The "Model Railroading Big Time: Part II" Story

One of the many wooden bridges that Linn has built for his
display.  Remember to click on any photo to enlarge it.

It was an ordinary day.  Visiting the model railroading display belonging to train modeling  extraor- dinaire, Linn Modinger.  I'm amazed at the magnitude of the layout in front of me.  It wasn't until a hour or so after I arrived that I had a chance to see the three-tiered layout in its entirety.  

A railroad time schedule for the three train company's that
are recreated in miniature on Linn's HO narrow gauge layout. 

Three separate real-life narrow gauge railroads are featured in the layout: the Rio Grande Southern Railroad Company in Colorado, The Colorado & Southern Railway as well as the East Broad Top Railroad Company in Pennsylvania.  Naturally all three are joined together into one layout to make for a smooth transition for travel throughout the layout.  

One of many train round houses on the train layout.

The Rio Grande has 114 yards of laid track while the Colorado & Southern has 73 yards of laid track and the East Broad Top has 77 yards of laid track.  I started to try and count the amount of coal cars, freight cars, etc. and stopped after I reached a couple of hundred cars and hadn't moved from one location in the layout.  And, the amount of engines is equally amazing.  

One of many miniature displays on the layout.  Click to enlarge.

But, what drew my attention most was the detail and quality of craftsman- ship displayed in the layout.  The many wooden truss and trestle bridges were pieces of art in themselves, but to see a train pulling a myriad of cars across one of them was as if I was watching it in real life.  

And yet, another wooden bridge.

Now, I have seen quite a few train layouts in the past, many dotted with buildings of all types and streets and roads lined with telephone poles and lighting, but this was totally different.  There must have been over a thousand trees covering the many mountains in the layout.  Quite a few of those were hand crafted by Linn.  Streams and even a few lakes were filled with water that I though was real until I touched it and found out otherwise.  

"Magic Water" was used to create this
river flowing under the two bridges.

To create this effect "Magic Water" was used.  It is a two-part epoxy material that is virtually odorless.  But, what impressed me the most was what I found underneath the layouts; what must be miles and miles of wire of all gauges.  Wires running to power the layout, wires running to the hundreds of switches on the tracks, wires running to the little red lights on the track that will stop a train if it tries to pass if it is illuminated.  Linn acted as the dispatcher and trouble-shooter today while Jerry, Scott and Dave ran the three individual train systems.  Each was given an assignment and as the afternoon progressed they had to contact the dispatcher by means of Linn's telegraph machines that used Morse Code.  Since none of the participants knew Morse Code, they also could reach him through hand phones.  

Linn preparing a clearance for one of
three fellows running trains.

Linn in turn would issue clearances to the three guys, telling them what to do to finish the instructions they were originally given.  As for me, I had the best time taking photos of just about everything on the layout.  I did at one point check in with Jerry and he handed me his controller and told me to move his train from point "A" to point "B".  I looked at him and asked, "Am I allowed to do that?"  He said, "I already asked Linn if it would be OK and he said yes."  Pretty neat getting a chance to "play trains" with the pros!  A few hours after we arrived, Jerry and I left.  I don't know about Jerry, but I had the time of my life getting a chance to see the layout in person and actually having the chance to "play trains" on the layout.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

Colorado and Southern line engine #69. 

A small Junction House for Vance Junction.

Caboose for the Rio Grande Southern Railroad.  Tough to believe the detail on a car which is probably less than three inches in length.

Another steam engine.  All the engines on the display are steam engines. 

This small red light in the track bed will not allow the train to continue past it if it was lit.  Amazing electronics such as this are throughout the display.

Another rail depot.

This miniature Greyhound bus has a flat tire and is being fixed.

This is a snow plow car for the R.G.S. Railroad. 

Beautiful scenery add realism to the display.  The background has been hand painted onto the wall.

This is a coal box or refueling station.  The train can pull up to the chute to gather more coal.

This is a black and white photo I found on Linn's wall.  It pictures an original structure in a small town known  as Saw Pit.

And this is the resulting model that was made for the display.  Linn told me that a friend made the model for him.

Realistic scenery dots the landscape on the display.

This waterfall actually has running water that is created by using a small pump.

Loved the old Ford "Woodie" I found on one of the country roads.

