Murals of Fort Wayne

Fort Wayne has caught on to the mural trend that has been spreading across the country.  Did you know that Philadelphia has at least 3600 murals?  Richmond, Virginia has over 100.  Fort Wayne is the home to about 264,000 residents with a growing artist community that are making their presence known. 

Yesterday a photography friend and I decided to go on a photo shoot downtown. It was one of my goals to photograph the murals that are scattered throughout the city. This is located at 128 W. Wayne Street and the artist is Tim Parsley. 

As I backed into a small alcove to get the above picture I saw this bit of artwork that I am sure not many people see because of its location. 

This mural is located on Harrison Street in the alley.  I caught a glimpse of it as I was driving past and was anxious to get a better look. The artist is Bryan Ballinger or Breadwig. 

This is Midtowne Crossings Association Mural located at 112 W. Wayne Street by Matthew Plett, who is, also, my neighbor. 

The Wunderkammer Company at 3402 Fairfield Avenue has another one of Matthew Plett's work. This facility is in a constant state of evolution.  

The mural below is located at the back of Wunderkammer.  

Hyde Bookstore at 1428 Wells Street commissioned Julia Meek to paint a depiction of Fort Wayne.  Julia is a local artist and radio host on NPR and she works at Hyde Bookstore on the weekends. A very talented lady. 

Morings flowers located 2135 Wells Street has two murals by artist Andre Talamantes. 

Nosego or Yis Goodwin is the artist for this mythical like creatures located at 816 S. Calhoun on the Pint n Slice building. 

Jerrod Tobias is the artist of the Native American and Wild Boar at The Brass Rail located at 1121 Broadway. 

Tobias also was the artist for the Mural across from the Three Rivers Apartments (below) and

the cardinals on the wall at Studio Seva at 3155 N. Anthony Blvd. 

Mad Anthony Brewing Company at the corner of Broadway and Taylor has this lovely new mural located at the back of their building.  Makes you wish that you were taking a relaxing ride in a boat doesn't it? The artist is Shea Rutherford. 

A couple doors down from Mad Anthony's is 20 Past 4. Their mural is fantastical in nature and I love it. Beam me up Scotty! 

My last mural is also at the Corner of Broadway and Taylor. The artist is Laura Hancock and the entire fence is filled with her artwork.

I felt like a tourist as I wandered my city looking for the bizarre, imaginative, and lovely creations that we call art. We should have tours here and call it Art Around Fort Wayne.  

Hanging Rock and Hathaway Preserve at Ross Run in Lagro, Indiana

A friend and I decided to go on a photo shoot in Lagro, Indiana, not far from Wabash. I never expected to go on a hike that day but we did.  I was not sorry that we went even if it was hot and the bugs thought that we were dinner. 

The first place that we visited was hanging rock. It is located in Lagro and it was lovely to look at from below. I was afraid to climb up to the top because I feared falling and killing myself or ruining my camera, or both. I should have worn hiking boots that day.  

The view of the water was still just as lovely from below and I tried to imagine myself in a boat drifting lazily down stream. You know, there is a peace that comes over you when you are in nature.  Even if we could hear someone mowing their lawn not far away the peace was still there. Sometimes, I feel that way when I am in the garden and my hands are in the dirt. It is like a calm that comes over you and rests with your soul for a bit. 

I love stones. Whenever I am somewhere I look for one to bring back home as a memento of the trip. Sand and shells I bring back with me too.  My dad used to carry a stone in his pocket all of the time.  It could be that I got my love for them from him.  

The next place we went was Hathaway Preserve at Ross Run, about a mile or two from Hanging Rock. It is a place filled with a couple of water falls and surrounding woods and cliffs to look down from.  

We started out in a path and then went back into the woods onto a trail that went two miles around. Because the water wasn't high we were able to walk in the stream in some places. 

The colors of the stones were intense greens and blues that caught my eye as we looked for things to photograph. The deeper we went into the woods there were surprising things that we found. 

