The "It's Only A Matter Of Time" Story: Part II - The Visit" Story

RGM Watch Company

It was an ordinary day.  Standing inside the door of the RGM Watch Company at 801 West Main Street in Mt. Joy, PA waiting to meet Mr. Roland G. Murphy, owner and founder of the company that bears his initials.  His company is housed in an old bank building, equipped with a huge vault that confronts me as I look around the entrance to the building. Workbenches line the walls with watchmakers, male and female alike, busily assembling different parts of watches.  Roland has eleven employees who work with eye loupes as they assemble parts almost too small to see with the human eye.  

The large vault from the original bank.

Everywhere I look is antique equipment that for centuries has seen and felt the hands of masters of their trade of watchmaking.  Three rose engines, or engraving machines for the novice, as well as one straight-line engine consume much of the entrance way.  They are the machines that create the delicate patterns, or guilloche, which adorn the watch cases, dials and movements.  RGM is striving to pursue the art of guilloche which is practiced in traditional centers of watchmaking in Switzerland and Germany.  Within a few minutes I am led to the second floor of the building where I get my chance to meet Roland.  

Owner, Roland G. Murphy

He is a very affable guy who sports a full head of gray hair with mustache and greets me with a firm handshake.  He gladly answers some of my preliminary questions as we head down the stairs to the basement where I get to view of a small room that holds some of his computerized equipment that helps in making the small pattern jigs that are used to assemble his movements.  It is here that I got to see his son-in-law, Adam Robertson, apply perlage, which is a French word meaning metal adornment, to the main plate of a watch that is being made.  Many of the pieces of equipment housed throughout his business are antique, hand-operated pieces that have been adapted to make more precise parts for his timepieces.

Adam adding perlage to a main plate.  Click to enlarge.

Back on the main floor Roland shows and explains the rose engine machines to me.  These machines are used for the fine movement and dial guilloche.  In the large safe, equipped with the original safe deposit boxes from years ago, is his personal collection of watches.  

This container holds parts that will soon become
a watch at RGM Watch Company in Mt. Joy, PA.

Time pieces of all types and manufac- turers fill a small cabinet against the far wall of the safe.  It is here that I pulled out my grand- father's pocket watch to show to him.  I tell him of my father and he tells me he remembered him from his trips to Meiskey's Jewelry Store years ago.  He takes a look at my pocket watch and heads to his nearby work bench to take it apart to show it to me.  With his loupe he is able to retrieve the serial # of 8670839 - an Elgin watch with hand engraving dated 1900.  

Viewing the Elgin pocket watch.

He opens the rear and shows me the interior parts of the watch.  I am always amazed when I see something that can work with gears and screws so tiny you need an eye loupe to see them.  Workers surround me in the main room.  Some are assembling movements that have over 200 parts to them and require picking them up with tweezers to place them on the jigs that had been made in the lower level.  Immense patience and skill is needed to be a watchmaker, something that I do not possess, even when I was in my prime three or four years ago.  I talked with Benoit, a young man who answered an ad on RGM's website a few years ago and moved from France to Lancaster to be able to work for Roland.  

Two of the rose engines that will add the guilloche.

I can see and feel the talent and skill this young watch- maker possesses.  Another worker, Raphael, who was born in Brooklyn, began work in 2003 for Roland.  He too remembered my dad and smiled when he talked about him.  He was at a bench were he was performing repairs to customers watches.  

Benoit assembling some of the minute pieces of the watch.

Helen, who has worked for more than a decade at RGM, has been assembling RGM's model 801 watches for more than 10 years she told me.  The RGM Caliber 801 began production in 2008 and is the first mechanical watch movement to be produced on American soil for close to 50 years.  

This is the Pennsylvania Tourbillon masterpiece that is one
of the mainstays of the RGM collection of watches.

It brought international attention to the RGM company and made Lancaster, Pennsyl- vania into a watch- making center once again.  In 2011 RGM introduced the MM2 Pennsyl- vania Tourbillon which is 90% American made.  It sells for $95K in stainless with models available in gold.  

Raphael is busy at work making repairs to a customer's watch.

This movement is engraved with a "T" inside a keystone, which is the symbol of Pennsyl- vania.  A tourbillion has a mechanism to isolate the escapement from shock and motion during wrist wear.  The RGM Company produces watches primarily by request and hand-makes about 300 a year.  

Helen is assembling the 801 movement.

My visit today was not only interesting, but infor- mative.  I fear I left knowing very little about RGM Company and how watches are made.  The technology, thought it is carried on with the use of antique machines, is amazing.  I was humbled to know I had the chance to visit with probably the only watchmaker in the world who is producing hand-made watches in the Unites States. I left today knowing that  watch making is alive and well once again in the United States.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

This is the Caliber 20 watch.

