Getting the Scoop on Chicago Papers in 1917

From the November 8, 2017, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1917, 100 Years Ago.

"The Chronicle is first giving tragedy news.  Patrons of the Chronicle had the important facts about the sinking of the American transport, The Antilles, last night at six o'clock about 14 hours before the Chicago morning papers which were the next ones to carry anything about the tragedy.

"This again emphasizes the fact that people who want to read about the world news at the earliest possible moment take the Chronicle as no other paper in this section can give anything like the telegraphy service that this paper offers."

I'm figuring the Chronicle had an evening paper.

--Cooter

Mighty Expensive Farm in 1917: $300 an Acre

From the November 15, 2017, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1917, 100 Years Ago.

"A well improved farm in the south end of the county just at the south edge of Sandwich has been sold for $300 an acre.

"The farm of 160 acres was one of the best in that end of the county as the price paid per acre will show."

DeKalb County, Illinois

Mighty Expensive Land Back Then.  --Cooter

First Americans Killed in WW I-- Part 7: James Bethel Gresham

Born August 23, 1893  Died November 3, 1917.

First Hoosier killed in the war.

Born in McLean County, Kentucky.

Enlisted in the Army April 23, 1914 and in June of 1914 was serving with General "Blackjack" Pershing.

Killed in France 3 November 1917.

In 1921, he was reburied in Evansville, Indiana, at Locust Hill Cemetery.

There is a memorial to all three men at the Crawford County Court House in Van Buren, Arkansas.

--Cooter

First Americans Killed in WW I-- Part 6: Merle David Hay

From Wikipedia.

Born July 20, 1896  Died November 3, 1917.

Born in Carroll County, Iowa.  Enlisted 3 May 1917, among eight men from Glidden, Iowa, who enlisted that day.

Re-interred July 1921 at West Lawn Cemetery in Glidden.  This was later renamed the Merle Hay Memorial cemetery in his honor.  The Iowa legislature had an eight-foot monument erected at his grave.

Shortly after his death, the highway running from Des Moines, Iowa to Camp Dodge was renamed the Merle Hay Road and a memorial boulder was placed on it in 1923.  The Merle Hay Mall in Des Moines is also named for him.

The first American military casualty of World War II was also an Iowa native from Arlene.  Robert M. Losey was a military attache killed April 21, 1940, during the German bombardment of Dombas, Norway.

--Cooter

First Americans Killed in WW I-- Part 5: Thomas F. Enright

Thomas Enright reenlisted in the 16th Infantry at Fort Bliss, Texas. On 26 June 1917, he and his regiment disembarked in France.

He and the two others were killed 3 November 1917.  On their first burial they had the inscription "Here lie the first soldiers of the illustrious Republic of the United States who fell on French soil for justice and liberty."

His body was returned home and on 16 July 1921 he was honored in Pittsburgh with his casket lying in state at the Soldiers and Sailors National Military Museum and Memorial.

He is buried at St. Mary Cemetery.

--Cooter

First Americans Killed in WW I Action-- Part 4: Thomas Enright

From Wikipedia

Thomas F. Enright, private.  First Pennsylvanian serviceman killed in action WW I and perhaps the first American to die.  (It is not known in what order the  three men were killed.)

Born May 8, 1887.  His parents were Irish immigrants.  Enlisted in the Army in 1909 and served in the Chinese Boxer Rebellion and the Philippines Insurrection.  In 1914 he was in Vera Cruz, Mexico, with Pershing looking for Pancho Villa.

In 1916, he left the Army and went home to Pittsburgh.  He reenlisted in the 16th Infantry at Fort Bliss, Texas.  On June 26, 1917 he and his regiment disembarked in France.

--Cooter

World War I Chronology, November 1917, 100 Years Ago

NOVEMBER 18

First U.S. Naval aircraft sortie of the war is flown by a Tellier flying boat on anti-submarine patrol from Le Croistic, France, at the mouth of the Loire River.

NOVEMBER 20-DECEMBER 4

U.S. 11th and 212th Engineers (Railway) participate.  11th sustains 18 casualties on November 39.

