Hello everyone. A big thank you to everyone who dropped by to join the conversation on earthquakes earlier this week. Some of your stories were really eye-poppin. I put the names of all those who stopped by in a cyber hat and randomly selected
Danielle B
Valri Western
Congratulations – you have each one a signed book of your choice from my backlist (You can find a list HERE). Once you’ve selected, send me the title along with your mailing info and I’ll get the book right on out to you.
Hello – Winnie Griggs here. Earlier today (Thursday) I heard news that caught my attention – an earthquake had been recorded about eighty miles south of where I live here in NW Louisiana. Even more surprising, it registered as a 4.9, making it the largest earthquake ever recorded inland in the state (There was a 5.2 registered offshore about 20 years ago). Luckily there weren’t any reports of serious injuries or property damage.
While we’re used to hurricanes, tornadoes and the occasional ice storm, earthquakes aren’t one of the natural disasters normally associated with my home state. That got me wondering what earthquakes must have been like for folks living in the Old West, long before modern seismology explained what was happening beneath the ground. Naturally this event sent me down one of my research rabbit holes.
Without modern scientific explanations, earthquakes could be deeply unsettling events. Many people initially assumed the shaking was caused by thunder, a mine explosion, or even distant artillery fire. It sometimes took time for residents to realize that towns across an entire region had felt the same tremor.
When we think of earthquakes in the USA, most folks usually think of California – events like the great San Francisco earthquake of 1906, the Owens Valley earthquake of 1872, or the Hayward earthquake of 1868.
In 1872, in California’s Owens Valley a particularly powerful and destructive earthquake struck. Often called the Lone Pine earthquake, it’s estimated to have been somewhere between magnitude 7.5 and 7.8. Much of the town of Lone Pine was destroyed as buildings collapsed, chimneys toppled, and the ground itself cracked open in places. Newspaper accounts from the time give us a vivid sense of what people experienced. One report described the moment this way:
“The shock came with a deep rumbling sound, and the earth rocked so violently that people could scarcely keep their feet. Buildings swayed, chimneys fell, and citizens rushed into the streets in alarm.”
Another observer later wrote that the ground seemed to move “like waves upon the sea.”
Of course, the earthquake most people think of when California is mentioned is the great San Francisco earthquake of 1906. That disaster struck early in the morning on April 18 and devastated the city. The shaking itself caused widespread damage, but the greatest destruction came from the fires that followed. With water mains broken and fire crews struggling to respond, flames swept through neighborhood after neighborhood. By the time the disaster ended, much of San Francisco had been destroyed and hundreds of thousands of residents were left homeless.
But earthquakes aren’t limited to the west coast. Tremors have been recorded in places like Texas, Colorado, Oklahoma—and yes, even Louisiana. The Rocky Mountain states, including Montana and Wyoming, have experienced their share as well.
While California experienced many of the best-known earthquakes, other parts of the American West were not immune. A powerful quake struck along the Arizona–Mexico border in 1887, sending tremors across much of the Southwest. The Rocky Mountain region – including parts of Montana and Wyoming – has also experienced periodic seismic activity caused by geological forces deep beneath the mountains.
Even the Mississippi River Valley has a remarkable earthquake history. A series of massive earthquakes struck near New Madrid, Missouri, in 1811 and 1812. These shocks were so powerful they were felt across much of the young United States, and church bells reportedly rang in Boston more than a thousand miles away. According to the US Geological Survey, the New Madrid earthquake was 10 times large than that of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake.
During the strongest shocks, witnesses reported that the Mississippi River itself appeared to run backward for a short time as powerful waves surged upstream before the river returned to its normal flow. I blogged about that several years ago – you can find it HERE.
A Few Earthquake Tidbits;
Hearing about the earthquake near my home today made me grateful it did such minor damage. Still, it’s fascinating to realize that people living in the Old West occasionally faced the same unsettling experience of feeling the ground move beneath their feet.
What about you? Did any of this information surprise you? Do you have any personal experience with an earthquake you can share with us? Leave a comment to be entered in a drawing for a signed copy of any of my available books.
Thanks to everyone who stopped by to leave comments on my post about dentistry in the old west – it was fun hearing your stories. I randomly selected two names for my giveaway – they are:
Rhonda McDermitt
Cherie J
Congratulations ladies! You’ve won your choice of a signed copy of any of my books. You can find a list of my books on my website HERE Once you’ve made your selection, email me with the title and your mailing info and I Ill get the book on out to you.
