The "The Malady Of All Empires" Story

Rossmere sanatorium near my home in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

It was an ordinary day.  Recalling with my wife the times my parents would take my brother and I on Sunday afternoon rides and happen to past the Rossmere sanatorium in Manheim Township.  We lived about a mile from the place and were warned by both mom and dad to stay away from it.  

Residents of the sanatorium get fresh air while in their beds.

The building was opened as a hotel in 1898, but became a tuberculosis sanatorium in 1925 to treat those with the infectious disease known as TB that could be lethal.  Eventually the place closed, but I will never forget the warning given by my parents about staying away from the place.  The rides past the place with patients laying in beds on the porch of the place was scary to a young boy.  But, that was nothing compared to the "KILLLER FLU" that arrived by way of Fort Rile, Kansas 100 years ago this winter.  

Influenza victims crowd into an emergency hospital
near Fort Riley, Kanas in 1918.

Ground Zero for what was the world's deadliest influenza pandemic began inconspic- uously.  It was said to have began with poor farmers who were drafted for World War I and reported for duty at Fort Rile.  These farm boys struggled to do their daily chores of slopping pigs, feeding cattle, horses and chickens while living in cramped, uninsulated quarters.  Then the virus somehow arrived!  

Corpsmen in caps and gowns ready to attend patients in the
influenza ward of the U.S. Naval Hospital on
Mare Island, California on December 10, 1918.

It mutated as the men coughed and sneezed, spreading germs in the Army barracks; then on trains across the nation and on ships to Europe.  Within six to nine months the flu had killed at least 20 million people worldwide.  Some reports I read listed the number of dead at 40 million.  It was never documented which Kansas farm it all began on, but the farm probably was located in what is now the ghost town known a Santa Fe.  

Convalescing influenza patients, isolated due to an over-
crowded hospital, stay at the U.S. Army's Eberts Field
facilities in Lonoke, Arcansas, in 1918.

Local Dr. Loring Miner, who practiced in Haskell County, was the first to report to Public Health Reports of the killer flu.  It kept building in strength for months.  Troops were trained at Fort Rile and sent by train to board ships bound for war; many of them had flu-like symptoms.  Along the way the virus mutated over and over.  

An emergency hospital set up in Brookline, Massachusetts,
to care for influenza cases, photographed in October of 1918.

We gave the virus to our Allies who in turn gave it to our enemies.  Eventually it infected one-third of the world!  Between 50 to 100 MILLION people eventually died.  The 1918 influenza killed more people in 15 months than AIDS has killed in 40 years.  It has resulted in more deaths than the bubonic plague killed in a century.  It was a submicroscopic virus composed of just eight genes that killed more people than any other disease in a period of similar duration in the history of the world.  

One of the books I found online and read
a few pages describing The Great Influenza
of 1918.  We just celebrated the flu's 100 anniversary.

I read small parts of a few books written on the influenza which cried: British schoolchildren slumped dead at their desks; German furniture vans hauled bodies scattered in streets to the cemeteries.  The flu began as a dull headache or burning eyes, then chills and fever.  Almost all the infected did live with about 2.5% dying from the disease.  This shows you the magnitude of how many were affected if 50 to 100 million died.  Those that died experienced lungs filled with a reddish fluid which caused a hellish cough.  The lips and ears would then turn dark blue and the victim's feet would turn black.  Doctors had no idea what to do to stop it.  Many prescribed aspirin which led to overdoses.  The flu has been with us a lifetime and afflicted each civilization and society all over the world.  

Serbian soldiers are treated for influenza on February 5, 1919,
in Rotterday, Netherlands, at the auxiliary hospital for
Serbians and Portuguese.

Our scientific world has worked for ages to try and solve the flu epidemics that have occurred.  Many vaccines have been developed with some working better than others.  But, to be safe you need to be injected with the vaccine.  Is this something you do yearly?  And, why not if you don't do so?  My wife and I are both over 65 so we get senior double doses to combat the flu.  

Graves of U.S. soldiers who died of influenza in Devon,
England, photographed on March 8k, 1919.  The graves
contained the bodies of 100 American wounded soldiers
at Paignton Military Hospital that died from the epidemic
of influenza that spread over England.

There are many pitfalls in our annual flu vaccina- tions, but is there a better preven- tative measure?  Since that awful time 100 years ago much has been accomp- lished.  I trust what is being done, since I have no other choice.  Same as you.  But, after reading segments recently about the 1918 influenza and how many people it killed, I'll take my chances and get the vaccine.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The U.S. Army 39th regiment wear masks to prevent influenza in Seattle in December of 1918.  The soldiers are on their way to France.

In Sydney, Australia, nurses leave Blackfriars Depot in Chippenedale during the flu epidemic in April of 1919.

Volunteer nurses from the American Red Cross tend to influenza patients in the Oakland Municipal Auditorium used as a temporary hospital in 1918.

Soldiers in the U.S. Military in a hospital in France.

