A Walk in the Park

 Even in the heat of summer, Mom and I try to walk each day. My day, if it isn't raining (and what is that, anyway?) begins with a lap in Sam's lane. It's just 0.6 miles round trip but it's enough to get my legs moving and my lungs expanding for another day.

 But late in the afternoon, say 3 pm, Mom and I head out to the park where we manage some semblance of another walk. Since her two hospitalizations in the spring (the most recent in May), Mom can't go very far. But she tries and that's enough for me.

 She also tries to remember her cane. When she doesn't, she has the smooth limb of a tree on the back floor of the car and uses that. The cane was used by Dad, all those years when his arthritis took him down and made him nearly unable to move. He'd take my arm with one hand, hold the cane in the other, and off we'd go. Mom does the same (though she insists on holding my left arm; Dad always chose my right).

 We walk beyond the first bend and have as a turn-around spot at gate in the fence that surrounds a baseball diamond. I can sense her watching for it. She slows, begins to tug back as we approach it, will not be taken beyond it. I suppose she worries whether she can get back to the car should we walk farther. Years ago, we made the entire circuit of the park (0.7 mile); now we do barely a quarter of that.

 When the wind is blowing she wears her pink slumber cap. And though it may be a 90° day with the sun burning our flesh, she won't walk without a sweater.

 Here she enjoys a short rest on a bench that sides the water.

 This picture somehow reminds me of my great-grandmother, Josephine Huesman, who died when I was a toddler of just three. And yet I remember her well. She often wore a cap similar to this and that's why the picture tugs at my memory.

 In the summer, we'll continue walking at the park as long as we can. In the winter we'll use the hallways of the New Lebanon Elementary School. But we'll keep moving, forever forward. As long as we can.

Threshing Time

 I always admire a field planted in winter wheat. I watch it throughout the winter for the promise it holds.As spring unfolds and the sun begins the warm the field, it first blushes with pale life, then rushes to grow waves of green and finally - now is the time - it ripens and turns a gold that rivals the sun. The tops swell as the grain matures.

 Today is that perfect day for photography. The sky is a deep blue, the cumulus clouds rise all around in puffs of white and the sun shines between those clouds with brilliant intensity. I grab my camera and imagine days a century ago when the threshing crews prepared to harvest.

 By July 4, if the harvest was on schedule, they'd begin making the rounds, farm to farm, gathering the wheat. The threshing machine itself, often steam-powered, sometimes animal-driven, was shared among the community. The people - men and boys - shared their labor as well. The women laid our wonderful meals.

 They couldn't stop until they were finished ... or until it rained.
 This field will surely be mechanically harvested, the grain separated with metal fingers, the stalks cut and baled with perfect precision. The great modern machines, diesel-driven, replace every man with mechanics. It has none of the romance of year's past.

Peter Lorenz : Germantown's Weaver Extraordinaire

 Even after more than a century and a half, the handiwork of Peter Lorenz remains. From 1836 to 1847, the Germantown man created exquisite coverlets on his Jacquard loom. His work appears at the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan and the Indiana Museum of Art in Indianapolis.

 This 1838 coverlet is in the Pinehaven collection. It dates back to some of Lorenz' earliest work.

 Little has been published about Lorenz, only that he was born in France in "about 1801", emigrated to the United States as a young man, and worked in Greene County, Ohio, Wayne County, Indiana and Montgomery County, Ohio.

A wider view of how Lorenz placed his name and date in the corner block of most of his coverlets.

 Here's more of his story. It appears that Lorenz arrived first in Greene County (early 1830's perhaps), traveled to Indiana where the weaving of a existing coverlet was shared with another weaver, Henry Adolf. By 1834, Lorenz is known to have moved to Montgomery Co. Ohio. He settled in Germantown and spent the rest of his life there.

This "half  Jacquard coverlet" is 84" x 36". A full coverlet is two pieces of this size joined in the middle.

It is likely that Lorenz loom was just over three feet wide.

 Lorenz claim to fame, the works of art he created on his loom, were made in two pieces and sewn together at a center seam. A "half coverlet" - the usual item that came off his loom - was probably 84" by 36". When two were joined, the whole coverlet was 84" by 72".

 These coverlets, I understand, were often split into their original two sections and shared with different family members.

