History Monday #111

Hope you’re enjoying Memorial Day and honoring the importance of this holiday and three-day weekend. Today’s #HistoryMonday details a tragedy for many Americans but is not connected to armed forces veterans or Memorial Day.

Ruins of the Hulbert House of Johnstown, PA after the 1889 Flood

On this day in 1889, a dam of the Little Conemaugh River failed and released over 3.8 billion gallons of water upon the town of Johnstown, Pennsylvania. Steady rain over the day before sustained for several hours had caused enough damage for the dam to fail.

Johnstown is a town about 60 miles from the town of Pittsburgh and many of its residents were blue-collar workers in the local steel industry. The South Fork Dam which failed was built in 1840 on the Little Conemaugh River, 14 miles upstream from Johnstown. Almost a decade before the flood, investors purchased the dam and many others that had been erected as part of a canal system in the early 19^th Century. Many of these investors were connected to the Carnegie Steel Corporation, including Carnegie’s chairman Henry Clay Frick. Hoping to develop the land, these speculative investors saw opportunity to use the dam and Lake Conemaugh for their own personal interests. Frick and others created the South Fork Fishing and Hunting Club on the lake and adjusted the dam by lowering the height and removing overflow pipes.

These adjustments would cause irreparable harm for the people of Johnstown. Although the townsfolk knew their town was in a floodplain and saw deluges before, the 1889 flood was unexpected. A dam engineer attempted to warn the residents of Johnstown, but the telegraph lines were down, and local officials did not receive the warning cable and the engineer’s message on horseback reached the town too late.

Sadly, as a result of the flood 2,209 people perished. Property losses to the town are estimated at $17 million ($493,000,000 in today’s money) and destroying 1600 homes and Cambria Iron and Steel’s facilities. Bodies of victims was found as far away as Cincinnati and as late as 1911.

After the flood, local residents were angered at the efforts of the South Fork Fishing and Hunting Club and attempted to sue them for damages. The club’s defense team argued that the flood was an act of God and they should not be held liable. The court would rule in favor of the defendants and the club was not made to pay damages to the plaintiffs.

Some members of the club, including Frick donated thousands of dollars to the town for aid in rebuilding the town and showing at least some sympathy for their misfortune that was likely due to the dam’s adjustments. Andrew Carnegie donated money to build a library for the town as a token of sympathy along with many of his corporate officers like Frick who were involved in the South Fork Fishing and Hunting Club. Carnegie would of course continue to donate millions to charitable organizations including libraries which still bear his name.

The Red Cross that had been formed a couple of decades earlier in the U.S. Civil War became one of the first organizations on the scene at Johnstown and aided the survivors with medical care and disaster recovery. This practice continues today as the Red Cross is involved early on with disaster relief efforts due to natural disasters.

Several structures in Johnstown have been converted for use as memorials in recent years. Remnants of the Stone Bridge have been made part of the Johnstown Flood National Memorial. The Carnegie Library was converted to the Johnstown Flood Museum.

Oddly enough, floods continue around Johnstown in 1894, 1907, 1924, 1936, and 1977.  The 1936 flood resulted in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to erect large concrete river walls that would provide more protection. The 1977 flood saw even more water than was safely expected with the river walls and resulted in more property damage and loss of life, but thankfully less than the 1889 flood. City officials have erected markers in town to demonstrate the level of the crests of the 1889, 1936, and 1977 floods.

Have you ever been to Johnstown, Pennsylvania?

Current Event Friday #117

It’s the end of another week and for many it’s the end of the school week and school year. With an end to the school year that means exams for underclassmen and graduation preparations for the seniors. With much of last year’s end of school celebrations students are enjoying the opportunities to return to a more normal end of school year. Today’s #CurrentEventFriday looks at how a class of high schoolers were disciplined for one of the unwritten rites of passage—the Senior prank.

Most graduating classes tend to find a way to blow off steam as their school year ends so they find ways to harmlessly prank the faculty and the campus. Some pranks include plastic wrapping teachers’ cars, blocking doors to rooms, or throwing papers in the hall. More daring pranks include releasing animals in the hallways, placing a car in the school building, or spilling oil in the halls. Usually, the more daring pranks warrant strong discipline from the administration. The milder pranks are tolerated by administration with maybe a verbal warning.

