Historical
Turpentining in Georgia
Story by Tom Straka
Photos by Pat
Straka
My
spell checker tells me I have two suspicious words
in the title. It has not heard of turpentining or a
catface. Many of the readers can probably figure out
what the former means, but I bet they don't know
what the latter is. There are lots of festivals
across the country which provide a travel adventure
immersed in local history and folk culture. The
CatfaceTurpentine Festival held annually in early
October in Portal, Georgia is one of those.
Read
moreChuckwagon Roundup
Cajun Food: A Way of Life in Lafayette
by Kathleen Walls
Food is an intricate part of
Cajun culture.
Café Vermillionville, (circa 1835) was built as an
inn for salesmen in Lafayette then named
Vermillionville. During a Union occupation during the
Civil war supposedly a Cajun shot a Union soldier for
making advances at the man's wife. Rumors claim the old
build is still haunted by the soldier as well a young
female ghost. Read moreWar Roads
Fort
Ligonier
by Kathleen Walls
Long before United States was
born, there was a world war. It started in the American
colonies and spread across Europe. There it was called
the Seven Years' War. We called it the French and Indian
War. It's not mentioned much today in discussions about
history but it launched the career of a man whose name
everyone recognizes, George Washington.
Read more
Renee's
Road
California Coast Town and Gown
College Tour
by Renee S. Gordon
While academic programming may be considered the most
important factor in selecting a college, also essential
to success are both the campus and local culture.
College tours are an excellent way to experience a slice
of student life, obtain specific admission and housing
details and visit in-depth the area surrounding the
institution. Parents should accompany the student
on the tour if possible and turn what could be a tedious
exercise into an opportunity of a lifetime. Sharing this
event can be, not only informational, but additionally a
chance to bond, a vacation and an adventure themed
around the unique offerings of each college town.
Read more
Off the
Beaten Path
Saxonburg:
Best
Pennsylvania Town You Never Heard of
by Kathleen Walls
Saxonburg, Pennsylvania
is a beautiful example of what one immigrant can do
for this country. John Roebling and his brother,
Carl, came here in 1832 to escape totalitarian
conditions in Germany.They founded the town of
Saxonburg mainly as a farming community. After about
five years of farm life, Jo hn returned to his
original profession as engineer. He opened a wire
twisting workshop where he learned to increase the
strength of wire by twisting it into a rope much
stronger than the sum of its parts. The rest
is history.. .read
more
From
Slavery to Freedom
By Kathleen Walls
Pittsburgh has so
much history related to the Underground
Railroad. Senator John Heinz History Center
has an exhibit, From Slavery to Freedom,
that tells the story well. They use the term
“freedom seekers” or “runaway” instead of
fugitive slaves. The exhibit begins with the
slave trade. The image used in my header is
the first one you see as you enter..
read more
History
Lives at First Colony Inn
By Kathleen Walls
First Colony Inn
is the perfect place to immerse yourself in Outer Banks
history while enjoying all the modern conveniences. Lost
Colony Inn is not luxurious but it is comfortable and so
welcoming. From the minute you step in and register you
feel like you are home.
by Renee S. Gordon
While academic programming may be considered the most
important factor in selecting a college, also essential
to success are both the campus and local culture.
College tours are an excellent way to experience a slice
of student life, obtain specific admission and housing
details and visit in-depth the area surrounding the
institution. Parents should accompany the student
on the tour if possible and turn what could be a tedious
exercise into an opportunity of a lifetime. Sharing this
event can be, not only informational, but additionally a
chance to bond, a vacation and an adventure themed
around the unique offerings of each college town.
Read moreOff the Beaten Path
Saxonburg:
Best
Pennsylvania Town You Never Heard of
by Kathleen Walls
Saxonburg, Pennsylvania
is a beautiful example of what one immigrant can do
for this country. John Roebling and his brother,
Carl, came here in 1832 to escape totalitarian
conditions in Germany.They founded the town of
Saxonburg mainly as a farming community. After about
five years of farm life, Jo hn returned to his
original profession as engineer. He opened a wire
twisting workshop where he learned to increase the
strength of wire by twisting it into a rope much
stronger than the sum of its parts. The rest
is history.. .read
more
From
Slavery to Freedom
By Kathleen Walls
Pittsburgh has so
much history related to the Underground
Railroad. Senator John Heinz History Center
has an exhibit, From Slavery to Freedom,
that tells the story well. They use the term
“freedom seekers” or “runaway” instead of
fugitive slaves. The exhibit begins with the
slave trade. The image used in my header is
the first one you see as you enter..
read more
History
Lives at First Colony Inn
By Kathleen Walls
First Colony Inn
is the perfect place to immerse yourself in Outer Banks
history while enjoying all the modern conveniences. Lost
Colony Inn is not luxurious but it is comfortable and so
welcoming. From the minute you step in and register you
feel like you are home.
