The "Decorator" Story

It was an ordinary day.  I'm sitting in my lounge chair reading the morning paper while Carol is decorating the Christmas tree.  Yesterday our daughter and her family arrived from Maryland for Thanksgiving dinner.  While they were visiting for a few days Carol had them help get our Christmas tree down from the storage above our garage.  Our 9 foot artificial Christmas tree is too large and heavy to store any other place in our home so I rigged up a rope and pulley system to haul the tree up to the storage.  Tie the clothes lines to either side of the tree box, run the lines through the pulleys on the rafters of the garage and tie the other end to the tow hook on my Mazda Protege.  Simple as that.  At least I always thought so until I was incapacitated this year with back surgery and our daughter and son-in-law had to do the job.  Well, with a lot of "I can't believe this" and "There has to be an easier way" of moaning and groaning, the tree was standing in our living room.  And today, as I read the paper, Carol is busy putting the ornaments and strands of faux pearls on the tree.  Carol is the family decorator.  She loves holidays with Christmas being her favorite.  We have plastic storage bins stored in our bedroom cedar closet and I usually help with the chore of bringing all those to the first floor, but again, I couldn't do it this year.  Carol did it all.  She makes the holiday festive for everyone who steps into our home.  And, that includes me.  I must admit that our place would seem a bit drab if the decorating was left to me.  She is a real sweetheart to do all this by herself.  After the tree in the living room she began the tree in the family room.  Next came the ... well, why don't you just look at all the decorating that Carol has done this year …  (click on photo to enlarge)

The Woods' Family Christmas Tree 2014.  You can't imagine how many ornaments are on this 9 foot tree.

Creamsicle enjoys the solitude of the tree.

The "Little Tree" which stands next to our rear door in the family room.

Some of Carol's Santa collection.

Some of Carol's nutcracker collection which lines the wall leading to our basement.

One of Carol's friends Marg made her a dough manger scene years ago. 

Carol's reindeer collection fills our coffee table in the living room next to the tree.

More of the Santa collection.

The stairs leading to our second floor are decorated with lights and handmade stockings for all our kids and grandkids.

A lighted beach tree fills the dining room table.

The front door has a lighted sled to help Santa find his way.

Our large lighted faux palm trees on our deck have added lights which Carol placed on them to help Santa find our house on Christmas Eve.

Our household sports a festive greeting to all who enter during the Christmas holiday due to the hard work that my wife has done the past few weeks.  She is now busy baking about a dozen different types of Christmas cookies to share with those who visit with us this Christmas season.  Thank goodness for the decorator or my life would be less bright this holiday season.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The "Traveling To Cuba?" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Just heard the news about the new relations that the United States may have with Cuba.  Pretty exciting news for both countries.  I can remember over 50 years ago when my friends and I had nothing by bad things to say about Communist Cuba.  But this is another era and quite a few of you who are reading this probably know very little about the bad blood between our two governments.  A few news stations last night called it a win-win for both countries.  Even the Pope is hoping for better communications and relations between our two countries as well as the rest of the free world.  For me it also looks like a win-win.  I would love to travel to Cuba in the near future to see (1) All the classic cars that roam the streets, (2) Some of the best baseball players who have not defected already to the USA and (3) Some of the best beaches in the world.  

Jose Abreu in a Cuban uniform.

As far as baseball players goes, this past year saw the Chicago White Sox rookie and Cuba defector, Jose Abreu, make the American League All-Star team, finish the season with 36 home runs and be unanimously named the 2014 American League Rookie of the Year.  Prior to the Cuban Revolution in 1959 when Castro rose to power, Cuban-born players played in the American Negro league as well as in Major League Baseball. After the revolution Cuban players were not allowed to play abroad.  I checked online and found almost 200 Cuban players who either played before 1959 in the United States or who defected since that time to play in the Major Leagues.  

Who wouldn't want to relax on this beach?

As far as beaches go, Cuba is renowned for its spectacular beaches, which lay on the Atlantic Ocean on the north side of Cuba and touch the Caribbean Sea on the south side.  There are more than 300 natural beaches on Cuba's coastline with an average 330 days a year to enjoy all of them.  Cuba's most famous beach is Varadero Beach which is a dazzling white sand beach with glistening, clear Caribbean waters that are perfect for snorkeling.  People who Carol and I meet on other islands in the Caribbean describe some of the Cuban beaches and how lovely they are.  Since they people we meet are citizens of other countries, they may travel to Cuba.  And, as of now, Americans can't lounge on a chair under an umbrella with a drink in hand and enjoy it.  Here's hoping that will soon change.  My traveling years are slowly coming to an end and I would love to try the sand and water on the island before my time ends.  

Really "Cool" classic cars in Cuba.  The Desoto on the right
sports the same grill that I placed in my 1958 Chevy Impala.

