Via Flickr:
From the Natchez Trace Parkway, the bridge at Birdsong Hollow gives those willing to take a short walk, a stunning view of Highway 96; this is looking north.
Sunday, November 17, 2013
Down & North
UP2002
Via Flickr:
Here is the 2002 Winter Olympics heritage unit from Union Pacific, again. I just isolated the colors on UP2002 and desaturated the rest of the photo.
UP2002
Via Flickr:
Here is the 2002 Winter Olympics heritage unit from Union Pacific, again. I just isolated the colors on UP2002 and desaturated the rest of the photo.
The Red
Via Flickr:
This photo was taken along Laurel Hill Lake, which is just off the Natchez Trace Parkway. There seems to be some ambiguity as to whether or not it lies on NPS land with the Parkway.
Winter Olympics in Motion
Via Flickr:
Here is Union Pacific's heritage locomotive #2002 with the Winter Olympics paint scheme as it came through Bells, TN on 11-17-2013.
Saturday, November 16, 2013
Friday, November 8, 2013
Meriwether Lewis Site
Via Flickr:
"The Corps of Discovery
When Thomas Jefferson was looking for a strong, bold leader to explore the northwest in search of an all-water connection between the Missouri River and the Pacific Ocean, he found an eager volunteer in his personal secretary, Meriwether Lewis. Jefferson agreed that Lewis was the man for the job, and on May 14, 1804, the Corps of Discovery left St. Louis.
The 2.3 year tour failed to find a continuous waterway to the Pacific, but it succeeded spectacularly in accumulating massive amounts of geographical, cultural, and biological information. This information, though familiar to the resident American Indians and the French and British trappers in the northwest, was previously unknown to scientists.
After the Expedition
After the expedition returned home, Jefferson rewarded Lewis with the governorship of the Louisiana Territory. As the presidency changed, so did politics. Several of the bills that Lewis submitted to the Department of War for payment were questioned, and Lewis set out from St. Louis (the capital of the Louisiana Territory) toward Washington to defend them.
Part of Lewis's route took him along a portion of the Natchez Trace. During the early morning of October 11th, while staying in Grinder's Stand, Lewis died of gunshot wounds. Did he commit suicide, or was he murdered? The debate still goes on today.
The Memorial
Meriwether Lewis was buried near Grinder's Stand, and, in 1848, the State of Tennessee erected a memorial to honor him. A simple erect, broken shaft reaches above the stone base, symbolizing a life cut short. The memorial includes several inscriptions, one in Latin. "Immaturus obi; sed tu felicior annos vive meos: Bona Republica! vive tuos." "I died before my time, but thou O great and good Republic, live out my years while you live out your own." To see the Lewis Monument, visit the Meriwether Lewis Site at milepost 385.9 on the Natchez Trace Parkway.
There is currently interest by a private organization to exhume the body of Meriwether Lewis. No decision has been made, or will be made, by the National Park Service until compliance documents are completed according to the National Environmental Policy Act."
Taken from www.nps.gov/natr/historyculture/meriwether-lewis.htm as it appeared on 11/08/2013.
Jackson Falls
Via Flickr:
I really don't have a good description of the waterfall. Just take your time and walk the trail to see it and it's a rewarding view.
Watch for snakes!
Tuesday, November 5, 2013
Insta-success!
Please help me win the Best of October 2013 Challenge on @twenty20app so I can get my work featured! Click the link in my bio to vote for me - I have until tomorrow so every little bit helps. :) Thank you everybody!
http://twenty20.com/challenges/best-of-october-2013?user=kevin33040
Monday, November 4, 2013
Old Tobacco Farm
Via Flickr:
"Tobacco Farm - You see here a typical early 1900s tobacco farm. A 10 minute loop walk takes you through a field to the barn where you see tobacco hanging to dry.
Old Trace Drive - From here you may drive north on a narrow two-mile section of the old original Natchez Trace and meet the parkway on the other end. Your slower pace may take you back in time and let you enjoy views of the valley below."
Taken from ow.ly/qtoKs as it appeared on 11/04/2013.
Sunday, November 3, 2013
Golden Tribute
Via Flickr:
During the bicentennial celebration, "[o]ver 2000 visitors and volunteers honored the contributions of soldiers from the War of 1812 over Memorial Day weekend at the Gordon House Historic Site on the Natchez Trace Parkway. Volunteers and representatives from 15 living history associations gathered to commemorate a historic troop "muster" for the War of 1812. In the years leading up to the war, both militia volunteers and Army regulars would gather during "muster days" for military training. The Natchez Trace was a major travel corridor during the War of 1812 as troops under the command of Andrew Jackson marched to and from conflicts along the southern coast."
The above was taken from www.nps.gov/natr/parknews/successful-muster-to-kick-off-w... as it appeared on November 3, 2013. Edits are so noted.
Double Arches
Via Flickr:
"The last segment of the Natchez Trace Parkway's Double Arch Bridge [was] put into place on October 6, 1993. The $11 million, 1,572-foot–long bridge carries the parkway over Route 96 near Franklin, Tennessee. It was the first precast segmental concrete arch bridge to be built in the United States. (These bridges are more cost-efficient than traditional ones, because workers at the bridge site simply need to assemble concrete pieces that have already been cast.)
The Natchez Trace Parkway is not just famous for its sleek, modern bridge; on the contrary, the road has been around and in use for thousands of years. It was a well-worn trail through Choctaw and Chickasaw territory (along with a handful of prehistoric Native American mounds) that connected the southern Mississippi River with the salt licks of central Tennessee. Starting at the end of the 18th century, the Trace became the primary route north for the famous "Kaintucks," farmers and boatmen who floated produce, coal and livestock from the Ohio Valley down the Mississippi to markets in Natchez and New Orleans. Once they got there, they sold their boats for lumber and trudged back home. (The 500-mile trip from Natchez to Nashville took about 35 days on foot; on a horse, it only took about 20 to 25 days.) In 1800, the Natchez Trace became a national mail road. It became obsolete, however, once steamboats made it possible for people and goods to travel up the Mississippi River as well as down.
Since 1938, the National Park Service has been paving the Natchez Trace a little bit at a time, turning it into a scenic modern highway. At the Franklin crossing, engineers had to figure out how to elevate the bridge over Route 96 and the densely wooded valley below while preserving the natural beauty of the site. Engineer Eugene Figg settled on an open, double-arched bridge that supports its deck without spandrel columns, preserving most of the view across the valley. The first arch is symmetrical and has a span of 582 feet and a rise of 145 feet. (That is, the bridge is 145 feet above the highway beneath it.) The second arch, thanks to the elevated topography at the bridge's southern end, is not symmetrical: It has a span of 462 feet and a rise of 102 feet. The arches are made of 122 hollow boxes, each precast nearby in Franklin. They were assembled in what engineers call "progressive cantilever," with steel cables holding them together until each one was finished. The foundation and vertical piers were put together more traditionally: They were cast on-site as they were built.
The bridge officially opened on March 22, 1994 and the Natchez Trace Parkway was finally complete."
The above was taken from www.history.com/this-day-in-history/natchez-trace-parkway... as it appeared on November 3, 2013. Edits are so noted.
Monday, October 28, 2013
Dusk at the Gazebo
Via Flickr:
This was taken during the "Light" exhibit at Cheekwood Botanical Garden, although this was not part of the exhibit. Visit www.cheekwood.org to find out more about Cheekwood.
Monday, October 21, 2013
Field of Light
Via Flickr:
"Field of Light submerges the viewer within a landscape of 20,000 lighted glass spheres, each rising from the ground on a slender stem. This is the largest Field of Light expanse Munro has ever created in a rolling landscape, and is designed to utilize the existing pathways in the garden to allow people to wander through it and view it from various different perspectives.
'…the Field of Light is a personal symbol for the good things in life.' - Bruce Munro"
The above information was taken from lightatcheekwood.com/exhibition.html exactly as it appeared on 10/21/2013.
Water Towers
Via Flickr:
"Water-Towers is comprised of 40 structures built out of more than 10,000 one-liter recyclable plastic bottles filled with water, laser-cut wood layers, and fiber optics connected to LED projectors and sound system. This installation beckons visitors to immerse themselves in the spaces between the towers to explore the spectacle of light and sounds."
