A VISIT TO THE NEWSEUM

A few weeks ago I spend some time in Washington D.C. and was able to visit the Newseum. The Newseum has exhibits and artifact from some of history's most famous events, including the Time Square Bombers car, the rifle used by the D. C. Sniper, a piece of the Berlin Wall, and John Dillnger's Hat and Gun.

The museum also features a number of interactive exhibit allowing visitors to see what it is like to be both field and studio reporters. One of the most popular interactive exhibits allows visitors to sit in a realistic News studio and read news from a teleprompter dealing with some of history's most famous events.

The Time Square Bombers SUV

On May 1, 2010 Fasial Shahzad parked this Nissan Pathfinder in the heart of Time Square. The vehicle was packed with explosives set to be detonated by a couple of travel alarm clocks. The explosives failed to detonate and police were alerted to smoke coming from the vehicle. They traced the vehicle to Fasial Shahzad who was captured two days later. The vehicle is the actual one used by Shazad.

John Dillinger's Hat

John Dillinger was one of the most notorious gangsters of the 20th Century. On July 22, 1934 Dillinger exited the Biograph Theater in Chicago with Ana Cumpanas, (the famous lady in red), As Dillinger reached the sidewalk in front of the theater F. B. I. Agents led by Melvin Purvis opened fire, killing the famous gangster. Dillinger was wearing this straw hat at the time of his death

Whitey Bolger's Hat

Whitey Bolger was one of the most powerful organized crime figures in the Boston area. He was said to be responsible for more than 20-murders over the years escaped capture for over 20-years, spending 12-years on the F.B.I.'s 10-Most Wanted List.  On July 22, 2011, Bolger was captured outside of his apartment in Santa Monica, California.  At the time of his capture he was wearing this simple white bucket hat that is on display in the Newseum.

D. C. Sniper's Rifle

For over three weeks in October 2002 John Allen Muhammad and Lee Boyd Malvo terrorized the Washington, D. C. area by randomly shooting citizens as they went about their daily business. Over the period of 23-days, the two killed 7-people and wounded 7 others. In the early morning hours of October 24, 2002 Muhammad and Malvo were found sleeping in their car at a rest area on Interstate 70, northwest of Washington, D. C.  Recovered at the time of their arrest was this rifle which was used in all of the attacks.

Don Bolles Car

Don Bolles was an investigative reporter for the Arizona Republic Newspaper. Bolles was investigating the connection between the Mafia and local and state politicians when on June 2, 1976, he was to meet an informant at a local hotel. Bolles left the hotel and returned to his vehicle. When he started the vehicle a bomb consisting of several sticks of dynamite exploded, critically injuring the reporter.  Ten days later he would die in a local hospital.  The car showing the bomb damage is on display at the Newseum

The Newseum is spread over 6-floor and I ended up spending about 4-hours taking in all of the exhibits. I could have spent longer it I did the interactive exhibits, but they were very popular and crowded. I stayed outside of the D. C. Area and used the Washington Metro as my principle means of transportation. It's about a 30-minute Metro ride from Franconia-Springfield to the Archives Station.  A short 5-minute walk from the Archives Station and your are at the Newseums front door.

Here's a short 7 and a half minute video of my visit to the museum.

MONUMENT AVENUE - RICHMOND, VA.

A few months ago I had some time to kill and was able to visit Monument Avenue in Richmond, Virginia early on a Sunday Morning. Keep in mind if you visit this area, that Monument Avenue is a residential area and parking is hard to find. If you area able to find on street parking, take advantage of it and enjoy the walk down the tree lined street. The centerpiece of Monument Avenue is of course, The Monuments.

Arthur Ashe

The First Stop on my trip was the Arthur Ashe Monument, which is also the newest monument on the Avenue. Ashe was a native of Richmond and a famous tennis player who won three Grand Slam Events and was the first black player selected to the Davis Cup Team. Ashe died in 1993 and is buried in 1993 and is buried in Richmond's Woodland Cemetery. Following his death there was a push to add a statue of him on Monument Avenue. After much discussion the statue by Paul DiPasquale was dedicated in 1996.

Matthew Fontaine Maury

Just a short walk from the Arthur Ashe Monument is the Matthew Fontaine Maury Maury, who was known as "Pathfinder of the Seas" and "Father of Modern Oceanography. He was born in Spotsylvania County, Virginia on January 14, 1806 and died in Lexington, Virginia on February 1, 1873. He is buried in Richmond's Historic Hollywood Cemetery.

Jefferson Davis

Next up is the Jefferson Davis Monument. Davis was born in Kentucky on June 3, 1808 and served as a United States Senator from Mississippi just prior to the Civil War.  In 1862, Davis became the first and only President of the Confederate States of America. During his term in office he and his family lived here in Richmond, which was the capital of the Confederacy. Following the war, Davis was imprisoned at Fort Monroe. After being in prison for more than 2-years, Davis was released and lived his remaining years in the deep south.  He died on December , 1889 in New Orleans and was originally buried in the Meairie Cemetery where is rested until 1893, when Mrs. Davis decided to have him reinterred in Richmond's Hollywood Cemetery. 

