Tuesday, July 31, 2012

In and Around Lake Placid, NY

Lake Placid is mostly known for the 1932 and 1980 Winter Olympics but it is also one of the most charming towns you'll ever visit--winter or summer. Right in town is The Olympic Center and Lake Placid Olympic Museum and on the outskirts are the Olympic Jumping Complex and the Olympic Sports Center. About 15 minutes away in the town of Wilmington is Whiteface Mountain and the Adirondack Wildlife Refuge.


Main Street where hanging baskets adorn the fronts of shops . . .


. . . and planters surround sidewalk cafes.


The Lake Placid Olympic Museum is located in the Olympic Center where the U.S. beat Russia in ice hockey in 1980. 


Thought I'd sneak in a photo from last winter of the speed skating oval where public skating sessions are offered.    


The ski jumps come into view along River Road.


During the summer months, young athletes practice their jumping skills landing in a pool of water at the base of the jumps.

 

The Olympic Sports Complex is home to the biathlon shooting range, cross country ski trails, and the bobsled, luge, and skeleton track.  


 The track is one mile long with sixteen curves . . .


. . . and the best thing of all is that for a nominal fee ($8) you can go on a 20-minute tour with the option of walking on the inside of the entire track on the way back down!


This is Curve 4. Imagine going around this at high speed.


A gondola takes visitors to the top of Whiteface Mountain with its spectacular views. 


Not far from Whiteface Mountain is the Adirondack Wildlife Refuge and Rehabilitation Center which is open every day from 10 to 4. This handsome Timber Wolf's name is "Cree." He gets walked daily on a leash just like a dog.

 
An Osprey recovering from an injury. 


Not to be missed is this Arctic Fox whose coat turns completely white during the winter months. It was lunchtime when we were there and he was patiently waiting to be fed.


Oops! Looks like he wasn't hungry after all. He's burying his food and will eat it later.  














Monday, July 16, 2012

Needle Books

I was straightening up my sewing room today when I came across some needle books that I had completely forgotten about. I'm not really a serious collector of sewing ephemera but have managed to accumulate mason jars full of buttons, old sewing machine attachments, mail order patterns, pin cushions, thimbles, sewing kits, wooden thread spools, vintage fabrics, old quilt blocks, needle cases--and needle books. 


None of the needle books I have are dated. Some have where they were made, others the number of needles they contain.


Most of the needles are displayed on colorful foil. 


 Lady Prim Needle Book contains 70 Gold Eye Needles. Made in Japan. 


The back of Lady Prim has a scene of Old New York.


Note the fancy cut-outs where the needles are displayed. There's a needle threader, too. 


One could rocket into outer space with this needle book! 

 
Dear Madam: Please pardon me for taking the liberty of leaving this Needle Book at your home for your approval. It is offered for sale by a Veteran. Should you choose to keep the Needle Book, the price is only 35 Cents. This Needle Book is left entirely at my risk--please do not feel obligated. If you do not wish to buy, please return. 

In the event you cannot be at home when I call tomorrow, or you do not wish to be disturbed, it would be greatly appreciated if you could leave book or money with your neighbor, or on door knob.

Sold by a Veteran


Here is the inside with Nickel Plated Rust Proof Perfect Needles--and threader. 


Pico Needle Book. Made in Japan.


This book contains 40 needles--20 Gold Eye, 20 Silver Eye and Threader.


Bestmaid Needles. Made in Japan. There's a $2.00 price written in pencil.


This is by far the needle book with the largest assortment--100 gold and silver eye needles with threader.


Woolco Needle Book, 79 needles for 10 cents. Made in U.S. Zone Germany. There are only a few needles left inside this well-used needle book. 

I may have to look for more needle books to add to my small collection :)   










Wednesday, July 4, 2012

Soldiers of the Revolution

On this Fourth of July, let us not forget those who fought for our freedom.


Abner Ball
A Soldier of the Revolution
Livingston, NJ

On September 18, 1832, Abner Ball appeared before the judges of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas in Essex County, NJ, and gave a declaration to obtain pension benefits relating to his service in the Revolutionary War. He was seventy-three years on the “first of January next” and a resident of Livingston, NJ. He received $80 per year beginning August 22, 1833.

At the age of sixteen, Abner enlisted “on or after the 1st of January 1776” in the NJ Militia commanded by Capt. Isaac Smith.  He was “called out to Bergen on the 4th of July when Independence was declared.”  From January 2nd to February 12th 1777 he was on a one-month tour when Washington was encamped at Morristown and was stationed at Westfield, Springfield, Connecticut Farms, and “other places in that vicinity.”

Abner’s total military service was a little over two years. He was in several battles near Belleville, Connecticut Farms, and Springfield, NJ. He was born Jan. 1760 and died May 23, 1848. He was a Justice of the Peace and a Deacon at the Northfield Baptist Church. He is buried in Northfield Baptist Cemetery, Livingston, NJ, with his wife, Rachel Robertson.


 In
Memory of
Deacon Abner Ball
A soldier of the Revolution
For 33 years a Justice of the Peace
Born Jan. 4, 1760
Died May 23, 1848
His Wife
Rachel
daughter of
John Robertson
Born Dec. 11, 1765
Died Feb. 23, 1845


During the winter of 1779-1780, the majority of Washington's troops camped at Jockey Hollow in Morristown, NJ. This site is maintained by the Morristown National Historical Park.


Each log hut had a large stone fireplace and wooden platforms which served as bunks. Often Henry Wick's farm (see prior post) offered shelter to some of the 10,000 men who were encamped on a nearby hillside. 

The following Soldiers of the Revolution are buried at the Hanover Presbyterian Church Burial Ground in E. Hanover, NJ.  There are some that have a gravestone and a military marker, others have one or the other.  

  
Capt. Enoch Beach's deteriorated gravestone with part of its original inscription still visible: 

Sacred to the memory of
Capt Enoch Beach who
died March 7th 1814
Aged 77 years
Reader; set thy house in order
for thou shalt die & not live.


In memory of
Enoch Beach
Captain Continental Line
Revolutionary War
1737 1814


Sacred
to the memory of
Ellis Cook
a Captain 
in the Revolutionary Army
who died A.D. 1832
and of
Isabel Cook
his wife
who died A.D. 1825
Erected by their descendants
A.D. 1860


In memory of
Benjamin Green
Pvt Essex County Militia
1723 - 1796


In
memory of
John Rarity who died
April 6, 1814 in the
65th year of his age.
Blessed are the dead which lie in
the Lord they shall rest from their
labours and their works do follow
them.


In memory of
John Rarity
Corp Morris County Militia
Revolutionary War
1751 - 1814


 This Stone is Erected
to the Memory of
Ebenezer Sayer
who died July 27th 1822
in the 75th year of his age
Ye fleeting arms of earth farewell,
Your springs of joy are dry.
My soul now seeks another home;
A brighter world on nigh.
O let us fly to Jesus fly,
Whose powerful arm can save,
Then shall our hopes ascend on high,
And triumph oer the grave.

In memory of
Ebenezer Sayre
Pvt Morris County Militia
Revolutionary War
1747 1822


Caleb Tuttle
A Revolutionary Soldier
born July 14th 1758
died April 27th 1832


In Memory of
Caleb Tuttle
Pvt Morris County Militia
Revolutionary War
1758 1832



 THANK YOU!