The above information was taken from lightatcheekwood.com/exhibition.html exactly as it appeared on 10/21/2013.
Blue Moon
Via Flickr:
"The dry lake within the Japanese garden is an intimate space, set in a valley of rounded hills. The Blue Moon is 5’ in diameter and appears as a giant hovering moon of flickering icy blues."
The above information was taken from lightatcheekwood.com/exhibition.html exactly as it appeared on 10/21/2013.
Field of Light
Via Flickr:
"Field of Light submerges the viewer within a landscape of 20,000 lighted glass spheres, each rising from the ground on a slender stem. This is the largest Field of Light expanse Munro has ever created in a rolling landscape, and is designed to utilize the existing pathways in the garden to allow people to wander through it and view it from various different perspectives.
'…the Field of Light is a personal symbol for the good things in life.' - Bruce Munro"
The above information was taken from lightatcheekwood.com/exhibition.html exactly as it appeared on 10/21/2013.
Light Reservation
Via Flickr:
"Light Reservation is an assembly of tipi-like structures made from spent fluorescent tubes.
'The installation is about my enthusiasm for the imagination; but I also hope that Light Reservation presents people with an opportunity to ponder both the good and bad aspects of our recent history.' -Bruce Munro"
The above information was taken from lightatcheekwood.com/exhibition.html exactly as it appeared on 10/21/2013.
Thursday, October 10, 2013
Under The Bridge
Via Flickr:
This shot was taken from under a railroad bridge, which was built in 1912. The bridge in located close to Ghost River Brewery on S. Main in Memphis, TN. More specifically, the bridge is located between E. Virginia and E. Carolina Streets.
Saturday, October 5, 2013
CSXT 8639 - Weed Control
Via Flickr:
This CSX weed control unit was in Bells, TN on October 4, 2013. Below is a quoted portion of an article I found related to it.
"CSX Transportation’s engineering department tries to aggressively combat weeds, too. Engineering managers constantly gauge the weather to determine the best times to spray, says Manager of Engineering Programs Kelly Goedde.
“If you spray too soon and the rains come late in the spring, a lot of the herbicides have effectively run their half-life, so you don’t get the maximum efficacy out of them,” he says. “If you think it might be a late spring and the rains come early, then you can’t get out there to spray and the weeds get a head start on you.”
The Class I sprays herbicides in areas covering about 43,000 miles, or 131,000 acres, annually. CSXT’s contractor determines which herbicides to use.
“There are new formulations of the old products, and other new products are always trickling in,” says Goedde. “We’re finding out what the best use for those herbicides are in our system.”
There will always be a demand for new chemicals to control herbicide-resistant weeds, says BNSF Railway Co. Manager of Vegetation Control Gary Nyberg.
“We include herbicide rotation as part of the program to help break up the cycle of resistance, but additional products are needed,” he says. “We now know of several weed species that are resistant to glyphosate, which is a recent development.”
BNSF applies herbicides on 32,000 route miles, or 50,000 operated miles, annually. The Class I divides its system into territories and contracts spraying to five companies: RWC, Right-a-Way Applicators, Rumble Spray Inc., Dakota Helicopters and Asplundh Canada.
Where possible, BNSF uses a combination of chemical spraying and mechanical cutting to control vegetation.
“Mechanical cutting alone stimulates re-growth, but by treating the cut stumps and stubble when they’re cut, we can prevent suckering and resprouting,” says Nyberg.
The two-fisted technique enables BNSF to maximize maintenance dollars and track time, and extend brush-cutting cycles by five years or more, Nyberg says, adding that there’s an industry need for equipment that can apply herbicides during the cutting process.
Brush cutting remains an equally important part of other railroads’ vegetation management programs.
CSXT focuses brush-cutting operations mostly at crossings to increase visibility for motorists. The Class I cuts brush along 2,200 to 3,000 miles annually, both on a contract basis and with its own crews.
“It depends on timing, where you’re cutting, how busy the line is and the number of machines available,” says CSXT’s Goedde.
The Class I plans to purchase brush-cutting equipment for its workers.
The railroad is considering a machine with two heads — a high-production head designed to cut off whole limbs up to six inches in diameter and a flail head for mulching. The heads can only operate one at a time, but having both options available at once would help improve CSXT’s brush-cutting efficiency.
“With this variable head, we can switch between the two depending on the application,” says Goedde."
Taken from goo.gl/m6zgW6 as it appeared on 10/05/2013 in the section "Weather Watchers".
Monday, September 16, 2013
Stacked Up
Via Flickr:
"One of the most curious geologic formations in Missouri is found at Elephant Rocks State Park. Giant boulders of 1.5 billion-year-old granite stand end-to-end like a train of circus elephants. Many of the elephant rocks lie within the seven-acre Elephant Rocks Natural Area. This natural area is recognized for its outstanding geologic value.
Elephant Rocks Natural Area can be easily viewed from the one-mile paved Braille Trail. Designed especially for people with visual and physical disabilities, the Braille Trail is the first of its kind in Missouri state parks. An extension off the trail leads back to the ruins of an old railroad engine house.
The formation of this extraordinary herd of elephants began during the Precambrian era about 1.5 billion years ago. Molten rock, called magma, accumulated deep below the earth's surface. The magma slowly cooled, forming red granite rock. As the weight of the overlying rock was removed by erosion, horizontal and vertical cracks developed, fracturing the massive granite into huge, angular blocks. Water permeated down through the fractures, and groundwater rounded the edges and corners of the blocks while still underground, forming giant rounded masses. Erosion eventually removed the disintegrated material from along the fractures, and exposed these boulders at the earth's surface.
Physical and chemical weathering in low areas on the crest of the large granite outcrop has produced distinct, roughly circular depressions up to several feet in diameter, called "solution pans" or "tinajitas." Temporary pools of water that collect in these depressions often provide a home for tadpoles and mosquito larvae.
Since no official census of the herd has ever been taken, the exact number of "elephants" inhabiting the park is unknown. Although the elephant rocks are continually eroding away, new elephants are constantly being exposed. Information collected on Dumbo, the patriarch of Elephant Rocks State Park, shows that he is 27 feet tall, 35 feet long and 17 feet wide. At a weight of 162 pounds per cubic foot, Dumbo tips the scales at a hefty 680 tons.
Just outside the park is the oldest recorded commercial granite quarry in the state. This quarry, opened in 1869, furnished facing stone for some Eads Bridge piers across the Mississippi River, and from 1880 to 1900, millions of paving blocks for the St. Louis levee and downtown streets came from this quarry. Other nearby quarries supplied granite for many major St. Louis buildings, as well as stone for the turned columns on the front porch of the Governor's mansion in Jefferson City. Today, this granite is used primarily for monuments and building veneer.
The higher quality granite blocks produced from quarries before the area became a state park were used for building homes and other structures; the flawed and damaged stone was hammered into blocks, which were used for paving streets. Roughly the size of a shoebox, these granite paving blocks sold for about eight cents each. At that rate, a good block maker, producing 50 blocks per day, could earn a whopping $4 a day! Pretty good wages for a very hard day's work.
The nearby town of Graniteville, in its day (circa 1890), boasted a population of more than 700 people, making it the largest town in the area. Most of the town was owned and built by the quarry company. Walking down the street, you would have seen a hotel, post office, store, railroad depot and numerous homes. Today, only a few of the original granite buildings remain, including an impressive stone schoolhouse and several homes.
Numerous picnic sites among the giant red boulders provide ample opportunity for family picnicking and exploration of the elephant rocks. Camping is not available in Elephant Rocks State Park, but can be found in several nearby state parks. Pets must be on leashes. Rock-climbing equipment is not to be used in the park."
The above information was taken from www.mostateparks.com/page/54959/general-information as it appeared on September 16, 2013.
Nothing But Blue Skies
Via Flickr:
"One of the most curious geologic formations in Missouri is found at Elephant Rocks State Park. Giant boulders of 1.5 billion-year-old granite stand end-to-end like a train of circus elephants. Many of the elephant rocks lie within the seven-acre Elephant Rocks Natural Area. This natural area is recognized for its outstanding geologic value.
Elephant Rocks Natural Area can be easily viewed from the one-mile paved Braille Trail. Designed especially for people with visual and physical disabilities, the Braille Trail is the first of its kind in Missouri state parks. An extension off the trail leads back to the ruins of an old railroad engine house.