Policemen stand in a street in Seattle, Washington, wearing protective masks made by the Seattle Chapter of the Red Cross, during the influenza epidemic in 1918.

One more book that describes the awful years when the influenza epidemic roamed the world.  It was known as the Malady Of All Empires.

     

The "Your Elders And The History They Exude" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Straightening my desk (does anyone say that anymore) when I came across a small old Bible that my brother bought at an auction and gave to me.  I found it was autographed and captioned throughout by the printer of the Bible, Francis Bailey, who ran the print shop in Lancaster, Pennsylvania in the late 1700s.  It is a piece of history that can never be duplicated.  It is unbelievable that I actually have a piece of history that was passed along through the ages and landed in my lap because someone had no idea how valuable history might be.  Made me think of the sub-head in a story in my latest Saturday Evening Post: The secret to a rich and meaningful life lies in passing along what you have learned to the next generation.  Made me think back to when I was a young boy in the St. James Episcopal Church choir and would sit and watch my choirmaster and organist, Mr. Frank McConnell, write music.  

Cover of the cassette tape that
featured music from Mr. McConnell.

He had duplicated blank musical pages on an old mimeograph machine and would use his pencil to compose pieces which he would play from time to time as a prelude or postlude.  As an adult in his choir, I remember singing a few anthems that he reproduced on a copy machine which he had composed.  I still have the cassette tape that he produced which  featured some of the greatest organ music ever written, and one or two of his own works.  How I would love to have one of his original manuscripts of his musical work.  When Mr. McConnell (I could never call him Frank) died it reminded me of the African proverb: "When an elder dies, it's like a library has burned down."  So it was for me when Mr. McConnell died.  I find as I age I enjoy more and more visiting museums to view history in a different perspective: Real Life!  Reading about history and watching shows on the History Channel are interesting, but not as interesting as seeing it first hand.  

Inside President James Buchanan's home,
"Wheatland,"  You could read all you want,
but never be able to see his hats hanging
inside the front door of his home in Lancaster.

Looking at former President James Buchanan's favorite bottle of wine on the desk where he sat to sign Presidential documents at Wheatland is so different than reading about it.  Visiting Rockford and seeing General Edward Hand's uniform certainly tops reading about it any day.  Wouldn't you had rather take a field trip while a student in school than reading about some event in a book.  Most cities and towns in the United States, as well as other countries you may visit, have museums and historical places to visit.  The artifacts and physical items you will see are more meaningful then viewing them in a book. I guess for me it all goes back to when I was a young choirboy and seeing Mr. McConnell's musical scores spread over the top of the piano during choir practice.  Whatever happened to them?  Did someone brush them aside and eventually sell them at auction like the old Bible sitting in front of me at present.  History really is fun and the older I get the more I enjoy it.  Maybe someday someone will be sitting in their office reminiscing about the stained glass piece they have in their office window that I had made a hundred years before.  But, I will never know, will I?  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The "The Decline Of The Large Retailers In Lancaster, PA" Story

Foreword:  A short time ago Lancaster's newspaper featured a story on page 1 telling that the local Sears store would close in March.  The story that follows was written in early November, before I knew the exact date of closing.

It was an ordinary day.  Hopping on my Craftsman mower to collect the fallen leaves.  Have been doing that fall chore since we moved to our beach house in Lancaster, Pennsylvania about 20 years ago.  One of the first purchases we made when we moved was a riding mower, since walking behind a smaller push mower on an acre of land gets pretty old.  And, we were told by a fellow who repairs mowers that the best on the market was the Craftsman sold by Sears.  My neighbor had a pickup truck and he and I along with my sons made a trip to the Sears store to pick up the mower.  I have used it every summer for over 20 years now and with a few tune-ups it has given me great service.  Then, a couple of days ago I read in the newspaper that Sears was going out of business.  How can that be?  Tough to tell how many items we have bought at the store at the Park City Mall in Lancaster County.  

Shopping Mall entrance to Sears

Sears came to Lancaster when they opened a store on Penn Square in 1933 in downtown Lancaster.  That was eight years after the mail-order merchant diversified into bricks-and-mortar retailing.  It stood at the same location where a large fountain now stands.  Eventually business in Lancaster grew and Sears, Roebuck and Co., the official company name with the "and" spelled out and Co. abbreviated, moved to 40 E. King Street in 1941.  Then in 1958 they moved to the newly opened Lancaster Shopping Center and was one of the first large retailers to leave center city Lancaster.  

An advertisement for Sears, Roebuck and Co.

Then in 1972 they became one of the first four anchors at Park City when they moved into their 158,000 square foot store.  With the growth of e-commerce retailers in the last couple of years, Sears is vacating their Park City Center store following Bon-Ton and perhaps J.C. Penney which is also on the ropes.  Only Boscovs still remains.  Sears had purchased discount retailer K-Mart a few years ago and the K-Mart store near my house closed in March of 2017.  

An older Sears store logo.

