tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-871232777646255882024-03-13T15:48:18.987-07:00Tyler-The Boy Who's Always on the Move....Salem House Presshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07098478644213676380noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87123277764625588.post-55323112526941912022017-05-02T13:50:00.000-07:002017-05-02T13:50:41.771-07:00Cool Places in America~The Musical Road<div style="text-align: justify;">
Hello again. I know you probably think I have lived everywhere in America by now, but the truth is that there is still a good 14% I have not been in yet... Thanks to my contract working software engineer parents.</div>
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In Lancaster, California in 2008, the Honda Motor Co. approached civic officials and asked them to turn one of their roads into a marketing
campaign. They wanted to cut grooves into a
road that would would
play the William Tell Overture once driven over at 55 mph. They did and it drove the neighbors crazy with people coming from all over to hear it and hear it again. Then they moved it out by the airport in a remote section of town. Why did they not think about that in the first place...</div>
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I always like the William Tell Overture. I have to admit I heard it first on Bugs Bunny, and then the Lone Ranger. Not the original, but he 1980's Saturday afternoon cartoon and live action versions on YouTube. I still have not gotten to the original black and White. By the way Tonto means ignorant in Apache I think, and Kemosabe is more of a South American native word for 'doesn't know any better.' One of my favorite collections of short stories is by Sherman Alexie called <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Ranger-Tonto-Fistfight-Heaven-Anniversary/dp/0802121993"><i>Tonto and the Lone Ranger Fist Fight in Heaven.</i></a></div>
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One of my other favorite things is the musical stairs in Boston at the Science Museum. I love playing on that!</div>
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~Tyler<br />
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To find out more about Tyler visit <a href="http://www.salemhousepress.com/">Salem House Press</a> and buy Tyler's latest book "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Tyler-Gibsonton-Florida-Christopher-Dowgin/dp/0985392770">Tyler Moves to Gibsonton Florida</a>"
on Amazon.com. Keep checking back often for great cheap vacation ideas
that might end up surprising you and becoming the best vacation you ever
had!
Red proved to be always full of surprises...
</div>
Tylerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14488178235634330055noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87123277764625588.post-73341014014456653012017-01-08T14:45:00.001-08:002017-01-08T14:45:59.042-08:00Cool Places in America~Thor's WellAt the beginning of the summer my parents had a contract in Oregon where the Goonies were from. It was such a cool town. On the way to points unknown which their software engineer lives bring them; we found Thor's Well.<br />
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I kept looking inside looking for the Kraken...but I did not see him. Kraken, he is not Greek you silly fools. Good Norwegians like myself know this. I also expected Jack Sparrow to swim out of it. I started to walk out on the stones till my Dad called me back. Oh well.<br />
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Its just South of the Cape Perpetua Visitor Center in Cook's Chasm, Oregon. Park on the West side of Highway 101.<br />
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~Tyler<br />
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To find out more about Tyler visit <a href="http://www.salemhousepress.com/">Salem House Press</a> and buy Tyler's latest book "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Tyler-Gibsonton-Florida-Christopher-Dowgin/dp/0985392770">Tyler Moves to Gibsonton Florida</a>"
on Amazon.com. Keep checking back often for great cheap vacation ideas
that might end up surprising you and becoming the best vacation you ever
had!
Red proved to be always full of surprises...
<br />
<br />Salem House Presshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07098478644213676380noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87123277764625588.post-68402606281739089952017-01-08T14:37:00.000-08:002017-01-08T14:37:03.478-08:00Cool Places in America~Hamilton PoolHeading out of Austin this summer on the way back to the Pines to have my parents work for the Mad Scientist again. We stopped to cool off and take this swim in a cave right out of James Bond. I kept looking for tattoo...<br />
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Just 23 miles west of Austin, Texas, is a breathtaking emerald pool and cave. It was Awesome. I kept looking for the secret laser hidden under the water. Our host in Austin reserved our day there. We had an amazing time.<br />
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To get there it is 23 miles west of Austin, on Highway 71. Surrounded by the Hamilton
Nature Preserve. They require reservations from May 15 to September 30. So book early.<br />
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~Tyler<br />
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<br />
To find out more about Tyler visit <a href="http://www.salemhousepress.com/">Salem House Press</a> and buy Tyler's latest book "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Tyler-Gibsonton-Florida-Christopher-Dowgin/dp/0985392770">Tyler Moves to Gibsonton Florida</a>"
on Amazon.com. Keep checking back often for great cheap vacation ideas
that might end up surprising you and becoming the best vacation you ever
had!
Red proved to be always full of surprises...
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Salem House Presshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07098478644213676380noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87123277764625588.post-2046228567954289672017-01-08T14:28:00.000-08:002017-01-08T14:28:40.985-08:00Cool Places in America~ The Dream House and the Sound of MotionWe were just stopping in NYC (Tribeca) on our way back from the Mad Scientist of the Pines when we stopped to check this out. I got to dance to my own band...<br />
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Created in 1993 by modern composer La Monte Young and visual artist Marian Zazeela; they welcome you come in and become your own composer to the soundtrack of your life. You can be just as bad as Samuel Jackson walking down the street with his own theme playing. Or stand still like Clint Eastwood in the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly and have your own cool song play.<br />
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Then just give up and dance from corner to corner and the light changes to the same frequency of your movements. Whirl like a Dervish and make some paisley...<br />
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Young and Zazeela, the creators, invite you to dive into their dream world, Wednesday through Saturday from 2PM-Midnight. Check them out and prepare to dance...<br />
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~Tyler<br />
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To find out more about Tyler visit <a href="http://www.salemhousepress.com/">Salem House Press</a> and buy Tyler's latest book "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Tyler-Gibsonton-Florida-Christopher-Dowgin/dp/0985392770">Tyler Moves to Gibsonton Florida</a>"
on Amazon.com. Keep checking back often for great cheap vacation ideas
that might end up surprising you and becoming the best vacation you ever
had!