As far as the classic cars go, there are approxi- mately 60,000 of them in Cuba.  These vintage cars are a tribute to the nostalgia of the good old days when cars where ... well CARS.  Every year the car companies would make enough changes so that you would know what year each car was.  A 1954 Chevy was easily distinguishable from a 1955 Chevy by almost any American boy and probably even a few girls, even thought I didn't know any of them.  Sadly not like that anymore.  I also read that since the early 1960's, no new parts were shipped to Cuba so they had to either manufacture their own parts or use parts from Soviet cars to keep those 60,000 US cars running.  Funny that last night I was listening to President Obama talk about our new relations with Cuba, since yesterday I started a story about a good friend of my and his Studebaker, one of the oldest American cars ever made.  Hope to post that story soon for you to see how automobiles played such an important part in our American history.  And now I may soon get the chance to see some of those classics, on the island of Cuba, in person. 

It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy. 

The "Searching for a Read: Part II" Story

It was an ordinary day.  I'm about halfway through the first of two volumes which detail the building of the church that I attend in downtown Lancaster, PA, St. James Episcopal.  About a week ago I told the story of the founding of the church in 1744 with services being held at the Court House on the square in Lancaster.  

A 1844 painting of the original brick
St. James Episcopal Church.

Eventually a limestone church was constructed on two plots of land that were given to the church by Andrew Hamilton and Colonel James Hamilton who laid out the city of Lancaster.  That limestone church was eventually leveled because of it's poor condition and a new brick church took its place.  It was a little over a year after the old church was removed that the new one was ready to be conse- crated.  Published in the Lancaster Journal on September 20, 1820 was a notice that invited the public to St. James Church on October 15 when the Right Rev. Bishop White would consecrate the new church.  The only part of the original structure that was kept was part of the foundation along the north side of the church.  The new church was the same length as the old, but much wider.  There were two broad aisles in the new church and the pulpit stood against the east wall with stairs ascending to it on each side with hand rails.  The chancel was enclosed with a semicircular rail of mahogany and their was seating on the main level with paid pews while galleries (balconies) were on both sides and on the west end of the church. The steeple from the original limestone building was incorporated into the new building. 

A drawing of the new brick church finished
and consecrated on October 15, 1820.

 It was 76 years after St. James Episcopal was founded that the new building was conse- crated.  Rev. Joseph Clarkson was the minister at the time, but soon afterward the Rev. William Augustus Muhlenberg became minister.  Rev. Muhlenberg founded the Sunday School of St. James Church in 1821.  It was a frame school house that was built to the north of the church, close to  where the present parish house now stands.   He also was responsible for establishing free public schools in the city of Lancaster as well as encouraging free public schools in the state of Pennsylvania.  It was during the ministry of Rev. Samuel Bowman that the church became warm, meaning a furnace was installed for the first time.  Then on June 9, 1841, the church was informed that they had neglected to pay their annual ground rent since 1818 on lots 35 and 36 that were given to the church in 1744 by James Hamilton when he founded the city of Lancaster.  A Mr. Newman, trustee for the Hamilton estate, informed the church the rent amounted to $153.33, an exorbitant amount for the time.  The vestry and Mr. Newman finally agreed on a fee of $130 with the stipulation that the fee would be extinguished forever. Then on March 19, 1843, at 4:00 in the morning and with about two feet of snow on the ground, fire destroyed the Sunday School building.  Four horses where needed to pull the fire engine through the snow, but to no avail.  Within eight months a new two-story brick Sunday School house was completed.  This building was eventually turned into an orphan's asylum until it was removed for the building of a new parish house.  For many years St. James lit their church with lamps that used whale oil until, in 1850 when the church switched to gas lighting. In 1847 a parsonage was built between the Sunday School and the church proper.  Throughout the history of the church the members of the church paid rent to sit in the pews of the church.  A rate chart published in 1820 had numbered pews renting for anywhere from $13-$35 while pews in the gallery costing $4.  In 1848 the pew rates were adjusted with some being higher and others lowered.  The pews in the gallery to the north of the organ were designated for colored persons.  Once again in 1862 the renting system was redone allowing pews in the rear for single seat prices while all others were whole units.  Three years later all pew prices were increased 30%.  In 1850 a sexton's house was built on Cherry Alley which still remains today.  In 1868 Dr. John P. McCaskey was elected to the vestry of St. James and he remained a vestry member until his death 68 years later.  Lancaster City's High School bears his name today.

This photo from 1871 shows the new apse as
well as the galleries on the sides of the church.
You can also see the angels, painted with different
skin colors, at the top of the apse.

