Here’s the Newport Tower in Touro Park, Newport, Rhode Island. The remains of a windmill built of stone in the 1600s, it’s sometimes claimed to have been built by Vikings (it wasn’t) or other alleged early visitors to North America. It was originally part of the property of Rhode Island Governor Benedict Arnold (great-grandfather of…… Continue reading Rhode Island’s Newport Tower
Category: History
Now That’s A Rallye
Tales from a short-lived road Rallye of the 1950s: A Classic New England Rally is Revived, Minus the Mud (New York Times article). Here’s the link to the resurrected rally: Great American Mountain Rally Revival. “We were boggled they felt they could handle it without chains and backwards at a fairly high speed”Peter Bullard
Washington Crosses Jacob’s Creek
Following the crossing of the Delaware River by boat late on Christmas night, 1776, the Continental Army still had to march several miles through snow, sleet, hail and rain to attack Hessian troops at Trenton. Around 6:00 AM on December 26, they reached Jacob’s Creek. This stream they had to ford on foot, winching their…… Continue reading Washington Crosses Jacob’s Creek
1970s Ford Maverick
Before it was a compact pickup truck, the Ford Maverick was an import-fighting’ vinyl-clad compact car. Introduced in the late 60s, original colors included Anti Establish Mint, Hulla Blue, and Thanks Vermillion.
Christmas at Sea: Free Talk
How else are you going to get to Christmas Island? A free online talk from the The Royal Museums Greenwich will educate you about 400 years of celebrating Christmas afloat. The Zoom lecture is Tuesday 7 December, 5.15pm – 6.45pm (I presume that’s Greenwich Mean Time, so check your time zone). Christmas at Sea: 400…… Continue reading Christmas at Sea: Free Talk
Art and Design of the New York Central Railroad
The other fab Jazz Age exhibit at the Albany Institute of History and Art is Romancing the Rails: Train Travel in the 1920s and 1930s, which focuses on the New York Central Railroad. It’s cool to see the original paintings for some of their now classic advertising posters. There’s also a lot of items from…… Continue reading Art and Design of the New York Central Railroad
Vanished Springs and Wells of New York City
Around the turn of the last century, James Reuel Smith documented and photographed the natural springs and wells of New York City. Why? Well, he was born into a wealthy family and was clearly interested in fresh water. Most were in the northern part of the city where there was less development and drinking water…… Continue reading Vanished Springs and Wells of New York City
Flashback 1981: One of the 99%
Whisky is not the vice John DeLorean is usually associated with. Cutty Sark ad from 1981, the first year the DeLorean sports car was sold. In 1982, John DeLorean was arrested for (and later acquitted of) drug trafficking. The DeLorean Motor Company declared bankruptcy the same year. Cutty Sark Scotch whisky was created in 1923…… Continue reading Flashback 1981: One of the 99%
Time Flashback: November 1976
Following Jimmy Carter’s victory in the 1976 presidential election, Time magazine looked towards what a Carter presidency would be, and advertisers began looking towards the Christmas season. All images from Time Magazine, November 22, 1976
New York Bricks Go Boutique
Here’s a brief history of the New York brickmaking industry from the New York Times. New York did not have a monopoly on bricks; excellent clay deposits run through New Jersey and into Pennsylvania as well. The Sayre & Fisher Brick Company, in the town now known as Sayreville, New Jersey, was for a time…… Continue reading New York Bricks Go Boutique