Cocoa Boosts Memory

One has got to love this:

Eating chocolate has long been known to improve mood and increase blood flow, but new research indicates it may have an even bigger benefit: reducing age-related memory loss. The key ingredient, reports LATimes.com, is epicatechin, a flavanol found in cocoa beans. In a small study, researchers looked at two groups of healthy individuals ages 50 to 69. Half were given a daily drink that contained 900 milligrams of epicatechin, while the others consumed just 10 milligrams a day. After three months, the high-dose group performed significantly better on memory tests, and subsequent brain scans confirmed improved blood flow to the dentate gyrus, a region of the brain that’s been linked to age-related memory loss. Researchers caution that the typical candy bar contains minuscule amounts of the flavanol (with dark chocolate having more than milk chocolate), and that people would have to eat up to 25 chocolate bars a day to get as much as the group in the experiment. “It would make a lot of people happy,” said study author Scott Small, “but it would also make them unhealthy.” Researchers plan another, larger study on the memory-protective effects of epicatechin.

Found this in my favorite magazine, The Week, on November 14, 2014.

Local Quilting Artist

Ms. Cindy Grisdela is a fabulous artist - making incredible quilts that have nothing to do with what your grandmother made. She has all hand dyed vibrant fabrics and she free forms the stitching. Mostly it is geometric, but she did have a few which represented flowers. I thought her geometric and swirled pieces were the best, but art is an evolution, isn't it?

Ms. Grisdela works in Reston, VA. She makes me think of another artist I featured Ms. Judith Trager, though the colors are different and Ms. Trager's are not confined to the rectangular shape. Ok, ok, maybe the only similarity is that they are quilters....!

I saw this piece at the Washington Craft Show over the Halloween weekend this year. The colors are incredibly vibrant and the amount of stitching is impressive.

Here is what she says for herself on her own web site:

I’m intrigued by color and the way colors interact with one another. Color is such an exciting part of life--the red of a perfectly ripe strawberry, the deep blue of a summer sky, the russets and golds of fall leaves--all enhance our experience of the world. I like to use fabric the way a painter might use paint to create a mood, develop a contrast, or explore an idea.

Much of my recent work employs improvisational cutting and piecing techniques where the design evolves organically as the process unfolds. Because there's no pattern to follow, seeing the interplay of color and design is integral to my creative process. Fiber art is exciting to me because it offers a tactile quality beyond the color and line of a design. Once I’ve played with the colors and the fabric in the pieced top, I have another opportunity to add dimension to my work by quilting the layers together with whimsical free motion quilting—a process I like to think of as drawing with a needle and thread.

I use vibrant color and bold graphic design to create contemporary art quilts that have a strong visual impact as art for the wall.

I hope you enjoy your visit and come back often. I update my blog regularly with news and new work in process.

My work is represented by Xanadu Gallery in Scottsdale, AZ and Chasen Galleries in Richmond, VA, and I have studio space at the Artists' Atelier at 1144 Walker Road, Suite G, Great Falls, VA. Open hours are 12-4 PM Wednesday and Saturday, or by appointment.

Home decor and gift items, like pillows, journals, and eyeglass cases, are available through my shop on Etsy.com.

Contact me if you are interested in commissioning a unique wall piece for a special place in your home or office, or if you're interested in having me talk about my work to your group.

Heirloom Pieces of Jewelry

I have chatted about things that I have that were once owned by family members and not knowing what to do with them. I have discussed the problems of shadow boxes and silver here. Well, I have found a solution for pieces of jewelry which seem dated, not timeless.

Marianne Hunter made a presentation at the Washington Craft Show. Given I was not looking for jewelry at the show, I was very happy that I listened to her present what she does. I will confess that I do not love her 'Kabuki Kachinas' - but they are precious, beautiful pieces of art. You can see one standing on top of a beautiful wooden vase created by her husband - William Hunter. Marianne is primarily an enamelist, but she also works in gold and precious gems - and gems which she takes from estate jewelry.

Ms. Hunter indicted that she will do commissions - so an old piece of family jewelry can be re-imagined into something current and also meaningful. She indicated that for one commission she took several family pieces and incorporated them in to a collar for a client - using her enameling skills to tell the story of the current family.


I took this from her web page. This shows a piece she made from a client's pin - she made the rest around the original pin which one can see in the heart of the piece.


Here is an example of her Kabuki Kachina - but I guess this one's colors spoke to me more than some of the others, though they are all exquisite.


This is her card - but it shows a piece of gold from World War I illustrating the need to are for the orphans left behind because of the war. She used diamonds to hold the medal in to place.

I loved her solution to estate or old fashioned jewelry.

Day Light Savings & Poslam Ointment

Poslam is no longer made - it seems to have been for rashes.
I assume Paul Knox is someone he knows, but might not be overly fond of. Or maybe he is famous, I just don't know.
The firm is Pomeroy Case, on Wall Street.

April 30^th (1918)

Dear Mother

I don’t see just why you don’t hear from me more often. It certainly is never five weeks between my letters. At any rate “no news is good news” because bad news always travels fast enough from here.

I got your letter of March 31^st yesterday. The first mail I’ve had in about two weeks, so I expect there will be a lot of it coming in pretty soon.

I didn’t know they were going to have daylight savings in the States. Of course they’ve had it here in France for some time. The clocks were moved ahead about March 1^st here. It really does save daylight, too, because its still quite bright almost up to nine o’clock in the evening on a clear day.

I wish you would keep up on sending me the parts of the “Sun” that you sent before – the magazine and pictorial sections. The record I don’t care much about because you clip the stuff about people I know. I was glad to see that Tom is getting along all right – but he certainly did get an awful smashing up – didn’t he. One thing pleased me – they got the honorable Paul Knox in the draft. It just tickles me to see some chaps like him get dragged in.

Please send me a box of Poslam ointment. You can’t get it here + it comes in very handy. It comes in a little tin box enclosed in a manila envelope and you can put it in one of your letters. By the time you get this it will be about time to send me some more tobacco, too, because what I have will have run out.

By the way, do you hear from the firm every month? You haven’t spoken of it in some time. I've written two or three letters to Mr. Friedman + expect to write again this week. However they’ve probably been delayed just like yours. I’m anxious to hear from him how business is now that I can’t drop in the office + see for myself.

The weather has improved a bit lately but it’s still pretty rainy. I’m in my usual good health. In fact, I never felt better – haven’t had so much as a slight cold.

Love to all,

Herb

The Red Baron and friends & family

Presumably Herb doesn't know this, but the day before he writes this letter the Australians shoot down the famous Red Baron.  The History Channel tells it this way:

In the well-trafficked skies above the Somme River in France, Baron Manfred von Richthofen, the notorious German flying ace known as the Red Baron," is killed by Allied fire on April 21, 1918.

Richthofen, the son of a Prussian nobleman, switched from the German army to the Imperial Air Service in 1915. By 1916, he was terrorizing the skies over the Western Front in an Albatross biplane, downing 15 enemy planes by the end of the year, including one piloted by British flying ace Major Lanoe Hawker. In 1917, Richthofen surpassed all flying-ace records on both sides of the Western Front and began using a Fokker triplane, painted entirely red in tribute to his old cavalry regiment. Although only used during the last eight months of his career, it was this aircraft with which Richthofen was most commonly associated and that led to an enduring English nickname for the German pilot—the Red Baron.

On April 21, 1918, with 80 victories under his belt, Richthofen led his squadron of triplanes deep into Allied territory in France on a search for British observation aircraft. The flight drew the attention of an Allied squadron led by Canadian Royal Air Force pilot Captain Arthur Roy Brown. As Richthofen pursued a plane piloted by Brown's compatriot, Wilfred R. May, the Red Baron ventured too far into enemy territory and too low to the ground. Two miles behind the Allied lines, just as Brown caught up with Richthofen and fired on him, the chase passed over an Australian machine-gun battery, whose riflemen opened fire. Richthofen was hit in the torso; though he managed to land his plane alongside the road from Corbie to Bray, near Sailley-le-Sac, he was dead by the time Australian troops reached him. Brown is often given credit for downing Richthofen from the air, though some claimed it was actually an Australian gunner on the ground who fired the fatal shot; debate continues to this day.