The "It's Only A Matter Of Time" Story: Part I - The Search" Story

RGM Watch Company in Mt. Joy, Pennsylvania

It was an ordinary day.  Getting back in my car along Main Street in Mt. Joy after a visit to the RGM Watch Company at 801 Main St.  Made a visit today to see how some of the best watches in the world are developed and made.  My journey began a few weeks ago when I was cleaning out one of my file cabinets and discovered the envelope of watches that I had placed there a few years ago after the death of my dad.  Dad was the manager at Meiskey's Jewelry Store in downtown Lancaster, Pennsylvania.  He began his career shortly after graduating from high school when the store was located in the first block of  West Chestnut Street.  After a tour of duty in the Army during WWII, he went to school at Bowman's Technical School in Lancaster to learn watchmaking.  

Paul H. Woods at work at Meiskey's Jewelry Store.

He eventually became the manager of Meiskey's and on evenings and weekends, as a young boy, I would travel with him to Meiskey's to help him fill out requests for watch parts.  Loved spending the time with dad watching him repair watches that friends and neighbors, as well as customers, would give to him.  The basket on the top of the refrigerator at home was always filled with watches that were in need of fixing.  While going through the envelope of watches that were on the fridge when he died, I found an old pocket watch that had belonged to his father.  His father had died when he was 6 years old from an industrial accident and I never got a chance to know my grandfather.  Actually, dad barely got a chance to know his father either.  I opened the back of the watch to read the engraving inside the case and thought that sometime I may be able to learn something about the watch.  Well, a week or so after finding the pocket watch I was watching our local TV news station and found they were making a visit with Roland G. Murphy who is the owner of RGM Watch Company.  Roland was born in Baltimore, MD and attended a vocational school for carpentry and cabinetmaking.  During his senior year he worked a half day at the Danecker Clock Co. in Fallston, MD.  After graduating from high school he worked out of his parent's home making clock repairs.  From 1986-87 he studied watchmaking in Switzerland.  After returning to America he found his way to the Hamilton Watch Company.  

My grandfather's pocket watch

Eventually in 1992 he opened his own company in Lancaster County, Pennsyl- vania.  Lancaster is well known as the Garden Spot of America for its fertile farmland and Amish population who tills the rich soil while filling the local roads with horse-drawn buggies, but many may not know that it also is now home to the world renown RGM Watch Company.  After watching the TV segment on RGM Watches I pulled up their web site to learn about the company as well as send an email to Roland asking if I could make a visit to see and learn how they make their watches.  A quick return email provided me with a date and time for my visit.  As the time approached I became anxious as to how much I would understand about the technical part of watchmaking.  I have some mechanical skills since I taught metal, woodworking, drawing and graphic arts in high school, but I knew very little about the skills needed in the art of watchmaking.  The day of my trip I made my way to the RGM building on Main St. and began my journey into one of the most interesting and technical experiences I have ever taken.  Follow along tomorrow as I attempt to give you some insight into the close-tolerance art of American watchmaking.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The "Commemorating Sergeant Stephen Weatherlow" Story

St. James Episcopal historic churchyard with
the bell tower in the background.

It was an ordinary day.  Was preparing for my trip to the Lancaster County Courthouse to take photos and participate in the event that celebrated the ending of the Civil War 150 years ago on April 9, 1865.  Then I read on my church's website that they too would be celebrating with the ringing of the bells at 3:15 PM as well as encouraging anyone who had relatives, who were in the Civil war, tell their stories about the war.  One such person who had a relative in the war was Ginger whose 1st cousin, five times removed, was a sergeant in Company 1, 126th New York infantry and served in the Civil War for four years on the Union side.  

A look up into our bell tower with the rope to ring the
bell hanging, ready for action.

I walked into our church proper where there was access to the bell tower about 2:45 PM and waited.  Years ago I climbed the circular stairs to the bell tower more than once to take photos of the church yard and connecting chapel that was build in the early 1960's.  Neat climb, but rather scary with all the bats that called the tower home at that time.  Not unusual to have a few of them flying around or at you as you climb the metal stairs.  Our church tower now has screen around it to keep the birds and bats from living in it.  

Photo I took years ago from the tower.

Well, shortly a few parishioners arrived and we greeted one another.  Ginger had decided that her grandsons would read a short summary about her cousin as well as participate in the ringing of the bell.  About 3:00 PM Sergeant Stephen Weatherlow was commemorated by her grandsons who told of his experience during battle.  He was wounded at the Battle of Gettysburg on the fourth day of July, 1863 and had his leg amputated at 6:00 PM that evening.  He laid in the woods about 40 feet from the the amputating table until July 11th when he was then carried out of the woods and put under a tent that had been located at the field hospital.  The following day a doctor from Philadelphia dressed his leg for the first time since it had been amputated.  It was in such bad condition that it had to be re-amputated on July 25th.  

Ginger's grandsons presenting the story
about Sergeant Stephen Weatherlow.

