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Forrest Stokes, Chuck McCracken, Joyce (David) McCracken, Barbara Knudsen, Oct. 1951. Barbara was my mother.
“North Park” is a magnificent 42 room Queen Anne style mansion built on what is the most elevated section in the Borough of Essendon along Woodland Street. Still in remarkably original condition both inside and out, with its gardens well maintained, “North Park” is one of Melbourne’s grandest mansions and is representative of “Marvellous Melbourne”.
Built between 1888 and 1889 for Melbourne brewing magnate Alexander McCracken (1856 – 1915) and his family, the mansion was designed by architects Oakden, Addison and Kemp. The contract was let to builder D. Sinclair for £10,750. The foundations of the house are of bluestone and above that, the walls are faced with picked red Northcote bricks, relieved by dressing and bands. The residence is an excellent example of Federation Queen Anne style, as seen by the asymmetry in its design, terracotta ridge cresting, prominent gables and half-timbering to gables, and the tall chimneys. The entrance is central and reached by a wide flight of Malmsbury steps. The roof treatment is elaborate, with dormer windows, a steep central pavilion, cresting, and a widow’s walk. The roof of “North Park” still has its original imported Marseilles terracotta roof tiles made by the French company, Guichard Carvin de Cie, St Andrew. Apparently these unique tiles feature the firm's signature bee imprint on each one. Alterations and extensions were undertaken in 1906, including the complete redecoration of the interior to the design of Billing, Son and Peck. One magnificent edition to the house as part of the 1906 extension was a ballroom. It has a high domed, metal Arts and Crafts ceiling, Art Nouveau stained glass windows and French doors leading out into the garden to the estate’s ornamental fish pond, which is still as it was in 1900 when it was created. The ballroom was built by Alexander McCracken for the debut into society of his favourite daughter.
The estate grounds retain much of its original form, with a sweeping drive from the front gates on Woodland Street and the front of the house overlooking three curved terraces which are symmetrical about a central axis with the main towered entrance. The planting is a fine example of the Gardenesque style developed by John Claudius Loudon (1783 – 1843) in the early Nineteenth Century to display plants for their individual beauty. The grounds contain many mature trees which were planted when “North Park” was first constructed including; a pair of Himalayan Cedars, cypress trees, palm trees (almost as tall as the house itself) and a huge Moreton Bay Fig. All are surrounded by beds full of perennials which border a number of terraced lawns.
Alexander McCracken died at “North Park” in 1915. The mansion was sold to Harvey Patterson (1848 -1931), an executive of the Broken Hill Proprietary Company, in the early 1920s. He and his wife lived there for a short while after his retirement. “North Park” was then purchased by the Society for Saint Columban in December 1923. It is them we have to thank for the house remaining in such excellent condition. Most of the rooms are still in-tact with original interior decoration and furniture.
When I visited and asked permission to photograph “North Park”, I was amazed by the completeness of the interior. It was almost like stepping back in time. The hallway still has its heavy Arts and Crafts wallpaper, tiled floor and original Victorian hall furniture. It is illuminated by a group of stained glass windows above the stairway is the glory of the house. Their theme is the golden age of ancient Greece. A smaller set of windows shows the golden age of ancient Ireland. I would dearly love to have photographed them, but that was not something the Father would have permitted.
©Lela Bouse-McCracken ::: "This species forages by probing and gleaning primarily in mudflats and lakeshores, but also in very shallow waters near shores; it seeks out crustaceans, arthropods mollusks, aquatic invertebrates and small fish." ~ Wikipedia
They are also one of my very favorite shorebirds. They always appear so elegant and refined...that is until they start wading around in the mud. ;-)
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© Lela Bouse-McCracken
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This beauty happened to be on the opposite side of the road from us and I really needed to be able to see it better...so I jumped out of the 4Runner. That was working out okay until a ranger drove up & I heard from his microphone/loud speaker...."you must be at least 100 yards from any bear." Oopsie. ;-)
LONDON, 0N - SEPTEMBER 18: Mackenzie PGA Tour Canada Freedom 55 Financial Championship - Round Two- Highland Country Club . September 18, 2015 in London, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Mackenzie PGA Tour Canada) *** Local Caption ***
© Lela Bouse-McCracken
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While bedecked in bright breeding plumage, Great Blue Herons perform elaborate courtship displays involving extended necks, bill raising and snapping, moaning goo-goo calls, preening, circular flights, twig shaking and transfers, crest raising, bill duels and more. All this courtship forms a strong pair bond, which the newly paired birds will need to raise their young." -www.bio.umass.edu
They look pretty happy, don't they. ;-)
The Adare site was bought by Governor Hindmarsh's family in 1837. The Cudmore family bought it in 1891 and made extensive additions which resulted in an impressive layout including 19 rooms, a cellar, tower, balcony and three turrets. The house was completed in 1893 and named "Adare" after the Cudmore family's home in Ireland.