--Cooter

Mt. Olive Pickles and Me

I have a bit of a history with the Mt. Olive Pickle Company.  My father was born in Mt. Olive, North Carolina and growing up I spent a lot of time with his parents who still lived there.  You might say I am a Mt. Olive fan.  And, the pickle company is really big in that town.

One time, my dad and my cousin Graham,who at the time lived in Warsaw, N.C., in the same county as Cates Pickle Co.got into an argument over whether Cates (made in Faison) or Mt. Olive had the better pickles.  They did a bling Pickle taste test and Mt. Olive won.

Mom bought Mt. Olive Pickle stock and now that she has passed on, my brother, sister and I have inherited that stock, so I am a part owner of the company.

Every New Years Eve, Mt. Olive Pickle Co. and the town put on a Pickle Drop (but earlier than midnight).

Several years back I was really surprised to start seeing Mt. Olive Pickles being sold here in the MidWest (and it still is).  Before that it was just a regional company.  Great to see Mt. olive pickles being sold in our local Jewel grocery stores.

And, I Really Like Their Pickles.  --Cooter

Mt. Olive Pickles-- Part 2: What Keeps Mt. Olive Going

Today, Mt. Olive Pickles is the nation's largest privately held pickle company, with one million square feet of production and warehouse space located on 150 acres.  You enter Mt. Olive and see signs saying "Welcome to Mt. Olive.  Home of Mt. Olive Pickles."

Shikrey Baddaour left the business years before his death in 1938, his homegrown company is one of Wayne County's largest employers -- providing more than 600 jobs.

"Without Mt. Olive Pickle, you might have to roll the sidewalks up," says Charles Brown, town manager.  "Mt. Olive Pickle is what keeps Mt. Olive going."

Plus, Baddour's descendants have been very active in North Carolina ever since.

--Cooter

Mt. Olive Pickles-- Part 1: A Lebanese Opportunity

From the February 2017, Our State (N.C.) magazine  "Bringing It Home" Karen Sullivan.

The story of Lebanese Immigrants to North Carolina.

THE BADDOUR FAMILY, MOUNT OLIVE

Dreams of a better life caused thousands of Lebanese to leave their country between 1880 and 1920.  In North Carolina, the census counted nearly 1,400 people of Lebanese descent in 1920.

Shikrey Baddour was one of those early Lebanese immigrants, arriving in the early 1890s.  The streets were not paved with gold as he was told, but there was an abundance of opportunity.  By 1924, just nine years after he arrived in the U.S., he was already running a shirt factory in Goldsboro, N.C..

One day, on a drive through nearby Mt. Olive, he saw farms where cucumbers were rotting in the fields, he was inspired to turn this into a profit.  With the help of 36 shareholders, he started the Mt. Olive Pickle Company in 1926.

And, you can go into most any store here in the Midwest and find these pickles on the shelves today.

--RoadDog

Without a Trace: The Lost Colony-- Part 2" What Happened?

When John White was finally able to return, the colonists he had left were gone, the village disassembled and overgrown with brush.

He found the word "Croatoan" carved into the surface of one of the palisades' entrance posts, and the letters "Cro" carved into a nearby tree.  White believed that meant that the colonists had moved south to join the Croatoan Indians and he set out to find them.

But storms and lack of provisions soon halted his search, and he returned to England without ever knowing what had happened to his colonists.

To this day, no one is sure, either.

Somehistorians believe they died from disease or Native American attacks.  Or, perhaps they split up and were assimilated with the locals.

It would be 65 more years before immigrants again came to North Carolina.

--DaCoot

Without a Trace: The Lost Colony, "Croatoan"

From the Feb. 2017 Our State magazine, North Carolina.

In April 1587, more than 30 years before the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock, explorer John White and about 120 men, women and children set sail from England to establish England's first permanent settlement in what became America.