Stonewall Jackson

The "Stonewall" Jackson Monument is the next Monument  and is one of three equestrian statues on the Avenue. Thomas J. Jackson was born in Clarksburg, Virginia (Now West Virginia) and prior to the Civil War was a professor at the Virginia Military Institute in Lexington. During the Civil War he was one of the south most celebrated generals. He was accidentally shot by his own trooper at Chancellorsville in 1863.  His remains was returned to Lexington and he is buried in the Stonewall Jackson Cemetery.

J.E.B. Stuart

James Ewell Brown Stuart, J.E.B. for short, is the next equestrian monument on the avenue.  Jeb Stuart was born at Laurel Hill in Patrick County, Virginia.  He graduated from West Point in 1854 and was present at Harper's Ferry when John Brown was Captured. During the Civil War he was General Robert E. Lee's most accomplished cavalry officers. He was killed on May 12, 1864 at Yellow Tavern near Richmond.  He is buried in Richmond's Hollywood Cemetery.

Robert E. Lee

The final monument on the avenue is that of General Robert E. Lee. General Lee was born at Stratford Hall Plantation on January 19,1807.  He attended the Unites State Military Academy at West Point and remains the only cadet to graduate without receiving a single demerit. During the Civil War he served at General of the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia. After four long years of War, General Lee surrendered his army to General Ulysses S. Grant on April 9, 1865 at Appomattox Courthouse Virginia. Follow the war General Lee retired to Lexington, Virginia where he became president of Washington College, which is today Washington and Lee University.  General Lee died in Lexington on October 12, 1870 and is entombed in the the family crypt in Lee Chapel on the Campus of Washington and Lee University.

All total it is about a mile and a half from the Arthur Ashe to the Robert E. Lee Monument. So, round trip it is about a 3-mile walk but it all on level ground.  I really enjoyed my stroll down one of Richmond's more historic streets.

In addition to the photos here is a short 8-minute video of my walk down Historic Monument Avenue.

MOUNT VERNON

I spent Veterans Day Afternoon at the home of one of our First Veterans, and our First President, George Washington. Because it was Veterans Day, there were several special guests and activities, including wreath being placed at the Tomb. There was not photography permitted inside the house but I did manage to get a short video of the House, grounds, and at the Tomb. At the end of the Video is Sgt. John Francisco who is a member of the 3rd Infantry Regiment, better known as The Old Guard. Sgt. Francisco is a member of the Old Guards Fife and Drum Corp and spent the afternoon performing at the wreath laying ceremony and visiting with tourist. The video is about 8-minutes long. 

GOOBER SAY HEY!!

After the Wake Forest - Clemson Football game in Winston Salem, I spent the night at the Comfort Inn in Mt. Airy. Sunday Morning I decided to have a nice breakfast at the nearby Cracker Barrel and then spend at few minutes in the real life Mayberry.

Andy Griffith was born here in Mt. Airy and a lot of the places mentioned in the Andy Griffith Show are based on the surrounding area, such as Mt. Pilot (Pilot Mountain), Fancy Gap and the Snappy Lunch.

The area has embraced it's claim to fame and welcomes fans of the show and tourist. Each September the Surry Arts Council host its annul "Mayberry Days" where some of the performer from the Andy Griffith Show make appearances along with local people who portray characters from the show.  The 2017 Mayberry Days Festival is scheduled for September 19-24. It's a wonderful event and if you are a fan of the show you must attend.

Have a Pork Chop Sandwich at the Snappy Lunch

Walking around downtown Mt. Airy, visitors can visit such spots at The Blue Bird Dinner, Walker's Drug Store and have a pork chop sandwich at the Snappy Lunch.  Being Sunday morning most people were at church and none of these places were open.


Just south of downtown is a small area that has been turned into a Mini-Mayberry. Here you can walk into a replica of the courthouse, Wally's Service Station and see The Darlin's Truck and The Mayberry Squad Car.

Looks like Brisco, Charleen and the Boys are in town

You can have a Nectarine Crush at Wally's

VETERANS DAY - THE FACES OF FREEDOM

Today was one of the most amazing and Humbling day I have ever spent. Today was Veterans day. A day we Americans set aside to Honor and remember the man and women who are responsible for our Freedom. Today, I had the honor to meet and visit very briefly with some amazing veterans. I stopped at the United States Marine Corps Museum and met a 92-year old World War II Veteran who stormed the Beaches of Normandy during the D-Day Invasion. (He didn’t want me to take his picture). After spending a very few minutes with this humble hero, all I could say was Thank You for Your Service, but that just didn’t seem like it was enough, but it was all I had. 

A little while Later I was driving north on Route 1 and saw a family taking Photos near a replica of the Iwo Jima Memorial at entrance to Quantico. What an amazing site it was to see a son saluting his father who has spent 26-years in the service to his country. I waited patiently to shake their hand and once again “Thank You for Your Service,” just didn’t seem sufficient, but it was all I had.

