Let Me Take You Down To The Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel

My first time I ever road on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel I was in my early 50s.  I made the trip by myself.  To say the least it was like an outer body experience. I was going over with a buyer to view property.  I kept my cool so my buyer never knew I was white knuckle to whole time over and back.  

What might be a scary trip for some is thrilling for others when it comes to crossing nearly 20 miles of this bridge and tunnel system.

If you’ve never had to cross the Chesapeake Bay from the Delmarva Peninsula to the Eastern Shore of Virginia, then you probably wouldn’t know about the Chesapeake Bay-Bridge Tunnel. In this quiet, unsuspecting southern location, there’s a bridge that spans from one piece of land to the other, covering a distance of nearly 20 miles. When one thinks of a bridge system, they typically think of a series of bridges that connects various pieces of land within a bay – rather than a bridge that spans across an entire bay, with no land in between, for miles and miles on end.

The Chesapeake Bay-Bridge Tunnel is a modern feat of engineering but it’s also considered to be one of the scariest roads – or bridges, technically – in the country. For those who have a fear of heights, open spaces, or open water, it’s not destined to be the more thrilling of experiences. However, depending on your take about having the chance to drive across what was once considered one of seven global engineering wonders, it can also be a truly humbling experience.

Crossing The Bay In An Extreme Way

When travelers come up to this extensive water crossing, it’s more akin to looking at a giant concrete serpent that’s snaking through the water, all the way to a sight unseen. It boasts a different kind of awe than bridges carved out by nature, but even so, it’s easy to imagine the bridge itself coming alive to take on some form of a sea monster that resembles Loch Ness, with each rise and fall of the bridge being a hump on the monster’s back. In reality, it’s a mix of concrete, cement, asphalt, and steel that make up this immoveable giant, and it truly is a masterpiece.

The bridge itself is not very wide and allows only enough room for two passing lanes of cars, with two, two-lane bridges running parallel to each other, side by side, for almost 20 miles. It’s the kind of bridge that you don’t want to get caught on during windy weather or a rainstorm and especially not in traffic (which does happen). As opposed to a suspension bridge, the Bay-Bridge Tunnel doesn’t have the height of other bridges, making drivers feel as though they’re driving just over the surface of the water with not much distance between their cars and the lapping waves below… and this is all before reaching the first tunnel.

On a clear, sunny day, the drive across the bridge is absolutely stunning. However, there are also two tunnels that make up parts of this bridge, each just over a mile long in length. These tunnels were built to allow cargo ships to cross, as shipment in and out of this bay is too frequent to permit only a bridge. Therefore, it’s not an uncommon sight to watch a cargo ship pass by over the tunnel drivers are about to descend into and, when you come up on the other side it’s not unusual to see the cargo ship on the other side of the tunnel in your rearview mirror.

The best way to describe it is tripping and slightly unnerving, but altogether amazing nonetheless. The tunnels themselves are simple, tiled walls, with slightly curved sides that make drivers feel as though they’re speeding through a subway station. It’s always important to stay alert both in tunnels and on the bridge.

No Pulling Off

The second thing that many drivers realize is that there’s nowhere to pull off to the side of the bridge. Along the way, there are some wider shoulders that allow for two, maybe three cars, to pull to the side in the event of an emergency, but that’s it. Therefore, once a person has committed, they’re pretty much in it for the full 20-minute drive across open water. Fear not, though – an artificial island created in the center of the Bridge-Tunnel not only allows drivers to take a break but is also home to a small restaurant and gift shop. However, travelers won’t have the chance to explore this unique stop-off point until 2024 as another tunnel section at the Thimble Shoal Channel is currently being constructed.

For over 57 years since its completion in 1964, the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel has garnered global attention as a mind-boggling engineering wonder and an incredible East Coast travel convenience. In fact, it commanded so much marvel and awe that it was selected during a worldwide competition as one of “The Seven Engineering Wonders of the Modern World” after its grand opening on April 15, 1964.

The competition also included over a hundred other major global projects, which just goes to show how unbeatable the bridge was as a sample of extreme technological, mechanical, and architectural amazement that impressed the entire planet at the time. Further to this esteemed award, it was branded a “The Outstanding Civil Engineering Achievement” by the American Society of Civil Engineers in 1965 – just a year after it took the world by storm.

In its heyday, it was also the largest consecutive bay-bridge crossing in the world, and while it’s now one of, its incredible construction is no less impressive or humbling. With an extensive working of tressels, roadways, and four artificial islands that were sunk 40 feet below the surface to create the gradual descending of each tunnel, the CBBT might be scary for some, but it’s a true marvel for most of the world’s population.

Furthermore, it’s not just for its modern architectural and technological wonder for which it’s been celebrated with such esteemed awards; the bridge-tunnel also offers the utmost convenience and is an exceptional travel hack for those on the East Coast. Crossing over and under open waters where the Chesapeake Bay meets the Atlantic Ocean, it offers a direct and easy link between South-eastern Virginia and the Delmarva Peninsula (comprising Delaware and the Eastern Shore counties in Maryland and Virginia). Overall, the connection chops off a whopping 95 miles from the route between Virginia Beach and areas north of Wilmington, which all in all makes a massive difference to everyone’s gas consumption as well as their driving time.

Also, to meet future traffic demands and offer a safer crossing, a parallel crossing project commenced in the summer of 1995, opening four lanes on the bridge for traffic upon its completion on April 19, 1999. This extra construction project was just as challenging as building the bridge-tunnel itself, and once again earned the world’s attention for being a tremendous example of a modern engineering achievement.

What’s more, over 150 million commercial and passenger vehicles have crossed the insta-worthy bridge-tunnel so far in the current day, proving it to be an indispensable path that has changed the commutes of many in the region.