Red proved to be always full of surprises...
Salem House Presshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07098478644213676380noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87123277764625588.post-69789011720571777642017-01-08T14:16:00.000-08:002017-01-08T14:16:07.466-08:00Cool Places in America~The Wave OrganOver this summer, my parents have moved us to San Francisco. They thought they were getting a good salary, till they calculated the cost of living in the city... but while I was there I got to listen to this amazing organ played by Njord.<br />
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The Wave Organ includes more than 20 pipes that extend down into the
water of the Bay. It is comprised of PVC and concrete pipes at various
elevations and the sound is created by waves crashing against these pipes creating low, subtle tones.<br />
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It is described to have a liquid
music: low, gurgling notes that ebb and flow with the restless movement
of the ocean and the changing of the tides. What makes the music? It is similar to the phenomena of the sound
heard in a conch shell — a specific volume of air resonating at a
specific frequency. In the Wave Organ,
the columns of air within the pipes constantly change as the water moves
in and out. As the length and volume of the air column in each pipe
changes, the pitch of the sound it produces also varies — the larger the
volume of air, the lower the sound — the smaller the volume of air, the
higher the sound.<br />
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The view is of
San Francisco’s Marina District, of downtown San Francisco’s skyline,
the East Bay hills, Sausalito, Mt. Tamalpais, the Presidio, the Golden
Gate Bridge, and the Marin Headlands. Its an amazing place to chill and take in the environment.<br />
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~Tyler<br />
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<br />
To find out more about Tyler visit <a href="http://www.salemhousepress.com/">Salem House Press</a> and buy Tyler's latest book "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Tyler-Gibsonton-Florida-Christopher-Dowgin/dp/0985392770">Tyler Moves to Gibsonton Florida</a>"
on Amazon.com. Keep checking back often for great cheap vacation ideas
that might end up surprising you and becoming the best vacation you ever
had!
Red proved to be always full of surprises...
Salem House Presshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07098478644213676380noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87123277764625588.post-84435917961043925602016-08-01T19:04:00.000-07:002017-01-08T14:02:07.499-08:00Cool Places in America~The Only State Highway in the Country that Bans Cars!<b> </b>Yep, my parents moved me again.. This month we are on Lake Huron. On one of its island we found this peculiar road. It is the only state highway in the country that bans cars.<br />
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<b>M-185</b> is a <a class="mw-redirect" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michigan_Highway_System" title="Michigan Highway System">state trunkline highway</a> in the U.S. state of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michigan" title="Michigan">Michigan</a> that circles <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mackinac_Island" title="Mackinac Island">Mackinac Island</a>, a popular tourist destination on the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Huron" title="Lake Huron">Lake Huron</a> side of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Straits_of_Mackinac" title="Straits of Mackinac">Straits of Mackinac</a>, along the island's shoreline.<br />
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The first city ordinances banning all motorized vehicles from the island
were passed on July 6, 1898, with similar state park rules coming in
1901.<sup> </sup>The residents complained after a doctor's car scared their horses and
caused carriage accidents, and these complaints prompted the ban. They even have a horse drawn carriage ride the road to pick up all of the liter. I want to know who picks up after the horses?<br />
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One of the main attractions on the road is the Devil' Kitchen. Local stories allege that the <a class="mw-redirect" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Native_Americans_of_the_United_States" title="Native Americans of the United States">Native Americans</a> of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Straits_of_Mackinac" title="Straits of Mackinac">Straits of Mackinac</a> considered the cave to be a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Numinous" title="Numinous">numinous</a> location inhabited by bad spirits. Allegedly, the spirits were <a class="mw-redirect" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannibal" title="Cannibal">cannibals</a> who would capture and eat victims who ventured too close to the ill-omened location. The cave is blackened with <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soot" title="Soot">soot</a> to this day, allegedly from the evil spirits' cooking fires; hence the name, 'Devil's Kitchen.' Me and my parents snuck in at night and roasted marshmallows over a camp fire and made some smores. The governor was vacationing here at his mansion at the time and he even joined us. I will never know why he insisted on burning his marshmallows before he made his smores...<br />
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~Tyler<br />
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To find out more about Tyler visit <a href="http://www.salemhousepress.com/">Salem House Press</a> and buy Tyler's latest book "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Tyler-Gibsonton-Florida-Christopher-Dowgin/dp/0985392770">Tyler Moves to Gibsonton Florida</a>"
on Amazon.com. Keep checking back often for great cheap vacation ideas
that might end up surprising you and becoming the best vacation you ever
had!
Red proved to be always full of surprises...Salem House Presshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07098478644213676380noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87123277764625588.post-63869809305822915322016-08-01T18:26:00.000-07:002017-01-08T14:02:22.353-08:00Cool Places in America~Badlands Guardian Eh!This was our first trip north to the land of the friendly. The people were great there outside Alberta. My father once said that the role of the Canadians is to keep the us American's safe. He believes no one would nuke us because they would be afraid to hurt the Canadians. So on Wikipedia I was looking for the strange and wonderful in the area when I found this cool rock formation.<br />
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The Badlands Guardian which is also known as Indian Head is considered
to be a geomorphological feature which is situated near Medicine Hat,
south east of Alberta, Canada. It is a rock formation when viewed from the air looks like a Native
American wearing a headdress.<br />
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Supergranny, Lynn Hickox, found it in 2006 while <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/50%C2%B000%2738.2%22N+110%C2%B006%2748.3%22W/@50.0103656,-110.1217926,1865m/data=%213m1%211e3%214m2%213m1%211s0x0:0x0?hl=en" rel="nofollow"> surfing Google Earth</a>. She found it while navigating for
directions to a dinosaur museum.<br />
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It even seems to be wearing earphones where a road and an oil well were recently installed. It
is larger than Mount Rushmore. The
image can be traced on 50° 0’38.20”N 110° 6’48.32”W with the use of
Google Earth. We typed in the coordinates and I took a helicopter ride with my parents and their boss for that month, Red from Fargo. Red, surprised us though when he jumped out of the helicopter with his phone in his hand. He snapped pictures every 10 seconds to create a study on scale. Red proved throughout the years to be full of surprises...<br />
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~Tyler<br />
<br />
<br />
To find out more about Tyler visit <a href="http://www.salemhousepress.com/">Salem House Press</a> and buy Tyler's latest book "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Tyler-Gibsonton-Florida-Christopher-Dowgin/dp/0985392770">Tyler Moves to Gibsonton Florida</a>"
on Amazon.com. Keep checking back often for great cheap vacation ideas
that might end up surprising you and becoming the best vacation you ever
had!