A yard that has been ‘forked’ similar to a prank that happened at a high school in Texas

For students in Comfort, Texas their Senior prank went too far for the administration. The school located roughly an hour from San Antonio generally graduates around 100 students each year, which would have major ramifications if the discipline for the prank was too severe. For their prank, the Comfort High School seniors decided to ‘fork’ their football field with plastic utensils. A handful went into the school and released balloons in the cafeteria and vandalized some property. Those that put the forks involved in both pranks included 40 students to gather the supplies and see the plan to fruition. Administration found out who the 40 students were and suspended them while also threatening to impact their ability to take part in the graduation ceremonies. Among the 40 students are the valedictorian of the class.

Local news outlets tried to interview the principal in order to understand the punishment that will see about half the graduating class not being able to participate in graduation or other school activities. The news outlets were rebuffed and told the prank and the consequences resulting from it were an internal disciplinary matter.

Support for the students by the community has quickly come together including at the liquor store owned by the valedictorian’s parents. The business’s sign included a message “CONGRATS CLASS OF 2021 WE’RE SO FORKING PROUD!”

Parents are aggravated that the students who didn’t commit vandalism with the forking are being punished for the rogue students who entered the building for the purpose of vandalizing it. Law enforcement has been involved for the vandalism but not for the forking incident, yet the administration is tying both pranks and the discipline together.

I honestly can’t remember what my senior class did for a prank as it’s been nearly 20 years ago, and it wasn’t a major thing. I do remember as a freshman, a few of the seniors that year poured baby oil and ketchup in the hallway which caused the choir teacher to fall and injure herself. My brother’s class as seniors superglued doors shut and barricaded them with books. The police and administration deemed it an act of vandalism and punished those responsible. Of course, much of my brother’s class had a reputation before graduation of being mischievous and aspiring petty criminals anyways. I can also remember during my sophomore year that some of my classmates forked our English teacher’s yard. He was tolerant enough of the prank, to take pictures with them and help add forks before his family came out to see what happened. So again, forking is not generally seen as a prank that is not disciplined with too much of a heavy hand. I’m assuming the administration knows exactly who was guilty in the senior class at Comfort High School of trespassing and vandalism and who was guilty of forking and can punish accordingly. It’s also their prerogative to set a tone to tolerate no pranks. Although given the last year and the disjointed and hectic school year, I’m inclined to let the kids have some harmless fun.

Do you remember your senior prank or other memorable ones at your school?

Poetry Wednesday 151

“Go Fish”

                Love spending time together joined like a rod and reel

                You get a line, I’ll get a pole, we’ll go find a fishing hole. Deal?

                Doesn’t matter if it’s at daytime or even in the dark

                Pick out a spot at grandpa’s pond or the state park

                Time for a day off, time to turn off my thinking

                Up on the bank, rest our bones and spend the day drinking

                Baited my hook well, I think I’ve got a bite

                A day spent in nature with you, just sounds right

                Get up early and stay out late, catch ‘em all with a worm

                Time with you got me hopin’ and thinkin’ and prayin’ and wishin’

                We’ll divide and conquer that creek, so let’s get to fishin’

                I want to trace your leg in the grass afterwards and watch you squirm

Fell so hard for you and you for me; hook, sinker, and line

                After the first time we went fishing, it seems like we were hardly tryin’

© Ryan Stroud 2021

History Monday #110

Hope you had a good Pentecost yesterday if you’re a churchgoer. As yesterday celebrated the beginning of the Church in the first century, fittingly today’s #HistoryMonday is about the beginning of a church denomination unexpectedly.

Rev. John Wesley

On this day in 1738, Rev. John Wesley of the Church of England felt his heart “strangely warmed” while attending a group meeting on Aldersgate Street in London. This experience would lead to the start of the Methodist Church.

John Wesley had grown up as a son of a clergyman in the Church of England, Samuel Wesley. The elder Wesley encouraged his children to be an active part of the church. The younger Wesley would heed that encouragement and become a priest in the Church of England who was assigned to preach the Gospel in the United States. Unfortunately, John Wesley struggled with assurance of his Salvation which made him uncomfortable preaching concepts he did not personally believe.

Wesley found a group of Moravians who encouraged him to attend a meeting of their congregation that evening. As Wesley was reading a preface to Romans penned by Martin Luther, he realized that he could have the assurance he longed for personally.

This experience would also connect with John Wesley’s brother Charles who had a similar experience around the same time. Inspired by this renewing of their faith, the Wesley brothers used lessons from their time as founders of the Holy Club a decade earlier to grow a new movement.

As the movement grew with ministers and proclaimers of this interpretation of the Gospel, it would eventually become separate from the Church of England. Charles Wesley had hoped to remain an Anglican minister, but the novel ideas he and John preached were unwelcome with church leaders.