In 1869, during the leadership of Rev. Edward Shippen Watson, the apse, or the part of the church where the altar is located, was added.  On the ceiling of the new apse artist Ludwig Reingruber painted a series of angels which still remains to this day.  When Rev. Cyrus Frederick Knight became the minister he undertook the installation of a new organ which involved structural changes when the new organ was placed in an organ chamber and an arch opening was constructed on the east end of the church next to the new apse.  The old organ loft on the west end of the church was removed as well as the side galleries.  Eventually the second tier of stained glass windows were lowered, since the gallery seating was removed.  Choir stalls were also added in front of the apse.  Also under Rev. Knight, the west end of the church was extended about 20 feet towards Duke Street and the bell tower was built.  When many of the additions were made, graves in the surrounding cemetery had to be moved.  Many ended up being placed inside the church with plaques and memorial markers in the floor of the church. My next story in this series will begin as the church enters the 1900s.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The "Thaddus Stevens Finally Prevails" Story

Aerial photo from the Lancaster Newspapers.
This photo shows the new bridge slightly above
center in the photo.  The wind sculptures are
located left-center in the photo where a road
runs off to the left of the main thoroughfare.

It was an ordinary day.  Just stopped to take a photo of the new wind sculptures that are now a part of the Thaddeus Stevens Bridge that takes traffic over the Pennsylvania Railroad tracks on Route 501.  The bridge itself just opened recently after over a year of construction.  It was back in 2001 that a local lawmaker asked the PA Department of Transportation to name the proposed bridge over Route 72 the Thaddeus Stevens Bridge.  Well, that never happened since they named the bridge the General Richard M. Scott Bridge in honor of the Lancaster Mayor and retired Air Force General.  Finally, the bridge over Rt. 501 was named for Lancaster's 19th century egalitarian representative and abolitionist and my youngest son's namesake.  The new bridge is 176 feet long and supported by six steel girders that I wrote about in the past.  

"Silent Symphony" lines the street on both sides while
the Lancaster Amtrak Station is in the background.

The four lane bridge with a walkway on the east side replaced the decaying bridge that I walked over daily on my way to Brecht Elementary School in the early 1950's. A "High Voltage - Do Not Touch" sign always warned my friends not to climb the bridge for a look at the tracks.  The wind sculptures are 42 spinning sculptures that are named "Silent Symphony" by artist Lyman Whitaker of Utah.  

Sculpture vary in size and pattern.

They are located at the southwest corner of the bridge on either side of McGovern Ave. with the Lancaster Amtrak Train Station in the background.  The artwork, funded by public donations, cost $200,000.  The kinetic wind sculptures all have different sized blades which will cause them to spin at different speeds.  They range in height from 14 feet to 34 feet and are said to never stop moving.  Spot lights will shine from the ground to illuminate the sculptures at night.  Trees and shrubs will also be planted near the base of the sculptures.  The new bridge has been open since July with the wind sculptures recently being added.  I must admit, they are beautiful and a neat addition to my old neighborhood where I roamed the area on which they now stand.  Also noticed a "High Voltage" sign on the new bridge for this generation of students.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The "News from Reverend Woods" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Sitting at a card table and wrapping presents on the second floor landing so I can hear the football game from the living room below.  Not one of my favorite Christmas traditions to do, but a task that has to be done.  My wife is busy baking cookies and candy so the least I can do is pitch in and wrap the gifts.  She reminded me that I have to prepare my yearly blessing for Christmas dinner when all the kids and grandkids arrive for gift exchanges and a family meal on Christmas.  The blessing will be easy since I am, if you remember, a Reverend.  It was December 15th, 2010 that I was 

