Road Trip

Last Saturday morning we took a quick road trip to Elk County, Pennsylvania to see family and friends who were camping. Most of the ride it was obvious that the real fall colors were a week or two away. But then you would past through an area that was near prime. This long  and lonesome road is the Quehanna Highway north of Piper, Pa.

Citizens' Hose Company No. 1

Citizens' Hose Company No. 1, 109 South Baltimore Street, Dillsburg, Pa. York County Station 64. Organized in 1901. The plaque says that the Dillsburg Memorial Hall was erected in 1949. Their short history on their website says that the hall was added to the existing station. So, I'm not sure if the old station sat behind this one. the apoparatus bays to the left look to be newer additions. Citizens Hose currently runs a truck, a rescue-engine, utility and three ambulances. Below is a picture of their 1919 Model T that I took at the 2007 Pump Primers in Harrisburg.

King of Kings Gap

You know? That's why they call them butterfly bushes. This one was in the gardens at Kings Gap and there were two Monarches flittng around it. Probably loading up for her trip to Mexico for the winter.

A Walk in the King's Garden

More from King's Gap. Today is the flower gardens. The gate and high fence is to keep the deer out. Many different flowers and herbs grow in different areas in the gardens. Benches for resting, paths for walking. Lots of butterflies and bees and other bugs. Outside the fence and outside the mansion there are trails all around the hillsides. A pine plantation and cabin at the base of the mountain with more trails. Not a bad way to spend an early fall day.

King's Gap, Montsera, Pa.

Our wanderings Sunday took us up to the top of South Mountain to King's Gap mansion. The mansion house was open to the public so we went inside and snooped around. Then we explored the gardens. Perfect weather and a beautiful day for it. This is the same water tower I shot covered in ice last January. The panorama is to view from the veranda. I'd love to be there at sunset.

Uncle Lee's Farm

Welcome Autumn, you couldn't get here quick enough. We went for a drive through southwestern Cumberland county yesterday trying to find Fall. The weather sure had the crispness I start looking forward to in by mid-July. The sun was in and out the breezes made macros difficult. Some trees are starting to display some color and some corn is being picked. But by far the soybean fields are looking very autumnal. So, so long Summer and welcome Autumn. We missed ya.

Canada Hose Company

Canada Hose Company, 400 North Mechanics Street, Cumberland, Allegany County, Md. Also known as the Cumberland Hose Company No. 1. The Canada Hose Company was organized in 1830 and volunteer firemen built this building in 1845. The Cumberland Hose Company organized in 1839. This building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.

The View from Citi Field

Some miscellaneous shots from the cheap seats at Citi Field, home of the New York Mets, in Queens. Some are through the very tight chain link fencing they have around the top. Two are views of Manhattan, one shows the stadium parking lot. The globe in the first picture is the Unisphere in Flushing Park in Queens, remnant of the 1964 Worlds Fair. You remember the final showdown in Men In Black? This is that globe. Last picture is Throgs Neck Bridge (I think, may be the Whitestone Bridge, both cross from Queens to the Bronx) just beyond right field.

Edgefield County, South Carolina

View of downtown Edgefield, South Carolina. This is the home of the National Wild Turkey Federation's Headquarters, that would be why you see turkeys all over the place. Home of ten governors and also Confederate general James Longstreet.

Andrew Pickens, II 1816-1818 (Father of Governor Francis Pickens); George McDuffie 1834-1836 (also served South Carolina as a US Representative and Senator); Pierce Mason Butler 1836-1838 (killed in 1847 in the Mexican-American War, he was a Colonel) ; James H. Hammond 1842-1844 (also served South Carolina as a US Representative and Senator); Francis Pickens 1860-1862 (served as Governor during Secession); Milledge L. Bonham 1862-1864 (served as a General in the Confederate Army and in the U.S. and Confederate House of Representatives); John C. Sheppard July - November 1886 (served after Gov. Thompson left to be Assistant U.S. Secretary of the Treasury); Benjamin R. Tillman 1890-1894 (also U.S. Senator 1895 - 1918); John Gray Evans 1894-1896 (youngest SC Governor at 31 years old) and James Strom Thurmond 1947-1951 (also US Senator 1954-2003). 

Tootsies Orchid Lounge

Unfortunately, Tootsies was one of the places in Nashville I did not make it to last summer. We were at Roberts right next door, though. Tootsies is a Nashville institution and probably as important to country, western and honky tonk music as the Ryman. It sits just across Ryman Alley from the Ryman Auditorium. It was said that a drunken Willie Nelson sold a song for a hundred bucks. Patsy Cline then went a made Crazy a country music staple. Others hung out there during the 60's and 70's. Kris Kristofferson and Tom T. Hall were two. Many performers at the Opry would cross the alley for some refreshment before their show. It was said that it was 17 steps from the Ryman's back door to Tootsies, but it was 34 steps back.

Todd Helton Announces His Retirement

Todd Helton, first baseman for the Colorado Rockies announced his retirement this weekend. He says that this season, his 17th, is his final season. He has been with the Rockies since the drafted him in 1995, he was called up during the 1997 season. In his first full season, 1998, he came in second in the Rookie of the year voting. Five time All-Star, four Silver Sluggers and three Golden Gloves. He hit a game winning home run in 2007 that sent the Rockies, eventually, to the World Series. They would lose, though, to the Rod Sox. (Ironically, he had accepted a trade to Boston that year but the deal fell through)  I've seen the Rockies play four times, twice in Baltimore, twice in Denver.

Career (as of yesterday) 2505 hits, 367 home runs, .317 batting average and a .415 on base percentage.

Baltimore Pike Volunteer Fire Company

Baltimore Pike Volunteer Fire Company, 15010 Baltimore Pike NE, Cumberland, Md. Allegany County Station 4. Baltimore Pike Past Fire Chief James A. Michael lost his life enroute to the fire station to plow snow when the tractor he was operating rolled over on February 2, 1966.

No information for the BPVFC was found in an  internet search. No website, no facebook. The only bit of info I found shows they were organized prior to 1942. If you have information about the Baltimore Pike Volunteer Fire Company leave a comment.