OCTOBER 11, 2014
We left home at about 11:15 and drove the usual, avoid Huntley if you can) way so out to Il-120 to Il-47 to Il-176 to Il-23.
This is big-time fall fest here in northern Illinois. We passed two huge agri-business places, each with several hundred cars parked out in grass-covered parking lots. The first one was Stade's, about two miles from us. Then there was a small one just south of Woodstock on Il-47 and another big one on Il-176 heading for Marengo.
Along with these big places, quite a few farmers had pumpkins for sale by their places.
Trees are starting to turn colors and some of the maples are just brilliant. I'm figuring next week should be prime time.
We stopped at Wal-Mart in DeKalb and bought some NIU souvenirs and a black sweatshirt as the alumni are pushing a black-out where everyone wears black and i don't have a black sweatshirt.
The weather is absolutely beautiful today, a perfect day for a football game.
Go You Huskies!! --RoadDog
RoadDog's RoadLog Blog: Being my travels down those great two lane highways of this nation as well as news I learn about them from media sources. Since I'm also very interested in historic preservation, there will be a lot of that as well.
The Shamrock Court Motel in Sullivan, Missouri. It can be yours for $125,000. Lots of possibilities. Actually, now you're too late. Missouri's Roamin' Rich bought it.
Tuesday, October 14, 2014
Monday, October 13, 2014
Road Work Ahead, N.C. Summer 2014 Trip-- Part 30: Find Your Beach
JULY 28TH: We backtracked form Fort Caswell along Oak Island and then to Holden Beach. Not much to see at either Oak Island or Holden Beach as it is mostly cottages and the road doesn't go close enough to the ocean to see it.
You get to Holden Beach over a huge bridge that really goes up quite a distance so Intercoastal craft do not cause it to be raised or swung, as in the case at Surf City. The famous old Swing bridge at Surf City/Topsail Island is to be replaced with a big bridge that we imagine will resemble the one at Holden Beach.
We only saw one commercial place during what seemed to be a really long drive. Not much to see here.
At the south end of the beach, we crossed over to the mainland and started looking for a place that one of our maps showed as being Casey's Buffet, but the map turned out to be inaccurate. The only one is by Wilmington Too bad because i have read that this is one special buffet.
We stopped at a Hardee's to get something to eat and they had a band playing inside, something you don't expect to find at a fast food place.
We sure had a long ride back home to Topsail Beach and found that we had put almost 200 miles on the car with this trip.
--RoadDog
You get to Holden Beach over a huge bridge that really goes up quite a distance so Intercoastal craft do not cause it to be raised or swung, as in the case at Surf City. The famous old Swing bridge at Surf City/Topsail Island is to be replaced with a big bridge that we imagine will resemble the one at Holden Beach.
We only saw one commercial place during what seemed to be a really long drive. Not much to see here.
At the south end of the beach, we crossed over to the mainland and started looking for a place that one of our maps showed as being Casey's Buffet, but the map turned out to be inaccurate. The only one is by Wilmington Too bad because i have read that this is one special buffet.
We stopped at a Hardee's to get something to eat and they had a band playing inside, something you don't expect to find at a fast food place.
We sure had a long ride back home to Topsail Beach and found that we had put almost 200 miles on the car with this trip.
--RoadDog
Saturday, October 11, 2014
Preparing to Leave for DeKalb
Last night, Johnsburg High School won their homecoming game over Marengo 42-17!! I was at the game until after half time and left with the Skyhawks up 15-3. It got very cold as we had a frost last night.
And, I now know the "K' is capitalized in DeKalb. Only took me around 45 years to figure that one out.
We need to stop at Wal-Mart in DeKalb to see if they have black NIU sweatshirts as it is "Black Out" for the game. All my sweatshirts are red. I do have a black coat with NIU on it and it will be a bit chilly as the game begins at 4 p.m..
I also want to look around the DeKalb Barnes & Noble since we don't have any bookstores around here anymore now that Borders is gone in McHenry.