Later in the Day I move on to Mount Vernon, the home of one of our first veterans and our First President. As I was walking the grounds I saw two gentlemen wearing shirts embroidered with the “Tomb Guard Badge.” There are currently less than 600 individuals who have served as sentinels at the Tomb of the Unknown. Twenty-four hours a day, 7-days a week, in all weather, these elite members maintain watch at our most sacred site. What and honor it was too visit with these proud but humble heroes.


Finally, as I was leaving Mount Vernon, I had the honor to meet Sergeant John Francisco, a member of the 3rd Infantry Regiment. He was a musician who has performed for Presidents, Heads of State and at ceremonial functions throughout the United States and the world. As I visited with him, I was struck by the love that he has for this country and what an honor it was for him to “represent the greatest nation on earth.” 






What an honor it was for me to stand in the presences of these heroes. I was truly humbled. If you every wonder why this is the greatest country on earth look no further than our veteran, because they are the faces of freedom.

VISITING NASCAR'S PAST IN DARLINGTON

Back in the later 1970's and through the 1980's I was a huge NASCAR Fan. This was perhaps when NASCAR was at it's most popular. It was a sport born in the south and the majority of its sold out race tracks were located in the south.  But in the 1990's NASCAR abandoned its southern roots and it's popularity began to decline.  One of the most popular tracks was located in the small town of Darlington, South Carolina.  The Darlington Raceway is NASCAR's oldest track. Holding it first race in 1950.

During the 1970's and through the 1980's I use to attend both the Rebel 400 and the Southern 500 at the Darlington Raceway. I would camp in a pop-up camper and have the time of my life. But NASCAR turned its back on its southern root and took the Rebel 400 race away from Darlington and Move the Southern 500 from it's traditional Labor Day Weekend. I attended my last NASCAR race in 2003, since then I have not been back to a race track and i have not watch a full race on TV. In 2014 while I was on the way to the NCAA Basketball Tournament in Raleigh, I had the opportunity to travel through Darlington and I stopped at the Lady in Black paid my $5.00 and toured what used to be the Joe Weatherly Stockcar Museum. The drivers like Fireball Roberts, Rex White, Joe Weatherly, Buck Baker, Darrell Waltrip Richard Petty and David Pearson, still live here in this small museum in the sand hills of South Carolina.

In the early to mid 1980 the R. J. Reynold's Tobacco Company through it Winston Brand offered a 1-million dollar bonus, called The Winston Million, to any driver who could win 3 of NASCAR 4 biggest races, the Daytona 500, the Worlds 600, the Winston 500 and the Southern 500. In 1985, Bill Elliott drove this 1985 Ford Thunderbird to victory in the Southern 500. Having won the Daytona 500 and the Winston 500 earlier in the year, Million Dollar Bill claimed the Winston Million.


Below is a short video that I made during my visit to the Darlington Raceway Museum. It is a wonderful little museum that captures the history and tradition of NASCAR. It holds a very special place in the heart of NASCAR Fans who remember the glory days.

MORDECAI HISTORICAL PARK - RALEIGH, NC

While visiting Raleigh for the 2014 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament, I had the opportunity to visit the Mordecai Historical Park. The park is located in the Elmwood Section of Raleigh, just a few blocks from the State Capitol Building.



During my visit the build were closed but I was permitted to walk the ground.  The centerpiece of the park is the Mordecai House which was built in 1785. The House was named after Moses Mordecai, who lived her with his first wife Margaret Lane. Margaret had inherited the house from her father Henry Lane. After Margaret died, Moses married her sister Ann. In 1826 the house was enlarged and took on the features of a Greek Revival Mansion. The mansion was listed on the National Register of Historic Place in 1970.



Also located in the park is the original birthplace of President Andrew Johnson.  The building originally stood a few miles from its current location in the Mordecai Historical Park. Over the years the building was dismantle and move to several location in the Raleigh Area. In 1975 the building was moved here, to the Mordecai Historical Park.



Here is a short video taken during my short visit to the Mordecai Historical Park.

THE TOMBSTONE TOURIST VISITS WILMINGTON, NC

 The First and Second Rounds of the 2014 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament was held in Raleigh, North Carolina.  I used the off day on Saturday to travel down to Wilmington, North Carolina. After touring the Battleship North Carolina, I traveled over to Oakdale Cemetery and visited the graves of some of the notable people who are buried there.



Oakdale Cemetery is rather large but I had down loaded a map prior to leaving home. Even with a map, it was still difficult locating some of the graves that I was looking for.



Perhaps the most notable person buried here is journalist David Brinkley who co-anchored the "Huntley Brinkley Report" with Chet Huntley on the NBC Television Network before moving over to ABC News and anchoring "This Week With David Brinkley." After driving around for several minutes I finally managed to locate his grave in one of the more secluded sections of the cemetery.



Henry Bacon and Rose Greenhow are buried near each other in one of the more historic sections of the cemetery.  Bacon was the architect of the Lincoln Memorial.  He submitted his proposal for the memorial in 1912 which featured a large Greek temple and a giant sculpture of Lincoln by Daniel Chester French.  The Lincoln Memorial was completed in 1922 and turned out to be Bacon's last major project as he died on February 16, 1924 in New York City.