ordained a minister in the Universal Life Church.  Everything was accomplished by going online to get my degree.  Took all but 15 minutes.  At that time I was given the responsibility of running my own congregation, guiding others on the path of God, and performing weddings and baptisms.  The requirements of becoming a minister in the ULC were: (1) Believe in God as the one true God, (2) Accept Jesus Christ as our true and holy savior, and (3) Pray for the forgiveness of my past sins.  Number 3 was the toughest of the requirements and took the most thought and prayer, but I made it.  I never applied for an official framed document to hang on the wall in my office, but may have to do that sometime in the future for those who can't picture me as Reverend Woods.  I must admit that my college degree is to teach Industrial Arts and not a degree in theology, but that isn't necessary in the ULC.  I could teach how to build a church or even a kneeler with the teaching degree that I have.  Becoming ordained simply requires a demonstration of my commitment and a few minutes to fill out the form which is accepted in all 50 states.  As of 2014, I have not performed any weddings or baptisms, but I do have a few dates open in 2015 if you are in need.  About the only official duties that I have been performing are saying grace at important family meals and praying for those ill in my family.  Pool parties at my brother's house and get-togethers on our rear deck don't require my blessing, even though I have volunteered.  If I ever do decide to start a church with a congregation or even a Bible study group, I am encouraged to seek financial support from those I lead.  After I retire from my part-time job at the framing gallery and give up my printing responsibilities at the high school where I used to teach, I may have to buy a robe and start my own congregation.  I can't stand to be idle, so my future seems to be bright.  And, how hard can it be to be a full-time Reverend in the ULC?  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The "Catchin' Up With An Old Friend" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Going through the local section of the newspaper and finally came to the weddings, engagements and anniversaries.  Searched the names to see if I might have had any of the newly married people in class years ago then came upon the column marked "Anniversaries."  First couple shown had photos from now and when they were married.  Looked at the photo taken recently then zeroed in on the old-time photo.  Guy was in his military uniform with his bride next to him.  I looked and looked at the photo for the longest time.  Then it struck me!  I know that guy!!  Right under the photo stated …. Greenwood 50th.  Wow!  Carol was sitting right across from me and I said to her, "The guy that I used to get in trouble with is celebrating his 50th anniversary.  Unbelievable."  Dave Greenwood lived a block from my childhood home on Queen Street.  Dave was one of the neighborhood guys that used to play baseball with me.  He was a year older and more …. well, more street smart, than me.  Behind my home on North Queen was a large building that was filled with printing presses.  On the other side of the building was a large parking lot that opened onto North Christian Street.  On the other side of that street was another loose stone lot for more parking.  As soon as the weather broke in the spring, we would walk the small walkway from my back yard to the parking lot, tape a strike zone on the wall of the printing company and play baseball.  For hours and hours, every day!  Most of the time it was my brother Steve, Dave, another neighbor named Kenny and myself.  Divide into teams with one pitcher and one fielder.  Used a rubber ball or tennis ball so we wouldn't break anything if it would hit a passing car driving on Christian Street.  Well, one day a police cruiser stopped and the officer got out.  It was only Dave and me playing that particular day.  He told us that the printing company was complaining that we were breaking their windows.  We looked around and did see quite a few windows broken.  We naturally denied the accusation, but he loaded us in the patrol car to drive us home so he could talk to our parents.  Dave lived on nearby Liberty Street and that was the first stop.  I sat in the car while he took Dave in to talk to his mother and grandfather.  Then it was my turn for the same treatment.  My mom was shocked when she opened the door and saw me with a policeman.  She explained to the officer that there was no way I would break windows.  To this day we both claim to be innocent of any wrongdoing.  Well, after reading the story about Dave and his wife Fran's anniversary, I though it was time to give him a call.  After all I hadn't spoken to him in over 50 years.  Found his number in the phone book and after a nice chat about the good ole times and the ride home in the cruiser, we agreed that we needed to get together sometime for some more conversation.  And, let me tell you, there is plenty of other things to talk about from the good old days.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.   

The "First Ever Hawaiian Photographs" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Sitting high above the Hawaiian islands in the last row of a Boeing B-717 flying from the island of Ohau to the island of Kauai.  Was hoping to get a window seat, but the back row has no window.  Instead I picked through the rear pocket of the seat in front of me and found a copy of Hana Hou!, the airlines inflight magazine.  As I leafed through it I found a very interesting article titled The Daguerrians written by Derek Ferrar.  It was an article about who took the earliest images in the Hawaiian Isalnds. Being that I taught photography in high school and included a section on history in my courses, I tore the section from the magazine and put it in my carry-on for future reading.  Sound like I was stealing it?  Well maybe, but the magazine said to take it if we cared too.  Didn't want the entire thing so I extracted just the part necessary.  

Louis Daguerre, inventor of the Daguerrotype Photograph

Read and re-read it several times, since I always enjoyed reading about French inventor Louis Daguerre and his development of the first user-friendly photography process.  It was in 1939 that he patented a procedure to make images using chemicals and silver plates which became known as the Daugerrotype process.  His invention quickly circled the globe and those that began making portraitures were known as Daguerreians.  The Daguerreians had to polish a copper plate, sensitize the plate to light using chemicals, place the plate in a light-tight frame that would fit into a daguerreotype camera and make the exposure.  

A few of the many Daguerrotypes that I own.

The exposure time was close to 20 seconds during which time the subject had to remain perfectly still.  Then the plate would be removed from the camera in a darkened room for development with heated mercury which would take another half hour.  After making the image permanent with other chemicals it was placed in a decorative case.  

First Hawaiian captured with a Daguerrotype: Timoteo Ha'alilio 

Studios first opened in larger cities throughout Europe as well as in New York.  It wasn't until 1843 that a photograph of an Hawaiian was taken in France.  His name was Timoteo Ha'alilio who was a young chief of King Kamehameha III who was in France seeking recognition of the Hawaiian kingdom.  He died of tuberculosis on the voyage back to Hawaii.  

Hilo's Wailuku River by Goodfellow and Stangenwald.
Part of the Mission Houses Archives, Honolulu, Hawaii.

Then in May of 1845, Theophilus Metcalf advertised in Honolulu that he was using the Daguer- rotype method in his studio for $10 ($300 today's value).  The following year Señor Fernando Le Blue, an alleged French clergyman, arrived from Peru and began taking photos of Honolulu residents  for $6.  Le Bleu supposedly took the oldest surviving image taken in Hawaii: a small oval daguerrotype of Princess Bernice Pauahi.  Perhaps the most noted and famous of the Hawaiian Daguerreian photographers was Hugo Stangenwald, a German, who arrived from Austria.  He and partner  Stephen Goodfellow captured one of the most striking landscapes when they photographed Hilo's Wailuku River.  The long exposure caused the running water to look surreal.  In 1853 the pair set up shop in Honolulu, but Goodfellow left shortly after with Stangenwald spending his life in Hawaii.  

