Sticker Shock At Wrigley Field: Bleacher Ticket Prices

From the April 9, 2017, Chicago Tribune "Cubs fans facing sticker shock" by Kathy Bergen and Patrick O'Connell.

As the Chicago Cubs fans streamed back to Wrigley Field earlier this month, they met with the veritable sticker shock at ticket prices, especially for those prized seats out in the bleachers.

CUBS BLEACHER TICKET PRICES OVER TIME

"The price to be a bleacher bum was only a few bucks a game through the 1980s.  Prices, as well as amenities and options, have skyrocketed with the renovation of Wrigley Field and team's success.

"Since 1922, bleacher tickets have varied from a mere flat rate depending on game time, opponent, seat location and other factors.  Cub historian Ed Hartig provided the prices for notable years of Cubs history."

Year /  Price  /  In Current Dollars

1918      30 cents    $4.84

1932       55 cents    $9.78

1938        60 cents    $8.12

More On Monday.  --CootBucks

Looking Back to 1916: Peeping Toms on NIU Campus

From the December 28, 2016, MidWeek (Dekalb County, Ill) "Looking Back."

Well, actually the school's name back then was Northern Illinois Normal School.

1916, 100 Years Ago.

"For some time past there has been a complaint from the Normal school officials that someone has been attempting to peek into the windows of the dormitory.  The action in the past of those guilty has caused the girls at Williston Hall no end of worry, and police have been working on the matter for some days past, and now have the offending where they can be reached in a few moments.

"One of the young men is about 22 years old, is old enough to know better, and should be at work more profitable to him than that of climbing onto window sills and peaking into windows."

A "Peeking Tom" even back then.  And, it was Bluto!!

--NotMeTer

Roanoke, Va. Looking Back to WWI: Preparing for War

From the March 20, 2017, Roanoke Times (Va) "Looking Back."

1917, 100 Years Ago.

"Every male resident of Roanoke between 18 and 35 years of age, it is urged, should avail himself of the opportunity to learn at least the rudiments of military discipline and drill."

After all, you never know when you might be called to war.

--Cooter

Let's Go Ahead With a National Mall World War I Monument

The Liberty Memorial tower and World War I museum in Kansas City is all well and done.  However, it is time to press ahead with what our last surviving serviceman of the war, Frank Buckles, wanted done before his death.

And, that would be to erect a monument to our World War I veterans on the National Mall in Washington, D.C..

It's About Time

Looking Back to 1917: Remembering the Indian Wars and Buffalo Bill

From the January 18, 2017, MidWeek (DeKalb County, Illinois) "Looking Back."

1917, 100 Years Ago.

"Mrs. Matilda Ambrosia, living on South Forth Street, told an interesting story to the Chronicle reporter yesterday.  It seems that in the early days Mrs. Ambrosia was an army nurse during the early Indian trouble and lived in Minnesota.

"She recalled vividly scenes of her early life when she came into contact with Buffalo Bill, William F. Cody, and that world renowned personage protected her on many occasions."

Indians and Buffalo Bill, Too!  --Cooter

From Slave Cabin to Museum Piece

April 13, 2017, Chicago Tribune by Jesse J. Holland. AP.

Isabell Meggett Lucas, 86, had not been in the tiny house she was born in, a former slave cabin where her ancestors lived in South Carolina.  Today, that tiny two-room house will be viewed by millions inside the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture.

The cabin was used during slavery at the Point of Pines Plantation on Edisto Island, S.C..

The new museum has been open for just over six months.  Officials scoured the South looking for former slave quarters for years before finally choosing this one.

It is believed to be one of the oldest preserved slave cabins in the United States.  The oral history of the cabin is being collected as well.

--Cooter

Roanoke Times "Looking Back to WWI": No Col. Theodore Roosevelt

From the March 20, 2017, Roanoke (Va) Times  "Looking Back"

1917, 100 Years Ago.