They were the first whites to come here and joined thousands of Indians already living here for centuries.  They had intended to land in the Chesapeake Bay area, but got dropped off on Roanoke Island and soon became some of North Carolina's most famous residents: the Lost Colony

After living at the island for six weeks, White left the colony for England to get supplies and reinforcements.  he had delays in returning.

--Cooter

First Americans Killed in Action World War I-- Part 3: "He Stayed At His Post of Duty and Fought to the Last"

Upon arrival in England, they sailed to Artois in northern France and immediately engaged in trench warfare.

Early in the morning of November 3, 240 German soldiers attacked the American trenches.  The Americans were vastly outnumbered and hand-to-hand fighting took place.

Besides these three men who were killed in this action, there were 5 Americans wounded and twelve captured, but the Germans retreated back to their trenches.  Hay, Enright and Greshan were buried at the scene.

Hay's commander wrote to his father:  "He was a faithful soldier, one we could trust.  At all times his work was of high quality but especially at the time of his death did he prove real worth.  He stayed at his post of duty and fought to the last.

"We are proud of the true American spirit shown by him and his comrades."

The remains of all three were returned to their home towns for proper internment and memorial.

The First of Many Americans to Fall.  --Cooter

Marines in the American Revolution-- Part 2: Fort Nassau

Just weeks after being formed, the U.S. Marine Corps proved their mettle in 1776 at Fort Nassau, Bahamas.  The British were storing large supplies of gunpowder there.

Captain Samuel Nicholas and 234 Marines sailed with the Continental Navy to the Bahamas.  The British troops surrendered within minutes

The Americans also acquired cannons and other military supplies, all badly needed for the new cause.

--DaCoot

"Pole of Smokes" for Camp Grant: Smoking in World War I

From the October 11, 2017, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1917, 100 Years Ago.

"Just watch the pole of smokes for Camp Granters, now on display in Anderson Brothers' window, increase.  It was announced this morning at the store that if occasion demanded the entire west window would be devoted to the display of tobacco for the soldiers of the selected army, and those sponsoring the movement only hope that such will be necessary.

" DeKalb smokers know what it is to be away from the humidor and find that the pouch is empty and willing to give almost anything for a smoke -- that is just the way the fellows at Camp Grant are feeling, that is a large majority of them."

This sounds like getting tobacco for pipe smoking.

Smokes for Camp Grant.  --Cooter

Other November Events in Marine Corps History

Of course, November 10 was when the act was passed forming the United States Marine Corps.

NOVEMBER 12, 1908--  President Theodore Roosevelt removed Marines from warships.  Six months later, they were reinstates for that sea service by President Taft.

NOVEMBER 10, 1918--  The day before the end of World War I, the 5th Marines made a night crossing of the Marne River against German resistance.

--DaCoot

Every Woman Over 16 Should Register for Service in WW I

From the October 11, 2017, MidWeek (DeKalb County, Illinois)  "Looking Back."

1917. 100 Years Ago.

"Every woman over 16 years of age should register for service in the war.  It is not compulsory but it is the first time that the United States Government has asked service of all women."

A bit confusing.  Was this to register for the draft?

I did find out in another source that during World War I women were allowed to join the military as nurses or support staff and that some 33,000 did.  More than 400 nurses died in line of duty.

--Cooter

Five Great Places to Honor Our Veterans This Veterans Day

From the November 10, 2017, USA Today  "10 great places to honor military on Veterans Day" Larry Bleiberg.

He has more written about each site.  I'm just listing them.

1.  Lejeurne Memorial Gardens--  Jacksonville, North Carolina

2.  USS Alabama Battleship Park--  Mobile, Alabama

3.  USS Arizona Memorial--  Honolulu, Hawaii

4.  National Museum of the Marine Corps--  Triangle, Virginia

5.  Soldiers' National Cemetery--  Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

I'd like to add the USS North Carolina Battleship Memorial in Wilmington, North Carolina.

Here's Hoping That Everyone Will Do Something Today to Honor Our Veterans.  --Cooter

Marines In the American Revolution-- Part 1: The Job and First Commandant

The U.S. Marines were authorized by the Continental Congress 10 November 1775 when two battalions were to be formed.  Their job was conduct ship-to-ship fighting, shipboard security and discipline enforcement and to assist landing forces.