Hello – Winnie Griggs here. If you were in the path of the latest winter storm, I hope you stayed warm and safe. Here in northwest Louisiana, we had an unusual-for-us amount of snow and ice that brought much of daily life to a standstill.
I took advantage of the downtime to get a head start on this blog. While searching for a topic, I paged forward on my calendar and discovered that today, February 9th, is National Toothache Day (ugh – made my jaw ache just to think about it!). That, in turn, made me wonder how tooth trouble was actually handled by people in the American West.
I mean, I know how it’s usually depicted in Western novels, movies, and television shows. The familiar image usually involves a grimacing patient, a pair of pliers, and a generous dose of whiskey.
But I thought I’d dive deeper, do some research, and see if I could discover just how true-to-life that was. And what I found was that while there is some truth behind that picture, it represents only part of the story. And usually the earliest and roughest part at that. In reality, dental care on the frontier evolved over time, improving steadily as towns grew, training expanded, and access increased. Below is a summary of what I learned.
Early 1800s
In the early decades of the nineteenth century, dentistry was not yet a clearly defined profession, especially in frontier regions. Tooth problems were often handled by whoever was available and willing, including physicians, barber-surgeons, or occasionally a well-meaning neighbor or family member.
Extraction was often the only option once pain became severe. Preventive care was minimal, and pain relief was limited to home remedies or alcohol. Many people simply endured toothaches as long as they could, knowing that treatment options were few and often unpleasant.
This era, more than any other, is where many of the grim legends of Western dentistry originate.
Mid-1800s
As settlement pushed westward and towns became more established, dental care began to change. Dentistry was becoming recognized as a profession. One thing that surprised me was that traveling or itinerant dentists popped up during this time. Some had formal training, while others learned through apprenticeship or experience, and the quality of care could vary widely.
These itinerant dentists often announced their arrival ahead of time. They would set up temporary offices in hotel rooms or rented storefronts and stay just long enough to treat as many patients as possible before moving on to the next town. Their arrival was often welcome news, since even temporary access to dental care was better than waiting months, or even years, for help.
During this period, people typically tried home remedies first. Clove oil, herbal poultices, and alcohol were commonly used to dull pain or soothe inflammation. Tooth extraction was still common, but it was often delayed until pain became unbearable or infection set in. This is also the period most often depicted in popular culture—and often exaggerated for dramatic effect.
1880–1895
This was a time of real progress for dentistry and it also happens to be the timeframe where I set most of my stories. Dentistry became increasingly recognized as a distinct profession. Dental schools were more established, professional standards were improving, and trained dentists were far more common than many people (myself included!) realize, particularly in larger towns and railroad hubs.
Dental tools had improved, and while procedures were still uncomfortable by modern standards, they were often more controlled and deliberate. In better-equipped settings, anesthetics such as ether or chloroform might be used, though access varied depending on location and resources.
That said, progress was uneven. A resident of a well-connected town might have access to competent dental care, while someone living miles from the nearest rail line could still face long delays or limited options. Toothaches remained a serious concern—not just a matter of discomfort, but a threat to health, livelihood, and daily function.
Everyday Reality Across the Frontier
No matter the decade, tooth pain could interfere with nearly every aspect of life. Eating, sleeping, and working became difficult. Infections could spread, sometimes with dangerous consequences. Winter months made matters worse, limiting travel and access to care.
Because of this, dental care, however imperfect, was taken seriously. People feared toothaches not because they were weak, but because they understood the risks of letting them go untreated.
A Few Old West Dentistry Tidbits
Looking back, dental care in the Old West wasn’t quite as crude or hopeless as I’d always imagined. It wasn’t uniformly primitive, and by the late nineteenth century, real strides had been made—even if access still depended on where you lived. I’ve dealt with toothaches myself – not fun! So what strikes me most is the grit of everyday people who coped with toothaches when options were limited, and the very real gratitude they must have felt when skilled help was finally available.
So there you have it. Did any of this change your previous view of what dental care was like in the old west? Leave a comment to be entered in a drawing for a signed copy of one of my books.