We also want to stop at the Village Commons Bookstore to look at NIU stuff.
Looking forward to all the alumni tents and the big tent with the bands playing.
Of course, after the game, it's the DeKalb Footstompers at Lord Stanley's on Lincoln Highway (yep, that Lincoln Highway which is DeKalb's Main Street and now Il-38.
Go Huskies. --RoadDog
Friday, October 10, 2014
It's Homecoming Weekend Around Here
Local Johnsburg High School is having their homecoming game tonight at their field, about two miles directly south of our house. Personally, however, I think that homecomings should always be on Saturday afternoon at the high school level.
Last night, they had their annual fireworks show and I was able to watch it from the back deck. I will be at the game tonight.
Then, tomorrow, NIU is having their homecoming game in DeKalb and we will be there. Always enjoy the alumni tents, the game, and especially seeing the DeKalb Footstompers playing at Lord Stanley's on Lincoln Highway downtown. This will be their 41st time playing Northern's Homecoming and we've seen them most of those times. You haven't lived until you've heard Dese Guys playing "Purple Haze," "Boston Store," "Vasectomy"or "NIU Sorority Bitch."
The Footstompers are a four-piece band (3 of them are original members) with guitar, drums, tuba and accordion. And, they are fun. We'll have to leave the game early to get a seat at Lord Stanley's (Stanley Cup, this place is a big Black Hawks place (and they are playing Saturday night).
Sunday, we will be stopping in Marengo for their Settler's Days festival parade, one of the biggest parades in northern Illinois, then, Da Bears play at 3:30.
Good Times at Homecoming. --RoadDog
Road Work Ahead, N.C. Summer 2014 Trip-- Part 29: Oak Island, Lighthouse and Fort Caswell
I should mention that Fort Johnston in Southport, was "captured" by N.C. militia before the state seceded in the Civil War and the governor made them return it to federal authorities.
We next drove out to Oak Island to see the Oak Island Lighthouse, which can easily be seen from Southport. It is an impressive light. We then drove out to the remains of Fort Caswell at the tip of the island. Unlike Fort Fisher, this was a masonry fort constructed prior to the Civil War and now is owned by the state Baptist Assembly.
Of interest, before the war it had just an ordnance sergeant in the fort, a Sgt. James O'Reily of the U.S. Army. He later surrendered Fort Fisher as the highest-ranking unwounded officer on Jan. 15, 1864. Much of the fort was destroyed by Confederates at the end of the war and other parts were heavily renovated for coastal artillery in the late 1800s.
Unfortunately, there was a conference going on at the fort and no visitors to the site were allowed in.
Two Forts, Two No-See's Today for Us (Fort Fisher Was Closed As Well). -RoadDog
We next drove out to Oak Island to see the Oak Island Lighthouse, which can easily be seen from Southport. It is an impressive light. We then drove out to the remains of Fort Caswell at the tip of the island. Unlike Fort Fisher, this was a masonry fort constructed prior to the Civil War and now is owned by the state Baptist Assembly.
Of interest, before the war it had just an ordnance sergeant in the fort, a Sgt. James O'Reily of the U.S. Army. He later surrendered Fort Fisher as the highest-ranking unwounded officer on Jan. 15, 1864. Much of the fort was destroyed by Confederates at the end of the war and other parts were heavily renovated for coastal artillery in the late 1800s.
Unfortunately, there was a conference going on at the fort and no visitors to the site were allowed in.
Two Forts, Two No-See's Today for Us (Fort Fisher Was Closed As Well). -RoadDog
Thursday, October 9, 2014
Road Work Ahead, N.C. Summer 2014 Trip-- Part 28: Fort Johnston and Southport
Arriving at the east side of the Cape Fear River, we drove into Southport, a quaint, old sea village, which used to be home to the pilots who would guide ships up the Cape Fear River to Wilmington. Lots of B&Bs, so it is that type of sea village.