The first commandant, Captain Samuel Nicholas, was commissioned 28 November.  Enlisting took place at Nicholas' family's tavern "The Conestoga Waggon" or, according to Marine lore, the Tun Tavern in Philadelphia.

--Cooter

Happy Birthday USMC!!

Back on this date, November 10, 1775, the Continental Congress passed a resolution to raise two battalions of Marines.

That is 242 years ago.

And the rest, as they say, is quite a history.

Ooh-Rah!!

First Americans Killed in Action in WW I-- Part 2

Continued from November 6.

The three men killed:

**  THomas F. Enright, private:  Sister Mrs. Mary Irwin, No. 6641 Premo St., Pittsburgh.

**  James P. Gresham, private:  Mother, Mrs. Alice Dodd, No. 1001 West Ohio street, Evansville, Indiana.

**  Merle D. Hay, private:  father, Harvey D. Hay, Glidden, Iowa.

All three enlisted, not drafted.  Enright joined in 1909, Gresham 1913 and Hay in May 1917.  Enright was 30, Greshan and Hay in their early to mid-20s.

All were members of the First Division, Co. F, Second Battalion, 16th Infantry.

--Cooter

Woodstock Theatre 90th Anniversary

From the Cinema Treasures Site

Woodstock Theatre, 209 Main Street, Woodstock, Illinois.

The Miller Theater was built on the site and opened November 8, 1927.  It featured a mix of movies and vaudeville shows.  It featured a Barton-Style 23 theater organ with six ranks.

It was renamed Woodstock Dollarodeon Theater in 1976 twin theaters were partitioned in 1979.

Classic Cinemas bought it in 1988 and a new marque was added in 1991.

In 2013, three adjacent buildings were demolished and the theater expanded to eight screens.

Woodstock Theatre Celebrates 90th Anniversary Today

I received notification from the General Cinema Corporation via e-mail that today they would be celebrating the 90th anniversary of the Woodstock Theatre in Woodstock, Illinois, just off the historic Woodstock Square.

I will be leaving to go to it in just a few minutes.  This is a theater I go to a lot.

The mayor of Woodstock will speak at 11 a.m., and I imagine he will do that in the theater #1, with that magnificent recovered dome dating to the first theater at the site.

Afterwards, all day long they will be selling small popcorn and drinks for 90 cents.  That is a huge deal considering the usual cost, $5 and $4.

I will be seeing a couple movies.

And, the Woodstock theatre has been in the movies itself, serving as the scene in "Groundhog Day" movie where Bill Murray was dressed like Bronco Billy with his housemaid date.  Every year during the town's Groundhog Festival, they show free screenings of the movie.

Should Be Fun.  --Cooter

Waterman, Illinois, Has a Small Pox Case in 1917

From the October 11, 2017, MidWeek.

1917, 100 Years Ago.

"Waterman has a small pox case within its borders.  Every  precaution has been taken and schools and churches have been closed.

"People are being vaccinated in hopes that there will be no further spread."

A Serious Thing Back Then.  --Cooter

The First Americans Killed in Action During World War I-- Part 1

From the October 27, 2017, Orlando (Florida) Sentinel "Commentary:  Honoring the first to fall in World War I:  A Story of U.S. sacrifice"  Thomas V. DiBacco.

I wrote about this Sunday in the WW I chronology.

One hundred years ago this week, three American soldiers became the first to lose their lives in front line combat during the war on November 3, 1917.

News of it broke in early November 1917 without much emotion.  The Washington Herald had a story about it on the front page with the headline "U.S. Soldiers Were Trapped: Caught In Dugouts by Germans, Officers' Belief Here."

The story continued on page two with their names and facts about each one.

Sadly, the First of Many.  --DaCoot

A Timeline of Horror Movies-- Part 8: It Follows, It

2014--  "IT FOLLOWS"--  I am not familiar with this one.  The film is a warning to today's free-love millennial  society as it tells the story of an entity that follows and kills those who have one-night stands.