Thanks to everyone who came by to discuss telegraphy with me – enjoyed reading each and every comment. I threw all the names in a cyber-hat and pulled out the following three:
Hello everyone – Winnie Griggs here. I hope you all had a joyful and blessed Christmas and that 2026 is starting out well for you.
Yesterday—January 11—marked the birthday of Ezra Cornell, one of the founders of Western Union. That bit of calendar trivia caught my attention because I’m beginning work on a new story which has a heroine who’s a telegrapher. As often happens, one small detail led me down a research rabbit trail—and I thought it would be fun to share a bit of that history with you today, along with some telegraph trivia.
Western Union was founded in 1851, at a time when the United States was expanding rapidly westward. What began as a network of regional telegraph lines soon grew into a nationwide system as smaller companies merged and new wires were strung across vast distances.
As railroads pushed west, telegraph lines often followed alongside them. By the late 1860s and 1870s, telegraph offices could be found in cities, railroad depots, military posts, and many small frontier towns. Messages that once took days or weeks to arrive by mail could now be sent in minutes.
For communities in the American West, this changed everything. News traveled faster. Businesses operated more efficiently. Law enforcement and railroads coordinated more safely. Families separated by miles of open country could remain connected—at least in brief, carefully worded messages.
And of course, as the territory the wires reached grew so did the need for telegraphers. Telegraphy was skilled work. Operators had to learn Morse code, develop speed and accuracy, and be able to translate rapid clicks into written messages without error. Training came through private telegraph schools, which often lasted three to six months, or through apprenticeships and on-the-job instruction in telegraph or railroad offices.
By the late 19th century, a notable number of telegraphers were women. Historians estimate that roughly 20–30 percent of telegraph operators in the United States were female by the 1880s and 1890s, with even higher percentages in some locations. For many women, telegraphy offered something rare for the era—respectable work, steady wages, and a measure of independence.
Skilled operators often developed what was known as a telegrapher’s “hand.” Just as handwriting varies from person to person, so did the rhythm and cadence of Morse code. Experienced telegraphers could sometimes recognize one another simply by listening to the pattern of taps coming through the sounder.
During the 19th century, the telegraph was not an automatic system. A trained operator had to be present, listening to the sounder, for a message to be received.
You may have seen telegraph recorder tapes in old photographs or classic movies—long strips of paper embossed with dots and dashes. Early telegraph systems did include recording registers, but by the late nineteenth century many offices, especially in smaller Western towns, had moved away from them. The machines were slower and could be mechanically finicky, and they required extra steps to translate the markings into readable text. Skilled operators could receive messages more quickly and accurately by ear, so the sounder became the preferred tool in most everyday offices.
Which meant if a message was sent while the telegrapher was away from the desk in one of these small Western towns, it simply wasn’t received. The sending office would get no acknowledgment and would try again later. There was no visual alert, no saved record, and no way for the operator to know a message had been attempted.
In shared spaces—such as a railroad depot—someone nearby might hear the sounder clicking and later mention that the wire was active. But unless that person was trained in Morse code, they wouldn’t know who sent the message or what it concerned. As it does today, timing mattered and could even be critical – but delays were simply part of life on the wire.
A Few Telegraph-related Tidbits
Learning more about the telegraph and the people who worked it has given me a deeper appreciation for the skill and responsibility involved in keeping those lines of communication open across miles of open country.
Did any of this information surprise you? Do you think you would have made a good telegrapher—and if not, what part of the job would you have found the most challenging? Leave a comment to be entered in a drawing for a signed copy of one of my books.
Hello everyone! Before I present my new release to you (or rather re-release!) I want to wish each and every one of you the happiest and most blessed of Christmas seasons. I truly count you all among my blessings – The Petticoats & Pistols readers are among the most supportive reader groups around.
His Holiday Deadline by Winnie Griggs
The Great Western Christmas Celebration
Now it’s time for our story twist. A catastrophe befalls our town – affecting the celebration or the Christmas Day service or some other aspect of Christmas for our town.
So what kind of catastrophe do we have and what is at stake? It could be disastrous – a blizzard threatens to cancel the charity food drive. Or tragic – a fever sweeps through the town. Or even slightly humorous – an unexpected balmy spell melts the snow and threatens to cancel the snowman building contest. Keep the year in mind so we don’t have a cattle stampede through town during modern times or canceled flights during the Oklahoma land rush.
