123 John Brown connections

John Brown--Interesting Connections

I am so immersed in the Civil War that every once in a while I have to write about it! Right now I am doing research on Judge Richard Parker, who was the judge at John Brown's trial.

Quick Historical Recap: On October 16, 1859, John Brown with a force of about 20 men seized the federal arsenal at Harper's Ferry, VA; took several hostages with their slaves into the fire-engine house of the arsenal; and killed several people in their attempt to start a slave insurrection.  

Interesting Connections
Yes, Harper's Ferry was in Virginia. West Virginia became a separate state in June 20, 1863 during the Civil War.

The first man killed by Brown's men was a free black man, Heyward Shepherd, the railroad station baggage handler. Shepherd lived in Winchester with his wife and eight children. According the Shenandoah Valley Battlefield's website: "News of Shepherd’s death at the hands of John Brown’s raiders infuriated many of Winchester’s townspeople. The town’s inhabitants organized a special relief fund for the care of Shepherd’s family. Militia troops and citizens of Winchester accompanied Shepherd’s body to its final resting place in the colored cemetery on the outskirts of Winchester."

Lee in the early 1850s

Townspeople and local militia forces held Brown, his men, and the hostages under siege in the engine house until a federal force led by Robert E. Lee arrived and attacked the building on October 18. Lee happened to be on leave from the federal army in Texas and at home in Arlington when Lt. J.E.B. Stuart brought him a message to appear at the War Department in Washington immediately. Stuart just happened to be at the War Department when the news of Brown's raid arrived. He accompanied Lee to Harper's Ferry.




Judge Richard Parker lived in Winchester and Clarke County.  He rode the judicial circuit that included Jefferson County, Virginia. The circuit court opened October 20, 1859, in Charlestown, the county seat, which is where Brown and his men were tried with Parker presiding. 

Parker inherited the Retreat at Cool Spring in Clarke County from his father Richard E. Parker. Although the building the Retreat is privately owned, Shenandoah University now owns the adjacent River Campus at Cool Spring where the university preserves the Civil War heritage of the campus and has trails open to the public as well as being a living classroom for SU students.

Parker's wife, Evelina T. Moss Parker, inherited a house at 307 Washington Street that was built by Judge Hugh Holmes sometime in the 1790s. The house occupied an entire block, bounded by Washington, Stewart, Clifford, and Cecil streets. It was demolished sometime in the 1920s. Parker told a reporter that the house was built from designs from Thomas Jefferson and was a twin to one in Staunton built by Archibald Stuart, whose wife was the sister of Hugh Holmes (Eleanor and Elizabeth Briscoe, respectively). The description of the Holmes house is very similar to that of the Stuart house that is still standing. However, the experts say the house does not resemble any work by Jefferson and was not built from his plans.

Brown's trial began October 27, 1859. He was found guilty on October 31, sentenced on November 2, and hung Dec. 2. Parker was criticized for rushing the trial, but also for allowing a month to elapse between sentencing and hanging. He states that he did not want Virginia justice to be criticized, but also there were fears that individuals from the North might come to try to free Brown and continue his insurrection. 

Modern day historians feel that Parker gave Brown more latitude to speak during the trial than was legally necessary. Brown's impassioned speeches in the courtroom and his letters and interviews with the press during the time between sentencing and execution greatly contributed to a change in attitude among many Northerners. They no longer saw him as a fanatic criminal but as a martyr. Brown told his supporters, "I am worth inconceivably more to hang than for any other purpose," and his spent the last month making certain of his legacy.

The 1st Virginia Regiment, from Richmond, was among the troops sent to maintain peace at Brown's execution. One temporary member of the regiment who witnessed the hanging was future Lincoln assassin, John Wilkes Booth. The 1860 photo of Booth to the left is from the Library of Congress: http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/pp.print




As he was being led from his cell to the gallows, Brown handed a note to his jailer, "I John Brown am now quite certain that the crimes of this guilty land would never purged away; but with Blood. I had as I now think, vainly flattered myself that without very much bloodshed; it might be done."

