Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Panning For Gold

My great grandfather left Plymouth, Massachusetts to make is fortune in the California gold fields.  Not many of the men who followed this particular dream stuck it rich as witnessed in this image.  They made enough to survive until they could find other work.

goldpanningcalifornia

Friday, August 21, 2009

The Old Tin Type

Found an old tin-type photo of my great grandmother.  Too bad the image continues to degrade, hence a hi-res scan to preserve it.

ALDURAHM

 

Saturday, August 15, 2009

The Women of Ingalls

The champion welders of Ingalls shipyards during Word War II.

womens_welding_champions_of_Ingalls_shipyard

Warship Diagram

The warships of days gone by weren’t made of metal, but we have to pity the folks that had to find and cut all of that wood.

_148, 6/13/05, 1:31 PM,  8C, 4440x4536 (60+1068), 75%, Default Settin,  1/40 s, R66.2, G49.3, B63.2

Monday, August 10, 2009

Almost Missing – Incredibly Strong

A four pound brick sits on top of a small block of aero gel; a compound so lightweight that it is almost appears to be invisible.

Aero gel block

The Notorious Albert Tirrell

Albert J. Tirrell just couldn’t stay out of trouble.  Acquitted in the murder trial of Maria Bickford by the loosest interpretation of the law, he was soon in trouble again. 

This time he robbed a group of sailors on the U.S. warship, “Constitution”.  He was lucky to have survived this encounter as well.

Tirrell Albert J Trial 2

Tirrell Albert J Trial 1

See the stories here.

Alfred Farrar Marries Emma Sawtill

Alfred Farrar who was born in England married Emma Sawtill who was born in Virginia on 7 Jun 1869 in Macon, Missouri.

Their marriage entry in the County Marriage book shows a unique hand drawing associated with it.

Farrar_Alfred_Sawtill_Emma_marriage_certificate

Saturday, August 8, 2009

Lusitania Sunk by German Torpedoes

Known as the “Queen of the Seas”, the ship Lusitania was sunk by German torpedoes on 7 May 1915 off the Irish coast, killing 1500 or more people.

The sinking was front page news in the Boston Journal the following day. 

Click to see the full image.

Lusitania sunk 8 May 1915 

Battle of Antietam on Ancestors Farm

The fury of the terrible Civil War Battle of Antietam in Maryland raged across my Anderson ancestors farm on the south side of the Potomac in Virginia (now West Virginia).

Battle of Antietam

 

Antietam Battle Map

 

Friday, August 7, 2009

Lincoln Visiting Civil War Staff

The tall President Lincoln visiting his senior officers in the field toward the end of the Civil War.  Note the Ghost on the far right side of the photo.  The legs are clearly visible, while the torso and head fade as you follow the body up. 

The effect was probably created by someone moving from their original position during the typical long-exposure required for photos in that era.

Civil-war-Lincoln

 

Brakeman Loses His Leg

Bernard Featherstone lost his leg in an unfortunate train accident in Wyoming.


Gold Nuggets Still Found in California

There is no reason to break your back looking for gold. Just use your chickens to do the work.


Farmers Feud

The Featherstones and Richardsons ended their water rights argument on Sept. 20th in Bonne Terre, Missouri.


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