About That Las Vegas Town-- Part 3: The Coming of the Las Vegas Strip

The characteristically American mix of grit, graft and speculation turned a dusty desert road into the entertainment capital of the world, a 4.2-mile stretch that would eventually become known as the Las Vegas Strip.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the Strip attracted shady characters right from the start.  In 1939, a cop named Guy McAfee arrived in Vegas after fleeing Los Angeles under accusations of corruption.  He quickly put down roots, buying and developing the Pair O' Dice Club and several others.  Inspired by his Los Angeles' Sunset Strip, he also bestowed the name upon Vegas' main drag.

Soon after, in 1941, California businessman Thomas Hull founded the area's first luxury resort, El Rancho Vegas, with blossoming gardens and a capacious swimming pool.  

The new adult playground caught the attention of the New York mob, who saw opportunities in both legal gambling and in less-legal money skimming.  In 1945, the infamous gangster Bugsy Siegel bullied his way into the development of the luxury Flamingo resort, creating a template for the super-casinos to come.  Until then, Vegas casinos typically sported Wild West themes, but Siegel ushered in an era of unbridled opulence.

--Cooter

13 Facts About the 13 Colonies-- Part 2

Again, go to the site for more information.

7.  New Hampshire offered parcels of land in exchange  for one ear of corn each year.  (Sounds like a deal to me.)

8.  Georgia was founded as a new haven for debtors and impoverished people.

9.  New York became  the first target of British trade restrictions -- for exporting fur hats.

10.  South Carolina benefited from the demand for blue dye.

11.  North Carolina was sold back to the British Crown.

12.  Rhode Island played a big role in the slave trade.  (By 1775, slaves made up 11.5% of its population.)

13.  Delaware really wasn't  formed until 1776.

--CootCol

About William A. Snow (Snow's Cut)-- Part 2: Service in World War I

William Arthur Snow was born in Fort Hamilton, New York, to Major General and Mrs. William J. Snow.  He graduated from West Point in 1916 and was assigned to the Corps of Engineers as a second lieutenant.

His first service was in Mexico from graduation to the spring of 1917.  In late September, 1917, he sailed to France with the 2nd Division.  There, he immediately started training his company in construction work and preparing for the ineviatble battle that was coming in World War I.

Snow was at the front in the Verdun Sector, Chateau Thierry, Belleau Woods and Soissons and was wounded twice and later served with the Army of Occupation in Germany.

By now he was a major and was awarded the Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster, Distinguished Silver Cross, Chevalier Legion d'Honneur, Croix de Guerre with Two Palms and the Silber Star Citation for his service during the war. 

--Cooter

The Death of Nancy M. Kubalanza May 19, 2022-- Part 1: Long-Time President of Fox Lake-Grant Township Area

I have been a member of the Fox Lake-Grant Township Area Historical Society for quite a few years now and during that whole time Nancy has been our president.  It sure is going to be strange to not see her at the head table running the meetings.  She passed away suddenly last month.

From the Kristan Funeral Home, Mundelein, Illinois.

NANCY M. KUBALANZA

October 29, 1941 -- May 19, 2022

She was born in Watertown New York and grew up there, graduating from high school in 1959 after being a student leader and active student.  In 1960, she met Walter Kubalanza, married the next year and celebrated their 60th anniversary last year.  They have three children and three grandchildren.

She was a fiercely dedicated mom and grandma, or "Ommie" as the kids called her.  Family came before anything else.  She nurtured, guided and supported her family her whole life.  (She also did not shy away from giving her opinion.  Often!)

Nancy and Walt moved to Fox Lake, Illinois when their children were young and she immediately became involved with her new community.

Seneca Falls, New York and 'It's a Wonderful Life'

From Wikipedia.

Seneca Falls is reportedly the inspiration for the fictional city of Bedford Falls in the movie "It's a Wonderful Life."

The census of 2010 put the population at 9,040.

The town is on the northern part of the Finger Lakes District.

