5. THEATER: Teatro Olimpio in Vicenza, Italy. Opened in 1585
4. AMUSEMENT PARK: Bakken in Copenhagen, Denmark. Opened in 1583
3. MUSEUM: Musei Capitolini in Rome, Italy. Opened in 1471
2. UNIVERSITY: The University of al-Quarwiyy in Fez, Morocco. Opened in 859
1. HOTEL: Nishiyama Onsen Keiunkan in Japan. Opened in 705
--DaCoot
From March 31, 2022, ListVerse by Kerri Lee Gluch.
I am just listing them. For more information, go to the site.
10. AIRPORT: College Park Airport, Maryland. Opened 1909
9. MOVIE THEATER: State Theater in Washington, Iowa. Opened May 14, 1897.
8. SHOPPING MALL: Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II in Milan, Italy. Opened in 1877
7. ZOO: Tiergarten Schonbrunn on Vienna, Austria. Opened 1752
6. RESTAURANT: Restaurante Botin in Madrid, Spain. Opened 1725.
--Cooter
The official title of Ravenmaster is only fifty years old, though the role is far older, and Barney Chandler is the sixth holder of the post. He is charge of the health and welfare of the ravens, who usually roam freely by day and sleep in cages at night.
Duties include maintaining the birds' enclosures, arranging veterinary checkups and keeping them fed on their preferred diet of raw meat supplemented by the occasional treat of a hard-boiled egg or a hardtack soaked in blood.
"They're carrion birds," said Chandler. "They'll eat almost anything."
The birds' feathers are trimmed to keep them from flying away, although they occasionally escape. According to Historic Royal Palaces, the charity that oversees the tower, a bird named Grog flew off in 1981 and was last seen outside an East End pub.
Chandler, who served in Afghanistan and around the world during 24 years in the Royal Marines, has been on bird handling courses and had other formal training for his role.
--DaCootFlyingAway
The jet-black birds are a familiar feature at the Tower of London landmark, which has served as an arsenal, palace, prison, zoo and more recently a tourist attraction.
Built by King William I after hiss conquest of England in 1066, it served as a royal residence for several hundred years, but is more famous as a prison. Famous inmates have included Princess Elizabeth, the future Queen Elizabeth I; Guy Fawkes, who tried to blow up Parliament; and Adolph Hitler's deputy, Rudolph Hess.
Nowadays, almost 3 million tourists come each year to soak up history and see the glittering Crown Jewels which are kept there.
--Cooter
Michael "Barney" Chandler took over the post of Ravenmaster on March 1, 2024. As such, he leads a group called Yeoman Warders, which goes back to the 15th century. You may know them better as Beefeaters who dress in the very distinctive black and scarlet Tudor-style uniforms. If you've ever seen a bottle of Beefeaters Gin, that's them.
They perform a hybrid role at the Tower of London. They not only provide security, but also lead tours of the tower and perform ceremonial duties.
He leads a group of 4 former military men looking after the tower's seven ravens-- the six decreed by Charles II and a spare. In case you're wondering, their names are Jubilee, Harris, Poppy, Georgie, Edgar, Branwen and the latest addition, Rex, who was named in honor of King Charles III last year when he had his coronation.
--Cooter
From the March 5, 2024, Chicago Tribune "A job that's really for the birds" by Jill Lawless, AP.
If an ancient prophesy is correct, then Michael "Barney" Chandler has the most important job in England. The 56-year-old former Royal Marine is the new ravenmaster at the Tower of London. It is his new job to be responsible for looking after the feathered protectors of the 1,000-year-old fortress.
According to legend, if the ravens leave the 11th century fortress beside the River Thames, its White Tower will crumble and the Kingdom of England will fall.
In the 17th century, King Charles II was told of the prophesy and decreed that there must always be six ravens at the tower.
--DaCoot
One of the pictures that accompany this blog is of the bulldog dog in the cockpit of what appears to be a WW I plane. I attempted to find out some more information about it.