"Keen disappointment is felt by every member of the Chamber of Commerce over the note received by Secretary John Wood yesterday from Colonel Theodore Roosevelt, stating that he would be unable to speak to the Chamber of Commerce at their meeting on April 15th."

Was this the ex-president Col. Roosevelt?  Or his son?

--Cooter

Roanoke Times "Looking Back, World War I": Roanoke Besieged

From the March 13, 2017, Roanoke Times (Va.) "Looking Back."

I came across this excellent look back into history put out by the Roanoke Times.  I also follow one in the weekly MidWeek for DeKalb County, Illinois.  During the course of the World War I  (or do you say First World War, I?") I will be writing what these two publications say about the war.

All dates are 1917, 100 years ago.

"  Roanoke is being besieged by recruiting offers and officers from all branches of Uncle Sam's fighting forces, and through their efforts many are answering the call to the colors."

This was just under a month before the official U.S. Declaration of War against Germany.

--Cooter

April 1917, World War I, 100 Years Ago

From the April 2017 VFW Magazine "World War I Combat Chronology 1917-1918"  compiled by Richard C. Kolb.

During the course of the anniversary months of the U.S. involvement in World War I, I will begin each month with some events that took pl;ace that month 100 years ago.

I already wrote about the first two in earlier posts.

1917

APRIL 1--  First U.S serviceman to die in the war.  Navy Armed Guard Chief Boatswain's Mate John Eopolucci perishes in a lifeboat after the steamer Aztec is torpedoed off France.

APRIL 6--  U.S. declares war on Germany.

APRIL 7--  First U.S. shot of WWI:  A Marine aboard the USS Supply fires across the bow of a German motorboat from the Comoran in Apia Harbor, Guam.

APRIL 28--  First U.S. Navy KIAs:  Five sailors of the Armed Guard are killed when the oil carrier Vacuum is sunk by a German sub off Scotland.

--Cooter

Roanoke Times "Looking Back to WWI": Company F Returns From the Mexican Front

From March 6, 2017 Roanoke Times (Va) "Looking Back."

1917, 100 Years Ago.

"Celebrating the return of Company F, Second Virginia Infantry, which was ordered to report to the Mexican border last summer, ... hundreds of patriotic citizens of Roanoke assembled at the City Auditorium last night to give the soldiers one of the most loyal receptions in the annals of the city."

And to Think, Their Next Stop Would Be Europe.  --Cooter

Looking Back to 1966: NIU's Stevenson Towers Named

From the November 23, 2016, MidWeek (DeKalb County, Illinois)  "Looking Back."

1966, 50 Years Ago.

"A well-kept pre-election 'secret' can now be told.  Last August, Northern Illinois University's governing body approved the name Adlai E. Stevenson Towers for their new residence hall going up on NIU's West Campus.

"However, because the late Mr. Stevenson's son, Adlai E. Stevenson III, was a candidate for Illinois State Treasurer, the Board of Governors of State Colleges and Universities, in its impartial wisdom, requested that the announcement of the naming be delayed until after the November election."

But, I Lived in Lincoln Hall at NIU.  --Cooter

Looking Back to 1916: It's a Garbage Thing

From the September 7, 2016, MidWeek (DeKalb County, Illinois) "Looking Back."

1916, 100 Years Ago.

"Wanted:  Between 300 and 500 DeKalb families to have their garbage collected by the city wagon.  This service is free.  All you have to do is register at the city clerk's office."

Really.  Free Garbage Pickup?  --Cooter

Looking Back to 1967: Huge Jump In Hospital Stay Prices

From the March 29, 2017, MidWeek "Looking Back."

1967, 50 Years Ago.

"The cost of hospital care is expected to soar to at least $57.93 a day per patient by September.  The American Hospital Association, which compiles cost records, disclosed that hospital expenses are increasing faster than previously reported."

That would just about cover the cost of an aspirin now.

--Cooter

The Name Tarheel Has A Connection to the American Revolution

Today, I wrote about the American Revolution connection to the name of the University of North Carolina's Tarheels name in my Down Da Road I Go Blog.

