Tag: history

The “Paper House” in Massachusetts 

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The “Paper House” in Rockport, Massachusetts was an interesting quick visit. This 1924 house with paper walls and furniture has survived a century! It was a summer camp to live in; only roof, floor and house frame wooden when originally built, the rest from paper.

Paper House

The Stenman family read 3 newspapers per day. With additional newspapers from others, they built this house and made various furniture pieces, such as the grandfather clock. It was built in 1933 from the capital city papers from 48 states at that time:

Clock

Walls were newspaper pages pasted … with mixture of flour, water and apple peels…. with lacquer then applied. Walls were layered 215 sheets thick and were for insulation; now covered to hold the walls in shape.

Visitors to the property can step into the house and see all the created pieces. Some are tightly rolled or folded paper structures, but the piano is real and covered with paper. When you visit, look closely at some furniture and you’ll see historical headlines from the 1920’s.

Need a place to stay for the night? Check out the Blue Shutters in Gloucester

Wish to eat a lobster roll? Check out Charlie’s Place. Take a short hike at Halibut Point… plenty to visit along the coast; enjoy!

Eleanor Roosevelt’s Val-Kill

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Eleanor and Franklin D. Roosevelt had another property, Val-Kill, a short distance from the home Franklin grew up in. While Eleanor and Franklin lived with his parents and at the White House, Val-Kill was a place Eleanor started Val-Kill Industries. Here rural youth and underemployed workers learned woodworking. Creating handicrafts allowed farmers to also keep afloat during tough times. She closed the industry down in 1936 and moved in after Franklin’s death in 1945. Eleanor certainly contributed to her husband’s work during his presidency and was called upon by others even after his death. Plenty of history regarding her!

I toured this property and museum and viewed an informative 20 minute film. There are well groomed trails to walk here. It’s a beautiful place!

Stone Cottage for guests
Plenty of conversation around this table!
Beautiful grounds with water and trails.

FDR’s Home, Museum and Library

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Franklin Delano Roosevelt was our President for many years (March 4, 1933-April 12, 1945) and lived in Hyde Park, New York where we now find his home and Presidential Museum and Library. Years ago, when at the Walkway over the Hudson River with my friend, we only drove past these places. This trip I toured his home:

His father encouraged him to know birds in the area, so Franklin did learn 300 birds and did taxidermy work too.
Many rooms as he and Eleanor lived in this home with his parents.

The family owned many acres of land which overlooked the Hudson River. Due to numerous trees planted by his family, a river view is no longer as the trees grew nicely through the decades.

Once upon a time one could see the Hudson River.

The Presidential Library is available to researchers and the museum is open to all. Many hours and even days are needed if one was to read all in the museum! It is well done! Videos also available to break up the reading and displays. So many initiatives from Franklin D. Roosevelt during his years as President.

Freedom from Fear.

By the way, Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Presidential Library is the first presidential library ever built.

Did you hear? July 4 of this year the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library just opened in North Dakota. Looks great, I’ll have to visit it someday!

A Memory & Learning Something New on a Bridge

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The bridge is the only pedestrian-bridge across NY’s Hudson River, known as “Walkway over the Hudson”. In 1979, this Poughkeepsie Railroad Bridge was listed on the National Registry of Historic Places; 2016, inducted into the Rail Trail Hall of Fame. Great re-purposing of the railroad bridge as many people now walk or bicycle across.

Four years ago my best friend and I visited this bridge as I had written about in previous posts. Since her death 3 years ago, I have walked the bridge each time I travel to the east coast. While I walk from gate to gate, just over a mile each way, I remind myself of good times we had during the 40 years we were friends. Wonderful memories! I am continually grateful for that friendship.

I love learning new things everyday. This time I discovered an elevator from Upper Landing Park area to the bridge! I rode it and had a nice chat with its operator. I learned locals use the bridge to get from home to work on opposite sides of the river. Saved time and no gasoline as they walked or cycled over the walkway.

While walking the bridge I saw a young boy stepping on an insect, and then another and another. Sometimes the insect would jump before the boy could step on it, but in the next second, the boy got it. Not recognizing the insect, I used iNaturalist app to identify the insect. A spotted lanternfly!! I read about these invasive planthoppers and the destruction they can cause fruit trees and trees for our lumber industry. No doubt this young boy was doing a great removal service!

Quite a walk on the bridge … 

Walkway over the Hudson. Some people use the bridge as part of their commute to work!
Spotted lanternfly. Wings spread… then red color can be seen

Fillmore Glen State Park in upstate NY

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Fillmore Glen became a state park thanks to the efforts of Charles Atwood. He recognized the beauty and importance of maintaining a place like this for years to come. His efforts began in 1919; finally in June 1925 the 941 acres was recognized as a state park. It is named Fillmore Glen State Park in honor of US President Fillmore.

