DID you know...facts from The Gumbottom Suitcase of History
“At the opening battle of the Civil War at Fort Sumter, no soldiers died in combat. The only deaths came afterward, when a ceremonial salute misfired, killing two Union soldiers as they prepared to leave.”
Professor Gumbottom, visiting in April 1861
“In 18th-century England, pineapples were so rare and expensive that owning one became a symbol of wealth. They were often carried around to display status rather than eaten.”
Professor Gumbottom, during a fashionable moment in the 1700s
“Before alarm clocks, workers relied on ‘knocker-uppers,’ who were hired to tap on windows with sticks or shoot peas to wake people for work.”
Professor Gumbottom, passing through early industrial England
“Poet Lord Byron was denied permission to bring his dog to Cambridge, so instead he kept a bear in his dormitory and even walked it on a leash.”
Professor Gumbottom, during a visit in the early 1800s
“For decades, Canada and Denmark engaged in a playful territorial dispute over a tiny island. They even left bottles of liquor for one another as a symbolic claim.”
Professor Gumbottom, somewhere in the late 20th century
“In 1998, over a thousand human bones were discovered beneath Benjamin Franklin’s former home. It was later confirmed that these were from anatomical studies.”
Professor Gumbottom, not long after 1998
“The tallest married couple ever recorded each stood nearly eight feet tall. In 1879, Anna Bates gave birth to a 22-pound baby, the heaviest birth ever recorded.”
Professor Gumbottom, during a stop in the 19th century
“In 1945, a Japanese balloon bomb landed in Oregon, killing six people. They were the only World War II fatalities on mainland U.S. soil.”
Professor Gumbottom, while visiting in 1945
“Roman gladiators were not only fighters but celebrities, inspiring souvenirs and attracting devoted admirers. Their sweat was even reportedly collected and used in cosmetics and perfumes.”
Professor Gumbottom, somewhere in ancient Rome
“Johnny Appleseed was a real person named John Chapman. He traveled the frontier planting orchards and became an enduring American legend.”
Professor Gumbottom, on a journey through early America
“The first automobile was not American but European. It was developed in the 19th century by engineers including Karl Benz, who patented the first official car in 1886.”
Professor Gumbottom, passing through 1886
“Abraham Lincoln once co-owned a tavern in Illinois with William Berry, a partnership that ultimately failed and left Lincoln responsible for substantial debt.”
Professor Gumbottom, during a stop in 1833
“In 18th-century Bavaria, a secret society known as the Order of the Pug required members to wear dog collars and scratch at doors to gain entry.”
Professor Gumbottom, sometime around 1740
“King Henry VIII employed attendants known as ‘Grooms of the Stool,’ whose role was to assist him with his bathroom routines.”
Professor Gumbottom, while visiting the 1500s
“Years before the Titanic sank, a novel eerily described a nearly identical ship named Titan meeting the same icy fate in the North Atlantic.”
Professor Gumbottom, passing through 1898
“During World War II, Adolf Hitler’s nephew served in the United States Navy, fighting against the Nazi regime his uncle led.”
Professor Gumbottom, during a visit in the 1940s
“During the Great Depression, dance marathons became endurance contests where couples would remain on their feet for days, competing for food, shelter, and prize money.”
Professor Gumbottom, somewhere in the 1930s
“Genetic studies have identified a Y-chromosome lineage shared by millions of men across Asia that researchers have associated with Genghis Khan and his male-line relatives.”
Professor Gumbottom, reflecting across centuries
“In the Victorian era, men used specially designed ‘mustache cups’ to prevent their facial hair from dipping into hot tea.”
Professor Gumbottom, during his visit in the late 1800s
“The year 46 BC lasted an astonishing 445 days, as Julius Caesar reformed the calendar to align it with the solar year.”
Professor Gumbottom, somewhere in 46 BC
“The Leaning Tower of Pisa was never straight. It began tilting during its construction due to unstable ground beneath its foundation.”
