The "Exploring The Art of Photography" Photograph

It was an ordinary day.  And...once again, I have decided to share with you one of Lancaster's finest photographers' interesting and artistic photographs.  Suzette Wenger is one of Lancaster's best photographers who happens to work for the Lancaster Newspaper.  When I taught photography at Manheim Township High School, I often had Suzette visit to talk to my classes about her job at the Lancaster Newspaper as a Journalistic Photographer.  My students loved her talks, which led a few becoming professional photographers.  The Lancaster Newspaper has a weekly feature titled "Through The Viewfinder - Exploring The Art of Photography" which features a different photographer every week.  Recently, Suzette posted a black and white photograph of an Amish scooter resting on the side of a barn near Oxford, Pennsylvania.  She wrote that she had gained permission to take the photograph from the family after explaning who she was and how the photo would be used.  She continued by telling them that she remembered playing with a scooter very similar to this when she was a kid at her great-grandfather's house.  She recalled that it was a fun trek when you are a youngster.  But, as an adult, she is thankful to have a lot more horsepower under her hood.  As for her latest black & white photo, Suzette told readers that she appreciates the lines and the deep shadows in this image.  Perhaps the Amish enjoy taking their time to get where they are going, but I enjoy going a bit faster to all points of interest.  However, it still helps to be able to slow down enough so you can enjoy the view(finder).  Thanks Suzette for the fantastic work you do for my local LNP newspaper.  I appreciate all the wonderful photographs that you take.   The photography that appears every day in the paper is one reason I have a subscription to the LNP newspaper.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.  PS - My newspaper, which I used to copy this photo from,  had a slight sepia tone to it, thus the sepia in the photo.  But, it does give it a historical tone!

The "The Toast Of The Town...Ed Sullivan" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Reading in the latest REMIND magazine a story about a fellow named Ed Sullivan.  Remember him?  For many reading this story, I'm almost positive that many of you never heard of him or saw him on night-time TV.  The story I recently read about him stated that he had a face for radio, yet CBS recruited him for their new televised variety show known as "Toast of the Town" that first appeared on TV in 1948.  His face reminded you of a fire-and-brimstone preacher who rarely cracked a smile.  But, he actually was a former star athlete, journalist and popular radio host who eventually spent 25 years as American television's most trusted family entertainer.  He once said that when the cameras came barreling in on him, rigor mortis set in!  Sullivan always looked like he went to bed by 8:00 PM.  He was a middle-aged dad and grandpa who had a sixth sense and open mind about the most popular acts of the day for all generations, and a guest-censoring authoritarian who wasn't afraid to change his mind, inviting the Rolling Stones back just months after they upstaged him, and calling Elvis "a real decent fine boy."  Mr. Sullivan actually had a face for radio, but CBS recruited him to host their new televised variety show Toast of the Town in 1948.  Before long, Sullivan had made the show his own, and, befitting his power in Hollywood, Toast of the Town was officially renamed The Ed Sullivan Show in 1955.  Several high-profile people said he couldn't tell a joke, couldn't dance,  couldn't sing, but he does it better than anyone else!  In 1955, Time Magazine wrote "He moves like a sleepwalker, his smile is that of a man sucking lemons, his speech is frequently lost in a thicket of syntax, his eyes pop from their sockets or sink so deep in their bags that they seem to be peering up at the camera from the bottom of twin wells.  But, instead of frightening children...Ed Sullivan charms the whole family."  One thing that Sullivan did do was see talent and he was well known for overlooking skin color when it came to booking gusto for his show.  He literally and figuratively embraced Black talent such as Harry Belafonte, Sammy Davis Jr., The Jackson 5, Pearl Bailey, Ella Fitzgerald, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Flip Wilson, Richard Pryor and Diana Ross.  Ed was determined to book the best talent possible, thus he battled with the network bosses at times.  Some of the talent that he was able to book for the network was Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis, Hank Williams, Bob Hope, The Beatles, the Singing Nun, Shari Lewis with puppets Lamb Chop and Topo Gigio, plus Broadway, opera and ballet talent.  Another thing that Sullivan was able to do was laugh at himself and his many goof-ups.  He encouraged comedians to mimic his speech pattern and stiff mannerisms.  But, when "The Beatles" demanded their travel expenses be covered in addition to a $10,000 fee, Sullivan only agreed if they would commit to not just one but three performances.  My wife and I watched the Ed Sullivan Show just about every chance we had.  It was almost like watching a comedian when Ed Sullivan was on the screen.  At first, we thought he was trying to be funny, but then we realized that he really couldn't sing, dance, or tell a "real" joke.  Luckily, Sullivan had the ability to laugh at himself and his many goof-ups.  And that's probably what made him so adorable to many viewers.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.        

The "The King Of Rock n' Roll!" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Finishing reading my monthly magazine "REMIND."  I subscribed to the magazine a few years ago and should done so years before that.  "REMIND" is one of my favorite magazines that brings back so many memories of the music that ruled the world at one time in history.  In my latest February issue I found quite a few stories which I have shared with you in the past few weeks, but I have saved the best for last with my story today.  Story is about the "King of Rock n' Roll...Elvis "the Pelvis" Presley."  Story goes...originating from a blend of country, jazz and blues, rock 'n' roll was first born in the decade of the 1950s.  Most people who lived through that timespan can say without debate that Elvis Presley was the "King of Rock 'N Roll."  Elvis Presley was the first rock star.

It wasn't just the music, he was suave, he was swoon worthy, and he had the coolest style anyone had ever seen.  Between the hair, the way he moved and that guitar, Presley was almost singlehandedly responsible for the emergence of a new genre of music as well as rebel teen culture.  Elvis signed his first contract with RCA Reords in 1955 when I was 11 ears old, and made history with the 1956 song "Heartbreak Hotel," which soared to the top of the Billboard Top 100 charts for seven weeks and was later inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame for being one on the bestselling singles of its time.