Red proved to be always full of surprises...<br />
<br />
<br />Salem House Presshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07098478644213676380noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87123277764625588.post-63175166730531701432016-08-01T15:38:00.000-07:002017-01-08T13:59:43.469-08:00Cool Places in America~#1 Haunted Toys R Us<br />
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Once my parents moved me to Sunnydale California to work on a warehouse program for Toys R Us. Well of course I went to work with them several times. In fact I went there so much I was on first name basis with the ghost in the aisles.<br />
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The story starts decades earlier when much
of the area was farmlands, including the area where the store itself
was built. On this location the Murphy's had an orchard. One of the farm hands, Johny Johnson, fell in love with the orchard's owner's
daughter in vain. To get his mind off his sorrow, he
took to chopping wood. While he was doing this he hit himself in the leg and bled to death.</div>
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He now roams the aisles of the
Toys 'R Us and plays with the toys. He likes bouncing balls down the aisle looking for someone to play with him. I picked up the ball once and threw it back. That is how I met him. After that we used to play air hockey all of the time, sometimes he would cheat though...</div>
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He is a practical joker also, he likes running the faucet when customers walk into the bathroom. </div>
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~Tyler<br />
<br />
<br />
To find out more about Tyler visit <a href="http://www.salemhousepress.com/">Salem House Press</a> and buy Tyler's latest book "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Tyler-Gibsonton-Florida-Christopher-Dowgin/dp/0985392770">Tyler Moves to Gibsonton Florida</a>"
on Amazon.com. Keep checking back often for great cheap vacation ideas
that might end up surprising you and becoming the best vacation you ever
had!
</div>
Salem House Presshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07098478644213676380noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87123277764625588.post-5804610386663888252016-06-29T22:50:00.000-07:002017-01-08T13:55:08.429-08:00Cool Places in America~Jerimoth Hill and an Angry Old ManWell they moved me again. This time they got a contract with Brown University to email students when they were late returning books to the library. Good thing was there was someone else on campus who irritated students even more than the software they were paid to write.<br />
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<br />
You know from my previous posts how much I love the stars and places that can afford gorgeous views of them. So I was excited to hear about Jerimoth Hill and its observatory. But...<br />
<br />
For many years, hikers could not access the hill because the only path
to the summit crossed the driveway of a private property owner, Henry
Richardson, who prohibited entry the state's highest point. Richardson posted "no trespassing"
signs and installed a security system that alerted him whenever people
entered his property. Richardson's belligerence toward hikers made him
something of a legend in the community. Eventually, Richardson's son
worked out a plan to allow access to the path four times a year.
After Richardson's death, his property was purchased in 2005 by the
Mosby family, who opened up access and eventually ceded the land to the
state. In 2011, the state began the process of acquiring the summit
itself from Brown University;<sup> </sup>this was completed in 2014<sup>.</sup> It is open every day, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. local time.<br />
<br />
So on our second trip back, I got to go on up! There were some cool professors up there that showed me all the cool stuff. One guy even had an asteroid he showed me named after him.<br />
<br />
~Tyler<br />
<br />
<br />
To find out more about Tyler visit <a href="http://www.salemhousepress.com/">Salem House Press</a> and buy Tyler's latest book "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Tyler-Gibsonton-Florida-Christopher-Dowgin/dp/0985392770">Tyler Moves to Gibsonton Florida</a>"
on Amazon.com. Keep checking back often for great cheap vacation ideas
that might end up surprising you and becoming the best vacation you ever
had!
Salem House Presshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07098478644213676380noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87123277764625588.post-80390007905540167072016-06-29T22:36:00.000-07:002017-01-08T13:59:26.192-08:00Cool Places in America~Jackass Flats and Nuclear Rocket?I thought my parents got a contract to develop some software for area 51. I was hoping to meet some aliens, not some idiot who would strap a rocket to his car and not keep it flush. Darwin Awards...<br />
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<br />
Area 25 is the site of the now decommissioned Nuclear Rocket Development Station (NRDS). It was built in support of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Rover" title="Project Rover">Project Rover</a> to test prototype nuclear rocket engines. Jackass Flats was proposed as a possible launch site for <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Orion_%28nuclear_propulsion%29" title="Project Orion (nuclear propulsion)">Project Orion</a>, administered by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Atomics" title="General Atomics">General Atomics</a> in the late 1950s.<br />
<br />
Project Orion was a study of a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spacecraft" title="Spacecraft">spacecraft</a> intended to be directly propelled by a series of explosions of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_weapon" title="Nuclear weapon">atomic bombs</a> behind the craft (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_pulse_propulsion" title="Nuclear pulse propulsion">nuclear pulse propulsion</a>). Early versions of this vehicle were proposed to take off from the ground with significant associated <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_fallout" title="Nuclear fallout">nuclear fallout</a>; later versions were presented for use only in space.<br />
<br />
Well 4th of July was coming up when we visited. I figured if I rode by bike through the area I would not have to buy any glow sticks that year...<br />
<br />
~Tyler<br />
<br />
<br />
To find out more about Tyler visit <a href="http://www.salemhousepress.com/">Salem House Press</a> and buy Tyler's latest book "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Tyler-Gibsonton-Florida-Christopher-Dowgin/dp/0985392770">Tyler Moves to Gibsonton Florida</a>"
on Amazon.com. Keep checking back often for great cheap vacation ideas
that might end up surprising you and becoming the best vacation you ever
had!