King Kamehameha IV
Taken by B Jay Antrim in mid-1850s.  Part
of the Queen Medical Center-Native Hawaiian Program.

One other notable photographer, B. Jay Antrim, an American, is mentioned as competition for Stangenwald, but it seems Stangenwald portrayed his competition as incompetent and in 1856 Antrim returned to his hometown of Philadelphia.  Stangenwald made a visit to San Francisco and when he returned he announced he could now make photos on paper.  The tide was changing and the Daguerreians and their technology was left behind.  Stangenwald finished his medical training and lived out his life on the islands as a physician.  About 250 to 300 of the original Daguerrotypes taken in Hawaii still survive today in various historical archives.  I was not able to find any in the few museums I visited.  I suspect there may be many others housed in scrapbooks or sitting in frames on shelves of many Hawaiians who trace their ancestry back to the time of the Daguerreians.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The "Searching for a Read: Part I" Story

Foreword:  St. James Episcopal Church in historic downtown Lancaster, PA has been home to me for most of my life, from the days of: singing in the boy's choir to photographing the churchyard from the steeple of the church to being married to Carol in the church to seeing our daughter married in the church to helping organize and run the Town Fair Roast Beef Dinner to being a vestry member to being a member of the renowned adult and boy's choir … …  well the list goes on and on.  St. James holds many memories in my life.  And, to top all that, it is one of the most historical churches in the United States.  My multi-day story begins today with the founding of the church.  Other stories will deal with the church throughout the Revolutionary War and both of the World Wars.  I realize that I have more interest in the history of my church than you could ever have, but I thought you might enjoy some historical glimpses into one of the earliest places of worship in the United States.  My stories will be spread over time so you can (1) recover from each one and (2) give me a chance to read what at times can be boring info and write new stories.  Included will be stories on historical Henry Mercer tiles and the famous portraiture artist Jacob Eichholtz. Time to begin …..


 

This is a sketch of the old Court House in Penn Square,
Lancaster, where St. James Church was organized in
1744 and where the early services were held.

It was an ordinary day.  Looking over the shelves in my living room library for something to read.  Getting bored not being able to do much while I recuperate from my recent back surgery.  Then I saw the two book set that I had purchased years ago telling about the history of my church, Saint James Episcopal, in Lancaster, PA.  Wasn't sure I wanted to read a history book, but after opening the first volume, scanning briefly through it and then turning to the index and seeing my name and the names of my wife and kids, did I realize that I may want to read a bit more about how my church began in 1744.  It was in 1730 that Andrew Hamilton, a prominent Philadelphia lawyer, and his son Colonel James Hamilton, selected the present site of Lancaster, PA and proceeded to lay out a town plot two miles square with the main streets running north and south as well as east and west.  

The Rev. Thomas Barton became
minister in 1759, but was ousted
in 1776 because of his loyalty to England.

Eventually they gave plots of ground to several religious denominations with St. James being allotted three town lots in 1744 to construct a church and locate a graveyard.  A yearly ground rent of fifteen shillings a lot was charged for two of the three lots with the lot designated as the graveyard rent free.  From June 22 to July 4, 1744 an Indian treaty conference was held in Lancaster with five tribes in attendance as well as officials of Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia with Conrad Weiser acting as the interpreter.  Not sure exactly what went on at the conference, but exactly three months after the conference closed, St. James' Parish was organized with the Rev. Richard Locke as the minister.  Seems Rev. Locke received money from King George II for his passage to Bermuda.  He remained in Bermuda for eight months, then sailed for Charleston, SC, but somehow got lost at sea and landed in Philadelphia.  He eventually arrived in Lancaster on Wednesday, October 3, 1744 and the St. James' congregation was formally organized with services being held in the old Court House on Penn Square using the Book of Common Prayer of the Church of England. The congregation consisted of English, German, African American and Native Americans.  Thomas Cookson, who had been appointed the rector's warden, was appointed to receive subscriptions for the erection of a stone church on the property given to the church by James Hamilton.  

This was the seating plan of the main level for
St. James in 1791. Pews were rented by parishioners.
Notice the box for servants and negroes at the rear.
Click on the image to read the names of the members.