This is pretty much the town of Robesonia, Pennsylvania modeled in miniature.

Another coal box for refueling.

Loved this little Railway Express panel truck.

One of the participants today is pulling his train into the water tower for more water.

A small sub-station in the town known as Gladstone, Oregon.

This stop in Saltillo, Mexico displays the little red signal on it's roof that can stop a train if the track is not clear in front of it. 

This is Tucker Bros. Welding and Machine Shop in miniature.

And this is LDub controlling the train to the left in the photo.  I had to run it through a tunnel into the next room in order to complete the journey that Jerry was assigned.  You can see the three tiers of the layout to my right. 

The "Model Railroading Big Time: Part I" Story

1763 brick farmhouse in Lancaster County, PA

It was an ordinary day.  Pulling into the macadam lane of a farm in the rolling hills of south- eastern Lancaster County, Pennsyl- vania.  The brick house that Jerry, my longtime friend and fellow shop teacher, and I had just passed along the lane was built in 1763 while the stone house about 100 yards further down the lane was built in 1733.  

1733 stone on the same property.

Our mission today is to visit with Linn Modinger who owns this functioning farm and is the President and CMO of the Strasburg Railroad.  Jerry and I, along with a few other model train buddies of Jerry, are arriving to view Linn's elaborate model railroad layout and spend a couple of hours "playing trains."  Jerry has been a train enthusiast since we met at the age of six.  Many a summer day we would visit his dad who worked at the Railway Express Terminal at the Lancaster Train Station.  We both lived about a block from the station; Jerry along nearby Manheim Ave. while I lived in the last block of North Queen Street.  We would each buy a 5 cent bottled Coke and patrol the two-platform station where freight, cattle and passenger trains came and went on an routine schedule.  The nearby Lancaster Stockyards, the largest and busiest stockyards east of Chicago, would load and unload cattle almost on a daily basis and was great entertainment for a couple of young boys.  

The heads of two model train enthusiasts can be seen
among the mountains and forests of the display. 

Well, today I was given the chance to see one of the most impressive miniature train layouts I have ever seen.  The layout features HO narrow-gauge trains and accessories rather than the usual model railroad HO trains.  Narrow-gauge is exactly what it sounds like with a narrower wheel base with much smaller sized engines and cars.  As we entered the windowless building on the opposite side of the lane from the brick house, we were met by Linn and another train enthusiast, Scott, who happens to be a policeman.  After introductions the door opened once again and in walked the final guest of the day, Dave, who works for the National Transportation Safety Board in Washington, DC.  

Electrical panel to help control the flow of power to the tracks.

The building we are standing in was built in 1983 as a garage for a large, bus sized recreational vehicle for Linn's father William.  When his father died, Linn added to the building and began to use it for his hobby of miniature railroading.  Follow along tomorrow as the trains begin to run throughout the display.  You don't want to miss it.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The "From Fireman to Hossler: The Tale Of A Strasburg Railroad Worker" Story

Early steam locomotive on the Strasburg Railroad.

It was an ordinary day.  Riding shotgun in Jerry's Toyoto Rav4 heading south toward the city of Lancaster.  My lifetime friend Jerry and wife Sue are making a visit with Carol and me this weekend so I can visit with a few of his model railroad friends at the home of Linn Modinger in Lampeter-Strasburg township.  After passing through Lancaster we continue south on SR272/222 until we reach a small black dot on the map known as Willow Street.  Arrived at 11:30 AM for a brief lunch of chicken salad sandwich and vanilla ice-cream; Jerry having the sandwich and me having the ice cream.  "It's a little too early to head to Linn's house," Jerry said after we exited the Willow Street Diner.  "How about we head to the Strasburg Railroad and look around a little bit."  So, off we went toward one of Lancaster County's biggest tourist's attractions.  

Rail cars at the Strasburg Railroad.

The Strasburg Rail Road began operations in 1837 as a horse-drawn railroad.  In 1851 a steam locomotive named the William Penn was purchased and the rest is history as they say.  In 1863 the railroad terminal was moved from the center of Strasburg to its current location near the borough line.  The railroad went through a series of different owners over the years until on November 1, 1958 it was purchased by a non-profit group and began to carry tourists on January 4, 1959.  Today the railroad makes round-trips from Strasburg to the Leaman Place Junction on a daily basis in about 45 minutes.  It is a great way for tourists to the Amish rich county to experience Lancaster County.  The authentic passenger cars, pulled by a massive coal-burning locomotive, is a really neat sight to see as it travels through the farmland of south-eastern Lancaster County.  