Salem House Presshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07098478644213676380noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87123277764625588.post-87076349776209418742016-06-29T22:10:00.002-07:002017-01-08T14:03:21.798-08:00Cool Places in America~The Free Republic of Indian StreamMy parents had to write some software for a municipality in northern New Hampshire on the Canadian border. It is not that they had to wonder how to pay taxes to Canada, but if they had to pay them to the country of Indian Stream?<br />
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The <b>Republic of Indian Stream</b> or <b>Indian Stream Republic</b> was an <a class="mw-redirect" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_historical_unrecognized_states#Americas" title="List of historical unrecognized states">unrecognized</a> constitutional republic in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_America" title="North America">North America</a>, along the section of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canada%E2%80%93United_States_border" title="Canada–United States border">border</a> that divides the Canadian province of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quebec" title="Quebec">Quebec</a> from the U.S. state of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Hampshire" title="New Hampshire">New Hampshire</a>. It existed from July 9, 1832, to August 5, 1835. Described as <i>"Indian Stream Territory, so-called"</i> by the <a class="mw-redirect" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Census,_1830" title="United States Census, 1830">United States census</a>-taker in 1830, the area was named for <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Stream" title="Indian Stream">Indian Stream</a>, a small watercourse. It had an organized elected government and constitution and served about three hundred citizens.<br />
<br />
The area was first settled by Europeans under a land grant, not from the King of Great Britain, but from the <a class="mw-redirect" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Francis_Indians" title="St. Francis Indians">St. Francis Indian</a> chief, called King Philip by his white neighbors, after the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metacomet" title="Metacomet">King Philip</a> who had led many successful raids on <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_England" title="New England">New England</a> settlements during the 1670s. I believe the first Dowgin came during that time to be killed in the King Phillip War.<br />
<br />
Also, the establishment of Indian Stream as an independent nation was, essentially, the result of the ambiguous boundary between the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States" title="United States">United States</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canada" title="Canada">Canada</a> as defined in the 1783 <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_Paris_%281783%29" title="Treaty of Paris (1783)">Treaty of Paris</a>. There were three possible interpretations of where "the northwesternmost head of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Connecticut_River" title="Connecticut River">Connecticut River</a>"
might be. As a result, the area (in and around the three tributaries
that fed into the head of the Connecticut River) was not definitively
under the jurisdiction of either the United States or Canada.<br />
<br />
Both sides sent in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tax" title="Tax">tax</a>-collectors
and debt-collecting sheriffs. The double taxation angered the
population, and the Republic was formed to put an end to the issue until
such time as the United States and Great Britain could reach a
settlement on the boundary line. Some of the citizenry considered Indian
Stream to be part of the U.S. but not a part of New Hampshire. The
Indian Stream assembly declared independence on July 9, 1832, and
produced a constitution. So you see why my parents were confused...<br />
<br />
The Constitution of Indian Stream states in "Part Second - Form of Government":<br />
<dl><dd>"The people inhabiting the Territory formerly called Indian Stream
Territory do hereby solemnly and mutually agree with each other to form
themselves into a body politic by the name of Indian Stream and in that
capacity to exercise all the powers of a free, sovereign and independent
state, so far as it relates to our own internal Government till such
time as we can ascertain to what government we properly belong."</dd></dl>
However, the independence declaration did not cause the sheriff of <a class="mw-redirect" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coos_County,_New_Hampshire" title="Coos County, New Hampshire">Coos County</a>
to cease his involvement in affairs, with later events leading to an
impending invasion by New Hampshire. On July 30, 1835, this sheriff
asked for the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Hampshire_Militia" title="New Hampshire Militia">militia</a>. Two companies of infantry from the towns around <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colebrook,_New_Hampshire" title="Colebrook, New Hampshire">Colebrook</a> met at <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stewartstown,_New_Hampshire" title="Stewartstown, New Hampshire">Stewartstown</a>,
ready to march into the disputed territory. The sheriff preceded them
and, on August 4, met with between 30 and 40 members of the assembly, to
whom he issued an ultimatum. Threatened with forcible occupation, most
of the gathered assembly capitulated and relented to being annexed by
New Hampshire.<sup> </sup> The Republic ceased to operate independently the next day when five leaders of Indian Stream wrote to a Canadian official in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sherbrooke" title="Sherbrooke">Sherbrooke</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lower_Canada" title="Lower Canada">Lower Canada</a>,
that, with a response to their petition for protection by the British
not having occurred in time, Indian Stream had agreed to annexation by
New Hampshire. One of the "Streamers", Richard I. Blanchard, agreed to
serve as a deputy sheriff of Coos County. The militia stayed in
Stewartstown and dispersed to their homes on August 6.<br />
<br />
The annexation of Indian Stream by New Hampshire did not resolve the
land dispute, however. Local British officials took a dim view of the
annexation. An incident soon tested the situation. In October 1835,
Blanchard led a small party to arrest John Tyler for an unpaid
hardware-store debt. After the arrest, Tyler was freed on the road back
to Coos County by a group of his neighbors. In reporting the incident to
the British magistrate, Tyler falsely stated under oath that the
location of his arrest was Drayton, Lower Canada.
The magistrate then issued a warrant for Blanchard's arrest, which was
carried out by a deputy and a few members of the Canadian faction of
Streamers, who returned with Blanchard toward the magistrate's house in
Lower Canada.<br />
<br />
Along the way, a group of Streamers stopped them in the road, rescued
Blanchard and returned with their freed comrade to Indian Stream. The
deputy's party continued on to the magistrate's house. Several hours
later, there was a commotion in the road nearby from a posse of armed
Streamers, emboldened by liquor, bent on making an impression. The
invading posse shot the deputy through the thigh and then captured the
hobbled magistrate with a blow of a saber to his scalp during a
struggle. They returned to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canaan,_Vermont" title="Canaan, Vermont">Canaan, Vermont</a>, with the bleeding magistrate as prisoner, where local leaders treated his wound and released him immediately.