Personal troubles would cause an early tragic death at the age of 42, and Elvis left behind one daughter, Lisa Marie Presley, who was briefly married to Michael Jackson and would carry on the family tradition by becoming a singer; her daughter Riley Keough is an actress best well know for playing the lead singer of the fictional '70s band in the 2023 show "Daisy Jones & the Six."  Performing must be in the blood!  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

 

The "Seniors Pick Pot Over Pills?" Story

It was an ordinary day.  And...before I go to far into my story...I should tell you that I am classified as a Senior (old person) based on my age and this story deals with people my age.  Seems that Seniors are one of the fastest-growing populations of cannabis users in the United States.  While some seniors have used pot for decades, studies suggest that others are turning to the drug for the first time to help them sleep better, dampen pain or treat anxiety...especially when prescription drugs, which often come with unwanted side effects, don't work as intended.  In 2007, only about 0.4% of people my age in the United States had reported using cannabis in the past year, according to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health.  That number rose to almost 3% by 2016 and has recently reached more than 8%.  A woman named Nancy, age 76, has been using cannabis recreationally for her entire adult life and she describes herself as "one of the hippies from the '60s."  But it wasn't until her husband was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease and dementia two years ago that she began to wonder about pot's medical use.  During the course of his illness, her husband, now 79, had developed insomnia.  Soon, neither of them were sleeping.  Doctors prescribed pills to help him rest, but nothing really worked.  At one point, he reacted so negatively to a medicine that he ended up in the hospital.  Then they tried an indica strain from a dispensary near where they live in Clearwater, Florida.  Now, after one gummy and a hit on a pipe, her husband "can sleep at night, which is a huge thing."  Marijuana's medicinal properties have not been well-studied, particularly among older users, making it difficult for doctors to counsel their patients on the benefits and risks.  Cannabis companies have rushed to fill the void, offering tips to older adults about doses or formulations and even creating products meant to appeal to them.  Meanwhile, as more seniors experiment with cannabis, they are evangelizing to one another about its benefits and sharing the problems they've encountered along the way.  "People are just desperate.  They're willing to try anything."  When his own grandmother became convinced that she was reliving the Holocaust during the later stages of her dementia, taking a dissolvable strip with a small amount of THC...the psychoactive component in marijuana, put an end to her flashbacks and helped her feel at peace.  A geriatric psychiatrist, Dr. Haley Solomon, said, "I have had dozens of patients who tell me that it has cured their various ailments and I think that it's really important to listen to them, to acknowledge it and then begin to study it further."  Older adults need to be aware of potential drug interactions and consider how cannabis can affect cognition, coordination and balance.  Seems there is a grassroots effort among some seniors to teach one another as to the good and bad points of the drug.  Carminetta Verner, 88, has become the go-to source for cannabis information at her retirement community in Montgomery County, Maryland which houses about 8,000 older adults.  In 2018 she founded a club devoted to educating residents about medical cannabis.  The club's membership is now about 100, and might be higher if it weren't for the stigma still associated with the drug.  There are a lot of people in pain and traditional medicine isn't helping.  As more states legalize  cannabis --- it is now legal in more than 20 states --- the number of seniors who turn to marijuana will only grow.  An recent Gallup poll found that about two-thirds of adults age 55 and older think the use of marijuana should be made legal.  Because cannabis in not federally legal, doctors don't have enough research to guide them on what conditions it is helpful for, who might be at higher risk for potential harms, how to dose it properly or which strains to recommend.  What makes it even more complicated is cannabis is a very complex plant and there are more than 100 cannabinoids - the biologically active components in the cannabis plant - as well as products with different ratios of THC to cannabidiol, or CBD.  A Dr. Han recommends patients start low and slow.  If a patient wants to try cannabis products containing THC, Han recommends starting at a low dose and then "give it one week" before making the decision to increase it.  Taking too many edibles can cause dizziness, confusion, changes in heart rate and blood pressure, panic attacks, anxiety, nausea, vomiting, and can even land some people in the emergency room.  Cannabis can interact with certain medications, like warfarin, a drug used to treat blood clots.  And seniors who take sedative-hypnotics like Ambien or benzodiazepines like Xanax, or who drink alcohol, should consider avoiding cannabis because it can cause dizziness and confusion and make seniors more susceptible to falls and injuries.  And smoking cannabis can trigger respiratory symptoms in those with chronic lung disease.  We are not yet ready to have everyone try cannabis, but research is being done that may lead to some new advancements in the use of Cannabis.  Here's hoping it reaches a positive conclusion in the near future.  Only time will tell.  And...here's hoping that time is soon.  Now...if I can only find where I can add my name to the list of whom want to legally give it a try....  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.       

The "A Plant With A Rare Trait" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Leafing through my morning newspaper when I came upon a story titled "New to science, plant with rare trait thrills botanists."  Naturally had to read the half-page story to see what it might be about.  Seems that a new species of palm has been discovered.  And, it flowers underground!  The palm, Pinanga subterranean, is one of 74 plants that scientists from the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew, London named last year as new to science, thrilling some in the botany world.  Evidently the plant is not hard to find since it grows abundantly on Borneo which is the third-latest island in the world and includes parts of Indonesia and Malaysia.  It is also not "new" because local Indigenous groups have known about it for some time.  In that sense, the "discovery" of Pinanga subterranean is an example of conventional science catching up with Indigenous knowledge.  In the case of the palm that flowers underground, the Kew scientists did not learn about it directly from Indigenous groups, but from Paul Chai, a Malaysian scientist from Borneo who had first encountered it about 20 years ago.  In October of 2018, over laksa and tea in the city of Kuchiing, Chai told them about the plant as they were preparing to visit a wildlife sanctuary on an unrelated botanical expedition.  Chai, now 82, had learned that members of a local Indigenous group, the Kenyah, sometimes chewed the fruit of the plant with betel leaves.  The Kenyah are a subgroup of a Borneo Indigenous tribe known as the Dayak whose livelihood revolves around harvesting forest products, including Starwood, a valuable ingredient in perfume.  Dayak people typically learn about plants from their parents, and the forest is so important to them that an Indigenous idiom likens it to breast milk.  When children were going to the forest, their parents would say, "Don't eat that, it can make you sick", or "This can cure fever" or "you can eat that fruit straightaway."  As for Pinanga subterranean, researchers weren't the only scientists to find it.  Indonesian botanist Augusti Randi was learning its local Indigenous names and planting its seeds in his garden on another part of Borneo.  Eventually the Kew scientists, along with Chai, teamed up with Augusti to write a paper about the plant that was published last year in the scientific journal "Palms".  Scott Zona, a botanist in North Carolina and co-deitor of Palms, said Pinanga subterranean was "the palm discovery of 2023, if not the decade."  He added that further research on it could help explain the evolutionary pressures that drive some plants underground.  Agusti, lead author of the study, said he thinks the plant might bloom underground - where there are fewer predators - to protect its flowers.  The only other known plant species that flowers and produces fruit underground belongs to a mysterious genus of orchid in Australia.  So...what do you think?  I never heard of a palm that flowers underground!  Only goes to show....you learn something new every day!  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy. 

