Paula Dunn

Picking up where I left off last week . . . By the end of the 1950s, UFO sightings were beginning to wind down all over the country, but they never stopped completely. In fact, the U. S. Air Force’s investigation of UFOs, Project Blue Book, wasn’t terminated until 1969. Between 1947 and 1969, Project…

While watching an old X-Files episode recently, it suddenly hit me — “Hey, there’s a topic I haven’t covered yet — UFOs.” Hamilton County has certainly had its share of Unidentified Flying Object sightings. But, first a little general history . . . Although UFO or UAP (unidentified aerial phenomena) sightings have been around since…

If you were living in Hamilton County during the last half of the 19th century and very early 20th century, you might be getting ready to attend one of the Old Settlers’ Meetings about now. These gatherings, usually held in August, were opportunities for people get together to reminisce about the “Olden Times,” as well…

If you read this column regularly, you know I live with two feline companions who have very distinctive personalities. Peyton, the tabby, will consume almost anything edible. (I say “almost” because he does draw the line at bananas — too stinky!) By contrast, my tuxedo cat, Beau, has a very discriminating palate. If something isn’t…

This week I’m introducing yet another column spinoff — the “From Time to Thyme Virtual Circus.” Grab some peanuts and popcorn, and follow me into the virtual big top to see the Carnivorous Mouse, Killer Turtle, Daredevil Dog and Fiddling Bear! Cue the circus music! (You know the tune I mean.) Our first act appeared…

While working on last week’s column, I ran across so many interesting stories about Cicero’s “lead mine” (see the last three paragraphs,) a follow-up column begged to be written. The first people to discover lead ore in this area were Native Americans. (One source mentioned the Miamis specifically, but I couldn’t verify that.) Until I…

Up for a quiz? We haven’t had one for a while. I’m calling this “Truth or Tall Tale?” I’ll give you a historical situation and you have to decide if it’s something that really happened, or a piece of fiction. Let’s see how you do. John Dillinger spent time in the old Hamilton County Jail…

I was having a hard time coming up with a topic for this week’s column that would be both appropriate to this time of year AND something I hadn’t written about before. Then I thought of the tale of Frank Hawkins at Gettysburg. The battle of Gettysburg, a turning point in the Civil War, took…

Time for another reader column! Remember Dartown Road, one of the “Roads to Nowhere” I wrote about in April? Mary Reynolds, who works at the Sheridan Historical Society, emailed that Jim Pickett, the former president of the society, said the road between 246th and 256th Streets that appears as “Dartown Road” on local maps was…

The only deadly encounter on record between Native Americans and Hamilton County’s white settlers took place a little over 200 years ago in Strawtown. What sparked it wasn’t a conflict over land, however, but rather justified outrage over a murderer going unpunished. Unfortunately, the exact details of the incident were already growing murky over 100…