Facts

The Chesapeake Bay Bridge–Tunnel is a 17.6-mile bridge–tunnel that crosses the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay between Delmarva and Hampton Roads in the U.S. state of Virginia. It opened in 1964, replacing ferries that had operated since the 1930s. Wikipedia

Total length: 92,848′

Construction started: October 26, 1960

Opened: April 15, 1964

Clearance below: 40′

Bridge type: Bridge–tunnel

Architecture firm: Sverdrup & Parcel

Location: Virginia Beach, Cape Charles

Cars $14 (Each direction & off-peak. $18 Peak. Round trip discount available.) E-ZPass

IRIS: The Plant That Keeps on Giving

I love the Iris plants, this flowering plant was also one of my mother’s favorite flowers. Some states even have an Iris Festival yearly. The one near me is in Richmond Va and it is a wonderful way to spend the day. So let’s talk Iris talk now.

With many different types and colors available, there is an iris for nearly every garden. Named after the Greek goddess of the rainbow, irises bring color to the garden in spring and summer. The vast majority are hybrids with the most popular being bearded irises. Other popular varieties include Siberian and Japanese irises, Louisiana irises which are native to North America, and Dutch hybrids.

Height/Spread:

Irises come in many different sizes, some as short as six inches and others can grow up to four feet.

Dwarf varieties 6 to 12 inches tall and wide.

Dutch varieties 1-1/2 to 2 feet tall and 6 to 12 inches wide.

Tall bearded varieties range from 2 to 4 feet tall and 1-1/2 to 2 feet wide.

Exposure:

Irises need full sun at least half the day. Some varieties will tolerate part shade such as Siberian irises and Pacific Coast natives (Iris innominata, Iris tenax, Iris macrosiphon and Iris douglasiana). Many irises will grow in total shade, but they most likely won’t flower.

Bloom Time:

The majority of irises will bloom in spring or summer. Dwarf varieties tend to bloom earlier in spring, with intermediate sizes blooming later spring, and taller bearded varieties blooming late spring and summer. Reblooming varieties will produce flowers once in summer and again in fall.

Color:

There is an extremely wide variety of colors, ranging from white to almost black; although most common in shades of lavender, purple, white and yellow.

Toxicity:

Iris are known to be toxic to pets, with the bulb being the most toxic part.

TYPES OF IRISES

There are 2 main groups of irises: rhizomatous and bulbous. The bulbous irises bloom in late spring, while the rhizomatous irises bloom during summer.

Rhizomatous irises:

Grown from rhizomes (a type of bulb) and can be further divided into 3 categories:

Bearded: Bearded irises are the most widely grown and get their name from the prominent ‘beard’ of white or colored hairs in the center of each fall (outer surrounding petals). Many varieties will produce multiple flowers per stem and are available in a wide range of colors.

Beardless: Beardless irises include the Siberian, Japanese, Pacific Coast and Louisiana types, and all have smooth falls. Siberian irises are known to be highly adaptable and a good choice for low maintenance mixed borders. Japanese and Louisiana varieties are better suited for moist to wet soils, while the Pacific Coast varieties are best in milder climates with winter rain and drier summers.

Crested: Crested irises do well in full sun or partial shade areas in moist, humus-rich soil.

Bulbous irises:

This group includes the Dutch hybrids and the smaller reticulated or dwarf irises. They all shed their leaves after the blooming season and go into a dormant phase over summer. Dutch hybrids tend to bloom earlier than the tall bearded rhizomatous varieties and are the well-known variety featured in florist’s spring bouquets. Reticulated irises are well-suited for growing in groups, but should be divided every two to three years to prevent overcrowding. They are also good for rock gardens and forcing in pots.

PLANTING IRISES

When to plant:

The best time to plant iris rhizomes or bulbs is late summer to early autumn to allow them plenty of time to establish roots before the growing season ends. In hotter climates, they can be planted in September or October.

Where to plant:

 Choose a sunny location for your irises where they won’t be subject to standing water. Raised beds are ideal for growing irises, as they provide the good drainage needed.

How to plant:

Prepare the planting beds up to two weeks ahead by loosening soil to a depth of 10-12 inches to establish good drainage. At this time, organic matter can also be mixed in. Iris rhizomes should be planted so that they are slightly visible on the soil surface, or thinly covered in warmer climates. They can be top dressed with a low-nitrogen fertilizer (avoid high-nitrogen as it can cause rot). Make 2 rows in the soil with a small ridge in between. Place the rhizome on the ridge and spread the roots to either side. Steve Schreiner, of Schreiner’s Iris Gardens in Oregon, says, “There are two reasons irises don’t bloom: planted too deep or not enough sun.” Iris bulbs, such as Dutch irises, should be planted at a depth of 5 inches, pointed end up and roots down, spacing them at 6 bulbs per square foot.

Soil:

Most irises prefer average to fertile, neutral to slightly acidic, well-drained soil. However, Japanese irises prefer lime-free soil.

IRIS CARE

Maintenance:

Cut back the flowering stalks after flowering, but leave the foliage intact so it can continue to gather and store nutrients and energy to be stored for the following season. Trim leaves off at ground level after they turn yellow in fall; this will reduce the possibility of overwintering diseases or pests.

Dividing Iris Rhizomes:

Rhizomatous types need to be divided every 3-5 years, typically soon after bloom time. A reduction in blooming or rhizomes being pushed up out of the soil can be signs that it’s time to dig them up and divide. If this is a dividing year, don’t cut the foliage back – so you know where they are. Dig the rhizomes up carefully and divide them by pulling apart with your hands. Some, however, may need to be cut with a knife. Healthy rhizomes will be approximately ¾ to 1-inch in diameter, with a good root structure and one to two leaf fans. Older or unhealthy (soft, rotting, or hollow) rhizomes should be discarded. Wash the roots with water and inspect for disease or pests, especially iris borer worms. Trim the leaves to 4 to 6 inches and re-plant as above, with the rhizome on a ridge and roots fanned out. Water newly planted irises well.

Amendments & Fertilizer:

Apply a low-nitrogen fertilizer a month before bloom time. Mulch should not be used on top of rhizomes or near the foliage as it can cause rot. For reblooming varieties, apply a light application of fertilizer following the first bloom and water regularly during summer dry periods for an improved second bloom in fall.