At the conclusion of the American Revolution, this area was part of the Central New York Military Tract of some 2 million acres of land set aside to  compensate New York soldiers for serving in the war.  The land would be given to the soldiers in lots of 600 acres in size.  This caused a lot of growth in the area's population.

In 1818, a canal was completed connecting  Seneca Lake and Cayuga Lake an d these were later connected to the Erie Canal in 1828.

The Seneca Falls Convention was held there July 19-20, 1848, and was the first women's rights convention organized by women explicitly to discuss the subject.  Elizabeth Cady Stanton was involved with this.

--Cooter

Major Paul A. Avolese-- Part 1

From Find A  Grave.

PAUL ANDREW AVOLESE

BIRTH:  12 June 1932 in Jamaica, New York

DEATH:  7 July 1967 (aged 35) Vietnam War

BURIAL: Springfield Memorial Gardens  Springfield, Oregon

A Vietnam veteran, finally laid to rest after being MIA for over fifty years.

U.S. Air Force Major Paul A. Avolese was killed during the Vietnam War during a maneuver over the South China Sea on July 7, 1967.

The B-52 bomber that he crewed  collided with another B-52 causing both aircraft to fall into the sea.  Four of the crew members from his aircraft were rescued, but Avolese was never recovered.  He was declared dead  on July 24, 1967.

Black History: Harold Baron 'Hal' Jackson, Disc Jockey and Radio Personality

HAROLD BARON "HAL" JACKSON (1915-2012)

American disc jockey and radio personality who broke a number of color barriers in radio broadcasting.

He began his radio career as the first black radio sports announcing, broadcasting Howard University home baseball games and local Negro League baseball games.

In 1939, he became the first black host at WINX Washington with the bronze Review, a nightly interview program.  He moved to New York in 1954 and became the first radio personality to broadcast three daily radio shows on three different New York stations.

Four million listeners tuned in nightly to hear Jackson's mix of music and conversations with jazz artists and celebrities.

December 25, 1776: Washington Crosses the Delaware-- Part 1: To Catch the Hessians By Surprise

From the December 25, 2020, AeroTech News "Remembering Christmases past, major military events."

Throughout the history of our country, several notable military events have taken place on this date.

1776:  WASHINGTON'S FAMOUS CROSSING OF THE DELAWARE RIVER

The winter of 1776 didn't start very well for General Washington and his Continental Army.  They suffered many defeats in the first few months of the American Revolution and had been pushed out of New York and New Jersey and now were in Pennsylvania.  For the troops, the morale was low.

Washington desperately needed to renew their faith in the battle for independence, so he decided to surprise the Hessians --  German troops hired by the British -- who were stationed in Trenton, New Jersey.  He figured that doing so after the enemy's Christmas celebrations that would find them groggy, hungover and not ready to fight.

Also, there was one of those winter storms brewing as well as armies generally going into winter quarters and not fighting until spring.

--Cooter

The Belangiga Bells-- Part 3: Taken As War Souvenirs

After the massacre, the town was recaptured on September 29, 1901, by Co. G, 9th Infantry.  They departed town the same day and were replaced by Companies K and L of the 11th Infantry.  When the 11th left the town, they took the bells from the destroyed church and a cannon from the plaza in front of it.

The reason for taking them was that one of them had been used to signal the attack that became the massacre.  The smaller bell was the one that started the massacre and  before the 9th shipped off for home, the 11th Infantry gave it to the 9th and it was taken to the Madison Barracks at Sackets Harbor, New York where a brick pedestal was built to display it.

In 1918, it was moved to Fort Lewis in Tacoma, Washington, and later ended up in South Korea at an army base.

The 11th Infantry had the two larger bells and took them with them when they redeployed to Fort D.A. Russell in Cheyenne, Wyoming.  In 1905, the two bells and cannon were displayed by the fort's flag pole with a sign about their significance.

In 1927, Fort Russell was renamed Fort Francis E. Warren which later became Francis E. Warren Air Force Base.

Next, Recovery Attempts.  --Cooter

The Fog of the Revolution Saves Washington and His Army

From the March 20, 2019, Washington Post  "Weird weather saved America three times" by Gillian Brockell.

