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J is for JOURNAL
Many years ago I was involved with a group which was pioneering the concept of *healing* using the Expressive Arts. All of us were eventually certified and a lot of our work was featured in some of the first books published on the process*.
It was a very exciting time of my life for bonding and healing.
One of the sayings I coined was:
"Trust the Abstract; Things happen there"
~Antoinette Ledzian~
. . . so I was touched when my husband included that in his flip-flip rolodex, along with a calligraphic stroke I had given to him!
Eventually I got trademarked as "The Journal Lady®"
and the rest is history . . . always ongoing . . .
Post Script for the BCD Just Jigsaws Group:
Here are two photos from the Second Wooden Mystery Group Project. - the start and the end. You may have heard me talk about it, and I wrote about the first one in the BCD magazine. Genest does large jigsaws too!
Detail of Annunciation c1469 by Francesca del Cossa, in an extreme line-cut jigsaw made by Genest Desfosses, Le Colimacon.
At face value an Annunciation scene set in an open logia, the complex architectural setting is not quite real, but a trompe l'oeil with deliberate logical flaws. The column base is away from the wall although the capital is against the wall, supporting a ceiling beam. The Virgin's room is too shallow for all the furniture, there is something wrong with the views of arcade vaulting.The snail is huge but the dog is tiny. After I finished the jigsaw we did an internet search on 'annunciation pillar snail' and came up with the identity of the painting, at Dresden - see below. It also brought up a reference on 'goodreads' to a novel and an essay by art academic Daniel Arasse. The presence of the snail is undoubtably what attracted Genest to the painting - as it is his trademark figural piece (see column).
Here is a link discussing Arasse's essay (The Snail’s Gaze, and Secrets de Peintres in “Histoires de Peintres”) and interpretation of the symbolism of the (outsize) snail which crawls in/along the edge of the painting.
retinalechoes.wordpress.com/2013/02/07/the-snails-duality/
"Arasse interprets how this duality of the Snail’s presence both in and on the painting draws our regard into the depiction, by pointing to its artifice. The Snail, incongruous by both its presence and size, is simultaneously real and irreal, drawing the viewer into its embrace, and in this intimacy whispers to its viewer the secrets of its inadequacy. ‘Who am I,’ asks the painting, ‘belonging to this material world to attempt to ever represent the conception of the Son of God?’"
(The goodreads review pointed out the diagonal axes in the painting linking the outsize snail, pillar/Gabriel's hand and God (strangely snail shaped) in the sky. It also pointed out the parallel elements of Gabriel's foot, halo, wings and pointing arm, building struts and column tops. Retinale also reminds us of the contemporary third story of the eighth day Boccaccio'd Decameron, a tale of three medieval Florentine painters one of whom is credulously tempted by a confidence trickster and whose fellows remind him of the reality of their situation as painters. "Boccaccio’s mischievous tone presenting the image of the Snail as a metaphor for the painter who does little more than “smear a trail of slime across a wall” adds a second, more impious interpretation of the lowly gastropod to modify Arasse’s humble, celestial Snail.")
Retinale continues, "For Arasse, the Snail in Francesco del Cossa’s Annunciation painting “leads us to understand that this painting is itself a poor, inevitably inadequate representation of the event it represents.” Bocaccio’s metaphor adds a second, alternative perspective – the Snail is not simply the figure of painting’s inadequacy, it is also a sign of the painter’s supremacy.
The painter, lowly mortal though he may be, is nonetheless tasked with creating the infinite. As a painter of holy images, his daily task is to represent the unrepresentable by dealing with this creation quotidianly. It is not enough for the religious painter to passively await God’s inspiration, for he must also calculate ratios of dyes, formulate new compositions, figure costs, and select brushes, all to create an icon which will eventually be vested with sanctity. Pointing out painting’s artifice opens the door not only to a pious interpretation but also to an impious one, illustrating the painter’s unique position between the Infinite and the Void.
Although Francesco del Cossa’s Snail is most certainly on the painting, as a painted figure it still never ceases to be in the painting. Its body remains constituted of tints, and not of blood. Here is the source of the Snail’s duality – the Snail is composed from the same matter which one uses to compose images of the Lord. The Snail’s painted representation indicates an existence in the artificial world of painting, and its size indicates its existence in this material plane – granting the Snail a duality of spirit and flesh much like that of the Son of God.
The Snail which granted access into the painting, now also provides an exit out of it, doubling the Snail’s significance. Although the Snail might be the mundane which grants access to the heavenly realm, it is also the celestial brought down to the level of the gastropodal. The Snail is more than “painting which cannot represent” but it is also “the painter who must represent” by smearing his trail of slime behind.
The Snail becomes the dual figure of humility/pride, creature/creator that embodies every painter of holy images. And who knows? Perhaps this was Francesco del Cossa’s way of painting his autoportrait into the painting, as the lowly servant and powerful creator, and it is his head peeping out from beneath the shell?"
Another theory about the snail (from a Christian commentator, not convinced by this one):
"The snail was thought to live underground in the dark in its shell for three months of the year when it would re-emerge. If this makes you think of the time Christ spent in the tomb, you have solved the riddle. Many of the extra items in these paintings hint at the end of Christ's time on earth, even as His time in human flesh is just beginning."
Gresham College Lecture, 2014 Steve Jones Genetics Professor - Art of Snails & Snails in Art:
"... medieval painters included them in paintings of the Virgin Mary, due to the belief that their shells meant that their modesty was protected and they reproduced without sex."
www.gresham.ac.uk/lectures-and-events/snails-in-art-and-t...
Manhattan, NY (settled 1624, pop. 1.6MM) • East Village
• Grace Episcopal Church • French Gothic Revival design by 25 yr. old James Renwick, Jr. (1818-1895), his first major commission • cornerstone laid, 1843 • church consecrated, 1846 • church history
• built of “Sing Sing marble,” actually Tuckahoe Marble quarried from the Sing Sing Quarry [photo] by Sing Sing Correctional Facility prisoners
• spire, 226’ high, was among the tallest points on the early NYC skyline • originally wood, was replaced by a marble spire, 1883
• situated in one of the most visible locations in Manhattan, the corner of East 10th St. where Broadway bends S/SE, aligning w/ the city’s avenues [c. 1900 photo]
• for much of the mid/late 19th C., considered NYC’s most fashionable church & most prestigious site for marriage or burial • like many other churches, charged “pew rents,” an annual fee for the use of its seats • initial pew rents were $3/wk. (= $114 today), thus the congregation in the early years consisted largely of wealthy New Yorkers [1918 video]
“In his 1882 New York by Gaslight, author James, D. McCabe, Jr. would point out, “At the morning service a greater display of wealth and fashion is presented here than at any other city church. Grace Church has been the scene of more fashionable weddings and funerals than any other place of worship.” —Daytonian in Manhattan
• on 10 Feb, 1863, the American Civil War was raging, demonstrations, protesting the country’s first military draft were on the verge of becoming full-blown draft riots, and a widely anticipated event took place in Grace Church; Charles Sherwood Stratton (1838-1883) — a wealthy, international celebrity better known as General Tom Thumb — and Mercy Lavinia Warren (1841-1919) exchanged wedding vows • both were proportionate dwarfs in the employ of P.T. Barnum, performers at his American Museum
• Stratton was a gifted entertainer who sang, danced & performed physical comedy, stage name taken from “The History of Tom Thumbe,” a story first published in 1621, attributed to London romance writer Richard Johnson (1573–c.1659) • Lavinia began her career performing on a river boat, signed w/Barnum, age 21
“The church was comfortably filled by a highly select audience of ladies and gentlemen, none being admitted except those having cards of invitation. Among them were governors of several of the States, to whom I had sent cards, and such of those as could not be present in person were represented by friends, to whom they had given their cards. Members of Congress were present, also generals of the army, and many other prominent public men. Numerous applications were made from wealthy and distinguished persons, for tickets to witness the ceremony, and as high as sixty dollars [= $1,400 today] was offered for a single admission. But not a ticket was sold; and Tom Thumb and Lavinia Warren were pronounced ‘man and wife’ before witnesses.” —P.T. Barnum, “Struggles and Triumphs”
• the Brooklyn Eagle editorialized, “We are surprised that the clergy, or representatives of so respectable a body as the Episcopal Church should, for a moment, allow themselves to be used by this Yankee showman to advertise his business”
• amid widespread criticism of the church for it’s complicity in what was widely viewed as another Barnum publicity stunt, Stratton responded, “It is true we are little but we are as God made us, perfect in our littleness. We are simply man and woman of like passions and infirmities with you and other mortals. The arrangements for our marriage are controlled by no showman.”
“The more than 2,000 invited wedding guests [photo] appeared to be a who’s who of American nobility, including a number of congressmen and high-ranking generals, in addition to the thousands of average New Yorkers who showed up hoping to catch a glimpse of the famous tiny couple.” —A General, a Queen and the President
“The wedding party’s arrival outside the church at half past noon touched off a stampede among combatants fighting for a close-up view. The police restrained them only with extreme exertion. Inside, ‘an instantaneous uprising ensued,’ The New York Times reported the following day. ‘All looked, few saw. Many stood upon the seats, others stood upon stools placed on the seats. By many, good breeding was forgotten. By very many the sanctity of the occasion and the sacredness of the ceremonies were entirely ignored. As the little party toddled up the aisle, a sense of the ludicrous seemed to hit many a bump of fun, and irrepressible and unpleasantly audible giggles ran through the church.’” —Boundary Stones
• the couple received wedding presents from wealthy Americans, including a miniature horse-drawn carriage fashioned by Tiffany & Co. • the ceremony, officiated by Stratton’s hometown minister, Junius Willey, was followed by a reception at the Metropolitan Hotel, attended by guests who had purchased tickets from Barnum
• the newlyweds [illustration] then traveled to Washington where Charles’s brother was stationed w/ the Union Army • checked in to Willard’s Hotel
• on 13 Feb, 1863, a well-publicized reception for the couple was held in the East Room of the Lincoln White House, hosted by First Lady Mary Todd Lincoln & America’s tallest president [illustration] —Andrew Martin
Livinia Warren: “[The] President took our hands and led us to the sofa, lifting the General up and placed him at his left hand, while Mrs. Lincoln did the same serve for me, placing me at her right… Tad, the favorite son, stood beside his mother and gazing at me… whispered to his mother, ‘Mother if you were a little woman like Mrs. Stratton you would look just like her.'”