Watering:

Irises generally have low water requirements once established, but can use a little extra if unusually dry just before bloom time. Louisiana, Siberian and Japanese irises need more water than the bearded types.

Propagation:

Although irises can be started from seed, it may be a couple of years before they bloom. Most often, they are propagated by division of the bulbs or rhizomes in late summer or early fall.

Diseases and Pests:

Irises can be severely damaged by iris borers and thrips if not controlled. Whiteflies, slugs, snails, aphids and nematodes may also be a nuisance. Deer will seldom harm irises, but may occasionally bite off the blossoms of the crested types, although will usually spit them out and leave them behind. Irises may also be affected by bacterial leaf blight, rhizome rot, leaf spot, rust, and viruses.

Other:

All parts of irises may cause severe discomfort if ingested. Gloves should be worn when handling iris plants, rhizomes, or bulbs, as the sap can cause skin irritation.

So get some bulbs, ask a friend when they divide there’s for some and plant! You will be amazed! 

You Waited a Decade to See this Bloom: But Oh That Smell! 

Not all Flowers smell wonderful when they bloom. They may be beautiful but the smell you may not like. Even if the flower is very rare.

In previous years, corpse flower blooms have drawn large crowds and three-hour wait times. What makes this stinky flora so special?

The corpse flower smells like… well, a dead body. Given its rotting odor, the plant, whose technical name is Amorphophallus titanum has also been dubbed the corpse bride, corpse plant, and the world’s smelliest flower.

The plant’s smell has also been likened to “Limburger cheese, garlic, rotting fish, and smelly feet.”

The titan arum is a flowering plant, native to Indonesia’s island of Sumatra. The plant’s full bloom only once every seven to ten years. This rare event only lasts 24 to 36 hours. Generally, the flower will open mid-afternoon and stay open all through the night and into the next morning.

The corpse flower is classified as endangered, with fewer than 1,000 individuals left in the wild. Flower enthusiasts travel from all over the world to witness this infrequent occurrence. Visitors will return day after day to conservatories, greenhouses, and botanical gardens with a predicted corpse flower bloom so as not to miss the short window.

Why does it smell?

The corpse flower’s scent is a chemical combination of dimethyl trisulfide, isovaleric acid, dimethyl disulfide, benzyl alcohol, indole, and trimethylamine. The odor is meant to mimic decomposition in order to attract its native pollinators– carrion beetles and flesh flies– who are drawn to the smell of decaying meat.

The potency of the stench gradually increases from late evening until the middle of the night– when pollinators are most active. The smell tapers off in the morning.

The titan arum’s inflorescence can reach more than 10 feet in height. And just the leaf structure alone can reach up to 20 feet tall and 16 feet across. The plants underground stem, or corm, can weigh up to 110 pounds.

But blooming does not mark the end of the corpse flower’s lifecycle. If pollinated, the titan arum will produce fruit for about the next nine months. Once the fruit has ripened, the plant will die and emerge again as a leaf after a yearlong period of dormancy, then begin its lifecycle again.

Where can I see a corpse flower bloom?

Titan arum are native to Indonesia, but there are botanists around the world who cultivate the plants. Corpse flowers are in cultivation in Europe, North & South America, Australia, and Asia. Check out your local botanical gardens to see if a corpse flower near you is blooming in 2022!

A Few Hearsay about Founding Mothers, Not kidding!

We all can picture the Founding Fathers, gathered in Independence Hall in Philadelphia, debating what to do about tyrannical Britain, and finally signing their names onto the Declaration of Independence. But what about the Founding Mothers? Often the women of revolutionary America are entirely forgotten. But women were alive during the Revolutionary War and did things worthy of remembrance just like male counterparts. During this time women were often relegated to the home and expected to behave and not make waves. But did they? Let’s examine some myths about women during the Revolutionary War and try to find the truth.

1. Women did not own businesses or have employment outside of the home.

This one is unequivocally false. Thousands of women in colonial America had paying jobs outside of the home. Some even ran their own businesses. Just two such women were Betsy Ross and Mary Katherine Goddard.

Mary Katherine Goddard’s name at the bottom of the Declaration of Independence.

CREDIT: Library of Congress

Mary Katherine Goddard (alternately spelled Katharine) is someone you’ve probably never heard of. She owned a publishing house in Baltimore, Maryland. In addition to her printing business, she ran the Baltimore post office, a bookstore, and published a newspaper, the Maryland Journal. Goddard was the first printer to publish the Declaration of Independence in its entirety. Previously only the text of the declaration and John Hancock’s name had been printed. With Goddard’s printing, all the signers names were included and she included her name at the bottom as well, making her a defacto signer of the Declaration. By including her name, she was putting herself at risk for treason charges as well. Goddard bravely used her company in aid to the Revolution at a time when women in business and politics was rare.

CREDIT: Library of Congress

Betsy Ross, along with her husband John Ross, were upholsterers in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She actively worked and made money as an upholsterer and may have sewn and sold flags during the last few years of the Revolutionary War. One of the Ross’ best-known customers was General George Washington. According to period sources, on September 23, 1774, Washington made a payment for three bedcoverings to “Mr. Ross the upholsterer” in Philadelphia. It is more than likely that Mrs. Ross assisted in the creation of these bedcoverings for Washington.

Side Myth: While Betsy Ross was an upholsterer and may have made flags, there is little to no evidence to support the claim that she made the first American flag at the behest of General Washington. The first mention of Ross making the flag comes from her grandson, William Canby, in 1870. He introduced his evidence to the Historical Society of Pennsylvania in the hopes that his grandmother would be remembered for her accomplishments. His evidence was made up of affidavits from family members, none of whom were alive when the supposed flag making took place. Canby claimed that he heard his grandmother time and again tell the story of how Washington came to her to ask her to make the flag. Unfortunately, there is no definitive historical evidence that can be found tying Washington and Ross to the creation of the American flag. We may never know exactly how, when, and by whom, the first American flag was created but we do know that she had a job that brought in money.

