, was in Lakehurst, New Jersey on May 6, 1937 to cover the landing of the Hindenburg. Little did he know of the horror he was about to witness. His emotional and personal reaction to the disaster would outlive him.

Listen to the original radio broadcast here.

"War of the Worlds" 

Orson Welles, 1938

On the night of October 30, 1938, the world was invaded by Martians! Or, at least, that was what many people thought, when Orson Welles and his Mercury Theater broadcast a radio play version of H.G. Wells's War of the Worlds. It was done as a Halloween prank and as a way to boost the show's ratings. (It was on the air against the most popular radio show of the time.) Despite the fact that it was announced that this was just a dramatization of the book several times during the broadcast, most people somehow seemed to miss that. Panic ensued because so many people believed this broadcast to be real and that Martians were invading Earth. The belief was so strong that people were fleeing their homes to escape the invasion. Once people realized that there was no invasion, there was anger and frustration. Police were even thinking about arresting Welles. This did not happen, and this "prank" would put Orson Welles on the map and help him establish his acting and directing career. Four years later, Citizen Kane (considered to be the greatest American film) would premiere -- a movie that most likely would never have been made without this moment in radio.

Listen to the original broadcast here. Or you can check out the broadcast on CD from the library. And for another take on the radio play, listen to L.A. Theatre works production (which includes several Star Trek actors!).

The London Blitz

Edward R. Murrow

In 1940, the United States was not yet involved in World War II, but there was still great interest in what was going on in Europe. Edward R. Murrow was just beginning his broadcast career when he began reporting from London for CBS. His live, first-hand accounts during the London Blitz captivated the American public.  These broadcasts would establish him as one of the most well-known and well-respected journalists in the US. After the War, he would return to the States and establish himself as a television journalist who took on many controversial subjects, including Sen. Joseph McCarthy's search for Communists in politics and entertainment.

To listen:
September 20, 1940 - London rooftop during the blitz

From Trafalgar Square during an air raid



Further reading on the history of radio:

Hello Everybody: The Dawn of American Radio by Anthony Rudel

Don't Touch That Dial: The History of Broadcasting by J. Fred MacDonald

Sold on Radio : Advertisers in the Golden Age of Broadcasting by Jim Cox


-- Post by Tracy

Storms of the Century

NASA satellite image of Hurricane Sandy - October 29, 2012

Hurricane Sandy has been the result of a hurricane colliding with a winter storm (and some extra-high tides caused by the full moon), creating a super-system initially dubbed a "Frankenstorm." Of even greater issue was Sandy's path: instead of approaching the U.S. East Coast from the south, like most hurricanes, Sandy made a sharp turn west to settle directly over highly-populated areas of New York and New Jersey. Property damage will run in the billions, millions are left without power -- and over forty people have lost their lives.

The damage and tragedy left in Hurricane Sandy's wake is not to be underestimated. But this "Frankenstorm" is hardly the first weather disaster in human history. Read on to find out more about these other "perfect storms:"

-- 1888: The Great Blizzard of '88

Downed power lines during the Great Blizzard of 1888

This "Great White Hurricane" lasted from March 11th-14th in 1888, dropping 40-50 inches of snow onto areas of New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts, and Connecticut. Winds gusting at over 45 mph created snow drifts in some places that were 50 feet high; Boston alone had nine inches of slush in the streets. With railways down, and power lines sagging from their telephone poles, people were confined inside their homes for a week. (Mark Twain, in New York City at the time, was trapped in his hotel for several days.) The damage was estimated at over $25 million -- quite a hefty sum for 1888!

One interesting fact?  The downed railways (which left 15,000 people stranded in NYC elevated trains) were a major force behind the creation of the New York subway system.

-- 1900: Galveston Hurricane ("The Great Storm")

19th Street, Galveston, Texas -- after the storm

September 8, 1900, saw the greatest natural disaster to ever hit the United States, killing at least 6,000 people in only a few hours. Galveston Island, located along the Gulf of Mexico, is a sandy island thirty miles long but only three miles wide (narrowing to as little as one and a half miles wide in some places). The city of Galveston, Texas was known in 1900 as "the jewel of Texas." (It was the center of cotton trade and was also the largest city in the state.) Despite the city's prominence and importance, however, a seawall had not been built to protect the town. When a Category 4 hurricane struck, the entire island was eventually submerged. After the waters receded, over 10,000 people had been left homeless.

(Read more about the Great Storm in Erik Larson's fantastic book, Isaac's Storm: A Man, a Time, and the Deadliest Hurricane in History.)

-- 1928: Okeechobee Hurricane

Storm wreckage in Okeechobee

The biggest tragedy of Okeechobee Hurricane?  Residents nearly avoided it. Although many Florida locals evacuated the area, when the hurricane failed to strike at the expected time, most returned to their homes -- thinking the storm had passed them by. The storm eventually hit the evening of September 16th, blasting the area with sustained 140 mph winds. The force broke one of Okeechobee Lake's dikes, and the ensuing weeks of flooding cost 2,500 lives.

-- 1987/1990: The Great Storm of 1987 & The Burns' Day Storm

Aftermath of the Great Storm of 1987

In October 1987, Southern England was slammed by a storm unprecedented in nearly 300 years. Not unlike Hurricane Sandy, the Great Storm was formed by multiple weather systems colliding -- in this case, a cold front from the Bay of Biscay merging with cold Arctic air against a blast of warm air from Africa. Winds blasted up to 115 mph, leaving 18 people dead, uprooting over 15 million trees, and costing billions in damages.

Only three years later, the Burns' Day Storm struck the UK on January 25. With similar wind speeds to the previous storm, and this storm affecting a larger area, 47 lives were lost.

-- 1991: The Perfect Storm ("The Halloween Nor'easter of 1991")

Bob Case, a retired NOAA meteorologist, gave the Halloween Nor'easter of 1991 its more well-known name in reference to the "perfect" set of weather conditions that gave rise to this early-winter storm. With most of the north-eastern United States cooling down with the approach of the colder months, the Atlantic waters remained warmer (ocean water has a higher heat capacity than landmasses). Cold continental air masses often meet warmer maritime air masses to create nor'easters -- but in the case of the Perfect Storm, a high pressure system collided with a low pressure system and the last traces of Hurricane Grace. While this "Halloween Storm" did batter the East Coast, the biggest dangers were for those out at sea, with 40-foot seas and 70-knot (80 mph) winds. U.S. Coast Guard ships like the Tamaroa were dispatched to rescue sailors and fishermen trapped out at sea.

(Read more in Sebastian Junger's The Perfect Storm: A True Story of Men Against the Sea. Or check out the film!)

Honorable Mention: the Johnstown Flood ("Great Flood of 1889")

Read all about this famous Pennsylvania flood in our blog entry here.

-- Post by Ms. B