About December 1st he was sent to a Baltimore hospital where they discovered gangrene got into his leg and ate the flesh off the end of the leg, up to the shinbone.  It had to be amputated a third time.  It took 21 years of walking on crutches before he was able to wear an artificial leg.  He lived the rest of his 93 years in Seneca Falls, NY where he was a postmaster.  Wow, what a story told by Ginger's grandson and documented with photos held by her another grandson.  Eventually a few others told their stories and at 3:14 the two boys grabbed the bell rope, not being able to wait any longer, and rang the bell.  Shortly other bells in the city could be heard.  The bells chimed for four minutes, one minute for each year of the Civil War.  I said my goodbyes and headed to the Courthouse for the next event.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

Another photo I took of the church tower years ago. 

Plaque on the Duke Street side of the historic church.

The "Saga of Dr. Samuel Humes" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Snapping a few photos that I had been meaning to take for a few years now.  One was of a bright blue Pennsyl- vania historical sign that stands in front of the First United Church of Christ in Lancaster, PA which is located at the intersection of North Duke and East Walnut Streets.  Sign reads : Pennsylvania Medical Society.  Founded April 11, 1848, at the First Methodist Episcopal Church on this site.  

The First United Church of Christ.  This
church originally was the site of the First
Methodist Episcopal Church.

Its purpose was to foster the advancement of medical knowledge, relieve suffering, and promote the health of the community.  Samuel Humes, M.D. of Lancaster was the first president.  Naturally had to do some research on the Medical Society as well as Dr. Humes.  The Medical Society was easy to find, but Dr. Humes was a bit tougher.  Seems that in Dr. Humes time, the mid-1800's, just about anyone could hang a sign and claim to be a medical doctor.  As can be imagined, the practice disturbed legitimate medical doctors so in response to the problem the Pennsylvania Medical Society was founded.  Doctors from the counties of Chester and Lancaster counties gathered on April 11, 1848 at what was then the First Methodist Episcopal Church of Lancaster.  

An old hitching post for horses which
sits on the brick pavement across
from the church in Lancaster, PA.

It was during that meeting that the REAL physicians founded the Medical Society of the State of Pennsylvania and elected Samuel Humes, MD of Lancaster as the first president.  Their mission at the time was to focus on ethics, public health and legislation to protect patients and the physicians it represented.  The mission of the organization remains much the same today, but with more services such as the establishment of Blue Shield and an insurance program to supply doctors with malpractice insurance.  The historical marker pays tribute to the founding of the Pennsylvania Medical Society and recognizes the role it has played in promoting the health of our community.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The "All that's left are the Paroles" Story

It was an ordinary day.  The hoopla is all over and the bells are silent once again.  My guess is that by now most everything associated with the 150 anniversary of the ending of the Civil War is ancient history.  I had a great time participating in the program on the steps of the Lancaster County Courthouse  as well as listening to the stories told about distant relatives who were in the war and the bell-ringing that occurred at 3:15 PM at my church, St. James Episcopal, in downtown Lancaster.  About the only thing left that may be of interest is handing out of parole passes to those who visited the Appomattox Court House this week.  

An original Adams press, similar to the one used
to print paroles after the south surrendered at Appomattox.

Seems that parole passes were handed out to Confederate soldiers directly after the war ended on April 9, 1865 so they could return home without being harassed by Union soldiers who had not heard of the surrender at Appomattox Court House.  General Robert E. Lee, commander of the Confederate troops really didn't raise the issue of granting paroles, but General U.S. Grant thought it appropriate to issue the paroles to make it easier for the southern troops to get home.  The parole passes were printing on a portable Adams press that comes in two pieces and can be carried by one soldier.  A small chase (metal frame) would hold the hand-set type in place and it would be placed on the bed of the Adams press.  It would be rotated under a upper roller after paper was place on the inked type.  This is what is known as relief printing where the inked surface transfers the ink to the paper as it goes under the roller.  

The hand-operated relief press used in my classroom.

For years I taught students how to set type by hand and then use a chase to lock up their type for running on a letterpress.  Or, if they wanted, they could put it on a press similar to the Adams press to pull a proof of the actual printed documents.  We also used the press to help in the printing of wood and linoleum blocks as well as dry-point etchings.  I stopped the other day at my old classroom to snap a photo of the current press that is used for these procedures.  Well, yesterday was the day that the Adams press was to be placed on the porch of the Clover Hill Tavern in Appomattox, Virginia to print paroles for all the tourists who passed by.  I'm sure there was quite a bit of hand-turning and cranking to produce all the paroles needed.  I would have loved to have been on location and had a chance to take a photo of the Adams press, which was patented in 1861 and is very rare, producing paroles.  Maybe next year.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The "Rewriting History In An Oops Moment" Story

Crowd gathers at the Lancaster County Courthouse.

It was an ordinary day.  Sometime after 3:20 PM on April 9th, 2015.  The bells of nearby churches, as well as the same bell of the Lancaster County Courthouse which tolled exactly 150 years ago, have stopped tolling and a crowd has gathered on the steps of the Courthouse in downtown Lancaster, Pennsylvania.  