“The marriage of Gen. Tom Thumb cannot be treated as an affair of no moment -- in some respects it is most momentous. Next to LOUIS NAPOLEON, there is no one person better known by reputation to high and low, rich and poor, than he…
“Those who did and those who did not attend the wedding of Gen. Thomas Thumb and Queen composed the population of this great Metropolis yesterday, and thenceforth religious and civil parties sink into comparative insignificance before this one arbitrating query of fate -- Did you or did you not see Tom Thumb married?” —NYT 22 Feb, 1863
• Stratton retired wealthy • couple lived in a Bridgeport, CT mansion, owned a yacht, a summer home in Massachusetts [photo] and a custom-built cottage on Cut in Two Island East in Connecticut’s Thimble Islands • in 1855, when bad investments forced Barnum to file for bankruptcy, Stratton provided financial assistance d& became Barnum’s business partner
• 28 yrs. later, Charles died of a stroke • the couple’s lavish lifestyle had reduced their wealth but enough remained to support Lavinia’s retirement • chose instead to return to the stage, used the stage name “Mrs. Tom Thumb” & assembled a troupe of touring “Liliputians”
• married Italian proportionate dwarf Count primo Magri (1849-1920), who, with his brother, joined the troupe • Count & Countess [photo] lived in Middleborough, MA, • summers, operated a roadside general store for auto tourists called Primo’s Pastime, where they posed for photos w/customers —Atlas Obscura
• the Mrs. Tom Thumb company toured the country [photo], garnering favorable reviews, e.g., “The entertainment given by the Mrs. Tom Thumb Company Saturday was really a fine thing. The little people cannot help being interesting and the tricks of magic were also good, as were the music and trained birds, but the suspension in mid- air of the little countess and change of character was the best thing of the kind ever seen here,” —Newburyport (MA) Herald following a 2 July, 1889 performance at the Exeter (NH) Opera House
• shortly after Stratton’s death, theaters began staging re-enactments of the couple's nuptials • “Tom Thumb weddings,” aka "miniature weddings, became a fad in the 1890s-1900s and continued to be staged by churches, community organizations and charities well into the late 20th C., mainly as fundraisers [photo]
• Grace Church is a National Historic Landmark designated for its architectural significance and place within the history of New York City, and the entire complex is a New York City landmark • one of seven New York City buildings designated by the Municipal Art Society as being of national importance, to be preserved at all costs
designations:
NY Landmarks Preservation Commission:
• church & rectory landmarked, 1966
• Fourth Avenue church houses landmarked, 1977
National Register of Historic Places:
• church & dependencies, # 74001270, 1974
• national historic landmark, 197
Marking my page in a great book, The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek
This is a beautiful historical literary piece! Well worth the read and reread! And here is my review for GoodReads:
The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek will takes readers hiking the trails of the Appalachian Mountains. But in 1935, you might have been brave to do so as this was a much oppressed area during the Great Depression. President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal in 1935 created the Works Progress Administration (WPA) bringing literacy to an impoverished area and providing work for women. Thus, the Pack-Horse Librarians Project was born!
The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek is a “footprint in literary history” says its author, Kim Michele Richardson. This 30’s-40’s piece of historical fiction is a vivid sketch of the fierce but faithful librarians ‘fully packed’ with specially chosen books, magazines, newspapers, and hand-crafted scrapbooks ready for delivery to isolated Kentuckians. This story is also a tribute to the horses, mules, and canoes that faithfully carried the book-women through all kinds of weather conditions and over rough terrains. She also weaves into this story a loving look at the blue-skinned residents (a medical condition called methemoglobinemia) of Kentucky and the hardships they experiences in their struggles for human rights and dignity.
Historical pictures, notes, and author’s interview at the end of the book state that the pack-horse librarians delivered 3,548 books monthly! Wow!!!
Kim Michele Richardson gives readers a parallel look at the beauty of the mountains and the brutality of poverty on the people of Kentucky, living in extreme poverty. She writes from the heart as she grew up in an orphanage and in foster care in Kentucky. Hers is a sincere storytelling that is masterful.
Such an excellent read! I would give this book a triple 5 stars!
• aka Hindu Palace, a private residence designed by Miami Beach architect August Geiger (1887-1968) • known for his Mediterranean Revival-style buildings & his projects w/ "Mr. Miami Beach," Carl Fisher • later the Dade County School Board architect
• the building's design was loosely based on a temporary set built for the motion picture Lucky Charm • the film, said to be one of the first shot in Miami, was produced by Fox, directed by Richard Stanton & starred William Farnum & Anna Luther
• part of the movie was shot at Spring Garden, a new residential development on the north bank of the Miami River • advertised as "the most exclusive subdivision in Miami" (and now the oldest on the river) • lot sales continued during the filming
• Spring Garden developer John Seybold (1872-1940), an immigrant from Germany, was a prominent Miami baker & businessman • knowing the publicity value of a Hollywood movie shooting in a small town of ~30,000 residents, he ran an ad in the Miami Metropolis inviting the public to visit the shoot (and hopefully check out the lots for sale) • a large crowd arrived & was horrified as the leading man, Farnum, narrowly escaped immolation when a grass hut collapsed in flames • the movie, now considered lost, was released in 1919 as The Jungle Trail
• after the shoot, with the film's large temple set still fresh in the town's collective memory, Seybold built this permanent version beside the Seybold Canal turning basin, where the temporary one had stood • the exotic new residence became a Spring Garden landmark, its signature cupolas soon echoed by the nearby 12th Ave. bridge tender houses
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• When Seybold purchased the Spring Garden property in 1913, it already had a colorful history • from the late 1890s to the early yrs. of the 20th c., the point at the junction of the Miami River & Wagner Creek – now Spring Garden Point Park — was the site of Alligator Joe's Crocodile and Alligator Farm, a tourist attraction owned by Warren Frazee (1873-1915), aka Alligator Joe • his main business was shipping animal hides & eggs to U.S. markets, e.g., 600 alligator hides & 2,892 alligator eggs shipped in 1898 • won $200 staging an alligator vs. crocodile fight (the gator won) —Florida's Warren Frazee — The Original Alligator Joe, Jim Broton, Tequesta, Issue 68, 2008
• when the Hindu Temple was completed, Seybold immediately sold it to Lillian and Charles O. Richardson, who had lived in Miami since 1897 • their new residence was close to a cluster of popular attractions on the north fork of the Miami River, one owned by Richardson • successive generations of the family occupied the house until 1990
• Charles O. Richardson (1868-1935), actor & theater operator, is said to have exhibited the state's first motion picture • his Miami tourist venue began as Richardson Grove (aka Richardson Plantation), founded in 1896 by his father, Otis Richardson (c. 1819-1901) • located on the S. bank of the river, close to today's 25th Ave. • in the renamed Musa Isle Fruit Farm, the word Musa being the botanical genus of bananas • became a favorite stop on river tours
• in 1907 Richardson sold the farm to John A. Roop (1866-1962), who dropped "Fruit Farm" from Musa Isle's name • Richardson returned to the theater business • purchased the Alcazar Theater & attempted to provide Miami's 1st air-conditioning by raising the floor & installing a fan to blow air, cooled by ice blocks, through holes under the seats —The Early Years Upriver by Donald C. Gaby, Tequesta 48 (1988)
• Musa Isle's new owner, erected an observation tower at what is now NW 22nd Ave • in 1919, he leased a section of the grove to a Seminole named Willie Willie (c. 1886-1929), presumably to compensate for reduced income following a 1917 hard freeze that wiped out the the crop & damaged his fruit trees • the move was also a response to a Coppinger's, a competitor on the river who had opened a Seminole village that was attracting the tourist boats • in 1921, on his newly leased land, Willie Willie established the Musa Isle Seminole Village & Trading Post, where trappers brought their bounty for sale to wholesalers
• Willie Willie was unique in that he was comfortable among whites & in fact married to a non-Indian • outside of the village he wore stylish clothes • his frequent speeding tickets warranted notices in the Miami Herald • profits from his various enterprises were an estimated $50K annually, equal to about $600K in 2016 dollars • “[He] had more money than he could use. He married outside his tribe and burned up the highways in his high priced car. However, Alan W. Davis, a hunter who became the foreman of the Musa Isle Indian Vilage, and Lucien A. Spencer, the special commissioner of the Seminole Agency, identified the sale of egret plumes as the business in which Willie Willie made his real money." —The Enduring Seminoles: From Alligator Wrestling to Ecotourism, Patsy West
• in 1911-12, Cardale Resort, with a skating rink, dance floor & the ~90 foot observation tower, opened in Cardale Grove (formerly Richardson Grove) at Musa Isle • the telescope-equipped tower offered expansive views of Miami & the adjacent Everglades • guests arrived at Cardale Landing via the Cardale boat (aka Car' dale, Car Dale)
• horticulturist & landscape designer Henry Coppinger Sr. (1848-1924), an Irish immigrant, arrived in S. Florida c. 1898 • in 1911 he purchased 10 acres of south bank riverfront property near Musa Isle • after trading for an adjacent, less rocky parcel at S.W. 19th Ave., he created a botanical garden to grow, hybridize & sell exotic plants • named the venture Coppinger's Tropical Gardens • Henry Coppinger hybrids soon decorated homes throughout the city
• in 1914 the attraction opened to tourists, featuring a Seminole camp that was already on the property when it was purchased • in the early 1900s, canals built to drain the Everglades had decimated hunting areas, diminishing the Seminoles' main source of income: animal hides & pelts • remaining as an exhibit at Coppinger's offered the Indians a decent living —Memories of Old South Florida, Don Boyd • —The Florida Anthropologist, Dec. 1981, Dorothy Downs
• the attraction expanded, becoming Coppinger's Tropical Gardens, Seminole Indian Village and Alligator Farm • Coppinger's Pirate's Cove added alligator wrestling in 1919, introduced by "The Alligator Boy," Henry Coppinger Jr. (1898-1976) • said to have been the second white child born in Miami —Henry Coppinger Jr." By Chris Mayhew, Palmpedia • video: Seminole Alligator Wrestling (2:28)
• "Chief" Jack Tigertail (1872-1922), a winter resident at Coppinger's, was murdered there in 1922 • this was big news in Miami because Jack was well known there, especially after leading a rescue team into the Everglades To find a missing surveying party • after a sensational trial, a white man was convicted of the crime, then acquitted on appeal • although the case was never solved, Indians at Coppinger's suspected Tigertail's cousin, Charlie Billie • the "Chief" was the first Miami Seminole buried in a white cemetery —The Enduring Seminoles: From Alligator Wrestling to Ecotourism, Patsy West
• after his death, the camp's name was changed to Tigertail Indian Village, & advertised as "home of the late Chief Tigertail," at least until 1926 • a towering image of Jack Tigertail soon greeted motorists entering the young city of Hialeah —The Long Sleep of Jack Tigertail, Stuart McIver, Sun Sentinel, August, 1993
• Hindu Temple designated a City of Miami Historic Site, 1991 • Spring Garden designated a City of Miami Historic District, 1997
Afiladas no son las letras sino las sombras.
# # #
Sharp are not the lyrics but the shadows.
# # #
End of Maze series.
Here are a few choice comments about this book from reviewers on the Goodreads website (at www.goodreads.com/book/show/4921979-washington-confidential):
"The 1950s were a bit wilder than the ABC sitcom "Ozzie and Harriet" from the day might suggest. The Confidential crime series penned by Jack Lait and Lee Mortimer were bestsellers which titillated the American public in great detail about bawdy nightlife, political corruption..." -- Phillip Crawford Jr.
"Incredibly racist, homophobic and rabidly conservative (in all the wrong ways, if there even is a right way), this book must have been quite titillating in 1951 to the same sort of people who nowadays get their "enlightenment" from Glenn Beck..."