Off in the distance Engine #90 displays a puff of smoke.

Shortly, Jerry pulls into the parking lot of the railroad and travels to the east end of the lot where he pulled into a parking space near the train shed which is directly across from us on the other side of the train tracks.  He looked at me and said, "Now we can wait until the train arrives in a few minutes."  I wasn't one to question his knowledge of the train schedule, since he worked five years for the Strasburg Railroad.  While we waited Jerry told me about his years while working at the Strasburg Railroad.  

Engine #90, with the Engineer leaning
out the window, pass us.

He began as a Fireman in the late 1970s.  His job was to ride on the engine with the engineer and maintain the fire which created the steam to run the giant locomotive.  The tender car, which followed the engine, held a couple tons of bituminous, or soft coal, as well as the water supply that Jerry used to create steam to power the engine.  It was his responsibility to keep the water level up as well as shovel the coal into the firebox to keep the fire going.  The trip from Stasburg to Leaman Place and back was nine miles long and required 1/2 ton of coal to make the trip.  With eight continuous trips during a day it would require shoveling 4 ton of coal into the firebox to give the engine enough power for the trips.  The trips would take about 45 to 50 minutes which gave Jerry a few minutes between runs to relax.  Can you imagine shoveling 4 ton of coal every day of the week throughout the scorching summer months?  Jerry told me he was in the best physical shape of his live during the five years he worked at the railroad.  He eventually added the job of Hossler to his Fireman's duties which did help slightly with the physical part of the job.  As a Hossler he would arrive at 5:00 AM to prepare the steam locomotive for the day's travels.  

The train has arrived back at the Strasburg Station.

He would have to rake the fire bank, or pile of remaining coal, that was still warm from the previous day's runs and add more coal to the firebox.  After building up enough steam, he then was responsible for backing the locomotive to the ash pit to empty the ashes from the previous day.  He also had to clean the running gears and white walls with a power washer, wipe the engine down to make it shine and run the engine onto the "Ready Track" in time for the 10:00 AM first run.  I'm sure than most people have no idea how much work, and how physical that work can be, to prep a steam engine for running.  Jerry told me that some weeks he was "penciled in" on the work schedule to act as the Fireman while other weeks he was the Hossler.  When running the train, the Conductor is the boss while the Brakeman is responsible for checking the working condition of the brakes.  The Engineer is responsible for operating the train while the Fireman has to maintain the coal and water to run the engine.  If he had stayed longer he more than likely would have become an Engineer, since he was given a chance to take the controls during some of his trips in his last few years of working at the Strasburg Railroad.  OK, here comes Engine #90 into the station.  The exact same engine that Jerry fired and prepared for running for years.  I could hear the excitement in his voice and see the elation in his face as the monstrous engine chugged slowly past us with the Engineer waving as it went past.  I would love to ride the engine someday and experience the same thrill that Jerry did each and every run he made as it arrived at the station after a successful run.  Well, the train has stopped and it's time to visit with his model railroad friends.  Follow along tomorrow as we "play trains."  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy. 

The "Old World Craftsmanship" Story

It was an ordinary day.  A former student as well as a good friend, Mike Bovie, recently sent me an email telling me about his son and how successful he has been in college during his sophomore year.  His son, Evan, is a student at USC and has gotten into VR (virtual reality) film making, working for Create Marketing and client Sony Pictures.  He was involved with a VR experience for the release of the movie "The Walk" this past summer and fall as well as visiting Woodstock, NY during his recent spring break where he worked for VR Live in filming a new "heart throb" singer/song writer in the recording studio.  I retired from teaching before Evan entered Manheim Township High School where I taught, but I did have Mike for two years during his high school career, and I have no doubts that Evan will be as successful as his dad has become.  I can still remember the dozen t-shirts that Mike created as a senior for the band color guard.  

They were multi-colored and in perfect registration (lining up perfectly).  Quite a feat for a manual procedure.  It was at that time that I knew Mike was someone quite special.  A few years ago Mike opened Lancaster Stained Glass Designs which is known for special designs as well as stained glass restoration.  