In the summer of 1746 work started on the limestone church.  Soon, with the wall and rafters in place, it was found that the expense of completing the roof exceeded the money on hand.  Mr. Cookson used his influence to gain additional funds and the roof was finished, but the interior or the church remained unfinished and no one knew what had become of the rest of the money.  Rev. Locke took on the duties as minister to two additional churches in the area and eventually the congregation of St. James lost faith in his guidance.  On September 10, 1748 Rev. Locke sold his half acre of ground he had purchased near the church and he and his wife left Lancaster.  It wasn't until the spring of 1751 that Rev. George Craig arrived as the new minister.  Soon afterward, in 1753 the congregation raised the necessary funds to finish the church. In 1759 the Rev. Thomas Barton became the new minister of St. James. Under his leadership the tradition of exceptional music began with the installation of the first church organ. In 1762 a frame steeple was added to the limestone church. When the American Revolutionary War began, the church was faced with a dilemma. Many in the congregation were patriots, such as George Ross who was a signer of the Declaration of Independence and General Edward Hand who served in the Continental Army.  The Rev. Barton was a royalist and loyal to his native Church of England.  On June 23, 1776 Rev. Barton officiated in St. James for the last time.  

The churchyard of St. James.  The post tops date from 1762.

The doors of St. James were boarded and locked and Rev. Barton was confined to house arrest for two years until he finally convinced his parish- ioners to give him and his wife passage to New York.  The church remained boarded until 1781 when it was reopened.  It wasn't until 1783 that Rev. Joseph Hutchins arrived to take over as the new minister. Following Rev. Hutchins were Rev. Elisha Rigg and then Rev. Joseph Clarkson who was minister from 1799 until 1830. It was during Rev. Clarkson's time that the original St. James Church, built of limestone, eventually began to deteriorate and soon after the vestry appointed four men to raise the money for a new brick church.  Finally, on September 12, 1818, the vestry decided on a payment plan for the new brick church. It was also this year that the church conveniently began to stop paying the ground rent they were assessed in 1744 (more on that in another story).  Among the pledges for the new church was a $100 pledge from James Buchanan who would eventually be the President of the United States.  He wasn't a member of the church, but his niece, and future acting First Lady of our country, Harriet Lane was a member.  Then, on April 20, 1819, the steeple of St. James Church was taken down and in a few weeks the remainder of the structure was razed.  All this was recorded in an account book that would later be presented, with the keys to the old church, to the members of the new church.  My next story will feature the beginnings of the church that I now attend.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The "The Invention of the Year" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Just left Miracle Ear after visiting with Patrick, my audiologist, for about half an hour.  My visit today was to see how my new hearing aides were working out and to see if they needed any adjustments.  Patrick plugged them into his computer and saw that I was actually using them about 11 hours per day.  I had them in my ears 1,654 hours since my last visit to him.  This was quite a turn around from the first pair of hearing aides I had purchased from him a few years ago.  Story goes like this ……. a few years ago I saw an ad in the Lancaster Newspaper asking for volunteers to try out a new type of hearing aide.  Well, I finally decided that it was time for my wife to stop having to repeat everything at least two or three times when she was talking to me.  I made an appointment, told Carol about it, and the two of us visited Patrick.  He tested my hearing while I sat in a huge machine in his office, then fitted me for above the ear aides with a piece that ran from the hearing aide into my ear.  If I liked them after a certain amount of time, he would give me a discount to purchase them.  

The in-the-ear hearing aide.  The small plastic piece
that is on the upper right is all that can be seen when
you are standing in front of me.  The bulb on the end
of the wire is to extract the hearing aide from my ear.

Well, I did eventually purchase them, but after about a half of year, stopped wearing them.  I found that every time I wore my stocking hat and took it off I would pull the hearing aides from my ears.  Every time I would remove my glasses at the gallery where I work part-time I pulled my hearing aides off my ears.  I was picking them up off the floor about half a dozen times a day.  Got so sick and tired of it I stopped putting them in my ears in the morning.  I was just plain naughty!  Patrick didn't like that I did that, but he wasn't the one who was wearing them.  Then, about three years later I saw another ad in the newspaper showing hearing aides that were completely in your ear and they were virtually impossible to see when you were wearing them.  I made the call again.  Carol was sure I wouldn't be happy with them, but was willing to go along one more time.  Went through another set of tests and he told me he could finally help me with the new technology.   "And, why couldn't you do that before?" I asked him. he responded with, "Because the technology didn't exist at the time.  Now I have in-the-ear technology hearing aides that will allow you to hear all the ranges and tones that you currently can't hear and which the other aides could only do by having them above your ear.  Well, he was right.  The hearing aid carries a small battery and fits into each of my ears and are barely visible unless you really look for them.  The tell-tale sign is a small white bead about 1/32" in diameter that is connected to the the hearing aide and is located right above my earlobe.  Why is that needed?  It is connected to a very thin nearly-invisible plastic wire that is attached to my hearing aide and is the only way I can remove the hearing aide.  Very simple to place in my ear and very easy to remove.  And they don't come out while removing my glasses or hat.  I'm finally satisfied with the results and hope they last for years.  The batteries last about a week or longer and beep when they are about to die.  I have a battery caddy on my car key chain that holds two hearing aide batteries.  I have become pretty good at removing the small spring that is in the internal end of the aide that at times can close because of dirt or ear wax.  Other than that, the aides are great.  I was going to write my story right after I got the new hearing aides, but thought I better wait this time until I know they will work.  My trip today to visit Patrick was to have him set them so I don't get all the background noise when I am eating in a restaurant setting.  Unbelievable all the adjustments that can be made by plugging them into his computer in his office.  Next appointment is in six months, but I can stop anytime I care and he will help me with any settings or cleaning that I may need.  So far I am finding that the volume level that Carol likes for the TV is slightly louder than I need, but I am fine with it since she was fine with the REALLY LOUD level that I needed for years.  If you are having trouble with your hearing, don't wait.  The technology is now to the point that you can be fitted with just about any type or style of hearing aide that you want or need.  Leave me a comment with your email address if you want me to contact you and tell you more about my aides.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The "Millersville University Team Makes History" Story