To see what it was, click on the Down Da Road I Go site on the Blogs I Follow area to the right.

--DaTarCootheel

Thousands Observe U.S. Entrance to WWI-- Part 4

When the monument was completed five years later, more than 150,000 attended to hear President Calvin Coolidge dedicate it.  (Again, one has to wonder why our current president was not there last week).

The museum's CEO, Matt Naylor, said' "For the past 91 years, people from across the globe have come to learn and remember."

Missouri Governor Eric Greitens lauded the fact that Missouri was the birthplace of Frank Buckles, who, until his death in 2011 was the war's last surviving U.S. veteran.

Across the Atlantic on Thursday, France staged its own centennial observance of the American entrance.  the French Defense Minister urged everyone to remember "the courage of America and the millions of soldiers that came to fight on our side."

--Cooter

Thousands Observe U.S. Entrance To World War I-- Part 3

Kansas City's selection as the host to Thursday's hourslong event came about because of its 217-foot-tall Liberty Memorial tower and the huge World War I museum below it.

The monument was built after a burst of post-war patriotism that over the period of ten days in 1919 raised $2.5 million, the equivalent of more than $30 million today.

Allied commanders from Belgium, Great Britain, Italy, France and the United States gathered in 1921 to dedicate the site which is located across the street from the Kansas City train station through which more than half of U.S. troops passed through before being shipped off overseas to Europe.

Something I'll need to See This Year.  --DaCoot

Thousands Observe Centennial of U.S. Entrance Into World War I-- Part 2

Several short films were shown, one narrated by Kevin Costner and another one by Gary Sinise were displayed on 25-foot tall screens.  Ragtime music (popular back in 1917) was played plus there was military pomp and recitations as well as speeches by politicians.

Many who spoke talked about American sacrifice.  By the end of the war in 1918, more than 9 million lives were lost in combat and Americans accounted for 116,000 of them in the short time we were involved.

Retired Army Col. Ribert Dalesandro, chairman of the U.S. World War I Centennial Commission told the crowd:  "America entered the war to bring liberty, democracy and peace to the world after almost three years of unprecedented hardship, strife and horror.  We still live in the long shadow of World War I in every aspect of our lives."

--Cooter

Thousands At Liberty Memorial Tower for Centennial Observance-- Part 1

From the April 7, 2017, Chicago Tribune "Thousands at U.S. monument pause for WWI observance" by Jim Suhr, AP.

A flyover by eight planes trailing colored smoke and thousands of attendees paused to remember that day 100 years ago, April 6, 1917, when the United States entered the war that had been going on since 1914.   That was a good day for the Allies like Britain and France and a bad one for Germany.

The commemoration, titles "In Sacrifice For Liberty and Peace" was essentially a multimedia time warp back 100 years ago.

A dew thousand ticket holders and dozens of foreign ambassadors (evidently no President Trump) were in attendance as a color guard dressed as WWI "Doughboys" presented the colors and and short films were shown.

--Cooter

What's In a Name: WWI, WWII-- Part 3: What Do You Call It?

In 1942, FDR was not happy with the name Second World War and asked the public for new names.  The War department received 15,000 submissions ranging from "The War for Civilization" to "The War Against Enslavement."  FDR wanted "The Survival War."

None of these names stayed.  "World War II" and "Second World War" finally were the acceptable names.  As for the first one, it became "World War I" and the "First World War."

Usually, the British calls them the First World War and Second World War.  The United States goes with World War I and World War II.

--DaCootII

World War I? Back Then-- Part 2: Churchill and FDR

Still wondering about when it came to be called World War I, First World War.

Winston Churchill referred to World War I as "The World War" in a 1927 book.

The term World War II first appeared in print in February 1917 in the Manchester guardian in a piece about the future.

In 1941, FDR called the war going on at the time as the Second World War and that started the trend toward that name.  The British continued calling it "The War" until the late 1940s.

