This is one part of the American landscape that I’ve always dreamed of seeing. I can only imagine looking in the distance and seeing this marvelous mountain of carved faces staring back at me – one day I hope to get there!
“A monument’s dimensions should be determined by the importance to civilization of the events commemorated. We are not here trying to carve an epic, portray a moonlight scene, or write a sonnet; neither are we dealing with mystery or tragedy, but rather the constructive and dramatic moments or crises in our amazing history.”Gutzon Borglum
The Father of Rushmore
The year was 1923. Doane Robinson, the superintendent of the South Dakota State Historical Society, had a vision of a massive mountain memorial carved from stone so large it would put South Dakota on the map. Robinson told all who would listen of his dream of giant statues of Western figures such as Chief Red Cloud, Buffalo Bill Cody, Lewis and Clark, and legendary Sioux warriors marching along South Dakota’s skyline. Robinson spoke to local organizations and wrote letter upon letter.
Many South Dakotans believed that a colossal sculpture would attract thousands of visitors with heavy wallets while others found the notion ludicrous. Finally, when the newspaper stories stopped and the snickers ceased, Robinson enlisted the aid of the one man he knew could carry the torch—the respected U.S. Senator Peter Norbeck.
Norbeck was a frequent visitor to the White House and had the admiration of his peers in the Senate. He was also admired by the farmers and ranchers of South Dakota who had sent him to Washington. Robinson’s mountain-carving proposal captured the senior senator’s imagination and he encouraged the historian to seek a sculptor capable of commanding such a project.
Sculptor Gutzon Borglum, one of America’s most prolific artists, received a letter from Robinson proposing the project in August 1924. It couldn’t have come at a more opportune moment; he was fed up with the project he was working on. Borglum, a fiery and stubborn artist, lived for visions, not setbacks. He accepted Robinson’s offer.
Why these Presidents?
Between October 4, 1927, and October 31, 1941, Gutzon Borglum and 400 workers sculpted the colossal 60-foot (18 m) carvings of U.S. presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln to represent the first 150 years of American history. These presidents were selected by Borglum because of their role in preserving the Republic and expanding its territory.
George Washingtonled the early colonists in the American Revolutionary War to win independence from Great Britain. He was the father of the new country and laid the foundation of American democracy. Because of his importance, Washington is the most prominent figure on the mountain. (1732-1799)
Thomas Jeffersonhe was the author of the Declaration of Independence, a document which inspires democracies around the world. He also purchased the Louisiana Territory from France in 1803 which doubled the size of our country, adding all or part of fifteen present-day states. (1743-1826)
Theodore Roosevelt provided leadership when America experienced rapid economic growth as it entered the 20th Century. He was instrumental in negotiating the construction of the Panama Canal, linking the east and the west. He was known as the “trust buster” for his work to end large corporate monopolies and ensure the rights of the common working man. (1858-1919)
Abraham Lincoln held the nation together during its greatest trial, the Civil War. Lincoln believed his most sacred duty was the preservation of the union. It was his firm conviction that slavery must be abolished. (1809-1865).
Facts and Figures about Mt. Rushmore:
Sculptor: John Gutzon de la Mothe Borglum
Presidents depicted: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln
Height of the faces: 60 feet from chin to forehead (as tall as a 6-floor building)
Width of an eye:11 feet
Elevation of Mt. Rushmore: 5,725 feet
Dates of Construction:From 1927 to 1941
Location:The Black Hills of South Dakota (near Keystone SD)
How many times did you ever say – I can’t wait to grow up and do what I want. Well now that I am older, there are times I say I wish I was a kid again. No responsibilities, no worries, just have fun. Amazing how the tables turn on you. But in all honesty, I rather enjoy being older. For years of life and trials and tribulations brings with it wisdom. Well exactly what is wisdom – Wisdomis a deep understanding of people, things, events or situations, empowering the ability to choose or act to consistently produce the optimum results with a minimum of time and energy. Wisdom is the ability to optimally (effectively and efficiently) apply perceptions and knowledge and so produce the desired results. Wisdom is comprehension of what is true or right coupled with optimum judgment as to action. So, in other words, being able to distinguish right from wrong, good from evil, based on understanding and acting upon that choice.