The star of DIY network "Made with Pride" Mark Bowe.

Matter of fact, he is so good at what he does that he added to his email that he was appearing on the DIY Network's "Made with Pride" show.  He was one of four featured craftsman from Lancaster, PA who appeared with host Mark Bowe in the half-hour show on national television.  So, the "like father, like son" is truly meant for this pair.  Can't imagine how proud Susan, Mike's wife, must be of her husband and son.  

Alan Buhol working on the slate roof with Mark.

Well, I watched the show and found in it a remarkable display of craftsman- ship from my hometown of Lancaster, Pennsylvania.  Show featured: (1) a slate roofer, Alan Buhol, who was installing a slate roof on the 1843 smoke house of Wheatland, the home of Pennsylvania's only U.S. President, James Buchanan; (2) a blacksmith, Dan Alexander, who showed Mark how to use a 1912 metal spinning lathe as well as make hand-made nails; (3) a cabinet, furniture and even coffin maker, Dave Barkby who helped Mark turn a bowl and; (4) Mike, who showed Mark the proper way to score and cut stained glass, use a "Fid" to place a piece of newly cut glass in place, and the proper method of soldering.  

Dan Alexander showing Mark how to make cut nails.

Throughout the half-hour show, the city of Lancaster was featured showing a covered bridge, rolling hills and farmland and telling that Lancaster was the capital of our nation for a day as well as being the oldest inland city in the country.  

Woodworker Dave Barkby prepares a piece of wood for Mark.

Great show featuring four great artists whose use of old world craftsman- ship was remark- able.  My congratulations for a great show, and especially to Mike for his performance on the show.  I couldn't be more proud of my former student than I was of Mike.  He, and his son, are a class act.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.  PS - My photos for this story were taken from the show and were taken from the TV screen.  I apologize for the quality of many of the photos.

Beginning of the segment with Mike Bovie, Stained Glass artist.

Stained Glass window by MIke that was featured.

Mike showing Mark how to use a Running Pliers. 

Mike and Mark using a Fid to place a piece of stained glass.

Soldering a piece of stained glass in place on a restoration job.

Mark pointing out the piece he helped to replace.

The "Update On Orient Beach Construction" Story

The south end of Orient Beach before it was damaged last year.

It was an ordinary day.  Reading a few of the new posts on TTOL (Travel- Talk- Online) that deal with the new construction on the south end of Orient Beach in St. Martin.  If you have been a reader here for the last few years you may recall that Carol and I have been enjoying yearly visits to the island of St. Martin/Sint Maarten.  Last year we arrived shortly after a devastating hurricane had hit the island and caused massive destruction to the eating establishments and boutiques on the south end of Orient Beach, one of the top beaches in the Caribbean.  

An early look at the new construction before owners
were able to take possession of the buildings.

The government of the French side of St. Martin decided to level all the existing buildings and build a new series of restaurants and boutiques.  A contest was started on TTOL asking readers for a date when they thought the new places would be completed and opened.  My guess was April 25th realizing that island time usually takes over and construction lags behind schedule.  

The beaches in front of the new businesses allow for
umbrellas and beach chairs.

Well, I was wrong and it seems that the new places are starting to open.  A list of the dozen or so establish-ments that gained contracts with the French government to open on Orient Beach was recently listed and they have begun to customize their places and a few have finally opened.  My story today is to talk about those places and how the new operators have prepared them for business.  Many TTOL readers have said that the quality of the new construction is subpar and certainly will not withstand the next big storm.  

A few of the restaurants that have opened.

Many issues I have written about in the past and it seems these issues have still yet be corrected.  Here's hoping that the new tenants will be able to generate enough business to pay the large rents that are being charged.  A few of the new restaurants that have opened have placed three rows of beach chairs and umbrellas in front of their establishments and have started renting them to beach goers.  

A Boutique that used to occupy a spot on Orient Beach
has reopened in one of the new buildings.

