It’s been awhile, but I’m back. In my newest endeavor to improve my skills, I have started writing a monthly local history column for the Plankinton weekly newspaper, The South Dakota Mail. As soon as I clean up the citations … Continue reading
Last week I was recognized by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel for solving a history mystery – that is, successfully researching the true date of the Plankinton statue. While my primary purpose for this blog was to practice using technology to … Continue reading
I’m on a mission to write the Plankinton story. Join me on this journey of discovery – with some side trips to correct old errors and fix any new ones I make along the way. Stay tuned and chime in!
Here’s a lesson in carefully reading your source: In the previous post I paraphrased the 1892 newspaper article and wrote that the pedestal was nine feet high. After a more careful reading of the original source, I discovered my mistake. … Continue reading
Two stories published in the 1892 Milwaukee Journal reference the installation of the John Plankinton Statue in the Plankinton Hotel lobby rotunda. The statue was placed on a pedestal, nine feet high, (correction: statue and pedestal together are nine feet … Continue reading
Plankinton Statue dated to 1883 Date of Plankinton statue is in dispute. Many sources claim the statue is 144 years old (1868), but it is more likely to have been created during the mid 1880’s when the sculptor, R. H. … Continue reading
Mr. Plankinton takes a Vacation Check out the pictures from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel as they move Mr. Plankinton to storage.
When I posted this in June, 2012, I had not yet found evidence of the age of the statue. Since then, I have learned it was created in 1892, after John Plankinton died (See later posts). When this post was … Continue reading
RPJ Histories - Ruth Page Jones 