Confucius stated that wisdom can be learned by three methods: Reflection (the noblest), imitation (the easiest) and experience (the bitterest). Wisdom is not told by self but unless asked for by another. This means a wise man never tells his wisdom unless asked person to person.
Is it possible this is what is wrong with the leadership in America today – Lack of wisdom. We have a lot of knowledge, but that does not necessarily mean with it we also have wisdom. We haven’t learned from our mistakes. Even throughout history mankind has made the same mistakes over and over. Different set of people, but the same mistakes. So why is it so hard to obtain?????? Why don’t we learn from previous generations??? I am beginning to think maybe it boils down to just plain resenting authority????? It stems from the old adage – “Mother Knows Best” or “Father Knows Best” and as kids we automatically reject it. Not realizing that their knowledge and understanding were garnered by life’s experiences and only given to alleviate pain and suffering. I know you are thinking you learn from your mistakes. How true that is, but why hasn’t our leadership learned. History has been proven to repeat itself over and over. Yet we keep right on going down the same railroad track over and over.
Whatever it is, America’s leaders need to re-evaluate their thinking and decide what is right, what is wrong, what is good, what is evil and ACT ACCORDINGLY.
Well it is time for our once a month fun day. Got a famous relative, or just a relative who is famous to you. If you don’t have one – who would you like most to be one of your relatives (this could get funny). Tell us about it, inquiring minds want to know.
A Stumbling Block or a Stepping Stone Author Unknown
Isn’t it strange that Princes and Kings
And clowns who caper in stardust rings,
And common people like you and me
Are builders for eternity?
Each is given a set of tools,
A shapeless mass, and a book of rules,
And each must make, ere life has flown,
A stumbling block or a stepping stone.
Sometimes I feel sorry for kids today–many of them stuck inside glued to a TV or computer screen. We had lots of fun playing games growing up in the 50’s. And it didn’t cost us any money to have loads of enjoyment.
We had a great time for the most part growing up – life was simple and so were the games we played. Most of the time when the weather was good, we were outside playing. In fact my mom would make us go outside. We loved playing hopscotch, marbles, wiffle ball, or Tag. Hide and Seek was another favorite. Of course there was always jump rope too! We had lots of fun seeing who could do the hoola-hoop (or hula-hoop) the longest. I just have one question. When I was little I had the hoola-hoop mastered and could keep it going for minutes. Now that I have hips, I can’t seem to keep a hoola-hoop going for 3 seconds????
For hopscotch, we had no driveway or sidewalk to use chalk to draw the blocks and numbers so we would use a stick and draw it in the dirt. A small stone worked great to toss into the numbered blocks. (I was looking at some pictures of hopscotch online and some were very colorful and decorative—clearly not from the 50’s.)
Marbles was a favorite game also – I wonder what happened to all of the marbles we played with (there are many days when I feel like I’m still losing my marbles – lol). Hard to imagine we used to sit on the ground and draw a circle in the dirt and play marbles—good thing I was a tomboy and didn’t mind getting dirty.
Jump rope was popular too, especially with the girls.
There was always a good game of “Tag – or Freeze Tag too! Where I grew up in Annapolis, there were lots of kids nearby and we would always get together and play a little wiffle ball in the back yard (co-ed of course). My dad would always be the pitcher when he came home from work.
And speaking of my dad, he came home one day with a plastic golf set. He dug a hole in the dirt and buried an empty tuna can in the ground for the hole. It was fun (except when your ball hit the tree roots). He also came home one day with a plastic bowling set and we used to set the pins up in the yard and all of the kids would line up to take a shot and try and get a strike. (Boy these are great memories for me.)
When we were stuck indoors because of the weather or dark, there were plenty of games to play too! Board games like Uncle Wiggly, Candyland, Parchesi and Chinese checkers. Tiddlywinks was also a favorite indoor game as were Pick-up Sticks. My all time favorite indoor game was jacks and if memory serves me, I used to be pretty good at playing jacks. Remember the “slinky” and the slinky dog – we used to go out in the hallway of our house (which was divided into 4 apartments) and climb up the stairs and let the slinky go down the steps.
When the teens rolled around, we enjoyed listening to Rock and Roll music (and dancing), Bill Cosby’s albums, and playing lots of Canasta!
Its fun to look back and think about the simplicity of life in the 50’s (and early 60’s). Of course in the mid to late sixtes the games we played changed for me – to Post Office and Spin the Bottle!!!