General George Washington and the Continental Army lost badly to the British in the Battle of Long Island.  They were outnumbered two to one.  One fifth of his force were either killed, wounded or captured.  And, on the evening of August 29, 1776, they were pinned down in Brooklyn between the British Army and the East River.

Rain had hurt Washington in earlier endeavors, but this time he got a solid in the form of liquid and gas.  First, rain slowed the British advance and gave Washington time to plan an escape.  As the sun went down, Washington gathered every boat he could and began, very quietly,  evacuating his army.

Oars were muted and campfires remained lit to fool the British.  But the sun came up and the British saw. Americans were still on the shore and in peril when a tremendous fog rolled in.  One soldier reported that you couldn't see  more than 20 feet away.

That was all Washington needed as he boarded the last boat to leave the shore.  he and his army would be able to fight another day.

----CootFog

Camp Wadsworth-- Part 2: Named After a Union General and Built In A Hurry

Continued from October 29, 2018.

It was decided that a division of the New York National Guard would train there.

Camp Wadsworth was named for Union Brigadier General James S. Wadsworth, a prominent man from New York and who had been killed in 1864 at the Battle of the Wilderness.  His son, James S. Wadswoth, Jr. was also in the Union Army during that war.  His grandson, James Wolcott Wadsworth Jr, was a U.S. Senator from New York during World War I.

There was a two-month deadline to build the camp.  Starting in mid-July 1917, thousands of civilian workers cleared trees, laid pipes, built roads and temporary structures.

National Guard troops from New York began arriving in August.  Eventually, all units of the New York National Guard's 6th Division were there and were federalized as the U.S. Army's 27th Division.

They departed for France in May 1918.

--Cooter

Nine Things You Didn't Know About the Fourth of July-- Part 1: July 2

From the July 4, 2018 USA Today "9 things you didn't know about the Fourth of July" Caroline Simon.

1.  Congress did not actually vote for independence on July 4.  Twelve of the 13 states/colonies approved an independence resolution on July 2.  New York did not do so until July 9.

Many of the delegates did not sign it until as late as August 2.  John Adams insisted the annual celebration should be July 2 and refused to attend anything on July 4.

2.  July 4th was not an official holiday until almost a century later.  It was not so designated until 1870 and it wasn't until 1941 that it became a paid holiday for federal employees.

Stuff You Didn't Know.  --Coot4

10 Forgotten Americans-- Part 1: Slavery in New York and Massachusetts

From the March 26, 2015, ListVerse  "10 Forgotten Americans Who Made American History" by Ardelia Lee.

Remember.  More information and pictures at the site.

10.  ELIZABETH JENNINGS GRAHAM--  A black woman in New York City, who in 1854 got on a horse-drawn carriage designated for white people.

9.  JAMES ARMISTEAD LAFAYETTE--  A Virginia slave who was an American spy during the Revolutionary War.

8.  ELIZABETH FREEMAN--  Born a slave in New York.  Brought a case against her owners when they moved to Massachusetts.  Set precedent for the abolition of slavery in Massachusetts.

That's Right.  There Was Slavery in New York and Massachusetts At One  Time.  --Cooter

200 Years Ago, the Erie Canal-- Part 6: Locks and Wurlitzer

**  The Rochester Museum and Science Center has a hands-on model of a lock, while the town of Lockport is where seven locks initially raised and lower canal boats 167 feet, the same distance as the natural plunge at the nearby Niagara Falls.

Today, there are just two locks at Lockport.

You can take a narrated boat trip here with Lockport Locks & Erie Canal Cruises.

**  North Tonawanda, the canal's western terminus since the 1917-1918 enlargement of the waterway, is where the canal feeds into the Niagara River.  A beautifully developed canalside docking area is located in the spruced-up downtown, once home to factories for Wurlitzer organs and Herschell carousels.