From Slavery to Freedom
By Kathleen Walls
Pittsburgh has so
much history related to the Underground
Railroad. Senator John Heinz History Center
has an exhibit, From Slavery to Freedom,
that tells the story well. They use the term
“freedom seekers” or “runaway” instead of
fugitive slaves. The exhibit begins with the
slave trade. The image used in my header is
the first one you see as you enter..
read moreThe Natural Bridge of Virginia
By Thomas Straka
One of the best attractions along Interstate
81 is the Natural Bridge of Virginia. Early
in the nation's history, Hudson River School
artists painted the landscapes of America's
most iconic natural scenes. These are the
large landscapes that hang in the U.S. and
state capitols. The Natural Bridge, Virginia,
painted by Frederic Edwin Church, is one of
them. That landscape is little-changed from
1852 when he painted it...
Read
moreAmerica's Oldest Unsolved Mystery
By Kathleen Walls
American's oldest mystery has never been
solved.The
story began with the settlement of Roanoke
in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. The
prelude was the earlier all-male
expeditions. The first led by Arthur Barlowe
and Philip Amadas, in 1584 was more of an
exploratory one. One thing they did had a
profound on the final settlement; they
brought two young natives, Manteo and
Wanchese, back to England. Read
moreEnchanted Mountains of New York
By Renee S. Gordon and Kathleen Walls
Cattaraugus
County New York is known as the Enchanted
Mountains for good reason. It may be a
lesser known destination but there is so
much to see and do among those picturesque
mountains you will be enchanted.Read
MoreNorth Carolina's Newest Treasure: Carvers Creek State Park
By Kathleen Walls
It's
always exciting to watch a new state park
develop. North Carolina's newest is Carvers
Creek State Park. It was authorized in 2005
and opened the first stage in September
2013. Park Superintend Jane Connolly, told
us about the park's background. In the mid
1700s Scottish immigrants began moving into
the area. Read
moreLouisiana's Plantation Country Riverroad
by Renee S. Gordon
No
experience has so impacted the United States
as profoundly and lastingly as the years of
black enslavement from 1619 to the end of
the Civil War. “The peculiar institution”
remains a defining characteristic of who we
were, are and will become as a nation. How
do we align the events of the past with the
view of ourselves that we are a country
founded on the principles of liberty for all
and malice toward none?
Read
more
Delaware
really is the most amazing state. It was the
first of the original colonies to join the
Union and is the second smallest state, a
tiny jewel filled with history, mystery,
quirky sites and a plethora of outdoor
activities. The state consists of three
counties, New Castle, Kent and Sussex, and
is so close to Philadelphia that your entire
vacation can require a single tank of gas.
Read more Auburn: A Sanctuary City
by Renee S. Gordon
In 1793 when Revolutionary War veteran Colonel John Hardenbergh, the first documented white settler in the Finger Lakes area, arrived in the Auburn, NY region it was home of the Haudenosaunee and was called “Ahskuby.” Read more
Mother Earth's Powerhouse: Niagara Falls
by Kathleen Walls
There is nothing more beautiful than Mother
Nature's most powerful places. Niagara Falls
is one of those special places. I just
returned from a visit there and was
literally blown away. At the top of Cave of
the Winds as I stood on Hurricane Deck I
felt as if I was experiencing the most
powerful storm ever.Read
more
Today
the stately stone building in Salamanca, New
York looks deserted and run down but just
looking you feel that there is a strange
history. You would be right. First it was a
family home. Then Dr. John Henderson opened
it as the Sunnyside Sanitarium in 1906. He
was assisted by Dr. Perry and the nurses
were Bertha, Agnes and Sue. They operated it
as the only holistic healing center in New
York State at the time. Read
moreSt. Simons: A Georgia Barrier Island Bursting With Charm
by Christine Tibbets
Fayetteville Can Bragg
When it comes to the telling American war
history, Fayetterville, North Carolina has
bragging rights. Fort Bragg's 82d Airborne
Division War Memorial Museum commemorates
the sacrifices made by the 82 nd Airborne
and Special Operation Troops in wars from
WWII and ongoing today. There are even more
veterans honored in the NC
Veterans Park. Read
more Oregon Trail
Stories
from the Oregon Trail enthrall, terrify or
impress with their perserverance and strong
sense of hope. People from all walks of life
packed up their belongings, loaded wagons and
walked thousands of miles over months in search
of a better life. A great place to get an
inkling of what it all entailed is at the
National Oregon Trail Interpretive Center on the
outskirts of Baker City in Easter Oregon. This
is a truly impressive display in the form of a
life size diorama depicting what life was like
on the trail. They do a fabulous job of keeping
this history alive with events and exhibits. You
can even take part in a Ride the Ruts once a
year – think of taking your bicycle along the
wagon wheel ruts left behind after all these
years.
Read more