The formation of this extraordinary herd of elephants began during the Precambrian era about 1.5 billion years ago. Molten rock, called magma, accumulated deep below the earth's surface. The magma slowly cooled, forming red granite rock. As the weight of the overlying rock was removed by erosion, horizontal and vertical cracks developed, fracturing the massive granite into huge, angular blocks. Water permeated down through the fractures, and groundwater rounded the edges and corners of the blocks while still underground, forming giant rounded masses. Erosion eventually removed the disintegrated material from along the fractures, and exposed these boulders at the earth's surface.
Physical and chemical weathering in low areas on the crest of the large granite outcrop has produced distinct, roughly circular depressions up to several feet in diameter, called "solution pans" or "tinajitas." Temporary pools of water that collect in these depressions often provide a home for tadpoles and mosquito larvae.
Since no official census of the herd has ever been taken, the exact number of "elephants" inhabiting the park is unknown. Although the elephant rocks are continually eroding away, new elephants are constantly being exposed. Information collected on Dumbo, the patriarch of Elephant Rocks State Park, shows that he is 27 feet tall, 35 feet long and 17 feet wide. At a weight of 162 pounds per cubic foot, Dumbo tips the scales at a hefty 680 tons.
Just outside the park is the oldest recorded commercial granite quarry in the state. This quarry, opened in 1869, furnished facing stone for some Eads Bridge piers across the Mississippi River, and from 1880 to 1900, millions of paving blocks for the St. Louis levee and downtown streets came from this quarry. Other nearby quarries supplied granite for many major St. Louis buildings, as well as stone for the turned columns on the front porch of the Governor's mansion in Jefferson City. Today, this granite is used primarily for monuments and building veneer.
The higher quality granite blocks produced from quarries before the area became a state park were used for building homes and other structures; the flawed and damaged stone was hammered into blocks, which were used for paving streets. Roughly the size of a shoebox, these granite paving blocks sold for about eight cents each. At that rate, a good block maker, producing 50 blocks per day, could earn a whopping $4 a day! Pretty good wages for a very hard day's work.
The nearby town of Graniteville, in its day (circa 1890), boasted a population of more than 700 people, making it the largest town in the area. Most of the town was owned and built by the quarry company. Walking down the street, you would have seen a hotel, post office, store, railroad depot and numerous homes. Today, only a few of the original granite buildings remain, including an impressive stone schoolhouse and several homes.
Numerous picnic sites among the giant red boulders provide ample opportunity for family picnicking and exploration of the elephant rocks. Camping is not available in Elephant Rocks State Park, but can be found in several nearby state parks. Pets must be on leashes. Rock-climbing equipment is not to be used in the park."
The above information was taken from www.mostateparks.com/page/54959/general-information as it appeared on September 16, 2013.
Posing for Pictures
Via Flickr:
"One of the most curious geologic formations in Missouri is found at Elephant Rocks State Park. Giant boulders of 1.5 billion-year-old granite stand end-to-end like a train of circus elephants. Many of the elephant rocks lie within the seven-acre Elephant Rocks Natural Area. This natural area is recognized for its outstanding geologic value.
Elephant Rocks Natural Area can be easily viewed from the one-mile paved Braille Trail. Designed especially for people with visual and physical disabilities, the Braille Trail is the first of its kind in Missouri state parks. An extension off the trail leads back to the ruins of an old railroad engine house.
The formation of this extraordinary herd of elephants began during the Precambrian era about 1.5 billion years ago. Molten rock, called magma, accumulated deep below the earth's surface. The magma slowly cooled, forming red granite rock. As the weight of the overlying rock was removed by erosion, horizontal and vertical cracks developed, fracturing the massive granite into huge, angular blocks. Water permeated down through the fractures, and groundwater rounded the edges and corners of the blocks while still underground, forming giant rounded masses. Erosion eventually removed the disintegrated material from along the fractures, and exposed these boulders at the earth's surface.
Physical and chemical weathering in low areas on the crest of the large granite outcrop has produced distinct, roughly circular depressions up to several feet in diameter, called "solution pans" or "tinajitas." Temporary pools of water that collect in these depressions often provide a home for tadpoles and mosquito larvae.
Since no official census of the herd has ever been taken, the exact number of "elephants" inhabiting the park is unknown. Although the elephant rocks are continually eroding away, new elephants are constantly being exposed. Information collected on Dumbo, the patriarch of Elephant Rocks State Park, shows that he is 27 feet tall, 35 feet long and 17 feet wide. At a weight of 162 pounds per cubic foot, Dumbo tips the scales at a hefty 680 tons.
Just outside the park is the oldest recorded commercial granite quarry in the state. This quarry, opened in 1869, furnished facing stone for some Eads Bridge piers across the Mississippi River, and from 1880 to 1900, millions of paving blocks for the St. Louis levee and downtown streets came from this quarry. Other nearby quarries supplied granite for many major St. Louis buildings, as well as stone for the turned columns on the front porch of the Governor's mansion in Jefferson City. Today, this granite is used primarily for monuments and building veneer.
The higher quality granite blocks produced from quarries before the area became a state park were used for building homes and other structures; the flawed and damaged stone was hammered into blocks, which were used for paving streets. Roughly the size of a shoebox, these granite paving blocks sold for about eight cents each. At that rate, a good block maker, producing 50 blocks per day, could earn a whopping $4 a day! Pretty good wages for a very hard day's work.
The nearby town of Graniteville, in its day (circa 1890), boasted a population of more than 700 people, making it the largest town in the area. Most of the town was owned and built by the quarry company. Walking down the street, you would have seen a hotel, post office, store, railroad depot and numerous homes. Today, only a few of the original granite buildings remain, including an impressive stone schoolhouse and several homes.
Numerous picnic sites among the giant red boulders provide ample opportunity for family picnicking and exploration of the elephant rocks. Camping is not available in Elephant Rocks State Park, but can be found in several nearby state parks. Pets must be on leashes. Rock-climbing equipment is not to be used in the park."
The above information was taken from www.mostateparks.com/page/54959/general-information as it appeared on September 16, 2013.
As I Saw It
Via Flickr:
"One of the most curious geologic formations in Missouri is found at Elephant Rocks State Park. Giant boulders of 1.5 billion-year-old granite stand end-to-end like a train of circus elephants. Many of the elephant rocks lie within the seven-acre Elephant Rocks Natural Area. This natural area is recognized for its outstanding geologic value.
Elephant Rocks Natural Area can be easily viewed from the one-mile paved Braille Trail. Designed especially for people with visual and physical disabilities, the Braille Trail is the first of its kind in Missouri state parks. An extension off the trail leads back to the ruins of an old railroad engine house.
The formation of this extraordinary herd of elephants began during the Precambrian era about 1.5 billion years ago. Molten rock, called magma, accumulated deep below the earth's surface. The magma slowly cooled, forming red granite rock. As the weight of the overlying rock was removed by erosion, horizontal and vertical cracks developed, fracturing the massive granite into huge, angular blocks. Water permeated down through the fractures, and groundwater rounded the edges and corners of the blocks while still underground, forming giant rounded masses. Erosion eventually removed the disintegrated material from along the fractures, and exposed these boulders at the earth's surface.
Physical and chemical weathering in low areas on the crest of the large granite outcrop has produced distinct, roughly circular depressions up to several feet in diameter, called "solution pans" or "tinajitas." Temporary pools of water that collect in these depressions often provide a home for tadpoles and mosquito larvae.
Since no official census of the herd has ever been taken, the exact number of "elephants" inhabiting the park is unknown. Although the elephant rocks are continually eroding away, new elephants are constantly being exposed. Information collected on Dumbo, the patriarch of Elephant Rocks State Park, shows that he is 27 feet tall, 35 feet long and 17 feet wide. At a weight of 162 pounds per cubic foot, Dumbo tips the scales at a hefty 680 tons.
Just outside the park is the oldest recorded commercial granite quarry in the state. This quarry, opened in 1869, furnished facing stone for some Eads Bridge piers across the Mississippi River, and from 1880 to 1900, millions of paving blocks for the St. Louis levee and downtown streets came from this quarry. Other nearby quarries supplied granite for many major St. Louis buildings, as well as stone for the turned columns on the front porch of the Governor's mansion in Jefferson City. Today, this granite is used primarily for monuments and building veneer.