This area is a prime drop-off spot for cruise ship patrons.  Perhaps they will be able to gain a following before the high season ends in the middle of April.  I'm anxious for our visit in the near future and hope to find a few stops to replace our favorites from the past 15 years.  My only regret is not being able to visit Andy and Cheryl's Baywatch Restaurant for our favorite Mussel's A La Andy.  We will also miss the overhead display of license plates from all over the U.S. that adorned the ceiling joists.  I will report my findings after making our visit to one of our favorite beaches in the Caribbean.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy. 

PS - The last few photos were from TTOL members Allen Bouchard and Birdwatcher.

PPS - I must admit that I wrote this story a few weeks ago and it got pushed back in my queue.  From reports on several websites, it seems that most buildings have begun operating by now and owners have made some changes to the physical appearances of the buildings that were recntly constructed.  Many owners have made changes to the original vinyl roofs by putting wooden roofs in place to help cut down on the hot Caribbean sun and provide more shade for their patrons.  The beach space in front of each unit seems to be more than was pictured and allows for an extra row or two of beach chairs in front of the places.  The restaurants are said to be very nice with a new flair to them.  Bathrooms are also a nice and needed addition.  Some owners have changed the paint color of the units to reflect the look of their unit before being torn down.  Parking still seems to be a problem, but hopefully that will change soon.  Carol and I will be visiting the island in the near future and I will get a first-hand look at the new "Orient Beach."  My photos and opinions will be part of yet one more story on the restaurants and boutiques that make the beach so special to many.

The "Lancaster That Was" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Reading the Sunday Lancaster Newspaper section called "Lancaster That Was/Flashback Lancaster".  Photos showing the city of Lancaster in the past as well as stories that were written in the Lancaster Newspaper 25 years ago, 50 years ago and 100 years ago are featured.  One story that caught my eye from 100 years ago was about one of Lancaster's political leaders, Thaddeus Stevens.  When our second son was born in 1976, Carol and I thought it appropriate that we find a name that might reflect the celebration of our nations's Bicentennial.  We also wanted it to reflect on the city in which we lived.  

Thaddeus Stevens

We talked about several names from Lancaster's past and settled on Thaddeus Stevens.  On many of my posts you may have noticed me referring to our son as Tad, which for us is a shortened version of his middle name of Thadeus.  Thaddeus Stevens, a resident of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, was a fierce opponent of slavery and discrimination and sought to secure their rights during our nations's Reconstruction.  Well, the story in the paper today from 100 years ago talked about the film The Birth of a Nation and how one of the characters in the film resembled Stevens down to his limp and ill-fitting wig.  The film attempted to make the public prejudice toward Stevens.  Lancaster's Mayor, H.L. Trout, officially declared that the film not be shown in Lancaster because "it is a libel on Thaddeus Stevens." For me, I learned one more fact that I had never known before about our son's namesake.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy. 

The "A Piece Of Memorabilia For Free" Story

The original McDonald's in Lacaster, Pennyslvania.  It opened in 1962
 to the left of the Wheatland Shopping Center, but moved about 100
yards to the right in 1989. This building is now a jewelry store.

It was an ordinary day.  Sitting in my '53 Henry J with my friend Terry after an evening at the Acme Super- market in the Manor Shopping Center where we both work.  After work we decided to take a run around the "Loop" to see what was happening and after finding just a few other cars on the "Loop", headed to McDonald's on the Columbia Pike for a burger, fries and a shake.  The year was 1962 and many of my friends would drive their pride and joy around the "Loop", showing off for anyone who may have been interested.  The "Loop" in Lancaster, PA started at the Square in downtown Lancaster, or at the Post Office, if you wanted a shorter run, and extended north on Queen Street until you reached Liberty.  

Then you took a left for a block and came back south on Prince Street.  Not only was the "Loop" frequented by those with neat vehicles, it was patrolled by the Lancaster City Police making sure that everyone obeyed the traffic laws and there was no rowdy behavior along the "Loop."  We did find quite a few of our friends at McDonald's that evening as we pulled into a spot in the parking lot in front of the McDonald's.  McDonald's had just opened that year moving into a building in the Wheatland Shopping Center and was one of only 350 in the entire United States at the time.  Great gathering place for teens in the community as well as from the surrounding towns of Lancaster, County.  Thinking back on those times from the past often brings back fond memories of friends whom I haven't seen for ages.  