For a look at some toys/games from the past – click here:
We all know that with the upset in Massachusetts we have the Democrats blaming the Republicans, and the Republicans blaming the Democrats and everyone else blaming each other. Oh let’s not forget we have “those” who will blame George Bush as well.
Don’t blame the messenger for these unpleasant findings, but the mere sight of someone in an organization blamed for a problem – correctly or not – greatly increases the odds that the blame game will spread like a flu.
So say management and organization experts Nathanael Fast at the University of Southern California and Larissa Tiedens of Stanford University in California. They conducted four different experiments and found blame spreads quickly because it makes people think their self-image is under assault.
Their findings are to be published in the November issue of Journal of Experimental Social Psychology.
“When we see others protecting their egos, we become defensive too,” said Fast, the lead author. “We then try to protect our own self-image by blaming others for our mistakes.” He adds that in the long run, such behavior could hurt one’s reputation and be destructive to an organization and further to our society as a whole.
Tiedens said the study didn’t specifically look at the impact of hard economic times, but it undoubtedly makes the problem worse. “Blaming becomes common when people are worried about their safety in an organization,” she said. “There is likely to be more blaming going on when people feel their jobs are threatened.”
Fast said that when public blaming becomes common practice — especially by leaders — its effects on an organization can be insidious and withering: Individuals who are fearful of being blamed for something become less willing to take risks, are less innovative or creative, and are less likely to learn from their mistakes.
“Blame creates a culture of fear,” Fast said, “and this leads to a host of negative consequences for individuals and for groups.” …
Anyone can become a blamer, Fast said, but there are some common traits. Typically, they are more ego defensive, have a higher likelihood of being narcissistic, and tend to feel chronically insecure.
So why do we pass the buck?? I think it is because people and government refuse to be held accountable for their actions. Therefore, we are always pointing the finger at them. While we can’t control everything that happens in our lives we can take responsibility for our actions. WHAT SAY YOU?????
“I come here to find myself. It is so easy to get lost in the world.” –John Burroughs
PICTURE TAKEN BY RYANSGRAMMY
The Bok Tower with its beautiful gardens is located in central Florida. It sits atop one of the highest points in Florida—Iron Mountain—at approximately 300 feet above sea level. The historic Bok Tower and Gardens, Bok’s gift to the American people, is one of the most beautiful places in Florida and one of the few places that has been left untouched by the march of time and the unchecked growth of Central Florida.
About the Man – Edward W. Bok (now here’s a great story for an American Dream thread)
He was born in The Netherlands and at the age of six immigrated to Brooklyn, New York. As he was about to embark on his journey, his grandmother told him, “Make the world a bit better or more beautiful because you have lived in it.” He always remembered those words.
In 1876, at the age of 13, Bok became an office boy with the Western Union Telegraph Company in 1876. In 1882, he began work with Henry Holt and Company, and then, in 1884, he became involved with Charles Scribner’s Sons, where he eventually became its advertising manager.
He moved to Philadelphia in 1889 and obtained the editorship of Ladies Home Journal, when its founder and editor, Louisa Knapp Curtis, stepped down. The Journal was published by Cyrus Curtis, who had an established publishing empire that included many newspapers and magazines. (Bok married the daughter of Cyrus Curtis, Mary L. Curtis, in 1896.) In 1919, after thirty years at the LHJ, Bok retired.
The Gardens – A Place of Peace
In the early 1920’s Edward Bok was spending his winter months at Mountain Lake Estates, adjacent to the highest hill of Florida’s central ridge – Iron Mountain. He would walk through the hilltop on many evening and enjoy the peaceful scenery. On one of those walks, he decided that he should preserve this area and create a bird sanctuary. He wanted it to be a place of beauty, serenity and peace. We’ve been there a number of times and it achieved Bok’s goals of a peaceful and serene place. It also affords the visitor a beautiful view of the surrounding countryside, including the town of Lake Wales.
CAMELLIA SASANQUA
JACOBINIA MAGNIFICA
Famous landscape architect Frederick Law Olmstead, Jr., was involved in the continuing development of the Mountain Lake community where Bok lived. Bok purchased 14 and ½ acres on top of Iron Mountain, and commissioned Olmstead to change this mountain top into Bok’s vision of beauty.