Methodists began as groups of class meetings or bands, which would be spread throughout various communities and the members would encourage each other through the week and promote spiritual disciplines. As there was opportunity, a circuit rider ordained by John Wesley and other bishops of the Methodist church would preach to these bands and dispense sacraments. The circuit rider’s appearance to the meetings usually happened on a monthly basis which is why many Methodist churches celebrate Communion monthly.  

Eventually the Methodist Church would become the British Methodist Church and the Methodist Episcopal Church and establish the class meetings as full-fledged congregations. The Methodist Episcopal Church would separate in the middle of the 19^th Century over the issue of slavery and join together again in the 1930’s. This Church would also unite with the Evangelical United Brethren in 1968 and become the United Methodist Church (UMC). The American Methodist churches have also produced the Wesleyan Church and the Nazarene Church over issues of polity and doctrine as well as the Salvation Army. Currently, the UMC is considering a split over issues with human sexuality and obedience to church law. It is expected that a new denomination known as the Global Methodist Church will reduce the influence of Bishops and more strictly enforce the current language of the UMC regarding LGBT+ issues. The UMC is expected to permit more freedom to its ministers and churches with how they interpret their response to LGBT+ people.

Regardless of which Methodist expression or denomination, most churches in the Methodist system celebrate May 24 or the nearest Sunday as Aldersgate Day to remember it as the day when John Wesley found himself renewed in the faith.

Have you celebrated Aldersgate Day?

Poetry Wednesday 150

“Looking Good”

Bluest eyes and hair looking like a perfect mess

Knocked me out with your bright sundress

I saw you as soon as you walked through the doors

Bought you a drink, trying to be cool like that beer in your hand, a bottle of Coors

Sweetheart, I have to tell you you’re looking good

Let’s get out of here, want to be closer to you I can never be too near

Need something more than luck, have to knock on wood

Sweetheart, I have to tell you you’re looking good

Hope you don’t think I’m coming on too strong

Don’t want to be like every other guy, don’t let me be wrong

Trying not to fumble over my words, get my tongue tied in a knot

Last call is almost time, throw up a Hail Mary and going to shoot my shot

Sweetheart, I have to tell you you’re looking good

Let’s get out of here, want to be closer to you I can never be too near

Need something more than luck, have to knock on wood

Sweetheart, I have to tell you you’re looking good

© Ryan Stroud 2021

History Monday #109

It’s been a whirlwind of a year already, and for sure the same can be said for 2020. So, in that spirit let’s talk about a day in history connected to a whirlwind and the effect on media. Today’s #HistoryMonday looks at a classic work of literature published on this day.

The first edition of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

On this day in 1900, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is published by the George M. Hill Company. The book was written by L. Frank Baum who had some modest success in the Dakota Territory writing for a local newspaper. Prior to his time as a newspaperman, Baum performed and worked for a handful of theater companies. Baum also worked as a storekeeper in the Dakota Territory before working at the newspaper.

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz tells the story of Dorothy Gale, a young farm girl from Kansas. One day, she and Toto are spirited away in the farmhouse by a tornado to Munchkin Country in the magical Land of Oz. The falling house kills the Wicked Witch of the East, the evil ruler of the Munchkins. The Good Witch of the North arrives with grateful Munchkins and gives Dorothy magical silver shoes that belonged to the Wicked Witch. The Good Witch tells Dorothy that the only way she can return home is to follow the yellow brick road to the Emerald City and ask the great and powerful Wizard of Oz to help her

On her way down the yellow brick road, Dorothy encounters a Scarecrow in need of a brain, a Tin Woodman looking for a heart, and a Cowardly Lion. The travelers arrive at the Emerald City and are required to wear green tinted glasses to safely view the city. The Wizard agrees to help the travelers if they kill the Wicked Witch of the West, who rules over Winkie Country.

The Wicked Witch of the West sends three rounds of creatures to attack the travelers and prevent her demise. Each round of creatures is defeated by one of Dorothy’s companions.  Finally, the Witch sends Winged Monkeys who capture Dorothy, Toto, and the Lion, unstuff the Scarecrow, and dent the Tin Woodman. The Wicked Witch enslaves Dorothy, and devises schemes to retrieve the silver shoes.