Manfred von Richthofen was buried by the Allies in a small military cemetery in Bertangles, France, with full military honors. He was 25 years old at the time of his death. His body was later moved to a larger cemetery at Fricourt. In 1925, it was moved again, at the behest of his brother, Karl Bolko, this time to Berlin, where he was buried at Invaliden Cemetery in a large state funeral. In a time of wooden and fabric aircraft, when 20 air victories ensured a pilot legendary status, the Red Baron downed 80 enemy aircraft and went down in history as one of the greatest heroes to emerge from World War I on either side of the conflict.

On smaller matters - I don't know who Aunt Ann might be, nor do I recognize Miss Pearsall, but I can follow my cousin Chuck's lead and do a little Ancestry.com research for folks living near by. And we have another mention of Marine... I suspect she is younger than Herb by a bit, but who is she? Apparently she is important enough to have had her photograph sent to Herb, mentioned here. Might she be a friend of Margaret or Olive?

April 22 (1918)

Dear Mother,

Just a few lines to let you know that I am quite all right. Everything I just as usual very quiet – and one day is quite like another. I guess Spring must have come because many of the trees are partially leaved out and some of the fruit trees are in bloom but it still continues pretty raw and rains most every day.

I had a post card from Aunt Ann a few days ago and a letter from Karolyn but none from you for ten days or so. I wrote to Miss Pearsall the other day.

We are getting the Paris edition of the London Daily Mail every day now so I’m keeping up on the news. The war seems to be going very satisfactorily, but Lord, I do wish it would move faster. This life seems to suit some of the boys very well, but I’ll never be happy till I see the well known Statue of Liberty looming in to sight.

How’s Harry making out? Have him write me + tell me all about it. You know I wrote him when I thought he was still in Indiana but I suppose by the time that letter arrived he was back home.

Love to all,

Herb

That letter from Marine was a peach. Tell her to write me some more.

Herb

French toothpaste and a new 'Bunkie'

According to the History Channel, the Germans capture Helsinki during this week. And while Herb is writing this letter, the British are evacuating Passchendaele Ridge. I read a little about this area here. Apparently for some, the battle to win the Ridge is as infamous as the Somme. I am learning new things.


April 15th (1918)
Dear Mother,

I haven’t had any letters in a week or so but day before yesterday the mail man very kindly brought my package of tobacco all intact. I certainly was glad to get it, too. Nothing could possibly be more acceptable.

There’s nothing out of the ordinary routine around here. The weather has been very bad lately – rain every day and mud everywhere of course. I don’t have to be out in it much so it’s not so bad but a little sunshine would be very acceptable. However May will soon be here.

The Sector has been very quiet lately and there have been very few wounded coming in, so we don’t have very much to do.

I have a new “Bunkie” now, the French clerk. He’s an awfully nice chap, a Parisian and we get along together very nicely. He speaks very fair English, too, and we are helping each other out. A few weeks ago he went to Paris on leave. While he was there the trains that take men on leave back and forth were discontinued and he spent a bad two weeks returning. He certainly was glad to get here, so there must be lots worse places than this. I’d certainly rather be here than in some American base camp. A month of that was enough for me. Of course it’s nice to be with a lot of Americans and the Y.M.C.A.’s help a lot but up here we’re much freer in every way.

By the way the next time you send me a package of tobacco or anything send a few tubes of toothpaste. I’ve enough to last quite a while but I don’t want to have to resort to this French stuff. It tastes all right I know, because I’ve sampled it but it doesn’t clean.

Love to all,
Herb.

Mail caught up and Herb has some news from home

Harry and his bad fortune. It would be interesting if I could learn more about Harry from another source. I wish I had my great grandmother's letters to Herb.

Bunco - is that a dice game? I have a friend who really enjoys it. Wait, but a Google search suggests that bunco is "a swindle or confidence trick."

I wonder why Karolyn had to leave nursing or X-rays in Bridgeport. Hmmm.

We learned lots about Thomas M. Nial here - thanks to my cousin Chuck.

April 10th (1918)
Dear Mother,

I’m well up on news now because the mail man brought a sack full today. I got eight – three from you and five from Karolyn. However, no packages, but now that we’ve gotten our back letters I have some hope.

I was frightfully sorry to hear about Harry’s bad fortune. He certainly has tough luck, poor kid. I do hope that it won’t discourage him. At any rate, he isn’t to blame. I seem to remember that Bob Enfield of whom you spoke though I haven’t seen him since I was in High School. I’d like to have the scoundrel who works that bunco game by the collar. The postal authorities ought to camp on his trail. Still that doesn’t help matters any for us. However, that much bad luck can’t last forever, and it does seem as if Harry has had enough for a while. I hope so.

Karolyn writes that she is in the Arsenal office though of course you probably know that. I’m glad she has something to do because she took it pretty hard that she had to leave Bridgeport.

Have you ever heard how badly Tom was hurt? I certainly hope that his recovery won’t leave him crippled in any way. Remember me to his mother when you see her, and ask her for his address for me. I’ll write him from here.

I am looking forward to a letter from you with account of Chas’s visit. What ever did persuade him to take a vacation?

I’m glad you sent me some papers. Nothing could be more acceptable. Any sort of English reading material is priceless here.

Things here are just as usual. There has been lots of rain and wind but my hip boots are a good protection. Every week we get a hot shower bath and that’s a great comfort. The food is uniformly good – much better than we used to get in the States. The great battle is still going on somewhere west of us. I hope it will be the last. So far I think the Germans have won nothing to compensate for their great losses of men. It certainly looks as if they were staking everything on one last play. The French are grave but confident. Paris pays little attention to the shells which continue to drop in the city.

There’s no telling when I’ll ever be able to go on leave. At any rate I shan’t be allowed in Paris so I won’t see Mr. Rankin’s friend.

Love to all,
Herbert

Charcoal's Gourmet Burgers in New Orleans

Charcoal's is a fun little burger joint on Magazine Street. Upstairs there is a balcony overlooking the street, which on warm nights (and Mardi Gras), I should imagine is quite pleasant.

I particularly liked it because one can get burgers made of animals such as bison, antelope, deer (venison) and elk - not to mention the 'normal' burgers such as shrimp, salmon, beef, turkey, etc.

They didn't blink when I asked for my burger to come without a bun and even suggested making it a lettuce wrap - which I thought was quite decent of them. (Obviously chefs and waitstaff are running in to people who are trying be eat gluten-free.) They also have alcohol-free beer for those of us who are not yet gluten-free, but are also trying to cut out alcohol. What a cluster F, eh?

Anyway, they can be found at 2200 Magazine Street. Good for a casual, but different burger.

Birthday for a member in my German Family Tree

Auguste Louise Henriette Charlotte Busse

A 2nd cousin 4 times removed....

But today is her birthday.

I am trying to include her family tree, but it may not be working...

embeddable family tree updated live from WikiTree

Discussions of War and a request for more magazines and tobacco

See below for what I found on the History Channel web site about this time in 1918. it also seems that Ferdinand Foch became the supreme Allied commander at this time, too.

Herb is still in Bouvancourt, Marne, France.

April 4th (1918)
Dear Mother,
I skipped my regular letter day this time because we’ve been cast off from mail communication through some mix up – I don’t know just what. Now the mail goes out but none comes in. so I haven’t had your letter telling of Tom’s accident nor my package of tobacco. However I expect the mail will come any day now.

There has been little or no activity on our front. Every energy has been excited on the main battle of which you have read. It certainly must have been terrific. Let us hope that it may be decisive.

A few days ago the French anti-aircraft guns brought down a German plane which was attacking a French observation balloon. “Sausages” the French call those balloons because that’s what they look like. The German plane was completely wrecked and the driver was killed, of course. It all happened fairly near here but of course I was all over in a few minutes. No one felt sorry for the Boche because on Good Friday one of the German long range guns dropped a shell on a church in Paris during services inflicting frightful damage.

As for myself, I am as usual, well and still getting fat, I guess. We’re getting really good food, fresh vegetables and everything. The government makes us a good allowance and we can buy whatever sort of food we like – and can get.