In the aftermath, a detachment of fifty New Hampshire militia,
including troops and officers, occupied the territory from mid-November
until February 18, 1836.<br />
<br />
This <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_incident" title="International incident">international incident</a>
caused a diplomatic crisis. The British ambassador to the United States
protested to President Jackson and the Secretary of State.
Both governments, appalled at the idea of war over a matter so trivial
as a hardware-store debt, determined to take measures so that matters
did not escalate, and an uneasy peace endured in the years preceding the
conclusion of a treaty settling the border.<br />
<br />
In July, 1837, <a class="mw-redirect" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lord_Palmerston" title="Lord Palmerston">Lord Palmerston</a>
in London dismissed all charges in the British judiciary system arising
from the incident and reiterated the British position that the
territory was part of Canada.<sup> </sup> The area was still described as Indian Stream at the time of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1840_United_States_Census" title="1840 United States Census">U.S. census</a>
taken on June 1, 1840; the local population totaled 315. Upon petition
by the residents, the area was incorporated as the town of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pittsburg,_New_Hampshire" title="Pittsburg, New Hampshire">Pittsburg</a> in 1840.<br />
<br />
In 1842, the land dispute was definitively resolved by the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Webster%E2%80%93Ashburton_Treaty" title="Webster–Ashburton Treaty">Webster–Ashburton Treaty</a>, and the land was assigned to New Hampshire. However, the 1845 Lewis Robinson <i>Map of New Hampshire based on the latest authorities,</i> shows the boundary north of the town of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clarksville,_New_Hampshire" title="Clarksville, New Hampshire">Clarksville</a> but just <i>south</i> of modern-day Pittsburg.<br />
<br />
This reminds me of some Marx Brother movie. Geez... <br />
<br />
~Tyler<br />
<br />
<br />
To find out more about Tyler visit <a href="http://www.salemhousepress.com/">Salem House Press</a> and buy Tyler's latest book "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Tyler-Gibsonton-Florida-Christopher-Dowgin/dp/0985392770">Tyler Moves to Gibsonton Florida</a>"
on Amazon.com. Keep checking back often for great cheap vacation ideas
that might end up surprising you and becoming the best vacation you ever
had!
Salem House Presshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07098478644213676380noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87123277764625588.post-42632898303066931652016-06-29T22:10:00.000-07:002017-01-08T14:01:49.429-08:00Cool Places in America~Clinton Road New JerseyThat Strange Doctor of the Pines hired my parents again. I think he has them trying to write code so he could "Rule the World!" Who knows. This time I ventured a little further and came across this classic that has appeared several times in Weird NJ. Weird NJ is what started Myth Busters fortune.<br />
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<a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/39/Clinton_Road_sign.jpg/300px-Clinton_Road_sign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="247" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/39/Clinton_Road_sign.jpg/300px-Clinton_Road_sign.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br />
So many strange things have happened on this long desolate road. One is the tale of the Iceman. I always wondered why they called him that. I thought it was because he 'iced you' when he shot you. No it meant he threw you in a freezer to confuse people.<br />
<br />
In May 1983, a human body was found in the woods close to the road. According to <i>Weird NJ</i>, legend dictates that a <a class="mw-redirect" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyclist" title="Cyclist">cyclist</a> going down the road discovered the body after investigating <a class="mw-redirect" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vultures" title="Vultures">a vulture</a> feasting at a spot in the nearby trees.<br />
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<a href="https://swallowingthecamel.files.wordpress.com/2013/07/kuklinski.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://swallowingthecamel.files.wordpress.com/2013/07/kuklinski.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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An <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autopsy" title="Autopsy">autopsy</a> found that the man had died of foul play, remarking something initially puzzling: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ice_crystals" title="Ice crystals">ice crystals</a> in <a class="mw-redirect" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood_vessels" title="Blood vessels">blood vessels</a> near his <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heart" title="Heart">heart</a>.
His interior organs also had decayed at a rate far slower than his
skin. Pathologists concluded that someone had frozen his body after
death in an attempt to mislead investigators into believing he died at a
later time than he actually did. The man was identified as someone on
the periphery of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mafia" title="Mafia">mafia</a> activities in nearby <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rockland_County,_New_York" title="Rockland County, New York">Rockland County, New York</a>. The investigation ultimately led to the 1986 <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arrest" title="Arrest">arrest</a> of "The Iceman" <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Kuklinski" title="Richard Kuklinski">Richard Kuklinski</a>, a New Jersey native involved in Rockland organized crime, who confessed to being the killer.<br />
<br />
Then there was Cross Castle, or what is left of it...<br />
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In 1905, a man named Richard Cross built a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castle" title="Castle">castle</a>
on high land near the reservoir for his wife and three children. Later
in the 20th century, it fell into ruin after a fire had destroyed part
of it and thus became a popular destination for <a class="mw-redirect" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hikers" title="Hikers">hikers</a> and local teenagers looking for secluded locations to camp out and have parties.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Cross_Castle_13-0"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clinton_Road_%28New_Jersey%29#cite_note-Cross_Castle-13">[13]</a></sup><br />
According to <i>Weird NJ</i>, "visitors have written telling of strange occurrences in or near the castle site, such as people going into <a class="mw-redirect" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seizures" title="Seizures">seizures</a> and having <a class="mw-redirect" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bruises" title="Bruises">bruises</a>
appearing on their bodies afterwards, or having strange, disturbing
visions. Writings that suggest Satanic symbols have been reported as
appearing on the castle's interior walls, particularly in areas that
were supposedly inaccessible."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Cross_Castle_13-1"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clinton_Road_%28New_Jersey%29#cite_note-Cross_Castle-13">[13]</a></sup><br />
