Mark Strecker
@markstreckerauthor.bsky.social
Writer of history articles, books, and travel logs. You see my work and learn a bit more about me here: www.markstrecker.com
This coming Saturday, Nov. 9, I will be at the Warren-Trumbull County Public Library's Local Author Fair. I'll be selling copies of my books HIDDEN HISTORY OF NORTHEAST OHIO and LOST OHIO TREASURE. I hope to see you there. #Warren-TrumbullCountyPublicLibrary #LocalAuthorFair #MarkStreckerAuthor
November 3, 2025 at 8:01 PM
This coming Saturday, Nov. 9, I will be at the Warren-Trumbull County Public Library's Local Author Fair. I'll be selling copies of my books HIDDEN HISTORY OF NORTHEAST OHIO and LOST OHIO TREASURE. I hope to see you there. #Warren-TrumbullCountyPublicLibrary #LocalAuthorFair #MarkStreckerAuthor
AuGlaize Village & Farm Museum in Defiance, OH, is filled with surprises, included two New Deal-era CCC buildings repurposed during WWII as barracks for German POWS. You can see more photos and read about my visit here: www.markstrecker.com/auglaize_vil.... #TravelAddicticsHistory #OhioHistory
September 21, 2025 at 7:48 PM
AuGlaize Village & Farm Museum in Defiance, OH, is filled with surprises, included two New Deal-era CCC buildings repurposed during WWII as barracks for German POWS. You can see more photos and read about my visit here: www.markstrecker.com/auglaize_vil.... #TravelAddicticsHistory #OhioHistory
This Sunday (Sept. 7), I will be at the 4th Annual North Coast Indie Author Expo. If you love books, this is the place to be. I'll be just one of a 48 authors selling countless titles. northcoastindies.weebly.com/2025-author-... I hope to see you there! #NorthCoastIndieAuthorBookExpo #MarkStrecker
September 5, 2025 at 2:38 PM
This Sunday (Sept. 7), I will be at the 4th Annual North Coast Indie Author Expo. If you love books, this is the place to be. I'll be just one of a 48 authors selling countless titles. northcoastindies.weebly.com/2025-author-... I hope to see you there! #NorthCoastIndieAuthorBookExpo #MarkStrecker
Here are some photos of my recent visit to Schoepfle Garden beside the Vermilion River in Birmingham, OH. It includes a photo of the Birmingham Community Cemetery, which is runs alongside the garden's grounds. #TravelAddicticsHistory #VermilionRiver #OhioHistory #PubicGardens #LorainMetroparks
August 31, 2025 at 5:08 PM
Here are some photos of my recent visit to Schoepfle Garden beside the Vermilion River in Birmingham, OH. It includes a photo of the Birmingham Community Cemetery, which is runs alongside the garden's grounds. #TravelAddicticsHistory #VermilionRiver #OhioHistory #PubicGardens #LorainMetroparks
Ever wonder why M&Ms were invented or how Cheetos is linked to a military program? The Science History Institute in Philadelphia, PA, has these answers and a whole lot more. You can read about my recent visit here: www.markstrecker.com/science-hist.... #TravelAddicticsHistory #histsci #histech
August 28, 2025 at 11:08 PM
Ever wonder why M&Ms were invented or how Cheetos is linked to a military program? The Science History Institute in Philadelphia, PA, has these answers and a whole lot more. You can read about my recent visit here: www.markstrecker.com/science-hist.... #TravelAddicticsHistory #histsci #histech
If you know nothing about the War for Independence and you go through the of the Museum of the American Revolution, you may come out an expert on the topic. If you’re well-versed on the topic, you’ll still learn things you didn’t know. www.markstrecker.com/museum-of-th... #TravelAddicticsHistory
August 23, 2025 at 2:21 PM
If you know nothing about the War for Independence and you go through the of the Museum of the American Revolution, you may come out an expert on the topic. If you’re well-versed on the topic, you’ll still learn things you didn’t know. www.markstrecker.com/museum-of-th... #TravelAddicticsHistory
Zoar Village in OH is a snapshot in time of what was once a 19th century communist village. That's right, they owned everything collectively until the third generation decided they liked private wealth better. www.markstrecker.com/zoar-village... #TravelAddicticsHistory #ohiohistory #ZoarVillage
August 14, 2025 at 9:37 PM
Zoar Village in OH is a snapshot in time of what was once a 19th century communist village. That's right, they owned everything collectively until the third generation decided they liked private wealth better. www.markstrecker.com/zoar-village... #TravelAddicticsHistory #ohiohistory #ZoarVillage
In downtown Woodville, OH, you'll find the Woodville Historical Museum, a one-room place jam-packed with artifacts of the past including a Native American mask. The village was once the center of an oil boom. www.markstrecker.com/woodville-hi... #TravelAddicticsHistory #ohiohistory #WoodvilleOH
August 13, 2025 at 10:09 PM
In downtown Woodville, OH, you'll find the Woodville Historical Museum, a one-room place jam-packed with artifacts of the past including a Native American mask. The village was once the center of an oil boom. www.markstrecker.com/woodville-hi... #TravelAddicticsHistory #ohiohistory #WoodvilleOH
