tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29636166193162514912024-02-06T21:23:14.281-08:00Pioneer Valley History Network BlogTHE PIONEER VALLEY HISTORY NETWORK BLOG:
A forum for discussing exhibits and events, ideas and thoughts on local history in the Pioneer ValleyShannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04556794164213245998noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2963616619316251491.post-16743863570394622862012-11-11T03:19:00.001-08:002012-11-11T03:20:19.589-08:00<br />
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<span style="text-align: center;">WHEN A BULL MOOSE
CRASHED THE REPUBLICAN PARTY</span></h2>
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<span style="text-align: center;">By Cliff McCarthy</span></div>
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After the clamor and hyperbole of the 2012 presidential
election abates, we cannot help but be drawn to the past for comparison, or at
least perspective, on our quadrennial media orgy. What a difference a century
makes.</div>
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Campaigning was different in 1912, when the nation
experienced one of its wildest and most bizarre presidential elections. That was the year that former President Teddy
Roosevelt broke with the Republican Party, which he claimed had been taken over
by a conservative faction, and sought election under the new Progressive Party banner. Proclaiming himself as healthy as a
"bull moose," TR vigorously stumped around the country, giving
speeches from the caboose of a campaign train.
He called for stronger federal regulation of the economy and lambasted
irresponsible corporate greed. In
Milwaukee on October 14, he was shot by a local saloonkeeper, the bullet
lodging in his chest after penetrating his steel eyeglass case and a folded
copy of his speech. He gave the speech,
then went to the hospital.</div>
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His rival, the rotund William H. Taft, disdained
campaigning. His strategy was to rely on
the stature of his office and the Republican machine to deliver the necessary
votes, while leading from the White House -- the first "Rose Garden
campaign." It may have been an omen
when his running-mate, Vice-President James S. Sherman, died less than a week
before the election.</div>
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The beneficiary of the Republicans' turmoil was the Democratic
candidate Woodrow Wilson, whose "New Freedom" campaign highlighted
individualism and a less powerful federal government. At that time, only one Democrat had won the
presidency in the previous half-century.</div>
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Adding to the mix, Eugene V. Debs ran a credible <i>fourth</i> party campaign on the Socialist
Party ticket, winning nearly a million votes nationwide -- 6% of the popular
vote -- having spent a total of $66,000 on his campaign. And there was even a Prohibition Party
candidate.</div>
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However wild the campaign was, the result was
predictable. Roosevelt effectively split
the Republican vote, throwing the election to Woodrow Wilson in an electoral
college landslide. Roosevelt became the
only third-party candidate to beat a mainstream candidate, Taft, in the
electoral count.</div>
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Massachusetts went Democratic that year, supporting Wilson
and Eugene Foss as Governor. However, the
staunchly Republican counties of the Pioneer Valley bucked the trend: Franklin
and Hampshire went for Taft, while Wilson won Hampden by just thirty-five
votes.</div>
<br />Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04556794164213245998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2963616619316251491.post-54015753384294132522012-09-09T18:06:00.000-07:002012-09-09T18:06:23.144-07:00Recovering 19th Century Cornerstones<br />
<h4>
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Submitted
by: Barbara Pelissier, Westhampton
Historical Society </span></span></h4>
What do 19th century churches and lunatic asylum’s have in common? Both had dedication ceremonies that included the placement of a cornerstone either at or near the entrance or within the facade of the structure. Often accompanied by music and a simple Masonic ritual involving corn, wine and oil, sometimes not, the placement of a sealed rectangular box (usually copper) within the hollowed out cornerstone of the new edifice was common. What was in the box? Current issues of the local newspapers, copies of town reports, state reports, church reports, city directories, lists of members, contributors, directors or local politicians. Frequently, a few coins of various denominations or medallions were included. Sometimes there were historic and moving letters addressed, literally, to posterity. They had every confidence we would recover their words and artifacts. I’m not that confident.<br />