Newark's water department razed the castle as an <a class="mw-redirect" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attractive_nuisance" title="Attractive nuisance">attractive nuisance</a> in 1988, but the <a class="mw-redirect" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foundation_%28architecture%29" title="Foundation (architecture)">foundations</a> remain and several hiking <a class="mw-redirect" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trails" title="Trails">trails</a> still lead to the site.<br />
<br />
Then here are the weird legends:<br />
<ul>
<li><b>The ghost boy at the bridge</b>: At one of the bridges over
Clinton Brook (Dead Man's Curve) near the reservoir, if you put a
quarter in the middle of the road where the yellow line is, at midnight
it will supposedly be promptly returned by the ghost of a boy who
drowned while swimming below or had fallen in while sitting on the edge
of the bridge. In some tellings an apparition is seen; in others the
ghost pushes the teller into the water if he or she looks over the side
of the bridge in order to save him from being run over as he was in
life.</li>
<li>Besides the ghost boy, there have been other ghosts described by <i>Weird NJ</i> readers. One claims to have seen a ghost <a class="mw-redirect" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camaro" title="Camaro">Camaro</a>
driven by a girl who supposedly died when she crashed it in 1988 (any
mention while driving the road at night is supposed to trigger a
manifestation).<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Ghostboy_8-0"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clinton_Road_%28New_Jersey%29#cite_note-Ghostboy-8">[8]</a></sup> Another claims to have encountered two <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Park_ranger" title="Park ranger">park rangers</a> one night while camping with friends near <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wawayanda_State_Park" title="Wawayanda State Park">Terrace Pond</a>, a <a class="mw-redirect" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glacial_tarn" title="Glacial tarn">glacial tarn</a>
on a ridge accessible from the road by hiking trails, who in the
morning turned out to have been the ghosts of two rangers who had died
on the job in 1939.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Ghostboy_8-1"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clinton_Road_%28New_Jersey%29#cite_note-Ghostboy-8">[8]</a></sup> Other <i>Weird NJ</i>
readers claim to have seen people dressed weirdly at odd hours who
simply stare at those who see them and do not speak, who either
disappear or are not seen by others present.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-weird_people_9-0"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clinton_Road_%28New_Jersey%29#cite_note-weird_people-9">[9]</a></sup></li>
<li><b>The Druidic temple</b>: A conical stone structure just east of the road south of the reservoir was said to be a site where local <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Druid" title="Druid">Druids</a>
practiced their rituals, and horrible things might come to pass for any
intruder who looked too closely or came at the wrong time. The building
is actually an iron <a class="mw-redirect" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smelter" title="Smelter">smelter</a> left over from the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Revolutionary_War" title="American Revolutionary War">American Revolutionary War</a> and the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_of_1812" title="War of 1812">War of 1812</a>
when the United States was forced into creating an economic
independence to complement its political freedom. It was listed on the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Register_of_Historic_Places" title="National Register of Historic Places">National Register of Historic Places</a> as <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clinton_Furnace" title="Clinton Furnace">Clinton Furnace</a> in 1976.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Clinton_Furnace_NRHP_listing_10-0"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clinton_Road_%28New_Jersey%29#cite_note-Clinton_Furnace_NRHP_listing-10">[10]</a></sup>
It is currently fenced off by the Newark water department to prevent
any entrance and the liability for injury that might result.</li>
<li><b>Ghost truck</b>: There are accounts of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phantom_vehicle" title="Phantom vehicle">phantom vehicles</a>:
pickup trucks or even floating headlights not attached to any vehicle
that supposedly appear from nowhere in the middle of the night and chase
drivers to the end of the road, then disappear.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-11"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clinton_Road_%28New_Jersey%29#cite_note-11">[11]</a></sup></li>
<li><b>Strange creatures</b>, from <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hellhound" title="Hellhound">hellhounds</a> to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monkey" title="Monkey">monkeys</a> and unidentifiable <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hybrid_%28biology%29" title="Hybrid (biology)">hybrids</a>, have allegedly been seen at night. If not of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supernatural" title="Supernatural">supernatural</a> origin, they are said to have been survivors of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jungle_Habitat" title="Jungle Habitat">Jungle Habitat</a>, a nearby attraction that has been closed since 1976, which have managed to survive and crossbreed.</li>
</ul>
Well I did not see anything. In fact I was hoping this was the road where your car gets pulled uphill when its in neutral. Everything else happened on this road but that...<br />
<br />
~Tyler<br />
<br />
<br />
To find out more about Tyler visit <a href="http://www.salemhousepress.com/">Salem House Press</a> and buy Tyler's latest book "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Tyler-Gibsonton-Florida-Christopher-Dowgin/dp/0985392770">Tyler Moves to Gibsonton Florida</a>"
on Amazon.com. Keep checking back often for great cheap vacation ideas
that might end up surprising you and becoming the best vacation you ever
had!
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Salem House Presshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07098478644213676380noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87123277764625588.post-88679788824104259282016-06-29T21:53:00.000-07:002017-01-08T13:55:26.583-08:00Cool Places in America~Dixie Square Mall and the Blues BrothersHere is a tale from a few years ago before this building got torn down. I always loved the Blues Brothers. It was my father's favorite too. So I was overjoyed when my parents got a contract to work in Harvey, Illinois. Well not at first...then they told me the mall in which the famous chase scene in the mall which started with a Kermit the Frog was in that town. It became cooler. Then my father asked if I wanted to go urban exploring into this dead mall, Harvey got way cooler!!!<br />
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<b>Dixie Square Shopping Center</b> was an enclosed <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shopping_mall" title="Shopping mall">shopping mall</a> located in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harvey,_Illinois" title="Harvey, Illinois">Harvey, Illinois</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States" title="United States">United States</a>, at the junction of 151st Street and the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dixie_Highway" title="Dixie Highway">Dixie Highway</a>.