The meandering gardens of Bok Tower Gardens designed by Frederick Olmstead featured acres of ferns, palms, oaks, pines, and wetland plants. The plantings also include bunya-bunya trees, camellias, tree ferns, creeping fig, yaupon and dahoon holly, Asiatic jasmine, justicia, crinum and spider lily, monstera, wax myrtle, date and sabal palm, papyrus, philodendron, blue plumbago, and horsetail rush (Juncaceae). The site is a refuge for more than a hundred bird species, the most prominently featured of which is the group of swans, who tend to stay near the reflection pool.
The swans used to pretty much keep to themselves and just swim around and look beautiful and pose for wedding pictures (Bok Gardens is a great place to have a wedding). When we visited last year, they had added a machine that dispenses food (for a small fee of course) so that you can feed the swans and the Koi. So I put my quarter in the machine and got a handful of food and went to the edge of the pond. Before I could throw any food, the swan came up and promptly nibbled my toes and I almost fell in because it startled me.
Here’s another interesting story about the beautiful swans at Bok Tower. When Hurricane Charley came through Lake Wales, FL in 2004 (which was the only town in FL that the centers of all three hurricanes – Charley, Frances and Jeanne passed through) the pair of swans got out of the water and took cover in the public restrooms to ride out the storm.
Characteristics of the Tower
Although the gardens were beautiful and fulfilled his desire for a bird and plant sanctuary, Bok decided something was missing – a focal point to the gardens. He thought of his native Holland and remembered the wonderful sound of carillons and decided to build a tower to house such a carillon. He purchased more property on the other side of the mountain to accommodate his new plans and hired fellow Philadelphian, Milton Medary to create a beautiful tower. Medary drew his main inspiration from the Gothic towers and churches of Europe in creating this 205 foot masterpiece for Bok. The outer covering includes beautiful pink marble from Georgia Marble Quarries and Florida coquina rock. A water moat, 15 feet wide was built in English style around the tower with beautiful plantings. Today the moat is filled with Koi (which love to be fed).
The tower has many wonderful characteristics and beautiful sculptural work of birds and flowers . One of the highlights is the brass door which depicts the Book of Genesis, from creation of light to Adam and Eve being ousted from the Garden of Eden. The door along with wrought iron gates on the north side of the Tower were created by Samuel Yellin, America’s premier metal worker.
Another great feature of the tower is a massive sundial on the south side. In order to place the bells inside the tower a huge opening was created. (The bells were brought inside and then hoisted by a specially designed electric crane and then mounted at the top of the tower. The largest bell weighed almost twelve tons so you can imagine this was no easy task.) The unique sundial fills that hole. The gnomon, which indicates time by casting a shadow on the dial face, is made with a bronze rod supported by a bronze snake – the ancient symbol of time. Each hour is marked by a sign of the zodiac.
The Tower and Gardens were dedicated on February 1, 1929 by then president of the United States, Calvin Coolidge. Bok Tower sometimes is called a sanctuary and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as a National Landmark
Viewing, Understanding, Appreciating Bok Singing Tower, by Marion Stephenson
I sat here one morning and realized that America has somewhat succumbed to the mercy of other nations for its products. From clothing, to electronics, to automobiles, to jewelry, to toys and to food. Of course we all realize that we are also dependent on others for our oil as well. WHAT HAPPENED???????? Oh, I know – that is what is known as redistribution of wealth.
I am sure many of you remember the Five and Dime stores. I’m not talking about the so called Five and Dime stores of today, I am talking about the stores that actually sold American domestic products. It was stores like S.H. Kress, F.W. Woolworth, J.J. Newberry and other stores which carried clothes, hardware, candy, toys and household items. The clothing we purchased was made in the USA. To this day I have a Gone With the Wind lamp that was purchased from S.H. Kress by my mother and guess what – Made in the USA. (Note: There is a snap shot of it under my thread “Your Junk is Someone Else’s Treasure” in the slideshow of Dolls.) They also usually had lunch counters in the back of the store. My mother was the manager of such a lunch counter at the local S.H. Kress store here in New Bern. (Made the best patty-melts you ever put in your mouth.) I remember the day the store closed in the 70’s, to me that was the end of an American era.