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The closing of state hospitals and the recent consolidation of many Catholic churches in the Pioneer Valley has left the fate of these cornerstone boxes in jeopardy. Dedication dates are easily found in printed church histories, state asylum reports, or municipal reports. A simple search of local newspaper databases or microfilm on the day of or the day following a dedication ceremony will provide current town/city planners with valuable information about any endangered historic documents or relics that may be lost to demolition or private sale.<br />
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I would like to see demolition delay ordinances amended to allow for implementation routinely on all 19th century public or religious structures slated for demolition until a determination is made as to whether any boxes lie within. If so, contractors can be instructed to carefully dismantle the specific sections of buildings that typically contain cornerstone boxes and be on the lookout for them. Some know exactly where to find them. Boxes should be recovered from structures slated for sale by a municipality or church. What can you do? Make a copy of any cornerstone information you discover in your collections or research and send it to the planning department as well as the historical commission of that town/city. <br />
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For a description of a Masonic cornerstone laying ceremony, visit <a href="http://www.phoenixmasonry.org/masonicmuseum/cornerstone_laying.htm" target="_blank">Phoenixmasonry.org</a>.<br />
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A general history of cornerstones can be found at: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cornerstone" target="_blank">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cornerstone</a><br />
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Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04556794164213245998noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2963616619316251491.post-66759288656090543962012-08-28T03:04:00.000-07:002012-08-28T03:04:31.979-07:00The Making of a “History Nerd”<br />
<h4>
Submitted by Penni Martorell, Wistariahurst Museum Curator and Holyoke City Historian.</h4>
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In recent years, I have proudly brandished the title of
“history nerd.” It was only recently that I realized that I was not like most
of my peers. I have always been the one who wanted to know more about an item
or artifact--who made it, where did it come from, how was it used and why don’t
we still use them. As I reflect, I realize this character trait comes from
spending many days after school at my aunt and uncle’s antique store. Many
hours were spent in “The Shop” under the guise of dusting for a few cents
spending money. But mostly I was imagining, playing with, and handling the many
wooden, ceramic, glass, decorative and furniture items. I can still conjure up
the smells, textures, and colors of many of the standard items—ceramic jugs,
wooden bowls, candle holders and molds, tin boxes and all sorts of chairs.</div>
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What a gift my aunt and uncle gave to me, allowing me to
experience these material items, with a quick lesson in colonial American
history as my Uncle walked by posing questions--what it was used for, where did
I think it was made, and why it might be valuable. The wash basins, the cooking
utensils, the medical instruments, the tables and chairs—they all had a story.
I learned to distinguish the claw and ball feet of certain chairs; how a
flintlock rifle mechanism worked, and how dovetailed drawers are put together. Documents,
newspapers, books, and photographs backing up the history I was learning at
school. But nothing was more exciting than helping out at the local historical
society on occasion. Here there was a colonial schoolhouse set up with desks,
slates, and primers for children like me. And oh what fun it was when my Aunt donning
colonial period clothing as the school marm and teaching school for visiting
patrons.</div>
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For me History has always involved material culture—the
physical objects of the past left for us to examine and explore, and providing
all the fodder necessary to drive an historians’ research and inquiry.</div>
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So it is no surprise that museum work was a natural fit. For
me there is nothing more satisfying than seeing a child engage their imagination
with what it might have been like in the past; to hear their questions; to see
their faces light up with curiosity; to hear the who, what, when, why and how
questions uttered with hands raised and the “Oo, Oo, Oos!”.</div>
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Thankfully there are many folks who have never grown tired
of pondering history. The pioneer valley is full of small historical museums,
societies and associations staffed by tireless volunteers who also enjoy
sharing material culture with anyone who is interested. Perhaps they too had a
historically engaged childhood.</div>
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I encourage you, reader, to take advantage of these local
historical sites to challenge your children to ponder and question the
