Episodes
Wednesday May 13, 2020
Huntsvillain History - Suffrage in Alabama
Wednesday May 13, 2020
Wednesday May 13, 2020
With the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment fast approaching, Madison County Archivist Shalis Worthy joins Huntsvillain to discuss the fight for suffrage in North Alabama and nationwide. We also grieve some words lost to history like "Enfangle", name some strange biological artifacts from the Madison County Archive and of course deep dive into the lives of those who fought for the rights of women in Alabama.
A link to Suffrage era political cartoons: http://suffrageandthemedia.org/source/catherine-h-palczewski-suffrage-postcard-archive/
Credit: Palczewski, Catherine H. Postcard Archive. University of Northern Iowa. Cedar Falls, IA.
Saturday Jan 18, 2020
Saturday Jan 18, 2020
At the Bell Tavern on the evening of August 7th 1820 Reuben Turner and Thomas Logwood were drinking heavily. A horseback battle later that evening ends with one man mortally wounded and another barricading himself in the courthouse, but don't worry EVERYONE get's to wave a knife. The story became one of the first big news stories of the day with a special running in the Alabama Republican Newspaper focusing only on this case.
We also get a peak into Tennessee Valley resident's menu of the time which consisted of a pile of bacon, salted pork and you can polish that off with whiskey soaked bread and a tall glass of milk.
Saturday Dec 14, 2019
Huntsvillain Bicentennial Special
Saturday Dec 14, 2019
Saturday Dec 14, 2019
Alabama is 200 years old today! John O'Brien is back to talk about Governance of the Alabama Territory, the first constitution (which we copied from Mississippi), and our current constitution which is the longest of any state.
Thursday Mar 14, 2019
Huntsvillain History Season 2 - Episode #3 The Ballad of James G. Birney
Thursday Mar 14, 2019
Thursday Mar 14, 2019
James G. Birney is one of the few self-professed abolitionists from the Deep South and specifically Alabama. His life and work provides an insight into the evolving American attitudes towards slavery and its moral failings from the 1790’s to his death immediately prior to the Civil War. Birney was a deeply imperfect man and his path from slaveholder to first Presidential candidate for the anti-slavery Liberty Party traces a strange path across American politics in the Antebellum.
Wednesday Jan 30, 2019
Huntsvillain History Season 2 - Episode #2 Walter Cagle
Wednesday Jan 30, 2019
Wednesday Jan 30, 2019
If Walter Cagle were alive today he might have had something to say about this week's "Snowpocalypse". The headline "500 Pound Weather Prophet of Boaz Dies" was the first clue that pulled John into the fascinating story of Walter Cagle. After suffering a mysterious illness that left him in a temporary coma Walter began observing local wildlife and predicting the weather, priceless information for farmers of the Tennessee Valley. Walter's fame grew readily with the help of newspaper stories. He eventually shared front page with the Spanish Civil War and the succession crisis of the English Empire.
Check out John's blog on the topic for more information on Walter on the blog https://huntsvillain.wordpress.com/2015/12/23/walter-is-coming/
Friday Dec 21, 2018
Huntsvillain History Season 2 - Episode #1 Petition of 1828
Friday Dec 21, 2018
Friday Dec 21, 2018
On August 13th, 1828 11 enslaved people sued two white men for their freedom in the court of Huntsville Alabama. This was one of only two court cases John O'Brien has ever found that included enslaved people as litigants and not as property.
Today's case covered a vast expanse of 1800's civil rights including a women's right to property and "Manumission" -where a slave owner willingly frees their slaves usually upon their death. We also discuss the documentation required of free black people during the era.
Find the blog at https://huntsvillain.wordpress.com/ for more tales of Alabama or catch us on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/huntsvillain
Thursday Dec 13, 2018
Huntsvillain History Season 2 Preview - The Return of John
Thursday Dec 13, 2018
Thursday Dec 13, 2018
After two years the biggest Huntsville focused history podcast in the universe is BACK. Some big life events including losing his mother and getting married sent our historian John O'Brien trotting the globe for the last two years. Despite all his adventures John never doubted he'd eventually return to the strange and dark history of the Tennessee Valley.
On today's preview episode of the new season of Huntsvillain History we talk about the surprising abundance of southern staples around the world including mayo, chow-chow and of course boatloads of minion T-shirts.
Sunday Jul 24, 2016
Huntsvillain History #05 - Sword Patrol
Sunday Jul 24, 2016
Sunday Jul 24, 2016
Thursday May 19, 2016
Huntsvillain History Episode #04 -For the love of hog! Part 2
Thursday May 19, 2016
Thursday May 19, 2016
You think the bacon craze is a new affliction in Madison County? Think again! In the 1800's Madison county had more than 2 pigs for every person, and within less than 20 years we ended up having to import even more pork! John O'Brien's gone hog wild rooting out the very best stories related to our little piggy obsession on this month's episode of Huntsvillain History. That's right prepare for pig-puns galore but don't get to squeelin', it's Huntsvillain History!
Huntsvillain History plays at 6pm every weeknight (Monday-Thursday) at spice-radio.com/radio/ and noon Friday through Sunday. You can also download the podcast tonight at 8pm!
Thursday May 19, 2016
Huntsvillain History Episode #04 - For the love of hog! Part 1
Thursday May 19, 2016
Thursday May 19, 2016
You think the bacon craze is a new affliction in Madison County? Think again! In the 1800's Madison county had more than 2 pigs for every person, and within less than 20 years we ended up having to import even more pork! John O'Brien's gone hog wild rooting out the very best stories related to our little piggy obsession on this month's episode of Huntsvillain History. That's right prepare for pig-puns galore but don't get to squeelin', it's Huntsvillain History!
Huntsvillain History plays at 6pm every weeknight (Monday-Thursday) at spice-radio.com/radio/ and noon Friday through Sunday. You can also download the podcast tonight at 8pm!