So after this startling realization, I took a quick look at some of the things I have and found that many were made in Madagaskar, China/Hong Kong, Indonesia, Mexico, Thailand, Honduras, Guatamala, Belize, Taiwan and I could go on and on. It seems to me the low end of manufacturing products has shifted overseas, while the high-end, big-ticket items remains in the US. But let’s face it, the things we use most are on the low end of this spectrum. Don’t think I have a need for a Boeing 757.
With this in mind, I am here today to provide you with sites that will help you to invest our American dollars in America. Save America – RECYCLE YOUR DOLLARS IN AMERICAN PRODUCTS.
This thread is not to change your religious views and is not meant to offend anyone. It is to show that our founding fathers were godly men and who reflected that in the creation of this nation. Read the letters of George Washington, read the Mayflower compact and see for yourself that most of the men who signed the Declaration of Independence were Christians. Our forefathers established the United States of America as “One Nation Under God!”
Our Founders were led by God Almighty to accomplish the establishment of a nation unlike none ever seen before, and likely never to be seen again. In a few short years, young America stunned the world with her productivity, education, and technology, and she continues to lead the world in industry, education, technology, and prosperity.
Founding Fathers Quotes
“The country’s first two presidents, George Washington and John Adams, were firm believers in the importance of religion for republican government.”–official Library of Congress statement
“…both the legislators and the public considered it appropriate
for the national government to promote a nondenominational, nonpolemical Christianity.”–official Library of Congress statement
Here are but a few of famous quotes by some of our founding fathers:
The First Charter of Virginia(granted by King James I, on April 10, 1606)
• We, greatly commending, and graciously accepting of, their Desires for the Furtherance of so noble a Work, which may, by the Providence of Almighty God, hereafter tend to the Glory of his Divine Majesty, in propagating of Christian Religion to such People, as yet live in Darkness and miserable Ignorance of the true Knowledge and Worship of God…
Instructions for the Virginia Colony (1606)
Lastly and chiefly the way to prosper and achieve good success is to make yourselves all of one mind for the good of your country and your own, and to serve and fear God the Giver of all Goodness, for every plantation which our Heavenly Father hath not planted shall be rooted out.
William Bradford:
• wrote that they [the Pilgrims] were seeking:
• 1) “a better, and easier place of living”; and that “the children of the group were being drawn away by evil examples into extravagance and dangerous courses [in Holland]“
• 2) “The great hope, and for the propagating and advancing the gospel of the kingdom of Christ in those remote parts of the world”
The Mayflower Compact (authored by William Bradford) 1620:
“Having undertaken, for the glory of God, and advancement of the Christian faith, and honor of our King and Country, a voyage to plant the first colony in the northern parts of Virginia, do by these presents solemnly and mutually, in the presence of God, and one of another, covenant and combine our selves together…”
John Adams and John Hancock:
We Recognize No Sovereign but God, and no King but Jesus! [April 18, 1775]
John Adams:
“ The general principles upon which the Fathers achieved independence were the general principals of Christianity… I will avow that I believed and now believe that those general principles of Christianity are as eternal and immutable as the existence and attributes of God.”
• “[July 4th] ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty.” –John Adams in a letter written to Abigail on the day the Declaration was approved by Congress
“We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. Avarice, ambition, revenge, or gallantry, would break the strongest cords of our Constitution as a whale goes through a net. Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.” –October 11, 1798
“I have examined all religions, as well as my narrow sphere, my straightened means, and my busy life, would allow; and the result is that the Bible is the best Book in the world. It contains more philosophy than all the libraries I have seen.” December 25, 1813 letter to Thomas Jefferson
“Without Religion this World would be Something not fit to be mentioned in polite Company, I mean Hell.” [John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, April 19, 1817]
Thomas Jefferson:
“ The doctrines of Jesus are simple, and tend to all the happiness of man.”
“Of all the systems of morality, ancient or modern which have come under my observation, none appears to me so pure as that of Jesus.”
“I am a real Christian, that is to say, a disciple of the doctrines of Jesus.”
“God who gave us life gave us liberty. And can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are a gift from God? That they are not to be violated but with His wrath? Indeed I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just, and that His justice cannot sleep forever.” (excerpts are inscribed on the walls of the Jefferson Memorial in the nations capital) [Source: Merrill . D. Peterson, ed., Jefferson Writings, (New York: Literary Classics of the United States, Inc., 1984), Vol. IV, p. 289. From Jefferson’s Notes on the State of Virginia, Query XVIII, 1781.]