2017--  "IT"--  The latest Stephen King adaptation, the film features the machinations of the supernatural clown Pennywise and his obsession with terrorizing children.  That is until he met his "match" with the group of oddballs who banded together to get him.

"It" has become the highest-grossing horror film ever.  And, there obviously is going to be a Part 2.  Of course, in my opinion, there sure haven't been a lot of good movies out of late.

This film certainly has not helped real clowns.

--CootScared

World War I Chronology, November 1917 (100 Years Ago)-- Part 1: First American Battle Casualties

NOVEMBER 3--  First U.S. Lethal Firefight.

U.S. troops engage in trench skirmishing for the first time near Bathelemont in the Luneville Dector near Nancy, France.

Three members of F Company, 2nd battalion, 16th Infantry, 1st Division are the first American Killed In Action:  James B. Gresham, Thomas F Enright and Merle D. Hay.

NOVEMBER 5--  The American armed yacht Alcedo (SP-166) is torpedoed and sunk by UC-71 off France:  22 lives are lost.

The War Heats Up for the U.S..  --DaCoot

A Timeline of Horror Movies-- Part 7: Witches, Saws and the Paranormal

1999--  THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT"--  In an otherwise underrated year that brought us the cringe-inducing "Audition," the big thrills of a revamped "The Mummy" and ghost tale "The Sixth Sense," a new-found footage genre was tapped in "The Blair Witch Project" about a small group that gets lost in the woods and is haunted by -- who knows.

You never see whatever it was.

2004--  "SAW"--  Would you kill a stranger or friend if it meant that your wife and kids would survive a serial killer?  Two people are forced to answer this question as they are held by a killer named Jigsaw.

It's the kill-or-be-killed attitude, or "torture porn," that "Saw" helped unlock as a horror sub-genre.

2009--  "PARANORMAL ACTIVITY"--  Mixing the use of security-camera footage and supernatural possession, the film was the first of a trilogy telling the generational tale of a demon and a coven.

Like, BOO!!  --CootFright

A Timeline of Horror Movies-- Part 6: Freddy, Scream, Ringu

1984:  "A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET"--  Freddy Krueger, a child molester later burned alive by irate parents in the neighborhood where he committed his crimes, was tailor-made horror -- with a touch of humor.

1996--  "SCREAM"--  A self-referential horror film, the killer sticks to horror film tropes that are pointed out often by characters in the movie.

A mystery-comedy-satire, it seemed to show that even if you know the cliches, you can't escape.

1998--  "RINGU"  ("RING")--  The Japanese psychological horror film in which a cursed videtape brings death to anyone who watches it was remade in the U.S. in 2002.

I guess now someone will have to explain what a video tape is to the younger folks.

--Cooter

A Timeline of Horror Movies-- Part 5: Giant Bug, "Here's Johnny," Scary TVs

1979--  "ALIEN"--  Alone in outer space with a huge ugly, smart buglike creature which only desires to kill you or plant another xenamorph inside you?  That's horror.  Nowhere to go.  When that thing burst out of the guy's stomach, another really frightening, gross moment.

1980--  "THE SHINING"  "Friday the 13th"--  Two sides of horror.  "The Shining" is a psychological thriller, a haunting in a hotel that chronicles a man's descent into madness.  "Here's Johnny!!"

There's no psychology to "Friday the 13th."  It was all physical as the mother of Jason Vorhees killed any of the campers that happened to trespass in Camp Crystal Lake.  Another good reason teens ought not to have sex.

1982--  "POLTERGEIST"--  The haunted house film was represented a few years earlier in 1979 with "The Amityville Horror," but "Poltergeist," with its cute little girl, scary clown and voices in the TV took the subgenre to near heights.

And when that huge skull came out of the closet, had my friend's wife been sitting next to me, she would have been repaid for "Halloween."  That REALLY SCARED me.