Trish       

122 T-Day Fun +/- Facts

THANKSGIVING Fun (and not-so-fun) Facts 

Here we are – gearing up for another holiday. Seems to me that it is no wonder people gain weight in the fall and winter. We’ve just finished off the Halloween candy.

Now we are preparing for Thanksgiving – turkey with all the high carb and high fat content that tastes so good! According to the Calorie Control Council, a
typical Thanksgiving meal has about 4500 calories! 

Yep! Two to three days’ worth of calories in one meal. That Campbell’s recipe for green bean casserole accounts for only 150 calories of the total. This is a not-so-fun fact I almost wish I didn’t know.

And with Christmas holidays only one month away, the calorie count continues upward. [I love holiday cookies!!] BUT it’s all okay: walking 45 miles will get rid of the 4500 calories. Un-huh!!!

If one does not like to cook and is alone with a super big screen TV for all the football games, a Swanson turkey TV dinner may still suffice. First put on the market in 1954, the tray had turkey, stuffing, peas, and sweet potatoes. Swanson came up with the idea when the company found they could purchase surplus frozen turkeys at a good price. The retail cost was 98 cents.

Fun fact: Since 1934, the Detroit Lions always play on Thanksgiving. This year the game against the Vikings starts at 12:30.

Another fun fact - one that surprised me: Thanksgiving eve is the biggest bar night sales of the year. Yes, more than New Year’s Eve. Pundits think perhaps it is because there is no high priced New Year’s Eve cover charge and that many college aged folks want to meet up with their old friends when they come home for the holiday. 

Just a fact: The first Macy’s Day Parade (originally called the Thanksgiving Parade) was in 1924. Along with a few floats and balloons, live animals from the Central Park Zoo were the featured. The estimated crowd was 250,000.


Fun fact: There are about 250 million turkeys raised annually in the U.S. (For comparison the U.S. population is approximately 325 million.)
Not-so-fun fact: Thanksgiving was planned as a fast, not a feast. The early settlers gave thanks by praying and abstaining from food. That is, until the Wampanoag Indians joined them for a three-day feast. History says there were 50 male Pilgrims, 90 Indians, and, perhaps, five women at the 1621 meal. The feast included NO turkey – no mashed potatoes, no corn. The menu included venison, duck, geese, oysters, and eel. Pumpkins and cranberries – but not sweetened and not in pie! Also remember that the fork did not become popular in the mid-1700s, so fingers, knives, and a few spoons were the utensils.

Fun historical facts:

· Benjamin Franklin wanted the turkey to be the national bird, not the eagle

· George Washington issued the first national Thanksgiving Day proclamation in 1789.

· Abraham Lincoln issued a Thanksgiving Proclamation in 1863 setting the last
Thursday in November as the national day.

· Franklin D. Roosevelt moved Thanksgiving a week earlier to make the Christmas shopping season longer and stimulate the poor economy of 1939.

· Congress passed an official proclamation in 1941 declaring that Thanksgiving would always be celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November.

· The President, each year since 1947, has pardoned a turkey and spares its life. One of the recent turkeys was flown to Disneyland and was grand marshal of the park’s Thanksgiving parade.

And now some fun cartoons for Thanksgiving!

Happy and safe

Thanksgiving to all!

                                        Glenne

121 Alluring waterfalls

The allure of waterfalls

Waterfalls have a magical appeal that draw people from far away or close by to the bubbling, majestic cascade trickling down the mountainside. There is something so therapeutic about the sounds and vision of this flowing water. It soothes the soul as well as makes a visual impact on our senses.

We still have time to feast on these wondrous visions even though we are in the middle of the autumn season. But one of the bonuses at this time is the beautiful colors we can see as the trees give way to winter and drop their vibrant leaves. Also, Thanksgiving feasts await at lodges along the park but reservations are a must.

Getting close to one of these amazing sites is not difficult in this area of the Shenandoah Valley. But if you can’t make it this fall, put it on your list for sure for spring or summer. The attraction will not diminish for sure!

Overall Run Falls in the Shenandoah National Park is one of nine major waterfalls in the park and is the tallest. It is the first to dry up in the summer since it is fed by a small stream, but the views of the wilderness are still an attraction for this trail. Plus, views of the Shenandoah Valley and Massanutten Mountain are a bonus.