George Washington:
Farewell Address: The name of American, which belongs to you, in your national capacity, must always exalt the just pride of Patriotism, more than any appellation derived from local discriminations. With slight shades of difference, you have the same religion” …and later: “…reason and experience both forbid us to expect, that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle…”
“ It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and Bible.”
“What students would learn in American schools above all is the religion of Jesus Christ.” [speech to the Delaware Indian Chiefs May 12, 1779]
“To the distinguished character of patriot, it should be our highest glory to add the more distinguished character of Christian” [May 2, 1778, at Valley Forge]
During his inauguration, Washington took the oath as prescribed by the Constitution but added several religious components to that official ceremony. Before taking his oath of office, he summoned a Bible on which to take the oath, added the words “So help me God!” to the end of the oath, then leaned over and kissed the Bible.
There are so many more wonderful quotes by our founding fathers. Please go to the following link to read more:
On July 4, 1776, Congress appointed Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams “to bring in a device for a seal for the United States of America.” Franklin’s proposal adapted the biblical story of the parting of the Red Sea (left). Jefferson first recommended the “Children of Israel in the Wilderness, led by a Cloud by Day, and a Pillar of Fire by night. . . .” He then embraced Franklin’s proposal and rewrote it (right). Jefferson’s revision of Franklin’s proposal was presented by the committee to Congress on August 20. Although not accepted these drafts reveal the religious temper of the Revolutionary period. Franklin and Jefferson were among the most theologically liberal of the Founders, yet they used biblical imagery for this important task.
How great a privilege it is to be an American! God Bless America!!
I am one of those people who just loves going to yard sales and flea markets. You would be surprised at what you can find at these places. But I have to say I am particular and have gone from place to place only to find NOTHING. But then there are those rare days that you find something that is definitely a “Treasure” to you; such as this rare find. These replicas of old store fronts and barn are solid wood and believe it or not I only paid $20.00 for all three of them.
YARD SALE FIND
My weekend treks to the flea markets and yard sales over the years opened the door to my collecting.
I started collecting bells and Christmas plates from Avon many years ago. My collection of bells got so big, I had to move them to different locations throughout my home. My curio cabinet just got too overloaded.
Bells and Plates
More Bells and Plates
Here are just a few of my most unusual bells:
Unusual Bells
NOTE: TO VIEW DETAIL ON SLIDES – CLICK VIEW ALL IMAGES AND THEN FULL SCREEN
I also collect bears – I started collecting stuffed bears in 1990. I had to quit in 2004 as I was getting so many and they were hard to place.
Then I started collecting bear figurines. I have them mainly for Christmas, Harvest time and Halloween. These are but a few of the larger ones. I have many more that are smaller.
My next quest on collecting was for dolls. Again these are but a few.
I also collect Welcome Signs:
Welcome Signs
Another thing I collect are deer figurines and pictures. Again here are just a few:
And last but not least I collect the Holiday Steins from Budweiser (click on link). I have the entire collection consisting to date of 30 steins. The most expensive one is the 1981 stein, the grand daddy of the holiday series. If you are a Budweiser stein collector, you know how hard this one is to find. Second in the holiday series and absolutely the hardest to find. When I bought it back in 1990 it cost me a whopping $250.00. The story goes that the shipment coming up from Brazil was derailed and they lost almost the entire shipment. So only a few are in existence. While I have found prices that are lower than the $250.00, I have also found prices that were much higher. The problem is finding them. If anyone is interested in these steins I did find a seller on ebay who has the entire collection up through 2006 – re: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120486808055 – VERY GOOD DEAL.
Beer Steins
Beer Steins
More Steins
Oops forgot these. As you can see from the photographs above, I also have a collection of pewter plates entitled the Great American Revolution. I have the entire collection consisting of six plates. Here is one:
The Great American Revolution 1776 Collector Plate
AM I A COLLECTOR OR PACK RAT – My daughter has told me that when I die she will have a HUGE yard sale. She just doesn’t realize she may have a gold mine waiting for her. Maybe one of these days she will see the value of my collections or in her opinion my junk.