Dorothy eventually reacts to the witch’s schemes to recover the shoes and throws a bucket of water at the witch resulting in the witch melting. Dorothy frees the monkeys and returns to the Emerald City where Toto reveals the Wizard is an ordinary old man. Originally from Omaha, the Wizard arrived in the city by way of a hot air balloon. For defeating the Wicked Witch, he provides the Scarecrow with brain materials, the Tin Woodman with a silk heart stuffed with sawdust, and the Lion a potion of “courage”. He also agrees to take Dorothy and Toto home and then go back to Omaha in his balloon. At the send-off, the wizard appoints the Scarecrow as ruler of the Emerald City after his departure. Unfortunately for Dorothy, she exits the balloon to retrieve Toto who has escaped to chase a cat. Before Dorothy and Toto can return to the balloon, the Wizard has already take-off, leaving Dorothy and Toto behind. Worried, Dorothy summons the Winged Monkeys and asks them to carry her and Toto home, but they are unable to cross the desert that surrounds Oz. An Emerald City soldier tells Dorothy that Glinda, the Good Witch of the South might be able to help her return home. Dorothy asks the Winged Monkeys to bring them to Glinda’s castle. Glinda tells Dorothy the silver shoes can take her anywhere she wishes to go. Dorothy then clicks her heels together three times and wishes to return home. Instantly, she begins whirling through the air and returns to her Kansas prairie farmhouse.

The book was mass-published just a few months later in 1900 and found success and began to be republished several times over in just a few short years. Much of the successful publishing of the book was due to the novel being adapted into a musical play The Wizard of Oz in 1902. Around this same time, the original publisher went bankrupt, and Baum agreed to have the Bobbs-Merrill Company continue the printing of the book.

The book reached a million sales around 1938 and was shortly after adapted into the live-action film which most of us are familiar. The film adaptation included some of the usual edits for time and brevity, but also drastically changed the shoes from the novel so that they would be displayed more easily on film, resulting in the ruby slippers most people associate with the story.

Baum’s success with the novel which eventually was shortened to The Wizard of Oz produced sequels that detailed further adventures of Dorothy and the many characters of Oz as well as introducing new characters and lands that surround the mythical area.

Wicked, the Broadway Musical written as a prequel to the Wizard of Oz

Other film adaptations and homages to the novel have been produced including the hit Broadway musical Wicked, which explains the witches of Oz are inaccurately portrayed in the Wizard of Oz. Additional works include Oz the Great and Powerful, The Wiz, and Return to Oz, among others.

Strangely, the novel has spawned at least two alternative connections to culture beginning in the 1960’s. In 1964, an American history teacher suggested that Baum wrote the novel as an allegory of turn of the century politics, particularly the Populist party faithful. The other cultural reference that may be unintended is the film’s connection to Pink Floyd’s album Dark Side of the Moon which supposedly syncs up with the film as you listen to it. These alternative theories still persist but have never been able to be confirmed with any certainty but are nonetheless interesting conversations at dinner parties.

Have you read the book The Wonderful Wizard of Oz?

Current Event Friday #116

Time for another week to come to an end, and for the Islamic faithful an end to a month of fasting. The festival that ends that season provides a #CurrentEventFriday topic that maybe many of us may not be that familiar with its practices.

Muslims celebrate breaking the Ramadan fast during Eid al-Fitr

Muslims have been celebrating the season of Ramadan for the last month and fasted meals from sunrise to sunset. Faithful practitioners of Islam arise early in the morning before sunrise to eat small meals and await sunset to consume small portions of food. Pregnant women, small children, and those with prohibitive health concerns may be permitted to be exempt from the fast. Known as the Eid al-Fitr, Muslims usually shorten the holiday’s name to Eid. Muslims also celebrate Eid al-Adha or the Greater Eid in July which commemorates Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son Isaac.

The celebration of Eid al-Fitr is determined by the sighting of the new crescent moon after the month of Ramadan. The Eid includes two corporate prayers usually held outside as Muslims arrive to their local mosques and contribute charitable offerings for the poor. During the Eid, which celebrates an end to the fast, Muslims will eat rich pastries and other sweets that have been prohibited during the Ramadan fast.

Of course, the last two years have made the Eid gatherings odd and, in some cases, discouraged. Particularly, the Eid celebration in Indonesia saw a large surge in COVID cases and there is at least some fear of Muslims in India gathering for the Eid during the outbreak in that country. Imams and national officials in these countries are strongly encouraging home celebrations and limiting the number of attendees for the celebration. Muslims are hopeful for a return to a more normal Eid next year as the virus may be less serious.

Have you ever celebrated the Eid with Muslims?