I appreciate his interest in protecting this land!

Visitors can hike the north, south or gorge trail and easily make a 3 mile loop as we did. On the south rim trail we observed many mushrooms … so different from my home desert environment… and completed our loop on the gorge trail.

Wow! Gorge trail is spectacular with waterfalls. Plenty of water was running and falling! We walked in a narrow, steep-walled gorge under trees and protected from the summer heat. It was wonderful and not muddy or buggy.

Trail and bridges

People can hike, camp, swim in the designated area and fish at the Owasco Lake inlet. Nature Conservancy is also involved in protecting this watershed.

If you are near Moravia, New York, this is definitely a park to visit!

One of 5 waterfalls at this park!

Next blog post I photographed different types of fungi!!! Will share.

“Get Your Kicks” at  Route 66 Museum!

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Here’s a museum when you’re driving Interstate 40 east and needing a break in Oklahoma? Route 66 Museum is in Clinton, Oklahoma, a few miles north of the interstate and worth a visit!

Enter Route 66 Museum

The history about this road’s creation is fascinating and the museum shares it all. The 1920’s is when the concept of driving a road from Illinois to California comes into its own. Nine thousand registered OK drivers in 1914 grew to 144,000 in 1920, then to 576,000 in 1930.  More people driving meant gas stations, cafes and motels were needed for travelers. The migration of people in the 1930’s due to the lack of rain, the Dust Bowl, increased the use of the “mother road”, Route 66, as many headed west!

Henry Ford’s Model T in 1916

Thanks to Cyrus Avery in envisioning such a road, the WPA workers building the road and the business owners along the road providing services to travelers. Unfortunately with President Eisenhower’s Interstate Plan, many towns were bypassed and Route 66 roads were not used. However as we now drive the interstate, there are some people who do drive as much of the old 2448 mile road where possible through the 8 states from Chicago, Illinois to Santa Monica Pier in California. 

Some old stations can still be seen
Remember? Pay here to park.
Map of the road; now some people cycle it!

You too may stop at Cadillac Ranch by Amarillo, Texas. Cadillacs from 1949-1963 are part of a 1974 installation. The cars are nose-dived into the ground and you can walk up to them and add your spray paint or creative touch! 

I have driven and cycled parts of Route 66 and love seeing the old motels, gas pumps, etc. Go out and “get your kicks” on Route 66!

Cadillac Ranch, check it out!

Navajo County Museum – Know of It?

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I did not know of the Navajo County Museum in Holbrook, Arizona. Yes, I knew Petrified Forest National Park is down the road, but this museum? No. As the local said to me, “Once you see the national park and this museum, you’ve seen Holbrook!” 

Wild West

We spent at least 45 minutes at the Navajo County Museum walking through rooms with different historical info. This building was the old courthouse with the sheriff’s office and jail. Other rooms included items from Native Americans, ranchers and other settlers in the county. I had never seen so many old typewriters and cameras in one place. Display cases had fossils, arrowheads, pieces of pottery and old horse saddles. One room was the old post office. There was so much to look at! 

Plenty of exhibits

We just happened upon this place as we continue our drive east with many more miles to go in the day. Lovers of history could spend hours here with all this historical material. 

Old post office

So … If you are in Holbrook, Arizona along Interstate 40, visit the Navajo County Museum. And if you have not been to Petrified Forest National Park, get there also to see petrified wood and the “painted desert”. Worth a stop!!

Petrified wood and more of it at the national park down the road!

AZ’s Picture Canyon & Memories

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Picture Canyon Natural and Cultural Preserve in Flagstaff is a favorite hiking place. It is an urban park where the Northern Sinagua people had settled centuries ago and we still see hundreds of their rock carvings throughout the park. 

Petroglyphs

While hiking the Tom Moody Trail, we passed a waterfall, rock carvings and a connector path to the Arizona Trail. On a recent hike, I noticed a plaque on a rock. I learned of the death of a guy I knew from bicycling in this area of Arizona: Jack Welch.

For me, Jack was the organizer for local mountain bike rides. We loved those rides! He knew the trails and the geology. I remember another time stopping at lava tubes in the area. Now I discover while reading the plaque, he was an advocate protecting this natural area and the 1,000 year old petroglyphs. 

I am thankful for individuals who love nature and help to protect it. This preserve’s wildlife benefits as we do too. Here we can hike, cycle, bird watch, see history, enjoy this protected natural area and remember a fellow cyclist.

Hike when you are in Flagstaff, Arizona.