WHAT DO YOU COLLECT????????
If you would like Troy or I to do a slideshow or just a picture of your collections – just let us know and you can email your pictures and we will set them up.
Bells, plates, steins, Teddy Bears, watches, clocks, pocket knives, zippo lighters, coins, stamps, guns, baseball cards, comic books, paintings, literature and art, you name it and someone collects it; even quilts and BLANKETS!
The Statue of Liberty celebrated her 100th birthday on October 28, 1986. A gift from the people of France in 1886 in recognition of the friendship established during the American Revolution, her official name is “Liberty Enlightening the World.”
Sculptor Frederic Auguste Bartholdi was commissioned to design a sculpture to commemorate the centennial of the American Declaration of Independence. He was inspired to create a colossal statue one day after visiting Egypt and witnessing the construction of the Suez Canal.
The Statue was a joint effort between America and France and it was agreed upon that the American people were to build the pedestal, and the French people were responsible for the Statue and its assembly here in the United States. However, lack of funds was a problem on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean. In France, public fees, various forms of entertainment, and a lottery were among the methods used to raise funds. In the United States, benefit theatrical events, art exhibitions, auctions and prize fights assisted in providing needed funds.
Meanwhile in France, Bartholdi required the assistance of an engineer to address structural issues associated with designing such a colossal copper sculpture. Alexandre Gustave Eiffel (designer of the Eiffel Tower) was commissioned to design the massive iron pylon and secondary skeletal framework which allows the Statue’s copper skin to move independently yet stand.
Transporting Her to the United States
The Statue was completed in France in July, 1884 and arrived in New York Harbor in June of 1885. The French frigate “Isere” transported the Statue of Liberty from France to the United States. Lady Liberty was reduced to 350 individual pieces and packed in 214 crates for her voyage across the Atlantic. The Statue was re-assembled on her new pedestal in four months time.
A Pedestal Fit for a Lady
France would provide the statue but America had to construct and pay for the pedestal. Things were moving slowly on that part of the project as many Americans were skeptical about this statue. In September 1876, a committee was appointed by the famous Union League Club, in New York, with John Jay as its chairman, to secure funds for the pedestal. A similar committee was established in Philadelphia. Public apathy continued and there were those who still skeptics. Some believed that the colossal statue would not be completed, others felt that the statue was strictly a New York City project, and then there were suspicions about the implications of such an international gift. Needless to say, there were also disagreements about its location.
The American press continued to be critical of the project and its cost. (Too bad we don’t have those press people in the U.S. anymore!!!) There was specific criticism about the fact that the pedestal cost as much as the statue itself. The year 1876 came to a close with no material accomplishment, despite the arrival in August 1876 of the completed right arm and torch at the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia. There were 9,000,000 visitors to the Exposition, and many paid a $.50 fee to climb a steel ladder leading to the balcony surrounding the torch, 32 feet above the ground. This popular experience demonstrated that Liberty would be the first statue into which one could climb. Following the Fair later that year, the same exhibit was transferred to the Fifth Avenue side of Madison Square in New York City.
Statue of Liberty Committee Established
Upon the call of William M. Evarts, S. D. Babcock, William, H. Appleton, John Jay, W. H. Wickham and Richard Butler, a meeting was held at the Century Club, in New York, in January 1877, and a permanent committee, consisting of Messrs. William M. Evarts, Chairman, Henry F. Spaulding, Treasurer, J. V. Mumford Moore, Joseph W. Drexel, Parke Godwin, J. W. Pinchot, Frederick Potts, and Richard Butler, Secretary, was formed, calling itself “The American Committee of the Statue of Liberty”.
With a membership of 114 at first, it soon grew to include some 402 gentlemen, prominent in different professions and different parts of the country. A sub-committee of this general committee, consisting of William M. Evarts, the late ex-governor Morgan, Parke Godwin, Clark Bell, and J. W. Pinchot, was charged with the duty of procuring the necessary legislation, and obtained from Congress, on the recommendation of President Hayes, the passage of a resolution on 22 February, 1877, providing for the acceptance of the colossal statue, its future maintenance as a beacon. and the designation of either Governor’s or Bedloe’s Island, in New York Harbor, as its site.
President Hayes authorized General Sherman to select the site. With encouragement from the committee, who were aware of Barlholdi’s preference, Sherman designated Bedloe’s Island.
