The "Friends My Age, But Yet They're Not Old As I!" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Same as most every other day of the year, except days when I am on vacation and have to do nothing but relax on the beach.  For the husband of one of my wife's friends, today is a very special day, since today he turns 19 years old.  So why would my wife have a friend whose husband is only 19 years old?  Well, it's because he is really 76 years old, but being born on February 29, he is officially 19 years old today.  How would you like to be born on February 29 and miss all those birthday parties and birthday gifts?  Now, my guess is that most parents wouldn't allow that to happen and celebrate birthdays once a year even though their child may've been born on Leap Day.  Leap Day falls every four years due to a few quirky calculations based on the length of time it takes the earth to orbit the sun.  Instead of taking 365 days, it takes 365 1/4 days each year to orbit the sun.  And, after 4 years time, there is one extra day in the equation which adds up to February being assigned an extra day.  And, why is it always February?  I have absolutely NO clue!  All I know is that if we didn't have February 29 every four years, we might eventually have winter in August and summer in December, or something crazy like that.  This Leap Year thing all started in 1582 when Pope Gregory XVIII introduced the Gregorian calendar.  His version of the calendar helped solve the problem of the shifting days and months.  The Gregorian calendar works like this: 

• Every year that can be evenly divided by 4 is a Leap Year EXCEPT:
• Years that can be evenly divided by 100 (centuries) are not leap years, But:
• Years that can be divided by 400 are Leap Years.

You understand all of this?  Really doesn't matter, since it'll never change in your lifetime.  I recently saw a bit of math that may help you understand what I have just written for you.  It goes like this:

This year is 2020.  But what about 2021?   2020 ÷ 4 = ______

Therefore, 2020 is or isn't a leap year?

2021 ÷ 4 = _____

2021 will or will not be a leap year because it isn't evenly divisible by 4.

Now that we have Leap Year all figured out, how about a Century.  We celebrated the last year of the century (100 years) and millennium (1,000 years) 20 years ago, in 2000.

So, do you have any idea why they tack the extra day every four years onto February instead of September or maybe June?  It's because it is already the shortest month and an extra day shouldn't make any difference they reasoned.  Now, why do some months have 30 days and some have 31?  Probably a story for another day!  It was an extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy. 

The "Bringing My Childhood Back To Life!" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Searching for the box of Lincoln Logs that Carol and I had bought for our oldest son in the late 1970s.  

A set of Lincoln Logs from the 1940s.

We spent many hours playing with the simple wooden pieces just as I had spent hours with my father doing the same with the box of Lincoln Logs he had bought for me in the 1940s.  Lincoln Logs were invented sometime around 1916 when John Lloyd Wright was working in Japan with his father.  

This is one of the drawings used to obtain the patent for Lincoln Logs.

The mold for the toy was based on the architecture of the Imperial Hotel in Toyko, which was designed by the inventor's father.  The toy logs weren't marketed until 1918 when John organized The Red Square Toy Company.  A patent was finally issued for the toy logs on August 31, 1920.  He later changed the name of his company to J.L. Wright Manufacturing.  The original set came with directions on how to build Uncle Tom's Cabin as well as Abraham Lincoln's cabin.  It followed other construction type toys such as Tinker Toys and the Erector Set.  

Playskool's 1978 package
of Lincoln Logs.

The current distributor of the toy claims it was named after Abraham Lincoln which is incorrect.  Others claim it was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright whose original name was Frank Lincoln Wright, but that too isn't correct.  John Lloyd Wright sold his company to Playskol in 1943 who in turn passed the copyright to Milton Bradley and Hasbro.  It was in 1999 that Lincoln Logs and John Lloyd Wright were entered in the National Toy Hall of Fame.  Today, Lincoln Logs are manufactured in the U.S.A. by K'NEX after having been manufactured for years in China.  Wasn't long after my grandson was born that I too had purchased a set of Lincoln Logs so he and I could play with them when he would visit.  Every time I dig out the round tube of logs and roofing material I reminisce about those days over 60 years ago when I would play with my neighborhood friends building small towns and using our metal cowboys and Indians who would inhabit the places we built.  And now, in 2018, this special toy to me as well as millions of others, has turned 100.  Happy Birthday!  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

This is the 2018 Anniversary Tube of Lincoln Logs.  Still the same as when I played with them.

The "Gunzenhauser Bakery: Part II: From Bread To The Arts" Story

April Koppenhaver as seen on her business card.

