For many years, some friends and I have had a book club. Aside from our monthly meetings, we have been friends for decades and taught together. We always enjoy reading our selections, but this past summer we decided to tweak our book club for this coming year. Inspired by my aunt's group in Indiana, we switched gears and transformed from a book club to a quest club since we're questing for knowledge. I was in charge of mapping out our new year (we meet August through May). Our state is our theme and everything will be related to Missouri in some fashion. We're going to Read MO to learn MO this season! I will share our selected title each month in a post so that you, too, can learn "mo" about the state!
Did you know that Missouri was home to a giantess? Considered the tallest woman of her era, Ella Kate Ewing was born in 1872 in northeastern MO. Although born of average size, she began really growing when she was seven years old. By the time she reached adulthood, Ella stood 8 feet, 4 inches! As you can imagine, a young lady her size was met with many challenges and people were sometimes inconsiderate of her feelings. Despite that, she grew into a remarkable person who was loving and kind and became known as the "Gentle Giantess". For many years, Ella traveled nationally and internationally touring with museums, exhibitions, circuses and a world's fair. For example, she was part of the Barnum and Bailey Circus, Ringling Brothers' Circus and the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair. People would come and pay to see the giantess on display. Sometimes she would hold a $1,000 bill in her hand. Anyone who could reach it, could have it. No one was ever successful, though! Going so many places was an opportunity not many had in her day and so people enjoyed speaking to Ella about the spots she'd visited and the things she had done. Additionally, she earned a large sum of money. For example, in 1907 she earned $115/week while working with the Ringling Brothers' Circus. To put things in perspective, a clown in the same show made $20/week. Her caring heart led her to be generous with her funds to help others. She was active in community involvement and deeply rooted in her church. Ella ultimately had a home built to her specifications with a six foot bathtub, eight foot doors and large furniture--including a six foot tall chest and a bed that was nine feet and six inches long.
In the last few years of her life, particularly, Ella struggled with some health issues and in 1913, at age 40, she died from pulmonary tuberculosis. Back in her day, the medical community didn't understand the condition whereby her body overproduced the hormone causing abnormal growth. There is now a lake named in memory of her. In 1969, the MO Soil Conservation Service built it in a county near her hometown and it was named Ella Ewing Lake.
Learning about Missouri's giantess was very interesting! I included pictures of the two books used for our meeting. The first is a children's book and the second was a gem in our local library. It provided a rich background of knowledge! Stay tuned for next month's book for our club as we read MO to learn MO!