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     The new Nixa branch of the Christian County Library in Nixa, Missouri opened just in time for everyone to begin enjoying all the books added to their summer reading lists. As someone who grew up in the neighboring town of Ozark, I fondly remember Saturday morning trips to the main library. Now a new generation of young readers in Nixa can enjoy the benefits of easy access to books, programs, and other important services. Its a great asset to parents and all members of the community. Congratulations to the staff and stakeholders of the Christian County Library for working so hard to expand valuable library services outward throughout the county and a big thank you to the voters of Christian County for throwing your support behind such a important endeavor.     I am eager to see the new branch myself and excited to be one of the first scheduled authors to speak at the library. On June 2 at 11:30 AM I will be discussing Fire, Pestilence, and Death: St. Lo...
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May 17, 2018 is the 169th anniversary of the night of the Great Fire in St. Louis! When the first bells rang out on the levee that evening, the fire companies of St. Louis assembled and fought the most ferocious inferno that the city had ever seen. Considering the primitive equipment and infrastructure they had to work with, it is a wonder that the city didn't completely burn to the ground and hundreds of lives weren't lost. Like the men and women of today's municipal fire department, men liked Capt. Patrick Gorman, Fireman Fred Colburn, and Capt. Thomas Targee braved everything to save the lives and property of others. Remember them for their sacrifice and their selflessness. If you wish to learn more please join me in May for two public appearances at the St. Charles County Library. On May 8, I will be speaking at the Kathryn Linnemann Branch and on May 16 at the Corporate Parkway Branch. Both programs start at 7 PM. Books will be available for purchase at the events. C...
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Award and Thank You I've had the privilege to present at two very interesting venues in the last couple of weeks. First, I visited the Hannibal Free Public Library in Hannibal, MO. The library itself is historical and is maintained within a beautiful Beaux-Arts building in downtown Hannibal. Thank you to Hallie Yundt Silver and her staff for providing the space, set-up, and refreshments. I truly enjoyed the visit. Second, I returned to The Novel Neighbor bookstore in Webster Groves. Thank you to Amanda Clark for having me back. We had a good group of attendees which made for a pleasant evening. Finally, I am happy to announce that Fire, Pestilence, and Death: St. Louis 1849 is a Silver Medal winner in the category of Best Regional Non-Fiction History - Midwest as awarded by the Independent Publishers Association. I truly appreciate the award and look forward to seeing the presentment piece that accompanies it. 
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On this day, March 10, one hundred and sixty-nine years ago, an attempted political assassination of one of St. Louis's most prominent political figures was fumbled. Read about it in this History Happens Here article. http://mohistory.org/blog/loring-pickering-part-1/
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     By March 1849, it was clear that the global cholera pandemic had reached St. Louis and the Mississippi Valley. Even though cold, wet weather was still hanging over the region, people were already on the move. Anxious '49ers eager to get to the California gold fields and trains of Oregon-bound families were starting to stream into the city. The river was up and the streets were a muddy mess. Fine conditions for cholera transmission. As the travelers rolled in, the number of cholera victims began to rise too.      This was just the beginning of what would become a public health nightmare for the St. Louis and the region. Soon the weather would warm up, even greater numbers of people would pass through, and the medical community had no clue as to the cause or cure of this devastating disease. The population was helpless and the only hope was that the victims would be strong enough to survive.      This story is but one chapter in string...
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On March 13, I will be appearing at The Library Center in Springfield, Missouri. The presentation and book signing begins at 7 PM. Thank you Springfield-Greene County Library for hosting this event. Books will be available for purchase for $20. Cash only please. I look forward to seeing everyone in Springfield!
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In 1849, St. Louis was a frontier town at a crossroads. An exploding population was pushing the city, its infrastructure, and its residents to the limit. Fire had decimated a large part of the riverfront, and disease, greed, and crime were running rampant. Gordon culled publications, diaries, government records, and letters to reconstruct one of the most turbulent—and fascinating—years in St. Louis’s history. You can find my book through the following locations: Missouri History Museum Shop or https://missouri-history-museum-shop.myshopify.com/collections/saint-louis-books/products/fire-pestilence-and-death-st-louis-1849-by-christopher-alan-gordon My Amazon Author Page https://www.amazon.com/Christopher-Alan-Gordon/e/B079KMGKMD Barnes and Nobles locations or barnesandnoble.com Target.com   OR; Your favorite independent bookstore (Just ask them to contact University of Chicago Press)
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