Rose Greenhow was renowned Confederate spy during the Civil War.  With contacts at all levels of the Confederate Government, Greenhow was able to move vital message throughout the south ensuring a number of Confederate victories including the First Battle of Bull Run in 1861. In 1864, she drowned when her rowboat overturned off the coast of Wilmington, North Carolina while she was attempting to escaped a Union gunboat.  She was honored with a full Confederate Military Funeral and buried in Oakdale Cemetery.



After spending a couple of hours touring Oakdale Cemetery, traveled over to Oleander Memorial Gardens, which is where Baseball Hall of Famer Willie Stagell is resting.  Willie was the leader of the "We Are Family Pirates" which won the 1979 World Series.  He was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1988.



Willie is entombed in the small outdoor mausoleum and it was easy locating his grave as Pirate fans had left baseballs and Pirate hats in tribute to the Hall of Famer.



After spending the day in Wilmington it was time to head back to Raleigh. Here is a short video documenting my visit to the cemeteries of the Wilmington Area.

ROAD TRIP SUNDAY

Piddlin' is what I do when when I leave home with no set plan, destination or purpose. So early one Sunday Morning a few weeks back,  I set out on a day of piddlin'. With no set destination I headed north on Interstate 81, and a couple of hours later I found myself in Staunton and decided to have breakfast at Mrs. Rowe's.  

For those of you that don't know, Mrs. Rowe"s is THE place to eat anytime you are passing through the Staunton area.  It is a family run restaurant and the food is outstanding. I hadn't been here for several years and was very happy to find nothing had changed, great food, great service and I was able to leave with a full stomach and a happy smile. 

After a great pancake breakfast at Mrs. Rowe's, I headed across the mountain to Mr. Jefferson's town - Charlottesville.  Being mid-morning when I arrived many of the parking sport in downtown were taken up with folks attending church. Plus, being a college town, this was the weekend that many of the students were returning and moving into their dorms and apartment. So parking anywhere downtown was out of the question.  

The Rotunda

I made my way back to to the west side of town to the area around John Paul Jones Arena where there was plenty of parking. From the arena parking lot it was just a short half-mile walk over to the Rotunda at the University of Virginia.

The Rotunda is undergoing extensive renovations and is closed to the public, but the historic Lawn is open. The Lawn is a large grassy area on the south side of The Rotunda and is a popular place for students to gather, study and play.  Located on either side of the Lawn are 54 of the most cherished rooms at the University of Virginia. It is considered an honor to be chosen to live in one of the prestigious Lawn Rooms. These rooms are located in Thomas Jefferson's original building and contain only a bed, desk, rocking chair and sink. The rooms have no bathroom or showers and have no air conditioning.  

Edgar Allan Poe's Room

Some of the chosen students were moving into their cherished rooms on The Lawn and unlike the students who were living in dorms or off campus apartments, these students carried only a few possessions. One of the Lawn's most famous residents was Edgar Allan Poe who lived in #13-West Range during his stay at the University in 1826.  Poe's room is preserved today just as it appeared while he was a student here.

After spending an hours or so walking around The Lawn and The Rotunda I decided to head north on Route 29 and ended up in Culpeper. 

I visited the Culpeper National Cemetery and paid my respects to the more than 11,000 veterans buried in the 30-acre cemetery. Two of the most prominent monument in the cemetery are the New York and Pennsylvania Monument.  The New York Monument was erected in 1902 in tribute to the members of the 28th New York Infantry of the Army of the Potomac who were killed at the Battle of Cedar Mountain. Eight years later the Pennsylvania Monument was erected in honor of those from the state who died in the battles in the area including Cedar Mountain, Chancellorsville, and The Wilderness. 

Culpeper National Cemetery

After visiting the National Cemetery, I walked around downtown Culpeper. Even on a Sunday afternoon, I could see that unlike many small towns, Culpeper is bustling. The store front are filled with customers who appear to enjoy supporting local family owned businesses.  

Frost Diner seems to be a popular place to eat on Main Street, but Mrs. Rowe's breakfast was still sticking with me. I made a Note to Self that the next time I was in Culpeper,  I would have to sample the food at Frost Diner.

It was late afternoon when I departed Culpeper and head west on Route 522 toward Luray. This is a wonderful country drive through rural Rappahannock County.  Just east of Sperryville, just off of the highway is the original site of St. Paul's Episcopal Church. The church itself was destroyed  in 1929 when a tornado destroyed many of the building in the area.  The only reminder that a church once stood here is a small monument in the church cemetery. 

While walking through the small and well maintained cemetery I manage to locate the grave of the area's most prominent citizens. United States Senator Eugene McCarthy and NBC Newsman Frank McGee. 