It used to be named Smithville, but there was another Smithville in North Carolina so its name was changed to Southport.
We drove around a little, then stopped at the visitors center in the only building still left of what was Fort Johnston, an early defensive work for the Cape Fear River and Wilmington. It is small, but has a lot of pertinent stuff and very friendly and informative volunteers manning the desk.
there is also a branch of the North Carolina Maritime Museums located next to it.
Drove around the town for awhile before driving out to nearby Fort Caswell.
--RoadDog
It used to be named Smithville, but there was another Smithville in North Carolina so its name was changed to Southport.
We drove around a little, then stopped at the visitors center in the only building still left of what was Fort Johnston, an early defensive work for the Cape Fear River and Wilmington. It is small, but has a lot of pertinent stuff and very friendly and informative volunteers manning the desk.
there is also a branch of the North Carolina Maritime Museums located next to it.
Drove around the town for awhile before driving out to nearby Fort Caswell.
--RoadDog
Road Work Ahead, 2014 N.C. Summer Trip-- Part 27: The Fort Fisher-Southport Ferry
Wikipedia.
Also referred to as just the Fort Fisher Ferry. I imagine from the Southport side it is just the Southport Ferry.
Service began in 1965 and it is especially used by tourists visiting attractions north and south of the Cape Fear River mouth. As I said in the last post, otherwise it would take a 40-50 mile drive to visit both sides.
Crossing takes 30 minutes and covers four miles.
The N.C. Ferry Service reports that some 185,000 vehicles cross here every year. Some 500,000 passengers also cross, the majority in the vehicles, but also quite a few bicyclists and motorcycles.
Cost per car is $5.
Two ferries operate simultaneously and you get to "meet" the other one about half way across the river.
Going Over On the Boat --RoadDog
Also referred to as just the Fort Fisher Ferry. I imagine from the Southport side it is just the Southport Ferry.
Service began in 1965 and it is especially used by tourists visiting attractions north and south of the Cape Fear River mouth. As I said in the last post, otherwise it would take a 40-50 mile drive to visit both sides.
Crossing takes 30 minutes and covers four miles.
The N.C. Ferry Service reports that some 185,000 vehicles cross here every year. Some 500,000 passengers also cross, the majority in the vehicles, but also quite a few bicyclists and motorcycles.
Cost per car is $5.
Two ferries operate simultaneously and you get to "meet" the other one about half way across the river.
Going Over On the Boat --RoadDog
Wednesday, October 8, 2014
Road Work Ahead, N.C. Summer Trip 2014-- Part 26: The Fort Fisher-Southport Ferry
After our walk on "The Rocks," my brother and I returned to the car and drove the eighth of a mile to the Fort Fisher-Southport Ferry and bought our ticket, $5 for the car and occupants, for the 30-minute trip across the Cape Fear River near its mouth.
The crossing is quite an experience and well worth the money. Otherwise, if you want to cross to the west side of the river, you have to drive about twenty miles to Wilmington, cross the river on a bridge and drive twenty miles south to Southport.
We kind of kept our fingers crossed to be one of the fortunate cars to get on the ferry as often during the summer, you can end up waiting another 30 minutes or more. We made it by seven cars.
The ferry leaves every 30 minutes and passes the one coming from Southport in mid channel. You can get out of the vehicle once underway and walk around or go to the observation deck on the superstructure. We had a rough crossing today because of winds and the folks who chose to stand up at the front of the boat were fairly-well doused with one wave after another. A real water ride if you will.
As we closed on the Southport dock, i saw the remains of the forward light station of what used to be the Price's Creek Range Lights which were built in the late 1850s and served as a Confederate signal station during the Civil War. I have written a lot about this in my Running the Blockade blog.
A Nautical Voyage. --RoadDog
The crossing is quite an experience and well worth the money. Otherwise, if you want to cross to the west side of the river, you have to drive about twenty miles to Wilmington, cross the river on a bridge and drive twenty miles south to Southport.