Professor Gumbottom, during a visit in the 12th century
“Iceland’s parliament, established in 930 AD, is one of the oldest continuously operating legislative bodies in the world.”
Professor Gumbottom, somewhere around 930
“Alexander the Great named more than 70 cities after himself, spreading his name across many parts of the world.”
Professor Gumbottom, during travels in the 4th century BC
“Cleopatra was renowned for her ability to speak multiple languages, allowing her to communicate directly with many of the different peoples of her kingdom and beyond.”
Professor Gumbottom, somewhere near the Nile
“The U.S. National School Lunch Program was established in 1946 partly as a matter of national security, after widespread poor nutrition among young Americans had become a national concern.”
Professor Gumbottom, not long after 1946
“The pilot who flew the Enola Gay, Paul Tibbets, requested that there be no funeral or grave marker after his death, fearing that either might become a site of protest.”
Professor Gumbottom, reflecting after 1945
“In medieval England, the word ‘ask’ was commonly pronounced ‘axe,’ a usage that even appeared in early English translations of the Bible.”
Professor Gumbottom, passing through the Middle Ages
“In 1710, Native American leaders traveled to London and were received with royal honors. They met Queen Anne as respected diplomats.”
Professor Gumbottom, during a visit in 1710
“Early filmmakers relocated from New York to California to get away from Thomas Edison’s strict control over film technology patents.”
Professor Gumbottom, while visiting in the early 1900s
“Charles Darwin transformed his own office chair by adding wheels, allowing him to move more efficiently between workstations.”
Professor Gumbottom, during a stop in the 1800s
“The Circus Maximus was enormous even by modern standards. Ancient accounts claimed that, at its height, it could accommodate more than 200,000 spectators.”
Professor Gumbottom, somewhere in imperial Rome
“Spartan society was structured so that citizens did not need to work, relying instead on conquered populations to maintain their economy.”
Professor Gumbottom, appearing sometime in ancient Sparta
“An ancient account claims that Pharaoh Pepi II kept flies away by surrounding himself with servants whose bodies had been covered in honey.”
Professor Gumbottom, somewhere along the Nile
“George Washington never had wooden teeth. His dentures were made from materials including ivory, metals, animal teeth, and human teeth. Records also show that enslaved people at Mount Vernon were paid for teeth obtained by one of Washington’s dentists.”
Professor Gumbottom, observing in the 1700s
“Some Buddhist monks undertook a practice of self-mummification, slowly starving themselves over years in pursuit of spiritual enlightenment.”
Professor Gumbottom, somewhere in medieval Japan
“Tsutomu Yamaguchi survived the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, returned home to Nagasaki, and three days later survived the second atomic bombing as well.”
Professor Gumbottom, during those fateful days in August 1945
“Since the end of World War I, more than 1,000 people have been killed by unexploded ordnance left on former battlefields across Europe.”
Professor Gumbottom, reflecting not long after 1918
“Albert Einstein was once offered the presidency of Israel but declined, stating he lacked both the aptitude and desire to govern people.”
Professor Gumbottom, during a visit in 1952
“Genghis Khan, despite his fearsome reputation, was known for religious tolerance and often sought wisdom from leaders of many different faiths.”
Professor Gumbottom, during a time in the 13th century
“The face behind the Captain Morgan rum brand belonged to a real Welsh privateer named Sir Henry Morgan, who was later knighted for his achievements.”
Professor Gumbottom, sailing through the 1600s
“The phrase ‘fly off the handle’ comes from the very real danger of a loose axe or hammer head flying off its handle when swung.”
Professor Gumbottom, during a visit in the 1800s
“The Byzantine weapon known as Greek Fire could not be extinguished with water, making it one of the most feared tools of naval warfare.”
Professor Gumbottom, during a visit in the Eastern Roman Empire
“During World War I, the French constructed a ‘fake Paris’ complete with replica landmarks to confuse enemy bombers flying overhead.”
Professor Gumbottom, while dropping into the late 1910s
“Modern British tanks are equipped with tea-making facilities to ensure soldiers can prepare tea even during combat.”