Pinanga subterranean

The "Hawk To Return To The Skies After Recovery From Injury" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Reading in my local newspaper about a juvenile red-tail hawk that had flown into a nearby power line while trying to catch a squirrel that was already dead after making contact with the power line.  Luckily the Raven Ridge Wildlife Center in Washington Boro took in the juvenile hawk after it became tangled in the power lines near Harrisburg, PA. on January 10th of this year.  The experience almost killed the bird.  The bird is now a "spitfire" according to its handlers, and will be released into the wild within a week or two.  Raven Ridge director Tracie Young said the hawk likely flew into the power lines to catch the squirrel that was already dead and dangling from the lines.  It was stuck there for nearly three hours when PPL and a game warden showed up and got it lose.  It fell to the ground, motionless.  At first, they thought the bird was dead, but the bird showed faint signs of life, so the warden delivered it to Young and her team, who attended to the hawk.  The hawk was soaking wet and unresponsive at first, but after some time in an incubator and getting its appetite back, she's fully healthy and feisty.  She has been eating quite a bit, up to seven mice a day, and now has Raven Ridge employees bringing her food.  They believe the hawk is less than a year old based on its coloring of eyes and tail feathers.  The Raven Ridge team has been looking for tissue damage during the hawk's recovery, as electrical burns can internally damage birds and make part of them die, like their feet.  "She is one lucky hawk, because there's no indication of any burns."  Tracie Young said birds flying into power lines is a common occurrence and believes it happens daily.  One of the big problems in situations like these is people do not know about local rehabilitation centers like Raven Ridge and don't call to get help for animals.  To contact Raven ridge, call 717-808-2652 or send an email to Contact@ravenridge.org.  As seen by the accompanied photograph, the bird is beautiful.  She is just so lucky that she was sighted in time to save her.  I can't imagine how many animals are destroyed due to power lines as well as other types of traps or automobile strikes.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.  PS - The photograph below is of the red-tail hawk that was injured.  She's showing off for the camera!

The "Some Of My Favorite All-Time Rock 'n' Roll Musicians" Story

It was another ordinary day.  Writing a follow-up to my story that I wrote about watching one of my all-time favorite TV shows...American Bandstand.  Today I'll give you a few short stories about two of my most favorite Rock 'n Roll musicians...Elvis Presley and The Beatles.  

As for Elvis...story begins with...originating from a blend of country, jazz and blues, rock 'n' roll was first born in this decade, and most people can say without debate that Elvis Presley was the first rock Star.  It wasn't just the music.  He was suave, he was swoonworthy, and he had the coolest style anyone had ever seen.  Between the hair, the way he moved and that guitar, Elvis was almost singlehandedly responsible for the emergence of a new genre of music as well as rebel teen culture.  Elvis signed his first contract with RCA Records in 1955 and made history with the 1956 song "Heartbreak Hotel," which soared to the top of the Billboard Top 100 charts for seven week and was later inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame for being one of the bestselling singles of its time.  Personal troubles would cause an early tragic death at the age of 42, and Elvis left behind one daughter, Lisa Marie Presley, who was briefly married to Michael Jackson and would carry on the family tradition by becoming a singer; her daughter Riley Keough is an actress most well known for playing the lead singer of a fictional '70s band in the 2023 show Daisy Jones & the Six.  Performing must be in the blood.

And...as for The Beatles...story begins with...one cannot discuss the history of rock 'n' roll without mentioning the most influential and bestselling band of all time, The Beatles.  Probably still the most popular and well-known group to every exist, and perhaps the only one in which all four members - John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and George Harrison - were not only recognizable but also equally adored by fans.  This British quartet of talented Liverpool musicians took the world by storm in the 1960s with hit song after hit song, such as "Love Me Do," "Hey Jude" and "Here Comes the Sun."  Though problems began to divide the group by the end of the decade, much of the world would blame Lennon's wife Yoko Ono for the eventual breakup of the Beatles.  The remaining members went on to have successful solo careers, especially Paul McCartney and John Lennon, but Lennon's solo career and any chance of the band reuniting was put to a screeching halt after a man named Mark David Chapman murdered Lennon in front of his New York city residence in December 1980.

Perhaps you remember both Elvis and The Beatles!  If you don't...well there's something wrong with you!!  Can't imagine what type of water you must be drinking!!  I'm sure there are many other musicians that you may favor more than my two choices, but as they say...Too each their own!  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.    

I'm reminding You to buy "ReMIND" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Just returned from my mailbox and opened one of my favorite magazines, "ReMIND".  The magazine is published monthly and deals with everything "Rock and Roll."  You know...the best music ever created!  My latest issue's cover was plastered with some of the best well-known Rock & Roll singers...Buddy Holly, Little Richard, Chuck Berry, Bill Haley, and...of course... Elvis Presley!  But, the first page of the magazine showed a photograph of the "World's oldest teenager," Dick Clark who helped bring that new craze called rock 'n' roll to the nation in the 1950s.  I can remember coming home from elementary school and turning on the TV to watch "American Bandstand" on my parent's black and white TV.  Didn't matter what color the TV was as long as it played Rock 'n Roll...as loud as it could.  That was until my mom would enter the living room and make me turn down the volume.  Well, the latest issue of "REMIND" had quite a few stories about all the big time Rock 'n Roll artists from the '50s.  There were many stories about Elvis as well as stories about Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Bill Haley and his Comets, Buddy Holly & The Crickets, Richie Valens, The Beatles, The Big Bopper, Dion & The Belmonts and of course Dick Clark who brought all the music to us on his TV show "American Bandstand."  Any person my age today just has to remember American Bandstand!  So...look up American Bandstand on your computer and you'll be able to tell about how old I might be!  At the rear of the magazine was a full page pinup photograph of Elvis Presley from 1955.  Would be a great photograph to cut out and frame for those who had fallen in love with Elvis as a young girl...or even an older girl.  This month's issue of "REMIND" also had stories about The Beatles, Grateful Dead, The Rolling Stones, Fleetwod Mac, Led Zeppelin, The Ramones, U2, Prince, Bruce Springsteen, Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and Metallica.  But, this latest issue mostly featured "The History of American Bandstand" and those that performed live on their stage in nearby Philadelphia.  The show was broadcast for many years from Philadelphia, PA until it finally moved in 1963 to Los Angeles. My all-time favorite show ran for 24 years, ending its run on ABC in 1987.  It was said to be...one of those pop culture phenomenia that fans love to reminisce about.  I was lucky enough to be one of those fans!  I will forever remember those days when I hurried home from school to watch Bandstand on my parent's black and white television.  Mom was usually sitting next to me when Dick Clark came on and began the show.  She loved the show and the guest musicians just as much as I did.  Hey...we even did "The Twist" together...60 years ago!  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.  PS - Yeah...we had to do the twist with the volume turned down!