-- Butch Lazorchak
"Okay, I like purple prose from time to time. Pulp fiction, in general, is something that I like the idea of more than I actually enjoy consuming. At first there were some slightly titillating stories of the seedy underbelly of D.C., but they quickly grew stale..." -- Frank
"I may be the only person to have read this book in the past fifty years but since I work with the personnel records of former government employees this stuff is my jam! Yes--it was horribly offensive but in the context of the time period during which it was written it gives us a feel for the attitudes of the time..." -- Ashley
St. Louis, MO (est. 1764. pop. ~300K) • Laclede's Landing
• Peper Building, aka Raeder Place Building • 6-story Victorian/ Italianate style tobacco warehouse, built on a site originally bought from American Indians for a yoke of oxen, plow, cow & 2 sows.• designed by Frederick Wiliiam Raeder (b.1832) for fellow German immigrant Christian Peper (1826-1903), founder of Christian Peper Tobacco Co., 1852
• a significant St. Louis cast-iron structure, one of the largest cast-iron front buildings in the U.S., listed in Source Book of American Architecture: 500 Notable Buildings from the 10th Century to the Present
• by the end of the 19th c., St. Louis was the largest processor of chewing & pipe tobacco in the U.S. • building’s plank floors were slanted so workers could roll large tobacco barrels down toward the Mississippi • in 1906, the company produced a series of racy cards for their Turkish brand Kadee cigarettes—one of the first uses of artistically-posed nude models for advertising [photo] • company was acquired by the Bloch Brothers Tobacco Co., early 1950s —Laclede's Landing Architecture
• Peper was the pioneer St. Louis tobacco merchant • had lived in the U.S. since age 13 • went into the grocery business then, in 1848, partnered in a tobacco firm which lasted 4 yrs. • founder & sole owner of Christian Peper Tobacco Co. • built an early cotton press [postcard, cotton compress c. 1905] • founded Peper Cotton Press Co. • St. Louis became a leader in the cotton trade • served as president of the Broadway street railroad for 35 yrs. • one of the 1st contributors to a fund to initiate the Louisiana Purchase Exposition (1904 St. Louis World's Fair) —Connie Nisinger, Find a Grave
Marker:
"On this site stood the Old Missouri Hotel [photo]. The first legislature convened here under the first state constitution on September 18, 1820. The year before Missouri was admitted to the Union. It was also the site of the inauguration of the first governor of Missouri, Alexander McNair and of the election of the state’s first U.S. Senators David Barton and Thomas Hart Benton."
• In 1831, the hotel’s owner, Major Thomas Biddle (1790-1831), engaged in a dual with U.S Congressman Spencer Pettis (1802-1831) on Bloody Island, a Mississippi River sandbar • both were mortally wounded —An Affair of Honor on the Western Frontier
• with the exception of the removal of the cornice, bldg. remained intact from the time of its construction [photo] • remodeled 1976 by architectural firm Kimble A. Cohn Associates as part of Laclede’s Landing redevelopment • recently housed Peper Lofts residential apartments, multiple options for loft living in Downtown in St. Louis, the Old Spaghetti Factory, & the offices of Abstrakt Marketing Group
• Christian Peper Building, City Landmark # 31, 1971
• Laclede's Landing Historic District, National Register # 76002262, 1976
• aka Hindu Palace, a private residence designed by Miami Beach architect August Geiger (1887-1968) • known for his Mediterranean Revival-style buildings & his projects w/ "Mr. Miami Beach," Carl Fisher • later the Dade County School Board architect
• the building's design was loosely based on a temporary set built for the motion picture Lucky Charm • the film, said to be one of the first shot in Miami, was produced by Fox, directed by Richard Stanton & starred William Farnum & Anna Luther
• part of the movie was shot at Spring Garden, a new residential development on the north bank of the Miami River • advertised as "the most exclusive subdivision in Miami" (and now the oldest on the river) • lot sales continued during the filming
• Spring Garden developer John Seybold (1872-1940), an immigrant from Germany, was a prominent Miami baker & businessman • knowing the publicity value of a Hollywood movie shooting in a small town of ~30,000 residents, he ran an ad in the Miami Metropolis inviting the public to visit the shoot (and hopefully check out the lots for sale) • a large crowd arrived & was horrified as the leading man, Farnum, narrowly escaped immolation when a grass hut collapsed in flames • the movie, now considered lost, was released in 1919 as The Jungle Trail
• after the shoot, with the film's large temple set still fresh in the town's collective memory, Seybold built this permanent version beside the Seybold Canal turning basin, where the temporary one had stood • the exotic new residence became a Spring Garden landmark, its signature cupolas soon echoed by the nearby 12th Ave. bridge tender houses
• When Seybold purchased the Spring Garden property in 1913, it already had a colorful history • from the late 1890s to the early yrs. of the 20th c., the point at the junction of the Miami River & Wagner Creek – now Spring Garden Point Park — was the site of Alligator Joe's Crocodile and Alligator Farm, a tourist attraction owned by Warren Frazee (1873-1915), aka Alligator Joe • his main business was shipping animal hides & eggs to U.S. markets, e.g., 600 alligator hides & 2,892 alligator eggs shipped in 1898 • won $200 staging an alligator vs. crocodile fight (the gator won) —Florida's Warren Frazee — The Original Alligator Joe, Jim Broton, Tequesta, Issue 68, 2008
• when the Hindu Temple was completed, Seybold immediately sold it to Lillian and Charles O. Richardson, who had lived in Miami since 1897 • their new residence was close to a cluster of popular attractions on the north fork of the Miami River, one owned by Richardson • successive generations of the family occupied the house until 1990
• Charles O. Richardson (1868-1935), actor & theater operator, is said to have exhibited the state's first motion picture • his Miami tourist venue began as Richardson Grove (aka Richardson Plantation), founded in 1896 by his father, Otis Richardson (c. 1819-1901) • located on the S. bank of the river, close to today's 25th Ave. • in the renamed Musa Isle Fruit Farm, the word Musa being the botanical genus of bananas • became a favorite stop on river tours
• in 1907 Richardson sold the farm to John A. Roop (1866-1962), who dropped "Fruit Farm" from Musa Isle's name • Richardson returned to the theater business • purchased the Alcazar Theater & attempted to provide Miami's 1st air-conditioning by raising the floor & installing a fan to blow air, cooled by ice blocks, through holes under the seats —The Early Years Upriver by Donald C. Gaby, Tequesta 48 (1988)
• Musa Isle's new owner, erected an observation tower at what is now NW 22nd Ave • in 1919, he leased a section of the grove to a Seminole named Willie Willie (c. 1886-1929), presumably to compensate for reduced income following a 1917 hard freeze that wiped out the the crop & damaged his fruit trees • the move was also a response to a Coppinger's, a competitor on the river who had opened a Seminole village that was attracting the tourist boats • in 1921, on his newly leased land, Willie Willie established the Musa Isle Seminole Village & Trading Post, where trappers brought their bounty for sale to wholesalers
• Willie Willie was unique in that he was comfortable among whites & in fact married to a non-Indian • outside of the village he wore stylish clothes • his frequent speeding tickets warranted notices in the Miami Herald • profits from his various enterprises were an estimated $50K annually, equal to about $600K in 2016 dollars • “[He] had more money than he could use. He married outside his tribe and burned up the highways in his high priced car. However, Alan W. Davis, a hunter who became the foreman of the Musa Isle Indian Vilage, and Lucien A. Spencer, the special commissioner of the Seminole Agency, identified the sale of egret plumes as the business in which Willie Willie made his real money." —The Enduring Seminoles: From Alligator Wrestling to Ecotourism, Patsy West
• in 1911-12, Cardale Resort, with a skating rink, dance floor & the ~90 foot observation tower, opened in Cardale Grove (formerly Richardson Grove) at Musa Isle • the telescope-equipped tower offered expansive views of Miami & the adjacent Everglades • guests arrived at Cardale Landing via the Cardale boat (aka Car' dale, Car Dale)
• horticulturist & landscape designer Henry Coppinger Sr. (1848-1924), an Irish immigrant, arrived in S. Florida c. 1898 • in 1911 he purchased 10 acres of south bank riverfront property near Musa Isle • after trading for an adjacent, less rocky parcel at S.W. 19th Ave., he created a botanical garden to grow, hybridize & sell exotic plants • named the venture Coppinger's Tropical Gardens • Henry Coppinger hybrids soon decorated homes throughout the city
• in 1914 the attraction opened to tourists, featuring a Seminole camp that was already on the property when it was purchased • in the early 1900s, canals built to drain the Everglades had decimated hunting areas, diminishing the Seminoles' main source of income: animal hides & pelts • remaining as an exhibit at Coppinger's offered the Indians a decent living —Memories of Old South Florida, Don Boyd • —The Florida Anthropologist, Dec. 1981, Dorothy Downs
• the attraction expanded, becoming Coppinger's Tropical Gardens, Seminole Indian Village and Alligator Farm • Coppinger's Pirate's Cove added alligator wrestling in 1919, introduced by "The Alligator Boy," Henry Coppinger Jr. (1898-1976) • said to have been the second white child born in Miami —Henry Coppinger Jr." By Chris Mayhew, Palmpedia • video: Seminole Alligator Wrestling (2:28)
• "Chief" Jack Tigertail (1872-1922), a winter resident at Coppinger's, was murdered there in 1922 • this was big news in Miami because Jack was well known there, especially after leading a rescue team into the Everglades To find a missing surveying party • after a sensational trial, a white man was convicted of the crime, then acquitted on appeal • although the case was never solved, Indians at Coppinger's suspected Tigertail's cousin, Charlie Billie • the "Chief" was the first Miami Seminole buried in a white cemetery —The Enduring Seminoles: From Alligator Wrestling to Ecotourism, Patsy West
• after his death, the camp's name was changed to Tigertail Indian Village, & advertised as "home of the late Chief Tigertail," at least until 1926 • a towering image of Jack Tigertail soon greeted motorists entering the young city of Hialeah —The Long Sleep of Jack Tigertail, Stuart McIver, Sun Sentinel, August, 1993
• Hindu Temple designated a City of Miami Historic Site, 1991 • Spring Garden designated a City of Miami Historic District, 1997
Card 60: Things that should have their own festival.
My Answer: Kinda obvious but..... BOOKS!
So many of you have probably saw this coming but I'm leaving Flickr.
It's been fun. I've had some wacky conversations. I've met some cool people. But the time to leave is long overdue.
Some of you have helped me in ways that you'll never know. Making me laugh when I was secretly sad, making me think about things in a new light and sometimes just inspiring new story ideas.
I wish you all luck in your endeavors and I thank you for taking the time to look and comment on my pics. :)
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~~ 🍩Find Me🍩~~
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Here have some doughnuts ヽ(ᵔᗜᵔ)ﾉ🍩 🍩 🍩 🍩
Stay Safe, Eat Doughnuts, and Read Good Books (╭☞ ⌐■ ◞ ■ )╭☞
“I have been finding treasures in places I did not want to search. I have been hearing wisdom from tongues I did not want to listen. I have been finding beauty where I did not want to look. And I have learned so much from journeys I did not want to take. Forgive me, O Gracious One; for I have been closing my ears and eyes for too long. I have learned that miracles are only called miracles because they are often witnessed by only those who can can see through all of life's illusions. I am ready to see what really exists on other side, what exists behind the blinds, and taste all the ugly fruit instead of all that looks right, plump and ripe.”