Lancaster County dignitaries.

A group of five men stood side by side on the steps, near the flagpole that holds an American Flag.  County commissioner Martin began with ….  150 years ago today at the Appomattox Courthouse in Virginia, the Union Army surrendered to ….  I turned to Anne, who was standing next to me and she looked aghast!  "What did he just say?" I asked her.  Before she could answer another of the five men leaned toward the commissioner and whispered something to him.  He quickly corrected himself before history could be changed forever in the eyes of the the 100 or so participants in this celebration of the end of the Civil War.  Finally Mr. Martin introduced the former Mayor of Lancaster, George Sanderson, who was Mayor from 1859 to 1868 and was also a member of the Pennsylvania State Senate.  

Don Pentz plays the part of Mayor Sanderson as he reads
the Lancaster County official proclamation.

Mayor Sanderson was dressed in a black tuxedo with red bow tie, black top hat, red vest that sported a pocket watch chain, an artificial flower in his lapel and shoes that looked as if they had gone through battle during the Civil War.  He read a proclamation from the County Commisioners with many whereas this and whereas that in it.  

General  John F. Reynolds as
portrayed by Michael Riley.

After his reading General John Fulton Reynolds was introduced to the crowd.  Gen. Reynolds was born in Lancaster in 1820, studied in nearby Lititz, PA, attended school in Long Green, MD, and the Lancaster County Academy.  He was nominated to the US Military Academy in 1837 by Senator James Buchanan, a family friend, and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the 3rd US Artillery and assigned to Fort McHenry.  He eventually died in 1863 at the Battle of Gettysburg when he was shot in the back of the upper neck or head while riding his horse and commanding his troops. After Gen. Reynolds addressed the crowd today, a solemn version of Taps were played while the crowd fell silent.  

Taps are played for those who died during the Civil War.

In front of me stood President Abraham Lincoln who removed his top hat for the playing of Taps.  Before long the TV crews, newspaper photo- graphers, Civil War re-enactors and most of the crowd had wandered off.  I stood and talked with Anne for a short time and also departed.  Before I made my visit to the courthouse today, I stopped for an earlier ceremony at my historic church, St. James Episcopal, which is a block away from the courthouse.  I will post what happened during my church visit as a future date.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

A Civil War enactor listens to the proclamation at the Lancaster County Courthouse.

Mayor Sanderson compares his flag to a flag that a young boy dressed in Civil War hat is holding.

Abraham Lincoln stands at attention during the playing of Taps.

This is a Civil War reenactor who is wounded veteran.  His uniform colors are reversed from a regular army personnel.  The dark blue of the uniform is now sky blue and the sky blue parts are now dark blue.  If he decides to continue as part of the army he must march at the rear of the ranks.  The colors tell the Confederate Army that he was at one tme wounded.

The "Bells Toll To End The War!" Story

Painting of General Lee surrendering to General Grant.

It was an ordinary day.  But, 150 years ago on this date it was anything but ordinary.  For, you see,  April 9th, 1865 was the afternoon that General Robert E. Lee surrendered to General-in-Chief Ulysses S. Grant.  It wasn't until noon of April 10th that businesses in Lancaster, Pennsylvania had closed, flags and bunting were hung and the streets came alive with the good news.  Later that Monday, Thaddeus Stevens gave a speech to a large crowd in Lancaster's main courtroom.  This was followed by an "inspired" singing of the Star-Spangled Banner.  Later that night a large bonfire filled the street in front of the courthouse.  

Lancaster County Courthouse Bell that will toll today.
It rang 150 years ago to celebrate the end of the Civil War.

Well, today, Thursday April 9th, 2015, Bells Across The Land, a program sponsored by the National Park Service, will begin with bells throughout the city and county being rung at 3:15 PM for four minutes; one minute for each year of the war.  This is allegedly the time they were rung in 1865.  The Lancaster County courthouse bell is one that will commemorate the signing 150 years ago.  It is the same 162 year old bell that chimed 150 years ago.  I'm anxious to visit our downtown area and participate in the celebrations.  My guess is that there will be no bonfire in the street though.  

The bell tower of St. John's Episcopal.

But, wait!  The chiming of the bells in Lancaster began far earlier than 3:15 PM.  They were rung in the church steeple of St. John's Episcopal Church at the corner of Chestnut and Mulberry Streets shortly after 2:00 AM.  Seems that a Mr. John Ferrier, who was the sexton of St. John's, was a member of the Union Army.  While he was away fighting in the war his wife took over his chores around the church.  Very early on the morning of April 10th Mrs. Ferrier became upset because one of her children was ill.  She and her child were sitting on the porch of her home next to the church.  A railroad employee happened by and told her that she didn't have long to wait for her husband to come home, since Robert E. Lee had just surrendered his army to U.S. Grant.  

St. John's bell that was rung in 1865.