The higher quality granite blocks produced from quarries before the area became a state park were used for building homes and other structures; the flawed and damaged stone was hammered into blocks, which were used for paving streets. Roughly the size of a shoebox, these granite paving blocks sold for about eight cents each. At that rate, a good block maker, producing 50 blocks per day, could earn a whopping $4 a day! Pretty good wages for a very hard day's work.
The nearby town of Graniteville, in its day (circa 1890), boasted a population of more than 700 people, making it the largest town in the area. Most of the town was owned and built by the quarry company. Walking down the street, you would have seen a hotel, post office, store, railroad depot and numerous homes. Today, only a few of the original granite buildings remain, including an impressive stone schoolhouse and several homes.
Numerous picnic sites among the giant red boulders provide ample opportunity for family picnicking and exploration of the elephant rocks. Camping is not available in Elephant Rocks State Park, but can be found in several nearby state parks. Pets must be on leashes. Rock-climbing equipment is not to be used in the park."
The above information was taken from www.mostateparks.com/page/54959/general-information as it appeared on September 16, 2013.
Sunday, September 15, 2013
Taum Sauk Vista
Via Flickr:
I have to be honest, and say Taum Sauk Mountain State Park was not what I had imagined. I was quite disappointed that I had taken the time to drive out of my way to get to it. I am only offering my opinion, and you should go see it for yourself if you are interested.
The information below was taken from www.mostateparks.com/park/taum-sauk-mountain-state-park as it appeared on September 15, 2013.
"Climb to the top of Taum Sauk Mountain State Park and be on top of Missouri – literally. The park’s 7,500 acres include the highest point in the state. Located in the St. Francois Mountains, the park's hickory forests and rocky glades provide a beautiful, solitary experience for hikers. A series of trails, including a portion of the Ozark Trail, wind through the park’s picturesque setting and provide awesome views of the surrounding countryside. The park also has a 12-site basic campground, a special use area for non-profit youth organizations, and a picnic area."
Saturday, September 14, 2013
Alley Mill
Via Flickr:
The following information was taken from www.nps.gov/ozar/historyculture/alley-mill.htm as it appeared on September 14, 2013.
"Grand Setting... Alley Spring
by Cindy Von Halle
The Alley Community... A Gathering Place
Alley was home, farm, and school for people who lived here a century ago. Dances, baseball games, and roller skating were all part of Alley’s busier days. John Knotts purchased the 80 acre site in 1902 and diversified the enterprises to include a well-stocked store and blacksmith shop.
A mill was vital to community life, where grain was ground to provide the daily bread. The present building was constructed during 1893-1894 by George Washington McCaskill as a merchant mill. It was larger than most mills in the Jacks Fork area and replaced an earlier mill on this same site that was built by 1868. Originally unpainted, it was first painted white with green trim, then later the famous red color associated with Alley Mill today.
FROM WHEAT TO FLOUR.....
The process of converting wheat into flour was lengthy and time-consuming. The farmer brought his grain, either wheat or corn, to the miller who made an agreement to either buy the grain or make a trade. Often he would take a “toll” or percentage of the grain in exchange for grinding. Since the water supply of Alley Spring was constant, it seemed to be an ideal place for a mill. Free water power provided energy for the machines; however, recurring floods made the operation only marginally successful. The Alley roller mill was designed to process wheat flour in an area where corn was the main crop. This marketing error presented another setback for mill owners.
A TOUR OF THE MILL
The Back Porch
Located under the back porch is the turbine pit. In it sat a thirty five inch Leffel turbine. Belts from the turbine brought power into the basement. A control wheel on the porch allowed the miller to control how much water entered the turbine and thereby control its speed. This ability to control the speed was one of the innovations that made turbines preferable to the old water wheels.
Basement
This is where all power was transmitted to the machinery. Elevators and belts operated from a driveshaft running the length of the building. This section of the mill is not open for public visits.
First Floor
Whole grain (corn or wheat) entered the mill here. The grain was put into bins, then elevated to chutes that were connected to milling machines. These are the large iron and wood machines near the back of the room. Here the grain was ground, picked up in another elevator, taken back up and dropped down into the next machine. This process allowed the grain to be ground repeatedly to a fine flour suitable for baking. Bins for storage were also located on this floor, as well as the miller's office.
Second Floor
Sifting was the main activity here. The large cube shaped machine was called a swing sifter. It shook the ground grain through a series of sieves to achieve a uniform consistency. The rectangular machines were an earlier way to do the same thing. In these machines, flour was filtered or sifted through silk.
The Attic
Belts that operated the second floor machines were located here. The attic is not restored and is not open for public visits. Alley Mill is an example of over 100 historic structures found within Ozark National Riverways. By protecting this landmark, we are preserving the heritage of all Americans. Please help by respecting all historic and archeological artifacts in the park. It is illegal to remove artifacts, including arrowheads, from Park Service or other Federal lands. It is also disrespectful to the memories of those who went before us. Please leave them for the next person to enjoy."
Alley Mill, Jack's Fork Side
Via Flickr:
The following information was taken from www.nps.gov/ozar/historyculture/alley-mill.htm as it appeared on September 14, 2013.
"Grand Setting... Alley Spring
by Cindy Von Halle
The Alley Community... A Gathering Place
Alley was home, farm, and school for people who lived here a century ago. Dances, baseball games, and roller skating were all part of Alley’s busier days. John Knotts purchased the 80 acre site in 1902 and diversified the enterprises to include a well-stocked store and blacksmith shop.
A mill was vital to community life, where grain was ground to provide the daily bread. The present building was constructed during 1893-1894 by George Washington McCaskill as a merchant mill. It was larger than most mills in the Jacks Fork area and replaced an earlier mill on this same site that was built by 1868. Originally unpainted, it was first painted white with green trim, then later the famous red color associated with Alley Mill today.
FROM WHEAT TO FLOUR.....
The process of converting wheat into flour was lengthy and time-consuming. The farmer brought his grain, either wheat or corn, to the miller who made an agreement to either buy the grain or make a trade. Often he would take a “toll” or percentage of the grain in exchange for grinding. Since the water supply of Alley Spring was constant, it seemed to be an ideal place for a mill. Free water power provided energy for the machines; however, recurring floods made the operation only marginally successful. The Alley roller mill was designed to process wheat flour in an area where corn was the main crop. This marketing error presented another setback for mill owners.
A TOUR OF THE MILL
The Back Porch
Located under the back porch is the turbine pit. In it sat a thirty five inch Leffel turbine. Belts from the turbine brought power into the basement. A control wheel on the porch allowed the miller to control how much water entered the turbine and thereby control its speed. This ability to control the speed was one of the innovations that made turbines preferable to the old water wheels.
Basement
This is where all power was transmitted to the machinery. Elevators and belts operated from a driveshaft running the length of the building. This section of the mill is not open for public visits.
First Floor
Whole grain (corn or wheat) entered the mill here. The grain was put into bins, then elevated to chutes that were connected to milling machines. These are the large iron and wood machines near the back of the room. Here the grain was ground, picked up in another elevator, taken back up and dropped down into the next machine. This process allowed the grain to be ground repeatedly to a fine flour suitable for baking. Bins for storage were also located on this floor, as well as the miller's office.
Second Floor
Sifting was the main activity here. The large cube shaped machine was called a swing sifter. It shook the ground grain through a series of sieves to achieve a uniform consistency. The rectangular machines were an earlier way to do the same thing. In these machines, flour was filtered or sifted through silk.
The Attic
Belts that operated the second floor machines were located here. The attic is not restored and is not open for public visits. Alley Mill is an example of over 100 historic structures found within Ozark National Riverways. By protecting this landmark, we are preserving the heritage of all Americans. Please help by respecting all historic and archeological artifacts in the park. It is illegal to remove artifacts, including arrowheads, from Park Service or other Federal lands. It is also disrespectful to the memories of those who went before us. Please leave them for the next person to enjoy."
Jack's Fork
Via Flickr:
The following information was taken from www.nps.gov/ozar/historyculture/alley-mill.htm as it appeared on September 14, 2013.