- Suzy Kassem, Rise Up and Salute the Sun: The Writings of Suzy Kassem -
American cartoonist Gary Larson, the creator of The Far Side, a single-panel cartoon series that was syndicated internationally to newspapers for 15 years. The series ended with Larson's retirement on January 1, 1995. His 23 books of collected cartoons have combined sales of more than 45 million copies. [wikipedia]
From this reference photo
Sample of his ginius work can be found by typing his name in the google search bar...
Pencil, watercolor pencil, markers in sketch book, displayed inside a digital frame here
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Vicksburg, Mississippi est. 1825, pop. (2013) 23,542 • MS Delta
• site crowns the highest hill in Vicksburg • land donated by the family of the city's founder, Newitt Vick • built by the Weldon Brothers, immigrants from County Antrim, Ireland • Greek Revival design attributed to William Weldon in collaboration with slave John Jackson, a noted draftsman & artist who "drew the plans for many of the public buildings erected by [the Weldon's], including the courthouses still standing at Raymond and Vicksburg." —"The Emergence of the Cotton Kingdom in the Old Southwest: Mississippi, 1770--1860," John Hebron Moore, 1988
"The Weldon Brothers... Well known in Mississippi as large building and bridge contractors, owned and educated to mechanic pursuits, 100 slaves, many of whom are now residing in the river counties of the State, and most of them are well-to-do. Their draughtsman, John Jackson, a natural genius in that line, lives now at Port Gibson, the scene of much of the work of the Weldons. He painted the handsome drop curtain at Odd Fellow’s Hall, Port Gibson, and assisted in drawing the plans of the handsome Court house at Vicksburg, which the Weldons built in 1858.
"The writer had large dealings with these brothers in the days of their activity, and knows that while they were strict and exacting with their slaves, they were yet kind in their treatment; feeding and clothing them well; and they were not unmindful of their proper enjoyment; the suppers and music at their Christmas balls costing sometimes as much as $600. Tom Weldon was a very passionate man, as well as powerful and brave. Sometimes he would strike the negroes with his fist, and if they showed fight, it was his boast that he always gave them a white man’s chance, and fought fairly with them to the end. He had a fine mind, and but for his profanity was an eloquent talker.
"He equipped a company for the war at Natchez – the Weldon rebels [Co. L, 44th Mississippi Reg., C.S.A.] – but was employed, himself, chiefly in the secret service of the Confederate Government. George, the oldest of the three brothers, was very loquacious, and a great reader. William was a milder mannered man than the others, and very intelligent." —"Random Recollections of Early Days in Mississippi", Horace Smith Fulkerson, 1885
• Thomas Weldon (1816-1865) is said to have been instrumental in developing an electric spark underwater torpedo (naval mine) • on 12 Dec, 1862 it sank the USS Cairo, the first US warship ever destroyed by this type of weapon • "USS Cairo gunboat sunk by an IED" —Standing Well Back
• the Weldons utilized ~100 highly skilled slave artisans at the job site to burn brick & erect the $100K courthouse • the Ionic capitals were cast by Baker Iron Company, Cincinnati & transported to the site by river boat • stucco finish applied to exterior, 1907 • bldg. retains original iron doors & shutters
• Jefferson Davis (1808-1889), a local planter who became president of the Confederacy, launched his political career on these grounds • bldg. targeted by Union warships on Mississippi River during the American Civil War's 47-day Siege of Vicksburg • became the symbol of Confederate resistance • following the city's surrender, 4 July, 1863, Union soldiers under Maj. Gen. U. S. Grant replaced the Confederate flag with the Union flag on the Courthouse cupola [photo]
• U.S. Presidents Zachary Taylor, Ulysses S. Grant, William McKinley & Theodore Roosevelt spoke here, as did woman's suffrage leader Carrie Chapman Catt & black American icon Booker T. Washington
• bldg. was neglected after the completion of the New Warren County Courthouse (1940) • damaged by the 1953 Vicksburg Tornado • demolition considered • aware of the building's historical significance, Eva ("Miss Eva") Whitaker Davis (1892-1974) established the Vicksburg & Warren County Historical Society in order to to preserve it • on 3 June, 1948, the courthouse reopened as the Old Courthouse Museum • exhibits reflect the heritage of the area from pre-historic Indians through the present day • has one of the largest Civil War collections in the U.S.A.
• named one of the 20 most outstanding courthouses in America by the American Institute of Architects • Old Courthouse History • Court House Lagniappe Part 1, Part 2, Part 3
• Historic Vicksburg District • HABS MS-119 • designated Mississippi Landmark, 1986 • National Register 68000029, 1968 • designated National Landmark, 1968
Finished off a set of 2017 children's books in order to complete a 100 book to be read in 2017 challenge and recorded at GoodReads. I just made it. I read about 15 adult novels and then focused on 2017 children's literature. As a former teacher librarian, I still love reading the brand new books for children and guessing which will win awards. I enjoy writing reviews and posting these in GoodReads and Pinterest, and sometimes on Flickr, Facebook, and Twitter!
Here's my pick for the top 50 children's books in 2017: www.goodreads.com/list/user_vote/5887155
Well worth reading them, at any age!!!
/ The old order changeth
Apo-Summicron-M 1:2/50 ASPH.
www.goodreads.com/quotes/404311-the-old-order-changeth-yi...
“I’ve never been nearly as alone as I always say I am”
― Jill Alexander Essbaum, Hausfrau
My latest read for 2016.
I've had this one on my wish list for a while.
A few chapters in and I'm realizing that it's a pick that could warrant an explanation.
On the other hand...keep the bookclub guessing.
34:366
• aka Hindu Palace, a private residence designed by Miami Beach architect August Geiger (1887-1968) • known for his Mediterranean Revival-style buildings & his projects w/ "Mr. Miami Beach," Carl Fisher • later the Dade County School Board architect
• the building's design was loosely based on a temporary set built for the motion picture Lucky Charm • the film, said to be one of the first shot in Miami, was produced by Fox, directed by Richard Stanton & starred William Farnum & Anna Luther
• part of the movie was shot at Spring Garden, a new residential development on the north bank of the Miami River • advertised as "the most exclusive subdivision in Miami" (and now the oldest on the river) • lot sales continued during the filming
• Spring Garden developer John Seybold (1872-1940), an immigrant from Germany, was a prominent Miami baker & businessman • knowing the publicity value of a Hollywood movie shooting in a small town of ~30,000 residents, he ran an ad in the Miami Metropolis inviting the public to visit the shoot (and hopefully check out the lots for sale) • a large crowd arrived & was horrified as the leading man, Farnum, narrowly escaped immolation when a grass hut collapsed in flames • the movie, now considered lost, was released in 1919 as The Jungle Trail
• after the shoot, with the film's large temple set still fresh in the town's collective memory, Seybold built this permanent version where the temporary one had stood • the exotic new residence became a Spring Garden landmark, its signature cupolas soon echoed by the nearby 12th Ave. bridge tender houses
• When Seybold purchased the Spring Garden property in 1913, it already had a colorful history • from the late 1890s to the early yrs. of the 20th c., the point at the junction of the Miami River & Wagner Creek – now Spring Garden Point Park — was the site of Alligator Joe's Crocodile and Alligator Farm, a tourist attraction owned by Warren Frazee (1873-1915), aka Alligator Joe • his main business was shipping animal hides & eggs to U.S. markets, e.g., 600 alligator hides & 2,892 alligator eggs shipped in 1898 • won $200 staging an alligator vs. crocodile fight (the gator won) —Florida's Warren Frazee — The Original Alligator Joe, Jim Broton, Tequesta, Issue 68, 2008
• when the Hindu Temple was completed, Seybold immediately sold it to Lillian and Charles O. Richardson, who had lived in Miami since 1897 • their new residence was close to a cluster of popular attractions on the north fork of the Miami River, one owned by Richardson • successive generations of the family occupied the house until 1990
• Charles O. Richardson (1868-1935), actor & theater operator, is said to have exhibited the state's first motion picture • his Miami tourist venue began as Richardson Grove (aka Richardson Plantation), founded in 1896 by his father, Otis Richardson (c. 1819-1901) • located on the S. bank of the river, close to today's 25th Ave. • in the renamed Musa Isle Fruit Farm, the word Musa being the botanical genus of bananas • became a favorite stop on river tours
• in 1907 Richardson sold the farm to John A. Roop (1866-1962), who dropped "Fruit Farm" from Musa Isle's name • Richardson returned to the theater business • purchased the Alcazar Theater & attempted to provide Miami's 1st air-conditioning by raising the floor & installing a fan to blow air, cooled by ice blocks, through holes under the seats —The Early Years Upriver by Donald C. Gaby, Tequesta 48 (1988)
• Musa Isle's new owner, erected an observation tower at what is now NW 22nd Ave • in 1919, he leased a section of the grove to a Seminole named Willie Willie (c. 1886-1929), presumably to compensate for reduced income following a 1917 hard freeze that wiped out the the crop & damaged his fruit trees • the move was also a response to a Coppinger's, a competitor on the river who had opened a Seminole village that was attracting the tourist boats • in 1921, on his newly leased land, Willie Willie established the Musa Isle Seminole Village & Trading Post, where trappers brought their bounty for sale to wholesalers
• Willie Willie was unique in that he was comfortable among whites & in fact married to a non-Indian • outside of the village he wore stylish clothes • his frequent speeding tickets warranted notices in the Miami Herald • profits from his various enterprises were an estimated $50K annually, equal to about $600K in 2016 dollars • “[He] had more money than he could use. He married outside his tribe and burned up the highways in his high priced car. However, Alan W. Davis, a hunter who became the foreman of the Musa Isle Indian Vilage, and Lucien A. Spencer, the special commissioner of the Seminole Agency, identified the sale of egret plumes as the business in which Willie Willie made his real money." —The Enduring Seminoles: From Alligator Wrestling to Ecotourism, Patsy West
• in 1911-12, Cardale Resort, with a skating rink, dance floor & the ~90 foot observation tower, opened in Cardale Grove (formerly Richardson Grove) at Musa Isle • the telescope-equipped tower offered expansive views of Miami & the adjacent Everglades • guests arrived at Cardale Landing via the Cardale boat (aka Car' dale, Car Dale)
• horticulturist & landscape designer Henry Coppinger Sr. (1848-1924), an Irish immigrant, arrived in S. Florida c. 1898 • in 1911 he purchased 10 acres of south bank riverfront property near Musa Isle • after trading for an adjacent, less rocky parcel at S.W. 19th Ave., he created a botanical garden to grow, hybridize & sell exotic plants • named the venture Coppinger's Tropical Gardens • Henry Coppinger hybrids soon decorated homes throughout the city
• in 1914 the attraction opened to tourists, featuring a Seminole camp that was already on the property when it was purchased • in the early 1900s, canals built to drain the Everglades had decimated hunting areas, diminishing the Seminoles' main source of income: animal hides & pelts • remaining as an exhibit at Coppinger's offered the Indians a decent living —Memories of Old South Florida, Don Boyd • —The Florida Anthropologist, Dec. 1981, Dorothy Downs
• the attraction expanded, becoming Coppinger's Tropical Gardens, Seminole Indian Village and Alligator Farm • Coppinger's Pirate's Cove added alligator wrestling in 1919, introduced by "The Alligator Boy," Henry Coppinger Jr. (1898-1976) • said to have been the second white child born in Miami —Henry Coppinger Jr." By Chris Mayhew, Palmpedia • video: Seminole Alligator Wrestling (2:28)
• "Chief" Jack Tigertail (1872-1922), a winter resident at Coppinger's, was murdered there in 1922 • this was big news in Miami because Jack was well known there, especially after leading a rescue team into the Everglades To find a missing surveying party • after a sensational trial, a white man was convicted of the crime, then acquitted on appeal • although the case was never solved, Indians at Coppinger's suspected Tigertail's cousin, Charlie Billie • the "Chief" was the first Miami Seminole buried in a white cemetery —The Enduring Seminoles: From Alligator Wrestling to Ecotourism, Patsy West
• after his death, the camp's name was changed to Tigertail Indian Village, & advertised as "home of the late Chief Tigertail," at least until 1926 • a towering image of Jack Tigertail soon greeted motorists entering the young city of Hialeah —The Long Sleep of Jack Tigertail, Stuart McIver, Sun Sentinel, August, 1993
• Hindu Temple designated a City of Miami Historic Site, 1991 • Spring Garden designated a City of Miami Historic District, 1997
"Send one away, I'm feelin' tired."
www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/259666.Mae_West
Queen Square, Liverpool.