We kind of kept our fingers crossed to be one of the fortunate cars to get on the ferry as often during the summer, you can end up waiting another 30 minutes or more. We made it by seven cars.
The ferry leaves every 30 minutes and passes the one coming from Southport in mid channel. You can get out of the vehicle once underway and walk around or go to the observation deck on the superstructure. We had a rough crossing today because of winds and the folks who chose to stand up at the front of the boat were fairly-well doused with one wave after another. A real water ride if you will.
As we closed on the Southport dock, i saw the remains of the forward light station of what used to be the Price's Creek Range Lights which were built in the late 1850s and served as a Confederate signal station during the Civil War. I have written a lot about this in my Running the Blockade blog.
A Nautical Voyage. --RoadDog
Tuesday, October 7, 2014
When Is a Swash a Swash: The Swash Defense Dam
From Wikipedia.
The definition of swash is a geographic term for the turbulent wave of water that washes up onto the beach after an incoming wave has broken. I have often seen these but referred to them as foam. Now I know the technical term is Swash.
The action of the swash moves materials up and down the beach which results in cross-shore sediment exchange.
There are two stages of the swash. The first is referred to as uprush (or shore flow). The other is backwash (off shore flow).
Construction of manmade seawalls is a common tool used to protect beach property.
Now You and I Know. --RoadDog
The definition of swash is a geographic term for the turbulent wave of water that washes up onto the beach after an incoming wave has broken. I have often seen these but referred to them as foam. Now I know the technical term is Swash.
The action of the swash moves materials up and down the beach which results in cross-shore sediment exchange.
There are two stages of the swash. The first is referred to as uprush (or shore flow). The other is backwash (off shore flow).
Construction of manmade seawalls is a common tool used to protect beach property.
Now You and I Know. --RoadDog
N.C.'s "The Rocks": New Inlet and Swash Defense Dams
"The Rocks" are a popular fishing spot (not to mention crabbing). There is a boat launch there as well for the fishermen.
I did find some confusion as to the two dams, with the New Inlet Dam referred to in several places as also being the Swash Defense Dam. But I believe that there are two different dams with the New Inlet Dam connection Federal Point with Zeke's Island and the Swash Defense Dam connecting Zeke's Island with Smith Island by the old entrance (and now the only one) to the Cape Fear River.
The Army Corps of Engineers which maintains the two dams also refers to them as separate ones.
A Dam By Any Other name Would Still Be a Dam. --RoadDog
I did find some confusion as to the two dams, with the New Inlet Dam referred to in several places as also being the Swash Defense Dam. But I believe that there are two different dams with the New Inlet Dam connection Federal Point with Zeke's Island and the Swash Defense Dam connecting Zeke's Island with Smith Island by the old entrance (and now the only one) to the Cape Fear River.
The Army Corps of Engineers which maintains the two dams also refers to them as separate ones.
A Dam By Any Other name Would Still Be a Dam. --RoadDog
Monday, October 6, 2014
North Carolina's "The Rocks"-- Part 5: Construction of It
Henry Bacon, Sr. designed and supervised the construction of the coquina and granite seawall. The foundation of which was made by sinking a line of mattresses filled with logs, brush, shells and stones. Three floating derricks were used (one steam powered) were then used to place the heavy rocks on the mattresses. The rocks were then covered with coquina.
The New Inlet Dam was finished in 1881 and effectively closed off New Inlet from land out to Zeke's Island.
Eight years later Bacon completed the Swash Defense Dam from Zeke's Island to Smith's Island, a dam that was twice as long as "The Rocks." In the years since, shifting sand has formed a barrier line stretching the whole length from Fort Fisher all the way to Smith Island.
--RoadDog
The New Inlet Dam was finished in 1881 and effectively closed off New Inlet from land out to Zeke's Island.