There are still a few K-Mart stores in Lancaster County that are still open, but it may be just a matter of time before they follow the lead of Sears and close.  Retail stores are closing left and right in Lancaster.  Not too long ago Toys R Us closed their doors.  Retail giants seem to be succumbing to the large online websites such as Amazon and eBay.  I must admit I buy many items online since it so much easier to do so and the price is usually less than the big retailers.  The big online companies do have big work forces and all the delivery services, including the US Postal Service  seem to be hiring more people to deliver the products.  I hate to see all the big retailers going under, but as I get older it is so much easier to shop online.  

Ad for Sears homes.

Sears was responsible for introducing America to Build-it-yourself houses when they sold kits with names like Croydon and Alhanbra.  There were actually 447 styles of homes which were featured in the Sears catalogs with illustrations of finished interiors.  One design was modeled after Mount Vernon, George Washington's plantation house in Virginia, but was called the Jefferson.  You bought the home and framing lumber, nails, varnish, carved staircase parts and plumbing components were delivered to you.  You needed to supply the builder, but the cost was considerably less than a conventional house.  

Sears even sold motor buggies.

Today the Sears homes are the subject of many books.  Many homes had a Sears Catalog as reading matter.  Then in 1966 Sears opened an art gallery in Chicago selling works by Chagall, Picasso, Miro and Andrew Wyeth.  Sears sold more the 50,000 pieces of fine art in 1971 when it ended it art sales.  Today Costco is exploring the fine arts market.  Sears will be missed I'm sure.   Luckily I found that the Ace Hardware distributors in Lancaster County are now selling Craftsman tools and maybe in the future will add the riding mowers.  Of course, my current mower may last until I decide to give someone else a chance to mow grass and move into a retirement home.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.    

The "Have You Acquired A Taste For The Stuff? Story

Breakfast with my morning newspaper!

It was an ordinary day.  Grabbed a container of yogurt and the morning paper and sat in my recliner as I ate my breakfast and caught up on the local news.  Sound like something you might do?  I have loved reading the newspaper since I was in junior high school, but it wasn't until a few years ago that I enjoyed eating yogurt.  Don't know if its the name of the stuff or the slight sour flavor that turned me off to yogurt.  Then I gave it another chance and realized its no so bad after all.  So how much do you know about yogurt?  Yogurt is Turkish in origin and is traced back to the Neolithic peoples of Central Asia around 6000 B.C. when herdsmen began the practice of milking their animals and the natural enzymes in the containers that were used curdled the milk thus making yogurt.  It was thought that people favored the taste of the curdled milk so it eventually evolved into commercial yogurt making.  The first industrialized production of yogurt is credited to Isaac Carasso who in 1919, in Barcelona, Spain named his company "Danone" after his son; "Danone" means "Little Daniel".  In the 1700s Turkish immigrants brought yogurt to North America, but it wasn't until the 1940's when Daniel and Juan Metzger took over a small yogurt factory in the Bronx, NY that yogurt became well known.  

One of the most recognized brands of yogurt.

Yogurt with fruit on the bottom was first introduced in 1947 by Dannon when strawberries were added.  Then along came the health food culture in the 50s and 60s and yogurt became a part on many households.  My childhold household in Lancaster, Pennsylvania wasn't one of those that embraced the stuff.  Actually, as I said earlier, I didn't even try yogurt until a few years ago.  But, when I saw yogurt with the many varieties of fruit in them, I gave it a try once again.  I found l liked the combination of the fruit's sweetness and the tartness of the yogurt.  Then in 1951 Daniel Carasso had to return to France for business reasons leaving Dannon under the care of partner Juan Metzger.  Daniel told Metzger it may be best to sell the company so in 1959 Dannon Milk Products was aquired by Beatrice Foods in Ohio.  In 1986 Dannon moved into new headquarters in White Plains, NY.  Today, the top selling yogurt flavors in the United States are, in order: Strawberry, Blueberry, Vanilla, Peach, Plain, Raspberry, Honey, Banana/Strawberry, Black Cherry and Berry.  My wife now eats Chobani flip with the almond coco loco flavor.  It is coconut low-fat Greek yogurt with honey roasted salted almonds & dark chocolate.  Doesn't sound or taste good to me, but she loves it and she's the one eating it.  I still have a tub of yogurt from time to time.  It's actually a quick breakfast, good for you and still goes well with the morning paper!  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

My wife's favorite.