"Grand Setting... Alley Spring
by Cindy Von Halle
The Alley Community... A Gathering Place
Alley was home, farm, and school for people who lived here a century ago. Dances, baseball games, and roller skating were all part of Alley’s busier days. John Knotts purchased the 80 acre site in 1902 and diversified the enterprises to include a well-stocked store and blacksmith shop.
A mill was vital to community life, where grain was ground to provide the daily bread. The present building was constructed during 1893-1894 by George Washington McCaskill as a merchant mill. It was larger than most mills in the Jacks Fork area and replaced an earlier mill on this same site that was built by 1868. Originally unpainted, it was first painted white with green trim, then later the famous red color associated with Alley Mill today.
FROM WHEAT TO FLOUR.....
The process of converting wheat into flour was lengthy and time-consuming. The farmer brought his grain, either wheat or corn, to the miller who made an agreement to either buy the grain or make a trade. Often he would take a “toll” or percentage of the grain in exchange for grinding. Since the water supply of Alley Spring was constant, it seemed to be an ideal place for a mill. Free water power provided energy for the machines; however, recurring floods made the operation only marginally successful. The Alley roller mill was designed to process wheat flour in an area where corn was the main crop. This marketing error presented another setback for mill owners.
A TOUR OF THE MILL
The Back Porch
Located under the back porch is the turbine pit. In it sat a thirty five inch Leffel turbine. Belts from the turbine brought power into the basement. A control wheel on the porch allowed the miller to control how much water entered the turbine and thereby control its speed. This ability to control the speed was one of the innovations that made turbines preferable to the old water wheels.
Basement
This is where all power was transmitted to the machinery. Elevators and belts operated from a driveshaft running the length of the building. This section of the mill is not open for public visits.
First Floor
Whole grain (corn or wheat) entered the mill here. The grain was put into bins, then elevated to chutes that were connected to milling machines. These are the large iron and wood machines near the back of the room. Here the grain was ground, picked up in another elevator, taken back up and dropped down into the next machine. This process allowed the grain to be ground repeatedly to a fine flour suitable for baking. Bins for storage were also located on this floor, as well as the miller's office.
Second Floor
Sifting was the main activity here. The large cube shaped machine was called a swing sifter. It shook the ground grain through a series of sieves to achieve a uniform consistency. The rectangular machines were an earlier way to do the same thing. In these machines, flour was filtered or sifted through silk.
The Attic
Belts that operated the second floor machines were located here. The attic is not restored and is not open for public visits. Alley Mill is an example of over 100 historic structures found within Ozark National Riverways. By protecting this landmark, we are preserving the heritage of all Americans. Please help by respecting all historic and archeological artifacts in the park. It is illegal to remove artifacts, including arrowheads, from Park Service or other Federal lands. It is also disrespectful to the memories of those who went before us. Please leave them for the next person to enjoy."
Friday, September 13, 2013
WTNN Locomotive 3576
Via Flickr:
I was fortunate enough to be given permission to access certain areas of the WTNN rail yard for photography. A special thank you to Tim. Always get permission and follow the rules!
"The West Tennessee Railroad (reporting mark WTNN) is a shortline railroad in the Southern U.S., connecting Corinth, Mississippi to Fulton, Kentucky via western Tennessee. The company began operating in 1984 on a part of the former Mobile and Ohio Railroad (M&O) main line between Jackson and Kenton, Tennessee. It significantly expanded operations in 2001 through the lease, from the Norfolk Southern Railway, of the ex-M&O south to Corinth and a former main line of the Illinois Central Railroad (IC) north to Fulton, as well as a branch from Jackson to Poplar Corner (ex-Birmingham and Northwestern Railway, acquired by the Gulf, Mobile and Northern Railroad in 1924). All of these lines were part of the Illinois Central Gulf Railroad (ICG) prior to its 1980s program of spin-offs, during which Gibson County purchased the Jackson-Kenton line and the Southern Railway acquired the Corinth-Fulton line and Poplar Corner branch.
The company is under common control with the South Central Tennessee Railroad and the Tennken Railroad.[1] Its main line is planned to be upgraded as part of the MidAmerica Corridor, an initiative by the Canadian National Railway and Norfolk Southern Railway to improve rail service between Illinois and the Southeast.
History[edit source | editbeta]
The Mobile and Ohio Railroad completed a line between Mobile, Alabama and Columbus, Kentucky in 1861,[2] and the Mississippi Central Railroad, an Illinois Central Railroad predecessor, completed its north-south line between New Orleans, Louisiana and Cairo, Illinois in 1873.[3] The Birmingham and Northwestern Railway opened a line between Jackson, where the M&O and IC lines crossed, and Dyersburg in 1912 and was purchased by the Gulf, Mobile and Northern Railroad in 1924.[4] Through mergers, all of these lines became part of the Illinois Central Gulf Railroad in 1972.
The Gibson County Railroad Authority acquired the line between Jackson and Kenton in August 1984, and the new West Tennessee Railroad began operations in October.[5] The Southern Railway bought the Corinth-Jackson-Fulton and Jackson-Poplar Corner lines from the ICG in June 1988,[6] and in 2001 the Norfolk Southern Railway, successor to the Southern, leased them to WTNN.[7] (The Southern also acquired the ICG's line southeast to Haleyville, Alabama, and trackage rights from Fulton north to Centralia, Illinois, and NS sold the former, where not abandoned, to the Redmont Railway in 1995.) Today the WTNN still runs trains nearly daily which serves many industries and delivers freight traffic from the CN railroad and NS railroad. It is also running NS Railroad coal trains."
Taken from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Tennessee_Railroad as it appeared on September 13, 2013.
Wednesday, September 11, 2013
Argiope aurantia
Via Flickr:
"Geographic Range
These spiders are found from occur from southern Canada south through the lower 48 United States, Mexico, and Central America as far south as Costa Rica. (Milne and Milne, 1980; Platnick, 2004)
Biogeographic Regions nearctic native
Habitat
This species prefers sunny areas among flowers, shrubs, and tall plants. It can be found in many types of habitats, though is not common in the Rocky Mountains or the Canadian Great Basin. (Milne and Milne, 1980)
Habitat Regions temperate tropical terrestrial
Terrestrial Biomes savanna or grassland chaparral forest scrub forest
Wetlands marsh swamp
Other Habitat Features suburban agricultural
Physical Description
As is true in many spider species, females of this species grow to much larger size than males. Adult female body length ranges from 19 to 28 mm (3/4 to 1 1/8 in.), while males reach only 5 to 9 mm (1/4 - 3/8 in.). In both sexes, the shiny, egg-shaped abdomen has striking yellow or orange markings on a black background. The forward part of the body, the cephalothorax, is covered with short, silvery hairs. Legs are mostly black, with red or yellow portions near the body. (Dewey, 1993; Milne and Milne, 1980)
Like other orb-weavers (family Araneidae), this species has three claws per foot, one more than most spiders. Orb-weavers use this third claw to help handle the threads while spinning. Also in common with other orb-weaving spiders (and most, but not all spiders generally), A. aurantia has a venomous bite that immobilizes prey that is caught in its web. (Dewey, 1993; Milne and Milne, 1980)
Other Physical Features ectothermic heterothermic bilateral symmetry venomous
Sexual Dimorphism female larger
Development
In areas with a cold winter, the eggs of this species hatch in the late summer or autumn, but the hatchling spiders become dormant and do not leave the egg sack until the following spring. Hatchlings generally resemble small adults, there are no major changes in anatomy or structure as they grow (except the development of reproductive organs). (Dewey, 1993)
Development - Life Cycle diapause
Reproduction
Once they mature, males of this species leave their webs and wander in search of females. When they find them, they wait around the edge of her web, sometimes building small webs of their own. We don't have any information on whether males or females mate more than once, or with more than one partner. Probably each female mates with one or more males. (Faulkner, 1999; Heiber, 1992; Hieber, 1992; Milne and Milne, 1980)
Mating System polygynandrous (promiscuous)
After mating, each female produces one or more (rarely 4, usually less) brown, papery egg sacs. They are roughly round in shape and up to 25 mm in diameter; each contains 300 to 1400 eggs. She attaches her egg sacs to one side of her web, close to her resting position at the center. (Faulkner, 1999; Heiber, 1992; Hieber, 1992; Milne and Milne, 1980)
Key Reproductive Features seasonal breeding gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate) sexual fertilization internal oviparous
Breeding interval
Once per year
Range number of offspring
300 to 1400
Each female watches over her eggs as long as she can, but she will die in the first hard frost, if not before. (Faulkner, 1999; Hieber, 1992)
Parental Investment no parental involvement pre-fertilization protecting female pre-hatching/birth provisioning female protecting female
Lifespan / Longevity
In temperate climates, the great majority of individuals live a little over a year: from their hatching in the fall until the first hard frost in the following year. However, in warmer climates and in captivity females of this species may live for several years. Males probably die after mating in their first year.
