Peculiar People of the Past
A Russian mystic who gained influence over the royal family. He was controversial, mysterious, and later killed in a dramatic and much-legendary plot.
Who was Grigori Rasputin?
This is the culinary name for the meat derived from cows.
What is beef?
These would be workers who harvested large blocks of ice from frozen rivers and lakes for refrigeration before electric fridges.
What is an ice cutter?
It's founder opened Britain’s first tea room at 206 Strand, London, in 1706. Remarkably, the company still operates from the same location and holds the record for the world’s oldest logo, dating back to 1787.
What is Twinings?
A planetary-mass object or satellite planet.
What is a moon?
He produced films such as Hell’s Angels and helped develop aircraft including the H-4 Hercules, known as the “Spruce Goose.” Later in life, he became extremely reclusive and struggled with obsessive-compulsive behaviors.
Who was Howard Hughes?
An alcoholic beverage made from fermented grains.
What is beer?
These workers served sodas and ice cream drinks at soda fountains in pharmacies and diners.
What were soda jerks?
Established in 1909, this department store was beloved for its bargain items and pick-and-mix sweets. After closing most stores in 2009, it lives on in Germany, Austria, and Poland as a specialty retailer.
What is Woolworths?
A natural, protein-based fiber from the fleece of animals like sheep, goats, and camels, known for its warmth, elasticity, and durability.
What is wool?
An inventor and engineer known for his brilliant mind and unusual habits, including strict routines, fear of germs, and an obsession with the number three. He often worked through the night and lived a very solitary life.
Who was Nikola Tesla?
A slang term for an attractive man with a muscular physique.
What is a beefcake?
Usually women, they performed complex mathematical calculations by hand before electronic computers were invented.
What was a Human Computer?
It's founder opened a family herbal medicine shop in Nottingham in 1849. Now, it is a UK health and beauty leader, pioneering affordable healthcare and innovative pharmacy services.
What is Boots?
A silly, often embarrassing mistake or blunder, especially one made publicly or during a performance like a film or TV show.
What is a blooper?
The widow of a gun manufacturer who continuously built onto her home for decades, creating staircases to nowhere and doors opening into walls. While myths surround her motives, the house itself is real and documented.
Who was Sarah Winchester?
An antelope type animal, native to Eastern and Southern Africa
What is a wildebeest?
This individual would have arranged metal letters for printing newspapers and books before digital publishing.
What is a typesetter?
Founded in 1935 by Allen Lane, they revolutionized publishing with affordable, high-quality paperbacks, making literature accessible to the masses. Today, they remain a respected leader in publishing, with its classic orange covers instantly recognizable.
What is Penguin Books?
An example of this type of individual in Edmonton would be Daryl Katz.
What is a Tycoon?
An American-born entertainer who became a major star in France during the 1920s. She later worked as a spy for the French Resistance during World War II and was also active in the civil rights movement. Her bold performances and humanitarian work made her a lasting cultural icon.
Who Was Josephine Baker?
A large tree with smooth gray bark, and glossy leaves
What is a Beech tree?
Before alarm clocks, these individuals would tap on windows with a long stick to wake people up for work.
What is a knocker-upper?
Josiah, a pioneering potter, founded the company in 1759. Supported by the royal family, he introduced “Queensware” and championed the anti-slavery movement. Today, they remain a leading fine-china maker.
What is Wedgwood?
A complex West African-derived religion, prominent in Haiti and Louisiana, centered on serving spirits (Lwa) who act as intermediaries to a remote creator god.
What is voodoo?