Mrs. Ferrier was so happy that she gathered up one of her daughters and hurried up to the bell tower where she and daughter, Ellie waved an American flag, waved a white handkerchief and rang the church bell.  Neighbors ran into the streets to see what was happening and after hearing the news began to celebrate.  By 6:00 AM every bell in Lancaster was ringing.  Even though I am a member of nearby St. James Episcopal, I still take pride in the fact that St. John's Church was the first to ring their bell to celebrate the ending of the Civil War.  My hope for tomorrow is that they will wait until the specified time of 3:15 PM to take up the ringing.  I have a tough time getting up in the middle of the night after taking my Tylenol PM.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The "Boy, Do I Have A Deal For You" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Asking Carol if she can remember when the Pet Rock was all the craze.  Same time when the Lava Lamp, Disco, Leisure Suit and Safari Jacket reigned.  Same era when a high school friend of mine, Josh, invented the Mood ring.  And, the same decade when we purchased our waterbed.  After some thinking, she was able to come up with the 1970’s.  Reason I asked her was because the inventor of one more fad or craze of that time period just died at the age of 78.  Does the name Gary Dahl mean anything to you.  Gary’s craze rivaled the biggest fads for a mere $3.95.  His fad sold more than a million units and made him wealthy in a few frenzied months.  What was meant to be a joke turned out to be a real success.  Gary’s idea was developed in a bar when the bar talk turned to pets and the need to feed and clean up after them.  Gary announced to the bar patrons that his pet caused him no trouble at all.  “I have a pet rock,” he explained.  People Magazine reported that Gary told them that people are so bored and tired of all their problems that the Pet Rock can take them on a fantasy trip.  He claimed to have packaged a sense of humor.  Soon after his bar episode, he and two of his college buddies and visited a building supply company and bought a load of smooth Mexican beach stones at about a cent each.  Packaged a single stone on a bed of excelsior in a cardboard carrying case with air holes.  Also included a manual for the care of, feeding of and house training of the Pet Rock.  So you see why I just had to have one for Christmas in 1975.  They went on sale the same time as people began their Christmas shopping and in a matter of months he had sold 1.5 million Pet Rocks or about 2 tons of stones.  He traded in his Honda for a Mercedes and bought a house with a swimming pool.  Wonder what the gang at the bar thought about that. Gary died at the age of 78.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

Found this one for sale on eBay 40 years after it sold for $3.95.

The "Romanesque Tavern" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Trying to find a parking spot in the center of downtown Lancaster so I can make a visit to Central Market.  Since I was heading south on Duke Street I decided to make a right turn onto East Grant Street.  The same street that I traveled many times when I was a young boy to visit with my Nannan (grandmother) at Bushong Coal Company that was located in the first block of East Grant Street.  Was always a treat to go to work with my dad at Meiskey's Jewelry Store, which at the time was two blocks away on West Chestnut Street, and walk south to visit with my Nannan Woods.  Her maiden name was Bushong and the owner of the Coal Company was her cousin.  Well, those days are long gone as is the entire row of offices that were located on the north side of the first block of East Grant Street.  

C. Emlen Urban designed building at
the corner of East Grant and Lennox Lane.

But, one of my favorite buildings in the block was across the street from Bushong's.  Place called Charlie Wagner's Cafe.  The brick building was built in 1891 along Grant Street where the street intersected Lennox Lane.  Lancaster's well-known architect, C. Emlen Urban, designed the three-story building in the Romanesque Revival style as he did for many other downtown buildings.  Place was built of brick, cut stone, terra cotta and pressed metals.  Between the second and third floors was placed a diamond frieze.  Neat design, but what always made it so interesting to me as a child, as well as today, is the recessed corner entrance.  The bottom floor seemed to have been chopped off at the corner and a door was placed along the corner with a decorated post holding the corner of the building in place.  

Corner entrance.

Well, I found my parking place in the lot that once held Bushong Coal Company and before heading to market, stopped to take a photo of what was once the tavern, but today holds the law firm of Goldberg & Beyer.  Took a few outside shots and saw the lights were shining inside, so opened the door and entered.  Three secretaries welcomed me and after listening to my request to take photos, told me to shoot away.  The ceiling held a pressed metal design with a beautiful chandelier.  But, the most impressive part were the glass-leaded windows.  I looked at them for some time and then asked the secretaries if they represented flowers.  One said she thought the exact same thing until a child mentioned to them that he thought the windows represented soldiers.  Viola!  I think he may have been correct.  One way or another, the place was beautiful both inside and out.  Check out the photos I took and see if you too don't agree.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.  

The rear or the building shows two doors.  More than likely the place sported an office along Grant St. and a residence along Lennox Lane.

Corner decorations on corner at the second floor level.

Along Lennox Lane  can be seen the diamond frieze.

The metal ceiling holds a beautiful chandelier. 

Windows that front on East Grant Street display what allegedly are representations of soldiers in each panel.  The soldier is wearing a head piece.  You can make out the arms, body and legs of the soldier.

The "A Few More Short TRUE Tales" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Have been saving a few short stories to tell and decided to put them together in one extraordinary story.  So here goes .....