Terry and I would spend quite a few summer evenings after work in that parking lot under the "Golden Arch."  Back then the hamburgers would cost $.15 and the cheeseburgers were $.20.  Fries would set you back $.12 with the shakes the most expensive item at $.22.  Terry and I usually opted for the "All American" special of hamburger, fries and shake for $.45.  Sounds pretty cheap today, but back then it took a chunk of money out of your pocket when you stopped half-a-dozen times a week for the special.  

The McDonald's as it is today with the 1962 sign that
will soon be removed and discarded.

Well, in 1989 a new owner purchased the McDonald's and moved it about 100 yards closer to the center of town into a building that looked like most all the other McDonald's restaurants in Lancaster.  Not only did he move the restaurant, but he moved the huge "Golden Arch."  Pretty neat that he took along the symbol of Ray Kroc's brainchild.  I kind of drifted away from the Columbia Ave. McDonald's since I had three children and a wife when the store changed locations.  We still made family visits to our local McDonald's since it was an inexpensive meal and always a treat for a Friday evening supper.  A few days ago I read in the paper that the 1962 "Golden Arch" is coming down in favor of a new McDonald's sign.  It was reported that anyone who wanted it could have it for just the price of taking it down, but I guess they had no takers.  Would be a great piece of memorabilia, but, don't think the neighbors would appreciate the neon sign lighting up the neighborhood.  I just had to stop and take one more photo of the old location, new location and the sign that brings back many memories of good times from the past.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

PS - It was reported yesterday in the local newspaper that a collector of McDonalds memorabilia is going to take the sign down and add it to his collection.  Great news for those who can remember way back when …

The "In Her Own Words" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Just added a few more books onto my Kindle for an upcoming vacation.  Picked up the latest books by James Patterson et al as well as Stuart Woods.  Also added one from an old favorite whom I haven't read lately, Clive Cussler.  Began a search for one more and decided to pick a local author or a story about Lancaster and found a book called "Love, Murder, and Corruption in Lancaster County."  

Sounded interesting until I began to read some of the reviews about the book.  Seems it was a story about Lancaster native Lisa Michelle Lambert who was sentenced to life in prison for the 1991 killing of a romantic rival, Laurie Show.  For years she has been complaining that her trial and lawyers weren't fair to her.  The author of this new book, which was recently published, is a Philadelphia attorney named David Brown.  The book describes the December 20, 1991 murder of Laurie Show in her East Lampeter Township condo by Lisa, Tabitha Buck and Lawrence Yunkin. Yunkin pleaded guilty to his part in the murder and served his 10-20 year sentence.  The two girls are both still in jail and probably will be for the rest of my lifetime.  In the late 1990s, Lambert was released when a Federal Judge agreed with her that the prosecutors tampered with evidence and framed her.  Wasn't long before she was back in jail once again.  Since that time she has filed appeal after appeal which eventually went to the U.S. Supreme Court.  Today she sits in a Massachusetts prison cell.  The reviews of the book don't tell much that I haven't read over and over again in the newspapers during the trial and eventual appeals.  Lisa still says she was framed by the police who gang-raped her earlier in the 1990s before the murder was committed.  She claims she was controlled by her two accomplices and that she was actually trying to help Show. Evidently in the new book's preface, Lisa tells of her nearly Amish upbringing and wonderful parents and the fact that after a 2010 TV story about her life aired decided to tell her story once again.  And that is done by Philadelphia lawyer and author David Brown.  He says he was intrigued by her story and proposed co-authoring her version of events once more.  Mr. Brown has practiced law for more than 20 years, but says his passion is writing books.  He claims the book is primarily in Lisa's words with a few commentaries by himself.  Brown attempts to discredit Pennsylvania judges in the book and tells that just about everyone wants to keep her in jail.  He claims that if a wrongly convicted person persists enough, eventually they will be exonerated.  His book on Amazon is Lisa Michelle Lambert's latest attempt to claim her innocence.  He does say that since Lambert is barred by law from profiting from the crime, he will receive all the profits from the book.  OK, now I get it!  I think I'll look for another book for vacation rather than pay someone for something I have read over and over again in the local newspaper.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The "Cross Over Ceremony" Story

The traditional final skit done by the Webelos
before becoming Boy Scouts.