Behavior
If the climate is suitable, Argiope spiders may be active both day and night, attacking insects that are trapped in its web. They often construct and repair their webs after dark, but may do this in day time too. Once they find suitable sites for their webs, they will tend to stay there unless the web is frequently disturbed, or they can't catch enough food there. As noted earlier, adult males roam in search of potential mates, but once they find a female they build small webs nearby and court her. (Dewey, 1993; Dewey, 1993; Faulkner, 1999; Milius, 2000)
Key Behaviors diurnal nocturnal crepuscular motile sedentary hibernation solitary
Communication and Perception
These spiders have relatively poor vision, but are quite sensitive to vibration and air currents. Males communicate with potential mates by plucking and vibrating the females' webs. (Dewey, 1993)
Communication Channels visual tactile chemical
Other Communication Modes vibrations
Perception Channels visual tactile vibrations chemical
Food Habits
Like all spiders, black-and-yellow argiopes are carnivorous. They spin an orb web to capture small flying insects such as aphids, flies, grasshoppers, and Hymenoptera (wasps and bees). A female can take prey up to 47mm in diameter, up to 200% of her own size (Nyffeler et al. 1987)
The web can be up to two feet across. The spider hangs, head down, in the center of their web while waiting for prey. Often, she holds her legs together in pairs so that it looks as if there are only four of them. Sometimes the spider may hide in a nearby leaf or grass stem, connected to the center of the web by a nonsticky thread which quivers when prey lands in the web.
Web construction is complicated. To start the web, Argiope firmly grasps a substrate like a grass stem or window frame. She lifts her abdomen and emits several strands of silk from her spinnerets that merge into one thread. The free end of the thread drifts until it touches something far away, like a stem or a flower stalk. She then creates bridge lines, and other scaffolding to help her build the framework of the web. She builds a hub with threads radiating from it like a spokes of a wheel. She switches to sticky silk for the threads spiraling around this hub that will actually catch her prey. It may take a few hours to complete the web, then she eats the temporary scaffolding and the center hub. Argiope spiders often add stabilimenta, or heavy zig-zagging portions, in their webs. A stabilimentum may or may not aid prey capture (see below). The entire web is usually eaten and then rebuilt each night, often in the same place. (Dewey, 1993; Faulkner, 1999; Lyon, 1995; Milne and Milne, 1980; Nyffeler, et al., 1987; Zschokke, 2006)
Primary Diet carnivore insectivore
Animal Foods insects terrestrial non-insect arthropods
Predation
When disturbed, the spider might first vibrate the web to try to make its body look bigger, but if that fails to deter a predator she will drop to the ground and hide (Faulkner 1999). Adults may be captured by wasps such as the Blue Mud Dauber, Chalybion californicum (Landes et al. 1987). They are also eaten by birds, lizards, and shrews.
Overwintering egg cases protect spiderlings from predation. Suspending the cocoon from the web is particularly effective against ant predation. The vast majority, however, are eventually damaged by birds. Cocoons wall layers provide barriers against burrowing larvae of insect predators and ovipositors of parasitic insects, but ichneumonid wasps such as Tromatopia rufopectus and chloropid flies such as Pseudogaurax signatus lay their eggs in Argiope aurantia egg cases. In fact, one study found that in addition to A. aurantia, nineteen species of insects and eleven species of spiders emerged from A. aurantia egg cases. (Hieber 1993, Lockley and Young 1993). (Faulkner, 1999; Hieber, 1992; Landes, et al., 1987; Lockley and Young, 1993)
Anti-predator Adaptations aposematic
Economic Importance for Humans
Economic Importance for Humans: Positive
Researchers study the biochemistry of web production and venom action of this spider. Results from these studies may aid the fields of materials science and neurophysiology.
Argiope species are important predators of grasshoppers in rangeland ecosystems.
Conservation Status
These common and widespread spiders have no special conservation status.
IUCN Red List [Link]
Not Evaluated
US Federal List
No special status
CITES
No special status
State of Michigan List
No special status
Other Comments
Although people are concerned about being bitten by these large spiders, they are not considered dangerous. They may bite when harassed, but apparently the venom does not cause problems for humans. (Lyon 1995)
The function of web stabilimenta is controversial. At least 78 species of spiders add these structures to their webs, originally named "stabilimenta" because they were thought to provide structural stability. One study of Argiope spiders supports the idea that these bright white structures attract flying insects (Tso 1998). Contrary to this "prey attraction hypothesis," hungry spiders build fewer or smaller stabilimenta, and webs with stabilimenta capture fewer prey (Blackledge 1998, Blackledge and Wenzel 1999). A competing hypothesis is that the highly visible threads prevent birds from flying through and destroying the webs. Spiders of another species, Octonoba sybotides, vary their stabilimenta in order to control thread tension. Different tensions allow a spider to detect prey of different sizes. However, this mechanical hypothesis doesn't explain why only diurnal spiders use stabilimenta. (Milius 2000). (Blackledge and Wenzel, 1999; Blackledge, 1998; Lyon, 1995; Milius, 2000; Tso, 1998)"
Taken as it appeared from animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Argiope_aurantia/ on September 11, 2013.
Following the leader
Via Flickr:
These units followed Canadian Northern Railway 8923 in Halls, TN.
I tried to find a nice history to put with the picture, but the CN website doesn't offer much in the way of a nicely-packaged history for the general public. You can visit their website at www.cn.ca if you'd like.
CN Locomotive 8923
Via Flickr:
Canadian Northern Railway 8923 in Halls, TN.
I tried to find a nice history to put with the picture, but the CN website doesn't offer much in the way of a nicely-packaged history for the general public. You can visit their website at www.cn.ca if you'd like.
CN Locomotive 8810
Via Flickr:
Canadian Northern Railway 8810 in Halls, TN.
I tried to find a nice history to put with the picture, but the CN website doesn't offer much in the way of a nicely-packaged history for the general public. You can visit their website at www.cn.ca if you'd like.
Monday, September 9, 2013
St. Louis, MO, USA: OCT 2010
Via Flickr:
After trying to find a short description of that would fit each photo of the St. Louis Zoo I have determined it is impossible. Please visit www.stlzoo.com for great information.
Falls City Cotton Mill
Via Flickr:
1892 – Falls City Cotton Mill was built by Asa Faulkner and several (wording not ledgible). It was the only textile mill in Warren County prior to 1930. The mill was in operation until the great flood of 1902, which destroyed many of the mills in the region. Situated on the bluff above the Great Falls of the Caney Fork River, the structure survived but was forced to close due to the loss of the turbine that washed away.
The mill was operated by flume, turbine, ropes, and pulleys powered by water diverted from the falls. The operation included the manufacture of cotton, wool products, and was well know for its heavy cotton sheeting.
Mr. Faulkner, wanting to help those most in need, hired and housed some 300 workers, predominately widows and children. This created a booming “city” that included its own blacksmith, post office, farm, market, and store of company products.
1840s – Bosson Mill was one of the earliest mills in this area, located just downstream from Falls City Cotton Mill. Local stones were used to grind corn and Thomas Bosson had a set of stones shipped from France for $300 to grind wheat.
Sunday, September 8, 2013
Shelby Street Bridge
Via Flickr:
This is the Shelby Street Pedestrian Bridge, which spans across the Cumberland River, connecting LP Field with downtown Nashville.
Saturday, August 24, 2013
Wednesday, August 21, 2013
Londonderry Arms
Via Flickr:
This is the famed Londonderry Arms in Northern Ireland, GB. I took this trip for my birthday in September of 2006. The skies were gray but only this day. What a great trip!