Eugene McCarthy

EUGENE McCARTHY served at the United States Senator from the State of Minnesota from 1959 - 1971. During his time in the Senate, he served at a member of the Foreign Relations Commettee. He first ran for president in 1968 eventually losing the democratic nomination to fellow Minnesotan Hubert Humphrey.  He would run for president again in 1976, 1988, and 1992, but never gaining the support that he achieved in 1968. He retired from the senate in 1971 and resumed his teaching career. His later years were spent as a resident in a retirement community in Georgetown where died in 2005.

Frank McGee

FRANK McGEE was one of the most prominent news men during the 1960's and 70's. During his career worked for NBC News and was a member of the networks "four-horsemen," John Chancellor, Edwin Newman and Sander Vanocur. McGee worked as a floor reporter for the network during but the Republican and Democratic National Conventions. He was instrumental in the Networks early coverage of the assassination of President John Kennedy, appearing in the studio during the first hours of coverage where he repeating information that was being provided by Robert MacNeil who was in Dallas. He remained at on duty for the next 45-hours broadcasting with little or no rest. Over the next decade and a half, Frank McGee covered the most historic event of the time including, the assassinations of Martin Luther King, and Robert Kennedy, and the American Space Program. In early 1974, McGee was diagnosed with cancer and died on April 17, 1974, just 5-days after his final appearance on the Today Show.  

Luray's Singing Tower

It was late afternoon when I finally headed across the mountain to Luray where I made a quick stop at the Singing Tower and Luray Caverns.  I had been to the Caverns a few years back and had and it was late in the day so time didn't permit another visit. 

I also stopped  Belle Brown Northcott Memorial Tower is more commonly known as Luray’s Singing Tower. The carillon was erected in 1937 in memory of Belle Brown Northcott who was the wife of T. C. Northcott the former president of Luray Cavern Corporation. The singing tower stands 117-feet tall and contains a carillon of 47-bells. The largest bell is six feet wide and weighs a total of 7,640 pound, while the smallest bell weighs in at 12 and a half pound. During the summer regularly scheduled recitals are held on the grounds located in a small park directly across from Luray Caverns. These concerts are held free of charge.

From Luray I made my way back across the mountain to New Market. It was dark by the time that I headed south on Interstate 81 at New Market and made my way south, arriving back home shortly after 9 o'clock.Another great day of piddlin' was over. I don't consider it a wasted day, as I enjoyed some good food, and a lot of history.

WITNESS TO HISTORY IN WARM SPRINGS

The Little White House

While visiting the Franklin Roosevelt National Historic Site in Hyde Park, New York, I got to thinking about a visit I made back in 2008 to the tiny village of Warm Springs, Georgia. It was in Warm Spring that President Roosevelt died on April 12, 1945.

President Roosevelt was a frequent visitor to Warm Springs, as exercising and swimming in the nearby mineral springs was one of the few things that seemed to ease the pain from polio that he was diagnosed with in 1921. President Roosevelt came to Warm Spring so often that he built a 6-room cottage on Pine Mountain near the tiny village and near the mineral pools.

FDR was sitting in the chair when he slumped forward

He first visited Warm Springs in 1924 and his small cottage known as the “Little White House,” was built in 1932. During his presidency he visited the are a total of 16-time and could often be seen driving around the country side visiting with his neighbors.  Unlike the presidents of today, President Roosevelt would drive himself about the country road of Meriwether County.

On the afternoon of April 12, 1935, President Roosevelt was sitting in the living room of the Little White House, posing for a portrait for artist Elizabeth Shoumatoff.  Early in the afternoon the President complained of a severe pain in the back of his head and slumped forward in his chair. His aides carried him to his bedroom where at 3:35 p.m. he was pronounced dead by his attending physician Dr. Howard Bruenn.

FDR Died in this bed on April 12, 1945

During my visit to the Little White House I toured the cottage and the nearby museum and also made my way down the Mountain to the Warm Springs Pools where President Roosevelt swam and received treatments for his polio. While I enjoyed my tours, it was my visit to the tiny Village of Warm that made a lasting impression on me.

It was late in the afternoon when I finished my tour of the Warm Spring Pools and the Little White House, so before I headed by to my hotel for the night I decided to park and walk around the village.  The Village of Warm Spring is basically a couple of block of locally owned shops.  It was a rather warm day and I found a small ice cream shop and decided to have a cup of Georgia Peach Ice Cream. 

While I was sitting in a rocking chair in front of the ice cream shop an elderly gentleman came up and started talking to me. In small towns everyone knows everyone else so a stranger had to be a tourist.  He asked it I “had visited the Little White House yet.”  I told him that I had and that I had also visited the Pools.

The man whose name was Ed, (I am terrible with last names) told me that he was 12-years old when President Roosevelt died and that he had vivid memories of the time when the President was in the area but none of those memories was a vivid as the day in 1945 when they “brought the President off of the mountain,” to the depot for the “trip back north.”

Wow, how lucky am I to be talking to someone who witnessed one of the most important events of the 20^th Century.  For the near hour or so I sat in a comfortable rocking chair listening to this gentleman reminisce about how the entire community came out and lined the streets as the hearse pulled up in front of the small depot.  The military honor guards stood at attention near the train that would carry the President back to Washington.