I wish you’d send me a supply of tobacco about every five or six weeks. It’s practically impossible to smoke the French article and entirely impossible to buy any American variety. As for reading matter, I can use all the magazines you can send.

Love to all,
Herb

I took this from the History Channel's web site about March 30th, 1918:

On March 30, 1918, British, Australian and Canadian troops mount a successful counter-attack against the German offensive at Moreuil Wood, recapturing most of the area and forcing a turn in the tide of the battle in favor of the Allies.

After launching the first stage of a major spring offensive on March 21, 1918--masterminded by Erich Ludendorff, chief of the German general staff--the German army swiftly pushed through the British 5th Army along the Somme, crossing the river on March 24. Their attacks were less successful to the north, however, around the crucially important Vimy Ridge, where Britain's 3rd Army successfully held its positions. Determined to push on toward Paris, Ludendorff threw his troops against the town of Amiens. To Ludendorff's distress, although they came within 11 miles of the city, the Germans had great difficulty capturing Amiens and its railway junction, which the British and French were told to hold at all costs. Lacking sufficient cavalry, the Germans also had problems delivering artillery and supplies to their front-line troops; those troops also received no relief, and were expected to sustain the momentum of the attack all on their own.

By the morning of March 30, the Germans had occupied Moreuil Wood, some 20 kilometers south of Amiens. On that day, an Allied force including British and Canadian cavalry and air brigades confronted the Germans head-on. By the end of the day, the Allies had managed to halt the German advance at Moreuil Wood, despite suffering heavy casualties.

The events at Moreuil Wood broke the momentum of the German attacks. While the operation had technically been successful, resulting in a gain of almost 40 miles of territory and inflicting heavy losses on the Allies; 177,739 British troops died or were taken prisoner during the battle, at a daily rate of 11,000 men, while the French lost nearly 80,000; German troops had also lost over a quarter of a million men to injury or death. The casualties included Ludendorff's own stepson, a German pilot shot down over the battlefield during the attacks. Ludendorff called off the attacks on April 5; the next stage of the offensive would begin just four days later.

By early April 1918, both the Allies and the Central Powers had entered a crucial period of reckoning. A major German victory on the Western Front would mean the end of the war, in their favor. As British Prime Minister David Lloyd George told the leaders of the British Dominions in a speech on March 31: "The last man may count." The Allies, at least, could count on fresh infusions from the United States, which increased its troops in France to more than 300,000 by the end of that month. For their part, the Germans were prepared to wager everything they had on this spring offensive—the last they would undertake in World War I.

On the actual day Herb was writing his letter home and missing his mail, the History Channel claims this was occurring:

On this day in 1918, German forces in the throes of a major spring offensive on the Western Front launch a renewed attack on Allied positions between the Somme and Avre Rivers.

The first stage of the German offensive, dubbed "Operation Michael," began March 21, 1918; by the first days of April it had resulted in a gain of almost 40 miles of territory for the Germans, the largest advance in the west for either side since 1914. After initial panic, the Allies had managed to stabilize and strengthen their defense, stopping the Germans at Moreau Wood on March 30 and continuing their hardy defense of the crucial railroad junction and town of Amiens, France, just south of the Somme.

With a bombardment by more than 1,200 guns and a total of 15 divisions sent against only seven of the enemy's, the Germans attacked in force at Villers-Bretonneux on April 4. Again, British and Australian troops reacted with panic in the face of such an onslaught, but soon rallied to drive back their attackers. At the same time, French divisions made their own advances along the front running between the towns of Castel and Cantigny, to the south of Villers-Bretonneux.

Also on April 4, German military officials announced that their attacks in the Somme region had claimed a total of 90,000 Allied prisoners since March 21. The following day, Erich Ludendorff, chief of the German general staff, formally closed down the Michael offensive; the second phase of the attacks, "Georgette," would begin four days later in Flanders.

New Orleans, Genealogy & Fiber Art

I was walking down Magazine Street in New Orleans when I saw a couple dresses in the window of an Optometrist. And they were spectacular dresses - silver silk painted with images of Paris, if I remember correctly. Drew me right in. A very nattily dressed man with fabulous frames and maybe even white buckskin shoes was standing outside. He and I started chatting and he was incredibly friendly. I mentioned this stroll down Magazine earlier in my post here as I discussed Theordore B. Starr silver.

I'm afraid this happened in March of this year, so I don't remember all the details, but it made an impression on me. That is when I learned that New Orleans has a burgeoning fashion week - which in 2014 was in March. But I digress.

I was charmed by the fashion and I was charmed by the artist's name - Starr Hagenbring. Starr claims that she is not aware of having Starr as a family name in her family; in fact, it was a family friend from Philadelphia, if I recall. So, drawn in by that too....


One can see the art in Ms. Hagenbring's creations - they are magnificent pieces.


Ms. Hagenbring loves silk organza - a fabric I have not yet screwed up the courage to use.


Here one can see some of the painting she does on the fabric.

She is a spectacular artist with studios in both New Orleans and New York City.

Thomas M. Nial

Herb's wounded friend has been found by my own 3rd cousin, Chuck C.!

Thomas M. Nial was living just down the street from Herb and is only 2 years older than Herb. It appears that he also enlisted. I believe he was in the Signal Corps, if I am reading these documents correctly. Seems he went ROTC and was employed at the Madison Barracks in NY. One can find more information about the Barracks here.



I copied this photograph from the Ancestry web site.



Now, this image, also from Ancestry, would seem to indicate that he did not get wounded.... Odd. I am not sure what to make of it. It claims he was at Walter Reed Hospital in Washington, DC and it claims he was overseas until October 18, 1919.

Now, I found another document on Ancestry...



Ok, maybe I have figured this out.... he was in ROTC in school and he was a private. Then he was promoted to First Lieutenant and served overseas. Why they would make two cards or abstracts for him, I don't know. And perhaps he was not wounded in action - maybe he was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. Or maybe there was some sort of accident. I am not sure where this information might be had.

Oh, wait - it says that he "was reported 30 per cent disabled on date of discharge in view of occupation" Huh. I suppose I could write the Archives to find out more information about him.

It seems, through Ancestry, that Tom got married and died in North Carolina. Though, of course I am not 100% certain I have the 'right' person.

I just found Tom and his family in the Troy, NY 1920 Federal Census and flipping one or two pages I find Herb's family in the same census. So, I guess I did (wait, I mean Chuck!) find the 'right' person. Tom is living at home with his mother and father, no profession listed. According to the 'related content' on Ancestry, he did marry, and he did travel. I hope Tom had a very nice life and he has lots of descendants who loved him.

This information seems appropriate for Veteran's Day, doesn't it? I want to express my gratitude to all the soldiers who put themselves in harm's way to protect the rest of us; and to their families, for I can only imagine what a sacrifice it is for them.

Is this meant to be ironic?

I am sure I am being totally obtuse, but does this make sense? Radio for the Blind.... I mean, I think they can hear, they are blind, not deaf....

I am teasing - I know there is a logical explanation I just don't know what it is. But, it did make me laugh.

Baru Latin Caribbean Bistro & Tapas in New Orleans

Baru Latin Caribbean Bistro & Tapas

A very enjoyable casual place for yummy food. Not a huge menu, but plenty to choose from: Tapas, Tacos, Arepas, Salads & Sandwiches. We tried a shrimp salad, the carne Desmechada arepas, gulf fish ceviche and a langostino taco. I think chef makes the taco shells in house. I also enjoyed a blueberry mojito 'mocktail' which was wonderful.

The dining room is tiny; at least what I saw of it, though the restaurant does have outdoor tables.

They have a happy hour from 5 - 7 pm.

Try them at 3700 Magazine Street. I believe they have opened a second floor raw bar, but I have not yet seen it. I will go back, though.

A Genealogist's nightmare

I can't imagine this - to discover you have TWIN out there and no one told you. And to find her serendipitously through social media? What are the chances?