materials that fill the rooms. And if you don’t know where to start -- it is
here -- exploring the Pioneer Valley History Network website.</div>
Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04556794164213245998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2963616619316251491.post-1808063978008847992012-08-23T03:14:00.000-07:002012-08-28T03:05:29.099-07:00Northfield Riverboat Tours<br />
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By Betsy McKee</h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUoFnB_Ku1ikVSEPW4jJ0-U8oMsWv-rMhz3xlxfP9eFgWuIBbRzkPsyt7HV3V3hZY_GCpLNsaDCQ9TCINRGQaXbsCx4JtgDimLqVYdKEgs7p-iYIfEyLfqG3nCccsmb4G5Ble7JB02CGqx/s1600/Riverboat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUoFnB_Ku1ikVSEPW4jJ0-U8oMsWv-rMhz3xlxfP9eFgWuIBbRzkPsyt7HV3V3hZY_GCpLNsaDCQ9TCINRGQaXbsCx4JtgDimLqVYdKEgs7p-iYIfEyLfqG3nCccsmb4G5Ble7JB02CGqx/s200/Riverboat.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
Earlier this summer we booked a tour on the Quinnetukut II, which is supposed to
be a replica of the boat from the old movie “African Queen.” Our captain took us on a tour down the
Connecticut River to Turners Falls, with a guide telling us facts about the
river, the geology, the wildlife, the power plant and local history. The boat was comfortable and spacious. We saw
great blue herons and swans, though the bald eagles made themselves
scarce.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm1EgyLTcVJBe8zp5bmxJMpP9L2WO-XINjm1WvCcoUYNRvPXsB7bWhrd6AJxelquqQuk469hQjTMD0GtedZMPqTWELB1fwGJf7O4IdfXS2eyQrcDZHFE6g_4qIrDIpFxiGWwZ0OCVoBJ2x/s1600/Riverboat+bridge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm1EgyLTcVJBe8zp5bmxJMpP9L2WO-XINjm1WvCcoUYNRvPXsB7bWhrd6AJxelquqQuk469hQjTMD0GtedZMPqTWELB1fwGJf7O4IdfXS2eyQrcDZHFE6g_4qIrDIpFxiGWwZ0OCVoBJ2x/s200/Riverboat+bridge.jpg" width="200" /></a>The Quinnetukut operates Friday through Sunday from late June to mid October. The tour takes about 90 minutes,
and you can charter the entire boat for a special event. The main building includes a parking area,
classroom, displays and restrooms. A
short distance up the road in Northfield you can find treats and ice cream. </div>
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For more information, check out their website: <a href="http://www.firstlightpower.com/northfield/riverboat.asp">www.firstlightpower.com/northfield/riverboat.asp</a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxsXml_zfedOoUu3bCYcnzXQf2woj7kPHRSwBMK1N0EoqWQdgBWyS1VEu5Qbb7Mqv5iDNEjVcg8q8VLS07cr4zoQzmfaZ9PsoSWbyBabk8mtd6T8kJskJd9esTqQsSKbaB9_Qu1f-uzclP/s1600/Riverboat+heron.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxsXml_zfedOoUu3bCYcnzXQf2woj7kPHRSwBMK1N0EoqWQdgBWyS1VEu5Qbb7Mqv5iDNEjVcg8q8VLS07cr4zoQzmfaZ9PsoSWbyBabk8mtd6T8kJskJd9esTqQsSKbaB9_Qu1f-uzclP/s320/Riverboat+heron.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04556794164213245998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2963616619316251491.post-4494360140595002252012-08-19T03:12:00.001-07:002012-08-19T03:14:23.222-07:00Carnegie Hero Fund Awardees<h4>
By Barbara Pelissier</h4>
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Did the individual you are researching perform a heroic deed
or even die while trying to save the life of another? If so, there’s a possibility that a Carnegie
Hero Award was bestowed upon that individual or, posthumously, upon their
surviving family members. Such was the
case for Patrick O’Connor of Southampton, Massachusetts. </div>
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In the winter of 1908 Patrick died while
attempting to save two young brothers who had fallen through the ice on a mill
pond in the neighboring town of Northampton. With Christmas approaching, the <i>Daily Hampshire Gazette</i> newspaper
established a fund for Patrick’s widow and two young children. As contributions from readers and Valley residents
poured in, the <i>Gazette’</i>s editor wisely
pursued long-term relief for the surviving family through the Carnegie Hero
Fund. By early spring, Harriet O’Connor was awarded a monthly allotment of $35
for life . Both children received $5 per month until the age of 16. The Fund also sent Mrs. O’Connor a Carnegie
Hero medallion, which Patrick’s grateful grandchild now treasures. A
Carnegie Hero gravestone marker will soon adorn his final resting place. In the meantime, the descendants of Mr. O'Connor recently gathered at his grave site to honor his sacrifice: <a href="http://www.gazettenet.com/2012/08/09/tribute-to-an-ancestor039s-heroism">Patrick O'Connor of Southampton Honored by Family for 1908 Rescue Bid</a></div>
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Locally, Longmeadow’s W. Howard Aureswald, Florida’s Chester
A. Burdick, Northampton’s Ubald A. Arel and, posthumously, Springfield’s Cirlo
Achille were all Carnegie Hero Awardees.
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Because heroism never goes out of style, the Carnegie Hero
Fund Commission keeps busy with their investigations and awards. Their inspirational centennial book, <u>A
Century of Heroes</u>, can be requested by phone or online. Their newsletter, <i>imPULSE</i>, is also free of charge.
