On This Day in History: Halloween

   In 1913, the Lincoln Highway is dedicated as the first coast to coast highway for cars in the United States. It ran from New York City to San Francisco. At first the route simply took over existing historic routes, including where I took this photo, the Chambersburg Pike in Pennsylvania. The route was eventually replaced in most areas by Interstate 80 starting in the 1950s.

Devil's Night

      The night before Halloween, sometimes known as Mischief Night. Also known in Michigan, especially Detroit, as Devil's Night. Around the 1970's, vandals in the Detroit area took their mischief a step too far and began setting multiple buildings on fire. The arson continued for decades until the city started a program called "Angel's Night" where citizens patrol the streets watching out for destruction-seeking punks. Will there be more fires tonight?

Hocus Pocus Filming Locations

   Over the summer, we visited Salem, Massachusetts. One of the main things we wanted to see while in the area was various places used in the 1993 Disney movie "Hocus Pocus". Unfortunately we didn't have access to the film before the trip(why I never bought it before, I do not know!), so there were places we missed. But I am quite pleased with the locations we were able to find.

   The film starts in the past at a small village. I would include that location here, but the historic village was closed at the time, and photos from the fence show an area quite overgrown. You can barely make out the buildings through the woods.

In 1965 Construction Completes on The Gateway Arch in St Louis

   

   Construction began on the Gateway Arch on February 12, 1963. The keystone, which included a time capsule, was welded into place on October 28, 1965. The interior was not finished and opened to the public until July of 1967. The Arch is 630 feet tall, and 630 feet wide. There are very claustrophobic elevators inside that run up to a viewing area inside the top. There are sixteen windows per side, with the west side giving views of downtown St Louis, and the east views of the Mississippi River and the state of Illinois on the other side.

History of the Galveston Seawall

   On this day in 1902, construction began on the Galveston Seawall. It had been two years since the Great Storm of 1900 had hit the bustling seaport of Galveston, Texas. The massive hurricane hit a town unaware and killed as many as 8000 people(or many more, they had no way to know for sure). It is still not just the deadliest hurricane, but the deadliest natural disaster to ever hit the United States.

Time to Learn About Nathaniel Bacon

    There are many interesting stories in the history of the Commonwealth of Virginia that most people don't know, this is one of them.
   Nathaniel Bacon was born in England in 1647. He is one of many of his family with the name Nathaniel, so it can be somewhat confusing when doing research on him. He moved to Virginia in 1673 and lived along the James River, south of Richmond. The capital of Virginia at the time was still Jamestown, the original settlement founded in 1607. The town of Richmond had yet to be founded(that would happen in 1737 by William Byrd, owner of Westover Plantation along the James). The governor of the time was William Berkeley.

Photographing County Courthouses

   One of the things on my bucket list was to visit and photograph every county courthouse in the state that I live in, Tennessee. It might be a strange thing to put on a bucket list, but I'm a strange person. I love the architecture of these buildings, especially when they rise up from the town square of a small town in the middle of nowhere.

Why Do Places Become Abandoned?

   I am obsessed with "abandonment". I am not really sure why. One reason may have to do with my love of history. These places were once a place where people lived there lives. Of abandoned stores, they were a place of employment and where all the locals got their essentials. Perhaps they came to the store once a month, and maybe they even brought eggs from their farm to trade for flour and thread. Many stores were also the post office and a place to just hang out, talk to friends and neighbors, learn the town news.

The Fallen

Fallen soldiers. Fallen leaves. Carnton Plantation, Franklin, Tennessee. Graves of unknown Confederate soldiers from the Battle of Franklin, November 1864.

My Bucket List

    I wrote a bucket list many years ago but I've lost that list and I can't really remember what all was on it. I have decided to redo the list, here on my blog, so that I will always remember where it is at. I will probably link it somewhere over on the side and will revisit the list should I ever actually DO something from the list. I suppose just about everyone should have a bucket list, and probably should not wait until they are my age to attempt to complete it.

The Leaves They Are a Changing

October 19th, America's True Independence Day

   Americans in the United States celebrate the Fourth of July every year as Independence Day. But perhaps we should be celebrating on October 19th as well. On this date, in 1781, at a small fishing town in Virginia, the articles of capitulation(surrender) were signed. Inside a farm house owned by Augustine Moore, British Lieutenant General Cornwallis surrendered to future president and commander of American forces, George Washington. Also present and signing the articles were Captain Thomas Symonds, British Navy, and Rochambeau, French commander who had assisted Washington in the final years of the war.