Lorenz usually dated his coverlets in a corner block and further weaved the date of creation just below his name. Not every coverlet is signed and dated, however.

 The invention of the Jacquard loom and Lorenz' birth both came in the same year (1801) and same place (France). Perhaps it was destined that the two should be associated.

 Lorenz lived in a house at the southeast corner of E. Market Street and S. Cherry Street (the modern address is 103 E. Market Street). A plaque affixed to the front of the house dates it to "circa 1834". Census records show he and his family in Germantown on the 1840 census though the name is shown as "Lawrence".

An historical plaque on Peter Lorenz home. He lived here from the early 1830's till his death in 1876.

His wife, Sophia, lived until 1905.

The Lorenz House is located at 103 E. Market St, Germantown Ohio. This view faces southeast.

A rear view of the Lorenz House facing northeast.

 At that recording, one "free white men" younger than age 5 was noted; three age 20-29 and one age 30-39. The "free white woman" were two under age 5 and one age 30-39. Those "employed in manufacture or trade" were shown as four. Also the "free white persons" under age 20 was listed as three and five between 20-49).

 By 1850, the census recorded names. Peter (age 49), Sophia (39, his wife) and their children-to-date: Josephine (14), Ann M (12), Phillip M (9), Charles W (8), George E (5), and Henry C (3). Also noted were Peter's parents: Phillip (74) and Margaret (73).

On the 1860 federal census, the family added John (5). Margaret had passed away five years earlier (Phillip, now 84, is still listed). Some records show the family name as "Sorrenz".

 By 1870, the census listed just four people living there: Peter, Sophia, John A and, probably a boarder, Rosa East (16). This census lists Peter Lorenz as a 69 year old retired weaver. His real estate was valued at $2500 and his personal property was valued at $1200.

Genealogical Data:

Many of the Lorenz family are buried at the Germantown Union Cemetery.

It is located on W. Market Street, west of the downtown business district.

 A trip to the Germantown Union Cemetery, offers firm dating for the Lorenz family. For some, actual dates appear on the stones; for others, the number of years, months and days of their lives was used to arrive at dates. They are (in order of birth):

Phillip b. 08-01-1775 d. 07-12-1860  (84-11-10)
Margaret b. 01-30-1776 d. 01-12-1855  (78-11-12)
Peter b. 03-29-1801 d. 06-02-1876  (75-2-3)
Sophia b. xx-xx-1810 d. 10-09-1905
Josephine ca 1836
Ann M ca 1838
Phillip M ca 1841
Charles W 01-26-1842 d. 01-11-1898
George E ca 1845
Henry C ca 1847

John A. xx-xx-1855 d. xx-xx-1931

 A wide view of the Lorenz plot.

Peter, his wife, Sophia, and one son, Charles, are noted on the main monument.

Charles shares the main monument with his parents.

John is the last born child of Peter and Sophia Lorenz. He is also the longest surviving member of the family.

Peter Lorenz' parents, Margaret (l) and Phillip share old-style markers that are fast fading. 

Margaret, who died in 1855 at age 78, was survived by her husband for another five and a half years.

They were born during the years of the American Revolution.

A Spring Thunderstorm

 Last Friday (05/04/12) we had an impressive series of thunderstorms pass through the area beginning just after 5 pm and continuing in five distinct waves through the early night. All told, we had nearly an inch of rain.
 I stood beside the barn where I had a good view to the southwest and heard a storm coming a while before I saw any lightning. As it got closer, this is how it looked.

 The virga (airborne rain) to the right of this storm was quite pronounced. Look at the curtain of gray falling in a vertical shaft. The angry storm itself, traveling almost due east, passed mostly south of me but pelted Germantown with hail and torrential rain.

 These two frames are taken from a video I was shooting. This is the same storm as above and at about the same time (5:11 pm). They are placed in the correct order. The strike on the left came first. I'd say the strike on the left is a return stroke. The two frames are 1/30 second apart.
 How far off was the strike? I measured the time between the strike and the thunder as 19 seconds and I got 3.8 miles (19/5). The shot was taken to my SW and that would place the strike in German Twp.

 Almost as soon as these frames were captured, I packed up as I began to hear raindrops hitting the open fields around me. As I turned and looked north, here is the beautiful cumulus that greeted me.