Ed told me that one thing that he remembers is the silence. Men, women and children all stood in silence waited for the hearse to arrive. Not one word was spoken.  As the hearse came into view and pulled up in front of the depot, men and women that he had known all of his young life were silently crying as the flag draped casket was removed from the back of the hearse and carried to the waiting train. 

President Roosevelt's 1938 Ford

 For the better part of an hour I talked with this gentleman, and listened intently as he described how it was a common occurrence for a family to be sitting on their front porch on a Sunday afternoon and President Roosevelt would come driving up the road and stop for a visit.  Because of his polio he couldn’t get out of the car but the family would walk down and visit with him while he sat in the driver’s seat of the car. Because of his polio his car had been specially equipped with hand controls. 

After the train departed on the morning of April 13, 1945, the people of Warm Springs silently returned to their homes to mourn the loss of their friend and neighbor who just happened to be the 32^nd President of the United States.

It was late afternoon when I returned to my car and head back toward my hotel in Newnan. As I drove back up the Highway 27, I couldn’t help but think, how Ed’s recollection of that day in 1945 was so much like my memories of a similar day in November 1963. He witnessed history in person and I witnessed it on a black and white Television in the comfort of my home in Virginia. 

FDR NATIONAL HISTORICAL SITE

(November 15, 2016) After spending two days in the lower Hudson Valley, it was time to check out of the Quality Inn in Fishkill. Like I said earlier I don’t usually stay at Quality Inn’s as most of them have exterior rooms and have a reputation of being on the lower in of the Choice Hotel Brands. This Quality Inn had interior room and the customer service was excellent.

Springwood - FDR National Historical Site

After a quick breakfast at the hotel, it was time to hit the road for the 20-mile drive back North on U. S. Highway 9 to the Village of Hyde Park. I wanted to visit both the Vanderbilt Mansion and the FDR National Historic Site, but the Vanderbilt Mansion was closed for a wedding or some type of elegant social function. So shortly after the FDR National Historical opened I pulled into the vacant parking lot and made my way into the Visitors Center. 

I was evidently the first visitor of the day and bought my ticket for the 10 a.m. tour of the Roosevelt Mansion. The grounds and the adjacent museum are self-guided but the tour of the mansion is guided by a National Parks Service Employee. 

FDR & Eleanor at the Visitor's Center

I had a bout a 40-minute wait for my tour and passed the time by walking around the grounds that are dotted with statues and monument dedicated to the 32^nd President of the United States. Just outside of the Visitors Center is a statue of Eleanor and Franklin sitting around a table reading books, and a little further along is a bust of President Roosevelt, which stands at the entrance to the museum. Behind the Museum is Freedom Park, which has two large busts of President Roosevelt and Winston Churchill along with two large pieces of the Berlin Wall.  

After walking the ground for about 30-minutes I made my way back to the lobby of the visitor’s center where I was to meet my tour guide.  When I re-entered the lobby of the visitor’s center to join my 10 o’clock tour. Several people were also waiting inside to join the tour and as I waited I heard someone say “Go Deacs”, and a couple of people came up to me and wanted to know if I was from Winston-Salem.  Seems they had noticed my Wake Forest University hat.  Turned out that they were with a tour group from the Winston Salem area.  I told them I wasn’t from the Winston Salem Area but was a Wake Forest Season Ticket hold in both football and basketball.  One of the ladies wanted to introduce me to her husband, who was also a basketball season ticket holder. She introduced me to her husband and after talking to him for a few minutes he said he recognized me as the guy who sits behind the Wake Forest bench taking pictures.

The Living Room

After talking for a few minutes our tour guide joined us to begin out tour. After a brief introduction about the life of Eleanor and Franklin Roosevelt we began out walk toward the mansion. On our way we past the rose garden where both Eleanor and Franklin are buried along with their Scottish Terrier “Fala.” The guide told us we would be free to return to the rose garden after our tour of the house.

FDR's White House Desk

Out tour of the Roosevelt Mansion lasted about 45-minutes and our guide took use through each room of the house and showed us how the upper class lived and how the house had to be discreetly renovated to accommodate President Roosevelt’s polio. President Roosevelt was very rarely photographed with his leg braces and he was largely confined to a wheel chair. The Roosevelt’s like to entertain so the house contained several renovations that allowed the President to move about including a make shift elevator that operated like a dumb waiter. This allowed President Roosevelt to avoid the stairs and move between floors.

Graves of Franklin & Eleanor Roosevelt

Following my tour of the house, I made my way back to the museum, where I spent the next couple of hours touring the Museum. The museum has a number of artifacts belonging to both President and Mrs. Roosevelt including his White House Desk, and the original draft of his “A Day that will live in infamy,” speech that he delivered to Congress on December 8, 1941.

My final stop was back at the Rose Garden where I visited the graves of President Roosevelt and his wife Eleanor. Most people think that the Roosevelt’s are resting beneath the large marble monument but actually they are resting in front of the monument, with the President’s grave being closest to the monument.  There is a small sundial in the garden, which marks the grave of Fala, the Presidents Scottish Terrier.