2. Women were not involved in the war efforts and did not participate in the Revolutionary War.

False! In fact, women were a constant presence in military camps throughout the Revolutionary War. There were thousands of camp followers including women and children. They were there for different reasons. Some were following their husbands or another male family member, while others were looking for steady employment and got jobs as laundresses or cooks. Martha Washington, for instance, stayed at every winter encampment with her husband during the war. While in camp, she formed sewing circles to make socks and clothing for the soldiers and organized aid and supplies for the hundreds of ailing men. Not all women stayed in camp though. There were some who actually got involved in the fighting and served in the thick of battles. Deborah Sampson, Mary Ludwig Hays McCauley, and Margaret Cochran Corbin were just some of the women known to have fought on the front lines.

Deborah Sampson was a teacher and a weaver, but in 1782, after years of war, she decided to join the fight. She dressed as a man and joined the Fourth Massachusetts Regiment as Robert Shurtleff. She was an adept soldier, participating in hand-to-hand combat and even leading a group to capture 15 men holed up in a Tory home. At one point, Sampson was shot in the left thigh and to escape detection she dug the bullet out herself. She was finally discovered about a year and half into her service when she became ill and lost consciousness. Sampson was honorably discharged on October 23, 1783 and received a pension from the Massachusetts government for her military service.

Molly Pitcher c. 1911. Legend

CREDIT E. Percy Moran/Library of Congress

Mary Ludwig Hays McCauley and Margaret Cochran Corbin have very similar stories: both women were camp followers; both women were tasked with bringing water to the front lines during battle; and when their husbands collapsed, both women stepped up to man the cannons and continued fighting until the battle concluded. McCauley (Hays at the time) was at the Battle of Monmouth on June 28, 1778. Her husband collapsed from supposed heat exhaustion while manning his cannon, she stepped up, and took her husband’s place. Multiple soldiers at that battle corroborate McCauley’s story.

Corbin was at the Battle of Fort Washington on November 16, 1776 when her husband was killed. Her story is a bit different because she was wounded in the process, sustaining three gunshot wounds. Corbin survived the battle and successfully gained a pension along with a clothing allowance. After her death in 1800, she was buried along the shore of the Hudson River but was later reinterred at the United States Military Academy at West Point, the only female Revolutionary War veteran buried there. Both McCauley and Corbin are believed to be the inspiration for the legend of Molly Pitcher.

3. Women were demure, stayed at home, and did not get involved in political discourse or activities.

CREDIT Robert Sayer and John Bennett/Library of Congress

This could not be more wrong. While many or most women did shy away from political discourse and public acts, there are many examples that prove this was not universally the case. The best example comes from the Edenton Tea Party. We all know of the December 16, 1773 Boston Tea Party that was accomplished by an all-male band of Massachusetts colonists. The Edenton Tea Party occurred about a year later in Edenton, North Carolina. A group of 51 women, led by Penelope Barker, gathered for a meeting of the Edenton Ladies Patriotic Guild on October 25, 1774. They drank a concoction of local tea referred, to as “balsamic Hyperion,” and drafted a notice of protest against the British Tea Act of 1773. They wrote up a resolution stating their displeasure with the taxes and vowed to not buy British tea or cloth. News of the resolution made its way throughout the colonies and over to England where political cartoons satirizing the women were published. There is even some evidence that women took this a step further and burned their tea in Wilmington, North Carolina sometime in 1775.

On the other side of the fight was Molly Brandt, who was deeply involved in the Revolutionary War as a Loyalist. Brandt was a Mohawk Indian who spent a considerable amount of time gathering Native support for the British. She believed that native peoples would be best treated under British rule and she successfully brought five of the six Iroquois tribes to the British side. Because of her Loyalist leanings, her property in New York was taken by Patriots and she, along with thousands of other Mohawks, fled across the border to the Canadian frontier in November 1777. After the war Brandt and her brother Thayendanegea (also known as Joseph) successfully petitioned the British government for a pension. Today, Brandt is known as one of Canada’s Founding Mothers.

There are many myths surrounding Founding Mothers. By examining just a few myths, it is easy to see that women were involved in almost every aspect of the Revolutionary War. The women mentioned above, and countless others, all helped to shape this country into what it is today. They played a significant role in the political discourse of the era at a time when women were expected to stay home and take care of the family. While their stories may have been fictionalized over time, these women should be remembered for their lasting impact on America since the founding of this country.

Founding Leaders:  Age Was Not A Factor

How old were the Founding Fathers when the Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776?

It’s a simple question—perhaps so basic that it’s been overlooked: How old were the leaders of the American Revolution?

As it turns out, many Founding Fathers were younger than 40 years old in 1776, with several qualifying as Founding Teenagers or Twentysomethings. And though the average age of the signers of the Declaration of Independence was 44, more than a dozen of them were 35 or younger.

“We tend to see them as much older than they were,” said John Adams biographer David McCullough in a 2005 speech. “Because we’re seeing them in portraits by Gilbert Stuart and others when they were truly the Founding Fathers—when they were president or chief justice of the Supreme Court and their hair, if it hadn’t turned white, was powdered white. We see the awkward teeth. We see the elder statesmen. At the time of the revolution, they were all young. It was a young man’s–young woman’s cause.”

Some were older, like Thomas Jefferson who was 33, John Hancock who was 39, or Benjamin Franklin who was 70. Others were shockingly young — even teenagers. James Monroe, for example, was 18 and Alexander Hamilton was 21.

All Things Liberty compiled a list of the ages of key people during the American Revolution (a period spanning from 1765–1783) when the Declaration of Independence was signed.