Anais Bordier was raised in France as an only child. When a friend shared a photo on Facebook of an American girl with similar looks, the adopted 25-year-old thought she might have found a long-lost relative. But then she discovered that the girl, Samantha Futerman, had also been adopted from South Korea—and shared the same birthday. “She had my laugh, my freckles,” Bordier said of their first Skype conversation. DNA tests soon confirmed the connection the pair suspected, and the twin sisters were recently reunited. “We’ve resumed our life together,” Futerman said, “with no fear of ever being separated again.”

I found this in The Week Magazine's October 31st, 2014 edition.

Mail is catching up

I still have no idea who this Tom guy is, but apparently he got hurt.

And what is happening to Karolyn? And does she have a brother Edwin?

Watervliet is a town near Troy, NY.

I believe Herb is in Bouvancourt, Marne, France. He'll be here for about two months.

March 25 (1918)
Dear Mother,

I had another letter from you and Dad today making some some [sic] six or seven so far. That isn’t so bad – but they arrive in the most curious sequence. This one today is date [sic] March 3rd but I never received the one before that telling me about Tom’s beng hurt. I suppose that will arrive in a week or so. Now, of course, I don’t know where he is because the last I knew he was in England and I presume he’s there yet. I do hope his injury wont cripple him in any way. I'd like to go see him but I'm afraid it’s hardly possible. There’s no telling how long we may be here at the front – it depends. I suppose on how active things are. If we go back to rest billets I’ll perhaps get a week’s leave but it isn’t permitted a soldier to leave France.

I also had a letter from Karolyn today written from Watervliet about a week before yours so I know about that. I for one am not sorry about it at all. In fact, from what I saw of it when I was in the States, I thought it pretty bad business all around. I’ll wager her mother is glad, since Edwin goes with the next contingent.

Everything here is so-so. Last week there was a lot to do for a couple of days. The Germans got busy with a lot of gas and caught a number of “XXX” napping. Most of the activity seems to be on the British front. From the papers things must be pretty hot there.

Of course we have lots of noise at night. There are several French batteries near as and [sic] they surely do make the night hideous. The Germans keep their end up, too, but they haven’t got a line on anything near us. About every afternoon a few ? planes come over and take a crack at the French observation balloons [sic]. So far I haven’t seen one of them hit in spite of the shells bursting all around them. Id like too [sic] though, dam [sic] them.

Remember me to Mrs. Nial + let me know how Tom gets along.

Love to all,
Herb

A Letter to Harry which arrived too late

Old Scout - wow, that's a nice term of affection.

This letter went to Harry at a boarding house where Harry was living while he was supposed to be attending photography school. Given that this letter was forwarded by the landlord, Harry didn't last long at this pursuit, either. I guess Herb would call this another Fiasco....

Herb seems more willing to tell his brother directly things about war - though mild. But here is the first time we hear about some shelling nearby.



March 20, 1918
Dear Old Scout,

After having had only one letter from home in over two months, a few days ago there came a regular deluge. I had five letters from Mother and Dad in one mail.

Of course the most interesting thing to me was the fact that you had left the Arsenal + gone to school. Inasmuch as the letter that told me of it was a month old, I imagine that when you get this you’ll be comfortably installed in your new home. Well, all I say is, go to it. We’re all back of you and I’m not at all afraid that this will prove such a fiasco as the last affair.

It was rather too bad that you couldn’t have landed that thing that Jack Hawkinson put you wise to, but it was manifestly over your head at present. The time for that will come later. Why don’t you write and tell him what you are doing now. I think he would be interested in view of his previous trouble for you. If you do, remember me to him.

The Section is now at the front and hard at work. Yesterday a shell dropped on a car near a dugout and battered it up. No one hurt.

Write me now and again and let me know how things are coming. I’ll be interested. Of course Mother will keep me in touch with you but I’d like to hear from you too.

Affectionately,
Herb

Washington Craft Show held 10/31 - 11/2/2014

I attended the craft show on Saturday at the absolutely enormous Washington Convention Center. What a fun day.

This area of town has changed significantly since the new convention center was built. New restaurants have opened and much more residential exists. Developers have torn down some of the old brick and brownstone urban fabric, which is a shame, but to see the renewed hustle and bustle is nice.

The Craft Show is organized by Crafts America, LLC out of Greens Farms, CT. This is a juried show, so the crafts are top quality, not kitchy. I have seen some artists from the Cherry Creek show in Denver, the Bethesda Arts Festival in Bethesda, Maryland and the Bayou City Arts Festival in Houston. Fun to see where the artists show and how they get around.



I confess, as I wondered around I had my eye on the fiber artists - and most were clothing - but there were some other interesting crafts which caught my eye; for example a guy out of Michigan who weaves glass and a woman who makes pins and other statement jewelry out of heirloom or estate pieces. I will share their cards and maybe a little of their stories later.

My local NPR station - WAMU - was a sponsor of the show.

1918 - March Report

Here is a photograph I took at the National Archives showing the March 1918 Report. One can read where they have been. The commanding officer is Lloyd Allen - and you can see his signature in the upper left corner. Herb filled out this report. We have the list of men's names here.

Just thought I would share one of the source documents I found.

Germany’s radioactive boars

Clearly I am behind in my reading.... Again, from the September 19th edition of The Week....

This is some F'ed up s^%t. It can't only be the boars, can it?

As a result of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster nearly three decades ago, Germany’s forests are full of radioactive boars, says USA Today. Recent tests by authorities in the eastern state of Saxony have found that one in three wild boars in its forests contains such high levels of radiation that it is unfit for human consumption. When the Soviet Union’s Chernobyl power plant exploded in 1986, in what is now Ukraine, it blasted a cloud of radioactive particles into the air that spread via wind and rain across Europe before seeping into the ground. Wild boars are thought to be acutely affected by the fallout because they root through contaminated soil for food, scarfing down mushrooms and truffles that store radiation. The Germans have known some boars were contaminated, and since 2012 have legally required hunters to test boar carcasses for radiation. But the latest tests show the problem is more widespread than previously thought. Experts think radioactive boars could still be roaming the forests up to 50 years from now.

Halloween and Allentown, PA

So, I was watching the History channel on Halloween night and they claimed that the first Halloween Parade was held in Allentown, PA in 1905. Too bad we are missing letters from Herb from that time period. The tradition would only be 12 years old by the time Herb was living in Allentown.

I swiped this photo from the Allentown, PA web site.

Hope for Autoimmune Diseases

From 9/19/2104 The Week Magazine...

Scientists believe they have discovered a new way to “switch off” autoimmune diseases, raising hope that there could soon be a treatment for conditions like multiple sclerosis and type 1 diabetes. Such autoimmune diseases trick the body into attacking itself, making the immune system treat harmless proteins as dangerous invaders. But a team at the University of Bristol in England has found that the immune system can be retrained so that it learns that the proteins are safe, says Telegraph.co.uk. The method involves synthesizing harmless proteins and injecting tiny amounts of them into the bloodstream, in slowly increasing doses. It is similar to a new treatment for allergies known as allergic desensitization. Researchers said the finding might help doctors find immunotherapies for individual conditions; the current treatment, which involves suppressing the immune system, can lead to side effects including infections and tumors. “These findings,” says Bristol professor David Wraith, “have important implications for the many patients suffering from autoimmune conditions.”

Seems to me something is going on with food - and though this is good and interesting - I should think being aware of what one is eating would also help with autoimmune diseases... but I am not a doctor.

Moving up to the Front

No letter between the February 20th and the March 15th letters... seems like an awful long time not to 'visit' with his parents.

Sixth Avenue is his home in Troy, NY.

I have no idea who Hugh Rankin is or what he is doing in Paris.

Herb explains his situation to his parents here, which is nice to understand better. He is in Prouilly, I believe. He passed through Charters, Le Mans, Saint Martin d'Ablois, Meaux, Fort Vanves, and Versailles, on the way here.

Herb's Ambulance group is attached to the French 71st Division. I should do some research on them, shouldn't I?

What is up with Harry? Funny to read all this and then think of what I know about Harry as a man - which isn't much, but still. To hear about what a tough time he was having as a young man is funny.

I wonder what he knows about the Japanese.... and I didn't know he read French.