The June 2012 <i>imPULSE</i> featured
19 year old awardee Nathan Yassen, from Brockton, Massachusetts. Fortunately,
Nathan recovered from the effects of smoke inhalation after saving his 97 year
old neighbor when her house caught fire one night last year.</div>
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The Carnegie Hero Fund Commission, based in Pittsburgh, PA,
is a private foundation established in 1904 by Andrew Carnegie. Contact them at (800) 447-8900 or email: <a href="mailto:carnegiehero@carnegiehero.org">carnegiehero@carnegiehero.org</a>
Search for awardees or learn more about the Carnegie Hero Fund at: <a href="http://www.carnegiehero.org/">www.carnegiehero.org</a></div>
Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04556794164213245998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2963616619316251491.post-89391949719338632812012-08-10T17:45:00.001-07:002012-08-19T03:13:29.857-07:00Travel the Tiffany Trail – Springfield Museums<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiqVzHx2_SmHUSPUJY-loN0Mr_hbUDNn7NAjRFeGU_f4atH14slkkisbvExoYAIndHJMvpjyGoSBaDtJEaYweyM2LsWSpREKAfO9F4JP-LDH9BYmYjmfoWDXGp4XIvURM2oYfVgAe5zk14/s1600/tiffany+window.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiqVzHx2_SmHUSPUJY-loN0Mr_hbUDNn7NAjRFeGU_f4atH14slkkisbvExoYAIndHJMvpjyGoSBaDtJEaYweyM2LsWSpREKAfO9F4JP-LDH9BYmYjmfoWDXGp4XIvURM2oYfVgAe5zk14/s1600/tiffany+window.jpg" /></a></div>
<h4>
By Maggie Humberston</h4>
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<o:p>O</o:p>n a hot, muggy afternoon in the Valley sometimes an exhibit
comes along that just seems to re–write your soggy, wilted script. The <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Tiffany</st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st="on">Trail</st1:placename></st1:place> at the Springfield Museums is doing
that for me this summer. The D’Amour Museum of Fine Art is hosting</div>
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Tiffany Lamps: Articles of Utility, Objects of Art. You
enter a cool, low-lit gallery full of botanical shapes, unexpected textures and
glorious colors – all executed in glass. One thing I like is that right away you’re
oriented to the craft involved; two cases at the beginning of the show feature
samples of the glass used in the pieces and the process of joining those pieces
together into an artistic leaded glass whole. This gives the visitor an
immediate appreciation of what’s involved in the creation of these decorative
art lamps. As you walk through the show, the colors from the lampshades glow from
their electric light, allowing you to see every intricate detail in their
make-up. The show features a number of pieces of leaded glass, but also has blown
glass, and my favorite, “favrile fabrique,” which renders glass into pleated
folds that looks like cloth. Supplemental photos in large format depict the Tiffany
Company workshops and sales rooms in <st1:place w:st="on">New
York</st1:place>, newspaper advertisements, and some of the botanical
inspirations for the work. The show runs through Sept. 9<sup>th</sup>.</div>
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Accompanying the show is the MFA’s exhibit of its own
contemporary glass. It features works of older masters like Rene Lalique and
Louis Comfort Tiffany himself, along with contemporary glass artists like Josh
Simpson and Dale Chihuly.</div>
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On to the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">George</st1:placename>
<st1:placename w:st="on">Walter</st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st="on">Vincent</st1:placename>
<st1:placename w:st="on">Smith</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Museum</st1:placetype></st1:place>,
built in 1895 and appropriately late Victorian in décor, to see the newly
restored Tiffany windows which were commissioned by the Smiths themselves. Upstairs
don’t miss Tiffany’s “The Light Bearer”,
given by the Bowles family, owners of the Springfield Republican, to the
Church of the Unity, one of Henry Hobson Richardson’s churches, once holding
court across State Street in Springfield. Sadly, it was demolished in the 1960s
– to put up a parking lot.</div>
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Finally – and I did say it was a trail, right – you should
go over to the new Wood Museum of Springfield History to see the Tiffany
engraved guns on the second floor. There are lots of great photos of Springfield
in the early 20<sup>th</sup> century on the walls to take you back to the
heyday of Tiffany himself, and while you’re there you can see the kinds of
industrial innovations and neat luxury cars that were the capstone of his era. </div>
Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04556794164213245998noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2963616619316251491.post-703221753350086912012-07-28T03:48:00.003-07:002012-08-02T02:48:51.164-07:00Locating Final Resting Places and Viewing Images Online<h3>
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">By Barbara
Pelissier, Westhampton Historical Society </span></span></h3>
Discovering as much information as possible about the person you are researching generally includes finding a final resting place. Whether compiling documents of your town’s veterans or researching your own personal genealogy, an accompanying image of a headstone and the location of the cemetery helps to round out a good search. Thanks to the legwork of countless passionate volunteers, cemeteries from Hampshire County to Zimbabwe (yes, Zimbabwe!) have been photographed and indexed at www.findagrave.com. Best of all, the results are available online at no cost. You don’t have to travel to the other side of the country or wait impatiently for the snow to melt in a Vermont graveyard to see your ancestor’s headstone. <br />