 

Andrew Jackson, 9 (this is correct)

(Major) Thomas Young, 12

Deborah Sampson, 15

James Armistead, 15

Joseph Plumb Martin, 15

Peter Salem, 16

Peggy Shippen, 16 (Benedict Arnold wife) 

Marquis de Lafayette, 18

James Monroe, 18

Henry Lee III, 20

Gilbert Stuart, 20

John Trumbull, 20

Aaron Burr, 20

John Marshall, 20

Nathan Hale, 21

Banastre Tarleton, 21

Alexander Hamilton, 21

Benjamin Tallmadge, 22

Robert Townsend, 22

George Rodgers Clark, 23

David Humphreys, 23

Gouveneur Morris, 24

Betsy Ross, 24

William Washington, 24

James Madison, 25

Henry Knox, 25

John Andre, 26

Thomas Lynch, Jr., 26

Edward Rutledge, 26

Abraham Woodhull, 26

Isaiah Thomas, 27

George Walton, 27

John Paul Jones, 28

Bernardo de Galvez, 29

Thomas Heyward, Jr., 29

Robert R. Livingston, 29

John Jay, 30

Tadeusz Kosciuszko, 30

Benjamin Rush, 30

Abigail Adams, 31

John Barry, 31

Elbridge Gerry, 31

Casimir Pulaski, 31

Anthony Wayne, 31

Joseph Brant, 33

Nathanael Greene, 33

Thomas Jefferson, 33

Thomas Stone, 33

William Hooper, 34

Arthur Middleton, 34

James Wilson, 34

Benedict Arnold, 35

Samuel Chase, 35

Thomas Knowlton, 35

William Paca, 35

John Penn, 35

Hercules Mulligan, 36

Andrew Pickens, 36

Haym Solomon, 36

John Sullivan, 36

George Clymer, 37

Charles Cornwallis, 37

Thomas Nelson, Jr., 37

Ethan Allen, 38

Charles Carroll, 38

King George III, 38

Francis Hopkinson, 38

Carter Braxton, 39

George Clinton, 39

John Hancock, 39

Daniel Morgan, 39

Thomas Paine, 39

Patrick Henry, 40

Enoch Poor, 40

John Adams, 40

Daniel Boone, 41

William Floyd, 41

Button Gwinnett, 41

John Lamb, 41

Francis Lightfoot Lee, 41

Paul Revere, 41

Thomas Sumter, 41

Robert Morris, 42

Thomas McKean, 42

George Read, 42

John Dickinson, 43

John Glover, 43

Benjamin Edes, 43

Samuel Huntington, 44

Richard Henry Lee, 44

Charles Lee, 44

Francis Marion, 44

Lord North, 44

George Washington, 44

Joseph Galloway, 45

Robert Treat Paine, 45

Friedrich von Steuben, 45

Richard Stockton, 45

Martha Washington, 45

William Williams, 45

(Dr.) Thomas Young, 45

Josiah Bartlett, 46

Henry Clinton, 46

Joseph Hewes, 46

William Howe, 46

George Ross, 46

William Whipple, 46

Caesar Rodney, 47

John Stark, 47

Mercy Otis Warren, 47

William Ellery, 48

Horatio Gates, 48

Artemas Ward, 48

Oliver Wolcott, 49

Abraham Clark, 50

Benjamin Harrison, 50

Lewis Morris, 50

Lord Stirling, 50

George Wythe, 50

Guy Carleton, 51

John Morton, 51

Comte de Rochambeau, 51

Lyman Hall, 52

James Rivington, 52

Samuel Adams, 53

Comte de Grasse, 53

John Witherspoon, 53

John Burgoyne, 54

Johann de Kalb, 55

Roger Sherman, 55

Thomas Gage, 56

James Smith, 56

Israel Putnam, 58

Comte de Vergennes, 58

Lewis Nicola, 59

George Germain, 60

Philip Livingston, 60

George Taylor, 60

Matthew Thornton, 62

Francis Lewis, 63

John Hart, 65

Stephen Hopkins, 69

Benjamin Franklin, 70

Samuel Whittemore, 81

 

THE INFULENCERS WERE THE 1776 MILLENNIALS

We often envision the founding fathers as “those rich guys in white wigs,” because that’s what we saw in our history books.

What the photos do not accurately portray is how old these “rich guys in white wigs” actually were.

Most of the Founding Fathers were under the age of 40 on July 4, 1776, and would more rightly be considered ‘founding teenagers’ or young adults at the time they submitted the Declaration of Independence.

Among the most notable signers were James Monroe (18), John Marshall (20), Aaron Burr (20), Alexander Hamilton (21), and James Madison (25). Thomas Jefferson, principal author of the document, was only 33.

In comparison to this group of budding and patriotic leaders, today, only 9 of the 435 members of the House of Representatives are under the age of 35 and the youngest member of the senate is 40.

In 1780, when James Madison constructed the Constitution he was 29 and the youngest member of the Continental Congress; At 29, he would be the youngest Congressional member today.

As we celebrate these great men, it is important to remember not only the freedom they envisioned for our nation or the innovation they contributed to a system they saw needed fixing, but also for their young age and what we’d call today their “Millennial” status.

Like the founders, young people have historically been at the forefront of making change. Today, we see that Millennials are more collaborative, more innovative and more interested in making a social impact than past generations, as the 2014 Millennial Impact Report found 92% of Millennials chose careers they felt contributed in making a positive impact on the world.

Take our generation’s passion and multiply it by our size – 80 million strong today. By 2020, we’ll be just under 40% of the eligible voting population. Our generation is a vital asset to government politics.

To finding long-term solutions for future-focused policy issues. Leading this effort are Co-Chairs Congressmen Will Hurd (R-TX) and Congresswomen Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI), alongside over twenty members from both major parties.

Fueled by motivation from the Founding Fathers, and two centuries of young change makers, MAP hopes to mobilize the next generation of leaders. We will continue to find new ways to put millennial voices and millennial leadership at the forefront of Congress, and we hope you’ll join us today.