March 15 (1918)
Dear Mother,

This finds my travelling around finished for a while at least. We made our trip by automobile from our first camp to this place very safely. I saw quite a bit of French country on the way but I’d be willing [sic] trade it all for a look up Sixth Ave. We were located outside Paris for several days and though I wanted very much to go see that Pal of Hugh Rankin’s I couldn’t make it.

We are now in a small French village just back of the lines on what is at present at least a fairly quiet section of front. All our work from now on is of course with the French Army. At present the French Division to which Section 580 is attached is ‘en repos’ as they call it – resting. When it goes up to the Front we will move up nearer too, though we will of course be back of the lines a bit.

Had my first letter a few days ago and I surely was glad to see Dad’s familiar handwriting. It’s rotten luck about Harry but the only thing is of course for him to quit it. However don’t let him worry about it. I of course don’t know anything about this Bissell school but it would be well to make inquiries first – after the other unavoidable fiasco. At any rate don’t hesitate to call my resources. They’re yours. I had just gotten down to hard pan when the Q.M. came across with some money for us. We are paid now in francs and since the franc has depreciated in New York a month’s salary is (or looks to be) larger than before.

The place we now have was formerly filled by an old American Field Ambulance Section now in the U.S.A.A.S. they started back to a rest camp as we moved up so we passed them on the road. Someone yelled :Hello Herb” and there was Herb Blake passing in a car. We both stopped and shook hands + chatted for a moment. I hardly knew him – he looked like a tramp but good and healthy. He said young Lavin from the “burgh” was in the section, too, but I didn’t see him. It was a former “Syracuse” section but I’ve been away so long that I didn’t know any of them.

I haven’t heard from Karolyn yet but have hopes. Now that we have a definite stopping point the mail comes more frequently and I expect it will be fairly regular from now on.

As for my health – well there’s nothing to worry about in that. I’m getting so disgracefully fat that I’ve had to request a new uniform because the same uniform that I wore home Christmas can’t be persuaded to button around me now. I must have gained more than ten pounds since New Years.

Spring is going to be here soon. Already the days are much warmer and overcoats have been abandoned.

I’ve just one request to make. Once a week or so I wish you’d send me a New York paper and perhaps the “Post”. Now that we’re with the French, reading matter is scarce as hen’s teeth, and I’m certain you must know more about the war than I though I’m only about ten miles away from it. I read the French papers now and again but there’s little news in them. I’d certainly like to get the inside dope on this Japanese scheme.

As ever,
Your affectionate son,
Herb


Happy Halloween, dear readers.

Still in a French Camp

I am glad the Army has issued Herb some good boots - he no longer needs to wear the rubbers his mother made him buy.
And helpful to hear about the censor - makes the lack of news more understandable.


February 20, 1918
Dear Mother,

Everything is about as usual. I’m still in the first French camp we came to, though I’m in hopes that we may move to one of the larger camps before very long. I’ve been in the best of health so far and I’ve enough work to do to keep me out of mischief. There has been one mail delivery for us so far. I was a bit disappointed not to have drawn anything but it wasn’t a large mail so we couldn’t all be lucky. It was all stuff that had been forwarded from Allentown, any way – no A.E.I. stuff.

Gosh, I’d give a lot to see an up-to-date New York Times or Sun. The papers around here are a joke. Most of them are one sheet affairs with a column or so of current news pretty well camouflaged and the rest such junk as one finds on the woman’s page or in a ‘hick’ weekly – jokes, etc.

I’m tramping around now in a pair of the heaviest hob-nailed shoes one ever saw – unless it be on a German soldier. They’re fine, though, I find – easy on the feet and the heavy oiled leather keeps out the damp.

I don’t know just how they figured the seasons around here but home we’d call it Spring, I guess.The days are fine sunny and fairly warm – the nights cool and rather damp. Since the first two or three days of our stay here it has rained only a couple of times. I’m afraid this letter can’t be stretched any further. The censorship rules are certainly strict – and lengthy. They could be made shorter by mentioning the things one can write of instead of the things one can’t.

My best love to you all and regards to anyone who may ask for me.
Your affectionate son,
Herb.

Shedding pounds with a high-fat diet

From the September 19th issue of The Week Magazine...

Can you lose weight with a diet that places no restrictions on your fat intake? Those who swear by the Atkins plan and other low-carbohydrate regimes have long insisted you can—and new research backs them up, reports The New York Times. In a study funded by the National Institutes of Health, a racially diverse group of 148 obese men and women were given diets to follow. Half were put on low-fat regimes, which limited their total fat intake to less than 30 percent of their daily calories, while the other half followed low-carb diets that involved eating mostly protein and fat. Neither group was given calorie limits. Over the course of a year, those on the low-carb diet lost around 8 pounds more than the low-fat group, shed more body fat, and showed greater improvements in cholesterol levels and other measures of cardiovascular health. Those on the low-fat diet did lose weight, but most of it was muscle, not fat. “This is one of the first long-term trials that’s given these diets without calorie restrictions,” says Dariush Mozaffarian, a cardiologist at Tufts University who was not involved in the study. “It shows that in a free-living setting, cutting your carbs helps you lose weight without focusing on calories.”

This is also the Primal Blueprint thought, too. Cut out the legumes and processed carbs. We should be eating all the veggies we want. I now eat coconut oil, butter, and bacon fat. I do my best to have all grass fed beef and butter. My cholesterol isn't low by any means, but the good cholesterol is really high and the bad cholesterol is pretty low. So, I am pleased.

Attaching to the French Army

The censor starts in Europe.... now Herb spends even more time talking about his health and the weather. A shame we can't hear more about the towns and countryside where he is. The reports will begin to have some of that information.

Looking at the list of places where Herb camped during his tenure with the Ambulance Corps, I see that he was in Winchester, England from 1/24/1918 to 2/3/1918.
For 2 days in February he is at a rest camp in Le Havre, France, then off to 'Base Section 1' in St. Nazaire Mecanie for a few weeks. He is in St. Nazaire as he writes this letter. The town in on the west coast of France just outside of Nantes, below Quimper, where the wonderful ceramic comes from. Looks like it took them 2 days to get from Le Havre to St. Nazaire.

Mother knows best... making him buy 'rubbers' to keep his feet dry. On that subject, Trench Foot is associated with World War 1, right? Below is a picture I think I have already shown - but here he is in rain gear... much later in time, but I thought I would show this picture of Herb.




February 10th (1918)
Dear Mother,

I hope that my sea journeys are over until the war is done with and I can come home. I am at last in France. The journeys have been a bit trying but so far I’ve no slightest thing to complain of. The food is good. I get plenty of sleep and not too much work and altogether I’m pretty fit. I wish I could tell you all about my wanderings – it would, I think, make an interesting story – but that will have to wait until I shall see you. And that would be so very long. The further I go and the more I see the more I am convinced that the war can’t last much longer – even from a military stand point.

The weather here = well you wouldn’t believe it. There are two varieties – horribly rainy sloppy days and very bright warm clear ones when an overcoat is a burden. Today there are several ball games in progress and everything reminds one of May in New York. The wet days, though, are bad. I’ve certainly thanked my lucky stars for those rubbers you made me get. I should have had continual wet feet without them. We are to be issued rubber boots that come way up to the waist but the Quartermaster Department is rushed to death, so they say, and we’ll probably not get them for a week or so. We’ll also receive two pairs of heavy ‘trench’ shoes something like British shoes with hobnailed soles and heels and a dinky little fore and aft cap.

This is strictly an American camp, so I have no opportunity to talk to any French soldiers as I had to the Tommies. Those Tommies, by the way, are a fine bunch. The Scotch take the polur (?). after having talked to them I can readily believe the stories of how the Germans fear them. They speak convincingly of it’s being over by June. I hope they’re true prophets.

Don’t bother about sending any tobacco. There are American Y.M.C.A’s in every camp where Americans are located and one can buy American tobacco at American prices, or cheaper.

Everyone now is looking forward to the first mail day. I expect it will be soon.

I’ve another address now because the Ambulance Service is attached to the French Army. It is this
1 Private Charles H. Lee
2 S.S.U. 580
3 Convois Automobile
4 B.M.C. – A.E.F. France

The second line stands for Sanitary Section Unit 580. The third means automobile train and the fourth Central Military Bureau – Amex Forces.