Professor Gumbottom, not long after 1945
“Shrapnel is named after Henry Shrapnel, the British officer who invented an early form of explosive shell designed to scatter deadly fragments.”
Professor Gumbottom, somewhere in the 1800s
“Cleopatra’s lifetime was closer to the moon landing than to the construction of the Great Pyramid.”
Professor Gumbottom, reflecting somewhere between the ages
“The British government collected postcards of French coastlines as intelligence to help plan the D-Day invasion of Normandy.”
Professor Gumbottom, reflecting in the 1940s
“Viking explorer Leif Eriksson reached North America around the year 1000 AD, centuries before Columbus made his voyage.”
Professor Gumbottom, somewhere around 1000 AD
“The Colosseum in Rome was once entirely covered in marble, much of which was later stripped away and reused in other buildings.”
Professor Gumbottom, during a visit after the fall of Rome
“The Great Fire of London destroyed much of the city in 1666, but only a handful of deaths were recorded.”
Professor Gumbottom, during a visit in 1666
“The legend of Dracula was inspired by Vlad the Impaler, a ruler known for brutally executing his enemies by impalement.”
Professor Gumbottom, somewhere in 15th-century Wallachia
“By the end of World War II, the United States Army had grown to approximately 12 million soldiers, making it one of the largest military forces in history.”
Professor Gumbottom, during a visit in 1945
“The ancient Romans used stale urine as mouthwash, valuing its ammonia content as an effective cleaning agent.”
Professor Gumbottom, during an especially unpleasant discovery in Rome
“For decades, students at several elite American universities were photographed nude as part of controversial studies involving posture and human development.”
Professor Gumbottom, during a visit in the mid-20th century
“A German interrogator during World War II became known for extracting information not through brutality, but through kindness, conversation, and psychological insight.”
Professor Gumbottom, during a time in the 1940s
“During World War II, a Great Dane named Juliana reportedly extinguished an incendiary bomb by urinating on it. She was awarded a Blue Cross Medal for her unusual act of bravery.”
Professor Gumbottom, not long after 1941
“Ancient Rome did not belong solely to male warriors. Women also fought in the arena as gladiatrices, participating in fierce battles.”
Professor Gumbottom, during a time in the 1st century AD
“The most successful pirate in history was not a man, but a woman named Ching Shih, who rose from humble beginnings to command a vast fleet and dominate the South China Sea.”
Professor Gumbottom, upon arriving in 1807
“For several decades, the Olympic Games awarded medals not only for athletic feats but for excellence in literature, painting, sculpture, architecture, and music.”
Professor Gumbottom, during his visit to the 1924 Games
“Napoleon Bonaparte, one of history’s most formidable military leaders, once found himself overwhelmed by a charging horde of rabbits during a hunting trip arranged in his honor.”
Professor Gumbottom, during an unusual moment in 1807
“In the 1830s, ketchup was marketed as a medicine. It was believed to treat stomach ailments and digestive issues.”
Professor Gumbottom, passing through 1834
“Before becoming president, Abraham Lincoln built a reputation as a formidable wrestler, reportedly losing only one match out of hundreds.”
Professor Gumbottom, during a stop in 1832
“After his presidency, George Washington opened a whiskey distillery that grew into the largest in the young United States, producing thousands of gallons annually.”
Professor Gumbottom, during a visit in 1799
“Despite popular folklore, none of the accused witches during the Salem witch trials were burned at the stake. Most were imprisoned, and some were executed by hanging.”
Professor Gumbottom, upon arriving in 1692
“President Zachary Taylor died shortly after consuming excessive amounts of cherries and milk at a Fourth of July celebration.”
Professor Gumbottom, not long after July 1850
“Andrew Jackson owned a parrot so proficient in profanity that it reportedly had to be removed from his funeral for disrupting the service.”
Professor Gumbottom, somewhere around 1845
“In the Ancient Olympics, athletes competed entirely naked, believing it honored the gods and celebrated the human form in its purest state.”