Mr. Richard M. Hunt was appointed Architect of the Pedestal by the committee. General Charles P. Stone, formerly of the United States Army, was appointed Engineer-in-Chief responsible for the task of managing the interior of the statue and designing a proper foundation.
Still, there was a lack of enthusiasm, made worse when the committee realized that the cost would be more than twice the original estimate. From 1877 to 1881 little progress was made. The majority of the press was hostile, and the people took the attitude that they should not be called upon to finance the construction of “New York’s Lighthouse.”
Joseph Pulitzer (noted for the Pulitzer Prize) opened up the editorial pages of his newspaper, “The World” to support the fund raising effort. Pulitzer used his newspaper to criticize both the rich who had failed to finance the pedestal construction and the middle class who were content to rely upon the wealthy to provide the funds. Pulitzer’s campaign of harsh criticism was successful in motivating the people of America to donate and the pedestal was finished in April of 1886.
The Dedication of a Great Lady
On October 28th 1886, the dedication of the Statue of Liberty took place in front of thousands of spectators. She was a centennial gift ten years late.
The New Colossus
Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame,
"Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she
With silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore,
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"
by Emma Lazarus, New York City, 1883
She’s a High Maintenance Girl – But She’s Worth Every Penny
The story of the Statue of Liberty and her island has been one of change. The Statue was placed upon a granite pedestal inside the courtyard of the star-shaped walls of Fort Wood (which had been completed for the War of 1812.) The United States Lighthouse Board had responsibility for the operation of the Statue of Liberty until 1901. After 1901, the care and operation of the Statue was placed under the War Department. A Presidential Proclamation declared Fort Wood (and the Statue of Liberty within it) a National Monument on October 15th, 1924 and the monument’s boundary was set at the outer edge of Fort Wood. In 1933, the care and administration of the National Monument was transferred to the National Park Service. On September 7, 1937, jurisdiction was enlarged to encompass all of Bedloe’s Island and in 1956, the island’s name was changed to Liberty Island. On May 11, 1965, Ellis Island was also transferred to the National Park Service and became part of the Statue of Liberty National Monument. In May of 1982, President Ronald Reagan appointed Lee Iacocca to head up a private sector effort to restore the Statue of Liberty.
Fundraising began for the $87 million restoration under a public/private partnership between the National Park Service and The Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation, Inc., to date the most successful public-private partnership in American history. In 1984, at the start of the Statue’s restoration, the United Nations designated the Statue of Liberty as a World Heritage Site. On July 5, 1986 the newly restored Statue re-opened to the public during Liberty Weekend, which celebrated her centennial.
Terrorism Shuts Off Access to the Statue
Following the horrific attacks of September 11, 2001, Liberty Island was closed to the public. The Island was open again to tourism on December 20, 2001, but the Statue remained closed. The National Park Service began assessing the safety and security features and recommended a number of improvements following the attacks of 9/11. The Statue remained closed until these improvements were made and reopened to the public in the summer of 2004. Liberty’s Crown, however, remained closed until July 4, 2009. (When we visited NYC in early December our grandson wanted to go up in the crown of the statue. We tried to book the tour of the crown in mid-November and the earliest available time was in January 2010 so we’ll have to save that for another trip.)
Courtesy of the National Park Service
Interesting Facts about the Statue
Index finger: 8′ 0″ (2.44m)
Circumference at second joint: 3′ 6″ (1.07m)
Size of fingernail: 13″x10″ (33×25.4cm)
Weight of fingernail: About 3.5 pounds. (1.5 kg)
Head from chin to cranium: 17′ 3″ (5.26m)
Head thickness from ear to ear: 10′ 0″ (3.05m)
Distance across the eye: 2′ 6″ ( .76m)
A very special “Thanks” to ryansgrammy for another outstanding post. A lot of hard work has gone into this post and you are to be commended for your contributions to this blog and your patriotism to this country.
by the famous Union League Club, in New York, with John Jay as its chairman, to secure funds for the pedestal. A similar committee was established in Philadelphia. Public apathy continued and there were those who still skeptics. Some believed that the colossal statue would not be completed, others felt that the statue was strictly a New York City project, and then there were suspicions about the implications of such an international gift. Needless to say, there were also disagreements about its location.