 

Andrew Jackson, 19

(Major) Thomas Young, 12

Deborah Sampson, 15

James Armistead, 15

Sybil Ludington, 15

Joseph Plumb Martin, 15

Peter Salem, 16

Peggy Shippen, 16 (Benedict Arnold wife)

Marquis de Lafayette, 18

James Monroe, 18

Charles Pinckney, 18

Henry Lee III, 20

Gilbert Stuart, 20

John Trumbull, 20

Aaron Burr, 20

John Marshall, 20

Nathan Hale, 21

Banastre Tarleton, 21

Alexander Hamilton, 21

John Laurens, 21

Benjamin Tallmadge, 22

Robert Townsend, 22

George Rogers Clark, 23

David Humphreys, 23

Gouveneur Morris, 24

Betsy Ross, 24

William Washington, 24

James Madison, 25

Henry Knox, 25

John Andre, 26

Thomas Lynch, Jr., 26

Edward Rutledge, 26

Abraham Woodhull, 26

Isaiah Thomas, 27

George Walton, 27

John Paul Jones, 28

Bernardo de Galvez, 29

Thomas Heyward, Jr., 29

Robert R. Livingston, 29

To Prank Or Not To Prank: April Fools’ Day

As a child or young adult, and maybe even a time or 2 now I loved April Fool’s Day and did my share of pranks. So I became interested in how this day started and why all over the world it is an unofficial day to prank. As myou can tell by now I just love history.

April Fools’ Day—celebrated on April 1 each year—has been celebrated for several centuries by different cultures, though its exact origins remain a mystery. April Fools’ Day traditions include playing hoaxes or practical jokes on others, often yelling “April Fools!” at the end to clue in the subject of the April Fools’ Day prank. While its exact history is shrouded in mystery, the embrace of April Fools’ Day jokes by the media and major brands has ensured the unofficial holiday’s long life.

Origins of April Fools’ Day:

One likely predecessor to the origin of April Fools’ day is the Roman tradition of Hilaria, a spring festival held around March 25 in honor of the first day of the year longer than the night (we call this the vernal equinox, which typically falls on March 20). Festivities included games, processions, and masquerades, during which disguised commoners could imitate nobility to devious ends. They should have stuck with these April Fools’ jokes to make everyone laugh.

It’s hard to say whether this ancient revelry’s similarities to modern April Fools’ Day are legit or coincidence, as the first recorded mentions of the holiday didn’t appear until several hundred years later.

Some historians speculate that April Fools’ Day dates back to 1582, when France switched from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar, as called for by the Council of Trent in 1563. In the Julian Calendar, as in the Hindu calendar, the new year began with the spring equinox around April 1.

People who were slow to get the news or failed to recognize that the start of the new year had moved to January 1 and continued to celebrate it during the last week of March through April 1 became the butt of jokes and hoaxes and were called “April fools.” These pranks included having paper fish placed on their backs and being referred to as “poisson d’avril” (April fish), said to symbolize a young, easily caught fish and a gullible person.

April Fools’ Day, also called All Fools’ Day, in most countries the first day of April. It received its name from the custom of playing practical jokes on this day—for example, telling friends that their shoelaces are untied or sending them on so-called fools’ errands. Although the day has been observed for centuries, its true origins are unknown and effectively unknowable. It resembles festivals such as the Hilaria of ancient Rome, held on March 25, and the Holi celebration in India, which ends on March 31. April Fools’ Day is celebrated on April 1^st each year!

In France reference to a young fish and hence to one that is easily caught; it is common for French children to pin a paper fish to the backs of unsuspecting friends. In Scotland the day is Gowkie Day, for the gowk, or cuckoo, a symbol of the fool and the cuckold, which suggests that it may have been associated at one time with sexual license; on the following day signs reading “kick me” are pinned to friends’ backs. In many countries newspapers and the other media participate—for example, with false headlines or news stories.

Money may not grow on trees, but spaghetti sure does, at least according to one of the most famous April Fools’ Day pranks and hoaxes of all time.

Back on April 1, 1957, Britain’s news show Panorama soberly informed viewers about a spaghetti harvest in southern Switzerland. The pasta was thriving both due to a mild winter and, of course, thanks to the “virtual disappearance of the spaghetti weevil.” Delivering the news was none other than Britain’s hugely respected Richard Dimbleby, who was the BBC’s first war correspondent, and then its leading TV news commentator. The news was greeted with deep enthusiasm because, after all, “for those who love this dish, there’s nothing like real, home-grown spaghetti.”

It’s all part of the annual tradition of marking the beginning of April with April Fools’ Day, when those so inclined prank others in their lives by announcing fake marriages, pregnancies, or the purported purchase of the Liberty Bell by Taco Bell in 1996. You might wonder how all this foolishness got started. What is the origin of April Fools’ Day, and why do we celebrate?

“People glom on to it because it’s hilarious and fun. Yes there have been a lot of nasty jokes played over the years and for some people it’s a way to be malicious to others. At the same time, we all have an innate desire to be mischievous. It’s part of our human nature. April Fools’ Day gives a way to play a prank on someone or a joke without doing too much harm,” says Rob Weiner, pop culture librarian at Texas Tech University.

Britain changed its calendar in 1752, which meant that January 1 marked the beginning of the year. And so it makes sense that the Brits embraced April Fools’ Day in the 18th century, which meant people were sent on phony errands and played pranks like — well, you can imagine. Oh but wait, there’s more. According to History.com, some muse that April Fools’ Day traces its origins to the first day of spring in the Northern Hemisphere. Why? Because Mother Nature is a prickly and surprising creature, and tricks you into believing that warmer temps are here — right before that freak snow storm hits in mid-April.

“What strikes me is the fact that you’ve got these traditions in Ireland, in Scotland, in France. It’s an official holiday in the Ukraine. How did the concept of April Fools’ expand to these different countries? That’s the true mystery,” says Weiner. “My speculation is that the concept of there being a day for fools and pranks — it was transmitted orally. And then it became codified in regular popular culture that the first of April was the day of fools. It’s one of those weird quirks of history that has transcended cultural boundaries.”

But pinning tails on people or covering the toilet with clear saran wrap doesn’t begin to compare to the left-handed Whopper announced by Burger King in 1998. Or the new pizza-flavored seltzer you could ostensibly buy from Bud Light one year, part of a growing tradition of pranks by food brands. April Fools!

The Elegant Jefferson Hotel, Richmond Virginia 

If one has not visited the Jefferson Hotel in Richmond, Virginia, then it must be put on your bucket list! It is truly breathtaking interior and exterior of this Grand Lady! 

