The "Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania: Part I - The Visit" Story

Main entrance to the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania in Strasburg.

It was an ordinary day.  Just walked out into the cold with grandson Caden after enjoying a visit to the Railroad Museum of Pennsyl- vania in Strasburg, Pennsylvania.  I had been meaning to take my grandson to the museum for some time and after obtaining a few free tickets decided this was the time.  

The lobby of the Railroad Museum

We arrived to an empty parking lot about five minutes before the museum opened at 9:00 AM.   Could have been because the outside temperature was 2 degrees or maybe because it was President's Day and most people may have assumed the museum was closed.  Anyway, we were the first customers in the front door.  The Museum opened in 1975 and added a train-shed like addition in 1995 which doubled the indoor display area to 100,000 square feet.  The collection of more than 100 locomotives and cars comes from the historical collection of the Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR) following the 1939-1940 New York World's Fair.  Some of the rolling stock (engines and cars) was actually used on the Strasburg Railroad, which sits across the street from the Museum, before it was retired to the Museum.  If you "
Google" the Strasburg Railroad Museum and click http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Railroad_Museum_of_Pennsylvania you will be able to get a more detailed rendition of the history as well as see the list of the rolling stock that is housed in the Museum.  

The Steinman Station and loading platform

After entering we passed into the Rolling Stock Hall and were amazed at the size of the place and the number of locomotives and cars that were on display.  Turning to the right took us through what looked like a "real" train station named Steinman Station which was a 1915-era station with wooden benches and a wooden platform as well as a Western Union Telegraph and Cable office and a Railway Express office.  

Inside the Western Union office

I can still remember when I was a kid heading across the street from my house on North Queen Street and walking about 100 yards to the Lancaster Train Station to visit with the trains, walk the platform and visit the nearby Railway Express office with my friend Jerry whose dad worked at the Railway office.  Can still remember the the soda machine that had the glass bottles of Coke that you had to put your dime in the machine and slide it to the chamber where you could pull it out.  

Store fronts along the platform and stone walk

Caden and I listened as a telegraph message was tapped out in Morse Code then wound our way down the cobble-stone walk next to the wooden platform where we found a general store, a lodge, photographer's store and a hotel and bar.  Sitting along the walk was an old horse-drawn US Mail wagon.  On the rails next to the end of the platform stood an old train car that was in the process of being restored.  

Mailwagon along the platform

At the end of the platform we entered the Stewart Junction Railway Education Center where Caden …. and I …. were able to operate the miniature trains that ran on tracks that had working switches built into the layout.  I really had as much fun as Caden did in this display, operating the engines and switches.  

Stewart Junction Railway Education Center

Then we began our tour of the rolling stock that towered next to us.  Tours of an electric engine and steam locomotive were highlights this morning, especially since Caden got to talk with volunteers of the Museum who were actually train engineers from the past.  We climbed the sides of the engines and had a chance to try some of the switches and levers that stood in front of us as we sat in the engineer' seat.  I have added photos from out visit, but a few of the locomotives were so impressive that I have placed stories about them in other posts.  Follow them if you want to see the history of railroads in the United States.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

Interior of the Railroad Museum

A bronze state of Matthias W. Baldwin who built "Old Ironsides" in 1932 and later went on to build over 1,500 steam locomotives at his Baldwin Locomotive Works in Philadelphia, PA.  This statue stands inside the Railroad Museum.

Another view from inside the huge museum.  Platforms along the locomotives and cars allow you to enter or view what is inside.

More views from the platforms along the trains.  The trains actually sit on rails and were brought into the museum on these rails.

These two photos were taken in the Eduction Center of the HO layout.  The bottom photo shows the PRR Station in New York with the underground loading platform beneath it. 

Sign outside the Railroad Museum in Strasburg.  This is located across the road from the Strasburg Railroad where you can take trips to Paradise, PA on an operating steam engine pulling train cars from yesteryear.

