Haunted Hills Farm

11/03/2025

09/01/2025

05/31/2025

In the cold winters of northern Europe, keeping houses warm was a real challenge. Then, a clever, forgotten craftsman invented a special kind of bed—almost like a small closet—to hide inside and stay warm during the chilly nights after the family fire had died down. These were known as box beds, made from wood and usually having one or two compartments. For centuries, they protected many Europeans—who weren’t claustrophobic—from freezing cold while they slept.

The box bed first appeared in the late medieval period and came in various styles across Europe. You can find examples in Britain, Scotland, Austria, the Netherlands, and Scandinavia. In some places, they were still used well into the 20th century, which makes sense when you think about how harsh European winters could be and how houses were heated only by wood fires. Before electricity and modern heating, people didn’t warm their entire homes much, so if it was cold outside, it was cold inside too. The box bed was a smart way to keep cozy through those cold nights.

𝗔𝗹𝘀𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗮 𝗯𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆:👇

https://epiola.com/simple-joys-of-the-early-80s-how-we-stayed/

02/15/2025

In 1893, Frederick Douglass invited Ida B. Wells to lunch. She noted a place across the street, but indicated they would not receive service there. “Mr. Douglass, in his vigorous way, grasped my arm and said, ‘Come, let’s go there.’” Together, they “sauntered in...as if it were an everyday occurrence, cocked and primed for the fight if necessary.” Douglass grabbed a table and chair for him and Wells, as “paralyzed” staff looked on. A stand-off ensued with wait staff until the proprietor realized it was Frederick Douglass, and warmly welcomed him while sharing stories of a time past when Douglass visited his hometown. “When [the proprietor] finally went to another part of the room, Mr. Douglass turned to me with a roguish look and said, ‘Ida, I thought you said that they didn’t serve us here. It seems we are getting more attention than we want.’”
Frederick Douglass spent his life fighting for justice and equality. He never knew the date of his birth. This is something he struggled with throughout his lifetime. Douglass believed that he was born in the month of February in 1817. In fact, records show that Douglass was born in February of 1818. He chose the 14th of February for his birthday because his mother would call him her “little Valentine." Unfortunately, Douglass never knew much about his parentage. His mother, Harriet, was sold off when Douglass was but a child, and he only met her a few times before she passed away. Though born enslaved in Maryland, he escaped as a young man and became a leading voice in the abolitionist movement.

02/11/2025

In reflection of Black History Month:

02/09/2025