   

The "Disturbed...The Sound Of Silence" Story

It was an ordinary day.  My wife Carol asked if I had opened my emails and found the link to "Disturbed".  Looked at her and questioned what she meant.  "You know...the band 'Disturbed'.  Tad forwarded a link to the band's singing of Simon and Garfunkle's 'The Sound of Silence'.  I know you will really like it, even though 'Disturbed' is a heavy metal band" she said.  By now, if you have followed this blog for any length of time, you probably know that I love old time rock and roll as well as Jimmy Buffett and his island escapism style of music.  Give me Buddy Holly, Rick Nelson, Duane Eddy, Bo Diddley, The Everly Brothers, Roy Orbison, The Isley Brothers and even "The Fabulous Flashbacks" and I'd be happy for the rest of the day.  But, Heavy Metal!  You gotta be kidding!  "Just go check your emails and listen to the song Tad forwarded to me," Carol said.  So I did.  Wow!!  Don't know if I could listen to all the music that the lead artist, David Draiman, has done in the past, but I really did like his rendition of "The Sound of Silence".  His deep bass voice with a raspy twist to it had me watching the YouTube video a few times before Carol stuck her head in the door of our office and smiled at me.  "Pretty neat isn't it," she said.  "Disturbed" is an American heavy metal band that was formed in 1994 that now includes vocalist David, bassist John Moyer, guitarist/keyboardist Dan Donegan and drummer Mike Wengren.  The band has released seven albums to date, but I'm not sure I'm ready to buy one yet.  Would have to hear a few more songs done by them before I will become a fan.  What makes "The Sound of Silence" so special was the full orchestra that accompanied them in the re-make of Simon and Garfunkle's song.  Now, if they did an entire album of old time rock and roll songs, I probably would think about purchasing it.  Probably all the old-timers who grew up in the 50s and 60s would buy it.  So, for now, the jury is out on whether I will listen to any more of his music.  Gonna have to be recommended to me by my son, Tad, since he knows my wife and myself's music tastes and thus his forwarding of the following song to Carol.  Listen to it...I think you too will enjoy it!  It was an ordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.    

The "Another Honor For One Of Lancaster's Best Athletes" Story

New historical plaque to honor Barney Ewell.  Click to enlarge.

It was an ordinary day.  Driving past Lancaster's J.P. McCaskey High School on the north-eastern side of the city.  Beautiful high school that was built back in 1938.  As I rounded the circle in front of the school I noticed something new.  Stopped and grabbed my iPhone to take a photo of it.  The marker that I just photographed was a Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission marker honoring one of Lancaster's greatest athletes, Henry Norwood "Barney" Ewell who graduated from the school shortly after it was opened in 1938.  

Barney and some of his many awards from high school.

Barney was born in 1918 in nearby Harrisburg, PA. and moved with his family to Lancaster as a child.  After moving to Lancaster he began to run in the streets to help strengthen a leg that was weakened by polio. As a student at McCaskey High School, he set records in the 100 and 220 yard dashes as well as the long jump and earning seven gold medals in the State meet.  In Lancaster he was known as "Lancaster's Flash".  After high school he entered Penn State University and was a nine-time collegiate All-American while winning 12 gold medals in NCAA competition as well as 11 gold medals during his participation at the Amateur Athletic Union competitions.  

Running for Penn State.

During his time at Penn State he never lost a race.  He was also a member of the boxing team at Penn State.  He was selected a member of the United States Olympic Team, but never had a chance to compete in the 1940 or 1944 Olympics since the Olympics were canceled due to World War II.  During Olympic trials he tied Jesse Owens' world record 100-meter run of 10.2 seconds.  During WWII he served with distinction in the U.S. Army and returned to Lancaster with the intent of getting back in shape so he could compete in the 1948 Olympics.  

The Lancaster Coin Club memorialized Barney with this coin.

He once again made the team at the age of 30.  During the '48 Olympics he won a Gold and two Silver medals.  Lancaster's Flash was given the title of one of America's 10 all-time greatest sprinters by the U.S. Track and Field News.  In his later life he lost both legs due to complications from diabetes, and died in1996 at the age of 78.  The historical marker I took a photograph of was promoted in Harrisburg, the capital of Pennsylvania, by the Barney Ewell Legacy Committee which consisted of former Lancaster Mayor Art Morris, a tremendous long-distance runner, Ken Stoudt and Ron Ford who was Barney's nephew.  My dad would often tell me stories of Barney and his exploits in high school.  The plaque is a fitting reminder to the athletic prowess achieved by Lancaster's Olympic Gold Medal Winner.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.   

The "History Will Remain Forever In Lancaster" Story

The Mayer House along the Fruitville Pike in Lancaster, PA.
Remember to click on images to enlarge them. Click on images
to enlarge them.

It was an ordinary day.  Driving past the David M. Mayer House which is located along the Fruitville Pike, a few blocks from my home in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.  Stopped to take a few photographs of what it looks like after it has been totally restored.  

An artist's rendering of the property years ago.  This shows
the farmhouse and the barns and outbuildings behind it.

It was built by Mr. Mayer sometime between 1870 and 1874.  A bit over a year ago an extensive renovation was begun on the exterior of the farmhouse which features a large porch, 63 unique windows and a central cupola with bracketed cornice.  I still remember swinging on the old rope that hung behind the farmhouse near a small pond.  

The barn with some of the livestock.

That pond opened into a larger area of water we called "the swamp" where my friend Jere would catch snapping turtles while riding on a wooden raft.  He would take them to a seafood restaurant a few blocks to the south and get $.50 for each one of them.  As I got older that old farmhouse began to age just as I did.  A few windows hung at different angles and rust began to set into the joints.  