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Mushrooms were all over the place and looked sort of like a fairy garden. I expected to see a gnome at any moment or a little fairy fluttering around.

Next, we came upon a log with what appeared to be shells attached to it. I touched them and they were smooth just like a shell. I have no idea what it was or how it got there. You have no idea how badly I wanted a sample of this to bring home. But I respected the sign asking to take nothing and leave nothing. It was hard though. 

A light ray highlighted a insect eaten leaf. It was still strangely beautiful as it stood out from the rest of the vegetation.  

We saw this sight near the end of our hike. It is layered stones. I wondered how this happened as we climbed into the spring to take a closer look. How long did it take for this giant layer of stone to accumulate or is it man made?

 It was a beautiful day to be out and about enjoying the places that I should make more effort in visiting.  Yes it was a bit beyond my comfort zone, but I really enjoyed it. 

The Temple of Tolerance

I don't know how I found it on the internet, but the Temple of Tolerance seemed like a fascinating place to visit.  Wapakoneta, Ohio is only an hour and a half drive from my home.  So, on a blistering hot Saturday we set off to see this backyard wonder that was created by Jim Bowsher.

The GPS announced that we had arrived at our destination in the middle of the block in a residential area.  It was easy to see the place where we had intended to go.  The front yard was only the beginning of our adventure. 

We made our way down the driveway into the back yard. Once there, Jim Bowsher came out and encouraged us to look around and enjoy ourselves.  

I suggested to my nephew and his brother to explore on their own while I looked around.  The place was packed with objects to look at and I wanted to take in as much as I could. 

Once I made it through the maze like path I saw the temple.  The picture doesn't really do it justice nor can you get the sense of how enormous it really is. I climbed the steps to the top. 

There to greet us was two faces that I was understanding were Irish. On top of this was a lamb that I didn't notice until I was looking at the temple from below. 

This is a view of an alter inspired fire pit with other rock collections all around the yard.  

I tried to tune into the vibes of this place as I wandered in awe around the rock sanctuary.  I sat down for a few minutes and breathed in the scent of the spirituality that filled this sacred place. Peace surround me. Jim's soul went into this masterpiece and it can be felt strongly. 

Several family's visited at the same time that we did but they did a quick walk through and was gone. But this isn't how art is to be viewed.  

It is to be savored like a fine wine. Swished around in the senses till the palate is please with the taste of it. Most people look at art but not see it. 

If you are near Wapakoneta, Ohio it is worth your while to stop in to see The Temple of Tolerance.  Even if you are not near it is worth an effort to travel to. 

Royal Baking Powder: "Absolutely Pure" Had its beginnings in Fort Wayne, Indiana

I  watched an episode of Who do you think you are from the UK the other day and was surprised to hear that two of Clare Balding's relatives had their financial success beginnings in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The product her relatives created was Royal Baking Powder. 

The first baking powder consisted of cream of tartar, bicarbonate of soda, and starch. The starch kept the other two ingredients from reacting against each other. 

I spent all morning trying to find a can of Royal Baking Powder, but to no avail. We have Rumford Baking Powder, Argo, and Clabber Girl here; You would think that a city with over 250,000 residents we would have more than three brands of baking powder to offer.  Store brands don't count in my book. 

Let me go back to the beginning, if I may. Brothers Cornelius and Joseph Hoagland formed a partnership in 1865 (the dates vary) to develop a baking powder company and they called it Royal Baking Powder Company.  These men were a firm of druggists and lived in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The baking powder was made with cream of tartar at that time. In 1873, William Zeigler and John H. Seal were brought in as investors. 

"The business grew for three or four years, when it was discovered that alum and soda made a stronger leaven, and cheaper. Worse still, alum was plentiful. Anybody could go into its manufacture, and many did. The Royal, to control the cream of tartar industry, had contracted to take from European countries immense quantities of argol, the wine-lees from which cream of tartar is made. They had to go on making the more expensive baking-powder or break a contract. That would be "bad business."