The "A Storied Journey" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Thinking back to when I first met a fellow by the name of Gregg Scott.  Greg has been a part of the history of Lancaster, Pennsylvania for decades.  His roots go back to an 1802 farmhouse in Bucks County where he grew up.  Gregg loved the medium of art, specifically drawing.  But, as time progressed, he learned to love mechanical drawing after taking a class in high school in that subject.  After  graduating from Penn State University he began a four-year internship for a design architect, Jim Reese, in Lancaster City in the mid 1970s.  That position led to a position with RLPS Architects, with the "S" being Gregg Scott.  Gregg's career at RLPS spanned 43 years of designing, problem solving and business development before he retired in 2019.  During those years, Gregg began a monthly newspaper column on architecture and design.  Through that column Gregg discovered Lancaster County's most prolific architect, C. Emlen Urban.  The more he dug, the more he realized that only two minor publications had every been written about the architect.  So....Greg set out to write his first book, Urban Legend: The Life and Legacy of C. Even Urban, which he released on November 16, 2023.  There are many parallels Gregg notes between himself and Urban, from their aptitude to their professional standing in the community.  What they most loved about Lancaster was it's history, which is why Gregg feels such pride in being the catalyst who gets to tell Urban's story.  If you care to order a copy of Gregg's great book, Urban Legend, you can order your copy at "egganddartbooks.com."  And...if you would like to read Greg's column in our local newspaper which appears monthly, it is known as The Architects' Alphabet which is a 26-part series describing design elements featured throughout the city of Lancaster, Pennsylvania.  You may be able to see the online version of this column at Lancaster.news/EggAndDart.  PS - Greg had gone through the alphabet one time and his success with the column was so great that he is in the process of going through the alphabet a second time.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.  PPS - I was able to meet Greg when he recently visited Woodcrest Villa in Lancaster, PA.

Greg Scott

"How Worried Are You About The Use of Nanoplastics?" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Reading about something known as nanoplastics.  Became quite concerned when I realized I drink quite a bit of fluids out of plastic containers.  Well, nanoplastics are smaller than a wavelength of light...too small to see with an optical microscope.  Previous studies showed they were there, including one published report in 2021 demonstrating how to detect them in bottled water.  To detect nanoparticles, scientists can take advantage of a phenomenon called Rayleigh scattering.  Shine a laser through pure water and you won't see the beam.  Add enough tiny particles, even nanoparticles and the beam becomes visible.  More particles means brighter scattering.  The new study used a different laser technique.  It revealed more particles per bottle than the 2021 study, though it wasn't clear why the two methods got such different results.  What you need to know is how much plastic is in a glass of tap water versus bottled water, and whether reusable bottles...which are often made of harder plastics...face the same problems as cheaper plastic bottles.  Do home filtering systems add or remove plastic nanoparticles?  In the past it was thought that you could be exposed to nanoparticles from gas stoves, wood fires, candles, cigarettes, e-cigarettes, diesel engines and more.  Well, we are all exposed, in many cases, to far more nanoparticles than are present in bottled water.  Airborne nanoparticle concentration is most commonly reported in weight per column of air and exposure tracked by mass.  But, is it the total amount of plastic or the number of pieces that matter most?  We don't seem to ingest quite as much plastic as is said in the media.  In the last several years, some news organizations have been repeating that we eat about a credit card's equivalent in plastic every week.  That figure, five grams, is dubious.  Scientists have found major errors in that analysis and subsequent studies give estimates a million times lower.  At least that is encouraging!  Most of the plastic we soncume comes from the larger particles.  The smaller nanoparticles don't make a significant change in the total mass ingested.  Even 240,000 nanoparticles weigh only trillions of a gram.  The study suggests that it's their small size that may pose the danger.  Nanoparticles can slip into the bloodstream, get into organs and sneak into sells, where they may cause harm!  A recent publication goes through models and animal studies showing that plastic likely goes into most of our major organs and even affects the good bacteria that makes up our microbiome.  That is not proof of harm, just reason for concern.  It also points to more research being needed!  Some studies suggest that not all plastic particles are equally dangerous.  Some studies showed noticeable health effects only from plastics with certain additives not found in water bottles.  The plastic problem can seem overwhelming when particles get inside our bodies from the air we breathe, the food we eat and the beverages we drink.  It isn't just bottled water, but likely all those popular sodas, juices, sports drinks and other beverages sold in plastic bottles.  Many reusable bottles are plastic or have plastic lids.  Tackling the problem requires more information about sizes and kinds of particles that are most dangerous and where they come from.  Cutting back on water is not the answer, since hydration is vital for health.  So perhaps, as a first step we could demand more drinking fountains, more water coolers and studies that vouch for the safety of reusable bottles.  Maybe there is a technology fix, something that can be done to reduce the production of the particles.  There could be demand for new forms of packaging.  And there could be a new demand for water and other drinks sold in glass bottles only.  But, enough alarming data has now amassed that it's time to move from fear and outrage to action!  But, will that happen?  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The History Of The Once Beloved Wabank Hotel!" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Reading about Lancaster County's very own President of the United States, James Buchanan.  Story dealt with a question that was posed to Lancaster Newspaper's "The Scribbler", Jack Brubaker.  A Mr. Robert Childs from Millersville, PA wanted to know about a place known as Wabank.  Mr. Brubaker's reply follows:  Seems that Wabank was located in Lancaster Township not far from where the Millersville Road, aka Route 741, crossed the Conestoga River.  To get to Wabank one needs to turn left where Wabank Road meets Millersville Road, then drive south and take a right on Rice Road.  Wabank was near the end of that road.  It was in the mid-1850s that a group of investors built the Wabank House which was a hugh resort on the western bank of the Conestoga River.  The four-story building had 100 bedrooms, a dining room that held about 300 people and an extensive grounds that were suitable for outdoor activities.  This place was popular during the days before people took long-distant vacations, such as vacations to Caribbean islands, instead of roaming around their local establishments.  The Wabank was a sprawing resort on the western bank of the Conestoga River.  It had a hugh seating area that could seat about 300 people as well as extensive ground around the resort.  A trip to the Wabank was considered a long-distance vacation in those days.  Many people found it enjoyable to visit locations along the Conestoga river as well as the mighty Susquehanna River.  Mr. James Buchanan, the Democratic candidate for President of the United States, was not one of those people.  The newspaper...The Lancaster Examiner, a Republican newspaper who supported John C. Fremont for President, fictitiously suggested he was at the Wabank, however, and subsequent reporting has repeated that claim as if it were fact.  But, it was actually Buchanan who was spending part of his summer at the Wabank and not Mr. Fremont.  The newspaper wrote:..."It is also the intention of Mr. Buchanan, upon leaving Wabank, to make an excursion to the head waters of Salt River, another place of some celebrity as a fashionable resort for gentlemen of leisure.  He will take passage in the boat that leaves Wabank on the 4th of November."  Seems that November 4 was the date of the 1856 election.  Newspapers often remarked that losing candidates would make a trip "up Salt River."  The salt would come from tears shed over defeat.  In this instance, any tears were shed by Fremont after he lost the election to Buchanan.  It was not only Fremont that suffered, since the Wabank House also floundered.  It was dismantled and transported to the small town to the north of Lancaster known as Lititz in 1863.  There it was coupled with the Lititz Springs Hotel as a gargantuan resort unit.   The Wabank portion of the group burned to the ground in 1873.  This ended the lifetime of the Wabank Hotel!  Therefore, I just missed visiting it (by about 75 years)!!  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

     

The "Oh! For Just One More Trip To SXM!