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Chances are good that you’ll find even the oldest ‘hidden’ cemeteries have been digitally cataloged, photographed and posted online. One fine example is the headstone of Ramsford Avery and his wife Polly, shown here:<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcyZsxya7I5_KtcREnfM_IsKzEn0jyxk0U8aUCsDfQnSMGZdBlC-Ix8wEvRlM6yZb8UCvJuBEDwqeQEg7kdrRiZTAH9k1-OrTHDdw0T9oSbXji5VUtCGGSDBBCMzEt8AsBMi6aOmhhkKe7/s1600/Avery+Headstone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcyZsxya7I5_KtcREnfM_IsKzEn0jyxk0U8aUCsDfQnSMGZdBlC-Ix8wEvRlM6yZb8UCvJuBEDwqeQEg7kdrRiZTAH9k1-OrTHDdw0T9oSbXji5VUtCGGSDBBCMzEt8AsBMi6aOmhhkKe7/s1600/Avery+Headstone.jpg" /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GScid=2329244&GRid=51785916&.">http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GScid=2329244&GRid=51785916&. </a><br />
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This stone stands in a remote cemetery on a steep hillside along a sparsely populated road in Hampshire County, Massachusetts. But the Averys are not alone in their resting place…a total of 93 headstones have been photographed and cataloged on the website, as well as photos of the cemetery itself and driving directions.<br />
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For those who don’t drive or are physically unable to scramble up that hill, www.findagrave.com is simply invaluable. Individuals who cannot physically navigate a cemetery can successfully navigate www.findagrave.com. You can view every stone in that cemetery or visit cemeteries thousands of miles away without spending a single cent on gas. Leave your bathrobe and slippers on and virtually stroll through the graveyards at midnight, if you like. These gates don’t close at dark! <br />
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<br /></div>Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04556794164213245998noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2963616619316251491.post-37590549937137441812012-07-27T03:51:00.000-07:002012-08-05T18:10:49.609-07:00The Emperor’s Toy Soldiers: China’s Terra Cotta Warriors<br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">By Cliff McCarthy, Museum of Springfield History</span></span></h3>
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Zheng was only thirteen when, in 246 BC, he became King of Qin, the westernmost state of China. By his thirty-eighth year, he had achieved what no other warlord before him had done -- he had conquered and unified all of the "warring states" of China, proclaiming himself Qin Shihuangdi, the Great August First Emperor of Qin. Although successful in this life, the First Emperor greatly feared his own death. If he could not conquer his own mortality, he could at least create for himself a comfortable afterlife filled with his treasures and riches. And so, to guard his tomb, the First Emperor produced one of the world's most amazing wonders -- a military force of life-size, terra cotta warriors.<br />
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Numbering between 6 and 8 thousand, each figure is unique, averaging about 6 feet tall and weighing around 500 pounds. There are infantryman, archers, charioteers, and cavalrymen, each with the sculpted face of an individual. They wear their hair in different styles, sometimes with headdresses indicating social rank.<br />
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A comfortable afterlife requires more than just an army and so the First Emperor also brought with him entertainers -- acrobats, strongmen, and musicians -- to accompany him. He must have expected some level of red tape in the next world, because he brought "civil authorities" with him, as well.<br />
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All this was discovered by chance by some peasant farmers in 1974. Since then, these treasures have been the subject of massive archeological digs, revealing new finds and opening a window into a culture more than 2000 thousand years old. Some of the figures have made limited tours of the world's major cities and they are now on display in New York City at the Discovery Museum on 44th Street. While not within the bounds of the Pioneer Valley, this exhibit is so extraordinary, and the figures so magnificent, that it merits special consideration for Valley residents looking for an amazing museum experience.<br />
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Actually, the Discovery Museum is easily accessible. It is about a ten-block walk from Penn. Station, so the intrepid Valley adventurer can take Amtrak out of Springfield and return the same day, without the hassle of driving or parking in the city. The exhibit runs until August 26th. For more information, go to: www.discoverytsx.com<br />
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<br /></div>Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04556794164213245998noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2963616619316251491.post-2646172628732339042012-07-19T02:44:00.001-07:002012-07-28T03:57:05.193-07:00Introduction<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hello! Welcome to the Pioneer Valley History Network blog.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">Our mission is t</span><span style="line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">o promote and provide effective communication and collaboration among the historical societies, sites, and museums of the Pioneer Valley and to foster a public appreciation for, and awareness of, such repositories of history.</span></span>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">This is a site where we can share our stories, ask questions and talk about exhibits currently going on in the Valley. </span></span></div>Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04556794164213245998noreply@blogger.com1