Balfour House (1835), 1002 Crawford St, Vicksburg, MS, USA
Vicksburg, Mississippi (est. 1825, pop. (2013) 23,542) • Facebook • MS Delta • The Town & the Battle —NY Times
• 2-story Greek Revival house w/projecting portico built by wealthy businessman William Bobb (1802-1871) • resembles Mount Stirling (1848), Providence Forge, VA • next door to the Gen. John C. Pemberton House, Confederate headquarters during the siege of Vicksburg • rehabed in 1980s • photo c. 1866
• home of Civil War diarist Emma Harrison Balfour (1818–1887) & husband, Dr. William T. Balfour (1815-1877), who purchased the house in 1848
• in 1862, the Balfours threw a Christmas Eve Ball in this house • Vicksburg socialites braved a violent storm to celebrate the holiday with Confederate officers & their ladies • meanwhile, on the other side of the Mississippi River, CSA Colonel Philip H. Fall received an urgent telegram from a station 36 mi. north, warning that a fleet of nearly 100 Union boats was moving toward Vicksburg • Col. Fall immediately set out into the storm & made it safely across the turbulent river
• just after midnight, muddy & soaking wet, he burst into the Balfour House, disrupting the festivities as he conveyed the message to General Martin Luther Smith (who, like Gen. Pemberton, was born & raised in the North) • on hearing the news, Smith announced "This ball is at an end! The enemy is coming down river. All non-combatants must leave the city!"
• after brief goodbyes to loved ones, the men rushed away to report to their stations • the initial battle of the Vicksburg Campaign — the Battle of Chickasaw Bayou (a Confederate victory) — began 26, Dec. —Wikipedia
• remaining in this house throughout the 47-day Siege of Vicksburg (16 May-04 July, 1863), Balfour wrote Vicksburg, a city under seige: Diary of Emma Balfour, May 16, 1863 - June 2, 1863:
May 17
(re: the Battle of Champion Hill, after receiving a dire message from Lt. Underhill)
“My pen almost refuses to tell of our terrible disaster of yesterday… We are defeated — our army in confusion and the carnage awful! Whole batteries and brigades taken prisoners — awful! Awful!
"...What is to become of all the living things in this place when the boats begin shelling – God only knows. Shut up as in a trap, no ingress or egress – and thousands of women and children who have fled here for safety…”
May 31
"The shelling from the mortars was worse than usual last night… I could hear the pieces falling all around us as the shells would explode, and once I thought our time had come… The mortars [fired] all night. We soon perceived that we could not retire while they fired as they had changed the range, and every shell came either directly over us or just back or front of us, so we made up our minds to sit up and watch, hoping, however, that they would cease about midnight, as they sometimes do… but no, all night it continued to add to the horror."
• 26-year-old Mary Ann Loughborough (1836-1887) was also among the 1,500 civilians who chose not to evacuate • her diary & letters were published in the 1864 book, "My Cave Life in Vicksburg: With Letters of Trial and Travel"
"A young girl, becoming weary in the confinement of the cave, hastily ran to the house in the interval that elapsed between the slowly falling shells. On returning, an explosion sounded near her—one wild scream and she ran into her mother’s presence, sinking like a wounded dove, the life blood flowing over the light summer dress in crimson ripples from a death-wound in her side caused by the shell fragment."
"A little Negro child, playing in the yard, had found a shell; in rolling and turning it, had innocently pounded the fuse; the terrible explosion followed, showing, as the white cloud of smoke floated away, the mangled remains of a life that to the mother’s heart had possessed all of beauty and joy."
• Union soldier Pvt. Merrick Wald (1840-1911), 77th Illinois, Company C, also kept a diary:
4 July, 1863
"Well Vicksburg has surrendered at last. When they (Rebels) first came out of their holes they looked like they hadn't drawn a long breath for six months... how sad these noble soldiers looked and how I respected them for fighting so hard for their Cause."
• the custodian of Wald's diary has stated that out of Merrick's unit of 350 men, 45 survived the entire war —Civil War Diaries
• Vicksburg surrendered on the 4th of July — US Independence Day
“About three o’clock the rush began. I shall never forget that woeful sight of a beaten, demoralized army that came rushing back – humanity in the last throes of endurance.” —War Diary of a Union Woman in the South by Vicksburg Unionist Dora Richards Miller
• on seeing US flag flying over the courthouse, Miller wrote, “Now I feel once more at home in mine own country” • more typical of local sentiment, Alice Shannon wrote that she could see “that hateful flag flying from the Court House Hill.” —Photographic Tour of Civil War Vicksburg
• the devastated City of Vicksburg didn't officially celebrate the nation's birthday again until 1944 (though unofficial celebrations were not uncommon) • during the occupation, Union General James B. McPherson made Balfour House his headquarters • more recently it was a B&B & is now a private residence
• Civilians During the Siege of Vicksburg • Vicksburg During the Civil War • National Park Service
• designated Mississippi Landmark, 1986 • HABS MS-116 • Uptown Vicksburg Historic District, National Register # 93000850, 1993 • Balfour House National Register # 71000458, 1971
"Sometimes when I look at you, I feel I'm gazing at a distant star.
It's dazzling, but the light is from tens of thousands of years ago.
Maybe the star doesn't even exist any more. Yet sometimes that light seems more real to me than anything."
— Haruki Murakami (South Of The Border, West Of The Sun)
A British Spring 16:9 Series #5
* Pentax K20D and Samsung D-Xenon 50-200mm Lens
"A young Indian boy carves a little canoe with a figure inside and names him Paddle-to-the-Sea. Paddle's journey, in text and pictures, through the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean provides an excellent geographic and historical picture of the region."
...It’s more entertaining than TV. Just ask a cat looking out, or a man looking in on a life he desires.”
- Jarod Kintz, This Book is Not FOR SALE -
• aka Hindu Palace, a private residence designed by Miami Beach architect August Geiger (1887-1968) • known for his Mediterranean Revival-style buildings & his projects w/ "Mr. Miami Beach," Carl Fisher • later the Dade County School Board architect
• the building's design was loosely based on a temporary set built for the motion picture Lucky Charm • the film, said to be one of the first shot in Miami, was produced by Fox, directed by Richard Stanton & starred William Farnum & Anna Luther
• part of the movie was shot at Spring Garden, a new residential development on the north bank of the Miami River • advertised as "the most exclusive subdivision in Miami" (and now the oldest on the river) • lot sales continued during the filming
• Spring Garden developer John Seybold (1872-1940), an immigrant from Germany, was a prominent Miami baker & businessman • knowing the publicity value of a Hollywood movie shooting in a small town of ~30,000 residents, he ran an ad in the Miami Metropolis inviting the public to visit the shoot (and hopefully check out the lots for sale) • a large crowd arrived & was horrified as the leading man, Farnum, narrowly escaped immolation when a grass hut collapsed in flames • the movie, now considered lost, was released in 1919 as The Jungle Trail
• after the shoot, with the film's large temple set still fresh in the town's collective memory, Seybold built this permanent version beside the Seybold Canal turning basin, where the temporary one had stood • the exotic new residence became a Spring Garden landmark, its signature cupolas soon echoed by the nearby 12th Ave. bridge tender houses
• When Seybold purchased the Spring Garden property in 1913, it already had a colorful history • from the late 1890s to the early yrs. of the 20th c., the point at the junction of the Miami River & Wagner Creek – now Spring Garden Point Park — was the site of Alligator Joe's Crocodile and Alligator Farm, a tourist attraction owned by Warren Frazee (1873-1915), aka Alligator Joe • his main business was shipping animal hides & eggs to U.S. markets, e.g., 600 alligator hides & 2,892 alligator eggs shipped in 1898 • won $200 staging an alligator vs. crocodile fight (the gator won) —Florida's Warren Frazee — The Original Alligator Joe, Jim Broton, Tequesta, Issue 68, 2008
• when the Hindu Temple was completed, Seybold immediately sold it to Lillian and Charles O. Richardson, who had lived in Miami since 1897 • their new residence was close to a cluster of popular attractions on the north fork of the Miami River, one owned by Richardson • successive generations of the family occupied the house until 1990
• Charles O. Richardson (1868-1935), actor & theater operator, is said to have exhibited the state's first motion picture • his Miami tourist venue began as Richardson Grove (aka Richardson Plantation), founded in 1896 by his father, Otis Richardson (c. 1819-1901) • located on the S. bank of the river, close to today's 25th Ave. • in the renamed Musa Isle Fruit Farm, the word Musa being the botanical genus of bananas • became a favorite stop on river tours
• in 1907 Richardson sold the farm to John A. Roop (1866-1962), who dropped "Fruit Farm" from Musa Isle's name • Richardson returned to the theater business • purchased the Alcazar Theater & attempted to provide Miami's 1st air-conditioning by raising the floor & installing a fan to blow air, cooled by ice blocks, through holes under the seats —The Early Years Upriver by Donald C. Gaby, Tequesta 48 (1988)
• Musa Isle's new owner, erected an observation tower at what is now NW 22nd Ave • in 1919, he leased a section of the grove to a Seminole named Willie Willie (c. 1886-1929), presumably to compensate for reduced income following a 1917 hard freeze that wiped out the the crop & damaged his fruit trees • the move was also a response to a Coppinger's, a competitor on the river who had opened a Seminole village that was attracting the tourist boats • in 1921, on his newly leased land, Willie Willie established the Musa Isle Seminole Village & Trading Post, where trappers brought their bounty for sale to wholesalers
• Willie Willie was unique in that he was comfortable among whites & in fact married to a non-Indian • outside of the village he wore stylish clothes • his frequent speeding tickets warranted notices in the Miami Herald • profits from his various enterprises were an estimated $50K annually, equal to about $600K in 2016 dollars • “[He] had more money than he could use. He married outside his tribe and burned up the highways in his high priced car. However, Alan W. Davis, a hunter who became the foreman of the Musa Isle Indian Vilage, and Lucien A. Spencer, the special commissioner of the Seminole Agency, identified the sale of egret plumes as the business in which Willie Willie made his real money." —The Enduring Seminoles: From Alligator Wrestling to Ecotourism, Patsy West
• in 1911-12, Cardale Resort, with a skating rink, dance floor & the ~90 foot observation tower, opened in Cardale Grove (formerly Richardson Grove) at Musa Isle • the telescope-equipped tower offered expansive views of Miami & the adjacent Everglades • guests arrived at Cardale Landing via the Cardale boat (aka Car' dale, Car Dale)
• horticulturist & landscape designer Henry Coppinger Sr. (1848-1924), an Irish immigrant, arrived in S. Florida c. 1898 • in 1911 he purchased 10 acres of south bank riverfront property near Musa Isle • after trading for an adjacent, less rocky parcel at S.W. 19th Ave., he created a botanical garden to grow, hybridize & sell exotic plants • named the venture Coppinger's Tropical Gardens • Henry Coppinger hybrids soon decorated homes throughout the city
• in 1914 the attraction opened to tourists, featuring a Seminole camp that was already on the property when it was purchased • in the early 1900s, canals built to drain the Everglades had decimated hunting areas, diminishing the Seminoles' main source of income: animal hides & pelts • remaining as an exhibit at Coppinger's offered the Indians a decent living —Memories of Old South Florida, Don Boyd • —The Florida Anthropologist, Dec. 1981, Dorothy Downs
• the attraction expanded, becoming Coppinger's Tropical Gardens, Seminole Indian Village and Alligator Farm • Coppinger's Pirate's Cove added alligator wrestling in 1919, introduced by "The Alligator Boy," Henry Coppinger Jr. (1898-1976) • said to have been the second white child born in Miami —Henry Coppinger Jr." By Chris Mayhew, Palmpedia • video: Seminole Alligator Wrestling (2:28)
• "Chief" Jack Tigertail (1872-1922), a winter resident at Coppinger's, was murdered there in 1922 • this was big news in Miami because Jack was well known there, especially after leading a rescue team into the Everglades To find a missing surveying party • after a sensational trial, a white man was convicted of the crime, then acquitted on appeal • although the case was never solved, Indians at Coppinger's suspected Tigertail's cousin, Charlie Billie • the "Chief" was the first Miami Seminole buried in a white cemetery —The Enduring Seminoles: From Alligator Wrestling to Ecotourism, Patsy West
• after his death, the camp's name was changed to Tigertail Indian Village, & advertised as "home of the late Chief Tigertail," at least until 1926 • a towering image of Jack Tigertail soon greeted motorists entering the young city of Hialeah —The Long Sleep of Jack Tigertail, Stuart McIver, Sun Sentinel, August, 1993
• Hindu Temple designated a City of Miami Historic Site, 1991 • Spring Garden designated a City of Miami Historic District, 1997
Almost a year ago I've decided to read 50 books within 2010, which I've also said on my GoodRead account, anyway I'm far away from that number as I am now on my 31st book, and I stopped updating the account thereby I've lost a big deal of motivation, however I'm back on the track and insistent.