Later Zeigler claimed to have organized the company and he was the treasurer, but Joseph Hoagland claimed to be president. Hoagland put a lot of money into advertising the brand, spending a half million dollars a year in advertising.  After a few years the partnership broke up. 

I have Argo in my cabinet

Then Alum war began. Why have a war over baking powder? According to Shirley Corriher from her book Bakewise: 

Aluminum-free baking powders react with liquid and not with heat. And that, Corriher explains, makes them "faster acting that most double-acting powders. You need to move fast and get cakes made with [aluminum-free baking powders] into the oven promptly since most of the bubbles are released shortly after mixing." 

Zeigler made his baking powder with alum while the Hoagland's continued to use cream of tartar. Thus the slogan "Absolutely Pure" was put on the product.  Joseph Hoagland moved out of Indiana to New York and continued the operation there. Zeigler disputed the Hoagland's claim to purity, but failed. 

On December 10, 1899 the New York Times published Hoagland's obituary stating that Joseph Hoagland had been the president of the company for over 30 years.  It seems both men made the same claim. 

Today, baking powder labels boast that the product is aluminum free.  More importantly better for you. 
Sources: 

Bakewise by Shirley Corriher

The Baking Powder Controversy, Abraham Cressy Morrison. Published date 1904

www.whatscookingamerica.net/baking-powder

http://beachpackagingdesign.com/boxvox/7-quotes-about-royal-baking-powder

Remember the Clue

The further back in time that you go the harder it is to trace your ancestors. But this last week I had a small break through in the brick wall of my genealogy research and learned a valuable lesson. Pay attention to the names in wills and on marriage certificates. 

In my mind, I could hear the words "remember the clue" from the game You Don't Know Jack as I waded through the mountainous stacks of documents that I have accumulated over the years. I sat at my desk looking through the documents on Archibald Campbell, the patriarch of my family thus far. I relied heavily on a book that I discovered written about my Campbell family and trusted the information that was in the book. That is, until now. 

Archibald Campbell (1728-1801) lived in Bedford County, Virginia. He married a woman named Elizabeth. I searched and searched for a marriage record for Archibald and Elizabeth but couldn't find anything. The numerous county boundary changes didn't help me much either. However, Elizabeth's last name was never mentioned on a document that I found until I started remembering names listed in other documents. The author of the book stated that Elizabeth was a Baker and gave information on the Baker family. There were other's who said that Elizabeth was a Beard. Over the years I collected information on both women and when I had time I would go over the information very carefully. 

I am descended from James Campbell, Archibald's first son. I have James marriage certificate to Jane Means dated April 27, 1784, Campbell County (was formed in 1782 from Bedford County), Virginia. The witnesses were Jane Means, James Robinson (Roberson), Rachel (grand-daughter of John Beard) Robinson and Elizabeth Beard.  Not a Baker was named among them. 

I have a copy of John Beard's will dated April 20, 1780, four years before the marriage of James Campbell and Jane Means, who also lived in Bedford County, Virginia. In the will the following were named: Rachel Robinson, James Robinson, Thomas McReynolds, Elizabeth Campbell (Beard), Charles Hall, James Campbell, and Archibald Campbell. It was Rachel Robinson that was the deciding factor for me.  She was listed in her grandfather's will and as a witness for James Campbell's marriage.  I didn't see any names that looked familiar in the Baker line.  

Charles Hall married Agnes Campbell, Archibald's daughter. Elizabeth Beard, was Elizabeth Campbell's mother. Thomas McReynold's was related through the marriage of Archibald's daughter Nancy who married Samuel McReynold's. 

Now, I can confidently move ahead in my search to the next generation back in time. It is imperative that there is a paper trail confirming what you believe is true. Most of all, don't trust the work of others, even if it is with good intention.  Remember the clue...

The Pandemic Influenza outbreak of 1918-1919

A few years ago, I brought home some pictures of my relatives that was in a box which was about to be thrown out by some cousins who didn't know who the people were in them. I rummaged through the box and brought home all the ones with Smith written on them hoping that someone would help me be able to identify our relatives. 