I have stayed at the Jefferson in the infamous Room #19.

Room 19 is an upstairs room featuring 1 Full Bed with 201 Square feet. This room is known for its haunted history. There was a bride that hanged herself from this very bed because her husband did not show to the wedding. It is said that she still resides with the antique bed.  I did not see the bride but this room has a special vibe. 

I have eaten at the famous “Lemaire,” a restaurant named after Etienne Lemaire, who served as maitre d’hotel to Thomas Jefferson from 1794 through the end of his presidency. Some of the best meals I ever eaten. 

But let’s not forget the Champagne Sunday Brunch.  One has to book 3 to 4 months out and a year out for special holidays. This is one of the best brunch I have ever eaten. And I am a Brunch lover!  The brunch was suspend during the pandemic of 2020, but according to the hotel they will begin in 2022 at one point.  Just call or check the website for the hotel. 

Not to forget pictures taken on the famous grand staircase and with the bronze alligators.

History:

Tobacco baron Lewis Ginter began building the hotel in 1892 and opened it in 1895. Designed by Carrère and Hastings, the same architecture firm that designed the New York Public Library on Fifth Avenue, the Ponce de Leon Hotel (St. Augustine), Flagler’s Whitehall Mansion (Palm Beach), the House and Senate Office Buildings (Washington, D.C.) and many more.

As a centerpiece for the upper lobby, Ginter commissioned Richmond sculptor Edward V. Valentine to create a life-size image of Thomas Jefferson from Carrara marble. Ginter imported exotic palm trees from Central and South America and purchased hundreds of valuable antiques. The hotel had electric lights, electric elevators, hot and cold water in the guest rooms and a Teleseme (predecessor of the telephone) for room service. Other unusual amenities were a grill room, ladies’ salon, a library, Turkish and Russian baths. The hotel opened on Halloween 1895 for the engagement party for Charles Dana Gibson, the famous illustrator and Irene Langhorne, better known as the Gibson Girl.

In 1901, a fire demolished three-fifths of the building. One hundred guest rooms fronting on Franklin Street were intact and reopened in May of 1902, but major reconstruction was required in the portion facing Main Street and the hotel languished for several more years. Then, in 1905, the furniture and accessories were replaced and marbleized columns and Edwardian and rococo touches were added. The Grand Staircase and the Mezzanine, both formerly enclosed behind arched walls, were opened and the hotel expanded to include 330 new rooms in addition to the 100 remaining from the original structure. In May, 1907, the enlarged hotel was reopened in time for the Jamestown Exposition. The restoration was designed by architect J. Kevan Peebles, who also designed the new wing of the Virginia State Capitol. At about this time, alligators were placed in the marble pools in the Palm Court. Many Richmond citizens donated pet alligators to the hotel. One apocryphal anecdote tells the story of an alligator who crawled out of the pool and into the library where a senior-aged guest mistook the alligator for a footstool. When the “footstool” moved, she became hysterical and ran out screaming. By the time she convinced hotel attendants, the alligator had already slithered back to his watery pool. The last alligator, Old Pompey, remained a guest at the Jefferson pool until he died in 1948.

During World War II, the hotel lodged transient U.S. Army recruits. The stained-glass skylights and windows were taken down not only to conform to blackout requirements, but also to prevent breakage from empty bottles tossed by rowdy soldiers. In March 1944, another fire broke out which took the lives of six people. Soon after the war ended, a gradual decline set in. By 1980 the hotel was closed to everyone except the occasional moviemaker.

After acquisition by the New York-based Sybedon Corporation, renovation began in 1983 and $34 million later, the hotel was reopened on May 6, 1986. Old paint was removed from walls to reveal mahogany paneling and from exterior columns to uncover pure marble. Hand-carved fireplace mantels, ornate ceiling fixtures, wall sconces, writing tables and assorted bric-a-brac were cleaned, polished and restored. Beautiful stained-glass windows were retrieved, refurbished and restored. Decorative carvings on ceilings and gold leaf ornamentation were renovated. An original heavy brass mailbox with an eagle, rosettes and lettering was refinished and placed in the registration area.

On July 2, 1991, the Jefferson was sold to Historic Hotels, Inc., a Richmond-based group of investors. In the next year a multi-million dollar renovation began, which included redecoration of all guest rooms and suites, the Rotunda and the Palm Court, enhanced parking and improved amenities. The hotel’s 155 guest rooms and suites come in 57 different styles, all outfitted with high ceilings, large windows and custom furnishings. A full-service health club is on-site, and the Jefferson Hotel also boasts two of Richmond’s finest restaurants and a Champagne Sunday Brunch.

Among the list of celebrities and notable guests who have visited here are: 13 U.S. Presidents, Charles Lindbergh, Henry Ford, Charlie Chaplin, Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Anthony Hopkins, Whoopi Goldberg, John D. Rockefeller, Jr., Gertrude Stein, General John J. Pershing, Marshall Foch, William Jennings Bryan, Sarah Bernhardt, Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald, Ray Charles, Chief Justice Charles Evans Hughes. Sergei Rachmaninoff played the piano in the Grand Ballroom and Bill (Bojangles) Robinson was “discovered” as he waited tables in the dining room.

For many guests and visitors, the dramatic 36-step polished marble staircase has been the cynosure of all eyes. Since the film classic “Gone With the Wind” was allegedly filmed on the Jefferson Hotel staircase, it is hard to stand at the base without visualizing Rhett Butler carrying Scarlett O’Hara up those stairs.

The Jefferson Hotel is one of only 27 American hotels with both the AAA Five-Diamond and the Forbes Five-Star ratings. It is a member of the Historic Hotels of America and the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

The Grand Lady: 

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places and a charter member of Historic Hotels of America, The Jefferson Hotel is among the most historic travel destinations in the country. In 1892, Lewis Ginter—one of the area’s most colorful characters—decided to construct a magnificent hotel for his beloved city. An estimated $5 to $10 million went into planning, building and furnishing the hotel, with nearly $2 million going toward its three-year construction. But Ginter’s plan to construct an extravagant holiday destination paid off. Thousands of visitors from across the United States flocked to The Jefferson Hotel when it first opened its doors on Halloween Day of 1895. By the end of the decade, The Jefferson Hotel affectionately bore the moniker of “The Belle of the ‘90s.”