I came across a similar photo, this time in color, of the English bulldog in the cockpit of the WW I era airplane.
He is wearing an HMS Kestrel sailor hat.
At first I thought that meant the plane might have flown off the HMS Kestrel, but since it was a destroyer, it was way too small to have a plane. Plus, I did not read anything about it having a plane.
So, not sure about why the bulldog had the hat on in that plane.
Quite the Dog.
Neat Picture, Though. --Cooter
The Riviera was originally named the Northport and the building was dedicated on May 22, 1933. Ever since, it has been a landmark for the region's tourism, including its design as a launch site for tour boats on the lake. (Definitely something you want to try, especially the mail boat.)
Through the 1950s, the ballroom hosted renowned musicians including Tommy Dorsey, Glen Miller and Louis Armstrong. And then in a more modern era: Chubby Checker, Herman's Hermits and Stevie Wonder who performed on the ballroom's Top Deck in the 1970s.
The building was renovated and repurposed as a hub for civic events in 1983. Three years later it earned a spot on the state and national Register of Historic Places.
Restoration efforts were led by local architect Daniel Curran, who preserved the structure's architectural integrity and historical significance.
Today, the ballroom hosts weddings, corporate events and other social gatherings.
--DaCoot
From the March 2024, Northwest Quarterly.
THE RIVIERA
812 S. Wrigley Drive
Lake Geneva, Wisconsin
Architect James Roy Allen designed this Italian Renaissance Revival-Style reception hall during the Great Depression. The project was initiated by Lake Geneva city authorities and funded with public bonds to generate employment.
It juts out into the beautiful Geneva Lake tight downtown and is one wonderful sight to see.
The two-story brick building boasts corner towers, a hipped ceramic tile roof and symmetrical facades. Inside a central parquet dance floor is surrounded by a promenade containing towers housing restrooms and facilities. Outside, a landscaped grassy area and wooden piers extend out over Geneva Lake.
--DaCoot
Developers Chandler Anderson and Joseph Morrissey took over the property in the mid-2000s and spent $6 million transforming the Garrison School and its surrounding property into 14 upscale lofts and townhomes.
Though they transformed much of the surrounding land. the developers preserved much of the original schoolhouse and gym, integrating exposed brick, reclaimed wood flooring and steel beams into these private residences.
In case you're interested in buying one of the townhomes, there is one listed on Trulia with 3 bedrooms, two baths and 2,717 feet of area, It is listed at $256,900.
Studio GWA has many pictures of the lofts. They are beautiful.
Great to have adaptive uses instead of tearing down significant structures like this.
--Cooter
Garrison School doubled in size in 1892, and a gymnasium was added in 1920 for physical education, school assemblies, community programs and elections.
A one-story octagonal structure with a library at its center and six classrooms surrounding it, was added onto the north side of the building in 1969. (I am willing to bet it was part of the "open classroom" concept that was pushed so much back then. The classrooms only had walls between them and weren't separate. It was hard to conduct classes with the noise levels. Thus becoming another in a long series of ideas to "better" education.)
Garrison was one of nine buildings abandoned in 1989 when the school district had to close a $9 million budget deficit.
--DaCoot
From the Northwest Quarterly magazine 2024.
I am all for finding new uses for old buildings rather than tearing them down, especially when they are architecturally significant.
GARRISON SCHOOL LOFTS, 1105 North Court Street, Rockford, Illinois.
Near the end of the 19th century, Rockford was growing quickly as families moved in, so did their kids. There was great pressure on providing schools for them. Several new schools opened around this time, including Garrison School which just had four rooms when it opened in 1887.
It was named for Thomas Garrison, a real estate developer from New Jersey, who in 1853 settled in Rockford's Signal Hill neighborhood where the school is located.
Of interest, the school's first four principals were women. The first principal. Lizzi Shaw, ran the school until 1891.
--Cooter
I just found out about this this past week. I was wondering why I couldn't find them anymore at my local Meijer store or Woodman's. The reason being they are no longer published and this is a big loss to those of us with a penchant for history.