It was an ordinary day.  Wishing my wife and I could travel just one more time to the Caribbean for a vacation.  We have traveled to the Caribbean many times in our life and have totally enjoyed every minute of each trip.  Trips to St. Thomas, St. Croix, Tortola, Virgin Gorda, Antigua, Bahamas, Aruba, Jamaica,  Curacao, Grand Cayman, Anguilla, Turks and Caicos, St. Barths and Barbados all were stops along the way as we spent most of our retirement years enjoying warm water and sun.  We have been extremely lucky to have had a healthy retirement which allowed us to travel as much as we have.  But, time does take it's toll!  My back has been a factor and I struggle to walk and stand up at times.  Carol's health has been much better, but she tires at times....usually trying to take care of me.  So, when I told her the other day that we need to take at least one more trip to the Caribbean...her eyes brightened and I could almost see her head to the closet to get the luggage out of the closet.  If...and when we do decide to travel to the Caribbean, it well be to our most favorite vacation warm spot, the island known as Sint Maarten/St. Martin.  One side of the island its Dutch while the other side is French.  If you have been reading this blog, you will remember that we have made several trips to the dual island for vacationing as well as spending time with the many friends that we have come to know since we have traveled to the island.  One of our first stops after renting a car from Leslie would be a visit to Barbara who lives in the hills of Sint Maarten.  We met Barbara on our first trip and found out she lived in our home state of Pennsylvania before she moved to Sint Maarten years ago.  We know the exact villa that we want to rent from Magali, our island Realtor, whom we got to know on our first trip to the island.  And, then there is the young girl named Dakota who was our waitress many times who has the same two different colored eyes as I do.  And, can't forget Crystal, our favorite waitress by the beach who always remembered us each and every time we would visit her island paradise.  Each visit yielded a few new friends that we find while looking at our many scrapbooks that tell of our love of the dual island known as Sint Maarten/St. Martin.  Anyone up for a visit to the Caribbean with us?  You pay and we'll be your tour guys!  I promise!!  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The "A Balloon Ride To The North Pole" Story

  The story that I have posted today to my blog is not my story.  I read it a few days ago and thought it so interesting that I decided to post it here for you to read.  I hope you enjoy it!                                         

Balloonists that disappeared when trying to reach the North Pole.  The story that follows was written by Mr. Branden Phillips

In 1897, three explorers set out to reach the North Pole by hot air balloon—but they never made it. Their disappearance became one of the great unresolved dramas of Arctic exploration.  Hundreds of people tried to reach the North Pole in the 19th century, all by ship or sledge.  All failed; dozens perished.  But only three tried to reach the so-called Artic Grail by balloon.  They were led by Swedish engineer Salomon August Andrée, who told a London audience at the Sixth International Geographical Congress in 1895 that a hydrogen balloon could succeed where other methods had not.  Andrée’s critics heaped scorn on what the London magazine Punch called his “balloonatic” notions.  There was no way to control speed and direction, they said.  Failure was inevitable.  Undaunted, Andrée would take off from Sweden with two fellow explorers two yers later to try to reach the pole...only to disappear.  Decades would pass before the world knew of their fate.  Born in 1854 in the Swedish town of Gränna, Andrée grew up to be a mechanical engineer with a keen interest in aviation.  In 1876, at the age of 22, he was wowed at the Philadelphia World’s Fair by aeronautic and balloon displays, seeding his lifelong fasciation with balloon flight.  Andrée was born into a period of Artic exploration.  High-profile attempts to reach the North Pole were all the rage, yet none had been successful.  In 1871 American explorer Charles Francis Hall had tried and failed to reach the North Pole aboard the ship Polaris.  Undeterred by Hall’s failure, British naval officer George Nares set out for the pole in 1875, and likewise did not make it.  Nares’s venture convinced many there was no way to sail to the North Pole.  Having caught the ballooning bug in Philadelphia, Andrée threw himself into flight, making several crossings of the Baltic Sea.  These experiences paved the way to the conference speech he gave in London in 1895, when he made his much criticized proposal that the pole could be reached by balloon.  Andrée, however, had answers for every objection.  His balloon would be 100 feet tall and made of double-ply silk, varnished on both sides to prevent gas leakage, thus ensuring they would stay aloft for many days.  His wickerwork “car” carried bunks for a crew of three men, three sledges, two light boats, tents and significant provisions.  He attached sails to steer, and drag ropes to control altitude.  His study of winds had convinced him that a steady northerly wind would take them over the North Pole to Alaska in a matter of days. 

 

Taking Flight

Although still regarded as reckless by many, Andreé’s plan impressed Sweden’s King Oscar II.  Alfred Nobel, the wealthy inventor of dynamite, provided the funding, eager for his country to make a mark in Artic exploration.  Andreés scheme attracted global attention.  The press would be updated via buoys and carrier pigeons.  On July 11, 1897, following many frustrated delays, Andree and his crew...Nils Strindberg, an assistant professor of physics and photographer, and Knut Fraenkel, a civil engineer...lifted off from Danes Island, Spitsbergen in their balloon, dubbed the Örnen (Eagle).  

When it was inflated for the first time in 1896, Andreé’s balloon was leaking hydrogen gas.  To make it airtight, the silk was doubled and varnished on both sides.  Although no balloon had flown more than 36 hours, it’s maker said this balloon could stay aloft for a month.  Seeing that it still leaked gas, however, an original member of the team, Nils Ekholn, backed out of the mission.  He was replaced by civil engineer Knut Fraenkel.  After briefly soaring above the crowd, something went wrong: Either a sudden cold current of air or the effect of the hanging drag ropes caused the craft to be forced downward so sharply that the car struck the water.  Onlookers screamed as Andreé released ballast.  The balloon climbed and was visible for about an hour, calmly soaring away to the northeast.  It was the lst time the three men were ever seen alive.  “Among the mysteries of the fates of several North Pole explorers, that of Andreé and his balloon expedition may be the greatest,” said P.J. Capelotti, professor of anthropology at Penn State University and the author of The Greatest Show in the Artic.  “He used a novel, daring, and, as many thought, foolhardy technology all but guaranteed to appeal to the imagination.”  Over a week after the launch, one of Andreé’s carrier pigeons was intercepted with a message.  Written on July 13, it stated: “82 deg.north latitude...Good journey eastwards, 10 deg. south.  All goes well on board.  This is third pigeon post.”  No other messages, however, were found.  “Where is Andreé? is the question being asked the civilized world over,” declared the Galvelston Daily News on August 6.  Years would pass before two buoys were found, both dropped on the day of the launch. One read: “We are now in over the ice which is much broken up in all directions.  Weather magnificent.  In best of humors.”  Expeditions were sent to find the three men, but no trace of them or the balloon was found.  The mission was lost.  