"The Londonderry Arms Hotel was built in 1848 as a coaching inn by Frances Anne Tempest, Marchioness of Londonderry.
Frances Anne was the grand-daughter of Randall William, sixth Earl and second Marquis of Antrim. He was the great great grandson of Sir Randall MacDonnell, the first of that branch of the MacDonnells to bear the title Earl of Antrim.
Frances Anne inherited from her mother, Anne Katherine, Countess of Antrim in her own right, land between Glenarm and Cushendall, including Carnlough.
At the age of 19 she married Charles William, Lord Stewart, the British Ambassador to Austria, later the third Marquis of Londonderry and sometime affectionately known as fighting Charlie. As Ambassador he assisted his half-brother Castlereagh, and afterwards the Duke of Wellington in the negotiations of the celebrated Congress of Vienna. Lady Londonderry was greatly admired at the Russian Court and the Russian Emperor, Alexander I, gave her some of the Londonderry family jewels - the Down diamonds and the parture and cross.
Conscious of their responsibilities as landlords, the Marquis and Marchioness of Londonderry were determined to provide assistance for the people of the area.
Ireland at that time was suffering one of the greatest tragedies in its history - The Great Famine, also known as the potato famine.
They initiated the erection of a town hall, lime kilns and the building of a protected harbour. Later a mineral railway line was built to connect the south pier with the limestone quarry in the hills rising behind the village.
The Marquis died in 1854 and on the death of Lady Londonderry in 1865 the Carnlough estate passed to her son Henry the fifth Earl. After his death in 1884, the estate passed to her grandson Herbert Vane Tempest who was tragically killed in a train accident in Wales in 1921. After his death the estate, including the hotel, passed to his second cousin, Sir Winston Churchill.
In 1934 Winston Churchill sold the hotel to the Lyons family. During the Second World War part of the hotel was commissioned by the Army to allow for the recuperation of wounded soldiers; after the war in 1946 Mr Lyons sold the hotel in several lots which considerably reduced its size.
For 60 years the hotel has been owned by the O'Neill family who are the longest established hotelier families in Ireland.
The hotel boasts original Georgian architecture and this can be viewed throughout the hotel. The architecture is complimented by antique furniture. The walls are decorated with local artwork and evidence of local history through newspaper clippings and photographs."
Taken from www.glensofantrim.com/our_history.html as it appeared on August 21, 2013.
Cape Neddick "Nubble" Lighthouse
Via Flickr:
I took this a week before Christmas in 2007, so the skies were cloudy, but this was a great trip!
"THE BEGINNING
In colonial days mariner traffic was important to the commerce of the area. Knowing that Maine’s rocky coast was very dangerous to those mariners and their livelihood, the Citizens petitioned the United States Government for a lighthouse.
In 1874 President Rutherford B. Hayes appropriated the sum of $15,000 to build a lighthouse on this “Nub” of land. On July 1, 1879 construction was completed on what, at the time, was known as the Knubble Lighthouse with a 4th order light began to protect our men and women on the sea. The men and women serving in the Lighthouse Service were the first guardians who provided great care for the light and its surrounding buildings.
INITIAL RESPONSIBILITIES
Once the Lighthouse Service completed their work, the United States government transferred this valuable service to the U.S. Coast Guard in 1939. They gave Nubble Light the official name of Cape Neddick Lightstation. The Coast Guard and their families were wonderful caretakers of our Maine Lighthouses. Eventually this service became short of resources and funding to care for our majestic beacons. Because of this in part, as well as the growing development of technology, the Lighthouses became automated. Nubble Light was automated in July, 1987. As the last service man from our Coast Guard and his family left their home on the island, the future of the buildings and the beauty of the island were left in question.
RECENT HISTORY
In order to insure the protection of our valuable Maine treasure, Nubble Lighthouse was placed on the National Register of Historic Places to preserve and protect its historical presence in history. This is overseen by the United States Secretary of the Interior and the State of Maine’s Historic Preservation Office.
In addition, a lease agreement was signed in 1987 between the United States government and the Town of York to ensure that the property would be maintained and cared for.
The Maine Lights program was developed in 1994 specifically to save all of Maine’s lighthouses along our coast. Out of this agreement came the application and evaluation process to find a new and permanent guardian for our lighthouse. The Town of York, with great concern for the significance of the Lighthouse to our town and its people and facing competition for ownership of Nubble, formed a committee to represent its best interests in a lengthy process of acquiring the lighthouse through action of the Congress of the United States.
NUBBLE IS OURS!
On December 18, 1997 the announcement came from the office of Senator Olympia Snow that, based on its strong application, The Town of York Maine was, and will continue to be, the permanent guardian for Nubble Lighthouse (Cape Neddick Light Station). And today in 2012, the daily work of maintenance for our Nubble Lighthouse is under the Parks Department who care for our property and our buildings on a daily basis. The United States Coast Guard will continue to maintain the aids to navigation (the Light and the Horn).
THE FUTURE
The Town of York has an awesome endeavor and tremendous responsibility. We have developed a financial and maintenance plan. From Sohier Park, donated to the town by the Sohier-Davis Family, our visitors can enjoy a magnificent, close-up view of the lighthouse. Through the kindness of the Town, the continued hard work of the staff of the Parks and Recreation Department, and most especially the diligence of countless volunteers we have been able to build a Welcome Center through which we can raise the necessary funds to maintain the beauty of both the park and the island. The planned expansion of the Welcome Center will provide even further for the comfort of our visitors and the funds needed to continually beautify our town’s gem.
We, in turn, promise you that we shall continue to honor the promises we made in the application of ownership: to preserve the historical, protect the wildlife and maintain and execute a financial plan to care for the lighthouse well into the future. "
Taken from nubblelight.org/discover/history as it appeared on August 21, 2013.
Tuesday, August 20, 2013
Fellowship Rainbow
Via Flickr:
A rainbow formed during one of Tennessee's many summer showers. I quickly pulled into the Fellowship Bible Church parking lot to take a photograph.
Thursday, August 15, 2013
The Leo W. Seal Family Business Complex
Via Flickr:
"STARKVILLE, Miss.--The Leo W. Seal Family Business Complex officially is part of Mississippi State's College of Business and Industry.
During Saturday [Oct. 6] ceremonies held as part of the 2007 Homecoming celebration, university leaders and Seal family members formally dedicated the 52,000-square-foot addition to McCool Hall. Three Seal generations have attended the 129-year-old land-grant institution.
A cornerstone contribution several years ago by the Bay St. Louis family, along with other private contributions, funded the project begun in early 2005. The recently opened complex makes up the new west end of the 30-year-old, three-story building that serves some 2,500 business and accounting majors each school year.
"Leo Seal and his family have their fingerprints all over this campus," said MSU President Robert H. "Doc" Foglesong. "We will be standing on the legacy established by the Seal family not just for years, but for decades. The university certainly acknowledges the support of Leo Seal Jr., who has brought much progress to the university through his work on advisory boards and with other areas."
In addition to Leo Seal Jr.--a 1949 banking and finance graduate and longtime Hancock Holding Co. president--other alumni in the family include: his father, the late Leo W. Seal Sr., a 1911 graduate of then-Mississippi A&M College; and his sons, Leo W. Seal III and Lee Seal, both 2000 geosciences graduates. Also, Clay Wagner, grandson of Leo Sr., is a 1982 marketing graduate.
"It is most pleasing to our Seal family to enhance the facilities of the College of Business and Industry for its impact on both students and faculty," said Leo W. Seal Jr., who was honored by MSU in 1999 with an honorary doctorate in public service.
Beyond academics, the family has been a major supporter of MSU athletics. Leo Jr., a former Bulldog football player, provided funding for the M-Club building named in honor of his father, a two-year football letterman.
Other family support has been provided for the business college's Leo Seal Jr. Distinguished Speaker Series and Seal Electronic Classroom, along with the Seal Vice President's Suite in the Hunter Henry Center, home of the MSU Foundation and Alumni Association, and a variety of academic scholarships in business, engineering and forestry.
Leo Jr. also supports the university's Distinguished Scholarship's Program.