Everyone who leaves a response by Saturday 12/13 will get their name entered in the random drawing for a $10 Amazon gift card.
Every entry will also be eligible for our oh-so-beautiful Grand Prize – a gorgeous quilt hand made by our very own Jo-Ann Roberts
NOTE: ALL winners will be announced on Sunday 12/14.
Thanks to everyone who stopped by to comment on my post this week, and thanks too for all the congrats and well wishes for my upcoming 50th wedding anniversary. I truly enjoyed reading all of your comments.
I tossed all the names of my commenters in a cyber hat and pulled out the following three names:
Kathleen O
Sally Schmidt
Kathy Bailey
Congratulations – you’ve won a signed copy of your choice of any book in my backlist – you can find a complete list HERE ). Once you’ve selected, email me with your choice and mailing info and I’ll get it on out to you.
Hello everyone, Winnie Griggs here. Today’s post is going to be a little different—more introspective than usual.
You see, November has always been a special month in our household. It’s the month when autumn finally settles in for good, when I start thinking about what I’m grateful for, the Christmas countdown, and cinnamon-spiced everything. But more personally, it’s the month that holds two of our children’s birthdays—both of which seem to land near Thanksgiving, and every so often, right on it. Those overlapping celebrations have made for some memorable holidays over the years, full of cake beside pumpkin pie and laughter that carried long after the dishes were done. There are plenty of extended-family birthdays, too—November has always been a big month for births in our family!
And not just birthdays. My parents were married in November, and my husband and I celebrate our wedding anniversary this month as well. This year, though, November feels a little different—richer somehow. My husband and I will be celebrating our fiftieth wedding anniversary—the so-called golden anniversary—and it truly does feel golden.
Half a century of shared adventures, ordinary days, and everything in between. When we married, we were young and full of dreams, sure we could take on anything life sent our way. Looking back now, I realize that while the dreams and adventures were wonderful, the real gift came in the everyday faithfulness—the simple rhythm of two people choosing each other over and over again.
Our children have planned a big family fish fry to mark the occasion. Nothing fancy—just our crew gathered outdoors, catching up and swapping stories while the little ones run wild and free. It feels exactly right for us: casual, family-focused, and full of laughter. I can’t think of a better way to celebrate five decades together than surrounded by the family and love that grew from those early years.
Maybe that’s why I’ve been thinking of my parents a lot lately. Their wedding anniversary also fell in November—seventy-four years ago. Both of them are gone now, but the memories linger. I can still picture the big celebrations we held for their 35th and 50th anniversaries—dress-up events full of family, friends, and music. They had so many people who loved them—a real tribute to the kind of folks they were. And now, all these years later, I see the same kind of joy echoing through our own family gatherings.
As I look back, I’m struck by how gratitude has a way of deepening over time. When we’re young, we’re thankful for the big moments—new jobs, new homes, new beginnings. But as the years pass, gratitude becomes quieter, steadier. It settles into the small things: a familiar hand reaching for yours, a child’s quick hug, a sunset shared in comfortable silence. And somewhere along the way, that gratitude transforms into a sense of fulfillment and blessing.
Fulfillment in knowing you’ve loved and been loved. Blessings in the memories built, the lessons learned, the laughter that lingers even after the moment has passed
I suppose that’s why this milestone feels less like a finish line and more like a sweet blessing. Fifty years together isn’t about perfection—it’s about persistence, forgiveness, laughter, and faith. And it’s about recognizing that the good things in life are rarely flashy. They’re built quietly, day by day, in the heart of a home filled with love.
So this November, amid birthday candles, Thanksgiving pies, and a family fish fry, my heart is full. Love and gratitude brought us here. A sense of fulfillment and an abiding faith keep us grounded.
And as a nod to the upcoming Thanksgiving Day celebration, what’s one person, moment, or memory you’re most grateful for this year? Leave a comment on this and/or on my post and you’ll be entered in a drawing for your choice of a signed copy of any of my books.
Thanks to everyone who came by to discuss pets with me 0 I truly enjoyed reading all of your comments. And I threw all of the names in a cyber hat and drew out the following:
Joannie Sico
Trudy C
Lori Smanski
Congratulations! You’ve won a signed copy of your choice of any of my available books. You can find a full list HERE. Once you’ve made your selection, send me (winnie@winniegriggs.com) the title and your mailing address and I’ll get your book on out to you