1. Watching TV and heard a commotion on our back deck.  Now, that's nothing new, since we seem to have a variety of wildlife on our deck from time to time.  We recently caught 2 stray cats and took them to the local shelter, but this noise is slightly different.  Turned on the rear light and there was a baby possum eating the rest of the dry food we had placed out to try and catch the final stray cat.  Then as we watched him slowly walk toward the side of the deck, we looked straight ahead and there sat a very large raccoon who was staring at the baby possum who was now arching it's back in protest.  

   

   The trio of bandits watch the baby possum.

   Then we looked back at the raccoon and there were two of them.  Baby possum wasn't scared.  But then the third large raccoon appeared and that was just a bit too much.  Caught a photo of the 3 bandits looking at the possum, but missed the possum in the photo.
2. The second part of this story is about my wife and MY Facebook Page and MY Pinterest Page.  Carol wanted to start a Facebook Page a few years ago, but didn't like any photos we had of her. So she began a Facebook Page using MY photo.  So, for those of you who happen upon my Facebook Page and wonder why I post some of the things I do ..... well, it's because I'm not posting them ...... Carol is!  Same goes for my Pinterest Page.  I'm not really into Jewelry, Recipes, Nails, Decor, Elf on a Shelf, etc.  ...... Carol is!   So, if you want to try and guess which are my Boards on Pinterest and which are Carol's Boards on Pinterest, it may be easy.
3. The final part of this story deals with something I should have done a long time ago, because I'm sure many of you did what I just did after reading a few posts about two years ago.  It was the middle of April in 2013 and Carol and I were on the island of St. Martin.  To days after arrival we were on Orient Beach and she noticed a slight rash on my left leg.  Two days later it was a full blown rash with huge blisters that oozed of liquid.  The rash started at a scar I had just received from a recent back surgery and traveled across my butt and down my leg to my knee.  Went to a clinic and found out it was shingles.  Too late to do anything about it.  Well, I wrote a story about it and suggested people get vaccinated so they don't have to go through what I did.  I also found out I can get it back again, but I wasn't smart enough to get vaccinated.  That is until a day or two ago.  Found out that the numbness in my left foot is probably from the shingles two years ago and I will never regain feeling in my foot because the shingles killed the nerves to my foot.  If you need another warning about getting shingles ..... this is it!  I learned my lesson and luckily can still walk.  Scared me enough to finally get the vaccination.  DON'T WAIT!  DO IT NOW!!  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The "A Trunk Of Fun" Story

Foreword:  Happy Easter to all of you on this Joyous Christian Holiday.  My intention was to post a story about my wife's chocolate Easter Eggs she makes, but I took too long shopping for groceries and an Easter present for her that by the time I returned they were finished.  Maybe next year!!  I did include a photo at the end of today's story.

Round-top trunk from my Grandpap.

It was an ordinary day.  Checking out eBay to see how much the old trunk that occupies a window view in our guest room may be worth.  Looks like anywhere from $75 to close to $1,000.  Years ago, when my grandpap died, my wife and I went to his home on South Prince Street in Lancaster, PA to see what we may want to take as a remembrance of him.  I found an old drop-leaf table that was minus the drawers and one of the two drop-leaves in the third floor where I lived for over a year with my mom when my dad was in the Army during WWII.  

Leather handles on either side.

Figured I could refinish it and use it somewhere in the house.  Still have that in my basement, not knowing what to do with it at present.  Thought of taking some of the bottles of rose-petal wine that were in his dirt-floor wine cellar, but Carol talked me out of that, since they were covered with a thick coating of dust and we had no idea if they were preserved properly.  The biggest find for Carol and me was the antique round-top trunk that the rest of the family had passed on and was left to us to decide to take it before it was discarded.  We took it to our home on Janet Ave. and used it to store our children's board games.  I cleaned the outside of the trunk and put a coat of finish on it to help preserve it.  

Inside covered with gray paper. Slats on the sides
were used to hold a wooden shelf or storage bin.

The inside was in fairly good condition, but the storage shelf that at one time sat on the supports along the sides of the interior, was missing.  When we moved to our "Beach House" in the mid-1990's, we moved it once again.  I have started to try and find homes for the unwanted items we have accumulated over our lifetime and the trunk is on the list of items.  I figured I would do some research on the trunk to see what value it might have.  Round-top trunks were first made in the late 1700's to early 1800's.  They were tough, functional trunks used for just about anything from storage to traveling.  

Print of young girl feeding her chickens.

They were lined with newspaper or hand-decorated paper.  Some trunks were covered with hides while others, such as the one I have, were made of wood.  The early trunks were the fore-runners of the Hope Chests given to new brides or Treasure Chests that are used to hold family treasures.  I have no idea how old the trunk is that I have.  Inside on the lid of the trunk is a print of a young girl feeding chickens.  There are leather handles on either side and metal strips on all the corners.  The top has wooden strips across it for support.  I often wondered for what grandpap and his family used the trunk.  Did they load it on the back of their car when going on vacation?  Did they keep the family heirlooms in it?  Or did they just keep my mom and her sister's board games in it?  Works great for that.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.  

