David McCulloch's "The Johnstown Flood"
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The Ancient Enemy
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David McCulloch's "The Johnstown Flood"
Just finished David McCulloch's masterful work "The Johnstown Flood". I would have posted this in the HOB forum, but none of the "heavy-hitters" of BC seem to frequent that area too much.
I have been on a reading tear as of late. This is by far the best book I read all year as yet, and I was thoroughly impressed with it. David McCullough has done a remarkable job at presenting this story, which includes a history of Johnstown as well, and has done a considerable amount of research. He has written quite a few books according to Amazon, and they are all being sold as used books for next to nothing. I cannot express to you in enough words how much I encourage everyone living back home, or from back home, or in general, to read this account. It is fantastic. This book itself on Amazon can be purchased for like 3 dollars.
Reading this book of course got me thinking about bigger things, and I was rather appauled at how little I knew of the flood, or Johnstown in general. I suppose a lot of it has to do with the unfortunate assumption that "you already know about it", but it is a terrible thing that local history is not being taught in schools. All schools should be teaching the local history of the area, let alone an area as rich our own. Just the descriptions of the towns around the area, and especially Johnstown proper, made me almost feel embarassed of myself for not finding this out sooner. Kids really have no handle on the local history back there, and even myself always having an interest in historical matters, I didn't know diddly-squat. The answer of "Johnstown had steel-mills" just isn't good enough.
Personally, I think this book may have even pushed me back towards pursuing (down the road) a teaching degree like my initial plan was years ago. It really just hits you out of nowhere, and I do think this book should be read in every high school in the area. With that being said, if any of you are still on LHsports, I would really appreciate it if someone sent a PM to Cobrajet and told him to email me asap. My email is [email protected], and I thank you for the trouble. You may even get an autographed picture of Loretta Lynn if I stop at her dude-ranch gift shop when coming back to PA in May.
Get the book and read it. It's 3 dollars.
I have been on a reading tear as of late. This is by far the best book I read all year as yet, and I was thoroughly impressed with it. David McCullough has done a remarkable job at presenting this story, which includes a history of Johnstown as well, and has done a considerable amount of research. He has written quite a few books according to Amazon, and they are all being sold as used books for next to nothing. I cannot express to you in enough words how much I encourage everyone living back home, or from back home, or in general, to read this account. It is fantastic. This book itself on Amazon can be purchased for like 3 dollars.
Reading this book of course got me thinking about bigger things, and I was rather appauled at how little I knew of the flood, or Johnstown in general. I suppose a lot of it has to do with the unfortunate assumption that "you already know about it", but it is a terrible thing that local history is not being taught in schools. All schools should be teaching the local history of the area, let alone an area as rich our own. Just the descriptions of the towns around the area, and especially Johnstown proper, made me almost feel embarassed of myself for not finding this out sooner. Kids really have no handle on the local history back there, and even myself always having an interest in historical matters, I didn't know diddly-squat. The answer of "Johnstown had steel-mills" just isn't good enough.
Personally, I think this book may have even pushed me back towards pursuing (down the road) a teaching degree like my initial plan was years ago. It really just hits you out of nowhere, and I do think this book should be read in every high school in the area. With that being said, if any of you are still on LHsports, I would really appreciate it if someone sent a PM to Cobrajet and told him to email me asap. My email is [email protected], and I thank you for the trouble. You may even get an autographed picture of Loretta Lynn if I stop at her dude-ranch gift shop when coming back to PA in May.
Get the book and read it. It's 3 dollars.
Last edited by The Ancient Enemy on September 20th, 2011, 12:45 am, edited 1 time in total.
Re: David McCulloch's "The Johnstown Flood"
Great book. I have an autographed copy in hardback. Have you ever been to the breast of the dam that broke in 1889?
Last edited by El-Moldo on September 20th, 2011, 12:45 am, edited 1 time in total.
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The Ancient Enemy
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Re: David McCulloch's "The Johnstown Flood"
Well, yeah, you know where I live, Moldo...
Last edited by The Ancient Enemy on September 20th, 2011, 12:45 am, edited 1 time in total.
Re: David McCulloch's "The Johnstown Flood"
Anything by DM is good. Check out his books on Teddy Roosevelt or the building of the Panama Canal.
Last edited by foghorn on September 20th, 2011, 12:45 am, edited 1 time in total.
"Talk low, talk slow, and don't talk too much."
-- John Wayne
-- John Wayne
Re: David McCulloch's "The Johnstown Flood"
And what a voice. He narrated Ken Burns' The Civil War. I could listen to him all night.
Last edited by El-Moldo on September 20th, 2011, 12:45 am, edited 1 time in total.
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The Ancient Enemy
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Re: David McCulloch's "The Johnstown Flood"
Speaking of the Flood, I found this just now. I haven't even heard about this.
1889 Flood Corpse Surfaces in Cambria City
1889 Flood Corpse Surfaces in Cambria City
Last edited by The Ancient Enemy on September 20th, 2011, 12:45 am, edited 1 time in total.
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TheAnalyst
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Re: David McCulloch's "The Johnstown Flood"
Hey Maestro, it's me, cobrajet. I'm not on the LH site anymore. I thought you would have figured out who I was with me bringing up the Fort thing a while back.
Anyway, what's up? Got a book for me to read?
Anyway, what's up? Got a book for me to read?
Last edited by TheAnalyst on September 20th, 2011, 12:45 am, edited 1 time in total.
Re: David McCulloch's "The Johnstown Flood"
TAE is a jerk and so is the banana phone. I fell for it---what a sucker!!