And Then in the Top of the Third...

So last Thursday a co-worker and I went to see the Wilmington Blue Rocks play the Frederick Keys. Remember that Wilmington is the High A minor league team of the Kansas City Royals. As we waited for the game to start you could feel the approaching storm. Before the end of the first inning the front was creeping closer. And then in the top of the third with little warning the wind went ballistic. 20 miles an hour. 30 miles an hour. The dust off the baseline was blowing so hard towards us that we had to retreat to the concourse. The refs cleared the field and we all waited for what was next. The grounds crew rolled out the tarp and almost went para sailing in the process. (wishing I had grabbed my video camera). Then after a long wait the rains came. And they came with a vengeance. When the ump stepped out, looked up at the announcer's booth and pulled his hand across his throat we knew it was time to hit the road.

Wilmington Blue Rocks

 Finally made my first baseball game of the year. I also added another stadium to my list. The Wilmington Blue Rocks are the High A minor league team of the Kansas City Royals. The park was a lot like most other single A fields here in the Mid-Atlantic, ten bucks buys you a bleacher seat, like, 7 rows up from the far side of the home team dugout. The nearby airport sends frequent fliers over the field throughout the game. As a bonus for me, an Orioles fan, the Blue Rocks were playing the Frederick Keys. And for supper I was too close to the Chesapeake Bay to not have the Rocky Burger with crab meat and old bay seasoning on it. It wasn't too bad, really. 

Judy Johnson Field at Daniel S. Frawley Stadium.
Rocks Manager Vance Wilson and Keys Manager Orlando Gomez exchange line up cards.

Wilmington mascot Rocky Bluewinkle high fives Cheslor Cuthbert prior to the start of the game.

Avondale Fire Company, Station 23

Avondale Fire Company, Chester County Station 23. 23 Firehouse Way, Avondale, Pa. (just off of Route 41, south of town) Organized in 1887, their 125th Anniversary is in September. This station was built just a few years ago, possibly 2007. The old station sits downtown, I wasn't able to get any pictures of it. 

Sunset Looking East

North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, during the week that doesn't matter (the week between Christmas and New Years). Taken on an early evening walk on the beach waiting for sunset. This was looking up the beach, actually, like, northeast.

Curtis Paper Mill, Newark, Delaware

The tower is all that remains of the Curtis Paper Mill on Paper Mill Road in Newark, Delaware. The area was surrounded by chain link so my guess is that it was all demo'd within the past year.

Face of the Confederacy

Another capture from the 2012 March to Destiny skirmish along West King Street in Shippensburg, Pa. I'm not even sure this Rebel soldier was what I was aiming at. This guy looks like he should be fighting with Bloody Bill through the Midwest. Not a foot soldier getting ready to  cross the mountain into Gettysburg.

A Beautiful Day

More often than not I am trying to find a subject to put in front of a barn, like a horse (last week), a tractor or other piece of farm equipment. On this day, a month ago, I was using the barn to put in front of this awesome sky. It was hot that day but this was right before the temperatures went to stupid hot.

Philadelphia Second Alarmers

Philadelphia Second Alarmers, 2900 Roberts Avenue, Philadelphia. Founded in 1921 as an all volunteer association and remains so today. They started as your basic canteen service and now also offer rehab services. This building , built in 1973, houses three pieces of apparatus including the new rapid response unit SA-5. I got some pictures of it  while it was on display at Fire Expo in  Harrisburg last May. This unit has since been dedicated to Lieutenant Neary and Firefighter Sweeney who died in the line of duty at a warehouse fire in the Kennsington neighborhood of Philly on April 9, 2012. Since I took these pictures I met a man called Philly Pete and his daughter when they dropped by our new station. Next time I get to Philly I will stop by for a tour.

Butterfly Bush

I took this two weeks ago but today I watched a female ruby throated hummingbird make her rounds around the , now fully bloomed, butterfly bush outside my kitchen window.

Kevin's Bridge

I was out of town that day. I swear. 

Bridge over Telegraph Road near Fair Play, Maryland.

Calling in the Cavalry

Some of the cavalry that arrived behind the Confederate skirmish line during the annual March to Destiny on West King Street in Shippensburg, Pa.

Farmer Johnston's 1852 Barn

Another barn from southern Chester County, Pa. This is another barn that we kept driving past all day. So the last day that week we stopped by to take some pictures. Remember last week I mention that this was horse country, well, when we stopped this horse was crowding his way into the picture. I didn't notice, however, the date stone until I got closer. Many of the older houses in this area near Strickerville have these date stones up high, something I haven't seen anywhere else. This barn sits at the intersection of Strickerville Road and Appleton Road just 1500 yards north of the Maryland border.

As always clicking on this little barn can send you barn-charming all over thanks to Tricia.

Shippensburg Area EMS

 Shippensburg Area Emergency Medical Service, Cumberland County Co. 73. 711 East Orange Street Shippensburg. The Cumberland Valley Hose Company began ambulance service on January 2, 1931. All volunteer until part timers were hired in 1995. Separated from the fire department on January 1, 1999 as the Cumberland Valley EMS and hired full time personnel.  Moved to 235 East King Street in December of 2005, reorganized, and became Shippensburg Area EMS. On June 16, 2012 they moved into their new building, the Shippensburg Emergency Services Building, along with the Vigilant Hose Company No. 1. EMS is located in the second floor of the building with it's apparatus bay emptying onto East Orange Street.

Assateague Lighthouse

This is the Assateague Island Lighthouse in Virginia. Enjoy this mosquito free view. The real this requires calamine lotion.

Swartz of Philadelphia (PG 177)

Back to the Painted Gentlemen posts. Swartz's is in the 1100 block of Chestnut Street. No clue what it was but it looks like an electronics store now.

Lilies in the Yard

A sample of my lilies this year.

The Barn Just Over the Hill

Today's barn is the first of several barns I found in southern Chester County, Pennsylvania. This is horse country down there. This weathered barn sits along Glen Hope Road but I shot it from across the grain field on Lewisville Road (Route 472). There are these small farms and horse stables all over. They call the horsettes. It may have to do with the nearby horse track in Fair Hills, Maryland. The sky was overcast and humid this afternoon.

Vigilant Hose Company No. 1, Shippensburg, Pa

Vigilant Hose Company No. 1, Cumberland County Company 52. 20 Walnut Bottom Road, Shippensburg, Pa. Organized on February 22, 1843, Shippensburg Emergency Services Building dedicated June 16, 2012. The building was built jointly with Shippensburg Area EMS (next week). The Vigilant Hose Company was housed in the Council House, at 129 East King Street from 1843 through 1928 when it was replaced by the Municipal Building which was shared with borough council and the police department. Ground was broken at the former site of the Best Western University Lodge in June of 2011. To see the building being constructed visit the SESB blog.

Faces of the Confederacy, 2012

Random pictures of some of the Confederate soldiers skirmishing in the streets of downtown Shippensburg during the annual March to Destiny weekend. In late June of 1863 while enroute to Gettysburg 20,000 Confederate troops occupied Shippensburg. While no large scale battle was fought here there was a skirmish.  Since 2001 the town has celebrated these events on the final full weekend of June.


post number 1800

Independence Day 2012

Hope you had a bang of a day.