Carol's Happy Easter Eggs

The "Crisis in Paradise?" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Clicked on my desktop link to the Daily Herald newspaper to take a look at what is going on in the Caribbean Islands.  The lead article popped up and ... BAM!  The story was about the closing of Maho Beach and Sunset Beach Bar on the island of Sint Maarten and extending the runway of Princess Juliana International Airport (PJIA) towards the ocean.  For years Carol and I have visited the Sunset Beach Bar to eat lunch and watch the planes land directly over the beach.  

One of the very first photos I took at Maho Beach.

I have posted a few of those photos on this blog as well as a few stories about the runway and the daredevils that brave the jet blast from jets taking off.  The Herald story went on to say that they would create parking for 100 private jets and the project would be solely funded by PJIA and the passengers that arrive and depart from the airport.  A "Last Blast Party" would be held this afternoon at the Sunset Beach Bar.  A special charge of US $75 would be introduced for both departures and arrivals at the airport.  Holy Cow!  Another $150 to fly to paradise!!  Needless to say, I was upset as was Carol when I told her about it.  She even went as far as saying we might have to find another favorite beach destination.  I then got on TravelTalkOnline forum to see if there was anything posted on it about the article.  Comment after comment were posted about the story.  Then I realized the nature of the responses and started to breath a sigh of relief.  One comment read ... Phase 3 Project Extension to Runway 10 "Alpha-Foxtrot-Oscar-Oscar-Lima" (I made bold a few letters to help you).  Another comment read ... "There have been several reactions from tourists.  'Incredible, idiotic and mindless' were terms used by longtime timeshare owner and former lap-dancer April La Primier of Boca Raton, Florida" (translated to read April the first).  Yes, I was reading the story on April 1st and it all was a hoax!  Thank goodness!!  We can now visit our favorite beach once again.  The story was so real-life and so many people were posting about it that the Daily Herald pulled the story from their digital site and issued another story titled "Many people taken in by Maho April Fools' joke."  In it they showed a plane flying across Maho Beach and stated that People will hopefully be able to enjoy this view for years to come. Evidently the newspaper received a few letters from concerned people as well as workers at the airport received calls and tour operators on the island got calls from concerned tourists.  And, the newspaper article wondered how many people may have showed up at the Sunset Beach Bar for the big party in the afternoon.  How can they top that story next year?  Or maybe they don't want to chance another disaster like the one they created this year.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy. 

The "The Victim of a Conspiracy Author Dies" Story

Mr. Alvin B. Lewis

It was an ordinary day.  Leafing through the middle section of the Lancaster Newspaper and found the obituaries.  There, in the middle of the first page of obits, was a three column obit that was over 12 inches high.  Unbelievable amount of information on a fellow by the name of Alvin B. Lewis, Jr.  Alvin was 82 when he died on March 16 at Garden Spot Village in nearby New Holland, Pennsylvania.  Story goes on to tell of him being educated in Lebanon, PA, graduating from the Choate School in Connecticut, getting his degree from Lehigh University, getting a law degree from Dickinson Law School and being Alumnus of the Year in 1999.  Close to the bottom of the first column was a paragraph that drew my attention (yes, I actually read some of the obits).  Seems that in 1976 he was appointed Special Counsel to the U.S. house of Representatives Select Committee on Assassinations investigating the murders of President John F. Kennedy and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  Naturally had to do some investigating about Mr. Lewis and what part he played in the investigations that surrounded President Kennedy.  Then, on Thursday, March 19, I read another story in the Lancaster Newspaper stating that Alvin Lewis was among those who came away from this investigation convinced that the president's 1963 assassination was the result of a conspiracy.  He blamed the Mafia.  As the chief counsel on the assassination, his panel concluded in late 1978 that Kennedy was the victim of a conspiracy.  He stated that Lew Harvey Oswald was the gunman, but there were probably two or three others shooting at Kennedy that day in Dallas.  

This is a Polaroid photo taken by Mary Ann Moorman a
fraction of a second after the fatal shot in Dallas, Texas.