These magazines are no longer with us:
* Military History (one of my favorites)
World War II (another favorite)
Military History Quarterly
Civil War Times (my favorite of them. I've subscribed every since the 1970s)
American History
Wild West
Aviation History
Vietnam
America's Civil War (another favorite)
Sad Times. --Cooter
MARC TRESTMAN
Years: 2013-2014
Record: 13-19
***********************
JOHN FOX
Years: 2015-2017
Record: 14-34
***********************
MATT NAGY
Years: 2018-2021
Record: 34-31
***********************
MATT EBERFLUS
Years 2023-2023
Record: 10-24
Oh Well. --Cooter
DAVE WANNSTEDT
Years: 1993-1998
Record: 40-56
***************************
DICK JAURON
Years: 1999-2003
Record: 35-45
***************************
LOVIE SMITH
Years: 2004-2012
Record: 81-63
--DaBear
MIKE DITKA
Head Coach 1982-1992
Record: 106-62
WHAT MANAGEMENT SAID: "I like his ability to handle himself and handle other people. And, I know he'll do a good job getting people to play according to his desires." --George Halas
WHAT DA COACH SAID: "I believe that everyone has a destiny in life, and mine is with the Chicago Bears. I'm going to give Chicago a winning football team, an interesting football team and a football team that everybody is going to be proud of.
Man, did he ever do just that. True words.
Da Coach. Let's Bring Him Back. --RoadBear
NEILL ARMSTRONG
Years Head Coach: 1978-1981
Record: 30-34
Hired by Jim Finks, who had this to say: I'm not saying you have to be an assistant in the National Football League to be a successful head coach. But who in the hell ever heard of Chuck Knox when he was an assistant at Detroit? Who ever heard of George Allen when he was with the Bears, except the people in Chicago.
Regardless, you could see the Bears improving.
AND, you probably know who the NEXT coach was.
DaCoach-- DaCoot
I will be finishing my list of Chicago Bears head coaches, but yesterday marked an important date in an era I lived through and never thought would end (or has it?). The Cold War.
MARCH 5, 1946
Winston Churchill delivered his famous "Iron Curtain" Speech at Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri.
Liz and I accidentally found Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri, back on one of our trips. I came across a very informative article on this speech and a historic London church that has been rebuilt in Fulton and will write about it after Da Bears coaches.
--Cold War Coot
JOHN "PADDY" DRISCOLL
1956-1957
Record 14-9-1
************************
JIM DOOLEY
1968-1971
20-36
************************
ABE GIBRON
1972-1974
11-30-1
************************
JACK PARDEE
1975-1977
20-22
DaBears. --DaCoot
From the January 30, 2022 Chicago Tribune "By way of introduction..." by Kori Rumore.
The new head coach of DaBears is Matt Eberflus. He is the 17th head coach.
Of course, the longest tenured head coach was Papa Bear, George Halas.
GEORGE HALAS
1920-1929; 1933-1942; 1946-'55; 1958-'67.
RECORD: 318-148-31
*****************************
RALPH JONES
1930-'32
record: 24-10-7
*****************************
HEARTLY 'HUNK'ANDERSON/LUKE JOHNSOS (co-coaches)
1942-'45
RECORD: 14-9-1
George Halas was away in WW II.
--CootBear
BILLY PAUL (1934-2016)-- Born Paul Williams. Singer of "Me and Mrs. Jones."
TEDDY PENDERGRASS (1950-2010)-- R&B / Soul singer
JOSEPH NEWTON PEW (1848-1912)-- Founder of Sun Oil Co., now Sunoco.
ARTHUR HOYT SCOTT (1875-1925)-- Inventor of the paper towel.
We Got a Good Thing Going On. --DaCoot
CYRUS CURTIS (1850-1933)-- Founder of Curtis Publishing Company, publisher of Ladies Home Journal and the Saturday Evening Post.
JOHN THOMAS DORRANCE (1873-1930)-- Discovered method to make condensed soup and president of Campbell Soup Company.