The "Star Spangled Failure" Story

It was ordinary day.  Found out I missed it again.  Didn't even know about it until it was too late.  There on the front page of the local section of the newspaper in 2"x2" color boxes were the photos of 16 of the 70-plus hopefuls who auditioned for a chance to sing the Star Spangled Banner at a local Lancaster Barnstormers baseball game next summer.  The Barnstormers are Lancaster's entry in the independent Atlantic League and play at Clipper Magazine Stadium which is about two miles to the south of my house.  We hear and see the fireworks most every time they have them at the ballpark in the summer.  But, I was hoping for fireworks of a different kind if I had been able to make the tryouts for the Star Spangled Banner.  What else could be more patriotic than singing our national anthem at a baseball game.  The stadium holds close to 5,000 fans who love to hear the National Anthem.  Singers of all ages gave their renditions.  One 15 year old brought along his electric guitar while a barbershop quartet did their own harmonic presentation.  

Mr. Scharr, my high school music teacher.

There are 70 home games, but some of those spots are taken by school bands, choirs and the like.  As for me, I would give my rendition using the correct notes as the song was written.  While a student in high school, our freshman class was led to the auditorium where we were taught how to sing the national anthem correctly by our music teacher Mr. Sharr.  He was a burly, rough talking guy who had to have things done correctly.  My friend Jerry told me that when he had to take music, Mr. Sharr told him he would pass him if all he did was move his lips.  If he heard him sing and mess up a song, he wouldn't be happy.  

Click to enlarge.  On the bottom line, far left,
are the first two notes where people add an
extra not.  Mr. Scharr would be upset.

I never forget the experience of learning the National Anthem in the auditorium and cringe when people butcher the song or think they are auditioning for a musical when they sing the Star Spangled Banner.  First you must know your voice range and begin in the correct pitch.  And, most important, when you reach the part at the end where you sing ....O say does that star-spang-l'd ban-ner .... when you sing the three notes of star-spang-l'd, all the same note, then hit ban, three notes higher, then hit two notes higher yet for ner, please don't add the extra note which isn't written on the sheet music.  Tough to explain unless you hear it sung correctly as well as incorrectly.  90% of the people who sing it, sing it wrong.  Bugs the crap out of me!!  Mr. Sharr probably turns over in his grave every time it happens.  If I ever get the chance to sing at the stadium, I will make him proud.  Maybe next year.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The "Pinewood Perfection" Story

The Pack met outside for a group photo in front of a
visiting race car.  There were so many boys that
you couldn't see the race car, so I walked
to the side to take both in my photo.

It was an ordinary day.  Watching "Zombie Scout" roll down the track, eliminating car after car.  Today is the official Pinewood Derby contest for Pack 181 out of Columbia, Pennsylvania.  My grandson has been a member of the Pack for a couple of years now and one of the highlights of the year is the annual Pinewood Derby competition.  It was the same thing when my sons were in scouting and competing in the Pinewood Derby which was started in 1953.  

The official Pinewood Derby kit.

 Each scout must purchase a kit that has a block of wood, tires with nails to secure the tires to the car and numbers to place on your car.  You may, if you care to, carve the block of wood, paint it and add decals to make it look really neat.  While building the car, the scout and his father or mentor have fun building not only the car, but pride in their growing skills and hard work as well as forming a bond with each other.  My son Derek has helped my grandson Caden the last few years to build his car and prepare it for racing.  

All the Pinewood Derby cars weighed and ready for racing.

 On race day the car must be made with the official pine block of wood, be weighed and can be no more than 5.0 ounces in weight, be no more than 7" long or 2 3/4" wide and have 3/8" clearance under it to accommodate the track on which it will race.  Carol and I arrived about 15 minutes before the program began and found seats in the front row, courtesy of our daughter-in-law who saved them for us while setting up the chairs.  

My son helped with the race and is taking photos of all
the trophies and ribbons that will be presented today.

 Before racing took place the scouts formed outside for a group photo in front of a "real" race car that was in back of the church building where the Pinewood Derby was held.  Races were held according to rank with races in the Tigers, Wolfs, Bears and Webelos ranks.  Caden is a Webelos this year and had to wait about an hour before he competed.  After the Pledge to the Flag and the Scout Pledge were recited the races began.  

Cars lined up ready for racing.

 First and second place winners in each rank advanced to the finals.  After the Tigers, Wolfs and Bears finished we anxiously awaited the next race.  But, it was lunch time so everyone took a break to partake of the spread of food that was in another room.  Finally, Caden raced his car against 10 other scouts from his Webelos den.  

Everything is computerized.  Here is the scoreboard after 
one of Caden's races. He was in lane 2, but took 1st
 this heat at 223.1 MPH. Amazing for a block of
pine wood with nails holding on the wheels!

 Two years ago he finished 2nd in his Wolf den while last year he finished 2nd in his Bear den, but being that the top 2 boys competed in the finals, he managed to take the Pack title when his car beat all others, including the one that beat him in the Bear finals.  

Caden with Zombie Scout and his trophy.

 This year he did almost as well as last.  His car, named Zombie Scout, raced 14 heats until finally it won 2nd place in Webelos.  It did reach speeds of 223.1 MPH on the four-lane track.  In the finals he didn't fare as well, but you could see he was having a great time and that is what scouting is all about.  Our family left the event after having a great time. Can't wait until next year's race.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.  

PS - But then it struck ….. if you have read my story titled Derby Doom you know what I'm talking about.  If not, I should tell you that as of this writing 18 families were struck with a malady that matches the Norovirus that strikes large cruise ships.  Matter of fact, that is what some have said we all came down with 2 days after the Pinewood Derby.  Haven't felt that bad in more than 30 years. It lasted so long that Scout meetings were canceled for the entire following week.  As of today, twelve days after the race, my wife and I still are feeling the effects of the sickness we have named the Derby Doom.

The "'Cause every little thing gonna be alright!" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Carol and I are sitting in front of the 21" Apple desktop computer singing along with J.R. Ankey and the Duke Street Band as they wail out ….

Rise up this morning',
Smiled with the risen' sun,
Three little birds
Each by my doorstep
Singin' sweet songs
Of melodies pure and true,
Sayin', ("This is my message for you")

Singin' "Don't worry 'bout a thing,
'Cause every little thing gonna be alright."
Singin' "Don't worry (don't worry) 'bout a thing,
'Cause every little thing gonna be alright!"

Sound familiar?  The lyrics are to the song titled Three Little Birds and sung by Bob Marley.  OK, so now you recognize it.  We had a great time rocking in our chairs as we watched …. the 5:00 PM church service from St. James Episcopal Church in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.  Got an email a few days ago telling me that if I can't make the 5:00 PM Saturday Bob Marley Mass, I could "click here" to see the lifestream of the service.  Pretty neat, so it was.  Didn't realize that Bob Marley sang religious music did you.  Well, Bob Marley spoke about women's rights (No Woman, No (Don't) Cry), but he also used his music to help promote freedom, peace and reconciliation as well as equal rights for all.  St. James has been having Saturday evening Mass for years, but about three years ago they added a new touch by featuring the music of well-known musicians.  Perhaps you have heard of the Rolling Stones or Tracey Chapman.  They have recently been featured and by clicking on http://new.livestream.com/saintjameslancaster?utm_source=Comprehensive+E-Blast+%26+E-Newsletter+List&utm_campaign=7205f97e95-H%26H+3.27.14&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_c81b590726-7205f97e95-28143281 you can view the service from the archives of the lifestream performances.  The music of many other classic artists have been used to try and attract a "different" crowd to church.  

Service from St. James church on my desktop computer.

As Carol and I watched the service we recognized quit a few of our friends as the camera panned the congregation.  And, remarkably, the large majority of the congregation were "Baby Boomers" or older.  It's like going to a rock concert and church service all at one time.  And the cost of admission is a free-will offering that is taken during the service.  J.R. Ankey is the musical director at the church and can perform just about any genre of music.  Those that accompany him vary from service to service, but all are great musicians.  The congregation gets to stand and sing along if they care and …. hey, wait a minute, gotta sing along with this one that goes like this …

Preacher man, don't tell me, Heaven is under the earth
I know you don't know, what life is really worth
It's not all that glitter's is gold, half the story has never been told
And now you see the light, you stand up for your right

Get up, stand up, stand up for your rights
Get up, stand up, don't give up the fight
Get up, stand up, stand up for your rights
Get up, stand up, don't give up a fight

You see, most people think great God will come from the sky
Take away everything and make everybody feel high
But if you know what life is worth, you would look for yours on earth
Now you see the light, stand up for your right

Dress is casual for the service which takes about 45 minutes and is held in the main church at St. James.  Click on the link above to see the service or drop by some Saturday afternoon and enjoy the service with the rest of the congregation.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

J.R. Ankey and the Duke Street Band perform Bob Marley songs at St. James.

The "The Nerds Live Here" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Sitting with my laptop on of all places, my lap, while watching Sheldon and Amy go at it on The Big Bang Theory while at the same time trying to check out the real estate website titled Movoto to see all the news about Lancaster, PA.  Lancaster is on a new "Top Ten" list!  Not real unusual since in the last year or two it has been named one of the most exciting small cities as well as one of the sexiest small cities in the country.  Lancaster is also known as the home of the Amish who drive around our town in their horse-drawn buggies and for our abundance of treats known as the Whoopie Pie.  But, Lancaster's new claim to fame is being on the "Top 10" list of nerdiest small cities in America.  

One of Lancaster's favorite Comic Book stores.

Not #1 or even #2 on the list, but #10, but that's OK since I'm not quite sure how we gained our newly declared fame.  #1 on the list is Marietta, GA and included such well-known cities as Pensacola, FL, Brandenton, FL and Sarasota, FL.  Wow, Florida is a really nerdy state with 4 of the top 10 choices.  So how were the cities ranked and what determined how nerdy Lancaster really was.  Movoto started with a list of cities between 50,000 and 60,000 people which they classified as small cities.  There were 139 cities that fit into that category.  They then looked at how many comic book stores, video game stores, hobby shops, computer stores, museums and bookstores were in those 139 cities.  

One of the many video and game stores.  Both stores
pictured here are within 1 mile of my house along with
a few museums book stores, convention center
 and a really nice public library.

They then took into account one last category of nerdom: conven- tions.  Well, Lancaster has a fairly new convention center in it's downtown which hosts conventions many weeks during the year.  But, what helped Lancaster make the "Top 10" list was it's ranking in museums which was #1.  We have museums everywhere!  We have a clock museum, farm museum, children's museum, quilt & textile museum, multiple art museums and galleries, heritage museum, car museum, bible museum, Amish museum,  train museum, science museum, military museum and even have a Hole In The Wall Puppet Museum in downtown Lancaster run by Rob, a friend of mine.  I've even written about a few of these museums over the past five years.  Lancaster also ranked 3rd in book stores.  So, with such good rankings in museums, book stores, comic book stores, video game stores and libraries, Lancaster reached #10 in the USA.  I can see a parade through the city is in order for this summer when all the nerds can ride floats through the city and be cheered on by those who have much lower IQs.  Enough of this fantasizing.  I must get back to the show.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The "Honoring A Great Guy" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Looking at a photo of Mr. C. Wendell Hower in the Lancaster Newspaper.  Never called him that, since to me he will always be just Mr. Hower.  Mr. Hower was my boss for most of the years that I taught school at Manheim Township High School.  Mr. Hower's photo appeared today since he is being inducted into the Lancaster-Lebanon League Hall of Fame.  The is an athletic league that is part of a student-athlete's education outside the classroom.  

Photo from my 1962 Manheim Township HIgh
School yearbook showing teacher Mr. Hower.

My friends Jerry and Just Sue were my classmates when the three of us went to MTHS as students in the late 50s and early 60s.  Mr. Hower was a math teacher at the time and the two of them both had him for math.  I was lucky not to have him since he was known as a gruff teacher to many back then.  After working for him I got to realize just how good a teacher and administrator he really was.  I pulled some stupid stunts when I first started teaching and he made sure I knew he was owed a favor or two for not firing me.  I taught in the Industrial Arts Department, as did my friend Jerry (yep, we both returned to our Alma mater to teach since we loved it so much), and when making my requisitions for supplies for the following year thought it would be funny to add a couple hundred gallons of home heating oil, to naturally be delivered to my house, onto the list of ink, offset plates, etc. needed for the classroom.  Got past my department head, which was easy to do since I did all his paperwork for him, got past the secretaries that had to type everything, but didn't get past Mr. Hower.  He called me into his office and sat me down in front of his desk and stared at me for what seemed like ever.  Mr. Hower was big, real big, and could be intimidating.  He wanted to know the address where I wanted the oil delivered.  I knew I was in trouble!  He reamed me out and then said this is a far as it will go, but ….. I owe him a favor for that.  After a few other favors were added to his list for other dumb things I did, I finally had to repay him.  My department head was the rifle coach and had decided to resign the position.  A tough position to fill because no one wanted to do it.  Except ME!  Mr. Hower told me I was his new rifle coach.  No questions asked.  I tired to explain to him that I had only fired a gun maybe two or three times in my life.  Didn't matter to him.  I must admit I enjoyed it.  We did win the state title, the first state title ever won by any sports team in the history of the school.  I also lost most of my hearing because of it.  So, I guess we're even.  

Mr. Hower's photo as it appeared
in the Lancaster Newspaper recently.

Anyway, Mr. Hower had a nice write-up in the paper abut his accomplishments which included: Played football and basketball at Lititz High School, played football for Franklin & Marshall College where he was a Little All-American (except he certainly wasn't little) as well as co-captain of the team, coached football and track at MT, was a football/baseball/basketball official, Principal at MT or 29 years, was District III Executive Director after retiring from MT (Is still the director) and  coordinates yearly District tournaments in basketball and tennis.  A very active guy and deserving winner of the award to be bestowed upon him.  I loved the guy when I taught school and still do and still manage to see him fairly often for you see another of the favors that I ended up doing was printing the envelopes, stationery, passes, etc. for District III.  That favor I still do every year.  Wouldn't stop until he gives up the job.  Just have to do that for Mr. Hower.  For you see, I owe him!!  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The "A Gift Of Love" Story

A lace Valentine Card from the 1890s.

It was an ordinary day.  And, after yesterday, Friday the 13th, are you ready for some loving?  Valentine's Day, also known as Saint Valentine's Day or the Feast of Saint Valentine is celebrated in many countries of the world, although it isn't a holiday in most of them.  Valentine's Day began as a liturgical celebration to remember Saint Valentine of Rome who was imprisoned for performing weddings for soldiers who were forbidden to marry and for ministering to Christians who were persecuted under the Roman Empire.  

A postcard Valentine circa 1910.

Alledgely, during his time in prison he healed the blind daughter of his jailer and later wrote her a letter signing it "Your Valentine" as a farewell before his execution.  The expression "From Your Valentine" has been adopted by modern Valentine letter writers and this legend has been published by American Greetings.  In 18th Century England, Valentine's Day became a time for lovers to express their love for each other by presenting flowers, sweets or cards to one another.  Valentine symbols that are customary today are heart-shaped items, doves or the winged figure of Cupid.  In the 19th century the hand-written letters and cards of yesteryears gave way to mass-produced greeting cards.  Now it is becoming more and more accepted to send an online-Valentine card to your sweetheart.  There have been other St. Valentine's in history with one Catholic saint mentioned in early martyrologies under the date of February 14 which is perhaps why we celebrate our Valentine's Day on that particular date.  Valentine's Day is mentioned by Ophelia in Shakespeare "Hamlet" (1600-1601) with the following verse: 

To-morrow is Saint Valentine's Day,

All in the morning be tie,

And I a maid at your window,

To be your Valentine.

Then up he rose, and donn'd his clothes,

And dupp'd the chamber-door;

Let in the maid, that out a maid

Never departed more.

Ah, what a lover that Hamlet must have been. In more recent history (1784) Gammer Gurton's Garland, an English writer of nursery rhymes, wrote:

The rose is red, the violet's blue,

The honey's sweet, and so are you.

Thou art my love and I am thine;

I drew thee to be my Valentine:

The lot was cast and then I drew,

And Fortune said it shou'd be you.

Ah, love is pure joy.  In the United States the first mass-produced valentines of embossed paper lace were produced in the mid-1840s.  

Traditional Valentine's Day gifts for your sweetheart.

By the mid-1900s the practice of exchanging cards was extended to roses, chocolates and jewelry.  Today approxi- mately 190 million valentines are sent or exchanged each year with about half of those given to family members.  Most Valentine buyers spend close to $150 each year to try and impress their loved ones.  As for Carol and I, we mailed Valentine cards to our grandchildren as well as exchanging cards and chocolates and enjoying a Valentine's Day lunch. Always nice to take a break from the everyday life to express the love you share with friends and family.  Happy Valentine's Day to all!  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy. 

The "Triskaidekaphobia" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Until I looked at the calendar and realized that today is Friday the 13th.  Are you one who is superstitious?  I never cared to wear #13 when I was playing baseball or didn't care to have a medical procedure on that date or even stay in a hotel while on vacation if the place had a 13th floor where we may have been assigned a room.  You do realize how silly that may be, don't you?  And, you do realize that there are 3 Friday the 13th's in 2015 with one coming next month.  Even though I never wore #13 when playing ball I have been known to walk under a ladder or even pick up a penny no matter what side is facing up.   When we moved into our "Beach House" about 20 years ago I brought both my brooms along with me.  

Blackie with friend Larry.  Blackie is such a poor soul.

Carol and I have flown on a plane on Friday the 13th.  I've also stood between two people and had my photo taken ... more than once.  Matter of fact when I was a smoking teenager I even lit three cigarettes with the same match.   And, anyone who visits with Carol and I know that we have three stray black cats that constantly walk in front us on our back porch all the time.  We even named them Blackie, Inky and Dinky.  Did you know all of the previous items are superstitions?  Superstitions are …… well they're crazy.  

Inky is real sleek with yellow eyes.  Pretty spooky!

Easy for me to say that, huh.  But, with all the many different super- stitions, Friday the 13th seems to be the most widespread superstition in the world.  Some say that the concept of Friday and the number 13 as being unlucky are linked to the Bible.  Judas Iscariot, the apostle who betrayed Jesus, has been labelled as "the 13th guest" at the Last Supper and Friday was the day he was crucified.  Other Bibilical events that occurred on a Friday were the great flood during the time of Noahand the day Eve tempted Adam with the apple.  But, how can Friday the 13th be all that bad when we all say TGIF!!  If you live in fear of the number 13, you suffer from Triskaidekaphobia.  And, if your fear of Friday and the number 13 tend to really freak you out, think of the number thirteen as a vague word meaning beyond 12 and all will be fine. Allegedly!  Gotta go feed the black cats now.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The "Murder at my Alma Mater" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Just opened the email and found a short letter from the Millersville University Alumni Association which was signed by John Anderson, Ph.D., President of Millerville University.  Letter addressed the murder of a young woman who was a freshman at the University this past Sunday.  

A Facebook photo of 18 year-old Karlie Hall.

Karlie Hall was an 18 year old from Chadds Ford, Pennsyl- vania who graduated from Unionville High School in Chester County, PA last year.  Karlie had a twin sister as well as an older sister.  The three sisters were raised by their mother with Karlie and her twin both entering Millersville this past fall.  Police charged her boyfriend, Gregorio Orrostieta, first with aggravated assault and later with murder.  Orrostieta was not a student at Millersville.   The Lancaster Newspaper described the first ever murder at Millersville University by saying that the freshman "fought for her life" while being beaten and ultimately strangled during a fight with her boyfriend in her dorm room.  The two had attended a party together earlier in the evening and got into a disagreement at the party.  This escalated into the fight when they returned to her dorm room at Bard Hall.  Orrostieta admitted to police that he and Hall got into a fight and that he pushed her as well as giving her a back hand to her face.  He claimed that after that she became unresponsive.  That was close to 2:00 a.m. Sunday morning.  At 5:00 a.m. he placed a call to 911 reporting that she'd had a heart attack.  He was kneeling over her giving CPR when aide arrived.  This guy had scratches on his chest, blood smeared on him and he has the nerve to say she had a heart attack.  Wow!  I remember over 50 years ago visiting with friends in Bard Hall when I was a student at what was then known as Millersville State Teachers College.  The changing of the charge occurred after the coroner determined that she had died from strangulation.  There seem to be more and more reports of domestic violence all over the country.  Why?  For what it's worth, I believe it has to do with the attitude of younger people towards violence.  They see it every day of their lives on TV, in movies and while playing video games.  Even the advertisements on TV have more violence in them than any TV show or movie I EVER watched when I was a young teenager.  Guns have become the fists of my era when settling a dispute with physical action.  And, social media is a tool to reinforce violence with posting acts and thoughts that at one time were unthinkable.  I only hope and pray that my grandchildren can survive this violent atmosphere unscathed.  May be tough to do with the attitudes that the younger generation seem to be developing today.  I watch my children trying to instill love and morals in my grandchildren and hope that they are successful in their endeavors.  But, peer pressure seems to be greater than when I was a child.  Here's hoping they will win the fight against all the violence in the world.  And, may Karlie Hall never be forgotten at Millersville University.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The "Derby Doom!" Story

It was an ordinary day.  At least until 7:00 PM when my wife looked at me and said she was going to bed.  Didn't feel well.  Minutes later I heard the toilet flush and the shower running.  Found out that she was indeed ill and had hopped into bed.  Upset stomach and ached all over.  I finished watching a TV show and headed to my office to forward the second of two yearbooks that I do for the school district where I used to teach.  Sat in my swivel chair and it stuck me.  Made sure the doors were locked and the lights turned off and headed to bed myself.  Same thing that she had.  That evening we were both up many times spewing stuff from just about every orifice in our bodies.  We swore it must have been the Oriental restaurant that we had visited two nights before.  Lucky for us we have two bathrooms on our second floor, since they both were in use a few times during the night.  Next day was more of the same.  Then we got a call from our daughter-in-law checking on us and told us that our son was in bed with the same thing.  That would make sense since he too was at the restaurant.  But then, later in the day, she reported back that our grandson was brought home from school with the same thing and that 14 families who were at his Scout Pack's Pinewood Derby had come down with the same malady.  Lucky for the restaurant!  Well, I have finally recovered enough to sit at my computer and forward the yearbook to the company as well a type this short story.  My trusty friend, Creamsicle the cat, is lying on my desk playing with my computer mouse as I type on the keyboard.  This little arrow seems to move around my screen as he slides his paw across the mouse.  He stuck by us for the last two evenings by laying across our sore bodies.  The 16 pounds had to be pushed off more than once.  Poor guy didn't understand what he was doing wrong.  Here's hoping that the other families have recovered and I can load the photos from my camera to share with you the excitement of the Pinewood Derby.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The "Searching for a Read: Part VIII - 'Da Bones'" Story

Foreword:  At last, I have reached the final part of my story on my church, St. James Episcopal in historical downtown Lancaster, PA.  It has been over three months since I returned home from the hospital after having spinal fusion surgery and finding myself bored to death as I recuperated.  The two-volume set of books titled St. James Church by Klein and Diller helped me pass the time as well as acquaint me once again with the history of the church which I became a member of in the late 1940's.  As I said in other "Foreword" entries, I hope I haven't changed history with my stories or left out any significant parts of the history of the church while trying to condense 271 years into a few manageable stories.

St. James Churchyard in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

It was an ordinary day.  Taking a few last photos in the Churchyard of some of the graves as well as  photos of a few of the tombstones that are embedded into or attached to the wall and floor of the church proper.  

This is the Churchyard as it appeared in 1929.

If you'll remember I began my stories telling you that in 1730 Phila- delphia lawyer Alexander Hamilton and his son Colonel James Hamilton selected the present site of Lancaster and began to lay out the city by plots, assigning plots #34, #35 and #36 to be the site for St. James Episcopal Church at the corner of what is now North Duke and West Orange Streets.  

Gravestone of The Rev. Thomas Barton, British missionary who

served for 19 years with distinction as third rector of St. James

from 1759-1778.  True to his ordination vows, he remained loyal

to the Crown during the American Revolution.  Political differences

between him and the patriot members of his congregation caused the

church to be closed in 1776 for the duration of the war.  After his

resignation as Rector in 1778, he was given Military Escort to a point

within the British lines in New York City and denied right of return to

Pennsylvania.  He was separated from his children, parishioners and

friends and became incurably ill and died in 1780.  He was a faithful

Servant of Jesus Christ and Valiant Soldier who despite indescribable

suffering and hardship, remained steadfast in his convictions,

even to the end.  He was buried in NY, with this stone a memorial stone.

The church and out buildings were to be placed on lots #35 and #36 and were to be charged a yearly rent of 15 shillings each while lot #34 was to be rent free and be a graveyard for the church.  Well, the graveyard, now called the Churchyard,  holds the remains of many great citizens of the United States and to walk through it, or even play in it as I did as a young choirboy, are or were overwhelming at times for me.  Looking at and reading the tombstones and realizing that I have studied and read in school about those who are buried under my feet gives me the chills at times.  

One of the stones in the "Memorial Garden."
This stone holds the names of my mother
and father who were members of St. James.

My mother and father's remains are buried in The Memorial Garden of St. James Church which was opened in 1985.  The garden is a sacred area within the beautiful and historic Churchyard where the cremated remains of  parish members and their immediate family may be placed to rest.  In July of 2003 Carol and I paid our sum and will one day find our solitude in the Memorial Garden alongside the other members of our church.  The second of the two volumes on the history of St. James has page after page detailing and showing where every grave is located and who may occupy that space in the Churchyard.  The oldest tombstone is dated March 4, 1752 and is erected to a child named Susannah Hart.  

Stones are embedded in the Mercer tiles in front of the altar.

The second oldest stone is dated 1753 and was erected to Thomas Cookson, the first burgess of Lancaster.  His tomb is now in the sacristy of the church.  Soldiers of the American Revolutionary War, both Patriots and British, are buried in the churchyard.  The chancel of our current church was built over part of the original churchyard and the tombs and gravestones that were disturbed are now preserved on the floor of the chancel and altar.  

When the original choir room was removed and a new chapel
was constructed in the early 1960s, some tombs were
disturbed.  Their remains and tombstones were relocated
to the walls of the hall between the church and chapel.

Almost 500 persons were buried in the churchyard, but only 266 have tombstones.  When renovations were done years ago to the rectory, two skulls were unearthed and carefully reburied.  A Mr. William F. Worner made a drawing of the churchyard and the tombstones in 1928 which to this day is used to help in identifying those buried in the churchyard.  

Looking through the brick posts which were part of the original
Churchyard towards the memorial gazebo at the other end
of the Churchyard on the north side.

Names such as Edward Shippen, William Agustus Atlee, Jasper Yeates, Edward Hand and Harriet Lane (niece of President James Buchanan and who served as first lady during his term) lay beneath the tombstones next to the Memorial Garden monument that contains the names of Dorothea E. Woods and Paul H. Woods, my parents. So you see, St. James Churchyard, with it's magnificent trees, it's brick walls, benches and walkways has welcomed all to visit and view history where many of it's members have finally come for eternal peace. It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy. 

This is the stone of Edward Shippen III who was a wealthy merchant and government official in colonial Philadelphia, PA.  In May of 1752 he moved from Philadelphia to Lancaster where he was appointed prothonotary.  He served in that position until 1778.  He was a county judge under both the provincial and state governments.  He founded the town of Shippensburg, PA and from 1746 to 1748 he was one of the founders of the College of New Jersey which is now Princeton University.  He also founded the Pennsylvania Hospital and the American Philosophical Society.  He was a member of St. James Episcopal Church.

The south side of the Churchyard which is open to the public.  This also shows the two large brick entrance posts and the beautiful metal gates they hold.  The Chancel of the church can be seen in the distance.

This is the double-page, detailed map of St. James Churchyard that show where each grave is located.  It matches a multi-page chart with names to help locate all the people buried in the Churchyard.

This stone is in memory of the more than 200 unmarked graves that are in the St. James Church graveyard.

A marker in memory of the signer of the Declaration of Independence, George Ross.

This tombstone is to honor Colonel Matthias Slough who was an officer in the Revolutionary War and was a member of the General Assembpy.  He was the coroner who presided at the inquest of the Paxton Massacre and was the proprietor of the White Swan Tavern in Lancaster City.  He was a member of St. James Church.

William Augustus Atlee was the Chairman of the Committee of Safety during the American Revolution.  Also a Burgess of Lancaster and Judge of the first Supreme Court of Pennsylvania.  He was a Warden and Vestryman of St. James Church.

The grave of General Edward Hand.  He was one of Lancaster's leading soldiers during the Revolutionary War.  He was a friend and companion-in-arms of General George Washington.  A member of the Continental Congress and a Chief Burgess of Lancaster.  He too was a Vestryman and Warden of St. James.  Rockford, now a National Historical Site, was Hand's Lancaster Home.  It is located at the southern end of Lancaster City.