An eerie coincidence? A Chippewa legend…

October 31, 2014 by · Leave a Comment 

As I began preparing this post I realized with a degree of angst that the date for the post is October 31st – Halloween. To say this is not a holiday I embrace is a gross understatement. Thanksgiving, Easter, and Christmas are certainly more in my wheel-house. So, what to do??? As fate (?) would have it, the very next issue I picked up contained an article more than suitable for this infamous day: “The Dancing Ghosts – A Chippewa Legend”.  Was this just an eerie coincidence, or something more? Please enjoy (to view the entire article, go to: National Intelligencer (September 11, 1849):Blog-10-31-2014-Dancing-Ghosts-Chippewa-Legend

 

Trick-or-Treat hits the national scene in America…

October 28, 2014 by · Leave a Comment 

While many aspects of this infamous beloved/disparaged annual event have roots reaching back into the Middle Ages, it wasn’t until November 1, 1934 that the term trick-or-treat made national news… and even later (the 40’s) until the “holiday” became popular on a wide scale. The report below, printed in the NY Times for November 1, 1934, marks this “not so humble” beginning. Weather you embrace this day in fun, or avoid it like the plague, feel free to comment/respond with other related “trick-or-treating” events which occurred prior to this date.Blog-10-28-2014-Trick-Or-Treat-Harlem-II

Great Headlines Speak For Themselves… death of Carole Lombard…

October 24, 2014 by · Leave a Comment 

The best headlines need no commentary. Such is the case with the LOS ANGELES EXAMINER, California, January 18, 1942: “CAROLE LOMBARD AND 21 OTHERS IN AIRLINER WRECK”Blog-10-10-2014-Carole-Lombard-death

The Traveler… a great loss…

October 20, 2014 by · Leave a Comment 

Today I traveled to Springfield, Massachusetts, by way of The Springfield Union dated October 21, 1964. There the front page had the headline of “World Mourns Death of Herbert Hoover”, “President Orders 30-Day Observance; Leaders of Both Parties Join in Eulogies”. “Herbert Clark Hoover, the son of a blacksmith who rose to serve his nation as president and the world as one of history’s great humanitarians, died Tuesday. He was 90…”. This includes a small photo of President Hoover as well as a photo of the flag being lowered to half staff over the White House. Inside the issue is a photo of the home where Hoover was born, where he would also be buried on a hillside nearby.

~The TravelerBlog-10-20-2014-Herbert-Hoover-Death

Hawaiian Islands… ignorance is often the default position of the uninformed…

October 17, 2014 by · Leave a Comment 

Blog-10-17-2014-Sandwich-IslandsWhile many have been rightfully moved by James Michener’s account of the 1800’s Hawaiian Island pandemic, and have been forced to wrestle with and ultimately accept the albeit unintentional but horrible spread of disease and death often associated with well-intended explorers and missionaries entering new lands, an article in the National Intelligencer (December 4, 1849) takes “ignorance” to a whole new level. The image to the right expresses at least one person’s “uninformed” reaction to the wide-spread death that had befallen many of the indigenous people of the Hawaiian Islands (Sandwich Islands). Captain Cook and those who followed (with the intention of bringing Good News) would never have guessed they were also bringing such overwhelming human destruction. Thankfully we now know better – so as to not make such cold-hearted statements as the one made in this mid-19th century newspaper.

Say it isn’t so – The Natural Bridge for sale?

October 13, 2014 by · Leave a Comment 

Blog-10-31-2014-Natural-Bridge-of-VirginiaThe Half-dome of Yosemite, Niagara’s Falls, the peaks of the Grand Tetons… Who is not overwhelmed by these and similar examples of the wonders of God’s creation?  Yet too often we take them for granted – assuming they will forever be “open to the public” for those desiring to breathe in the Designer’s handiwork – never considering their ownership.  Occasionally an event provides us with a reality check, bringing us down-to-earth so to speak, and forces us to consider whether or not such marvels should be owned by no one… or perhap0s even better, by all.  An 1849 report in the National Intelligencer (November 27, 1849) is a case in point.

The Natural Bridge of Virginia is for sale? Please view the hyperlink above to read one man’s reaction to this very true event. His thoughts challenge us to consider whether or not such beauty should somehow be preserved for the public good, and to appreciate the simple pleasures of a rainbow, a sunset, and the fresh dew of the morning. It is nice to read his views written more than 25 years before the 1st National Park (Yellowstone) was established, and more than 50 years before the establishment of the National Park System (in 1916).

Great Headlines Speak For Themselves… Dodgers are champions!

October 10, 2014 by · Leave a Comment 

The best headlines need no commentary. Such is the case with the LOS ANGELES TIMES–EXTRA, September 30, 1959: “L.A. DODGERS CHAMPIONS ! “Blog-10-10-2014-Dodgers-Are-Champs-1959

The Traveler… Braves vs. Athletics creates new record…

October 6, 2014 by · 2 Comments 

This week I traveled to Omaha, Nebraska, via the Omaha Evening Bee of October 8 through 13, 1914 (excluding the 11th which was a Sunday), where I enjoyed the 1914 World Series between the Boston Braves and the Philadelphia Athletics (see below). This series was the first four-game sweep in World Series history, excluding any tie games. The Braves had even abandoned their home field and played at Fenway Park while awaiting construction of their new home field, thus not having any “home field advantage.”

This is a bit of a unique publication as the first page of each issue is printed on pink-colored paper and features the sports news as the major headline event and large illustrations. Further reporting is continued within the regular portion of the newspaper as well.

~The TravelerPhialdelphia Athletics 1914 Connie Mack

The times they are a-changin’… 19th century mixed-racial marriages

October 3, 2014 by · Leave a Comment 

Blog-10-3-2014-Mixed-Racial-MarriagesWhile progress in regards to interracial relations has been both painful and agonizingly slow an 1880’s issue of the St. Louis Globe-Democrat (November 15, 1880) provides a great opportunity for us to see just how far we have come in the last 100 years or so. Sometimes a 1,000 foot view provides a degree of encouragement where a close-up view only draws our attention to the blemishes. Yes, while slow, the times they are in fact a-changin’.