Professor Gumbottom, somewhere in the 5th century BC
“In 1386, a pig in France was arrested, put on trial for murder, found guilty, and executed, reflecting a time when animals could be held legally accountable.”
Professor Gumbottom, upon arriving in medieval France
“During the Great Depression, families crafted clothing from flour and potato sacks, leading manufacturers to print decorative patterns on the fabric.”
Professor Gumbottom, during a time in the 1930s
“In the Victorian era, families often photographed their deceased loved ones, carefully posing them to preserve a final image of life.”
Professor Gumbottom, passing quietly through the 1800s
“The shortest war in recorded history lasted just 38 minutes, fought between Britain and Zanzibar over royal succession.”
Professor Gumbottom, during a brief visit in 1896
“Tug of war was once an official Olympic sport, with nations competing for medals in the early modern Games.”
Professor Gumbottom, during a visit to the early 1900s
“The University of Oxford began teaching students centuries before the Aztec Empire existed, making it older than one of history’s great civilizations.”
Professor Gumbottom, somewhere around 1100
“One of history’s most notorious serial killers, Countess Elizabeth Báthory, was accused of murdering hundreds of young women in 16th-century Hungary.”
Professor Gumbottom, lingering nervously in the 1500s
“The first Medals of Honor were awarded during the American Civil War to soldiers involved in a daring locomotive raid behind enemy lines.”
Professor Gumbottom, during a visit in 1862
“In parts of ancient Asia, execution by elephant was a practiced method of punishment, with animals trained to crush or slowly kill prisoners in highly controlled displays.”
Professor Gumbottom, somewhere in the ancient world
“Forks were once considered offensive to God in parts of Europe, dismissed as artificial hands and viewed with suspicion before eventually becoming a standard utensil.”
Professor Gumbottom, passing through the 11th century
“The nursery rhyme ‘Mary Had a Little Lamb’ has long been associated with Mary Sawyer, a Massachusetts girl who recalled that her pet lamb followed her to school one day.”
Professor Gumbottom, during a visit in the 1800s
“In the 16th century, wealthy Europeans consumed powdered human remains, believing they held medicinal properties, with Egyptian mummies considered especially valuable.”
Professor Gumbottom, during a rather disturbing moment in the 1500s
“Winston Churchill was known to smoke between eight and fifteen cigars a day and even secured a doctor’s note permitting him unlimited alcohol during Prohibition-era visits to the United States.”
Professor Gumbottom, somewhere in the 1940s
“Roman Emperor Caligula lavished extraordinary attention on his favorite horse, Incitatus. Ancient accounts describe a marble stall and jeweled collar and even claim that Caligula intended to make the horse a consul.”
Professor Gumbottom, somewhere around 40 AD
“In 1919, a massive tank of molasses in Boston burst, sending a deadly wave through the streets that destroyed buildings and claimed lives.”
Professor Gumbottom, during a visit in January 1919
“Following the execution of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, some citizens reportedly dipped handkerchiefs in their blood as macabre souvenirs.”
Professor Gumbottom, somewhere around 1793
“John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, once rivals and later friends, both died on July 4, 1826. It was the 50th anniversary of American independence.”
Professor Gumbottom, during a remarkable moment in 1826
“The eruption of Krakatoa in 1883 was so powerful that it was heard thousands of miles away and circled the globe multiple times as a shockwave.”
Professor Gumbottom, during his visit in 1883
“A baboon named Jack was employed by a South African railway system and performed his duties flawlessly for years without a single recorded mistake.”
Professor Gumbottom, during a stop in the late 1800s
“The guillotine was introduced during the French Revolution as a more ‘humane’ and equal method of execution for all social classes.”
Professor Gumbottom, during a visit in the late 1700s
“In Ancient Egypt, pillows were made of stone and designed to support the head.”
Professor Gumbottom, somewhere along the Nile
“The earliest known artworks date back roughly 100,000 years, marking humanity’s earliest attempts to record and express experience.”
Professor Gumbottom, traveling far before written history