Taking Photos from the Car

Trees, ugh.

   If there is a disadvantage to taking so many road trips it is that we cannot possibly stop at every interesting thing we see, despite how badly I want to stop. My head whips around and an "ooh!" escapes my mouth at every cemetery, old or abandoned building, interesting sign or rusty car. Therefore probably half of all of my photos each trip are taken from the car. Sometimes at very high speed. And taking photos from the car is not an easy thing to do.

I Love Chick-Fil-A Billboards!

   While I wish more of our road trips took back roads, that would mean seeing few to no billboards. And while many billboards feature your standard "ad here" " exit here" "visit this place", the Chick-Fil-A restaurant has come up with some really creative and cute advertising. I love these cows! I have tried to capture every one I see and I can't wait to see what they come up with next!

Fall Colors in Tennessee

   Okay, this wasn't taken this year, it was taken almost exactly ten years ago. I am going to highlight some of my best fall foliage photos on days when I don't have something else to highlight.
  Enjoy the colors!

Bruton Parish Churchyard in Colonial Williamsburg

 Here lieth the Body of Mr Joseph

Scrivener who was born at Oldney

in Buckinghamshire in England

and died here the 14th of October

1772 in the Fiftieth Year of his Age 

Walking the Parkway in Gatlinburg

    Gatlinburg's main street is always just as busy as those windows appear. I have rarely walked this parkway when it wasn't packed with people. Summer can be insane, but October is "fall foliage" season and the crowds were nearly as big. Of course the line to get into Pancake Pantry is always a mile long. They must be good but I would never wait in a line like that to find out.

Fall Colors in the Smokies

   Quick trips to the Smokies are one my absolute favorite things. It doesn't matter if we go to the park or visit some shops in Gatlinburg or Pigeon Forge. Just being in the area fulfills something that I cannot even explain. I'm sure others who have been here many times understand. Maybe someday I will live over there and can experience that feeling more often. For now I will be satisfied that I went one more time.

Confederate General Robert E Lee died October 12, 1870

   In October of 1865, Robert Edward Lee was inaugurated as president of Washington College in Lexington, Virginia. In September of 1870 he suffered a stroke, and passed away on October 12th. He is buried in the Chapel at Washington College, along with many other members of his family. Even his horse, Traveler, is buried just outside the door. In the main chapel is the statue in the photo above, "Recumbent Lee", designed by Edward Valentine.

Meriwether Lewis died October 11, 1809-or was he murdered?

   Famous explorer Meriwether Lewis was traveling the Natchez Trace in 1809. The Trace is an centuries old route from southern Mississippi to middle Tennessee. Lewis was traveling from Louisiana to Washington DC, he had just set out on the Trace. He stopped for the night of October 10th at an inn called Grinder's Stand located near present day town of Hohenwald, Tennessee, in a country now named for Lewis.

Jack Daniel died October 10, 1911

  Jack Daniel founded the famous whiskey distillery somewhere around 1875 in the southern Tennessee town of Lynchburg. He was supposedly born around 1850 somewhere around Lynchburg. He died from blood poisoning on October 10, 1911. The old tale is that he kicked a safe he couldn't open and infection set in. Who knows if that is really true or not! But the distillery is world famous, the little town is still little, and people leave all manner of offerings at Jack's grave.

Hockey Season Begins!

Seen from I-93 coming out of the tunnel. Opened in 1995 to replace the original Boston Garden. The old Garden had been built in 1927 and was seriously outdated and was torn down in 1998.
Boston Garden has been known as the Fleet Center, Shawmut Center, and the TD Garden. Currently home to the Original Six hockey team the Boston Bruins, NBA's Boston Celtics and National Lacrosse Blazers.

Billboards You Would Only See in the South

Obsession With Salem, Massachusetts

   I was not feeling well when we visited Salem, but it did not detract from my feeling of awe when seeing it for the first time. The sadness of the Trials memorial. The awesomeness of The Burying Point Cemetery, this rich history, the sense of familiarity from having seen the area on so many television shows. There were times I would just stand and look around, trying to take it all in, hardly believing I was really there. I know that I really, really want to return.