 

Unexpected recovery.  More than three decades later, the mystery would be solved.  In August 1930 a team of Norwegian scientists were studying glaciers aboard a seal hunting vessel.  They took advantage of the unusually warm summer to land on White Island. Exploring the island, they were surprised to find the remains of a boat sticking out of the ice.  In it was a hook with the words “Andreés Pol. Exp. 1896” stamped on it.  More than three decades had passed, but the fate of the Andreé expedition was finally   known.  After further exploration, the remains of Andreé, Strindberg, and Fraenkel were recovered, as were their diaries, logbooks, camera, and film.  The three men’s bodies were transported back to the Swedish capital, Stockholm, where they were cremated and buried.  The diaries and photographs clarified much of what had befallen the crew after takeoff on July 1897.  The Örnen had remained airborne for nearly three days as it drifted northeast.  Andreé’s sense of wonder is apparent from his journal entries.  It is not a little strange to be floating here above the Polar Sea?  To be the first that have floated here in a balloon...We think we can well face death, having done what we have done.  Isn’t it all, perhaps, the expression of an extremely strong sense of individuality which cannot bear the thought of living and dying like a man in the ranks, forgotten by coming generations?  While this entry was being written, the mission was already running into trouble.  Shifting winds pushed the craft westward from July 12.  Hydrogen gas was leaking from the balloon, which was hovering at low altitude.  Fog caused a layer of thick ice to form on the balloon’s surface, weighing it down.  To stay aloft, they threw out ballast and some equipment, but to no avail.  For long stretches, the balloon bounced along the ground “about every 50 meters.”  On July 14 the team decided to jump ship and abandon the mission, 300 miles away from the pole.  They were never seen again!  So ends my story for today. It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy. 

The "Ever Hear Of Feagleyville?" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Sky was overcast with a prediction of snow for the next few days.  I had just finished reading an article in my local newspaper titled "Feagleyville and the benefits of apple dumplings." Now, who wouldn't spend a few minutes reading an article with a title like that?  The article was written by Jack Brubaker, aka The Scribbler, who is perhaps one of the best columnists Lancaster Newspaper ever had.  He has been known as "The Scribbler" for as long as I can remember...and that's a long, long time...so it is!  His recent article, or column if you prefer, was about a Lancaster neighborhood that no longer exists.  After reading a bit more of his column, I decided to take a look at the neighborhood which he was describing.  Hopped in the car and headed in the direction of North Prince Street and West Clay Street in the city of Lancaster, Pennsylvania to see what his article might be about.  My reason for concern is that I grew up a few blocks away from the site that he had been writing about in the newspaper.  Wasn't more than 10 minutes from my home at Woodcrest Villa before I turned off of North Prince Street onto West Clay Street.  Wow!  Little did I recognize the block that at one time was a place that I would ride my two-wheel bicycle for some of the best pastries in Lancaster County.  Place was called Gunzenhauser Bakery and the building covered close to a half-city block at the north end of the city of Lancaster.  I lived perhaps three blocks from the bakery on the last block of North Queen Street with my mom, dad and younger brother.  We lived in the last house on North Queen...a hop, skip and jump from Lancaster's Train Station.  My mom would often ask me to ride my bike to the Gunenhauser Bakery store to buy pastries for our family or perhaps for a party she had planned for the family or friends.  About a block from the place you could smell the sweet pastries that had just been removed from the ovens.   From my many travels to the bakery, I knew quite a few of the people who worked there.  They knew my favorites and when I would walk in the store they often would offer me a free donut or pastry, or whatever was fresh at the time I entered the store.  So, when I pulled up next to the bakery this morning I was shocked as to what I saw in front of me.  

The place was in shambles!!  How could what I saw have happened in such a short time from when my family moved from N. Queen Street to today!!  As I sat in my car, across from what at one time was the entrance to the bakery, I just shook my head.  Than I began to do some figuring.  My family moved from North Queen Street to Grandview Heights when I entered college which was in 1962.

 That was 62 years ago!!!  OMG!!  How is that possible???  I hadn't been to that bakery for over 60 years!  I'll bet I passed it close to a thousand times since when I moved away for it, but never bothered to stop and take a look at the bakery on Clay Street.  Well!  After my visit today...I found it is no longer there.  How long ago was it dismantled?  And, why did they close the place?  Was it losing money?  Was the neighborhood so run down that people couldn't afford pastries?  And now, as "The Scribbler" writes, the place is to be demolished "as soon as possible."  As I sat in my car this morning across from what used to be the Bakery Store, I found it hard to believe what I was looking at.  The building was boarded up with bright orange pylons running the length of the building from North Prince St. to halfway on East Clay Street.  There is no bakery anymore!!  And, by the looks of it...there hasn't been one for years.  And...to top that off, the entire place is being dismantled and leveled as soon as they can get it done..or so it looks that way.  The newspaper article I had read last evening stated that The Historic Preservation Trust of Lancaster County had asked the city to reconsider demolition before allowing owner Charter Homes & Neighborhoods to destroy a "historically significant" building.  Seems that at one time in history, the neighborhood was known as Feagleyville.  I never knew that when I lived close to the bakery!!  Seems that Fegleyville had been demolished to make way for the Gunzenhauser Bakery!  As I sat in my car, shaking my head, I knew it was hopeless.  I did read a bit more about Fegleyville which was centered along Clay and Ross Streets.  Now,  that will have to be another story in the near future!   John Landis Feagley, who lived on nearby Christian Street began purchasing dwellings without electricity or running water.  Some had dirt floors.  He wanted to expand his operation, but the city rejected his plans.  He notified those that were living in those old homes that they would have to move out of the homes, since he had sold the property to Christian Gunzenhauser.  Ah!  So Mr. Gunzenhauser built his huge bakery on what at one time was known as Feagleyville!  Boy... the things I never knew before and am only learning today!  Well, the old Gunzenhauer bakery will soon be history.  All the windows are boarded up and there is a big fence around about a quarter-of-a-city block.  What will fill the space is a mystery to most.  Perhaps it will provide parking for the nearby professional baseball stadium where the Lancaster Barnstormers play.  Who knows!!  Certainly not me!!  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.  