Your affectionate son,
Herb

Meatless Mondays in Texas

I found this little tidbit in September 19th edition of The Week Magazine.

A Texas elementary school’s decision to offer “meatless Mondays” in the cafeteria has outraged the state’s agricultural commissioner. Todd Staples blamed the meatless menu on an “activist movement that seeks to eliminate meat from Americans’ diets seven days a week.’’ School officials said kids who wanted meat on Mondays could bring their own lunch.

It reminds me of a story I was told by a friend who works at the USDA. She indicated that there was a movement afoot to make the USDA meatless on Mondays too, but the Cattle Ranches put the kibosh on that saying it was against them. BUT, we forget that the USDA is also supposed to represent vegetable farmers, too... so what was the problem? Evidence of the strength of certain groups on our government....

It seems the cattle ranchers are eager for us to eat meat in spite of the fact that if we were to cut some out it would be cheaper - as I indicated here. Again, planting a garden is like printing money. I love that idea!

I have also already posted on the subject of the effects of raising beef on our planet here.

ChoLon Asian Bistro in Denver

Superlative!

I thought the food was terrific. And I would even return just for the two desserts I tasted.

The surfaces in the restaurant are hard, so it is noisy. The atmosphere is brick, stainless steel and stone.

The menu is very limited, but as was suggested by one of my fellow diners, that usually means everything will be fabulous - which was an accurate call.

Scallops - delicious.
Rib eye skewers - tender.
Prawns with garlic buns - wasn't my favorite, but should have been.
Brussell Sprouts with pork and mint - to die for.
Kaya toast - I have never had anything so yummy.
Potstickers - typical, but also a pleasure.
Pork chop - it was fine, though other's thought it was out of this world.

Hong Kong Ice Cream Cake & Doughnuts - THE BEST.

Looking at the menu, it appears that they tweak things periodically - as we had pumpkin in our doughnut dessert which does not appear on the 'typical' menu.

Interesting story about the chef which can be found here.

Hanging in England

What was that tip Jack Hawkinson gave Harry?

Herb's first trip to Europe. Probably the first time a Lee has been back in Europe since the first Lee arrived in America - of my line, that is, for there certainly are other, older branches of Lees in America. From what I can tell, the first Lee who came to the US was born in 1770. I don't know when he arrived or how - though I am pretty certain he arrived in the port of New York. On Herb's maternal line, though, I have learned that a grandfather that arrived in the early or mid-1800's arrived from Northern Ireland. I think Herb has mentioned this grandfather, as he served two terms in the Civil War. This grandfather, Thomas Wright, was mentioned when Herb was discussing his desire to enlist back in April. And here we find him, in the Army and in Europe. I wonder if Herb ever went to Northern Ireland.

I started reading A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway - he was an Ambulance Driver in Italy during the same period of time. Interesting to imagine Herb's experiences as I read the fictional account of Hemingway's experiences.

As he alludes to below, Herb can't say the name of the town where he is because the Censors won't allow it, not because he doesn't know. Due to those same Censors, Herb will begin to talk a lot about his health and the food. A shame, really, but of course no one can run the risk of the enemy finding out anything through an errant letter home.


January 30, 1918
Dear Mother,

To date we’re in the same place, “resting”. So far I’ve certainly nothing to complain of. We’re settled down into the way of living here, and it isn’t so bad at all. Once or twice a day we have four- to six mile hikes to keep us limbered up. Usually they take us to the nearest village – whose name I can’t tell you – and allow us to visit the sites of interest. So far I have seen a cathedral, a castle and a college, all of them more than 600 years old. They’re really marvelous things to see. The town is rather a small place and very old and quaint. It has a hospital for men wounded in France and lots of them are usually lounging around the streets in their light blue uniforms. I don’t know, of course, how much longer we may be here, but at any rate I’m not complaining.

The food continues [sic] good. There is practically no variety – much less even than the American ration – but the quality and cooking are better, I think. The weather is just like April at home – cool at night but quite warm at mid-day. At that it hasn’t once been cold enough to make ice. Lots of young boys and old men (they’re there are practically no young or middle aged active men not in the army) in the town go about in straw hats – and low shoes appear to be worn by everyone. One dinky little stove is enough to heat the barracks that accommodates 40 men.

I’d give a lot to see an American paper every day. The best London papers nowadays only contain four pages so you can imagine there can’t [sic] a great deal in them. The tone of all of them, however, is very encouraging regarding peace. I hope they’re right. At any rate, internal trouble is surely spreading in Germany and there is reason to believe that the peoples demand for peace can’t be put off much longer.

When you write be sure to tell me how Harry made out on that tip Jack Hawkinson gave him.

Affectionately,
Herb

Cablegram

Dang - who is Karolyn? I mean, clearly his mother has some sort of relationship with her. Some day I will have to see if I can find something with nurses named Karolyn at Bridgeport in 1917.

Western Union Cablegram
Received at 73NY RB 18
Winchester Jan 27 1918
EFM Oliver Lee 50
93 Sixth Ave Troy (NY)
ARRIVED ALL RIGHT ADDRESS AS FORMERLY GIVEN TELL KAROLYN
CHARLES LEE
410 PM

Artisanal Bugs

I am still not ready to eat bugs for my protein source, but perhaps others are. I wouldn't be enticed to invest with this Brooklyn startup if asked... I have mentioned other folks pushing insects as a food source here.

Artisanal bugs, after a Brooklyn startup called Exo began selling high-protein snack bars made from ground-up crickets, touting “the nutritional and environmental benefits of consuming insects.”

I found this tidbit in my favorite magazine - The Week - from their September 19th edition.

Food and Tobacco now that Herb's in Europe

January 26, 1918
Dear Mother,

Don’t expect much real news in this paper because we aren’t allowed to say anything “that might be information for the enemy.” I am in England, at a rest camp for American troops not far I judge from where Tom is, or was. I’m not allowed to say when I arrived here or when I’ll leave, though I don’t know the latter any way. Yesterday I called you to let you know I’m all right because the mails are slow and uncertain. I asked you to tell Karolyn because I knew you could find her address readily and cablegrams cost too much to send two.

We had a very uneventful trip across, being well convoyed. It wasn’t very rough so I wasn’t seasick, but the food was awful. Here, where I am now, the food is really good. There is quite a camp – I never saw so many soldiers in my life. The English treat us well and seem glad to have us around. My address is what I told you before – exactly like this

Private Charles H. Lee
Section 580, U.S.A. Amb. Service
American Expeditionary Forces,
Via New York

I have only one complaint to make – foreign tobacco is awful to me – and the price is staggering. I wish you’d send me some Serene Mixture and some Lucky Strike Cigarettes not very many – a couple of dollars’ worth so if they get lost it won’t be so bad. By that time I probably won’t be here, but I have a supply and my address is the same wherever I may be.

The scarcest thing in England seems to be newspapers. I haven’t heard any news since I left the U.S. except rumors of a popular revolt in Austria. I hope there’s something in it. The U.S.A. looks awfully good after you leave it.

Please try not to worry, Mother. I’m taking as good care of myself as possible and spite [sic] of that voyage and all I feel pretty fit. To the best of my ability I’ll keep you posted as to my condition at all times, but it may not be very often. This is the first letter I’ve been able to write so far.

With love to all,
Your affectionate son,
Herbert

Tell Chas I’ve gone, please. I’ll try to write him later.

Judith Trager and Red Rock Amphitheater

I saw a spectacular piece of art at the gift shop at the Red Rocks Amphitheater in Morrison, Colorado. Not for sale, but a part of the Visitor's Center.

Judith Trager is the artist. A video of Judith speaking about her creative process can be found here.

I'm afraid my photographs do not do the piece justice.

Called - "Walk the Rocks"

Ms. Trager has stenciled images of fossils and leaves and pictographs on the fabric, as well as ornamental stitching.

The piece is very impressive.

Dog Tags

I can't believe I have these in my possession and I didn't even remember; how pathetic is that?