--CooterI

Were They Always Called World War I and World War II?-- Part 1

From Ask history.

World War II began 21 years after World War I.  It is hard to pinpoint when the terms World War I and World War II or First World War and Second World War came into large use.

Of course, during World War I, no one knew there would be a second World War.  As such, there was no need for a numerical designation.  U.S. newspapers originally referred to the 1914-1918 war as "The European War."  They adopted the "World War" name after the United States entered it in 1917.

Britons referred to it as "The Great War" into the 1940s.

--CooterFirst

What Did They Call World War I Back Then?

Obviously, they wouldn't know there would be a World War II.  So what would they call it.

I've seen the name "Great War" used on many occasions.  I've also seen it called "The War to End All Wars,"  but that is a bit too long of a name.

Doing research, this war that went from 1914 to 1918, is usually referred to as World War I in the United States.  Britain tends to refer to it as the First World War.

I'll do some more research on it.

--The Really Big and Nasty War.  --Cooter

Looking Back to 1916: Women Voting for the First Time

From the November 23, 2016, MidWeek "Looking Back."

1916, 100 Years Ago.

"Two prominent Elva women cast their first votes and both are at an advanced age.  One was Mrs. Susan Ward, aunt of Judge Harry McEwen who came to Elva in a taxi to take her to the polls.

"Mr. and Mrs. J.O. Agnew took Mrs. Helen Rollins who is seventy-five years of age to the polls.

"Both women are well and greatly interested in present day affairs.

Finally, the Right to Vote.  --Cooter

April 6, 1917: U.S. Declaration of War on Germany

On this date, President Woodrow Wilson signed the declaration of war.

On April 2, 1917, he had gone before a Joint session of Congress and asked for a declaration of war on Germany.  An overwhelming majority of Congress voted to accept it, with just 50 opposing it.

It read "that a state of war exists between the Imperial German Government and the Government and People of the United States."

War had been declared on Germany, but none of the other Central Powers.  War was declared on the Austro-Hungarian Empire on December 7, 1917, but never declared against Bulgaria or the Ottoman Empire.

Of interest, Jeannette Rankin of Montana, a lifelong pacifist, was one of the 50 voting against the declaration in 1917 and she was the only member of Congress voting against the declaration of war against Japan on December 8, 1941.

Today Marks the 100th Anniversary of That Declaration.  The Centennial.

The Sinking of the SS Aztec Before U.S. Entry Into World War I

Yesterday,  I wrote about the death of the first U.S. serviceman to die in the war, John Eopolucci who perished in a lifeboat from the steamer of the SS Aztec after it was torpedoed on April 1, 1917.

A little more information on it:

The Aztec was sunk by the German submarine U-46 off western France with a loss of 26 lives out of a crew of 49.  The Aztec was an armed steamship with two 3-inch guns manned by 12 U.S. Navy gunners.

This Even Though We Weren't Officially At War Yet.  --Cooter

Shorpy Looks at World War I

The Shorpy Photo site has been running photographs from World War I the last month.  Most of these are in its aftermath and involving the nature of the horrors of war.

March 13, 2017:  DRESSING THE WOUND: 1918--  June 12, 1918.  "Dressing the wound.  American Military Hospital  No. 1 at Neuilly, France (Dr. Johnson)  By Lewis Wickes Hine, National American Red Cross.

March 14, 2017:  NICOTINE ANGEL: 1918--  June 24, 1918.  Representative if American Red cross Communication Service distributing cigarettes in hospital at Contrexeville, France."  Lewis Hine, American National Red Cross.

War Is About This.  Not All Glory.

There Will Be No World War I Blog Starting Tomorrow

Believe me, I would really love to start a World War I blog tomorrow.

I seriously considered starting one back in August 2014, when World War I actually started, but decided against it.  I even thought about doing it tomorrow, but, again, I am not.

The seven blogs I have already keep me way too busy as it is.