Thursday 's Fact:*
I never wear red .. the colour red does not exist in my wardrobe.
(*) .. I thought it'd be nice to share a personal fact each thursday.
Doz Cabezas, AZ, (est. 1879, pop. <25), elevation 5,082 ft. (1,549 m)
"The Dos Cabezasite is the only person on the globe who can sit serenely down and smile, and smile again, amid conditions and adversities which would madden a lowly follower of the lamb. When Gabriel blows his horn he will find some of these genial old fellows sitting on a rock telling each other of the promising future of the camp, or how rich the Juniper mine is." —“Tombstone Epitaph,” 28 Apr 1887
• Dos Cabezas, AZ is a "living" Sonoran Desert ghost town with few remaining residents • located in the Sulphur Springs Valley [photo] of Cochise County • lies beside the Dos Cabezas ("Two Heads") mountain range, named for its twin bald summits
• an historically significant spring with potable water, once known as Dos Cabezas Spring, stands about a half mi. southwest of the town by the old Southern Emigrant Trail, a principal artery of the westward movement • the trail descends to the valley from Apache Spring through Apache Pass
• on 4 Sep 1851, John Russell Bartlett & his Boundary Survey Commission were heading west through what was, for over 300 yrs., Spanish/Mexican territory • most of the land had been ceded to the U.S. in 1848, ending the controversial Mexican-American War, but much of southernmost Arizona & New Mexico remained under the Mexican flag • Bartlett's mission was to work with a Mexican survey team to formally define the post-war US-Mexico border
• the survey was a prelude to the 1853-54 Gadsden Purchase which, for $10MM, acquired 29,670 sq. mi. of Mexican territory south of the Gila River, Cochise County included • the deal was signed by President Franklin Pierce, a northern, anti-abolitionist ("doughface") Democrat • it was intended to facilitate development of a road, canal and/or New Orleans-LA railroad, & to open the southwest to Southern expansion, seemingly ignoring the fact that an economy based on slave-produced cotton was unlikely to flourish in the desert — “Cochise and his Times”
• with potable water a precious commodity for both 2- & 4- legged desert travelers, Apache Spring – like many watering holes – became the site of a stagecoach stop c. 1857 • was operated by the San Antonio-San Diego "San-San" Mail Line, commonly known as "Jackass Mail" • Chiricahua Apache attacks made Apache Pass the most perilous stop on the line's Birch Route [map], named for company owner James Birch (1827-1857) —“The West is Linked”
• the 1,476 mi. daylight-only journey — with daily stops for 2 meals (45 min. each) & team switches (5-10 min.) — typically took less than 30 days & could be as few as 22 • a one-way ticket cost $150, meals & 30 lb. baggage allowance included —“Deconstructing the Jackass Mail Route”
• the Jackass line had a fleet of celerity (mud) wagons, vehicles suited for travel in intense heat over rugged terrain • it also operated fifty 2,500 lb. Concord stagecoaches [photo] manufactured by the Abbot Downing Co. in Concord, NH
"To feel oneself bouncing—now on the hard seat, now against the roof, and now against the side of the wagon—was no joke. Strung beneath the passenger compartment, wide leather straps called 'thorough braces' cradled the coach, causing it to swing front to back. Motion sickness was a common complaint, and ginger root was the favored curative." —Historynet
• each stage could accommodate 9-12 passengers on three benches inside & up to 10 more on the roof • the coaches were drawn by four- & six-mule teams • the company maintained 200 head of mules in its western corrals
“The coach was fitted with three seats, and these were occupied by nine passengers. As occupants of the front and middle seats faced each other, it was necessary for these six people to interlock their knees; and there being room inside for only ten of the twelve legs, each side of the coach was graced by a foot, now dangling near the wheel, now trying in vain to find a place of support..." —”The History of Stagecoaches in Tucson, Arizona”, Bob Ring
• Tips For Stagecoach Travelers, “Cowboy Chronicles”
• The Passenger Experience, “Desert USA”
"The company recommended that each passenger:... should provide himself with a Sharp's rifle, (not carbine,) with accoutrements and one hundred cartridges, a navy sized Colts revolver and two pounds of balls, a belt and holster, knife and sheath..." —“San Diego Herald” 21 Nov 1857
• the line's stations were built 10-40 mi. apart • some provided rudimentary sleeping accommodations; all had water for passengers, drivers ("whips") & their teams • equipped with corrals, the depots served as relay stations where drivers & draft animals were changed • "swing stations" provided no meals, but larger "home stations," often operated by families, were "meal stops":
"…tough beef or pork fried in a grime-blackened skillet, coarse bread, mesquite beans, a mysterious concoction known as 'slumgullion,' lethally black coffee, and a 'nasty compound of dried apples' that masqueraded under the name of apple pie." —True West
• in Sept 1857 Jackass founder James Birch, sailing to California via Panama, was lost at sea along with 419 other passengers & 30K lbs. of gold, in the S.S. Central America disaster • that same month, the Butterfield-Overland Mail line [photos] began St. Louis to San Francisco service, gradually displacing the Jackass line & absorbing many of its stations
• by 1858 a new, fortified stone depot, Ewell's Stage Station [photo] , rose 4 mi. south of Dos Cabezas Spring • it's unclear which stage line erected the building, but around the time of its completion Jackass Mail quit the route, Butterfield-Overland later decided to bypass "Ewell's" & by 1861 it lay in ruins, destroyed by Apaches
• the Ewell name lived on at a tiny, hardscrabble settlement called Ewell Springs & at Dos Cabezas Spring, renamed Ewell's Spring when the original station was built • by 1879 the National Mail & Transportation Co. had established a new Ewell's Station
• Virginia-born Richard Stoddert "Baldy" Ewell (1817-1872) was a Captain in the First U. S. Dragoons, stationed in the Southwest in the 1850s • he resigned from the U.S. Army in 1861 to join the Confederacy • served in the Civil War as senior commander under Stonewall Jackson & Robert E. Lee • it has been argued that his decisions at the Battle of Gettysburg may have decided the outcome of that engagement
• during Ewell's service in the West, Gila Apache raids along the Southern Emigrant Route prompted a military response • he advocated unrestrained combat: "How the Devil can a soldier stop in the midst of battle and summon a jury of matrons to decide whether a redskin pouring bullets into the soldier is a woman or not." • the 1857 Bonneville Expedition, in which Ewell commanded about 300 men, engaged against Apaches at the Gila River
"…the June 27 fight... was short and sweet …Ewell walking away with the lion's share of the honors… Scarcely an Apache escaped. Nearly 40 warriors were killed or wounded and 45 women and children taken captive. … Ewell was freely acknowledged as the hero of the day; his unhesitating leap to action crushed the western Apaches and forced them to sue for peace." —“Robert E. Lee's Hesitant Commander”, Paul D. Casdorph
• From Lt. John Van Deusen Du Bois's account of the engagement: "An Indian was wounded and his wife carried him in her arms to the chaparral and was covering him with brush when the troops came upon them and killed them both... One fine looking Indian brave was captured and by Col. Bonneville's desire, or express command, was taken out with his hands tied and shot like a dog by a Pueblo Indian—not 30 yards from camp... May God grant that Indian fighting may never make me a brute or harden me so that I can act the coward in this way..." —“Journal of Arizona History”, Vo. 43, No. 2, Arizona Historical Society
• c. 1850, gold veins & a few gold nuggets were discovered around Ewell's Station • in the 1860s wildcatters found gold on both sides of the Dos Cabezas range • by 1862 claims were staked & worked near the mountains & in the Apache Pass area —“Index of Mining Properties”
• in 1866 Congress passed a mining act that proclaimed "mineral lands of the public domain... free and open to exploration and occupation" • in 1872 additional stimulus was provided to "promote mineral exploration and development… in the western United States" —“Congressional Research Service”
• in 1878 John Casey (c. 1834-1904), an immigrant from Ireland, staked the first important claim in the Dos Cabezas area • the Juniper, locally known as the "Casey Gold," was located just ~2 miles NE of Ewell's Spring • John & his brother Dan moved into a cabin at the site • by the end of the year a dozen employees were working the mine
• the news that Casey had struck pay dirt & word that a Southern Pacific RR station would soon be built at Willcox – just 14 mi. away – lured scores of prospectors, e.g., Simon Hansen (1852-1929), a recent immigrant from Denmark who filed 27 claims • with the arrival of the new settlers, a small school was erected • on 20 Oct, 1878, the Dos Cabezas Mining District was officially designated
• in 1879 the “Arizona Miner” reported rich silver & gold deposits & claimed a population at Ewell Springs of 2,000 • other accounts, however, suggest that prior to 1920 the local population probably never exceeded 300 —“The Persistence of Mining Settlements in the Arizona Landscape”, Jonathan Lay Harris, 1971
• amid the rapid growth of 1879, the Ewell Springs settlement gave way to Dos Cabezas, a town with its own post office located a bit uphill from Ewell • John Casey is generally considered its founder • Mississippi-born James Monroe Riggs (1835-1912), once a Lt. Col. in the Confederate Army, became Dos Cabezas' 1st postmaster & opened a store he named Traveler's Rest
• by 1880 the nascent town had ~30 adobe houses & 15 families • sixty-five voters were registered in 1882, the year the town's newspaper, the “Dos Cabezas Gold Note”, launched, then promptly closed • in 1884, 42 students enrolled in the town's school
• at its height, Dos Cabezas had ~50 buildings, 3 stores, 3 saloons, 2 dairies, carpenter shops, telegraphic facilities, a mercantile, barber shop, butcher, brewery, brickyard, hotel, dancehall, boarding house, blacksmith shop, 3 livery stables, 3 stamp mills for gold ore & about 300 residents though actually, the area's population was at least 1,500 counting prospectors, miners & other mining co. employees living in the nearby mountains & valleys —Books in Northport
• Dos Cabezas ("Two Heads") was often spelled & pronounced "Dos Cabezos" with an "o" replacing the 2nd "a" in "Cabezas" • the postmaster settled on both spellings, as seen in the town's postmarks • the English translation of Dos Cabezos is "Two Peaks," arguably a more accurate — if less poetic — description of the twin summits than the original • given that the erroneous version was only name registered at U.S. Post Office Department in Washington DC, the interchangeable spellings persisted well into the 20th c.