The..."Oh, Isn't The Snow Just Beautiful?" Story

It was an ordinary day.  9:53 AM and I'm sitting in front of my desktop computer preparing to write another story.  To my left sits one of my cats, Snickerdoodle, who is looking out the window at all the snowflakes that are falling.  Yesterday the weather prediction for today was to be heavy snowfall with a possible accumulations of up to 6-8 inches in some parts of Lancaster County.  I awoke this morning to my two cats sitting in the bedroom window, watching the white stuff pass by them as it accumulated on the windowsill as well as the rear deck.  Got up to take a look and sure enough, the snow had a depth of about three-four inches on the patio table with another full-day more of the white stuff expected to fall before the snow stopped.  I thought to myself...let it snow!  Carol and I had planned ahead and went to the grocery store yesterday instead of waiting to go on our usual day of Friday.  We were surprised that the grocery store had very few patrons yesterday since the Harrisburg Weather Bureau had predicted up to 8 inches of snow for Lancaster County, PA.  And, that was on top of the 5 inches that we had a few days ago.  Luckily, the previous snow had been fairly well scraped from our driveway and front walk immediately after it fell, which is one chore that our retirement community takes care of for its residents.  I used to enjoy shoveling snow, but that's when my three kids were still living at home and pitched in with the snow removal.  Now, it is my wife and myself and neither one of us enjoys lifting the snow to clear the driveway and walkway into our villa.  As long as we don't need immediate attention for snow removal, our front walk, walk to our front door and driveway from the curb to our garage door is all cleared and salted for us.  Yeah...I know, it is part of our maintenance fee that we are charged every month, but it is certainly a back-saver for someone who moved here so they wouldn't have to do chores such as lawn work, house maintenance and snow removal.  My back hasn't felt as good as it has in the past 14 months after moving to Woodcrest Villa.  Hey, you must try it when you are old enough to appreciate someone doing all the hard labor for the upkeep on your living quarters.  When we heard the prediction for close to 24 hours of snow from yesterday

into late mid-day today, we decided to go to the grocery store, gather all our mail and sit back and enjoy the beautiful snow as it covers the pathways, trees and shrubs, and sidewalks and driveway leading into our villa.  I suspect we have close to 4-5 inches that has fallen already with the prediction to continue snow falling into the later afternoon to early evening.  As of now, there are no vehicles working on the snow removal or workers shoveling snow up and down our street known as  Rubia Place.  With full cupboards of food and a fully stocked fridge, Carol and I are set for a fun day, evening and tomorrow of relaxation with our two cats.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.  PS - Just saw that there were almost 400 closings and delays in the Lancaster County area and reduced bus routes running due to the snow.  That just makes it so much more beautiful!  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.      

The Design Element "C" For "Cartouche" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Once again I'm walking the streets of downtown Lancaster, Pennsylvania searching for buildings that exhibit decorative frames around an oval or rectangular shape on the side of, or on the front of a building.  The decorative oval design surrounded by scrollwork is referred to as "Cartouche."  The design style dates back to the 16th century.  This decorative design element is typically found over doors or entrances, above windows or at the intersection of a wall and a ceiling.  Most often, the oval or rectangular is slightly convex and framed by a scroll work of ribbons or leaves. The Renaissance period brought back the cartouche after its long absence - since ancient Rome.  The Italian artists of the 16th century would paint small vignettes on the low-relief oval and frame them with elaborately designed scrolls, flowers and other organics.  The American Renaissance period began in 1871, not long before the Philadelphia Centennial exhibition, and ended during World War I, in approximately 1917.  The resurgence was the belief that America was the heir to Greek democracy.  Cartouches can be found both inside and outside of a building.  For example, the Fulton Opera House in downtown Lancaster, Pennsylvania displays a cartouche directly below the statue of Robert Fulton, and they are in great abundance on the interior.  All the major Renaissance buildings in the city of Lancaster were designed by C. Emlen Urban between 1904 and 1924 and typically include a cartouche.  Though they are most often found on public buildings, including commercial, retail, civic structures and schools, there are a few examples of cartouche architecture on private residences.  The end of the American Renaissance period, in the mid-1920s, ended the love affair with the cartouche.  If you ever have the chance to visit the city of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, check out the architecture to see if you can find a cartouche design.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

This is the old Hager Bros. Store on W.King St. 

This is on the inside of Fulton Opera House on N. Prince St.

This design is on the Kirk Johnson building on West Orange St.

This is on the Watt & Shand Building on Lancaster Square.

The "A Truly Sad Newspaper Story"

It was an ordinary day.  Sharing with my wife a story about our old neighborhood of Grandview Heights where we lived for many years.  We moved to Grandview Heights a few years after we had married and found a home in the same block where my parents lived at the time.  We stayed there until our children had all graduated from Manheim Township High School where I taught high school Industrial Arts.  Our next move was to another area of Manheim Township to a house that looked like a "beach house".  Just loved the place and spent quite a few years at that location until it became too much to handle in my senior years. We recently moved to Woodcrest Villa, a retirement community on the west side of Lancaster.  Well, today I happened upon a story that told about a death in Grandview Heights, close to our old house.  Seems a person had died after a tree fell on their car they were riding in at the time.  Emergency crews were dispatched to the 600 block of McGrann Boulevard around 12:30 p.m. where a person inside the crushed car was pronounced dead.  The name of the victim had not been released.  Grandview is a beautiful neighborhood with many old tree-covered roads.  Often wondered what would happen if a few of the trees might topple over due to the size of them.  Well, I found out after reading the newspaper story.  Seems that the coroner's office will be conducting a computerized tomography scan, which aids in detecting internal injuries, instead of having to do an autopsy.  I had never heard of such a thing, but it must save both time and give a more detailed look at injuries that may have been sustained in an accident.  I often wondered why someone couldn't come up with a better way to tell how death had occurred in an accident.  I'm sure that Dr. Diamantoni, the Lancaster County Coroner and a former student of mine at Manheim Township High School, will appreciate new and hopefully more precise ways to detect internal reasons for death.  So sorry for the accident that caused the death of the person.  It was reported in the same newspaper story that many other parts of Lancaster were closed off due to the extremely high winds which were causing power outages and perhaps downing trees.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The "Let It Snow...Let It Snow...Let It Snow!" Story

It was an ordinary day.  The story you are about to read I wrote about a week or so ago...soon after we had experienced a snow storm and when everything was covered in a beautiful white coating of snow.  Well...I never did post that story, since I had a few other stories I wanted to share with you instead of the snow story.  But...today...as I sit by my computer, I am once again looking out my window to a beautiful coating of snow that began yesterday and is still dropping layers of white snow flakes.  Looks just beautiful!  And, luckily for me, I don't have to do anything about it!  So, rather than re-do what I did just a week or so ago by writing my story about it snowing, I will just post my original story from a week ago......  