The picture below was broken off on the lower right corner and the upper portion was missing.  On the back it says: John Smith, Grandfather, Sarah Smith, Amanda, Myrtle, Jim, and Guy. It was taken in the early 1900's. They lived in Marion County, Tennessee at the time of this picture. 

This is the original photograph with a little photoshop work.

In 1918 the world was at war.  In mid November the war came to an end. The soldiers were dispatched back home. And, in 1918, one of the largest, if not the largest Influenza Pandemics took the world by storm. Nearly everyone had a story of someone that they knew who succumbed to the influenza epidemic.  Three children (Amanda, Myrtle, and Guy) of my Smith family passed away in succession. Any yet, you learn almost nothing about the influenza epidemic in school. 

Obituaries of Marion County, Tennessee 1895-1920  (Harris)

There were claims that as many as 50,000 people lost their lives, more than the casualties of WWI. The bubonic plague (black death) killed an estimated 62 million Europeans from 1347-1350. The influenza outbreak moved in swiftly and globally in a short amount of time. It is believed that the returning sailors to Boston was the entering point for this killer of humanity into the United States.  

Image: courtesy of the National Museum of Health and Medicine

As one in four Americans contracted the flu, almost all public gatherings had to be cancelled including church services, schools, and theaters to name a few until the flu ran its course. 

Photo from Wikimedia Commons

So, when you start to feel like you are coming down with the flu or a cold. Stay home, rest, and drink plenty of fluids.  I sure would hate to see this kind of thing happen again. 

Sources: 

Tennessee Magazine story by Bill Carey 2014 
Tennessee Encyclopedia story by Allen R. Coggins 

Is his name Tom or Edgar? Another name changer in the family.

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My great uncle Thomas Woodrow Campbell had another name at birth. His life was a mystery to me for a long time.  I would search and search and couldn't find anything regarding this man. I found him with his parents William Elbert Campbell and Amanda Massey in the 1920 Census in Grundy County, Tennessee, 1930 Census in Walker County, Georgia, and the 1940 Census in Hamilton County, Tennessee.  He was listed as Tom or Thomas on each Census record.  Tom was the only child of my great-grandparents that was born in Kentucky.  My great-grandfather was a coal miner, so, this meant that they moved around a lot. William (Elbert) tried farming, but that didn't work out so well for him and he kept going back to coal mining.

Tennessee didn't start keeping birth and death records until 1910. I was hoping that Kentucky was a bit better about this issue. I put in as many combinations I could think of on Ancestry.com and nothing came up. Then I decided to omit the first name of the child but include the parents names. Et voila! I found a birth index. 

You ask why he changed his name. I asked the same question and will never know.  The thing is, this man was able to get into the army, obtain a Social Security card, and a driver's license without a valid birth certificate that matched his name.  How can people do this?  I was able to find his marriage information eventually but I still cannot find when Uncle Tom passed away. I have hope that I will someday. 

Scotland: The land of stone lifting and burly men in kilts.

Scotland, the land of mountain wildernesses, the thistle, and stone lifting to prove one's manhood. When one of co-workers wheeled himself over to my desk to tell me about Scotland's ancient ritual for men to prove their manhood, I was enthralled. Visions of burly bearded men in kilts danced through my head.

 The stone put is called heavy athletics in the modern day Highland games.  A stone that weighs approximately 20-30 pounds is firmly held with one hand as it rests on the neck of the man before it is flung into the air with amazing agility.  It is said that a clean hand and a dirty neck is the perfect combination for success in this event. 

Stone lifting has been going on in the British Isles, especially Scotland, for a very long time. You were not considered a man until you could life a Manhood Stone to your waist or on top of a stone wall.  The Dinnie Stones are two stones  with metal handles that are lifted simultaneously weighing approximately 734 pounds.  Doing this is not for the faint of heart.  The documentary below is from Rogue and the cinematography is wonderful. Watching this made me want to go to Scotland and witness this manly sporting event.