However, I will be writing about the war here in this blog for the duration of it from here on out to the end.

--Cooter

Looking Back to 1917. U.S. Orders Dismantling of All Amateur Wireless Stations In case of War

From the March 29, 2017, MidWeek (DeKalb County, Illinois)  "Looking Back."

1917, 100 Years Ago.

"Local wireless telegraph enthusiasts, of which there are a number, will be greatly interested to learn of the coming order of the war department.  It is announced that in case war is declared between Germany and the United States, the first order issued by the government will be for the dismantling of every amateur wireless station.

"This is to be done for the lessening of likelihood of activities of spies in this country."

Just About War Time.  --DaCoot

First U.S. Serviceman to Die in World War I

During the course of the next two years I will be writing down some of the events happening during the United States' participation in World War I.  I will be getting the information from the April issue of the VFW magazine.

APRIL 1, 1917

Navy Armed Guard Chief Boatswain's Mate John Eopolucci perishes in a lifeboat after the steamer Aztec is torpedoed off France.

This was five days before the U.S. Declaration of War against Germany, which took place on April 6.

--Cooter

Looking Back to 1967: Down Come the Elms

From the March 29, 2017, MidWeek (DeKalb County, Illinois) "Looking Back."

1967, 50 Years Ago.

"Four elms to go and the DeKalb city's street department will have culminated a project which began five years ago.  The project, to cut down all the old elms in the city, was a slow and tiresome assignment.

"Working at times when duties did not call them elsewhere, the street department cut down between 5,000 and 6,000 elm trees in the city over the five-year period.  One elm remains to be cut at the corner of Seventh and State and three in the 200 block of West Lincoln."

Mean old Dutch elm disease.

That's West Lincoln As In Lincoln Highway.  --Cooter

Some Chicago Cubs Salaries in 1969

Kind of interesting, especially in light of all the money current players get.  But, remember, these are in 1969 money.

Ron Santo:  $85,000

Billy Williams:  $75,000

Ernie Banks:  $60,000

Bill Hands:  $30,000

Joe Niekro:  $19,000

Oh Well.  --Cooter

Death of Cubs Pitcher Bill Hands-- Part 4: A Cubs Fan to the End

Bill Hands won 18 games in 1970, but the Cubs didn't contend.  In 1972, they traded him to the Minnesota Twins, but their owner, Calvin Griffith cut his pay by $4,500.  hands asked for a trade and he was.

He retired in 1975 and lived in Orient, New York, where he owned a gas station that became a favorite hangout for locals

A Cub fan to the end, he often wore a Cubs hat at the gas station.  It was so great that he finally got to see the Cubs win it all in 2016.

The 1969 Cubs team have lost Ernie Banks, Ron Santo and Jim Hickman in recent years.

Death of Cubs Pitcher Bill Hands-- Part 3: What a Year in 1969 (Well, Till the End)

Durocher's Rebuilding Program.

Hall of Fame pitcher Fergie Jenkins said:  "At the end of the '66 season, when we'd just lost 103 ballgames, Leo took Bill Hands, Joe Niekro, Rich Nye, Kenny Holtzman and myself, and he told us, 'You five young guys will battle for four spots in the rotation starting in '67.'"

Hands started and relieved in 1967, when the Cubs won 87 games and started their turnaround.  He went 16-10 in 1968, establishing himself and setting the stage for 1969.

The next year he was part of one of the best rotations in baseball with Jenkins (21-15, 3.21 ERA), Holtzman (17-13, 3.59) and Hands at 20-14, 2.49 ERA.

Fergie Jenkins continued:  "He was the third pitcher.  I opened, Kenny was second and he was third.  He was a hell of a pitcher.  ...Froggy was a good teammate."

In 1968, the Cubs were in first place in mid-August before blowing a 9 1/2 game lead to eventual champion New York Mets.

--"Froggy"

Death of Cubs Pitcher Bill Hands-- Part 2: Part of Youth Movement

This trade was the Cubs' first one after Leo Durocher came over to manage the club.