It was an ordinary day.  My college Alma mater, Millersville State Teacher's College, which is now known as Millersville University, just made sports history.  The Marauders women's field hockey team won the NCAA Div. II National Championship, thus becoming the first woman's sports program in school history to win an NCAA championship.  And the girl who scored the only goal in the 1-0 game, Olivia Hershey, was a student at the high school from were I graduated in 1962 and where I eventually taught for 32 years.  Pretty neat feat!  Millersville defeated LIU Post from New York in the championship game held in Louisville, Kentucky.  

Millersville University photograph taken during the celebration
of winning the Division II National Championship.

LIU Post entered the game averaging over four goals a game and was the leading scoring team in the nation.  Didn't matter what records they may have brought to Louisville, Millersville's defense stopped them cold.  

Olivia Hershey from Manheim Township
HIgh School scored the winning goal.

It took Millersville 47 minutes of play before Manheim Township HS graduate and Millersville sophomore Olivia Hershey deflected a shot by teammate Rachel Dickinson into the goal.  Last year the team lost in the national semi- final and had their sights set on the championship this year. The Marauders win was the 20th of the season.  The team featured many players who played for the team four years ago when they ended their season 7-11.  Since that time their record has been 53-13.  Coach Shelly Behrens was the goalkeeper for Old Dominion when they won one of their national championships so she knew how to win.  She is a master recruiter and says that she doesn't necessarily need the best player, but one that wants to come to Millersville and win.  

Photo of Brynn who was a Lancaster County All-Star softball
player as well as being the goalie for the field hockey team.

She has been committed to recruiting in her own backyard by recruiting Penn- sylvania kids.  When my daughter, Brynn, was in high school she was also the goalie for the Manheim Township team that made it into the playoffs for the first time in the history of the program.  Fantastic team that was fun to watch and photograph.  She chose not to continue playing after high school, but if Shelly Behrens had been the coach at Millersville at the time, she may have chosen to play field hockey when she went to Millersville in 1992.  Here's hoping Millersville can continue to produce great teams with the talent from South-Eastern Pennsylvania.  I certainly will continue to follow them.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.   

The "Do It Yourself Carpets For A Struggling Family" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Just replaced the throw rug inside our rear door which was soiled from years of foot travel dragging the dirt from our rear deck into the house.  We had meant to replace it for the past few years, but could never find just the right rug to use to replace it.  The old rug had a tropical theme to it and it's tough to find something that would duplicate it.  We recently found another carpet that isn't tropical, but does have the same colors as the carpet that it now protects.  At one point I said to Carol that maybe we should make our own carpet like we used to do when we were first married.  Well, one thing led to another and we dug out the photo box and started a search for photos of some of the old carpets that we had made for our home on Janet Ave.  In the early 70's, with a growing family and trying to survive on just my teaching salary, we did all we could to save on purchases.  

So, we made our own carpets!  The carpet we had in our dining room, which covered part of the hardwood floor, was made by buying a canvas tarp about 8 feet by 10 feet.  I had a friend whose father owned a carpet store and he told me to stop any evening after closing and I could go through their dumpster to find remnants from jobs they installed that day.  Only took a few weeks before we had some of the neatest colors and patterns to make our rug.  After pre-cutting the remnants, we glued them to the canvas with adhesive.  Not only was it a functional carpet, it was the talk of everyone who visited our home. The photo I posted shows our son Derek sitting along the edge of the carpet.  In our living room we got a bit more creative.  

I made a wooden frame the size we wanted the carpet to be and we covered it with burlap so that we could hook a rug on the frame.  I drew the male and female symbols on the carpet and we worked a few months to hook the rug in green and cream colors.  Might have been a bit risqué for the neighborhood, but it still got lots of comments.  And, it served it's purpose to make the floor easier for our children to play on without injuring themselves.  The second photo shows Derek opening one of his Christmas gifts in front of our TV console while sitting on the hooked rug.  Times fly and memories come and go, but it's still neat to reminisce about "how it used to be."  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The "Cold and Fugue Season" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Sitting in the third row of Farmdale Elementary School's Auditorium/Gymnasium on a hard metal folding chair waiting for the evening's program to begin.