It was an ordinary day.  April Koppenhaver is standing with me in one of the many rooms of Mulberry Art Studios at 19-21 N. Mulberry Street in downtown Lancaster, PA.  We are talking about days past when she first opened her gallery and art studio in the old Gunzenhauser Bakery building on Mulberry Street.  On Wednesday, March 30, 1988 there was a photo of her in the Lancaster New Era standing in front of a city warehouse that she hoped to convert into an art center.  She was hoping to convert the warehouse at 19 N. Mulberry St. into studios and gallery space for about 48 artists.  The warehouse was at one time home to the Gunzenhauser Bakery and later Harold's Furniture warehouse.  

Newspaper photo showing April in
front of 19 N. Mulberry Street.

It was in need of new heating, electrical wiring, plumbing and security system before she could open it to the public.  She had figured it would cost close to $600,000 for the repairs and she was hoping for investors to assist her.  She was preparing for a mixture of artists if and when she could open the studio.  There was about 18,000 square feet of space that would be dedicated for the arts.  The 16 foot high ceilings and hardwood floors made for an ideal art center.  She chose Lancaster for her project or vision since it has an abundance of talented artists as well as residents who love the arts.  Her vision eventually came to fruition and for years was home of the Scholastic Arts and Writing Awards.  I helped with the judging and setting up of the Scholastic Arts show for many years when I was teaching Graphic Arts and Photography Arts at Manheim Township High School.  

19-21 N. Mulberry St. as seen today.

I remem- bered the kind woman who would help in any way she could to make the show a top notch draw for the students in Lancaster County.  That happens to be the same woman whom I am standing next to today.  The Mulberry Art Studios has come a long way from what it was in 1988.  It now is not only a top-notch place to display artwork, but a beautiful and unique environment for weddings and like events.  

Mulberry Art Studio's new plaque.

April showed me a plaque that she had just received  for the Award of Achievement from the Lancaster City Alliance marking her 30th Anniversary for Mulberry Art Studios.   The building we are standing in has also come a long way over the past century.  To celebrate that event there is a display of Gunzenhauser Bakery memorability in one of the galleries of Mulberry Art Studios.  My day was a success getting to meet April once again as well as catching up on past history of the city of Lancaster.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The "Too Many Events To Celebrate!" Story

Dining at the John Wrightsville Restaurant in Wrightsville, PA.

It was an ordinary day.  June 16th and Carol and I are sitting on the outdoor deck at the John Wright Restaurant in Wrights- ville, Pennsyl- vania having dinner to celebrate our 51st wedding anniversary.  We had a grand celebration last year for our 50th, but this year isn't as exciting so we decided to have lunch along the Susquehanna River.  The weather was near perfect with temperatures in the mid-80s with a slight breeze.  

The view from the restaurant looking toward the Veteran's
Memorial Bridge.  In the background, to the left, is Columbia, PA.

The day was beautiful and the scenery was fantastic.  We have eaten at this spot before and always enjoy watching the activity on the river as we dine.  Plenty of boating and fishing taking place today.  We reserved a table closest to the water and weren't disappointed.  Carol had a salmon burger with slaw and a drink and I had a BLT with Cream of Crab/asparagus soup and a drink.  Shared a dessert which for the life of me I can't remember what it was.  Wasn't any good or I would have remembered.  Our wedding anniversary is actually on the 17th, but it happens to fall on Father's Day, so we opted to celebrate our anniversary a day early.  

A young father and his daughter watch the water activity.

The older you get, the more "special days" don't seem to be as special and when a few fall on the same day, you learn to make adjust- ments.  The view from our table is amazing with the bridge to our right being the 1930 Columbia-Wrightsville Bridge, also known as the Veterans Memorial Bridge.  The American Society of Civil Engineers named the bridge an engineering landmark and said it is "a splendid example of the graceful multi-span, reinforced-concrete, arched form popular in the early 29th Century highway bridges in the United States."  Sitting south of the bridge are concrete abutments that at one time held a railroad bridge.  

Off to our left is the Wright's Ferry Bridge or US Rt. 30.
Click to enlarge photographs.

The Veterans Memorial Bridge is the 5th bridge to span the Susque- hanna at this location with the 6th and latest bridge, The Wright's Ferry Bridge, or current Rt. 30, to the left of us.  An earlier bridge where the Veterans Bridge now stands was intentionally burned during the Civil War to stop the South from crossing and heading to Philadelphia.  Instead they retreated to Gettysburg and were defeated there.  The very first bridge was built of wood in 1814.  After our meal we found a place to sit along the water and enjoyed the day while watching the fishermen and boaters as well as the traffic on the bridges on either side of us.  Although our day wasn't as spectacular as last year's anniversary, we still had a chance to share a special moment together.  Anyway, tomorrow being Father's day is another day for celebrating!  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.