One of the families that lived on the property years ago.

Then in 1998 a new shopping center opened on the property next to the couple of barns that sat to the north of the farmhouse.  It began to draw some attention to the Mayer farm.  The Belmont Barn, part of the farm and sitting to the north of the house, was built in the 1860s and consisted of a large barn, tobacco house, corn crib, carriage house and milking parlor.  

Drawing of the limestone kiln to the west of the farmhouse.

To the west of the property was a limestone quarry and kiln.  Before long a "For Sale" sign appeared along the Fruitville Pike which listed all the barn buildings, but not the farmhouse.  Then one day they were sold.  Found out they will be rebuilt on a 275 acre farm known as the Ironstone Ranch in Elizabethtown, PA.  The same ranch that Abraham Lincoln's funeral train, as well as the train that carried the Liberty Bell, passed next to years ago.  

Sepia print of the farm from the 1950s.

Well, eventually the property was sold as well as the property across the Fruitville Pike from the Mayer farmhouse.  Bought by a developer who made single-family houses, apartments and 370,00 square feet of retail space.  Just what we needed!!  The builder who bought both sides of the Fruitville Pike called the area The Shoppes at Belmont.  

I assume this is a class of school children who came to
visit the farm from nearby Brecht Elementary School.

And, on the property where the old Belmont barn and outbuildings were torn down and moved, now has a $14 million hotel sitting on it.  But...the Mayer farmhouse has been saved and is totally renovated.  It was at this point that I wrote a blog story or two which perhaps you read.  Wasn't long before I began to get comments telling me about those who lived on the property at one time or another.  I have not added all the comments to this post and what comments I have added may have been edited.  A few of those comments are:

Judy Harnish: Our family had a tour of it about 15 years ago.  The kitchen was almost the same a when we live there 65 years ago.  Mr. Rutt who started Rutt's Kitchens built some cabinets for my mother which were still there.  The old claw foot tub was still in the upstairs bathroom.  It didn't seem quite as big to me as it did as a 6 year old when we moved away.  We even were up in the cupola which fascinated us kids.  I lived in this house until I was 6, and my Father renovated the barn back in the forties to grow 40 thousand broiler chickens. We moved away in 1953 after Route 30 was constructed dissecting the land he was trying to farm.

Another color photograph of the old barn and out buildings.

Wendy Leigh: I lived here in 1987-88 when I was a little kid!  My mom and former step-dad rented it along with another couple whose names I can't remember.  There was a tree swing built for me that was still hanging for many years to the right of the house.  Judy... I took baths in that claw tub in the upstairs bathroom!  There was a horse named Jenny that lived in the barn out back.  She wasn't ours, someone was just renting the barn.  I have such fond memories of this house.  (Writer's note - The swing was in the same location as the one that I used to swing on.  It had been replaced many times over the years by different families.)

Farmer workers on the Belmont farm show their yield of tomatoes.

Karen Kettering: Rose and Dan Fellenbaum lived there too.  Rose told me stories of the raccoons that would come from the tree onto the porch roof.      

Sharron Long Hoffer: I was about 11 or 12 when Rose and Dan moved in.  We lived in the back section of the house and they lived in the front.  We stayed friends and I can credit her for teaching me how to cook, can and sew.  We lived in the house from 1954 to 1959.

Nelson Kilmer:  I will have to see if my parents have any pictures (or stories) from the time they live there.  They were just 20 and 22 years old in 1948 when they farmed that land.  They are both still living.  Ironically, the Belmont barn (where the hotel will sit) that both my mom and dad worked in was moved to my mom's uncle's farm in Elizabethtown.  In 1948 my parents lived in the back and Clarence Zeagers (farm manager) lived in the front.

One of the farm's families working in the flower beds.

Judy Harnish:  I am the daughter of Clarence Zeager. 

Sharon Clayton: My sister and her husband lived there, then it was used as two half houses.  Somewhere around 1959 to early 60s.  Had a servants quarters in the back yard which burnt down.

Judy Harish:  We called it The Spring House.  It burned while we lived there!  Our hired man was living there at the time of the fire.

Looks as if they raised turkeys on the farm at one time.

As you can see, history is interesting!  We all remember parts of it with other parts overlapping one another.  I am so glad that the house has been restored.  So sad though that this huge monstrosity of a shopping center has been built across the street from the farmhouse.  And, the hotel...why was that built?  Traffic is awful!  I will finish my story today with one final reader's comment that is how many others feel.  Thanks to all who commented about my stories.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

Some of the farm equipment housed in the lower level of the barn.