Three-fifths of the building’s structure became compromised in 1901 from a tragic accident. Even though 100 guest rooms remained intact, the hotel had trouble recovering. A concerned group of local citizens led, in part, by Lieutenant Governor Joseph Willard then decided to fully renovate The Jefferson Hotel. They hoped to achieve that vision in time for the tercentennial anniversary of the Jamestown Expedition. Through the Jefferson Realty Company, the group initiated an extensive restoration of the building in 1905. Together, they added marbleized columns and applied a combination of rococo aesthetics to the hotel’s interior. The Grand Staircase and the Mezzanine—both formerly enclosed behind arched walls—were opened up and the hotel expanded to include 330 new accommodations. The Jefferson Hotel then held its grand reopening in May of 1907.

During World War II, the hotel lodged transient recruits on their way to one of the war’s many theaters across the globe. The stained-glass skylights and windows were taken down not only to conform to blackout requirements, but also to prevent breakage from empty bottles tossed by the rowdy crowds. In March 1944, another structural mishap befell the hotel, which marked the beginning of a gradual decline in business for The Jefferson Hotel. This period of prolonged decay continued throughout the 1960s and 1970s, despite diligent efforts to attract scores of new patrons. The hotel closed to everyone by 1980, except for when Director Louis Malle used the Grand Ballroom in his film, My Dinner With Andre.

New life entered The Jefferson Hotel when another round of renovations began in 1983. Three years and more than $34 million later, the hotel reopened once more on May 6, 1986. Developers removed layers of paint to reveal the building’s beautiful mahogany paneling and marble columns that others had covered up a few decades prior. The original hardwood and marbling flooring were cleaned and properly polished for the first time in years. Craftsmen resurrected many items, such as hand-carved fireplace mantels, ornate ceiling fixtures, wall sconces, and writing tables. Then in 1991, The Jefferson Hotel became owned by Historic Hotels, Inc., a Richmond-based group of investors unaffiliated with Historic Hotels of America. In the ensuing decades, the hotel has thrived as a cornerstone of Richmond’s social and business scenes. The hotel recently completed a full reconstruction of its guest rooms and suites, as well as a renovation of all public spaces. The future of this legendary hotel has never looked brighter.

Location:

The Jefferson Hotel is located in the heart of downtown Richmond, which is one of the nation’s most historic cities. The hotel itself is mere steps from several of Richmond’s storied historic districts, including the Grace Street Historic District, the Broad Street Commercial Historic District, Oregon Hill Historic District, and Monroe Ward. It is also close to numerous historic sites, such as the Tredegar Iron Works and the Virginia State Capitol. While The Jefferson Hotel has been around since the 1890s, the history of Richmond stretches much farther back to 1737 when English colonists laid down its original street grid. The city has been at the forefront of numerous historical moments throughout America’s past. Richmond was the site of Patrick Henry’s famous “Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death” speech at the onset of the American Revolution. It also served as the capitol of the Confederate States of America during the American Civil War and bore witness to countless battles. It was even involved in the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s, when the Richmond 34 famously protested racial segregation at the lunch counter of the Thalhimers department store. Richmond is truly a fascinating destination rich in history.

Architecture: 

Hailed by the U.S. Department of the Interior as “one of the nation’s most outstanding examples of late-19th century eclectic architecture,” The Jefferson Hotel is a structural masterpiece. Many different architectural flavors permeate throughout the building, most notably Beaux-Arts and Spanish Baroque-style design aesthetics. The first architects to oversee the development of The Jefferson Hotel’s rare appearance was the New York-based firm Carrère and Hastings, which later designed the New York Public Library (now a National Historic Landmark). When the building underwent its second round of renovations in 1905, a new architect named J. Kevan Peebles oversaw the project. Peebles had by that point attracted nationwide praise for his prior work on the Virginia State Capitol. The Jefferson Hotel has since undergone three additional renovations with the most recent starting in 2013.

Ginter spent an estimated $5 to $10 million to finance The Jefferson Hotel’s initial construction. He used his money to lavishly outfit the building with the finest artwork and amenities of its day. Ginter imported exotic vegetation from throughout Latin America and place rare antiques in all the public spaces. An exquisite library appeared inside the structure, as did a ladies’ salon, a grill room, and several billiard halls. Ginter even installed a series of luxurious Turkish and Russian baths throughout the building. The Jefferson Hotel was also among the first structures in downtown Richmond to feature electricity, working telephones, and indoor plumbing.

Perhaps the most ostentatious aspect of The Jefferson Hotel when it first opened was the life-size replica of its namesake, Thomas Jefferson. The centerpiece of the hotel’s main lobby, the statue of the nation’s third president cost Ginter nearly $12,000 to make. He commissioned a local sculpture named Edward V. Valentine for the project, who subsequently used Carrara marble as his material. Valentine was so fully invested in producing an accurate portrayal of Jefferson that he incorporated the design of some of president’s actual clothing into the statue.

Many of The Jefferson Hotel’s interior spaces are an everlasting tribute to the meticulous work done by the original architects. No room reflects this sentiment better than the marvelous Palm Court. The focal point of the Palm Court at The Jefferson Hotel is the circular stained-glass that completes a majority of the room’s 35-foot ceiling. Surrounding the room are 12 stained-glass windows, each vibrant design featuring The Jefferson’s original logo, similar to the crest that is used today. These side-panel windows are believed to been crafted by the famous artisan Louis Tiffany. The stained-glass elements were added to the lobby following the 1901 fire which destroyed two-thirds of the original 1895 structure. The 40-foot ceiling of The Jefferson’s Rotunda lobby features both a massive stained-glass skylight as well as intricately carved plaster featuring an elegant palm frond motif.