• in 1880 the railroad arrived in Arizona, a station was established at Willcox & a cranky Scotland-born miner, John Dare Emersley (1826-1899), arrived at Dos Cabezas to prospect for mineral deposits • J.D. was a grad of the U. of Edinburgh, a writer well-versed in science & a botanical collector with a drought-tolerant grass, muhlenbergia emersleyi (bull grass), named for him • was a correspondent for the Engineering & Mining Journal • several other magazines including Scientific American also published him
• according to a miner who knew him, Emersley was apparently a greedy – and unusually tall – claim jumper: "Every old settler in the Globe District remembers Emersley, a seven foot Scotchman who had more claims located than he could work, and jumped more than he could hold." -“Arizona Silver Belt” (Globe, AT), 06 Jan 1883
• the "Scotchman" soon found a gold deposit & staked about 20 claims • he built a cabin nearby at an elevation of ~6,000 ft., & lived a reclusive life • entered into a pact with God, vowing not to develop any of his claims unless he received a sign from above • nevertheless, the work legally required to retain title to his claims produced several tunnels, one, the Roberts, 160' long • the sign from God never materialized and while awaiting it, Emersley died of scurvy
• shortly thereafter “Starved Amid His Riches”, the story of J.D. Emersley, a religious recluse who lived & died on a "mountain of copper," appeared in newspapers throughout the country • Emersley willed his claims to the Lord to be used for the good of all mankind • though this final wish was never fulfilled, the "mountain of copper" story brought yet another wave of prospectors to the Mining District & sparked a local copper boom
• in 1899 a new town, Laub City, was being laid off at the mouth of Mascot Canyon, 2 mi. above Dos Cabezas • John A. Rockfellow (1858-1947) [photo], author of "The Log of an Arizona Trailblazer," performed the survey • Rockefeller's sister was Tucson architect Anne Graham Rockfellow (1866-1954), an MIT grad & designer of the landmark El Conquistador Hotel [photo]
• the townsite was near the Emersley claims, which had been acquired by Dos Cabezas Consolidated Mines • America's coast-to-coast electrification required countless miles of copper power lines, thus "copper camps" like Laub City proliferated & prospered • the town grew & by 1900 warranted its own post office
• Laub City was named for (and possibly by) Henry Laub (1858-1926), a Los Angeles investor born in Kentucky to German-Jewish immigrants • made his first fortune as a liquor merchandiser • later invested in mining, oil & Southeast Arizona real estate
"There is every reason to believe that Dos Cabezas will be one of the greatest mining districts of Arizona" —Henry Laub, 1902
• a worldwide surge in mining caused copper prices to fall as supply outstripped demand • several mining concerns colluded to restrict production in a failed attempt to stabilize the market • Consolidated Mines' financing subsequently dried up & by 1903 Laub City was a ghost town • Dos Cabezas also suffered from the mine closings but managed to hang on as some mines continued to operate
• in 1905 a Wales-born mining engineer, Capt. Benjamin W. Tibbey (1848-1935), arrived in town with a "Mr. Page" • Ben Tibbey's mining career began as a child in a Welch mine • Page was actually T.N. McCauley, a Chicagoan with a checkered career in investment & finance • the two surveyed the mining district • McCauley apparently remained, later claiming he had resided in Emersly's abandoned shack for 2 yrs. • he also quietly filed & acquired claims covering 600 acres
• in June, 1907 McCauley, organized the Mascot Copper Company with a capitalization of $10MM & began large scale development • euphoric reports of massive ore deposits appeared in the local press, e.g., "Many Thousands of Tons of Ore in Sight— Property Bids Fair to Become Arizona's Greatest Copper Producer"
• in 1909 Mascot acquired control of Dos Cabezas Consolidated Mines Co., the original Emersley claims that Laub's group had purchased • McCauley launched a campaign to sell Mascot stock at $3/share, later $4 & finally $5 • his extravagant promotions included investor & press junkets to the mine in private railroad cars, wining & dining at the property's Hospitality House & a lavish stockholders' banquet at the Fairmont Hotel In San Francisco, with the company logo, a swastika, prominently on display [photo]
"The management of the Mascot has to its credit a remarkable series of sensational ore discoveries and few, if any other copper mining companies can match their enviable record in point of actual tonnage when at the same stage of development." —Bisbee Daily Review, 10 Mar 1910
• though stock analysts familiar with McCauley's history as a con artist cautioned their clients, by August, 1910 reports had sales at $300,000 • shareholders owned 25% of the company, the remainder was retained by the promoters
• while actual mining & ore shipments were limited, the company announced that a store, a boarding house, sleeping quarters for employees, & a new office building had been completed • in 1912, as Mascot continued its costly build out & occasionally shipped ore, Arizona Territory gained statehood
• in 1914, the company launched the Mascot Townsite & Realty Co. to sell lots in a new town they were developing in Mascot Canyon:
"UNUSUAL OPPORTUNITY FOR PERSONAL PROFIT By the Purchase of a Lot In the MASCOT TOWNSITE This new town should have a population of 5000 within a few years." - May 1915
• by 1915 the town of Mascot had been established • homes accessed by winding paths rose one above another on terraces • residents pitched in to build a community hall in a single day • a band called the "Merry Miners" was organized to play at Saturday-night dances
"King Copper, the magic community builder, has once more raised his burnished scepter—and once more a tiny mining camp, a mere speck of Arizona landscape, has received the industrial stimulus which should shortly transform it into a factor to be reckoned with among the bustling little cities of the southwest… The tiny mining camp of the past was Dos Cabezas. The coming city is Mascot. —El Paso Herald, 25 Jun 1915
• within 10 yrs. the town would boast ~100 buildings & a population of ~800 • its children were educated at Mascot School & a second school, with 4 teachers between them • many of the town's boys "grew up panning gold to earn money" —Arizona Republic, 04 Mar 1971
• though most of the area's Mexican residents lived in Dos Cabezas, a few, like Esperanza Montoya Padilla (1915-2003), resided in Mascot:
"I was born in Mascot, Arizona, on August 28, 1915… In the early days, when I was a young child, Mascot was very built up; it was blooming. It was also a beautiful place. There were a lot of Cottonwood and oak trees on the road going up towards the mine and streams coming down the mountain. The school was on that road along with a grocery store and even a pool hall. There was a confectionery in the pool hall where they sold goodies like ice cream and candy. There was a community center on the hill where they showed movies. I remember silent movies with Rudolph Valentino. Even the people from Dos Cabezas came up to Mascot for the movies.
At Christmas they put up a tree in the community center, and all the children in town would get their Christmas presents. There was a road coming up from Dos Cabezas to Mascot and all kinds of houses along that road all the way up to the mine. Our house was on that road. I remember a time when everything was caballos – horses pulling wagons. The cars came later of course. —Songs My Mother Sang to Me
• on January 27, 1915, a celebration in Willcox marked the beginning of construction of the Mascot & Western Railroad • a large crowd watched a jubilant T. N. McCauley turn the first shovelful of dirt • the final spike - a copper one - was driven 15 June, 1915 at The Mascot townsite, followed by a "monstrous barbecue" for 4,000 guests [photos] • activities included a tour of a mine and the company's "2-mile" (10,6000') aerial tramway [photo]
"I feel that only great and lasting good can come of this project. It not only means that the Mascot, in itself, is established but it means that many people, who have known Arizona only a place in the desert before, may take home with them the idea of permanency which we enjoy in this great commonwealth." — H.A. Morgan, Bisbee Daily Review, 27 Jun 1915
• in 1916 a drought ravaged the mining district — wells dried up, cattle died & many mines shut down • on 1 July 1917, American Smelting & Refining took out a 20 yr. lease on the Mascot property only to relinquish it less than a yr. later, presumably because the operation was losing money
• with Mascot Copper facing insolvency, McCauley reorganized it via merger • the "new" Central Copper Co. began operations 15 Feb 1919 • McCauley devised a multi-level marketing scheme where stockholders became stock salesmen • the price was set at $0.50/share, purchases limited to $100/person with $10/mo. financing available • the salesmen, using portable hand-cranked projectors, screened movies of the property at small gatherings of prospective buyers
• reportedly 70,000 stockholders invested & were stunned as the price dropped 50% when the stock hit the market • lawsuits were filed • in a display ad published in several newspapers, McCauley denied each charge against the company
• by Jan, 1924, McCauley reported $4,500,000 spent on new construction • by 1926 400 employees were on the payroll, but output of the mines proved marginal • in 1927 stockholders were informed that falling copper & silver prices dictated that ore extraction be reduced to the minimum necessary to cover operating expenses
• the following year the enterprise was taken over by Southwestern Securities Corporation, a holding company • by late 1929 the payroll was down to 26 employees • on February 29, 1932, Southwestern Securities purchased the Mascot Company at public auction for $100,000 • McCauley promptly moved to Tucson, was implicated in a bank scandal, fled to California then disappeared without a trace —“A history of Willcox, Arizona, and Environs”, Vernon Burdette Schultz
• with the failure of Central Copper [photo] & exodus of miners, Dos Cabezas began its final descent, although not devoid of diversions • in spite of frequent mine closings & the onset of the Great Depression, the town fielded a team in the Sulphur Springs Valley Baseball League, which also included a squad representing a C.C.C. camp • Willcox had 2 teams in the league, the Mexicans & the Americans
• among the dwindling Dos Cabezas population was Jack Howard, the man who "sharpened the first tools that opened up the first gold discoveries of Dos Cabezas district" & spent his last 30 yrs. with Mary Katherine Cummings, history's "Big Nose Kate" [photo], memorialized in movies as Katie Elder —“Tombstone Daily Prospector”
• John Jessie “Jack” Howard (1845-1930) was born in Nottingham, England • as one of the first miners in the Dos Cabezas mining district, he is memorialized by Howard Peak & Howard Canyon • lived in the hills near Dos Cabezas • remembered as a crusty churl who hid in a manhole behind his shack to fire at intruders as they rode into range • on the other hand, some of his fellow Dos Cabezans considered him friendly • divorced his wife Mary who, according to court records, "displayed a vile and disagreeable disposition coupled with frequent outbursts of the most violent temper until she made his life a burden he could stand no longer.”