Melissa Greene:  I find the juxtaposition of what's happening across the street a warped amusement, but simply thankful that SOMEONE had the grace to preserve what can never be replicated.  Compare the new BELMONT sign - some designer's dreadful mistake in scale that went unnoticed by a supervisor who is supposed to at least make an ATTEMPT at passing along good taste - with the grandeur and personality built into every corner of its neighbor.  For those of us who care about beauty and its deep importance to the soul (and how these things feed directly into the future of art), we must continue to applaud the restoration of all such elegance and grandeur, at every cost.  (LDub's note - I have chosen not to display the huge sign that is referred to in this comment for it truly is in poor taste)

The latest photo I just took a few weeks ago.  The building has been totally restored from top to bottom.  It looks as majestic as what it probably looked like when it was first built in early 1870s.  If you look closely you can see the edge of the new $14 million Home 2 Suites by Hilton in the right background. 

The "The Hero From Sint Maarten: Part II" Story

Barbara and Anna

It was an ordinary day.  Looking at the Christmas email greeting from Barbara Cannegieter I just received from the island of Sint Maarten.  This past October my wife Carol and I visited the island and made a stop at the home of Barbara and Dee whom we got to know about five years ago.  During our visit we were greeted by a shrill voice that belonged to Anna.  Anna is a white cockatoo that had been gifted to the St. Maarten Zoo a few years ago.  Then in September of 2017 Hurricane Irma made a visit to the island and totally devastated the island as well as destroying the zoo.  Eventually Barbara was able to adopt Anna who is a wonderful greeter who constantly reminded us of her name by screaming "Anna".  Many years before the hurricane arrived in 2017, a young boy by the name of Drew Vogelsang volunteered at the Sint Marten Zoo.  At this point in my story I would like to insert a story sent to me by Barbara telling about a recent visitor she had to her home to see her as well as Anna.  The story was an email received by Barbara and was written by Rita Ennis.  Enjoy the story as I did and see just how compassionate we humans can be when the need occurs.

The email written by Rita Ennis to Barbara Cannegieter:

We are in Sint Maarten where the Vogelsang/Ennis/Evans families have spent 20+ Christmas seasons. "We" this time includes Ellie and her BFF Marina, Drew, Joanne (Bob's sister), her husband Randy and me.  We always have at least one activity while here that becomes a family legend. The first such activity this year is a visit Drew and I paid to Anna, a white cockatoo. There's a backstory here.  As I said, we've been here many times. Most years since he was 12, Drew skipped some of the beach activity and volunteered at the Sint Maarten Zoo. It was a very small, distinctive home to about 300 animals, a very low-key, easy to visit, almost shabby-but-lovely little park and kid's recreation area. Some of the animals were endangered. For such a small zoo, the collection was impressive. Some animals (peacocks, large turtles) roamed freely, giving the zoo a special accessible vibe. Each animal was named, known by many locals and greatly appreciated for its characteristics and personality.  One resident was Anna, a sweet or nasty (depending on whether she liked you or not) white cockatoo, who had been gifted to the zoo by her previous owner, a woman. Drew heard Anna liked women much better than men, but mostly didn't like people, and had bitten several visitor fingers over the years. Undaunted, Drew worked to make friends with her, and the relationship became mutual adoration. While he never entered her cage, Anna mashed her body up against her cage bars so Drew could rub her belly, under her wings and under her neck. 

Anna sitting on Drew's arm.

Anna clearly recognized Drew each year when he returned.  Bob and I visited Drew at the Zoo while he was working a few times and witnessed and photographed the love between these two. Some of you may remember photos we posted 4 and 6 years ago. Drew last saw Anna in 2014.  As most of you know, Sint Maarten was devastated by Hurricane Irma in September 2017. The Zoo was totally destroyed. Some animals escaped, some were stolen, some lost their lives to storm fright or the caiman who got loose. The animals that remained were moved to the Curacao Zoo or re-homed to zoo volunteers.  We were heartbroken about the condition of Sint Maarten and the Zoo. I tried but was unable to find out about Anna, and resigned myself to never knowing her fate.  Fast forward to last Thursday. While finalizing some vacation prep details, on a lark I googled "Sint Maarten Zoo Irma Anna" and up came a May 2018 blog post by a Sint Maarten resident, Barbara Cannegieter saying she had taken in Anna. I was thrilled to know Anna was safe and loved. Caribstorm is the blog, and I've read from it many times over the years as author Barbara commented on Sint Maarten and its weather, and occasional other topics. Though I didn't know her and had never had any exchanges through blog comments, I emailed Barbara explaining Drew's relationship to Anna and asked if he could visit Anna. Barbara replied with a gracious invitation.  Today we visited Anna, Barbara, and her husband Diederick. We had a lovely time getting acquainted, and Drew had a wonderful reunion. We can't say that Anna remembered Drew, but she liked him and recognized him as a gentle friend. She allowed him to enter her spacious cage, and climbed on his arm. It was a great visit -- meaningful to all of us. The whole thing seemed like a little miracle. And now we have new friends in Sint Maarten, friends we will surely visit again.

Carol visits with Dee and Barbara in Dee's garden.

As you can see, Barbara is a national treasure for the island of Sint Maarten.  Carol and I are so lucky to have met her a few years ago and to be able to make yearly visits with she and her husband Dee.  We look forward to our visit in 2019 and hope we can once again hear that shrill voice calling "Anna" to us as we ring the bell at the gate.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy. 