The new business complex includes:
--Additional central-campus classrooms and conference rooms,
--Additional business faculty offices and student project "team rooms,"
--A three-story atrium to serve as a public gathering and special events locale, and
--The W.A. "Bill" Taylor Jr. Auditorium, a 300-seat, high-technology teaching and general assembly facility endowed through an excellence fund gift honoring the longtime chairman of the board of Louisville-based Taylor Group of Cos.
"We are definitely pleased that the expansion of McCool Hall is enabling us to better serve the needs of our business students as well as other MSU students who use our facility in the heart of the MSU campus," said business Dean Lynne Richardson.
"Overall, the new complex has allowed us to greatly enhance the capabilities of the college in delivering undergraduate and graduate education," she added.
MSU's business college--one of the Southeast's oldest--is accredited by AACSB International, the world's foremost accrediting organization for business schools. Graduates may be found at the top levels of Fortune 500 businesses, as well as throughout state and regional commercial and industrial firms.
The college's academic programs also include the recently endowed Richard C. Adkerson School of Accountancy, which honors another prominent alumnus.
For additional information on the Seal Complex or assistance in contributing to business endowments, contact Jack McCarty, the college's development director, at 662-325-9580 or jmccarty@foundation.msstate.edu.
For more information about Mississippi State University, see www.msstate.edu/."
The above story was taken from www.msstate.edu/web/media/detail.php?id=3996 exactly as it appeared on August 15, 2013.
"STARKVILLE, Miss.--The Leo W. Seal Family Business Complex officially is part of Mississippi State's College of Business and Industry.
During Saturday [Oct. 6] ceremonies held as part of the 2007 Homecoming celebration, university leaders and Seal family members formally dedicated the 52,000-square-foot addition to McCool Hall. Three Seal generations have attended the 129-year-old land-grant institution.
A cornerstone contribution several years ago by the Bay St. Louis family, along with other private contributions, funded the project begun in early 2005. The recently opened complex makes up the new west end of the 30-year-old, three-story building that serves some 2,500 business and accounting majors each school year.
"Leo Seal and his family have their fingerprints all over this campus," said MSU President Robert H. "Doc" Foglesong. "We will be standing on the legacy established by the Seal family not just for years, but for decades. The university certainly acknowledges the support of Leo Seal Jr., who has brought much progress to the university through his work on advisory boards and with other areas."
In addition to Leo Seal Jr.--a 1949 banking and finance graduate and longtime Hancock Holding Co. president--other alumni in the family include: his father, the late Leo W. Seal Sr., a 1911 graduate of then-Mississippi A&M College; and his sons, Leo W. Seal III and Lee Seal, both 2000 geosciences graduates. Also, Clay Wagner, grandson of Leo Sr., is a 1982 marketing graduate.
"It is most pleasing to our Seal family to enhance the facilities of the College of Business and Industry for its impact on both students and faculty," said Leo W. Seal Jr., who was honored by MSU in 1999 with an honorary doctorate in public service.
Beyond academics, the family has been a major supporter of MSU athletics. Leo Jr., a former Bulldog football player, provided funding for the M-Club building named in honor of his father, a two-year football letterman.
Other family support has been provided for the business college's Leo Seal Jr. Distinguished Speaker Series and Seal Electronic Classroom, along with the Seal Vice President's Suite in the Hunter Henry Center, home of the MSU Foundation and Alumni Association, and a variety of academic scholarships in business, engineering and forestry.
Leo Jr. also supports the university's Distinguished Scholarship's Program.
The new business complex includes:
--Additional central-campus classrooms and conference rooms,
--Additional business faculty offices and student project "team rooms,"
--A three-story atrium to serve as a public gathering and special events locale, and
--The W.A. "Bill" Taylor Jr. Auditorium, a 300-seat, high-technology teaching and general assembly facility endowed through an excellence fund gift honoring the longtime chairman of the board of Louisville-based Taylor Group of Cos.
"We are definitely pleased that the expansion of McCool Hall is enabling us to better serve the needs of our business students as well as other MSU students who use our facility in the heart of the MSU campus," said business Dean Lynne Richardson.
"Overall, the new complex has allowed us to greatly enhance the capabilities of the college in delivering undergraduate and graduate education," she added.
MSU's business college--one of the Southeast's oldest--is accredited by AACSB International, the world's foremost accrediting organization for business schools. Graduates may be found at the top levels of Fortune 500 businesses, as well as throughout state and regional commercial and industrial firms.
The college's academic programs also include the recently endowed Richard C. Adkerson School of Accountancy, which honors another prominent alumnus.
For additional information on the Seal Complex or assistance in contributing to business endowments, contact Jack McCarty, the college's development director, at 662-325-9580 or jmccarty@foundation.msstate.edu.
For more information about Mississippi State University, see www.msstate.edu/."
The above story was taken from www.msstate.edu/web/media/detail.php?id=3996 exactly as it appeared on August 15, 2013.
Those funky fungi
I love photographing mushrooms due to the wide variety of sizes, shapes, and colors. These are three I snapped with an iPhone 5 while walking my dog this morning.
Wednesday, August 14, 2013
Chapel of Memories
Via Flickr:
Unfortunately, I could not find a wealth of readily available information online about Mississippi State University's Chapel of Memories. Below is what I did find.
"As the first dormitory on campus, it was called the Main Dormitory and in later years became known as Old Main. The first section of Old Main was built in 1880. Additions were constructed in 1901, 1903, 1906, and 1922. When it burned January 22, 1959, it was thought to be the largest college dormitory in the United States. Bricks salvaged from the fire were used to build the Chapel of Memories."
Taken from library.msstate.edu/exhibits/university_buildings/index.asp exactly as it appeared on August 14, 2013.
Unfortunately, I could not find a wealth of readily available information online about Mississippi State University's Chapel of Memories. Below is what I did find.
"As the first dormitory on campus, it was called the Main Dormitory and in later years became known as Old Main. The first section of Old Main was built in 1880. Additions were constructed in 1901, 1903, 1906, and 1922. When it burned January 22, 1959, it was thought to be the largest college dormitory in the United States. Bricks salvaged from the fire were used to build the Chapel of Memories."
Taken from library.msstate.edu/exhibits/university_buildings/index.asp exactly as it appeared on August 14, 2013.
Owens Lake near Olancha Dunes, California
This photograph is not mine; it comes from an academic mentor. It is a very powerful image to me, personally.
Via Flickr:
The above image is all about a major trade off.
In exchange for the survival and growth of Los Angeles -- North America’s second-largest metropolis -- the place that you see here had to be drained dry.
The Owens Valley is located at the site of what was once a major lake that had formed at the end of the last ice age. As the glaciers were exhausted and as North America’s climate changed over the following millennia, much of that lake’s water gradually dwindled or disappeared.
Located between the Sierra Nevada and the Inyo Mountains in eastern California, the Owens Valley is a desert region due to what is known as “the rainshadow effect.” The winter storm systems which provide the state most of its annual precipitation generally move across the state from west to east. As they progress up the western slopes of the Sierras, moisture in these systems condense and precipitate out of saturated clouds. As these air parcels descend down the eastern slopes, a reverse process occurs. Whereas the western slopes and summits of the Sierra can receive snowfall measured in feet in just one storm, the eastern slopes and interior valleys may only get flurries and a nasty blast of wind.
Most of the runoff from these storms and Spring snowmelt flows westward into the San Joaquin Valley, but some makes its way eastward into the Owens River, which is fed by about 40 mountain tributaries. With no natural outlet, the Owens River empties into Owens Lake in the southern end of the valley. Since much of the water evaporates during year, Owens Lake was in recent centuries a very large, but relatively shallow pool of brackish, salty water.
Over the past century, Owens Lake has been all but eliminated by the diversion of the fresh water of its source, the Owens River. As the boomtown of Los Angeles had nearly exhausted its local supplies of surface and ground water by the late 19th century, its leaders searched for new, exotic sources of water.
The Owens River was their solution. Through a rather underhanded and controversial series of land deals in 1904-05, officials from The City of Los Angeles secured the water rights to the river from local land owners. The innovative Los Angeles Aqueduct that transported the river’s water over 220 miles to LA was completed in November 1913. The aqueduct was extended and expanded over following decades.
The water from the Owens River and other nearby sources now supply the city with about 40% of its fresh water.
This northward-looking image was taken along what used to be the southern shore of Owens Lake. The Sierras are on the left side of the image; the Inyo Mountains are to the right.
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