Scared to Death.  --DaCootScream

A Timeline of Horror Movies-- Part 4: Jaws, Carrie and Halloween

1975--  "JAWS"--  The theme song alone brought terror to many a swimmer.  I haven't been into the ocean over my knees since then.

Steven Spielberg's hit, chronicling the efforts to survive attacks from and capture or destroy a huge great white shark terrorizing beachgoers, is often credited as the first blockbuster film.  And that, "We're going to need a bigger boat," is one of the best lines ever spoken in a movie.

1976--  "CARRIE"--  The first film adaption of a Stephen King novel featured Sissy Spacek as Carrie White, a telekinetic high school girl who is bullied at school and abused at home -- until she went overboard.  The film was nominated for two Academy Awards.

Careful who you mess with, and whatever you do-- no blood buckets.

1978--  "HALLOWEEN"--  John Carpenter's Michael Myers is an empty, evil vessel bent  on killing anyone in his family -- and, for that matter, anyone who tries to stop him from doing that.  Another reason why teen's should not have sex as Mikey will get them.

I made the mistake of first seeing this with friends of ours, and the wife was sitting next to me and the first time Michael popped out, she really let me have it on my leg.  I asked my wife to change seats.

--CootScream

A Timeline of Horror Movies-- Part 3: Rosemary, Exorcist and Chainsaw

1968--  "ROSEMARY'S BABY"--  Ulterior motives are at work when a husband and group of supposed friends attempt to steal a baby from Rosemary.

She later finds out that her baby is a lot more than just a baby, but chooses to raise him anyway.

Frank would not approve.

1973--  "THE EXORCIST"--  At the center of William Friedkin's film that tests religious faith, young Linda Blair puts on a tour de force of demonic possession as Regan MacNeil, a child possessed.  "The Exorcist" was the first horror film to receive an Academy Award nomination for best picture.

And, then there were those creepy "Tubular Bells."

1974--  "THE TEXAS CHAIN SAW MASSACRE"--  The film may be about a family of cannibals and the poor souls unfortunate enough  to stumble across their rural Texas home, but one family member in particular, Leatherface, who was inspired by real-life murdered Ed Gein, could be considered the first of the slasher genre.  Right Freddie and Michael?

I've never seen it, though.

Must Get My Chain Saw Sometime, Have Tree Limbs To Cut Down.  --CootMask

A Timeline of Horror Movies-- Part 2: Howling, Destroying, Stabbing and Biting

1941--  "THE WOLF MAN"--  Lon Chaney Jr.'s portrayal of a man cursed to change into a wolf during the full moon was repeated in four sequels.  All you ever wanted to know about werewolves.

1954--  "GODZILLA"--  A Japanese kaiju (monster movie) showed the dangers of atomic testing.

1960--  "PSYCHO"--  Director Alfred Hitchcock's split-personality thriller featured Norman Bates as a hotel caretaker.  And then there was that famous shower scene and that music.

1968--  "NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD"--  Director George A. Romero's take on zombies and a world where they overrun society.  The look of the zombies and over-the-top gore endeared it to horror fans.  "The Walking Dead" owes him a huge thank you.

--ScaredCooter

A Timeline of Horror Movies-- Part 1: Meet Frank, Count and the Kong

From the October 29, 2017, Chicago Tribune  "A Timeline of Horror: Influential movies of the genre" by Jevon Phillips, LA Times.

Stephen King's current "It" is the highest grossing horror movie ever.

The first-ever known movie that can be classified as horror would be the 1896 French short silent film "Le Manoir du Diable" ("The House of the Devil").

here are 25 pivotal moments in horror:

1910--  "FRANKENSTEIN"   Boris Karloff 1931 movie better known, but the first to bring it to life was a 16-minute short film filmed 21 years earlier.

1922--  "NOSFERATU"--  Adapted from the book "Bram Stoker's Dracula."  We are introduced to Count Orlok, who drinks human blood.  Bela Lugosi's more-famous count with a cape comes in 1931.

1933--  "KING KONG"--  The original beauty tames the savage beast.

The Big Guy Falls, the Fancy Guy Drinks.  --CootFrank