"…witnesses testified about Mary’s barrage of insults that included publicly calling Howard a white-livered son of a b—. She kept a filthy house, never washed dishes or clothing and even threatened to burn down his house and poison his stock." —“He Lived with Big Nose Kate”, True West
• Mary Katherine "Big Nose Kate" Horony (1850-1940) was born in Pest, Hungary, 2nd oldest daughter of Hungarian physician Miklós Horony • emigrated to the U.S. with her family in 1860 • placed in a foster home after her parents died • stowed away on a steamboat to St. Louis, where she became a prostitute • in 1874 was fined for working as a "sporting woman" (prostitute) in a "sporting house" (brothel) in Dodge City, KS, run by Nellie "Bessie" Ketchum, wife of James Earp [video (8:59)]
• moved to Fort Griffin, TX in 1876 • met dentist John "Doc" Holliday, who allegedly said he considered Kate his intellectual equal • Kate introduced Holliday to Wyatt Earp • Doc opened a dental practice but spent most of his time gambling & drinking
• the couple fought regularly, sometimes violently • according to Kate they married in Valdosta, Georgia • moved on to AZ Territory where Kate worked as a prostitute at The Palace Saloon in Prescott • they parted ways but she rejoined Holliday in Tombstone [photos] • claimed to have witnessed the 26 Oct 1881 Gunfight at the O.K. Corral from her window at C.S. Fly's Boarding House
• 19 years later Kate, nearly 50 [photo] & divorced from an abusive husband, was long past her romance with Doc & too old for prostitution • in June 1900, while employed at the Rath Hotel [photo] in Cochise, AT, she answered a want ad for a housekeeper at $20/mo. plus room & board • the ad had been placed by Jack Howard • Kate lived with him as his employee ("servant" according to the 1900 census) until 1930
• on 3 January, Kate walked 3 mi. to the home of Dos Cabezas Postmaster Edwin White.
“Jack died last night, and I stayed up with him all night.”
• Howard was buried in an unmarked grave in Dos Cabezas Cemetery • after living alone for 2 yrs. Kate sold the homestead for $535.30 • In 1931 she wrote Arizona Gov. George W.P. Hunt, requesting admission to the Arizona Pioneers Home at Prescott • although foreign born thus not eligible for admission, she claimed Davenport, Iowa as her birthplace & was accepted • she died 5 days shy of her 90th birthday • was buried under the name "Mary K. Cummings" in the Home's Cemetery—“Big Nose Kate, Independent Woman of the Wild West” —Kyla Cathey
• the Mascot Mine closed in 1930
• the Mascot & WesternRailroad discontinued operations in 1931 — the tracks were taken up four years later
• 1940s Dos Cabezas photos
• in 1949, the U.S. Postal Dept. corrected its spelling of the town's post office from Dos Cabezos to Dos Cabezas
• mid-20th c. Dos Cabezas family [photos]
• the Dos Cabezas's post office was discontinued in 1960
• in 1964 the town's population was down to 12
• McCauley's Mascot Hospitality House was repurposed as part of the Dos Cabezas Spirit & Nature Retreat Bed & Breakfast [photo]
• today, Dos Cabezas is considered a ghost town, its cemetery the town's main attraction
• aka Hindu Palace, a private residence designed by Miami Beach architect August Geiger (1887-1968) • known for his Mediterranean Revival-style buildings & his projects w/ "Mr. Miami Beach," Carl Fisher • later the Dade County School Board architect
• the building's design was loosely based on a temporary set built for the motion picture Lucky Charm • the film, said to be one of the first shot in Miami, was produced by Fox, directed by Richard Stanton & starred William Farnum & Anna Luther
• part of the movie was shot at Spring Garden, a new residential development on the north bank of the Miami River • advertised as "the most exclusive subdivision in Miami" (and now the oldest on the river) • lot sales continued during the filming
• Spring Garden developer John Seybold (1872-1940), an immigrant from Germany, was a prominent Miami baker & businessman • knowing the publicity value of a Hollywood movie shooting in a small town of ~30,000 residents, he ran an ad in the Miami Metropolis inviting the public to visit the shoot (and hopefully check out the lots for sale) • a large crowd arrived & was horrified as the leading man, Farnum, narrowly escaped immolation when a grass hut collapsed in flames • the movie, now considered lost, was released in 1919 as The Jungle Trail
• after the shoot, with the film's large temple set still fresh in the town's collective memory, Seybold built this permanent version beside the Seybold Canal turning basin, where the temporary one had stood • the exotic new residence became a Spring Garden landmark, its signature cupolas soon echoed by the nearby 12th Ave. bridge tender houses
• When Seybold purchased the Spring Garden property in 1913, it already had a colorful history • from the late 1890s to the early yrs. of the 20th c., the point at the junction of the Miami River & Wagner Creek – now Spring Garden Point Park — was the site of Alligator Joe's Crocodile and Alligator Farm, a tourist attraction owned by Warren Frazee (1873-1915), aka Alligator Joe • his main business was shipping animal hides & eggs to U.S. markets, e.g., 600 alligator hides & 2,892 alligator eggs shipped in 1898 • won $200 staging an alligator vs. crocodile fight (the gator won) —Florida's Warren Frazee — The Original Alligator Joe, Jim Broton, Tequesta, Issue 68, 2008
• when the Hindu Temple was completed, Seybold immediately sold it to Lillian and Charles O. Richardson, who had lived in Miami since 1897 • their new residence was close to a cluster of popular attractions on the north fork of the Miami River, one owned by Richardson • successive generations of the family occupied the house until 1990
• Charles O. Richardson (1868-1935), actor & theater operator, is said to have exhibited the state's first motion picture • his Miami tourist venue began as Richardson Grove (aka Richardson Plantation), founded in 1896 by his father, Otis Richardson (c. 1819-1901) • located on the S. bank of the river, close to today's 25th Ave. • in the renamed Musa Isle Fruit Farm, the word Musa being the botanical genus of bananas • became a favorite stop on river tours
• in 1907 Richardson sold the farm to John A. Roop (1866-1962), who dropped "Fruit Farm" from Musa Isle's name • Richardson returned to the theater business • purchased the Alcazar Theater & attempted to provide Miami's 1st air-conditioning by raising the floor & installing a fan to blow air, cooled by ice blocks, through holes under the seats —The Early Years Upriver by Donald C. Gaby, Tequesta 48 (1988)
• Musa Isle's new owner, erected an observation tower at what is now NW 22nd Ave • in 1919, he leased a section of the grove to a Seminole named Willie Willie (c. 1886-1929), presumably to compensate for reduced income following a 1917 hard freeze that wiped out the the crop & damaged his fruit trees • the move was also a response to a Coppinger's, a competitor on the river who had opened a Seminole village that was attracting the tourist boats • in 1921, on his newly leased land, Willie Willie established the Musa Isle Seminole Village & Trading Post, where trappers brought their bounty for sale to wholesalers
• Willie Willie was unique in that he was comfortable among whites & in fact married to a non-Indian • outside of the village he wore stylish clothes • his frequent speeding tickets warranted notices in the Miami Herald • profits from his various enterprises were an estimated $50K annually, equal to about $600K in 2016 dollars • “[He] had more money than he could use. He married outside his tribe and burned up the highways in his high priced car. However, Alan W. Davis, a hunter who became the foreman of the Musa Isle Indian Vilage, and Lucien A. Spencer, the special commissioner of the Seminole Agency, identified the sale of egret plumes as the business in which Willie Willie made his real money." —The Enduring Seminoles: From Alligator Wrestling to Ecotourism, Patsy West
• in 1911-12, Cardale Resort, with a skating rink, dance floor & the ~90 foot observation tower, opened in Cardale Grove (formerly Richardson Grove) at Musa Isle • the telescope-equipped tower offered expansive views of Miami & the adjacent Everglades • guests arrived at Cardale Landing via the Cardale boat (aka Car' dale, Car Dale)
• horticulturist & landscape designer Henry Coppinger Sr. (1848-1924), an Irish immigrant, arrived in S. Florida c. 1898 • in 1911 he purchased 10 acres of south bank riverfront property near Musa Isle • after trading for an adjacent, less rocky parcel at S.W. 19th Ave., he created a botanical garden to grow, hybridize & sell exotic plants • named the venture Coppinger's Tropical Gardens • Henry Coppinger hybrids soon decorated homes throughout the city
• in 1914 the attraction opened to tourists, featuring a Seminole camp that was already on the property when it was purchased • in the early 1900s, canals built to drain the Everglades had decimated hunting areas, diminishing the Seminoles' main source of income: animal hides & pelts • remaining as an exhibit at Coppinger's offered the Indians a decent living —Memories of Old South Florida, Don Boyd • —The Florida Anthropologist, Dec. 1981, Dorothy Downs
• the attraction expanded, becoming Coppinger's Tropical Gardens, Seminole Indian Village and Alligator Farm • Coppinger's Pirate's Cove added alligator wrestling in 1919, introduced by "The Alligator Boy," Henry Coppinger Jr. (1898-1976) • said to have been the second white child born in Miami —Henry Coppinger Jr." By Chris Mayhew, Palmpedia • video: Seminole Alligator Wrestling (2:28)
• "Chief" Jack Tigertail (1872-1922), a winter resident at Coppinger's, was murdered there in 1922 • this was big news in Miami because Jack was well known there, especially after leading a rescue team into the Everglades To find a missing surveying party • after a sensational trial, a white man was convicted of the crime, then acquitted on appeal • although the case was never solved, Indians at Coppinger's suspected Tigertail's cousin, Charlie Billie • the "Chief" was the first Miami Seminole buried in a white cemetery —The Enduring Seminoles: From Alligator Wrestling to Ecotourism, Patsy West
• after his death, the camp's name was changed to Tigertail Indian Village, & advertised as "home of the late Chief Tigertail," at least until 1926 • a towering image of Jack Tigertail soon greeted motorists entering the young city of Hialeah —The Long Sleep of Jack Tigertail, Stuart McIver, Sun Sentinel, August, 1993
• Hindu Temple designated a City of Miami Historic Site, 1991 • Spring Garden designated a City of Miami Historic District, 1997