Liberty Tour Wrap Up

   I called our quick trip this past May the "Liberty Tour" because we essentially started with the Statue of Liberty and ended at the Liberty Bell and included Boston, where our country was born. It was a quick trip, took a total of 5 days-though 2 of those was simply getting to and from Tennessee. The main point of the trip was really to visit those states marked in red above. It has always been a dream of mine to visit all 50 states. Missing all of New England was an area easily covered in a short time. Getting in those last 10, in the Pacific Northwest, is going to be a bit more difficult.

Liberty Tour Day 4: Beautiful Vermont down to Philadelphia

   If you have been reading these each day that I post them, I thank you. If you have stumbled upon this post as a first then welcome. Today I am writing about the last day of our quick four day trip from our home in Tennessee to New England. Arriving in Vermont the night before brought my 'visited states' total to 40. Despite my not feeling well the day before, I had a wonderful time and loved being able to form actual opinions on a place rather than relying on assumptions.

Liberty Tour Day 3: Maybe See a Lighthouse in Maine

 

   Leaving Salem, Boston and Massachusetts was sad for me. I'm not really sure that I could live there, but I absolutely want to visit that area again and again. But we were on a mission to visit all of the New England states, so on we went. 

Liberty Tour Day 3: Lost in Boston and Seeing Salem

   Bumper to bumper traffic at 6am going in to Boston, of course. Remember, I don't need no stinkin' gps, I got maps and instinct! Take Storrow Drive, sure, that sounds right. Charles River, ooh pretty! There's an exit for Fenway, take that! Oh, not Fenway Park...where are we? Wrong way, take a right at the next street, then another right, then a left, just a few more streets. I think. Yes! There she is, what a beauty!

Liberty Tour Day 2: New York to Boston

    Finally being "in" New York after having stared at it all day was a little unusual. Just seeing the magnificent skyline felt like being immersed in it. I can't remember a time when I have spent so much time staring at another state without actually being in it. New Jersey and New York made states visited #33 and #34 for me, and that number would jump to 40 before the trip was over. I'm hoping to make 50 before I hit that age, but I'm starting to think Alaska will never happen.

   On to the trip!

The Real "About Me" Page

   I have decided to write a better "about me" page than the one that is available as part of the blog. I thought I would like to write a longer, more thorough explanation of who I am. Just in case anyone was wondering.
   First things first, the above photo is about as close as you will ever see of a self-portrait. I might post a few photos of myself when I was a small kid, but I refuse to get in front of the camera. No exceptions at all. No "selfies" here. I don't need photos of myself at a place or with a person to prove I was there. I have memories and the photos I take and that is good enough for me.

  Next I will tell you a little bit about me. Not what I like, but about me personally. I am a 40something(honestly- I've stopped counting) stay at home mom. I have one daughter, a teenager. I do not post photos of her on the internet, nor is she allowed to yet. I don't even mention her real name anywhere, she is simply known as "kiddo" and always will be. I was born in Texas, near Houston, and grew up there. I moved to Tennessee, near Nashville, in 1996. My mom moved here and I followed because I suppose I really needed a change in my life at the time. Went to work at Kroger and met my husband there. I am fairly conservative, I believe in God and the Constitution, I obey traffic laws to the letter and I love police officers.
  Now to discuss what makes me "me", my loves and obsessions:

• STARSIGN: Capricorn
• FAVE COLOR: Green, Black
• LUCKY NUMBER: 12
• MOVIES: O Brother Where Art Thou, Star Wars:A New Hope, History of the World Pt 1, 1776, Monty Python & the Holy Grail, Elephant Man, Gettysburg, Lego Movie, Guardians of the Galaxy
• BOOKS: any map book, "The Stand" Stephen King, 
• MUSIC: Beatles(George), Garth Brooks, Chris Gaines, Def Leppard, Duran Duran, some country, no pop music after 1990(I refuse to listen to any new music out there)
• TV SHOWS: Cops, Aerial America, Sleepy Hollow, Daredevil, Deadwood, X-Files, South Park, CSI(original & with Grissom only), nearly any history show
• FAVE SPORTS: football, hockey, baseball, 
• FAVE FOOTBALL TEAMS: Titans, Patriots, Broncos, Falcons, Lions
• FAVE HOCKEY TEAMS: Predators, Bruins, Avalanche, 
• FAVE BASEBALL TEAMS: Braves, Astros, Red Sox, Rockies, Tigers
• FAVE COLLEGE TEAMS: Tennessee, Michigan, Houston, Texas
• RADIO STATIONS I LISTEN TO: Sports talk, conservative radio
• ADDICTIONS: World of Warcraft, Dr Pepper, road trips, visiting cemeteries, history, learning, Lego
• DREAM PLACE TO LIVE: Wyoming, in the middle of nowhere, no neighbors, in the snow
• FEARS: Heights, flying, bugs, 
• FAVE FOOD: Mac&Cheese
• HATED FOOD: quite a few-but especially onions
• PET PEEVES: Bad drivers, loud music from neighbors
• FAVE SUPERHERO: Iron Man
• FAVE ANIMALS: cat, cougar, horse, wolf, meerkat
• HOW MANY PAIRS OF SHOES DO I OWN: 2
• TYPICAL BREAKFAST: fruit bar & a diet Dr Pepper
• FAVE CLOTHES TO WEAR: I only own tshirts & jeans, a hoodie for cold weather
• JEWELRY?: extremely plain wedding ring, that's all I own
• MORNING OR NIGHT?: Morning, though it gets harder to wake up as I get older
• PETS: at the moment, 4 cats
• TATTOOS?: No thanks
• FAVE HOLIDAY: Halloween, I love ghost anything, plus it means Fall & Winter are here
• INTROVERT?: Yes, extremely, and terribly shy. Quite severe social anxiety
• HOW MANY FRIENDS?: Zero, if you don't count family members
• RELATED TO ANYONE FAMOUS?: Cousin of the guy who let John Wilkes Booth in the back door
• COFFEE OR TEA?: Tea, Earl Grey please, I hate coffee
• FIRST CRUSH?: Anthony Hopkins in "The Elephant Man"
• FOREIGN LANGUAGES?: A little French, a little Russian
• WHERE MARRIED?: Justice of the Peace in Sevierville, Tennessee
• HONEYMOON?: Hiking in the Smoky Mountains, then weekend in a cabin
• TRAUMATIC LIFE EXPERIENCE: Saw best friend hit and killed by car in 1985

   I have lower than low self esteem. I am certain all of my photos are horrible. But I love to take photos, so if they only ever make me happy, I suppose that's enough. Here are some answers about my photography:

• FIRST PHOTO TAKEN: I recall being allowed to snap a photo of the fish at a temple on a trip to Hawaii when I was 7
• FIRST CAMERA: A 110 instamatic, probably around age 10
• FIRST PHOTO WITH THAT CAMERA: a squirrel at the San Jacinto Monument on a field trip with school
• FIRST SLR CAMERA: Pentax K1000, 1984, saved up summer job money to buy it
• FIRST PHOTO WITH THAT CAMERA: A Flock of Seagulls concert, the drummer showed me how to load the film before the show
• FIRST DIGITAL CAMERA: Fuji FinePix, Christmas 2002
• FIRST PHOTOS WITH THAT CAMERA: Christmas 
• FIRST DIGITAL SLR CAMERA: Canon Rebel XTi, May 2008
• FIRST PHOTOS WITH THAT CAMERA: Birds in the yard
• CURRENT CAMERA: The same Canon Rebel XTi, same camera for 7 years, only one I have
• PUBLISHED?: Once in a Civil War magazine. Also have a photo on display at a rest area in Tennessee

   And finally, collections. I like to collect things, lots of things!

• ON MY DESK: Pop!Vinyls: Tom Brady, Han Solo, Angel(Buffy), Tenth Doctor, Will Riker, Star Lord, Rocket Raccoon
• HATS: I love ball caps, have dozens of them, including my "Tin Cup Cast & Crew"
• LEGO: We can't afford very many sets, but I'd say we have a pretty decent collection
• HOCKEY STUFF: Have hundreds of pucks, dozens of sticks, jerseys, cabinet full of cards. I don't actively collect this anymore and would sell if the price was right. 

    
   If you have any questions, want to know anything I forgot to cover, please ask either in the comments here or on Twitter @graveskaut !

TL;DR version: we might get along if you are a conservative who loves history, road trips, sports, the United States, roadside America, abandoned places but not trespassing, and cemeteries. :)

Liberty Tour Day 2: A Cloudy New York City

   It wasn't ideal conditions. That's always my luck. Too hot, too cold, too foggy, raining. I rarely seem to visit somewhere thinking "this is a perfect day for this!" But sometimes that just doesn't matter.