The Farmdale Elementary School Concert Band.
Click on any photo to enlarge it.

 My grandson Caden is a member of the 4th grade combined strings where he plays the Viola.  The program tonight features the 4th, 5th and 6th grade Band, the 5th and 6th grade chorus and the 4th, 5th and 6th grade Strings.  The Band played first with six songs which featured Good King Wenceslas, Jingle Bells and Auld Lang Syne.  Each of the songs featured the playing of many of the same notes throughout the song which made it much easier for the band members to play.  

The String Orchestra in their holiday outfits.

All the performers tonight were dressed very nicely with some sporting Santa hats for the little extra holiday touch.   Then it was time for the 5th grade chorus to sing four different holiday songs with the audience of a couple of hundred parents, grandparents and friends asked to join in with Deck the Hall.  The choir director wasn't satisfied with the effort the audience gave, so she required we do it one more time which really got the audience ready for the remainder of the concert.  

The 4th, 5th and 6th grade String Orchestra.
My grandson, Caden is in the lower row with a black shirt.

Next group to play was the combined 4th, 5th and 6th grade Strings.  As they entered the stage I saw my grandson Caden carrying his Viola.  He was close to the front, standing on a step next to a pretty little young girl dressed in a velvet green dress.  The 4th grade Strings performed a few songs first and did a rather commendable job considering they have only been playing their instruments since the end of the summer.  

4th grade Viola player, Caden Woods. Check out the flattop.

I expected some squeaking and out-of-pitch notes, but was pleasantly surprised with their perfor- mance.  Caden was to my far right with the pretty girl standing so close to him that at times his bow would cross the strings of her instrument creating smiles from both of them.  The applause was loud and lengthy as they finished their last song, Holiday Hoedown.  

The 6th grade chorus performs.

After the 5th and 6th grade Strings performed a few numbers it was time for the 6th grade Chorus to entertainment with four numbers that really got the audience into the winter spirit.  My two favorites were "Cold and Fugue Season" by J.S. Bach and arranged by Foncannon.  

Singing the "Cold and Fugue Season" song.  Words are
shown on the screen for all to see.

In this song they sang about the perils of catching a cold or the flu and the results that follow.  Really funny song which was shown on the screen above the chorus so others could join in or could tell what was being sung.  The final song of the evening was "Snow Day" by Jay Althouse where the chorus members told about their wishes for a snow day in the next week or two.  

The concert ended with the song "Snow Day."

Over the years I have been to many holiday concerts with all three of my children partici- pating in the band, orchestra and chorus, but I must admit this concert was one of the best elementary school level concerts I ever had the honor of attending.  The evening went fast even though I had to endure the hard seat for an hour and a half.  Afterward we got to greet Caden and congratulate him on his performance.  His smile and enthusiasm was all that was needed to tell us that he had a grand time performing. It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The "Lancaster, PA's Historic City Hall" Story

New addition to the building on the right.  The steeple 
of city hall is seen on the left on Duke Street.

It was an ordinary day.  Dropping off a few photographs at Strawberry & Company in downtown Lancaster which is located next to Lancaster's historic Central Market.  As I was leaving, I decided to walk a few blocks and look at the new addition that was just completed to our City Hall which is located on North Duke St.  Made my way through the alleyways and streets until I found the beautiful addition that stood to the west of the existing city hall.  

The front of City Hall on North Duke St.
The addition was added on the right of
this building in the rear.

Neat building with stone that matched the other part of the building.  had read recently in the newspaper that the roof of the new building is "green" and has plantings spread over the flat surface of the roof.  Supposed to be cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter from the layer of soil on the roof.  Pretty neat idea.  I took a few shots of the new addition then walked a few steps and photographed the older part of the building that holds Lancaster's City offices as well is home to the Mayor of Lancaster, Rick Gray, a longtime friend and member of St. James Church which is located across the street from City Hall.  The building wasn't the first City Hall that Lancaster ever had, since that was located on West King Street directly in front of Central Market.  

Photo I snapped of the current Lancaster Visitor's Center
which used to be City Hall.  Behind the center is Central Market.

Managed to snap a photo of that building on my return to the car.  The building now houses the Lancaster Visitors Center and is the front to the line of stores where Strawberry & Company is located.  I have included a photo of Lancaster's old City Hall which I found in a book titled "Lancaster County - The Red Rose of Pennsylvania" which was written by John Ward Willson Loose, a local historian.  

The old City Hall built in 1795.  To the right
of it can be seen Central Market in the distance.

The old City Hall was built in 1795, but the photo was taken sometime in the early 1900's after cameras were more common.  In 1923 M.T. Garvin, local retailer and civic leader, had the building restored at his own expense.  If you look closely you will see Central Market behind the building.  Neat to think I get to walk among all these historic buildings every time I enter the city.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.