The "The Hero From Sint Maarten: Part I" Story

Preface: In 2014 my wife, Carol, and I had the privilege of meeting Barbara and Diederick Cannegieter while on vacation on the island of Sint Maarten.  Dee owns and operates a liquor store in the capital city of Philipsburg while Barbara was a homemaker, mother and social activist.  

Carol and Barbara in Dee's island garden.

We were invited to visit with them in their gorgeous home high on the hill above Philipsburg.  The view also happened to capture the scene of what is known as "The Dump" which is the collection point for trash from all over the island.  And...it has been ill-administered for many, many years and has caused life-threatening fumes for the residents of the island.  My story today tells of the success that Barbara has obtained to date for her fellow citizens while tomorrow's story shows Barbara's human interest side.  Read both to see how important she has become to the island since her marriage to Dee and her move to Sint Maarten.  I say this because she at one time lived only about 120 miles from my home in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

It was an ordinary day.  Reading the headline on the website SXM Talks which states:  SXM TALKS 2018 "PERSON" OF THE YEAR: CITIZENS THAT TOOK GOVERNMENT TO COURT OVER DUMP.  The location is Philispburg.  The following story is directly from SXM Talks: 

On August 24th, 2018, “St. Maarten residents Barbara Cannegieter and Camiel Koster and law firm Bergman Zwanikken Snow Essed (BZSE) filed a petition for an injunction against Country St. Maarten, the Ministry of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure VROMI and current management company of the landfill Robelto and Son B.V. in Sucker Garden”.

The "Dump" which burns on a daily basis is shown here.

“Plaintiffs request that the Court order government and the dump operator to take effective measures to prevent the emission of smoke, gases and stench at the landfill within three months following a Court ruling”.  “They also request that the Court order
govern- ment to have an official institution such as the Netherlands Institute for Public Health and the Environment RIVM in Bilthoven, the Netherlands, conduct measurements of the toxic fumes”, according to this article.  The plaintiffs were later joined by the Prosecutor's Office, in an unprecedented move, who already launched a criminal investigation surrounding all “Dump Affairs” in April of 2018.  Since launching the court case, Government had to report to the judge on a structural basis on what it was doing to come to a permanent solution for the Dump, in terms of waste management / processing in general but also how to stop the toxic fires on the short term.  Small wins, although not as fast as plaintiffs would have wanted it, have been recorded and it seems that with the help of the World Bank Trust Fund, an action plan will be financed and implemented to mitigate fires and to make a decision what the best long term solution is with regards to waste management / processing for SXM.  We at SXM Talks have been advocating for a permanent solution to the Dump for a long time and as such salute these brave residents for taking this courageous step in the benefit for SXM, making it a better place to live for all in the end.  We thank you and wish you much strength in seeing this court case through until structural solutions are indeed implemented!

Carol and I want to congratulate Barbara, Camiel and the law firm for their hard work in trying to help their fellow residents of Sint Maarten.  This "Person Of The Year" award is certainly well-deserved.  But, the job isn't finished yet, as they all know.  I'm sure they will see it through to the end and obtain the results that all citizens have a right to expect from their government.  Good job, Barbara and others!  Well done!  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The "Comic Book Heroes And The Artists Who Drew Them" Story

An early favorite

It was an ordinary day.  Trying to remember all my favorite comic book characters from my childhood.  One of my favorites was Archie who went to Riverdale High School and who had a crush on Veronica Lodge.  One of Archie's best friends was Jughead while another friend, Reggie battled him for Veronica's heart.  Could hardly wait for the next Archie comic book to come out on the news stand at the Lancaster Train Station which was a few hundred yards from my home in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.  Archie first appeared in Pep Comics in 1941 and was drawn by artist Stan Goldberg.  I began reading it when I was in elementary school in the early 1950s.  

Another favorite

Another favorite was Superman who was a fictional superhero created by Jerry Siegel and drawn by Joe Shuster.  The superhero first appeared in Action Comics on April 18, 1938.  It was also on my list to buy at the train station while an student at Brecht Elementary School.  Now, I tell you this since I recently had the chance to mat and frame a collage of photos which featured Stanley Lee who recently died on November 12, 2018.  He too was a comic book writer, editor and publisher who was active from the 1940s to the 2010s.  He wrote and illustrated comics for Marvel Comics with characters such as Spider-Man, Iron Man, Thor and the Hulk being a few of his comic book superhero characters.  A few weeks ago a customer brought a photo of his son standing next to Mr. Lee as well as an autographed photograph of Mr. Lee and a photo of his son impersonating Mr. Lee to Grebinger Gallery.  The customer wanted all the photographs matted and framed along with a lanyard that his son had from his meeting a few months before with Stanley Lee.  I'm sure it must have been exciting for the young man, but just as sorrowful for him when his hero passed away.  I have added photos of my matting and framing project to show you what was brought to Grebinger Gallery in Neffsville, Pennsylvania and what I did with them.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

Stanley Lee with young man.

