Author Profile: Lannie Dietle

2024 Photo of Lannie Dietle

Born in 1953, Lannie Dietle was raised in rural western Pennsylvania, and graduated with honors from California State College in 1974. He currently lives in Maryland with his wife Cheryl. Before retiring, he was an industrial designer. He has been awarded 40 U.S. patents and numerous foreign patents, and was a recipient of the EPT Warner Professional Practice Award in 2020. His interest in history began as a youth, from discussions with his grandparents, and from two mid-1860s Civil War books he purchased at a rural auction in 1967.


Book cover: In the land of used to be.

“In the Land of Used to Be” is a lighthearted look at what life was like for a subset of the Baby Boomer generation: The country kids. The book is a walk down memory lane for Boomers who were raised in the country, or in small towns. For their children and grandchildren, it provides new insights about the youthful adventures and escapades of their elders — or makes them wonder if such a time ever really existed! (ISBN-13: 979-8327495098.)

link to book FB page


Book cover: Fort Cumberland.

The two-volume book “Fort Cumberland” is the definitive reference on Fort Cumberland and its environs prior to the founding of the town of Cumberland, Maryland. It achieved this status by providing abstracts of, and excerpts from, original documents in chronological order. This approach immerses the reader in history through the eyes of the individuals who experienced it firsthand. (ISBN-13: 978-1079929294 & 978-1080955091. Also available as an e-book; ASIN: B07VHS8PCX.)

link to book FB page


Book cover: Reconsidering Braddock's Road to Martin's.

“Reconsidering Braddock's Road to Martin's” challenges the conventional wisdom concerning the route General Edward Braddock's 1755 expedition followed between the present-day sites of Clarysville and Frostburg, and concerning the location of Martin’s Plantation. (ISBN-13: 978-1548712471.)


Book cover: Fort Cumberland: The Missing Years.

“Fort Cumberland: The Missing Years” broke new ground in understanding the environs of Fort Cumberland during the years between the end of the French and Indian War and the founding of the city of Cumberland, Maryland. (ISBN-13: 978-1540896285. Replaced by the more comprehensive two-volume book “Fort Cumberland.” See above.)


Book cover: In Search of the Turkey Foot Road.

“In Search of the Turkey Foot Road” identifies the Revolutionary War origin of the Turkey Foot Road, and delineates its route in Maryland and Pennsylvania. (Hybrid PDF & print format, with Michael McKenzie & editor Nancy Thoerig. Sold by the Mount Savage Historical Society.)


Book cover: Dietle genealogy book.

“Descendants of Johann Adam Dietel of 19th Century Somerset County, Pennsylvania” is a genealogy of the Somerset County, Pennsylvania Dietle/Dietle family. (Self-published, with Dana Moore.)

Purchase the book from the Mercer County Historical Society.