Finding Oz page 4

 Finding Oz page 4 by ric gustafson

At the age of 15, L Frank Baum received a gift from his father. It was a small novelty printing press. Baum and his brother Harry created a newspaper. It was called ' Rose Lawn Home Journal'. In it, Baum distributed cunning poems and whimsical stories to friends and neighbors for free. Issues were four pages long.

In 1859, Baum's father struck it rich in the oil business. He used some of his oil profits to buy Rose Lawn. In 1873, panic set in. There was a ten day shut down of the New York Stock Exchange. Baum's father almost lost all of his fortune. Baum's father was also getting chronically ill. The doctor said the Panic of 1873 was destroying his health.

Money wise, the Panic of 1873 hit the Baum family hard. The bank tried to auction off Rose Lawn to the highest bidder. Ironically, the highest bidder was L Frank Baum himself. In 1880, Baum paid $3,500 and bought Rose Lawn. 

In 1881, Rose Lawn was sold to George Crouse for $13,864. Baum kept Rose Lawn in his name and still lived there.

research help: ' Finding Oz' by Evan I Schwartz

Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric