The "Happy Anniversary To My Sweetheart! Story

Carol Ann Baker before she became my wife.

It was an ordinary day.  Searching for a card to buy for my wife for our 52nd Anniver- sary.  It was back in 1967 that we shared our wedding vows at St. James Episcopal Church in downtown Lancaster, Pennsylvania.  June 17 and the day was HOT!  Carol had a long-sleeved wedding gown and the exterior temperature was over 100 degrees.  REALLY HOT.  

Carol and Larry Woods after the wedding.

But, we could have cared less.  We were getting married!  My search for my card today took me to a few stores until I found the absolutely best card I could have found...especially for my blog story.  The cover of the card read... I may be just an ordinary guy...with the inside of the card reading... But I'm married to one extraordinary woman.  Beautiful, amazing you.  When she opened it she smiled and asked where I could have ever found a card like that.  Just perfect!  We shared our day with a trip to Chesapeake City, along the C&D Canal, for lunch and walking through a few shops in town. Lunch was at The Chesapeake Inn where we told our waiter it was a special day.  

The front of my Anniversary Card to Carol.

And...he made it special for us!  We both wanted items that weren't on their lunch menu, but he made an exception and allowed us to order what we wanted.  Carol had a lobster grill cheese sandwich while I had ravioli stuffed with crab meat.  For most of of lunch we were the only two people in the restaurant.  Rather special since we were getting all the attention.  We were too full for dessert so an hour later we paid for our meal and headed toward the General Store.  We discovered Chesapeake City years ago when we visited along the Chesapeake with another family during the summer for a few weeks of vacation with our families.  

The Chesapeake Inn along the C&D Canal.

That was about 40 years ago and during boat rides in our friend Gary's boat, we discovered several locations along the many rivers that lead into the Chesapeake Bay.  The C&D Canal was one of the many waterways that lead into the Bay.  Ever since that time, we have found our way to Chesapeake City several times a year for lunch and shopping.  

After we had finished our lunch.

Well, our day was fun and as in all cases, it was time to head home.  The trip takes slightly over an hour, but we enjoy the scenery along our route.  Friends Jere and Just Sue will be visiting soon and we will more than likely head back again to Chesapeake City for lunch.  Our day was fun and filled with things we like to do.  Actually, it was a perfect day to remember our very special day 52 years ago.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

My ravioli stuffed with crab.

Carol's lobster grilled cheese.

The view from the restaurant.

Another view shows the C&D Canal bridge.

The "A Walk Along Orange Street" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Opened the morning paper and there was my name once again.  Wasn't more than a month or so ago that one of LNP's writers, Jack Brubaker, aka "The Scribbler" sent a photographer to my house to take a photo that appeared in his column along with a story about my blog.  Pretty neat being featured in the paper and mentioning my blog.  Well, there it was this morning, once again, in "The Scribbler's" column.  

The father's book I was reading.

Seems that a few months ago I wrote to Jack, asking him what he knew about the Moravian Church that was supposed to be in Downtown Lancaster.  I've lived in Lancaster all my life and just couldn't remember where there was a Moravian Church in downtown Lancaster.  I recently read one of my Dad's old books called "Orange Street" which featured a story about a Moravian Church downtown.  Since I had no idea where it might have been located, I wrote an email to Jack who knows Lancaster inside and out.  He answered my question in this morning's paper, telling all his readers that the Moravian Church is in church heaven!  Seems the Moravian congregation maintained a stone building at 30 W. Orange Street from 1746 to 1967.  

The Moravian Church on West Orange Street.

A brick addition, encompassing part of the old edifice, was added in 1820.  Then in 1967, the congregation moved to a new location in Manheim Township at 1460 Eden Road and the old church was demolished.  Then in 2014 the Church returned to Downtown Lancaster at 227 N. Queen Street above the bus station.  At one time there was a Moravian Cemetery near the corner of Prince and Chestnut Streets.  It remained there from 1742 until 1917 when it was moved.  A stone marker designating where the original Moravian cemetery was located was installed near Lancaster's Post Office which was near the old Moravian Church.  The stone marker tells that the gravesites were moved to the Greenwood Cemetery and the names of those moved were recorded in the Moravian archives.  I want to once again thank "The Scribbler" for a job well done in answering one of the many questions I have emailed to him in the past few years.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The stone telling of the Moravian Cemetery that was at this site until 1917.

The "Baseball Games That Aren't Called By Darkness" Story

Late evening sunset in Lancaster County

It was an ordinary day.  That was until a second after midnight last evening when the Summer solstice began.  Today is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere which means that Lancaster, Pennsylvania, where this story is being posted today, will have more daylight than any other day of the year.  The length of daytime depends on how close we are to the North Pole, which receives 24 hours of sunlight today, and the Equator, which receives less than 14 hours of sunlight today.  During the summer solstice, Lancaster will see anywhere from 15 to 15.5 hours of sunlight according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric  Administration, also known as NOAA.  Sunset in Lancaster tonight will be sometime between 8:30 to 9:00 pm.  That will allow my grandson's baseball game to go the full 7 innings tonight if they can't 10 run their opponent in 5 innings.  Also will allow Carol and I a few more minutes of daylight to wait in line at Dairy Queen for a Blizzard (ice cream treat) after the game.  Today is known as not only Summer solstice, but Midsummer.  Summer solstice takes place twice a year, once in the Northern hemisphere (between June 20 and June 22) and once in the Southern Hemisphere (between December 20 and 22).  According to wikipedia, seasons start at solstices and equinoxes.  

The word Solstice is derived from the Latin word "Sol" meaning Sun and "Sistere" meaning stationary or stand still.  Believe it or not, I actually remembered that from the two years of Latin I took in high school.  About the only thing I remember from Latin class except for the short, little teacher, Mrs. Murray, who we all loved.  Today the sun will remain in Lancaster for the longest time of the year before it sets.  Today also is the turning point in the year while people around the globe celebrate this day in different ways.  Some celebrate with bonfires, burning effigies as well as with newer ways like yoga, musical shows, dances, picnics and even baseball games.  Oh, by the way, my wife baked a few dozen Snickerdoodle cookies for our grandson Caden to share with his teammates after the game.  The extra time will allow them to eat the cookies before it gets dark.  The next special event will be Autumnal, or fall Equinox which happens in late September.  That is the moment in Lancaster when the Sun's rays are shining down over the equator and our days and nights are approximately equal in length.  And, our grandson's fall baseball team will have to speed up the game to get the entire game in before it gets too dark to see the ball.  For those living in the Northern Hemisphere, enjoy your day tomorrow, and maybe end it with an ice cream treat like my wife and I will do.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The "A Big Yearbook Sanfu" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Late May and the school yearbooks that I have created have been delivered to the schools.  I started as the advisor to the high school (grades 9-12) yearbook where I taught in the late 1960s.  When I retired from teaching in 1999 I asked the school principal if he wanted me to continue as the yearbook advisor.  He felt it best if someone who saw the students on a daily basis would be in charge and I agreed with him.  The following day the principal of the middle school (grades 6-8) called and asked if I would be interested in taking over their book.  I could name my price if I cared to do so.  Not long after I was in charge of the book!  The book is only 64 pages instead of a few hundred pages as the high school book was.  The first year I tried to use student help, but that didn't work since I didn't have contact with the students on a daily basis.  Then seven years ago the middle school changed to grades 7 and 8 and a new intermediate school opened with grades 5 and 6.  The principal called and asked if I wanted to do their book.  Sure, why not.  That book also is a hard-bound book and 64 pages.  

The Manheim Township Middle School and Landis Run Intermediate School yearbooks for 2019.

Each yearbook features class photos, administration and faculty sections, clubs, musical groups, sports and plenty of candid shots.  This year for the first time the books were in color.  And, each year I strive to make a perfect yearbook.  The yearbook company contact tells me each year that there NEVER was a perfect book and NEVER will be!  I was positive I had at least one this year, but....they were right once again.  When I returned from a trip to the Caribbean in the end of May, after the books had arrived in each school, I got a call from the company contact telling me he had received a call from the middle school principal.  I had spelled her name wrong!  And to top that off, I had spelled the word FACULTY wrong on the same page.  The next day I called the principal and talked with her.  I apologized and she said it was no big deal, but it is to me!  I get paid to create the book and I strive for a perfect book.  

My wife places a sticker over the mistake on a page
in the Middle School yearbook.  Click to enlarge.

The company contact had stickers printed and he and his assistant as well as myself and my wife sat in a hot room and unpacked all the books and placed the stickers over the mistakes!  They looked OK, but they weren't perfect!  And, no one knew what the mistakes were beside the principal until now, when everyone reads this post!  I did enjoy the company and conversation for the three hours it took to put the stickers in place, but it could have been best spent doing something else.  As far as the intermediate book goes, I once again thought I had a perfect book until the final day of school when the books were delivered to the students and....well you guessed it.  One student had the wrong photo above her name.  

We placed stickers on all of these books.  Took three hours!

In this case it happened because the company that had taken the class photos had made the mistake and it had never been caught by the school until the books were handed out.  Now, once again, I have never had a perfect book.  I think often of stopping my wonderful job as creating yearbooks for these schools, but I enjoy visiting the schools many times a year to take the photos.  The students always greet me and are more than willing to pose for photos for me.  I would miss the interaction between the students, faculty and administration that I have developed over the past 50 years.  To many of the students I am like their grandfather, and perhaps their great grandfather, when I arrive with my Nikon DSLR with flash on top.  I haven't made up my mind yet as to what I will do next year, but I will more than likely hop in the car on opening day of school and head to the schools to document the first day of school once again. It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The "Lititz Olden Days Observance: Part II - A Visit With A Former Student" Story

Preface:  Visiting the 1st annual Lititz Historical Foundation's Lititz Spring Into History Festival.  My story two days ago told of the how and why of the festival while today's story will tell you about meeting one of my former students I hadn't seen in many years. 

It was an ordinary day.   I stood watching a young man make a tool using the forge and pounding the tool into shape on his anvil.  Brought back memories of working on the anvil when I was a student at Millersville State Teachers College in Millersville, Pennsylvania. 

Pamphlet by Arthur Reist.

 As he finished I noticed on the table next to him was display that featured a pamphlet titled, "Conestoga wagon - Masterpiece of the Blacksmith" which was written by Arthur J. Reist.  Recognized the name immediately as being one of my students when I taught Industrial Arts at Manheim Township High School in Neffsville, Pennsylvania.  Art, as I knew him, had a twin brother by the name of Al and there was no way I could tell them apart.  They both had good mechanical skills which I found were due to growing up on one of Lancaster county's farms.  They were good in metalworking, woodworking and fast learners in the graphic arts shop.  They were the perfect students every teacher always wished they could have.  They were self-disciplined as well as very courteous to all their teachers.  As you might say in Lancaster County language...they were brought up right!  After graduation I lost track of them until 2007 when my father died and my mother, with some nudging, decided it best she remain at nearby Moravian Manor Retirement Community.  I spent a few months sorting through two floors of furniture, dishes, clothing and memories and after talks with mom, decided what to do with everything.  Quite a few items were in need of being sold at auction and I checked out the phone book and realized that Al Reist was an auctioneer.  Could it be the same Al Reist I knew?  After a call, and an hour of reminiscing, we set up an appointment for him to visit with me at my mom's house.  He took everything and offered me a set price for it all.  Knowing the caliber of individual he was, I knew it was a fair price.  We had a good time talking about his time in high school and his family now.  Found out he was a neighbor of mine, living two blocks from my home in the Foxshire development in Lancaster.  Also found that he played the bagpipes.  A few months later, our friends Jere and Sue, who live in State College, PA, traveled with us to Alexandria, Virginia for a long weekend.  While there we saw a parade that featured a bagpipe band from Lancaster.  Sure enough, there was Al playing in the band.  Jere had taught with me at Manheim Township and we both had Art and Al and when Al passed us along the parade route we both yelled to him.  As he walked past playing he gave us a quick wave and a big smile.  We did meet him after the parade for a short time.  

Former student Al Reist and LDub.

Well, today when I found that his twin brother Art was a few steps away, I just had to make a visit with him.  I walked toward him and removed my sunglasses.  I said, "Al, it's Larry Woods!"  "Mr. Woods!", he replied.  In no time we were reliving the time he was in high school.  I caught up on his life after he graduated from Millersville University and taking over his father's farm on Eden Road in Manheim Township as well as a bit about his family, who were all in Lititz today helping with the demonstrations.  He told me of the two oxen he has that he uses from time to time to pull the Conestoga Wagon that I am looking at with him.  He's still the same person he was in high school; polite, soft spoken and thanking me over and over for teaching him in high school.  We talked about the wagon we stood next to and how all the parts of the wagon were made as well as their function.  He is very knowledgeable and I found I was now the student listening to my teacher tell me about the workings of the Conestoga wagon.  We both had a great time reminiscing and I promised him to visit his farm sometime with my wife to see his Belgiam horses.  I left Al Reist today knowing that my choice of becoming a teacher was one of the best choices I had ever made.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The interior of the Conestoga Wagon.

The tool chest on the side of the wagon.  Notice the amount of blacksmithing needed on the Conestoga Wagon.

The harness the horse or ox would wear to pull the Conestoga Wagon.

On the top of the harness was this brass set of bells used to warm other wagons of their presence.  The saying, "Arriving with bells on" came from this configuration of bells.

The horses or ox were attached using these hitches 

A jack used in case a wheel would be damaged.

The front wheel would wear more rounded as it led the way.  Here you can see the rounding of the metal due to hitting rocks, etc. in the road.

The metal on the rear wheel is more flat, since it is following in the same path made by the front wheel.

The undercarriage.  Notice the height necessary to pass over rough terrain.

There are two hooks with pins to hold the rear gate in place.  Again, made by the blacksmith.

Final photo showing the entirety of the wagon as well as the two friends.

The "May 27, 1924: Lancaster Became A Pennsylvania City" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Reading the account as to how the county of Lancaster was formed in the 1720s.  Seems that the backwoods of nearby Chester County to the was becoming infested with thieves, vagabonds and ill people, so the "normal" folks living in that area petitioned William Penn's son to create a new county where all these undesirable people could call home.  

1756 Map of Pennsylvania

So, on May 10, 1729, Lancaster county was formed beyond the borders of Bucks, Chester and the city of Phila- delphia.  At the time the area was the home of French and English traders who exchanged beads, blankets, knives, axes, guns and liquor with the native Americans, who had inhabited the area for years, for coveted furs.  In the early 1630s trading posts were established near the Susquehanna River and along the navigable waterways.  

Captain John Smith

The Susquehannocks who inhabited the area were fierce fighters who were later known as the Conestogas who were described by Captain John Smith as "giants of men" who were seven feet tall.  The new county, Lancaster, with its population of 15 people, more than likely ill vagabonds and thieves, declared the small town of Lancaster the county seat.  At the time it was called "Hickory Town" and began to draw German immigrants, known as Pennsylvania Dutch.  The town was so named for the huge hickory tree that stood in the center of the town where Lancaster's current Penn Square now stands.  Eventually the land became what is today Lancaster City and which at one time was owned by Andrew Hamilton who deeded 500 acres of this land to his son James Hamilton who designed the layout of the new town of Lancaster in 1734 using a uniform grid plan of straight streets and rectangular property lots.  

Old note from Hickorytown, Penna.  Click to enlarge.

The square, hickory tree and all, was placed in the middle of this plan.  One of the town's prominent citizens, John Wright, suggested the town be named Lancaster after Lancaster, England.  The lots were sold to middle-class artisans, merchants, professionals and perhaps a few of those vagabonds and drunkards.  Those who bought properties were required to built, within a year, a dwelling of at least 16 feet square and have a chimney of brick or stone.  

Early map of Lancaster, Pennsylvania

If you wanted to be an innkeeper you were required to acquire 15-20 acre lots for pasturing animals.  By 1742 the town of Lancaster was one of the largest inland towns in the British Empire having about 270 houses and 750 inhabitants.  Lancaster was incorporated as a borough in 1742 and incorporated as an inland city in 1818.  The town of Lancaster became the county seat on May 10, 1729 and served as the state capital from 1799 until 1812 when it was replaced by Harrisburg.  The city of Lancaster served as our nation's capital for one day on September 27, 1777 when the British forces had captured Philadelphia during the American Revolutionary War.  

More current map of Pennsylvania

Lancaster was an important munitions center during the war.  Because of our link to Lancaster, England, Lancaster was known as the "Red Rose City".  On May 27, 1924 the city surrendered its ancient city charter and became a Third Class City under the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.  For those who are not familiar with Lancaster, it is pronounced LANK-is-ter.  Now, after reading my synopsis of how the city of Lancaster came to be, who actually owned the land on which Lancaster sits?  The British discovered the area, but who told them they could claim the land.  Didn't the Native Americans own and live on the land?  Who gave the British folks who "discovered" the land the right to lay out the town known as Lancaster?  I guess I should be happy how it all turned out, since my parents and grandparents were all born in today's Lancaster and ultimately gave me life.  But, was it right to just take over the land where the Native American's lived for ages?  Did we actually make trades with the Native Americans for the rights to the land?  Just wondering!!  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.        

The "Lititz Olden Days Observance: Part I - The Craftsmen" Story

The 1792 Johannes Mueller House on Main Street in Lititz, PA.

It was an ordinary day.  Parked the Mirage on Broad Street in Lititz and headed to Lititz's new History Festival.  It was back in 2013 that Lititz gained national notoriety when it was picked by Budget Travel Magazine as "America's Coolest Small Town." The award was given to a town with a population of 10,000 or less that had a certain quality that set it apart from all the rest of the smallest towns in the United States.  Lititz, Pennsylvania has a population of 9,369 and is located in Lancaster County, PA.  It was founded in 1756 by members of the Moravian Church, and for the next century only Moravians were allowed to live in Lititz.  It eventually was incorporated in 1888.  Linden Hall School for Girls dates back to 1746 and the Brethren's house on the campus of the Moravian church, served as a hospital during the American Revolutionary War.  I have written about the church, Linden Hall as well as the Brethren's house in the past.  The town occupies 2.3 square miles.  So, what else could the town do to draw tourists?  How about a History Festival?  

So, that's what the members of the Historical Foundation decided to hold!  And, as soon as I walked a few blocks east on Main Street after parking my car, I came upon the beautiful Johannes Mueller House.  Mr. Mueller was the town dyer when he built his home on Main Street in 1742.  It made the perfect place to hold the first ever Lititz Historical Festival.  I walked in the main door and was greeted by a few women dressed in Colonial garb who directed me to the rear of the house where a variety of artisans told of the methods used during the American Revolutionary era.  Crafts I saw included weaving, spinning, rug braiding, tin-smithing, ceramics, basketry, soap making and blacksmithing.  There was even a gunsmith on hand and an authentic Conestoga Wagon in the alley behind the house.   The house itself is meticulously preserved and restored and the grounds behind the home were the perfect place to hold the event.  Follow along as I show you some of the artisans and tell their stories.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The gunsmith talks about the flintlock rifle.

A few of his weapons were on display.

The tavern owner played a big part in the life of a Colonial town.  The tavern was the place for a drink, learn the latest gossip and even the post office in many small towns.  Gary Myers talked to me about the role of the tavern owner and explained the coinage system with the coins in the dish.  Coins were half silver and half gold.  They could be cut in half, quarters or eights and used to pay just about any purchase.

Here Gary tells me about patrons who wanted to smoke.  Most would bring their bowl with them and the tavern owner would fill the pipe with tobacco.

He also had a board similar to what would be found in a tavern.  On the board were listings of notices as well as mail may be tacked to it for patrons to see and pick up.

The wood carver was an important craftsman in a town.  This fellow is making a spoon on the device he made to hold the wood.

He could also carve bowls with a variety of chisels.

The tin smith was an important craftsman also.  Here is a candle holder made of  28 gauge tin plate.

He demonstrated putting the edge on the candle holder.

This gentleman made his own lathe using plans that would have been available in colonial America.  A few pieces were oak with the majority of the parts made of pine.  It was operated with foot power.

A set of plans for construction of the lathe.

The potter made bowls, mugs and pots used in the kitchen and for eating.  All work was done by hand.

Naturally, there had to be a musician.  He played the entire time and I don't remember hearing the same tune more than once.  Great job and he never took a break! 

The cigar maker was another important job in our new country.  Everything needed for making cigars  was on display.

This device was used for cutting the end of the cigar.

This gentleman was making woven belts.

The results were on display.

This young man was demonstrating blacksmithing.  He would heat the metal piece in the fire on the right.

He had a booklet for sale telling about the Conestoga Wagon which was known as the masterpiece of the blacksmith.  I read the name on the bottom of the book and recognized the name.  I asked the blacksmith if he knew the author, Arthur Reist.  "He's my dad!" he told me.  "He's down the steps next to the Conestoga Wagon."  I thanked him and headed down the steps for a reunion I will tell tomorrow.