The Wood County Historical Center & Museum in OH is located in a former "Infirmary," a euphemism for where the county sent poor and mentally ill people. At one point every county in OH had one. www.markstrecker.com/wood-county-... #TravelAddicticsHistory #ohiohistory #19thCenturyBuildings
August 12, 2025 at 9:54 PM
The Wood County Historical Center & Museum in OH is located in a former "Infirmary," a euphemism for where the county sent poor and mentally ill people. At one point every county in OH had one. www.markstrecker.com/wood-county-... #TravelAddicticsHistory #ohiohistory #19thCenturyBuildings
National Park rangers our a national treasure. The presentations they gave at Independence Hall during my recent visit were top-notch! #TravelAddicticsHistory #IndependenceHall #ILoveNationalParkRangers #PhiladelphiaHistory #History #PAHistory
August 11, 2025 at 10:27 PM
National Park rangers our a national treasure. The presentations they gave at Independence Hall during my recent visit were top-notch! #TravelAddicticsHistory #IndependenceHall #ILoveNationalParkRangers #PhiladelphiaHistory #History #PAHistory
Ben Franklin's Philadelphia house was torn down in 1812. On that spot today you'll find the Benjamin Franklin Museum at which I learned that Franklin invented windsurfing and call small, furry animals "skuggs." www.markstrecker.com/benjamin-fra... #TravelAddicticsHistory #BenFranklin #PhillyHistory
August 10, 2025 at 4:32 PM
Ben Franklin's Philadelphia house was torn down in 1812. On that spot today you'll find the Benjamin Franklin Museum at which I learned that Franklin invented windsurfing and call small, furry animals "skuggs." www.markstrecker.com/benjamin-fra... #TravelAddicticsHistory #BenFranklin #PhillyHistory
An old trope is fiction is that a character was raised by Indians to explain his woodcraft. At the Wolcott Heritage Center in Maumee, OH, I learned that Mary Wolcott's father was captured by Miami warriors in KY and raised by this people. www.markstrecker.com/wolcott-heri... #TravelAddicticsHistory
August 9, 2025 at 6:39 PM
An old trope is fiction is that a character was raised by Indians to explain his woodcraft. At the Wolcott Heritage Center in Maumee, OH, I learned that Mary Wolcott's father was captured by Miami warriors in KY and raised by this people. www.markstrecker.com/wolcott-heri... #TravelAddicticsHistory
I found the William McKinley Presidential Library & Museum in Canton, OH, the oddest museum of its type I've ever seen. In addition to being about McKinley, it's filled with dinosaurs and an ecology island! www.markstrecker.com/william-mcki... #TravelAddicticsHistory #ohiohistory #USpresidents
August 7, 2025 at 9:26 PM
I found the William McKinley Presidential Library & Museum in Canton, OH, the oddest museum of its type I've ever seen. In addition to being about McKinley, it's filled with dinosaurs and an ecology island! www.markstrecker.com/william-mcki... #TravelAddicticsHistory #ohiohistory #USpresidents
The White River Light Station Museum in MI isn't especially large, but it's worth visiting for the view alone. One interesting artifact I saw while there was a fire-extinguishing grenade. www.markstrecker.com/white-river-... #TravelAddicticsHistory #MIhistory #Lighthouses
August 6, 2025 at 9:12 PM
The White River Light Station Museum in MI isn't especially large, but it's worth visiting for the view alone. One interesting artifact I saw while there was a fire-extinguishing grenade. www.markstrecker.com/white-river-... #TravelAddicticsHistory #MIhistory #Lighthouses
The Wayne County Historical Society of Ohio in Wooster runs an extraordinary museum. When I visited back in 2018, they had some of the most impressive theater costumes for the local Ohio Light Opera. www.markstrecker.com/wayne-county... #TravelAddicticsHistory #OhioHistory #OhioLightOpera
July 30, 2025 at 10:19 PM
The Wayne County Historical Society of Ohio in Wooster runs an extraordinary museum. When I visited back in 2018, they had some of the most impressive theater costumes for the local Ohio Light Opera. www.markstrecker.com/wayne-county... #TravelAddicticsHistory #OhioHistory #OhioLightOpera
The Warther Museum near Dover, OH, is filled with the carvings of Ernest “Mooney” Warther. He made mostly steam engines and never never sold one, although he did go on the road to show them off. www.markstrecker.com/warther-muse... #TravelAddicticsHistory #ohiohistory
July 29, 2025 at 10:36 PM
The Warther Museum near Dover, OH, is filled with the carvings of Ernest “Mooney” Warther. He made mostly steam engines and never never sold one, although he did go on the road to show them off. www.markstrecker.com/warther-muse... #TravelAddicticsHistory #ohiohistory
At the Warren G. Harding Presidential Sites in Marion, OH, I learned that during Harding's courtship of his future wife, Florence Kling, her father threatened to kill him under the false belief that he had an African ancestor! www.markstrecker.com/warren-hardi... #TravelAddicticsHistory #history
July 28, 2025 at 7:33 PM