Eight years later Bacon completed the Swash Defense Dam from Zeke's Island to Smith's Island, a dam that was twice as long as "The Rocks." In the years since, shifting sand has formed a barrier line stretching the whole length from Fort Fisher all the way to Smith Island.
--RoadDog
North Carolina's "The Rocks"-- Part 4: Building Them
It was surprisingly difficult to find information about Wilmington's "Rocks" which closed off the New Inlet of the Cape Fear River. This inlet was formed in a huge storm in the 1700s and provided a second inlet to the Cape Fear River in North Carolina.
During the Civil War, this inlet was the one favored by the fleet blockade-runners bringing supplies into the Confederacy and bringing the valuable cotton out. New Inlet was protected by massive Fort Fisher.
After the war, it was decided that New Inlet would have to be closed in order to prevent sanding over of the Cape Fear River Channel. This job was assigned to Henry Bacon, Sr., a civil engineer living in Illinois. In the 1870s, he moved his family to Wilmington, North Carolina where he was assigned to the Wilmington office of the U.S. Engineer Department to take charge of the New Inlet Dam and Swash Defense Dam, two projects that proved to be a major engineering feat.
--RoadDog
During the Civil War, this inlet was the one favored by the fleet blockade-runners bringing supplies into the Confederacy and bringing the valuable cotton out. New Inlet was protected by massive Fort Fisher.
After the war, it was decided that New Inlet would have to be closed in order to prevent sanding over of the Cape Fear River Channel. This job was assigned to Henry Bacon, Sr., a civil engineer living in Illinois. In the 1870s, he moved his family to Wilmington, North Carolina where he was assigned to the Wilmington office of the U.S. Engineer Department to take charge of the New Inlet Dam and Swash Defense Dam, two projects that proved to be a major engineering feat.
--RoadDog
North Carolina's "The Rocks"-- Part 3: Two Notables Buried at Wilmington's Oakdale Cemetery
The man who engineered and oversaw the construction of "The Rocks" which closed off New Inlet, the favored blockade-runner point is buried at Oakdale Cemetery in Wilmington, Henry Bacon, Sr.. So is his son, who is notable for another architectural gem in Washington, D.C..
That son is Henry Bacon, Jr., who designed many important buildings, but his best known one is the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C..
Most of the family is buried at Oakdale Cemetery as well. All buried in Section D, Lot 20, but the last one.
HENRY BACON, SR.:Born August 17, 1822 in Natick, Massachusetts. Died April 12, 1891
HENRY BACON, JR.:Born Nov. 28, 1866 in Watseka, Illinois. Died Feb. 16, 1924 in New York, NY.
ELIZABETH KELTON BACON: Mother of Henry, Jr., James, Katherine and George: Born Oct. 26, 1831, in Massachusetts. Died May 12, 1912, in Winchester, Massachusetts.
JAMES HAYWOOD BACON: Born 1859 in Chicago. Died Jan. 4, 1924 in New York.
KATHERINE BACON McKAY: Born 1858 in Chicago. Died Oct. 17, 1949, in Wilmington.
WILLIAM BERRY McKAY, Katherine's husband. Born 1852 in Wilmington. Died Nov. 16, 1928.
GEORGE FISHER BACON: 1862-1884. I did not find out where he was buried.
A Family That Did Some Moving. --RoadDog
That son is Henry Bacon, Jr., who designed many important buildings, but his best known one is the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C..
Most of the family is buried at Oakdale Cemetery as well. All buried in Section D, Lot 20, but the last one.
HENRY BACON, SR.:Born August 17, 1822 in Natick, Massachusetts. Died April 12, 1891
HENRY BACON, JR.:Born Nov. 28, 1866 in Watseka, Illinois. Died Feb. 16, 1924 in New York, NY.
ELIZABETH KELTON BACON: Mother of Henry, Jr., James, Katherine and George: Born Oct. 26, 1831, in Massachusetts. Died May 12, 1912, in Winchester, Massachusetts.