It stood vacant for over 30 years, more than twice as long as it was in
business. It was famous for having been used, both inside and out, for
the mall chase scene in the movie <i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Blues_Brothers_%28film%29" title="The Blues Brothers (film)">The Blues Brothers</a></i>. More recently, it achieved notoriety because of a growing <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet" title="Internet">Internet</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cult_following" title="Cult following">cult following</a> (including local <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urban_exploration" title="Urban exploration">urban exploration</a> groups) dedicated to covering the mall's deteriorating condition. Like other "<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dead_mall" title="Dead mall">dead malls</a>",
it had been characterized by high vacancy rates and low patronage,
which led to its closure. However, while other dead malls were
redeveloped or demolished, Dixie Square stood out due to its extensive
neglect, vandalism damage, and sordid history.<br />
<br />
~Tyler<br />
<br />
<br />
To find out more about Tyler visit <a href="http://www.salemhousepress.com/">Salem House Press</a> and buy Tyler's latest book "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Tyler-Gibsonton-Florida-Christopher-Dowgin/dp/0985392770">Tyler Moves to Gibsonton Florida</a>"
on Amazon.com. Keep checking back often for great cheap vacation ideas
that might end up surprising you and becoming the best vacation you ever
had!
Salem House Presshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07098478644213676380noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87123277764625588.post-14977675326190028072014-04-16T18:06:00.000-07:002015-01-07T16:12:40.925-08:00Cool Places in America: The Lost Sea, Sweetwater TNIts your favorite child
travel adviser, Tyler, once again bringing you the best in last minute vacations.
Your road trip planner for the weekend getaway to the coolest and
strangest places in America. How do I know about them all? My parents
are contract workers in the software industry and keep moving the family
every 6 months....<br />
<br />
We moved to the Smoky Mountains where the fireflies are king and the bears walk through your backyard on a slight angle. My parents got another contract to develop software for an old bootlegging family up in the mountains. There in TN I found this cool cave.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.thelostsea.com/images/waterfall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.thelostsea.com/images/waterfall.jpg" /></a>According to the Guinness Book of World Records, its America's largest
underground lake. First, you have to tour the giant caves 140 feet below ground to get there.Then you are welcomed to ride on a glass
bottom boat across "The Lost Sea". An ancient
cat's bones have been preserved at New York City's Museum of Natural
History that were found here, but its 20,000 year-old jaguar tracks are still down there. Plus the temperature is always 58 degrees summer, winter, spring, or fall. In the past the cave was used as a refrigerator. It is the largest fridge I ever seen! People used to dance down here, make moonshine, and have cockfights; what a combination. Then again my older brother said it sounded like the clubs he hangs out in. I do not get it. The lake is so big they have not even found the back of it yet. You can see 4 acres of it before it goes into the rocks out of sight.<br />
<br />
So if you are in TN and want something cool to go, no pun intended, then check this place out. Truly one of the cool places in America.<br />
~Tyler<br />
<br />
To find out more about Tyler visit <a href="http://www.salemhousepress.com/">Salem House Press</a> and buy Tyler's latest book "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Tyler-Gibsonton-Florida-Christopher-Dowgin/dp/0985392770">Tyler Moves to Gibsonton Florida</a>" on Amazon.com. Keep checking back often for great cheap vaction ideas that might become the best vacation you ever had!<br />
<br />
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<br />Tylerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14488178235634330055noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87123277764625588.post-61307531065563184222014-01-22T23:30:00.002-08:002014-01-23T00:40:29.147-08:00Give this Picture a CaptionHey most of you gt to stay in the same school for awhile. So you should have better literary skills than me. Man I have heard too many accents as my parents have moved me from school to school throughout the country. I have learned not to write any "R"s because of my stay in Boston. I spell "whatar" from my stay in Brooklyn. Then there is "Yal" from my stay in Tennessee. You Army brats had it easier with all the paper work that they need to fill out before they move your parents. You got to stick around long enough to learn how to write the local language. My parents just off and go. That is the life of private software contractors.... So you should have no problem using your literary skills and come up with a caption for the picture below. The best caption wins a free ebook of my tales in Gibsonton Florida!<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Tyler-Gibsonton-Florida-Christopher-Dowgin/dp/0985392770">Tyler Moves to Gibsonton Florida available on Amazon.com!</a></div>
Salem House Presshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07098478644213676380noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87123277764625588.post-65466409163013316312014-01-20T18:32:00.005-08:002015-01-07T16:23:33.354-08:00I'm Stranded Outside of Durango.. Its your favorite child
travel adviser, Tyler, once again bringing you the best in last minute vacations.