Val-Kill

After spending the morning at the Franklin Roosevelt National Historical Site, I traveled about 3-mile down Route 9 to Val-Kill, which is the only National Historical Site devoted to a First Lady.  Following the Death of President Roosevelt in 1945, Val-Kill would become the home of First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt. It was the only home that she ever personally owned.  During my visit, the small stone cottage was not open for tours

but I was able to walk the grounds.

After spending about 30-minutes at Val-Kill, it was time to move on; after all today is moving day and I am headed toward Valley Forge where I will spend the night.

I crossed the Hudson at Poughkeepsie and a short time later headed south on Interstate 87.  I made a quick stop at the New Paltz Service Area for a fast food lunch before continuing my trek toward Valley Forge.

After about four and a half hours I arrived at the Comfort Inn in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania.  I chose this hotel because it is only about 5-miles from the Valley Forge Nation Park. It is a little hard to find and I must say that after enjoying good service throughout this trip, this hotel while clean was really lacking in customer service.  When I arrived I had to wait several minutes for the front desk employee to finish with a personal call on his cell phone. After finally getting checked in I walked up the street to a Burger King and grabbed a quick supper before ending the day.  Tomorrow I plan on spending much of the day before heading east toward Gettysburg.

THE LEGEND OF SLEEPY HOLLOW - THE LEGEND LIVES ON

My final stop of the day was in the Village of Sleepy Hollow, New York.  The small village was originally known as North Tarrytown. It was made famous by in the writings of Washington Irving and his popular short story, “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.”   The village embraced its notoriety and changed its name to Sleepy Hollow in 1996. Thanks to Irving, Sleepy Hollow is said to have some of the most haunted places in America, including Philipsburg Manor House, The Old Dutch Cemetery and the Sleepy Hollow Cemetery.

It was late in the afternoon when I arrived in the tiny village and I made my way to the Sleepy Hollow Cemetery where Washington Irving himself is buried. In addition to writing “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” Washington Irving also wrote the “Rip Van Winkle.”

 

Washington Irving was born in New York City on April 3, 1783. He was named after George

Washington and actually attend his inauguration in 1789. He received a private education and developed an early love of writing, penning a number of short essays using the pen name of Jonathan Oldstyle.  By his own admission he was a poor student, but did practice law for a few years after passing the bar exam in 1806.  In 1815 he traveled to England to help his brother in the family business which eventually failed. During this time, he composed a collection of stories and essays that became the basis of his most famous works, “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” and “Rip Van Winkle.” Irving spent most of his adult life traveling abroad and at his “Sunnyside” Estate in New York.  On November 28, 1859, only 8-months after finishing the final volume of his Biography of George Washington, Washington Irving died at his estate.  He is buried here in the Sleepy Hollow Cemetery.

Just a short distance from the grave of Washington Irving, is the grave of Andrew Carnegie who is credited with leading the expansion of the American steel industry in the late 19^th century.  Through his leadership he made Pittsburgh’s Carnegie Steel Company the largest and most successful steel

companies in the United States. He eventually sold the company to J. P. Morgan for $480 million dollars, which is about $80 billion in today money.  Under Morgan’s leadership, Carnegie Steel became U. S. Steel. Over the years, Carnegie developed a personal wealth of more than $310 billion dollars and devoted his life to philanthropy, giving away must of his wealth to funding local libraries, and universities. He founded the Carnegie Institution for Science and Carnegie Mellon University.  He also built Carnegie Hall and the Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh.  Andrew Carnegie died on August 11, 1919 at the age of 83.

Both Washington Irving and Andrew Carnegie are buried in the older section of the Sleepy Hollow Cemetery. And it was getting late when I made my way to the newer section, which is dominated by large private mausoleums. While driving around, I stumbled on the large Chrysler mausoleum. It is here that the founder and first president of the Chrysler Corporation is resting.  Walter Percy Chrysler was born on April 2, 1875 in Wamego, Kansas. He became involved in the automobile industry at an early age,

eventually becoming president of the Buick Motor Company.  In 1921 he took control of the Maxwell Motor Company and a few years later he absorbed Maxwell into his newly formed Chrysler Corporation. The new company grew and began creating the Plymouth and DeSoto Brands of Automobiles and in 1928 took control of the Dodge Corporation.  As a result of his success, Walter Chrysler financed the construction of one of New York City most famous buildings. At the time of construction, the Chrysler Building was the tallest building in the world but that claim to fame was short lived as a few years later the Empire State Building surpassed it.  Walter Chrysler suffered a cerebral hemorrhage and passed away on August 18, 1940.