I was straightening up a bit and came across my ratty, old jewelry box. I had forgotten - obviously - what was in there so I opened it up. I should look more carefully, but I looked and saw two very light-weight metal discs. I remembered had them when I saw them, but I never understood what they were. They are Herb's dog tags. Holy crap. My great Aunt Olive - or it could have been Margaret initially, but Olive ultimately - who saved this piece of family history. Obviously they mean more to us/me because of the saved letters, but still, the family saved them and they are almost 100 years old. Perhaps I can donate them to the NY State Military Museum along with the letters.

So exciting.

Time to head overseas...

Wow, I can't imagine what more is going through Herb's head now that he is heading overseas. Scary with the thought of the German submarines firing at them. Wikipedia has a bit about the ship here. According to the Wiki page, she was used to transport troops starting in May 1916...

Harry is up to something else... he seems a bit flighty to me.

Wednesday, Jan. 8th
Dear Mother,

Well, things have happened fast and furious in the past day or so. I thought the danger of our going was not very immediate but I guess I fooled myself.

Yesterday morning we had orders to pack up everything we owned in our barracks bags, and turn in our cots. In the afternoon we had inspection, at midnight we had lunch and at 2:15 A.M. this morning we left Allentown in two trains. Not a word was said as to where we were going and we were not allowed to write and say we were going. At 6:15 this morning we arrived in Jersey City. We transferred our baggage to a ferry boat and came to where we are now – Pier 54 North River – the Cunard Line. I am now in the steerage of the Carmania bound for Liverpool. This letter is to be left behind to be mailed after we get well away. The Carmania I learn has made many trips since the war. She is a medium sized boat and quite fast. She has had several brushes with U boats and has sunk two. That’s all pact though as we will go under a strong convoy. Since the explosion at Halifax they’re not sending these ships up there to be convoyed. The convoy meets them outside New York.

So far things have moved so fast that I don’t know yet whether I am scared or not. I don’t think I am. I’m glad though that we are off to England – I think that may mean that we’ll ultimately go to Italy rather than France. I hope so – conditions there are much better.

I hope Harry gets fixed up all right on that tip that Hawkinson gave him. Sorry I shan’t be around to help.

Frankly I don’t expect to be gone very long. Peace looks pretty promising to me – and I’m not sorry. Any way don’t worry about me, Mother. The subs have never gotten a troop ship yet and I never expect to see the front line trenches.

Love to all,
Herbert

What my address will be I don’t know. I’ll write + tell you first opportunity

The Cheeky Monk - Belgian Beer Cafe

The Cheeky Monk is a fun place if one is a beer lover - I was amazed at the number of taps and beers on draught. There were so many taps it's almost as if the bartender was in jail!

I enjoyed a lovely arugula, sorrel and lemon salad and some fried (which was unexpected) gougères - also served with the arugula salad.

Turns out there are three locations - I did not expect that, it seemed like such a unique place; I went to the location on Colfax just down the street from the state Capital. In fact, it was an employee at the Courthouse who suggested the place. (I was hoping for weiner schnitzel, but my health is better off with the salad!) The other locations are in Westminster, Co and Winter Park, Co.

The gougères with the arugula salad - it cam with two mustards, too.

I confess I had already dug in before taking the photograph.

I also tried two alcoholic beverages... given I was lunching, my choice felt quite extravagant. I had the locally brewed Stem Cider Remedy - 6.8% Alcohol by Volume - and the Hibiscusicity by the Stone Brewing Company. I did not love either, but I was glad to have tried some new beers/beverages.

BTW - apparently this cafe gets two kegs of Pliny the Younger which was featured on NPR as the best and hardest to get beer in the USA. I think the fact the Cheeky Monk gets two kegs is impressive because I thought I heard one could only buy it at the brewery. Here's what the Brewery says about it's availability:

Availability
Pub draft only, VERY limited distribution locally and to distributors on draft only, seasonal- released at our pub the first Friday of February and is available for just 2 weeks, available at select accounts during February.

In to 1918....

A cold winter in New York City - scarce coal....


December 3, 1917 [sic]
January 3, 1918

Dear Mother,

This will be an awfully brief letter. Not that I’m pressured for time but there’s nothing to write about.

I’m afraid that Allan Norton scared his people unnecessarily because I can see no immediate prospects of our leaving here. It more as though we might be in Allentown till the end of the war to me.

It’s still very cold but I guess I must be accustomed to it by now because I don’t mind it much. My cold has entirely gone now and I’m taking good care not to catch any more.
There is so much snow and ice that there are no drills and the men are pretty restless for lack of something to do. Of course, as clerk I am fairly busy now and again but the rest of the men have almost nothing to do from one week’s end to another, barring guard duty, sanitary police and kitchen duty, which don’t come very often. The rest of the time they play cards, write letters, read and hang around and it’s pretty dull work.

I had a nice letter from Chas yesterday telling me some of the news around the shop and wishing me a Happy New Year. He and Grace have had a hard time getting coal and a couple of weeks ago even thought they might have to take rooms in the city for the winter. As it was they did have to stay in the city for a week because they had no coal at all. When they returned they found the plumbing all busted up from freezing. Chas has been very busy working most every night. He told me to be sure to stop with them the next time I’m over. I hope I shall be able to make it.

Love to all,
Herb

Making a Difference (Thru Wikitree)

I inadvertently played a tiny but instrumental role in a very fun story.

My friend has loaned me his big book on family genealogy and I have been entering some of it on to Wikitree. I am trying to find a connection between his family and my family - so far no direct connection, unfortunately.

In doing so, I entered in the birth information for a Curtis Banford Hebb - his mother was a Newcomb. The book was published in 1902 or something, so Curtis was a boy at the time of publishing; he had no children or spouse.

Well, I didn't think much about it. I love the mission of Wikitree - to make one human tree, that's why I would enter in information about people not related to me.

My inquirer sent me an email many weeks ago but his email got caught up in my endless in-box. I finally saw it the other day and finally wrote back. I am the 'manager' of Mr. Hebb's family's profiles, so the logical person for anyone to contact. I had to tell him that I was not a direct descendant, but I told him where I got the information. I fortunately included Mr. Hebb's birth location in the Wikitree profile, as according to the tome.

Here is the email I received back from my inquirer:

Pretty fun, huh?! I didn't promote it to the press, a friend of mom's did...the one mentioned in the article as having asked if we'd ever tried to track down any relatives. She was pretty excited.

I was able to print the family tree available from wikitree and share it with Pauline Hebb, also made me sound less clueless on the phone. I hope the whole episode inspires her to follow through on plans to share the family history with children and grandkids...something she said had long been in the back of her mind. I think it will.

I found them in part through a google search, which turned up a Curtis Hebb Rd a short distance from the town(Bridgewater, Nova Scotia) where he enlisted. That gave me hope he'd returned from the war. Then, narrowing down the Hebbs in the phone book(there are a lot)based on that town where the road was located, I picked up the phone book. I hit Pauline on the first try, as alphabetically she's still under her husband Arnold...of the Hebbs listed in Newcombville. VOILA...not too hard at all.

She was completely stunned and very sweet and appreciative. I think the reporters were probably an additional shock later. Anyway, it felt great to return it to her.

The two resulting Canadian News articles can be found here and here, though I have cut and pasted the texts from each below.


One Article:

A beautifully matted and framed First World War enlistment photo is now back at home with the Hebb family in Newcombville.

Decades ago, the 15" x 28" enlistment piece somehow found its way home in Kingsburg alongside photos of royals. It hung in the home of Judith Varney Burch for 20 to 30 years until her son, Palmer Burch, decided to try and locate the person's family. All he knew was the enlistment photograph was of Pte. Curtis Bamford Hebb, who enlisted in Bridgewater in 1918 for the war in Europe. The matte surrounding the photo has the script "on active service ... for King and Empire."

The Burch family isn't sure when it was acquired, but after being prompted by a friend, Mr. Burch decided to try to find relatives of the young man in the photo.

It wasn't a difficult task. He found Curtis Hebb Road in Newcombville and decided to call the first Hebb listed. Who he found was the widow of Curtis Hebb's nephew, Pauline. Her husband, Albert, died nine years ago.

"He didn't know anything about that, I'm sure," said Ms Hebb pointing to the photo. "I don't have a clue where it came from. We never knew that existed."