--CootCanal

200 Years Ago, the Erie Canal-- Part 5: A "Wizard of Oz" Connection

**  The City of Little Falls had the foresight to keep its old canal warehouses intact.  Today they house boutiques in what's called Canal Place.

**  At tiny Chittenango, once a hub of canal-boat building and repair, the Chittenango Landing Canal Boat Museum features a replica canal boat.  "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" author Frank Baum was born in Chittenango in 1856 and the village has various Oz-inspired touches, including the Yellow Brick Road Casino.

**  In downtown Syracuse, where the original canal flowed, you can see dozens of artifacts and look around a canal boat replica at the Erie Canal Museum in the old Weighlock Building, where tolls were assessed by poundage.

I wonder if there are any original canal boats remaining?

--CootBoat

One Man's Travels on the Erie Canal in 1836-- Part 1: A Journal

From the July 23, 2017, Chicago Tribune by Stephanie Reynolds.

As we mark the 200th anniversary of the beginning of construction on the famous Erie Canal, connecting the Hudson River with the Great Lakes, a huge step in American transportation and quite an undertaking without the equipment we have today, here is a look back.

It was 1836, the same year as the Battle of the Alamo in Texas, David Sprague Crandall left his hometown in Lockport, N.Y., to travel on the Erie Canal and the Ohio and Mississippi rivers all the way to Galveston, , Texas.

He took paddle-wheel steamers  and slow-poke line boats pulled by mules on a tow path.  Along the way, he encountered an alligator, a horse race that pitted Tennessee against Kentucky and President Andrew Jackson.

Fortunately for us, he kept a journal of his trip for his 9-year-old grandson, George Lee Thurston II.

Crandall was a journalist and eventually became the owner of the Lockport Courier.  But, on August 8, 1836, he boarded a "shovel-nosed line boat" that was propelled by two mules and a ragged boy."  He was in poor health and going west to seek a change of climate.

he was heading west to Buffalo, NY, at the western end of the canal, at a speed somewhat slower than a person walking.

But, at least he wasn't doing the walking.

--DaCoot

Those "Wild West Shows"-- Part 3: Wild Jim French's Wild West Show

During the peak of the Wild West Shows, other people had similar presentations, like the one by Wild Jim French, who had an Antioch, Illinois, connection.

He was born in August 1851 in Saugerfield, Oneida County, New York and had nine siblings.  Like other eastern families, the French family moved west, with the hopes of starting a better life.  There was a lot of land available in northern Illinois and the family settled in the area now known as Antioch.

Jim French grew up in Antioch, but eventually sought his fortune elsewhere and found it in Texas.  He adopted the name Wild Bill French and was an avid horseman and skilled shot.  With the popularity of the Wild West Shows, he established his own show.

--DaCootShot

Battle of Oriskany

From Wikipedia.

Fought August 6, 1777.  Part of the Saratoga Campaign

The American force consisted of about 800 Tryon County militia.  They were ambushed about six miles east of Fort Stanwix, which they were heading for to relieve it from the siege.  It  took place near present-day Oriskany, New York.

The Americans suffered about 450 casualties and their commander, Nicholas Herkimer was mortally wounded.  The Loyalists and Indians lost about 150.

American casualties: 385 killed, 50 wounded and 30 captured.

--Cooter

Fort Stanwix-- Part 4: The Battle of Oriskany

The Battle of Oriskany was fought a few niles away from Fort Stanwix.  An American relief column under General Nicholas Herkimer was ambushed en route by Tories and their Indian allies.

While this was underway, the fort's defenders sallied out and attacked the enemy camp and began looting and destroying it.

--Brock-Perry

Fort Stanwix-- Part 3: Important Indian Treaty and First U.S. Flag?

In 1768, Fort Stanwix was the site of an important treaty between the British and Iroquois Indians.  This treaty promised to preserve areas west of the Appalachians as an Indian reservation and prohibited colonial settlement there.  See how well that worked out.

Local folklore has it that the new U.S. flag was raised over the fort for the first time in battle anywhere on August 3, 1777,   But, more likely it was the Grand Union Flag.

--Brock-Perry