It was an ordinary day.  Sitting by my computer, getting ready to type another story.  Easy decision to make as to what I should write about, since there is about a half-foot of snow in front of my Villa at 408 Rubia at Woodcrest Villa in Lancaster County, PA.  

Snow began about 6 hours ago and has snowed steadily since it first began about 9:00 a.m. this morning.  Our local television station had predicted about 3-6 inches of snow and they hit it right on the button.  The Gray Lady and Snickerdoodle, my two feline companions, are sitting in the window watching all the birds as they via for a spot on one of our bird feeders.  The street that fronts the dozen or so villas in my small circle has just been plowed and before long the driveways will be cleared of the snow.  After the driveway will be the pathways to our front door which will require a few men to shovel the path from the drive to the front door.  And what is so nice is that I don't have to do any of it...if I don't feel like I can do so.  If the snow is a heavy snow it does become a bit of a problem, since the weight of the snow might be a bit to heavy for my back to handle.  And....that is one of the many reasons that my wife and I decided to move to Woodcrst Villa.  We hated to give up our beautiful home that we lived in for many yers, but the acre property with a long driveway to the garage and long wooden paths to the front and rear doors were being to take its toll on my back.  That, plus the large amount of grass that needed to be mowed in the summer and the hugh amount of leaves that needed to be gathered during fall months. When the snow began early this morning, we looked at each other and agreed that we made the correct decision to move to Woodcrest Villa.

Birds around our feeder

I still enjoy doing some of the work around our villa, both inside and outside, but the heavy work, such as the raking of the leaves, trimming of the trees, and the clearing of the snow I am so glad to have someone to do for me.  My feline friends and I do enjoy watching the birds as they take turns eating the seeds that I placed in the bird feeder.  The feeder can hold almost a half-dozen small birds around it and I also have another feeder at the rear of the villa that is close to the same size.  This is the time of the year where I have to buy quite a bit of birdseed to feed the many birds that have found the feeders around our property.

Sharing the food

Well, the snow has turned to rain which should help clear some of the snow from the feeder as well as clear the drive and walkway a bit faster.  This has been the first measurable snow fall we have had this year.  Last winter was our first winter at Woodcrest Villa and I can't remember a single snowfall that needed to be cleared from the property last year.  This is the first snowfall this year, but I hope for a few more before the winter has departed.

One of many holly trees in our yard

Ah!  The mailman has arrived and is placing the mail in the central mail station which happens to be on the other side of the street,  almost in front of my home.  How lucky can I be?  It's almost as if we asked to be placed in this villa when we were looking for a retirement community a year or so ago.  We were certainly lucky when we moved into this villa as were the animals and birds that currently live near us.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

One of our birdhouses we have to rent!

Another view of the feeder

PS - Hope you enjoyed my story about the snow we had a week or so ago.  Today's snow has just picked up once again!  The snow truck driver must be so upset, since he may have to go back over what he already did once this morning.  

  

The Book - "An Uncommon Woman: The Life of Lydia Hamilton Smith" Is Reviewed

The following is from an article that was recently published in my daily Lancaster Newspaper.  It was written by Mr. Jack Brubaker, known in Lancaster's Newspaper as "THE SCRIBBLER."  I love his work and stories that he researches and writes about for the local newspaper.  My story today was from one of Jack's recent "The Scribbler" columns and is about Lydia Hamilton Smith, a leading woman in American history.  Perhaps you have never heard of her!  Do not worry, for Jack will tell you all about her through his story today.  

It was an ordinary day.  Reading an article written by one of my favorite historians, Jack Brubaker.  He had written a column for my local newspaper that he titled "Book places Lydia Hamilton Smith high in history!"  He began with.....  In the introduction to his new book, "An Uncommon Woman: The Life of Lydia Hamilton Smith," Mark Kelley highlights three reasons Smith "has earned a place among the leading women of American history."  Reason #1 - She was a highly successful businessperson in the mid-19th century, when few women, white or Black, engaged in business.  Reason #2 - Smith "is believed to have joined Thaddeus Stevens in the risky (and blatantly illegal) operation of an Underground Railroad station."  Reason #3 - She nursed Stevens during his declining years, thus allowing him to complete his civil rights agenda.  Well, the first and third of these reasons are supported by facts.  Suggesting that those accomplishments make Smith one of the great women of American history is over the top, but solid evidence indicates she did what the author says she did.  But, describing Smith as an Underground Railroad operator has no supporting documentation.  The idea that she helped Stevens spirit freedom-seekers out of harm's way is speculative, as the author himself suggests.  But, let's pause here and introduce the subjects of this biography to those who may not know much about them.  "Subjects"-plural-because this is as much a biography of Stevens as it is of Smith.  Without Stevens, there would be no reason to write a biography of Smith.  

Thaddeus Stevens was a top-flight lawyer who represented Lancaster, Pennsylvania in Congress from 1849-1853 and 1859-1868.  He led the radical Republican effort to gain rights for Black people following the Civil War.  Lydia Hamilton Smith married a Black barber and musician named Jacob Smith in Gettysburg.  They had two sons, the marriage broke up and Smith began working as Stevens's housekeeper in Lancaster in 1844.  Eventually, Stevens and Smith moved into the house at 45-47 S. Queen Street that will soon become the core of the Thaddeus Stevens & Lydia Hamilton Smith Center for history and Democracy.  Many historians believed that Stevens, who was white, and Smith, who was of mixed white and Black ancestry, were much more than employer and employee.  Kelley leans toward an intimate relationship, periodically referring to Smith as Stevens's "wife."  Much of the press vilified the pair.  Kelley lauds Smith's "inspiring strength of character and profound resilience" in the face of an almost constant outpouring of racist venom, especially in Southern newspapers.  There is considerable evidence that Smith constantly applied her domestic talents not only to the affairs of Stevens and his house, but also to the lives of his two nephews and her two sons.  Examples of her generous nature to others outside the "family" are numerous.  And, no doubt she was a faithful caregiver.  Stevens's doctor said Smith prolonged the life of the sickly politician by "six or eight years."  That gave him time to promote passage of the postwar constitutional amendments that abolished slavery in all states and made all males, Black and white, equal citizens under the law.  It's unfortunate that Kelley, a retired journalist and professor of journalism who lives in Lancaster, chose to include in his book most of what he found in his research.  Too much of this material seems irrelevant.  It may serve to inflate Smith's resume, but it can make for tedious reading.  Lydia Hamilton Smith may not be a "leading woman of American history," but her biography makes a useful companion to the story of an indisputably great American.  Bravo! Mr. Thaddeus Stevens!  My wife and I named our third child after you!!  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.