Captain Ward
Posted on Wednesday, November 28, 2007 @ 11:02 pm
Filed Under History, Michigan
One response
Eber Brock Ward was Michigan's most famous and most innovative Rich Man for much of the 19th century; his best comp
is certainly Henry Ford, who flourished about 75 years later. I don't think anyone's written a full-blown biography of Ward, but there are pieces of him all over my library.
Dear Old Macalester
Posted on Thursday, October 18, 2007 @ 9:31 pm
Filed Under History, Macalester College
No responses
Every campus has a narrative, and that narrative shapes the college culture. These stories may emphasize unimportant details; they ignore entire decades. Macalester's, like most, begins with a founder, has a key figure who shaped the college, skips lightly through the decades, mentions some key teachers and graduates, describes a major crisis, and looks brightly to the future. To the best of my ability, here's the Macalester story.
Railroad Fever
Posted on Wednesday, October 17, 2007 @ 7:45 pm
Filed Under History, Michigan, Railroads, Stories
One response
The entire nation had the Railroad Fever in 1869. Michigan was nursing two outbreaks: Promoters were raising money to build a more direct line (an "air line") between Detroit and Chicago which would roughly follow the route of the Chicago Road, and actual construction was occurring for a line connecting Jackson and Grand Rapids. Both remain interesting, for different reasons.
Engineer’s Day
Posted on Saturday, June 25, 2005 @ 9:08 am
Filed Under History, Lakers, Sault Ste Marie
No responses
In June of every year the Corps of Engineers holds an open house at the Soo Locks, and thousands of fans show up to explore the grounds, view the passing ships from an unusual perspective, and look over the exhibits. Yesterday was that day, and Joan and I were among the crowd. Here we see some of the visitors crossing the massive gate which holds back Lake Superior at the the downriver end of the 105 foot wide Poe Lock.
Gilmour’s Albums
Posted on Friday, July 30, 2004 @ 12:33 pm
Filed Under History, Musick
No responses
The Handel harp concerto was one of Gilmour's theme songs, at least in the sixties when I made a point of listening to his program. One of the neat things about Clyde's use of this theme was variation--always the same piece, but an array of recordings, each with strengths and weaknesses, all with something to appreciate. A good lesson.
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