Much of the materials used in the renovation were shipped from England. The Ballroom ceiling features an etched glass skylight.
Mr Cudmore used the tower room as a museum for his many collections.
Since 1954, Adare has been owned by the Uniting Church.
State Heritage ID 16342
© Lela Bouse-McCracken
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This is one of my all time favorite waterfalls. I've shot it in fall and summer, but this is the first time to shoot it with snow. Even with heavy overcast skies today, all that snow around was going overboard on the light situation. To help hold some of it back, I used my Singh-Ray Galen Rowell Neutral Density 3G-SS filter in addition to the Circular Polarizer. I think it helped somewhat to get what I wanted with the longer exposure on the water.
Anyone with hints for shooting slow shutter waterfalls with heavy snow cover.... I'd be happy to listen. :)
A cast iron shoe that was used by forest workers to transport trees through the bush after they were harvested.
St Mary's Catholic Church, McCracken, KS - The town of McCracken is located 15 miles NW of LaCrosse, KS. Descendents of early Irish emigrants from Scotland, New York, Pennsylvania, Illionis, Iowa and South Dakota settled in McCracken area and wanted a place to pray. As early as 1884, the rist mass was held in a Sod house owned by Charles McGaughey and then eventually moved to a small stone house owned by Thomas A McKittrick. By 1885 there was talk of building a church and in 1886 lumber was hauled across the praire from Fort Hays and the 1st church of Ness County was constructed. On the Feast of the Nativity of Our Lady, Wednesday, September 8, 1886 assembled for the dedication. As the congregation continued to increase, once again they decided to build a larger/sturdier church. The stone was quarried from James Swanzy's farm approx. 6 miles SE of the frame church and a new native linestone church 35' x 70' was built and dedicated on May 25, 1905 - the old frame church was converted into a hall. It was decided to move the church to the City of McCracken and ground was broken on April 1922. The new church was to measure 115' x 56' and the stone from the rural church would be used as a basement structure for the new church, with the rest being of brick. On May 4, 1926 the new church was dedicated. A 100th anniversary was celebrated September 20 & 21, 1986. The last official Mass was held Tuesday, September 15, 1998. It was suggested by the Diocese that the Church be leveled. The parish members voted to form a Not-For-Profit Corporation so that the Church & Rectory can be saved and maintained - St. Mary's McCracken Heritage Association, PO Box 157, McCracken, KS 67556-0157, they say they have no problems if people would like to contribute to help preserve the long heritage of their church.
McCracken is located on State Hwy 4, has several family homes, still active Post Office, United Methodist Church, a service station, Public Library, McCracken Historical Museum. It also has the highly rated McCracken Rodeo which is held in early July, local high school reunions are scheduled in conjunction with the rodeo. The McCracken Grocery store is closed. All their schools are closed and the children attend nearby schools. The Historical Museum is housed in the Old Rock Jail on Main Street. The McCracken Hotel, which was used in the filming of "Paper Moon" was torn down several years ago and most of the remains were going to be burned. A resident of McCracken though something should be saved from the hotel, so in the Public Library is a very interesting old-styled door handle from one of the rooms, neatly preserved and displayed /with a brass plaque. The Library also has several interesting books about the surrounding area, if your interested in the history of the area.
2020 Thomas C2 in service till September 2nd 2025 bus was involved in a accident and totaled. As of October 2nd the bus is at Copart in Sikeston Missouri awaiting auction.
La mostra dell’artista americano John McCracken, inaugurata lo scorso 22 Febbraio, si estenderà fino al 19 Giugno 2011 al Museo di Arte Contemporanea del Castello di Rivoli, Torino e si intitolerà Illuminations. Il programma prevede tre incontri in cui saranno presentati autori e artisti perfettamente aderenti alla visione misteriosa, minimalista ed enigmatica di John McCracken. Damiano Monaco realizzerà tre documentari, valorizzando e dando risalto al luogo suggestivo del Castello di Rivoli che oggi rappresenta il più grande contenitore di arte contemporanea, ma anche per dar testimonianza dell’importante produzione. Gli incontri saranno:
► Musica elettroacustica di Osvaldo Coluccino. Domenica 17 aprile 2011 dalle ore 11.00 presso Manica Lunga – Castello di Rivoli
► R.A.R.A film di Sylvano Bussotti. Giovedì 5 maggio 2011 ore 21 presso Teatro – Castello di Rivoli
► Un concerto per pianoforte di Alfonso Alberti. Sabato 28 maggio 2011 ore 21 presso Manica Lunga ‐ Castello di Rivoli