JAMES HAYWOOD BACON: Born 1859 in Chicago. Died Jan. 4, 1924 in New York.
KATHERINE BACON McKAY: Born 1858 in Chicago. Died Oct. 17, 1949, in Wilmington.
WILLIAM BERRY McKAY, Katherine's husband. Born 1852 in Wilmington. Died Nov. 16, 1928.
GEORGE FISHER BACON: 1862-1884. I did not find out where he was buried.
A Family That Did Some Moving. --RoadDog
Saturday, October 4, 2014
More Stuff to See Along Illinois' Route 66
From the August 22, 2014, Route 66 News.
Being a firm fan of Illinois' stretch of Route 66 (and my second favorite stretch after Missouri) I was interested in seeing this article. The Illinois Route 66 Byway project is planning new wayside kiosks and shadow statues along the route from Godley to Staunton.
GODLEY-- Miner and mule for its mining operations.
ELWOOD-- Rosie the Riveter for the Elwood Arsenal factory
PONTIAC-- Motorcycle police at the State Police HQ.
McLEAN-- Dixie gas attendant.
ELKHART-- Shirley Temple to commemorate her visit to the House By the Side of the Road Cafe in 1930.
SHERMAN-- Wayside Park
GILLESPIE-- Miner
BENLD-- Coliseum Ballroom dancers
STAUNTON-- Illinois Traction System-- electric railroad before Route 66 was there.
Just a Bunch More to See. --RoadDog
Being a firm fan of Illinois' stretch of Route 66 (and my second favorite stretch after Missouri) I was interested in seeing this article. The Illinois Route 66 Byway project is planning new wayside kiosks and shadow statues along the route from Godley to Staunton.
GODLEY-- Miner and mule for its mining operations.
ELWOOD-- Rosie the Riveter for the Elwood Arsenal factory
PONTIAC-- Motorcycle police at the State Police HQ.
McLEAN-- Dixie gas attendant.
ELKHART-- Shirley Temple to commemorate her visit to the House By the Side of the Road Cafe in 1930.
SHERMAN-- Wayside Park
GILLESPIE-- Miner
BENLD-- Coliseum Ballroom dancers
STAUNTON-- Illinois Traction System-- electric railroad before Route 66 was there.
Just a Bunch More to See. --RoadDog
Friday, October 3, 2014
North Carolina's "The Rocks"-- Part 2: A Mighty Big Crab
"The Rocks" are a pile of rocks (hence the name) covered with some sort of outer surface, perhaps asphalt, but in places the outer covering has broken down and fallen in, making for some dangerous passing to avoid the jumbled rocks. There are usually some people fishing or crabbing off them and some just walking.
It is probably almost a mile out to Zeke's Island, maybe more. We have never walked it ourselves, but my parents did way back in the late 1940s and said it is a long way.
I remember one time when our grandfather was fishing and got his line snagged on a rock out in the water. He wanted Bob or me to go out and unsnag it, but we had just caught a huge blue crab out near it so neither of us would go out there to unsnag it. Those big pincers and toes would not be a good combination we reasoned. Grandfather was not happy when he had to cut his line.
And, besides, perhaps that big ol' blue crab had family out there who now had a vendetta against our family.
We'll Take a Pass on the Big Pincers. --RoadDog
It is probably almost a mile out to Zeke's Island, maybe more. We have never walked it ourselves, but my parents did way back in the late 1940s and said it is a long way.
I remember one time when our grandfather was fishing and got his line snagged on a rock out in the water. He wanted Bob or me to go out and unsnag it, but we had just caught a huge blue crab out near it so neither of us would go out there to unsnag it. Those big pincers and toes would not be a good combination we reasoned. Grandfather was not happy when he had to cut his line.
And, besides, perhaps that big ol' blue crab had family out there who now had a vendetta against our family.
We'll Take a Pass on the Big Pincers. --RoadDog
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)