Another popular waterfall hike in the park is Whiteoak Canyon. The Skyline Drive Trailhead for this hike is at mile 42.6 near Skyland. This trail has a series of six waterfalls, with the uppermost fall being the highest at 86 feet. The lower falls is about a one mile hike. The upper falls is a much longer and steeper hike. Both offer water pools and beautiful cascades along the trail.

Hikers can traverse along side the waterfall for many miles, taking in the views, resting on the rocks, or slowly manipulating the journey of sounds that cascade down the beautiful terrain.

Hikes to the Overall Run Falls can be varied depending on the walkers preference of difficult or easy treks in the woods. The trailhead is located in the North District at mile 21.1 on Skyline Drive. There are two hikes that can be accessed at this spot – Overall Run Falls and Traces Trail. 

Waterfalls have a reputation of being therapeutic — balm for the eyes and sound for the ears and cooling temperatures in summer, and these waterfalls in the Shenandoah National Park will not disappoint.

Walkers must be cognizant of the type of terrain, wearing appropriate gear. Walking sticks are also recommended for climbing ease as well as downhill treks. Even though there is plenty of water in the falls, hikers should take a supply of drinking water as well as snacks to sustain the walk whether short or long.

Getting an early start in the morning is a good idea so daylight assists in finding the trails marked by colorful blaze signs often on trees and sometimes on rocks. Taking it slow and easy is totally up to the walker who may want to soak in all that nature has to offer while others appear to be in a hurry to finish or stop at the top. It is truly a personal preference.

There is a fee to enter the park but there are many options for a day pass or year pass. It is up to individuals to decide which is the best for them. Senior citizens are rewarded with a lifetime pass for $10, and most take advantage of this rate.

Be prepared before you take off to find the waterfalls with food and water supplies, walking gear, insect spray, and anything else that will make you more comfortable. Just don’t get bogged down with stuff that could be left in the car. Read up at nps.gov/shen and virginia.org.

Waterfall Savvy Frances

120 Road trip!

Road Trip!

Harry and I are living proof that opposites attract and nothing proves it more than a Road Trip!

With many, many trips to visit relatives, vacations, and other long automobile journeys, we have rubbed together to create acceptable travel compromises.  

The latest development is that one of us drives while the other sits in the back seat with our dog Tootsie. This is just to keep her happy--she loves company. It is hard to help with navigation from the back. Harry still manages to criticize my driving while sitting with Tootsie. He is supposed to be sleeping so he can take over the driving revived and refreshed but he often seems too nervous to nap.

We travel with no radio, no books on tape. When I travel alone, there is always music, news or a book playing. Singing along is a great way for me to stay awake! Harry says the radio makes him lose concentration on the road and my books on tape choices make him sleepy.

When we were first married, I was convinced he had an iron bladder and had to beg for rest stops. Now we seem more equal and Tootsie also needs plenty of stops.

Speaking of stops, there are so many things to lure you to pause--interesting local restaurants, outlet malls, cute antique stores, state parks, local tourism attractions. We stop for NOTHING. I have given up suggesting a stop. We do pause to get Subway sandwiches and then eat them in the car while driving, again not my choice.

One thing that keeps Harry on the road without pause is continuous eating--fruit, nuts, diet sodas, fruit bars, crackers and more.  He does try to eat healthy but the car looks like a garbage dump!

We both seem to get sleepy at the same time. We often stop and walk around for a while. I also try to get Harry to talk about something that really interests him as a way to stay alert. One time we got into a fascinating discussion of family history. I did not realize the more interested he became in the topic, the faster he drove--until we were stopped for speeding!

We frequently travel to Florida. Harry knows how many miles we travel in each state. I am just happy if we are traveling in the direction where the mile markers go from the high to zero so I can see how far to the state border. 

I do read every advertising sign, every license plate that I can see, every truck company and location, every river and creek sign, and so on. When I pointed out the many signs from a canned vegetable company along part of the route, Harry had not noticed. I loved those old Burma-Shave signs but HATE Pedro and South of the Border! However, their signs give a good count to the border from either direction!

Anyway, we both concentrate on being safe on the highway even if we disagree on the ways and means!