Poetry Wednesday 149

“Money”

                Finest food and nicest cars

                Champagne flutes and fresh caviar

                Foreign banks to hide all that cash

                Uncle Sam won’t find your hidden stash

                Money affords the life of Riley

                Status symbols keep you regarded highly

                Living it up in a mansion home

                Jet-setting to a private resort when it’s time to roam

                Girls like guys who have all the money

                Guys show their love and please the girls

                He’ll give her everything—the entire world

                She’ll stick to you and act sweet like honey

                But, that money comes and then the money’s spent

                You’ll look around, and wonder where it went

© Ryan Stroud 2021

History Monday #108

Hope you had a great Mother’s Day yesterday, today’s #HistoryMonday looks at the history of the day which is connected to this date in history. So, by providence today’s entry works out conveniently with the most recent holiday.

Anna Jarvis, the founder of Mother’s Day

On this date in 1908, the first official celebration of Mother’s Day was celebrated at Andrew’s Methodist Episcopal Church in Grafton, West Virginia. Organized by Anna Jarvis, the day was meant to honor mothers and families torn apart by the Civil War.

Jarvis and other peace activists had worked for decades prior to promote peace and reconciliation after the war and felt celebrating mothers would help. Anna Jarvis borrowed from the work her mother Ann Jarvis had began just after the war and preached a sermon on motherhood at Andrew’s Methodist Episcopal Church in 1907 which would lead to the Mother’s Day celebration a year later.

In 1914 On May 8, after six years of promoting the day to U.S. government leaders, Congress passed a resolution establishing the Second Sunday in May as Mother’s Day. The next day, Pres. Wilson issued a proclamation declaring the day as Mother’s Day.

Eventually, Andrew’s Methodist Church would be renamed as the International Mother’s Day Shrine on May 15, 1962, as a shrine to all mothers. The “mother church” of Mother’s Day offers annual ceremonies commemorating the day and offers tours by appointment.

Mother’s Day has of course become one of the more popularized Western holidays, with other countries besides the United States celebrating similar holidays throughout the year to honor mothers and motherhood. In America, churches will recognize the day with appropriate ceremonies and recognition and often adult children will attend church with their mothers who may not attend regularly. Restaurants often feature Mother’s Day brunches and meals for children to treat their mothers as day off from cooking. Additionally, children will give their mothers gifts, cards, and phone calls in honor of their mothers. In the age of social media, posts that include pictures of mothers and their children are featured prominently on the day as well.

How did you celebrate Mother’s Day?

Current Event Friday #115

Another week is ending, and today’s #CurrentEventFriday looks at the end of a baseball player’s tenure with his team. So, without much ado let’s get into news of the day in the world of MLB.

Albert Pujols, of the Los Angeles Angels

Yesterday, the Los Angeles Angels released First Baseman/Designated Hitter Albert Pujols in the final year of his contract with the team. Pujols signed a massive contract with the team 10 years ago but over the last few years his production has declined.

Albert Pujols during his time with the St. Louis Cardinals

Originally a signing of the St. Louis Cardinals late in the draft, Pujols rose to the major leagues and cemented himself as a perennial all-star at First Base for the Cardinals. Given the nickname “The Machine” for his abilities, Pujols became a fan favorite of the Cardinals from 2001-2011. Pujols won Rookie of the Year in 2001. He also won MVP in 2005, 2008, and 2009. In the Postseason, Pujols won the World Series in 2006 & 2011 and was the NLCS MVP in 2004. Also, during his time with the Cardinals, Pujols became the cover athlete for EA’s MVP Baseball in 2004. When his contract with St. Louis ended, Pujols signed with the Angels.

Pujols has been mostly consistent with the Angels, but hasn’t quite produced as well as he did with the Cardinals. Given the Angels play in the American League, Pujols has been able to remain healthy and reduce wear on his body by playing Designated Hitter.

I’ve always respected Pujols for his ability, but disliked the team he played for the first 10 years of his MLB career. There was at least a smll glimmer of hope for Cubs fans like me that Pujols might;ve signed with Chicago when his St. Louis contract ended, but the Angels came away with that victory. I’ve also admired long-time catcher Yadier Molina of the Cardinals for his ability but dislike that those abilities are often used against my team.

Given the need for production at a Major League level, the release of Pujols wasn’t that unexpected. At the time of the release, Pujols is hitting just under the so-called Mendoza line which is an under .200 batting average. Yes, the season is early, but the Angels have several candidates for Designated Hitter and infielders to play First Base. A costly bench player isn’t a luxury they could afford. Likely, Pujols will retire at the end of the season as possibilities to sign will be few and far between. If Pujols does retire at the end of the season, I’d expect the St. Louis Cardinals to offer a one-day contract so he can retire as a Cardinal.

Are you a fan of Albert Pujols?