Just a short distance away is another very large private mausoleum where the “Queen of Mean” is resting. Leona Helmsley was a real estate agent when she met and married multi-millionaire real estate investor Harry Helmsley. Together the two concentrated on building and owing some of the world’s best and most exclusive hotels, including the New York Palace, the Park Lane Hotel and the

St. Moritz.  The Company’s portfolio also included the sole ownership of the Empire State Building. Being personally involved in all aspects of the business, Leona was notoriously known for being mean and cruel to everyone she came in contact with.  Employees often referred to her as “The Queen of Mean.” Leona was charge and convicted of conspiracy to defraud the United State and tax evasion, for either failing to file or for filing false tax returns.  Harry was originally charged with the same crimes but was in ill health and physically unable to stand trial. During her trial Leona’s former housekeeper, Elizabeth Baum testified that she once asked Leona “You must pay a lot of taxes,” to which she replied, “We don’t pay taxes, only the little people pay taxes.”  The jury wasted no time in convicting her and she eventually served 18-months in prison. Harry died on January 4, 1997 while Leona lived 10 more years and died on August 2, 2007.

It was about dusk dark when I started to make my way out of the cemetery and my route took be down the hill and around the back side of the cemetery. It was here in a heavily forested part of the

cemetery that I encountered a small wooden bridge that crosses Pocantico Creek.  Legend has it that this is where Ichabod Crane was unseated by The Headless Horseman in Washington Irving’s “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.”  While the original bridge has long since rotted away and its original location is unknown, “The Headless Horseman Bridge is one of the area most popular destinations.

It was almost dark when I left the Sleepy Hollow Cemetery and returned to the Quality Inn in Fishkill. After another quick supper at the 84 Diner another great day came to an end.

GETTING LOST IN THE PAST

(November 14, 2015) After leaving Kensico Cemetery, I drove over to Ferncliff Cemetery, which is a very large cemetery and even with a map that I downloaded on line it was extremely difficult to locate any of the graves that I was looking for.  So I decided to confine my search to the mausoleums.

My first stop upon entering the cemetery at the entrance on Secor Road, was the Rosewood Mausoleum. This is an extremely large building and I knew it was gong to difficult to find anything here.  The different alcoves, and hallways were marked and surprisingly after just a few minutes I was able to find the tomb of Cab Calloway.

CAB CALLOWAY was born on Christmas Day 1904 in Rochester, New York and for over 7-decades was a popular Big Band leaders who popular the energetic scat style of singing. In 1931 he recorded his most popular hit called "Minnie the Moocher." He continued to perform right up until 1994 when he suffered a stroke.  Cab Calloway died on November 18, 1994 and his ashes are interred here in the Rosewood Mausoleum.

From Rosewood, I drove around the corner to the Ferncliff Mausoleum. Upon entering it was obvious that I wasn't going to be able to find anything.  This is an enormous building and is not marked any anyway that I could see.  So I took a chance that that the office would be helpful in finding the people I am looking for.

It was late in the afternoon and the ladies in the office were not all that interested in helping me. I was about ready to give up when a worker ask me who I was looking for.  I told him that if he could just point me in the right direction I would try and find them myself, to which he laughed and said "You will never be able to find your way through the maze of hallway."

This guy knew his way around every nook and cranny of the building and quickly lead me to the tombs of Judy Garland, Ed Sullivan and Joan Crawford. Judy Garland is resting in one end of the building while Ed Sullivan and Joan Crawford are at other end.  The guy was right that I would never be able to find my way around.

JUDY GARLAND was born on June 10, 1922 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Early in her career she performed in vaudeville before starring in he most iconic role as Dorothy Gale in the the 9139 classic "The Wizard of Oz," On June 22, 1969, Judy Garland was found dead due to a drug overdose in her London Apartment.  On  June 26 more the 20,000 people lined up to pay their respects at the Frank Campbell Funeral Home which stayed open all night to accommodate the masses.

Completely on the other end of the mausoleum are the tombs of Ed Sullivan and Joan Crawford.

ED SULLIVAN was born on September 28, 1901 in Harlem, New York.  He began his career as a reporter for the New York Daily News but he is best remembered as the host of a TV variety show that was originally known as "The Toast of the Town," which eventually became "The Ed Sullivan Show."  The show became one of the longest running TV shows in history, as it was broadcast for 23-years from 1948-1971. In 1974 he was diagnosed with cancer and died on October 13, 1974.  His funeral at St. Patrick's Cathedral was attended by 3,000 people.

JOAN CRAWFORD is entombed just around the corner from Ed Sullivan. She became one of Hollywood's most recognizable and prominent movie stars.  He most famous role was "Mildred Pierce," in 1945. She married her 4th husband Alfred Steele  in 1955 when he was n executive with the Pepsi Cola Company but he died of a heart attack in 1955. Joan Crawford died on May 10, 1977 and is entombed next to her 4th Husband Alfred Steele.

After finishing with the graves that the Ferncliff employee helped me with I decided to explore and see if I could find some of the other famous people that are entombed here.  This turned out to be a mistake as I got so turned around that I could not find my way back to the exit.  For the next 45-minutes I wandered around trying to primarily to find an exit. Finally I came upon another employee and had to humble myself and ask for directions to the exit. Even after getting directions it took me another 10-minutes to make it out of this enormous building.

It was close to 4:30 before I made it out of the Mausoleum and back to the car for the short drive over to Sleep Hollow, which would be my final stop of the day.