Your road trip planner for the weekend getaway to the coolest and
strangest places in America. How do I know about them all? My parents
are contract workers in the software industry and keep moving the family
every 6 months....<br />
<br />
Yes, my parents moved me again. We are always moving. You have heard about how far your grandparent had to walk to school, well they got nothing on me. I'm 9 miles away from downtown. I am not sure if I actually live in Durango. One thing for sure I have learned since being here is how to climb over barbwire fences. This town loves their fences. This time I might be lucky, after 2 months I think my parents are going to move us back to Gibsonton, Florida. I can hang out again with my circus friends again.<br />
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<a href="http://www.homeintheearth.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Mesa-Verde-National-Park-Cliff-Palace-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.homeintheearth.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Mesa-Verde-National-Park-Cliff-Palace-2.jpg" height="155" width="200" /></a></div>
While here I got learn about the Anasazi people and their Pueblo homes. They would carve houses into the side of cliffs. How cool was that! Nowadays the local Native Americans are from the Southern Ute tribe. They have cleaned up, they are filthy rich with casinos, natural gas, and oil interests. They are one of the few tribes that resisted US encroachment. Other tribes in the area are Navajo and Apache. Plus we have many people of Mexican ancestry from when this area was part of Spain.<br />
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Also they have this cool narrow gauge train that still runs from Durnago to Silverton. I got to go on it when they were reenacting the ride to Santa's village from the Polar Express movie. The town in NJ where we used to live had an old narrow gauge track used to move soldiers during the Civil War. In fact they would have to get off the cattle car gauge, our modern tracks, in Whiting from the North to continue south on the narrow gauge line. This track still exists, but no trains go on it anymore. Another narrow gauge track that ran behind my friends house was used for an old Donkey Engine. Donkey Engines were steam powered winches that pulled carts on a track miles away from the engine. They were used to move clay. Durango has one of the only remaining narrow gauge tracks in the country.<br />
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One good thing about leaving here is, if we stayed too long we might of ended up glowing in the dark. There is a lot of Uranium in the water...<br />
-TylerTylerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14488178235634330055noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87123277764625588.post-22208393526089726642014-01-16T03:37:00.002-08:002014-04-14T23:07:36.108-07:00<b>By The Way....</b><br />
<br />
Here is some stuff about where I am living now. Until my parents change their mind again.....<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Gibsonton Florida</b><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-b4cDduvbJIY/Ute_3WYgBNI/AAAAAAAAACg/nrxBe1pFJ1A/s1600/Tallman_Postcard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-b4cDduvbJIY/Ute_3WYgBNI/AAAAAAAAACg/nrxBe1pFJ1A/s1600/Tallman_Postcard.jpg" /></a></div>
Blurbs from Wikipedia:<br />
<br />
Gibsonton was famous as a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sideshow" title="Sideshow">sideshow</a>
wintering town, where various people in the carnival business would
spend the off season placing it near the winter home for Ringling
Brothers Circus at <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tampa" title="Tampa">Tampa</a>, <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarasota" title="Sarasota">Sarasota</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venice,_Florida" title="Venice, Florida">Venice</a> in various times <a class="external autonumber" href="http://www.sarasotacircushistory.com/articles/circusinvenice.php" rel="nofollow">[1]</a>. It was home to Percilla the Monkey girl, the Anatomical Wonder, and the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grady_Stiles" title="Grady Stiles">Lobster Boy</a>. <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siamese_twin" title="Siamese twin">Siamese twin</a> sisters ran a fruit stand here. At one time, it was the only post office with a counter for <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dwarfism" title="Dwarfism">dwarves</a>. Aside from the agreeable winter climate, Gibsonton offered unique circus zoning laws that allowed residents to keep <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elephant" title="Elephant">elephants</a> and circus trailers on their front lawns.<br />
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<h2>
<span class="mw-headline" id="Carnivals_and_the_International_Independent_Showmen.27s_Association.2C_Inc._and_Museum">Carnivals and the International Independent Showmen's Association, Inc. and Museum</span></h2>
Gibsonton is the location of the International Independent Showmen's
Association, Inc ("Gibtown Showmen's Club") a non profit private
organization made up of people in the outdoor amusement industry. The
original club building opened in 1966 and has expanded to be the largest
Showmen's Association in the United States.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-6"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gibsonton,_Florida#cite_note-6">[6]</a></sup>
There are over 4500 members from all over the United States and several
foreign countries. Gibsonton is also the home of the largest trade show
in the carnival industry. At the trades show exhibits include rides,
food supplies and equipment, concession trailers, electrical supplies,
insurance companies, novelty items, plush toys, and jewelry.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-7"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gibsonton,_Florida#cite_note-7">[7]</a></sup><br />
Gibtown's International Independent Showmen’s Museum houses on two
floors a wide assortment of antique equipment, historic printed
materials and detailed exhibits that tell the carnival story – most of
it donated by practicing carnies.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-8"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gibsonton,_Florida#cite_note-8">[8]</a></sup>
Carnival items from across the country reflecting nearly a century of
carnival experiences have been donated. "There's one of the first Ferris
Wheels in the country, which will be assembled upright inside the
museum. There's also one of burlesque performer Gypsy Rose Lee's slinky
black beaded costumes, which turned many a head back in the day.And
don't forget the outfit worn by the "Viking Giant" himself, Johann K.
Peturson. He was nearly 8 feet tall and weighed 425 pounds." The museum
will also feature photos of carnival setups throughout the years.
Visitors will also be able to walk through carnie trailers, which open
to transform from a dull-looking compartment into brightly lit and
ornate facades.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-9"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gibsonton,_Florida#cite_note-9">[9]</a></sup><br />
<h2>
<span class="mw-headline" id="Famous_residents">Famous residents</span></h2>
<ul>
<li>Colonel Casper Balsam (1904-1968), circus midget who portrayed a Munchkin in <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wizard_of_Oz_%281939_film%29" title="The Wizard of Oz (1939 film)">The Wizard of Oz</a></i>.</li>
<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grady_Stiles" title="Grady Stiles">Grady Stiles</a>, freak show performer known as "Lobster Boy"</li>
<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Tomaini" title="Al Tomaini">Al Tomaini</a></li>
</ul>
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More Info:<br />
http://iml.jou.ufl.edu/projects/fall07/Caramanica/<br />
http://www.weirdus.com/states/florida/fabled_people_and_places/gibsonton/<br />
http://www.sideshowworld.com/41-GG/2013/135-Giants/Camp.html<br />
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Tylerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14488178235634330055noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87123277764625588.post-74636237039942323852014-01-15T23:05:00.002-08:002014-01-15T23:05:41.854-08:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>Welcome to my world...</b><br />
Its always changing. My parents can not live in the same house more than 6 month. It makes my life difficult to say the least. Once we even moved across the street. That time I was lucky. I did not have to make new friends. It did not last long for they moved us again to a new town.<br />
Right now I am in Gibsonton, Florida. You might of heard about the town. I did not at first. So they people seemed quite strange. How would you feel if you seen a midget and a bearded lady walk pass you? How about a dancing elephant? But that is all over now and I have some great friends! How long I will keep them is anyone's guess.....<br />
-Tyler<br />
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<br />Salem House Presshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07098478644213676380noreply@blogger.com0