At the Warren G. Harding Presidential Sites in Marion, OH, I learned that during Harding's courtship of his future wife, Florence Kling, her father threatened to kill him under the false belief that he had an African ancestor! www.markstrecker.com/warren-hardi... #TravelAddicticsHistory #history
The Ohio Museum of Horror in Galion, OH, doesn't have the most well-designed exhibits, but if you like Halloween, this is the place for you! You can see human skulls, art by serial killer John Wayne Gacy, an X-Files script and artifacts by the Heaven's Gate death cult. #TravelAddicticsHistory
July 27, 2025 at 7:40 PM
The Ohio Museum of Horror in Galion, OH, doesn't have the most well-designed exhibits, but if you like Halloween, this is the place for you! You can see human skulls, art by serial killer John Wayne Gacy, an X-Files script and artifacts by the Heaven's Gate death cult. #TravelAddicticsHistory
The Victorian House in Holmes County, OH, was built for a Cleveland businessman Latham H. Brightman. He and his family stayed for just two years, then sold it. Now it serves as a museum for the non-Amish history of the county. www.markstrecker.com/victorian-ho... #TravelAddicticsHistory #ohiohistory
July 26, 2025 at 8:22 PM
The Victorian House in Holmes County, OH, was built for a Cleveland businessman Latham H. Brightman. He and his family stayed for just two years, then sold it. Now it serves as a museum for the non-Amish history of the county. www.markstrecker.com/victorian-ho... #TravelAddicticsHistory #ohiohistory
Curwood Castle in Owosso, MI, was built as the writing studio for James Oliver Curwood, a best-selling author whose name is nearly forgotten today despite many movies being made based on his books including 1988's The Bear. www.markstrecker.com/curwood-cast... #TravelAddicticsHistory #MIhistory
July 25, 2025 at 7:43 PM
Curwood Castle in Owosso, MI, was built as the writing studio for James Oliver Curwood, a best-selling author whose name is nearly forgotten today despite many movies being made based on his books including 1988's The Bear. www.markstrecker.com/curwood-cast... #TravelAddicticsHistory #MIhistory
In the movie Operation Petticoat, the USS Sea Tiger was painted pink for lack of gray paint. While no American submarine ever sailed while this color, the USS Cod did have a pink periscope! www.markstrecker.com/uss-cod.html... #TravelAddicticsHistory #WWII #NavalHistory #ohiohistory
July 24, 2025 at 9:20 PM
In the movie Operation Petticoat, the USS Sea Tiger was painted pink for lack of gray paint. While no American submarine ever sailed while this color, the USS Cod did have a pink periscope! www.markstrecker.com/uss-cod.html... #TravelAddicticsHistory #WWII #NavalHistory #ohiohistory
Shortly after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, I visited the Ukrainian Museum-Archives in Cleveland, OH, and here learned that during WWII, the Ukrainian Insurgent Army fought Nazis, Soviets, and anyone else keen on their subjection. www.markstrecker.com/ukrainian-mu... #TravelAddicticsHistory
July 23, 2025 at 9:47 PM
Shortly after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, I visited the Ukrainian Museum-Archives in Cleveland, OH, and here learned that during WWII, the Ukrainian Insurgent Army fought Nazis, Soviets, and anyone else keen on their subjection. www.markstrecker.com/ukrainian-mu... #TravelAddicticsHistory
A few years back while in WV I visited Thurmond, a ghost town and museum. While there I noticed many of the buildings in the museum had burned down, and I asked why. Turns out arson and a regular form of revenge! www.markstrecker.com/thurmond-nut... #TravelAddicticsHistory #WVHistory
July 21, 2025 at 10:29 PM
A few years back while in WV I visited Thurmond, a ghost town and museum. While there I noticed many of the buildings in the museum had burned down, and I asked why. Turns out arson and a regular form of revenge! www.markstrecker.com/thurmond-nut... #TravelAddicticsHistory #WVHistory
Despite its many appearances in movies, the Thompson machine gun was a commercial flop. The company that made it, Auto-Ordnance, was only saved from shutting down altogether by WWII. www.markstrecker.com/invention-of... #Guns #histsci #histech #history
July 20, 2025 at 8:50 PM
Despite its many appearances in movies, the Thompson machine gun was a commercial flop. The company that made it, Auto-Ordnance, was only saved from shutting down altogether by WWII. www.markstrecker.com/invention-of... #Guns #histsci #histech #history
At the Montrose Historical & Telephone Pioneer Museum in Montrose, MI, I saw MI's first telephone (c. 1885). It was part of a system that stretched just 2 miles, and that was about the limit of the earliest phones. You can read about my visit here: www.markstrecker.com/montrose-his....
July 19, 2025 at 3:08 PM
At the Montrose Historical & Telephone Pioneer Museum in Montrose, MI, I saw MI's first telephone (c. 1885). It was part of a system that stretched just 2 miles, and that was about the limit of the earliest phones. You can read about my visit here: www.markstrecker.com/montrose-his....