Westminster Hall & Burial Grounds, Baltimore Maryland

A Gothic style church built over a old cemetery. Because of the building over the cemetery there are catacombs. What? Tour a cemetery? This is a very historic graveyard with a large list of who's who in Baltimore history. James McHenry signer of The Declaration is buried here. Many Veterans of The War of 1812, as well as The Revolutionary War. But, the most famous probably is Edgar Allen Poe. Poe, famous for "The Raven", and "Tell-Tale Heart", along with his family take center stage.

At the age of 40, Poe died of mysterious causes. The year 1849. That's not the end of mysteries though with regard to Mr. Poe. Every year on his birthday, Jan 19th a mysterious visitors comes to his grave and leaves 3 roses and a half bottle of Cognac. No one knows who the mysterious visitor is. The 3 roses are said to be left for Poe, his wife, and his mother-in-law.

There are tours both of the graveyard and the catacombs; however when we were there everything was closed for restoration. I was sooooooooo disappointed. Halloween is a special time there, so if you're in the area and your brave enough to go....Be Ware!

Westminster Hall & Burial Grounds
509 W. Fayette Street
the corner of Greene and Fayette.

Happy Halloween

Chillicothe, Ohio

Chill uh kaw thee....say it with me. Many people don't know how to pronounce it. I love visiting Chillicothe, it's old and I like old things and places..

I traveled to Chillicothe the other day with my Dad to tend to some business still related to my Mother's death. We took care of some cemetery arrangements.

While there we again visited The historic and haunted Cross Key's Tavern(did you miss reading it when I posted, check it out now then) for lunch. Across the street from the tavern is the courthouse. It's a beautiful building, as old small town courthouses tend to be. With a neat clock in the tower seen for a good distance away.
Chillicothe was named from Shawnee, Chalahgawtha meaning principal town. The town was plotted by Nathaniel Massie. It was the first and third capital of the state. It's the county seat, and is the largest city in the Ross County.
In ancient times, the Hopewell Indians inhabited the land. More recently, it was home to The Shawnee tribe. Chillicothe was the state's capital as it came into the union; from 1803-1810. For a brief year, the capital was moved to Zanesville; but in 1812 returned to Chillicothe. In 1816 the capital was moved to a more central location; Columbus.

Chillicothe has a very rich and interesting history. A large and active underground Railroad area with many strong abolitionist in the area. It was home to a large Free Black Population as well. Famous people like Lucy Ware Webb, wife of President Hayes was born there. Camp Sherman with a huge history of it's own was in Chillicothe. Early pictures of Chillicothe show how important it was during the canal days. Then there's the haunted history of the famous Majestic Theatre, the hiking, fishing, the infamous fire.......but wait; those stories are for another time.

I encourage you all to take a day trip, travel to Chillicothe and enjoy yourselves. Tell em, Sandy sent ya.

Antietam National Park, Maryland

There is much to see and do while exploring and learning at Antietam National Park in Maryland. You can tour by car, by walking, on your own or in groups. $4.00 per person, $6.00 per family, $20.00 annual pass is a small fee to pay for those that gave so much. Can you see and learn it all in day, NO! Is it worth going multiple times? YES!

The actual address of the park is Sharpesburg, MD; just 10 miles from Hagerstown and 70 miles from Washington D.C. Think how nervous we would be today if a battle took place just 70 miles from our Nations Capital.

 

 This is farm country, rolling hills green fertile farm land.  This picture gives you a feel for what it must have been like to have a battle going on in your back yard, in your cornfield.  And the importance of the lay of the land, maintaining control over the high ground.  Hold the high ground at all costs.

These are trenches.  Picture yourself over the wall on the right picking off men easily as they attempt to move up the hill through the only available opening.  This path holds no protection from enemy fire or means of escape.

This is one of less than 10 individual memorials in the park.  This memorial is that of President William McKinley.  Not a name you might associate with The Civil War.  He was but 18 years old when war broke out.  He quit his job as postal clerk in Poland, Ohio and enlisted as a Private in Co. E. of the 23rd Ohio Volunteer Infantry.  Before the close of his first year in the military, he was promoted to Commissary Sgt.  It was in this post he made a name for himself that fateful day in Antietam.  His fellow Ohioans had been under fire for quite some time, and he knew his fellow Buckeye's were in need of nourishment.  Against all odds and under fire he proceeded to personally deliver hot food and drink to the men.  His first team of oxen were killed, but he continued on.  His bravery and service to these men didn't go unnoticed.  He was then promoted to 2nd Lt.; and by the close of the war had been promoted to Major.  Thirty years after the bloodiest one day battle in American history, (23,000 soldiers were killed, wounded, and or missing after 12 hours of battle); he became our President.  He served his country as a 14 year member of Congress, twice elected as Governor of the State of Ohio, and twice elected as our President.  He was assassinated in Buffalo, New York by anarchist Leon Czolosz at the Pan-Am Exposition.  This memorial is beautiful.  Look at the details.  I took several closer shots.

The two faces are of Pvt. and President McKinley.  William McKinley was born Jan. 29, 1848 and died on Sept. 14, 1901.  He was not the only famous Ohioan who served in the 23rd O.V.I, President James A. Garfield did as well.  Sadly, President Garfield was also assassinated in office.  This though is another story; there are many that can be told from a visit to Antietam National Park in Maryland.  I highly recommend this tour for people of all ages.  Children will love to run through the fields, even if they're too young to understand what happened here.  It's beautiful with many opportunities for photo's.  The cannons and the memorials are in abundance.  Some for The Confederacy, some for The Union; some state specific, some for specific companies; and a few for individuals such as President William McKinley.

Traveling with Flat Stanley in Illinois and Indiana

click picture to enlarge and see detail

Do you know Flat Stanley?  Has your child or grandchild done a Flat Stanley project at school?  It's fun, it's educational.  A co-worker's nephew is doing a Flat Stanley project and so we're doing what we can to add to his project.  I took my Flat Stanley tailgating last wkend; but due to the old camera only working some of the time.  The pictures I thought I had....weren't there.  Errrrrrrrrr, I so need a new camera.  My regular camera broke while on vacation a couple of weeks ago, thus I've been trying to use the old one.  Very frustrating.  So, while Flat Stanley was appropriately colored to be Buckeye for tailgating, those pictures are non existent.

He also traveled with hubby and I last wkend to St. Louis with a car load of stuff for our daughter.  On the way back we made a couple of stops and Flat Stanley got his picture taken in Indiana, and in Illinois.  These 2 pictures with The Bison and TeePee were taken in Illinois on US Route 70 exit 76.  This is a fun stop for all.  The kids will love the TeePee and The Bison, parents will love the very unique gift shop; and furry friends have some room to roam and stretch their legs.  It's not the first time we've stopped here; nor will it be the last.

Here's Stanley in Indiana, again on US Route 70.  He got his picture taken by a nice memorial to our men and women in service.  The Blue Star Highways were started as a way to honor our military after the close of World War II, by ladies garden clubs all across the country.

If you'd like to join in on the project it would be great.  You can color your own Flat Stanley and take him places, photograph it and email it to me.  Or...you could take my Flat Stanley, print it and go visiting.  It's a geography lesson primarily for this particular group of kids; but the kids learn so many other things as well.  I like to add some history info, they can find locations on the map etc.  It started out as a way to get kids to write letters, to journal; but there are many possibilities.  Let me know if you're interested.  Here's a link if you'd like to color your own Flat Stanley