Conestoga

Scottsbluff National Monument - Nebraska The first conestoga wagon was built in Conestoga, Pennsylvania in 1750. The covered wagons were solidly built out of heavy oak, with high axles to clear rocks, brush and tree stumps. It could haul six tons of cargo and was covered with heavy canvas. Covered wagons were common place during …

Giant Mum

In the spirit of Believe-It-Or-Not, this giant mum, a single plant mind you, has over 700 blooms on it.   We happened to be there at the right time to see it in all of its glory, mid-October.  It measures approx. 4' high with a diameter to match.  From a distance, it looks like a giant …

Longwood Gardens

The Longwood Gardens are part of a 1,000 acre estate owned by the du Pont family, located near Kennett Square, Pennsylvania.  Originally owned by William Penn, George Pierce bought the property in 1700.  Pierre S. du Pont bought the property in 1906 from the Pierce family to save the arboretum from being sold for its lumber. …

Gettysburg

I'm late again.  I was hoping to post a piece on July 4th, but I was out celebrating my favorite national holiday ... July 4th, Independence Day.  To me, every Fourth of July is special, but this one is the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg. The Battle of Gettysburg lasted three days, beginning …

Armistice Day

The end of World War I was marked by Germany signing the armistice (truce) at the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918.  In 1919 President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed November 11th as Armistice Day, a holiday to remember the anniversary of the end of the Great War.  In 1954 President …

Flight 93

United Airlines Flight 93 was hijacked by four Islamic terrorists on September 11, 2001, with its intended target presumed to be the nation's capitol in Washington, DC.  But, after hearing of three earlier hijacked planes that attacked the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, passengers and crew of Flight 93 stormed the cockpit, overtook the …

Rank Has Its Privileges

RHIP, rank has its privileges; an old adage that is evident even in the Continental Army of the Revolutionary War over 200 years ago.   When I think of Valley Forge, I think of soldiers suffering through frigid winter conditions with no shoes, the lucky ones had newspaper wrapped around their feet.  Rations were thin …

Dream Job

This photo is the George Washington Chapel and National Carillon at Valley Forge.  No, its not where George Washington worshiped during the winter of 1777.  It is, however, located  near Washington's Continental Army encampment.  It is an active Episcopal church, built in 1903.  The carillon, bell tower, next to the chapel, was funded by the …

Cause and Effect

This scene made me stop and think.  Which came first, the cannon or the grave sites?  While I was at Gettysburg, I didn't have time to research this, but it sure made me think. I know that the Union troops occupied the high ground, one of which was called Cemetery Ridge, where this photo was …

General Meade’s Headquarters

I couldn't locate General Meade's headquarters at Gettysburg, so you'll have to settle for his hindquarters.   Trick or Treat Thought for the Day:  Ever notice that the people who are late are often much jollier than the people who have to wait for them?

Civil War buildings

Located about 3 miles southeast of Gettysburg, PA, this farm house, built in 1862, is now a charming B&B.  Our room was on the second floor, overlooking the expansive front lawn where this picture was taken.  The second story floor boards were wide planks that sagged in some areas and creaked with every step; a burglar …

Canon fire

I've often wondered how my super-sophisticated, high-tech Canon DSLR would fare against the cannons used in the Civil War.  At 8.5 frames per second, my Canon could easily "outshoot" the lumbering 2,000 lb  single-shot artillery pieces used at Gettysburg.  But the battlefield is so massive, approximately 3 x 5 miles, I wasn't sure I'd have enough "ammuniton".  If …