According to research, Pte. Hebb, a 21 year-old Newcombville farmer, was drafted under the Military Service Act of 1917. His service record is dated May 25, 1918. He returned uninjured after the war.

Pte. Hebb never married and lived with his brother, Clarence. Years later, after suffering a stoke, he moved in with his brother. At the same time, Mr. and Ms Hebb lived in the house. It was during this time that Ms Hebb helped him rehabilitate.

"I got him back walking and got him back in the car and driving again," said Ms Hebb.

After a few years, Pte. Hebb moved to Waterloo, where he lived with his sister, Suzie Weagle. She died, but Pte. Hebb stayed with her daughter, Jeannie, until he went into a seniors' home in Chester. Pte. Hebb died there 30 years ago at 87 years old.

And the other:

In a small room in a 200-year-old Kingsburg farmhouse overlooking the ocean hung a black and white picture of a young man in uniform, a bare hint of a smile on his young face, about to head off to war.

The matte surrounding the picture bears the coloured flags of Britain, Scotland, Ireland and Canada.

The young man in the photo is Pte. Curtis Bamford Hebb. It is his First World War enlistment picture, dated in Bridgewater in 1918.

Pauline Hebb will never know how her husband’s uncle’s picture ended up on the wall of Inuit art expert Judith Varney Burch’s home, but she’s grateful to have the ornately framed picture back in the family.

She said she’s looking forward to cleaning it up a bit and showing it to Hebb’s descendants.

For 25 years, the photograph hung in Varney Burch’s home among pictures of royalty — Queen Victoria, King George VI, King Edward VII, The Queen Mother, Queen Elizabeth II and her wedding photo to Prince Philip the Duke of Edinburgh.

“That piece ended up hanging with them due to its Canadian and British flags and mention of service ‘For King and Country,’” Varney Burch’s son, Palmer, said in an email.

A visiting friend asked recently if they’d ever attempted to track down the young man’s family. Palmer decided to do just that.

It didn’t prove too difficult.

He found a Curtis Hebb Road in Newcombville, just outside Bridgewater, and some of the family’s genealogy online. It looked like Curtis had survived the war, so “from there I simply picked up the phone book and called.”

Arnold Hebb was the first person on the list.

His widow, Pauline, picked up the phone and was taken aback to learn Burch had the framed enlistment picture.

“I can’t see how that ever got out of the house,” she said, and Varney Burch cannot remember which antique store or auction she got it from those many years ago.

It turns out Curtis did make it home uninjured to Lunenburg County, where he took up farming.

He never married, lived with his brother Clarence for a time then lived with Pauline and Arnold during his later years. Pauline taught him how to drive again after he suffered a stroke.

Today, a red granite headstone set just beyond the shade offered by the branches of a maple tree marks Curtis’s final resting spot. It’s in the community cemetery down the road from where he was born and lived his life.

He died in a seniors home in Chester two weeks before Christmas 30 years ago, at the age of 87.

As he was in life, he is surrounded by family.

His nephew Arnold, Pauline’s husband, is buried two rows over. He died nine years ago this week.

Pipe & Wool Socks

So, no idea who the Knotts are...
Does seem like his Section spends a lot of time in Allentown and not overseas....

Wednesday, 1917 (12/26?)
Dear Mother,

Well I arrived safely this morning and the cold has practically disappeared. I haven’t coughed very much since I left home and it’s very loose so I guess I’m well rid of it.

On the way to Albany I met Mrs. + Mr. Knott + Regina. Rena had been up for the day and was going back on my train. She was glad to have my company and I hers and we had a fine visit.

When I arrived here I found a package from the Westminster Church (Club?) with a pipe in it and three pairs of heavy wool socks. There was also a letter from Charley or rather a Christmas card with five dollars folded up inside. Wasn’t that nice?

There’s nothing new here about our ever sailing. So far as indications here go we may be here until the end of the war.

Love to all,
Herbert

Cold Spell and Encouraging News about the War

Who is Mrs. Nial? She gets mentioned again in later letters.

What the heck job does Harry have? Dang, why can't Herb be more forthcoming?

A search of the New York Times offers us some insight in to what Herb is talking about with the latest war news.

Sunday
Dear Mother,

The cold spell seems to have broken here and I hope the warmer weather last for a time. There has been no shortage of coal here so far as I know, but it’s been pretty uncomfortable just the same. Still, I guess we were about as well off as many people in and near New York. According to all accounts some of them had a pretty hard time.

By the way, Mother, don’t worry about those cigarettes Aunt Ida sent me. I’m laying off them for the time being at least. So far I’ve only smoked about ten of them and that’s less than one per day.

I am writing today to say my thanks for those things I got from the church. I should have done it before, but I’ve been awfully lazy this last week. It seems as if the less I have to do the less I want to do.

The war news lately is more encouraging isn’t it? I almost can hope that the Russians may reenter the war. And there certainly is a growing dissatisfaction among the German people and among her allies.

Harry’s job this week must have been a pretty stiff one – with the thermometer well below zero.

I never expected to see the day when the Shanghnuessy’s would offer $5 a day for men on the ice. It seems to me that @2 or $2.25 used to be thought a lot. I guess those days are gone for good.

Remember me to Mrs. Nial if you see her and tell her I was sorry not to have seen her.

Love to all,
Herb

After Christmas...

Aunt Ida is Charles' mother - she lives in Huntington, NY on Long Island with her 2nd husband John Reese who I have learned is a 'poultry man' on a private estate there. Aunt Ida's first husband - John Cornell - was a butcher in NYC. I suspect he and my great uncle worked together; they shared the same address for a while, at least.


My third cousin provided this photograph of Aunt Ida as a younger woman - his great grandmother and my great grandfather's sister.

Still NO IDEA who Karolyn is - though it has occurred to me that perhaps it can be figured out... spelling her name as she does and working/training as a nurse in Bridgeport one might be able to find her. Still no idea what happens to her and why she isn't my grandmother....

Sunday
Dear Mother,

We’re in the midst of another very cold spell – down around zero. My cold though is steadily getting better and unless I catch more I don’t believe it will bother me anymore. I’m taking all possible care to avoid catching more.

I don’t believe I told you that I had a nice Christmas present from Aunt Ida – a hundred cigarettes. Wasn’t that nice of her. [sic] I’ve quit smoking them in favor of a pipe except as an occasional luxury so I guess they’ll last some time.

I had a letter from Karolyn yesterday. It as a good thing I took her watch with me instead of sending it, I guess, because none of her things from home had arrived by Thursday. It was funny, too, because her mother told me she had sent them a week early. She was very much pleased with the watch and wondered how she had gotten along without one so long.

I’ve been pretty busy as usual, making out pay rolls and so on, ready for the last day of the month when all have to be in.

There hasn’t been any pneumonia in camp so far as I have heard but I guess at least every other man has had a bad cold. I’m not going to take any more chances with wet feet you may be sure of that.

As usual there isn’t anything worth mentioning to write about. Everything is pretty dull. I wish I could get away for New Year’s to go over to NY, but there’s no chance.

Love to all,
Herb

Money Order & Christmas Passes

I can't imagine how boring this must be for Herb and the others. Nice to know he has the movies to go to - the world hasn't changed in that regard.... Just now some of us do it at home with Netflix.

Doesn't give one a good image of the accounting of the Army... SSDD (same shit, different day)


Friday, Dec. 14, 1917
Dear Mother,

I’m not writing because I have much to say but just to let you know that I have been all right. I have a slight cold – nothing serious.

I’ve been awfully busy this week try [sic] to get our account settled with the Quartermaster. We figured that we owed the QM about $200 but his records showed that he owed us about $200. The accounts of most of the other sections were in the same balled up condition so we had to call it all even and start fresh. Some fine book keeping – not.

They’ve finally put stoves in our barracks so while we’re none too warm we’re decently comfortable. It’s been pretty cold right along and last night there was another blizzard that tied up the trolley system tight. I had been to the movies so I had to walk home in it.

The money order came all right Tuesday I think it was. The powers that be are provokingly silent about Christmas passes, so I don’t know much. I think probably they’ll come through about the last of next week. I certainly hope so.

Love to all,
Herbert