He believed that the New Orleans Mafia headed by Carlos Marcello was probably behind the plot to kill Kennedy.  First, the mafia hated the Kennedy brothers who had hounded Marcello and had him physically deported to Central America and secondly, the Florida crime family hoped to have Castro removed which was something that Kennedy wasn't willing to do.  The Warren Commission concluded that a single bullet from Oswald's rifle wounded both Kennedy and Texas Gov. John Connally.  Our Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter was the author of the single bullet theory.  Alvin Lewis doubted that theory.  And, if you have ever watched the Seinfeld episode where Cramer and Newman both get hit by the same spit, you would see that Lewis may have been correct.  The House investigators were attempting to organize the best homicide investigative unit in the country until members of the House became nervous that they might find evidence that the government was involved.  So, the committee found evidence of a conspiracy, but failed to take it any further.  Mr. Lewis said in a 1992 letter to the Lancaster Newspaper that the aborted investigation, along with the refusal of every president since 1963 to have the US Justice Department conduct its own investigation, has left the nation with the notion that we have been lied to or just ignored.  What do you think?  Do you believe the government when they say it was only Oswald involved or do you believe what Mr. Lewis stated when he said there were more involved?  Tough choice!  As for me … I'm with Mr. Lewis on this one!  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The "The State Toy?" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Reading in the local paper about the Slinky which was one of my favorite childhood toys as well as one of the favorite toys of my children and grandchildren.  It was invented by Richard James, a graduate of Pennsylvania State University, who earned a degree in mechanical engineering in the late 1930's.  As a naval engineer he designed and built tools for submarines and iron ships.  It was while doing these jobs in 1943 that he invented one of the most memorable toys in history.  While designing a system to support and stabilize sensitive instruments aboard ships in rough seas he knocked spare parts from an overhead shelf.  One of the items that fell was a spring that wobbled across his desk, down a stack of books and onto the floor.  The Slinky was born!  For over a year he experimented with various wire types and tensions until he came up with the right combination for his walking spring that moved effortlessly down a staircase.  

Richard James show his son the Slinky.

His wife came up with the name of Slinky for his invention.  With a $500 loan from a friend he formed LLC -- James Spring and Wire Company.  He took several thousand yards of wire to his local machine shop and produced 400 Slinky units which he wrapped in simple parchment paper.  Eventually Gimbels department store in Philadelphia began to sell the units at Christmas in 1945.  They didn't sell so Richard took it upon himself to set up a display inside the store, sit down with children and show them how his Slinky worked.  90 minutes later he had sold all 400 Slinkys at $1 each and there was a line waiting for more.  By Christmas that year he had sold 20,000 Slinkys.  Two years later the toy was a national phenomenon. The fame and money seemed to go to James' head and he became more isolated from society and his family.  He began to give huge sums of money to evangelical religious groups and in 1960 bought a one-way ticket to Bolivia where he joined an evangelical Christian cult.  His wife then assumed sole ownership of the company. In 1962 his wife Betty, commissioned three musicians to write a jingle for the Slinky and introduced a rainbow-colored plastic version in the early 1970's.  

If my memory serve me well, this is the type of box that
my Slinky came in when I was a child.

Betty James sold the company in 1998 after she'd sold more than 300 million Slinkys.  I still remember the Slinky that I had as a child.  Came in a small, plain box with a Slinky pictured on it.  Often wondered what I did with it.  Now a retired math teacher has come up with the idea that the state of Pennsylvania should name the Slinky as the state toy.  He set up a booth at Penn State's HUB to present his idea to the students of Richard James' Alma mater.  He also has an idea of placing an interactive Slinky sculpture on Penn State's campus.  He has approached a State Representative with his idea.  With all the other important matters in our state government, I'm not sure how soon the Slinky may become the state toy.  It was another extraoridnary day in the life of an ordinary guy.  PS - Check out the 1960's ad for the Slinky

The "Joy Of Missing Out" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Our waitress just came back to the table with the answer to our question we had posed to her a few minutes ago.  Our friends from State College, PA, Jerry and Just Sue, traveled to Havre de Grace, MD with us for lunch and a day of exploring along the Susquehanna River.  As we arrived at the Conowingo Dam in northern Maryland, someone in the car asked if anyone remembered what the names of the other two dams that are near our house along the river might be.  After a quiet spell and the sound and smell of brains at work, Carol said, "If we had a smart phone we would know the answer by now." Well, none of us have a smart phone.  It's not that we are technological challenged, since Carol and I have a 21" Mac desktop, a MacBook Air laptop and an iPad and Jerry and Just Sue have a desktop computer.  We each have a cell phone and can text, but don't feel the need to be totally connected as the "younger generation" feels.  By younger generation I mean those not on Social Security.  I realize that many who are my age do have a smart phone, and at some time I may get one also, but as of now I am part of the JOMO crowd.  In case you don't know what JOMO means, it is the "joy of missing out."  I don't feel that I have to be connected 24/7 to social media technology as many feel they have to be.  So much is missed by having a piece of plastic attached to your ear all day and night.  When my children and grandchildren arrive at my place for a visit, much of that time is spent with their faces looking at a small lighted screen while Carol and I talk to each other.  They are part of the FOMO crowd or "fear of missing out" on something that is minutely important to maybe just a few people in the world.  I recently read that more and more are leaving the FOMO crowd and joining the JOMO crowd and beginning to interact physically with those who are with them at the moment.  The society of immediate gratification may slowly be moving back to the less intensive society of meaningful conversation which I enjoy much more.  Oh, the answer to the question we posed to our waitress were the Safe Harbor Dam and the Holtwood Dam.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.