It was an ordinary day.  Watching my grandson, Caden, "Crossover" from Webelos to Boy Scouts.  I can still remember when he became a Tiger Scout over four years ago and wore his uniform for the first time.  He was so proud of himself as he entered Cub Scouts with his family.  I say "family" since that is exactly what scouting is at the entry level.  But, as you "Crossover" from Cub Scouts, or Webelos Scouts (We'll Be Loyal Scouts) to be exact, it is done under the assumption that you are able to make a few of your own decisions.  

My daughter-in-law Barbara, second from the left, receiving
a special award for being a Cub Scout leader.

About half a dozen other Webelos Scouts made the "Crossover" along with Caden into Boy Scouts today when the Arrow of Light badge, a Boy Scout Handbook and a troop neckerchief were awarded to all who engaged in the "Crossover".  Pretty neat ceremony with each Webelos Scout walking across a wooden bridge with his parents and receiving his new neckerchief.  But, before the ceremony took place, the Webelos had a chance to perform for the audience of Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts and their parents and guests.  

The Webelos Scouts and parents are addressed by the Scout
Leader before "Crossing Over" into Boy Scouts.

One final performance included a skit which featured two Webelos Scouts sticking their heads through openings in a sheet while two others placed their hands through holes in the sheet to act as the hands for the heads.  Pretty funny as they tried to eat various items and pretended to shave using shaving cream (whipped cream).  

Caden, in the blue Cub Scout uniform leads his parent's
across the bridge into Boy Scouts.

The audience was totally entertained and laughing as the Webelos Scouts performed together for the last time.  My grandson's arms and hands were part of the young scout on the right side of the curtain while Caden's best friend, Max, was the head for the other scout.  The 10 minute skit drew big applause as it came to an end.  The Boy Scout leader began the "Crossover" Ceremony with the printed ceremony wording of, "Today we are here to witness a milestone in a Scout's advancement, the bridge crossing over, from Cub Scouts to Boy Scouts."  

Caden receiving his new neckerchief from another Boy Scout.

Wasn't long before all the Cub Scouts were newly anointed Boy Scouts and received a big round of applause.  A few photos with Caden and his mom and dad finished my day before I had to excuse myself and head to another appointment.  I hope Caden enjoys his experience in Boy Scouts as much as he has enjoyed himself while going through the levels of Cub Scouts.  He's a fantastic young man who loves scouting and the scouting experience.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The proud new Boy Scout has a big smile on his face.

Caden holds his new Handbook with mom Barbara and dad Derek.

Final time to wear his blue Cub Scout uniform before donning his traditional tan Boy Scout uniform.

  

The "Ten Cent Jimmy" Story

Our 15th President of the United States

It was an ordinary day.  And the beginning of April can mean only one thing.  It is the birth month of the 15th President of the United States.  Know who that might have been?  If I tell you he caught a cold in May, 1868 which quickly worsened due to his advanced age, and he died on June 1, 1868.  

The entrance to Woodward Hill Cemetery.

How about if I told you he was the only President who happened to be Secretary of State before being elected President.  Not yet!   Well, maybe if I tell you he was known as "Ten Cent Jimmy", since he is said to have wanted to lower worker's wages to 10 cents a day.  Now you know ... right!  If  not, you certainly would know if I told you he was interred in Woodward Hill Cemetery and I just took a photograph of his tombstone ... since most of you know by now that I live in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.  Bingo!  President James Buchanan was born on April 23, 1791.  His presidency wasn't the best and he had a hard life after it because he was blamed for the civil war.  

President Buchanan's tombstone stands behind his name.

He even had a portraiture of himself hanging in the White House which had to be taken down and put in hiding so people wouldn't vandalize it.  And, his Lancaster sweetheart, Ann Coleman, to whom he was engaged briefly in 1819, committed suicide (now that's a whole other story).  But, what really stinks is that he has been ranked as one of the worst Presidents in history; actually, the worst.  No matter what, to me he had to do something right to have been elected President.  And, the house he lived in along Marietta Ave. in Lancaster, was absolutely beautiful.   That, plus, his grave site looks pretty neat, also.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

Interesting photograph of newly elected President James Buchanan's inauguration in 1857.  His was the first inauguration that was documented with photography. 

This marker stands along South Queen Street, outside the cemetery.

American flag flys proudly above his grave site.