Jake Leg

Jamaican Ginger extract, known as "Jake" was sold for medicinal purposes, claiming to cure a variety of illnesses. It also happened to contain between 70-80% ethanol, which made it a convenient alternative during the prohibition days. The government soon caught on to this and required the ingredients to be changed, discouraging drinkers with its newly bitter taste.

Harry Gross and Max Reisman began to work on an alternative that would pass Department of Agriculture tests and be bearable to taste buds.
To acomplish this they used TOCP, Tricresyl phosphate. While thought to be non-toxic at the time, it was found out to be a neurotoxin that causes a damage to nerve cells, resulting an a type of paralysis.
In 1930, following this new mixtures release on to the market, many jake users developed what became known as jake leg or jake paralysis. Victims began to loose the use of their hands and feet. Those that could still walk were unable to lift up their toes, causing them to hoist their legs up high to pick up their feet. The toes would hit the pavement first, followed by the heels in an arrangement the became known as the jake walk.
The doctored Jake was soon found to be the cause of the paralysis, and while many recovered, a large number were left with the effects of the neurotoxin permanently. The victims numbering 30-50 thousand are remember largely as the subject of a number of blues songs such as "Jake Leg Blues" by Mississippi Sheiks.

New London School

While the rest of the country was in the midst of the Great Depression, New London, Texas was feeling pretty wealthy with the finding of oil boosting Rusk County's economy. Little did they know, they would be in as deep a depression as the everyone else. March 18, 1937 the buildup of natural gas in the crawlspace beneath the school building had reached it's peak. A mere 13 minuets before the last bell, releasing all the students, the gas ignited, creating an explosion that many say caused the walls to heave outward and the roof to fly skyward. When the roof fell, the walls collapsed. Between 296 and 319 students and faculty died as a result of the explosion. Grief stricken parents filed out of a nearby building, were a PTA meeting was being held, hoping against hope that their children were safe. Luckily for some the 1st through 4th grades had been let go early, but for many the final school bell never tolled.

Business Plot

One of the most decorated Marines of US History, Major General Smedley Butler admits to congress that he was contacted by a group of wealthy industrialists, requesting him as to lead an army to overthrow the US government in a coup and establish a fascist regime. The group would be under the guise of a new veterans organization and if successful would have given Butler almost complete power as the "Secretary of General Affairs" with Roosevelt (the current president) as a figurehead.

The allegations were investigate by the McCormack-Dickstein Committee, later known as the House Un-American Activities Committee. While initial reports in the New York Times called it "a gigantic hoax", the committee's final report stated that the reports of a Fascist March on Washington was in fact contemplated, and would have been put into motion if and when the financial backing wished it.

The Public Enemy Era

Bonnie and Clyde and the Barrow Gang

Outlaws, robbers and criminals they stole the hearts of the public. Clyde Barrow and Bonnie Parker met January 1930 and are said to have fallen instantly for each other. Bonnie followed Clyde wherever he went, not engaging in the acts but accompanying him. Though they are remembered for robbing banks, they prefered to rob smaller gas stations and grocery stores. Clyde's reasoning behind his illegal acts is said to be revenge against the Texas Department of Corrections for abuses during his incarceration.

Bonnie and Clyde met their end on May 23, 1934 on a road near Bienville Parish, Louisiana. They were gunned down by Texas officers and Louisianna officers, without wharning or a chance to surrender.

"Baby Face" Nelson

Lester Nelson, known as "baby face" for his youthful appearance, was a deadly bank robber with a short temper and hatred of law enforcement officers. He met up with John Dillinger in 1934 and joined him as part of "the second Dillinger gang" robbing banks and engaging in multiple shootouts with FBI and other officers of the law. After Dillinger's death on July 22, 1934 Nelson became Public Enemy No.1. He later died from wounds sustained durring the Battle of Barrington shootout which included a car chase and shootout. Upon his death the FBI placed a "death order" out on Nelson's widow, making her the first female "public enemy".

Von Trapp Family Singers

The Von Trapp Family Singers, previously the Von Trapp Family Choir, were formed by Maria Von Trapp and Monsignor Franz Wasner in 1936. In 1938 the family leaves Austia to move to Italy. They tour Europe and America as a singing group and then later in 1939 they immigrate to the United States and settle down on a farm in Vermont.

Various Events and Tidbits

-1930's 3M company invents scotch tape, known as cellulose tape.

- April 1930 Twinkies are invented by James Dewar, utilizing shortcake pans. The original filling what banana cream, but was changed to vanilla during WWII due to shortage of bananas.
-1930 meteorites strike the rain forests of Brazil. Eye witness accounts claim that the sun turned red, that darkness befell the land and white ash fell from the skies. A whistling sound could be heard as three fireballs struck the earth, the explosion of which could be heard hundreds of kilometer away. Many months went by yet the fires still raged.
-the above picture is from the 1908 Tunguska meteorite crash in Siberia, the Brazil crash is said to be its twin.