Autographed photo of Stanley Lee

Letter of Authenticity for signature.

Lanyard for a signing event.

Double mat I had cut with opening for the photos and lanyard.

The frame which was chosen ready for assembly on the under-pinner.

Final result.  Perfect memento for a true fan.

The "Wettest Year On Record In Lancaster, Pennsylvania" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Looking out the back door at my new bird feeder my son got my wife and me as a Christmas gift.  Haven't had much chance to put it up until yesterday since it seems to have rained just about every day since Christmas.  Newspaper this morning described 2018 as the wettest year in the history of Lancaster County.  That is, it is the wettest since records have been kept in 1914.  We have had more than five feet of precipitation this year and the long-range forecast for the beginning of 2019 looks like we will be getting more of the wet stuff.  A few of the local welcoming in the New Year celebrations were cancelled due to the rain.  I haven't had to wash the car for almost two months since the rain cleans it off as fast as the slushy roads mess it up.  The only good thing is that it has been fairly warm and has eliminated the heavy snowfall that could have been a big problem for me since I am still recovering from my back surgery months ago.  With the rain today we now have over 60 inches which tops the 59.05 inches we had in 1996.  A few numerical bits of information accompanied the newspaper article and were based on information from the Millersville University's Weather Information Center in nearby Millersville, Pennsylvania.  See how much rainfall your community may have had in comparison with Lancaster County, PA.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.
  

• 153 - Number of rainy days in Lancaster County in 2018
• 123 - Number of rainy days in Lancaster County in 2017
• 10.5 - Number of inches that fell in about four hours near Mount Joy and Manheim on August 31.  That was the largest rainfall on record in one day.
• 8.46 - Inches of rain recorded at Millersville University on June 22, 1972 during Tropical Storm Agnes which was the rainest day on record before August 31 of this year.
• 12.77 - Inches of rain that fell on Saturdays in 2018, the rainiest day of the week.
• 9.63 - Inches of rain that fell on Saturdays in 2017.
• 5.44 - Inches of rain that fell on Tuesdays in 2018, the driest day of the week.
• 41 - Inches of rain is annual average in Lancaster County.
• 61 - Inches of rain forecasters say will have fallen on Lancaster County by the end of 2018, the wettest year on record. (The numbers listed here were as of a few days ago due to the newspaper deadline.
• 59.05 - Inches of rain in Lancaster County in 1996, the previous record-holder for wettest year.

The "Are You Ready For The New Year?" Story

Eat pork and sauerkraut for good luck!

It was an ordinary day.  Getting ready for guests at the dinner table with the traditional pork and sauerkraut.  In Lancaster County, Pennsylvania you must eat the traditional pork and sauerkraut if you expect to have good luck the entire year.  My daughter, who now lives in neighboring Maryland with her family, makes sure she, her husband and two children eat a bite of both to ensure good luck for the year.  Boy, was she raised right!  The reason for the pork is that pigs root forward for their food which symbolizes moving ahead in the new year instead of eating chicken or turkey which scratch backwards for their food.  As far as the kraut...you got me on that one.  It was a German tradition and since many people from Germany settled in Pennsylvania, I guess the sauerkraut followed along with them in tradition.  So what other traditions do you follow for the New Year?  

Oliebollen

In Spain the custom is to eat 12 grapes at the stroke of midnight while in Mexico the tamale is eaten on New Year's Day.  You can be thankful that you don't live in the Netherlands since they consume fried oil balls, known as oliebollen, on New Year's Eve.  I can just imagine what they think of eating pork and kraut.  Seems Germany has given up sauerkraut, but in turn drink, along with revelers from neighboring Austria, a red wine punch with cinnamon and spices on New Year's Eve.  They also eat suckling pig for dinner and decorate the table with little pigs made of marzipan.  

Soba noodles

Japanese families eat buckwheat soba noodles at midnight to bid farewell to the year gone by and welcome in the year to come.  The tradition of a New Year's cake is in many cultures.  The Greeks have the Vasilopita, the French have the gateau while the Bulgarians enjoy the banitsa.  Italians celebrate with a cotechino con lenticchie which is a sausage and lentil stew that is said to bring good luck.  

Herring...I might like this, but would rather have a donut!

In Poland and Scandinavia partake of the silver colored herring.  Some like it in a cream sauce while others have it with onions.  Rice is said to bring good luck if consumed on New Year's day in India and Pakistan while in Switzerland dollops of whipped cream symbolize richness for the year to come.  Now, they don't eat it but drop it on the floor where it remains for the year.  Nah, I'd rather eat a herring and get it over with than have to walk on whipped cream for a year.  Now, if I was smart, I would live in Ireland where they eat pastries called bannocks.  But, I believe my favorite New Year's Eve custom that I could find was eating any ring-shaped treat, such as a donut, since it symbolizes "coming full circle" and leads to good fortune.  You know, I think we all should begin our new year with a donut or two...dunked in milk!  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.