FRANK H. FLEER (1857-1921)-- Inventor of bubble gum and baseball card pioneer. That figures.
LEWIS M. HAUPT (1844-1937) Engineer noted for work with waterways. His father was Herman Haupt who was so important in the Union transportation, particularly with railroads, during the Civil War.
RUDOLPH HERING (1847-1923)-- Engineer who was very involved with the reversing of the Chicago River.
BRENDA J. PAYTON HILL (1945-1992)-- As Brenda Payton, she was lead singer of doo wop group Branda and the Tabulations.
--Cooter
From Wikipedia.
This is a continuation of my Road Trippin' Through History that I started in my Running the Blockade: Civil War Navy blog last week. I wrote about a Sgt. Richard Binder, USMC, who had received a Medal of Honor for service at the Second Battle of Fort Fisher in 1865.
When I Road Trip Through History, I start with a story and see where it takes me. One of the things I like to do is find out if there are any folks of interest buried where the person is interred. Sgt. Binder is buried at West Laurel Hill Cemetery. The cemetery is by Philadelphia, but actually in Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania and is affiliated with the larger Laurel Hill Cemetery in Philadelphia.
Earlier today, I, posted about four Union soldiers who received Medals of Honor during the Civil War in my Running the Blockade blog.
There are a number of early baseball players buried there, but I am not familiar with any of their names.
ALEXANDER MILNE CALDER ((1845-1923) Sculptor. Designed the George Meade statue in Philadelphia along with the Benjamin Franklin statue atop the Philadelphia City Hall.
WILLIAM E. CARTER (1875-1940) Millionaire and survivor of the Titanic.
More to Come. --Cooter
From the March 8, 2022, MidWeek "Looking Back. 100 Years Ago.
Annie's Woods is a park named after Annie Glidden in DeKalb, Illinois, by NIU.
"As a result of a shotgun raid conducted here yesterday by Sheriff W.H. Decker, Deputy William Berry, Chief of Police Frank Riddell and Officer Rowe, 24 gallons of moonshine was seized as it was being transferred from one automobile to another in Annie's Woods.
"Christ P. and Henry L. were arrested on charges of transporting liquor.
"Later in the day, a raid was conducted on the house of Hugh V. on Market Street. Here a still and several gallons of mash was confiscated and V. placed under arrest."
--Cooter
From the March 8, 2022, MidWeek "Looking Back." (DeKalb County, Illinois)
Here is a name for Northern Illinois University that I did not know. But, evidently in its earlier days it was called "Girls College."
Here's the article from March 1922:
"It will not be many days before the work of installing a chapter of the Y.M.C.A. at the Teacher' College will be completed. Dean of Men Robert G. Buzzard called a meeting of all men members of the student body and faculty at which time a brief outline of what is to be done was given.
"A forming of the Y.M.C.A. at the Teachers' college would be a fair indication that the college is growing away from the old name "Girls college." The last few years has seen a wonderful growth in the number of men students at the college."
And the gals were so happy.
No More "Suitcase College" Here. --Cooter
From the April 4, 2022, Stacker. From U.S. Census Bureau.
First number is Illinois and second number is national. That would make it 1872 so from the 1870 census.
1. Farmers and Planters
240, 256 // 2,977,711
2. Agricultural laborers'
133,649 // 2,885,996
3. Laborers (not specified)
63,130 // 1,031.666
4. Domestic servants
44,903 // 975,734
5. Carpenters and joiners
23,040 // 344,596
6. Employees of railroad companies (nor clerks)
14,946 // 154,027
7. Clerks in stores
13,980 // 222,504
--Cooter
From the July 24, 2022, SB Nation "Mr. White Sox is finally in the Hall of Fame" by Chrystal O'Keefe.
Congratulations to the Chicago White Sox player Minnie Minoso.
Wonder how many of last years Injured Reserve Sox will make it to the Hall?
Baseball's Been Very Good to Mr. Sox. --Cooter