Don Landrum was with the Cubs from 1962-1965 and compiles a career batting average of .234 and 12 home runs.  He played center field for the Cubs in 1965 and batted .226, with 6 home runs and 34 rbis.  Lindy McDaniel had a career record of 114-119 and 3.45 ERA.

Leo Durocher said:  "We're looking to rebuild and the only way to do that is with young.  Hundley is only 23 and Hands 25."

Hands and Hundley became part of a core of young Cubs who turned the franchise from a laughingstock into a contender in just a few seasons.  They broke a million hearts in 1969, but remain one of the Cubs' mist-loved teams.

Oh yes.  That '69 Season.  --Cooter

Death of Cub Pitcher Bill Hands-- Part1: 20-Game Winner for the ''69 Cubs

From the March 10, 2017, Chicago Tribune  "Hands gave '60s Cubs reliable arm in rotation" by Paul Sullivan.

BILL HANDS (1940-March 9, 2017)

"Froggy" won 20 games as the No. 3 starter in '69"

"Former pitcher Bill Hands, a 20-game winner for the 1969 Chicago Cubs, died Thursday in an Orlando, Florida, hospital after a brief illness.  He was 76.  "He won 111 games over 11 seasons in the majors, including a 92-86 record and 3.18 ERA with the Cubs.  Overall, he had a 3.35 ERA and struck out 1,128.

Signed by the Giants as an amateur free agent out of New Jersey in 1959 he had the nickname "Froggy" and came to the Cubs in one of the best deals they ever made.  (Until recently, the club has been notorious for their bad trades.)  He came over after the 1965 season with catcher Randy Hundley for outfielder Don Landrum and reliever Lindy McDaniel.

These are all names I am very familiar with as I am a big fan of the Cubs (when they are not playing my White Sox).

DAR's Monument Dedication to Nancy Hart-- Part 4

It has been stated that she was cross-eyed and masculine."  Then the speaker explained this.

From the notes of Barbara Johnson who transcribed the remarks:  "The Hart Graveyard today is called Book Cemetery.  Nancy's son, John HART, a Henderson County resident, is also buried in Book Cemetery.

"He served in the Revolutionary War with his father Benjamin, brothers Morgan and Thomas, and is listed as one of the Soldiers of Kettle Creek, Wilke's Dragoons.

"There is no substantial proof of kin to Boone or Daniel Morgan."

--DaCoot

D.A.R.'s Monument Dedication for Nancy Hart-- Part 3

"Nancy Hart was first cousin of Daniel Boone, and was possessed with the same indomitable pioneer spirit.  She was also of the same family as Gen. Daniel Morgan of New Jersey, being an own cousin of his.  Gen. Morgan, with his militia, served through the Revolution, all through the history of the war was read:

"Washington sent for Gen. Morgan and his militia."

"Gen. Morgan received the thanks of the Nation and Congress awarded him a gold medal for his brilliant victory at Cowpens, in which the British were completely routed and pursued for twenty miles.

"No doubt had  Nancy Morgan Hart been a man, she would have been in the front of  battle. leading her men to victory or death, but being a woman she did 'her bit' in a different way."

--Cooter

The DAR's Monument Dedication for Nancy Hart-- Part 2: Her Descendants Still Living

"Her last years were spent in the home of her son, John Hart, on this very farm, in a stone's throw of where she so peacefully slept for over one hundred years.

"Her descendants in the Gen. Samuel Hopkins Chapter D.A.R. have the unique distinction of being descended, lineally, from a woman patriot; all others in our chapter are descended from men who performed some patriotic duty during the Revolution."

A great granddaughter, Mrs. Mary Dixon, 94, is still alive in Henderson.

A list was then read of 13 women who are or have been members of the D.A.R. chapter, including two members still living in Henderson and five others living in Kentucky.  Others lived in Louisiana, Nevada, Nebraska, Chicago, Texas and California.