 Blue sky not far away! And so go spring thunderstorms, dropping copious amounts of rain on one area and a mile away the ground remains dry. The sun forever shines on the top of the most violent storm.

The "Super" Moon

 To the naked eye, it wasn't so "super". A mere 14% larger than normal, you'd never notice any difference if you weren't told. Though the moon was indeed closer to the Earth, by about 15,300 miles, it's really a fairly insignificant difference. The moon is, after all, nearly a quarter million miles away.

 Still, with all the hype, I had to look. And I had to take a few photographs.

 This is what I saw Saturday (05/05/12) at 8:55 pm. To the southeast, the moon had just cleared the distance trees (about a mile off) and by using my telephoto, I could pull the moon into an even more impressive size. The low position of the moon, like the recently set sun behind me, took on a ruddy hue from the thickness of the near-horizon atmosphere.

 In actuality, the scene looked more like this. There's the Shell farm on Venus Road and their barn, to the south and west of the house, offers a nice rural setting.
 In any case, it was a pleasant excuse for spending some time in the front yard, stationed under the pines along Clayton Road, watching the tranquil moon begin to light the night sky. But bigger? Not much. Brighter? Hardly. Still, when I fell to sleep on the living room floor (Mom is ill and I'm caregiver) I watched the shaft of moonlight strike across the carpet and thought of the multitude this night gazing at the super moon.

The Rifle's Story

 Back when Dad was a kid (he was born in 1924), his father operated a furniture store in downtown Miamisburg. In the basement of the old building were two items leaning against the wall. He and a friend were told to each pick one. Dad chose the rifle (I forget what the other item was).

 All these years (close to 80), the rifle went with Dad wherever he moved. We're on our fourth house. So, too, the rifle. And in all those years, Dad never was to learn a thing about the rifle. We surmise it's Civil War era; certainly it's been modified; probably it has little actual value beyond a conversation piece. About all we know for sure about it is that it is a Springfield.

 I measured the length of the gun - tip of the muzzle to bottom of the butt - and I show 56.5". The barrel itself is a smooth-bore. It's inside diameter appears to be 9/16" and the outside diameter 11/16".

 Above is the sole identification that I can find on the rifle.

 Above is a wider view of the same area showing the firing mechanism. The large bolt, top right, seems very suspect to me. Surely the rifle was not manufactured in this way?

 Here's a top view of that same part.

 This is a top view of the gun-sight. I also question whether this was an original part ... but perhaps. The metal seems identical to other parts.

 And here's a close up of the trigger.
 The rifle is made of a dark wood (though it could simply be stained a dark color). I'd guess walnut. The metal parts of the gun appear to be painted black.

 Anyone have any idea what this rifle is? An approximation of its age? I'd welcome any suggestions.

Note: I got a response within an hour and this appears to be a Springfield "Trapdoor" Rifle. Now that I know where to look for the date, I find it pretty well covered in paint but I can read the "18". The rifle length is the give-away. Only in 1865 were these rifles 56" long. To read more, click here or here.

Christopher Harrison / Sallie Skinner

 Though the beautiful diary, penned in 1843 clearly shows Miss Sallie L. Skinner on the title page, I believe it was actually written by Christopher Harrison and presented to Skinner as a gift. Before January begins, this is written:

 That, and the content, leads me to believe that Harrison is the author. But who is Christopher Harrison? He was Indiana's first Lieutenant Governor (1816-1819). The diary, however, was written at Talbot Co. Maryland (at "Fair View"). Harrison was an artist in his own rite and the diary displays his skills in that area. Clearly the man was a poet, too. He looks, perhaps, something of a sea captain.

 The diary is predominantly a weather record. Harrison regularly recorded the highs and lows and numerous meteorological phenomenon. He even recorded his height (5'9") and weight (161 pounds) on January 18. He recorded others on the plantation, too, including Skinner (5'2-1/2" and 109 pounds). Harrison turned 68 in 1842; Skinner was 21.

Here's the title page of the diary, almost a fraktur:

 The poem on this cover piece is by Sir Walter Scott (Norna). These other examples, I think, were actually written by Harrison:

December clouds and Storms are past,

Our last year's cares are o'er at last

With smiling faces New Year appears

To cheer our hopes, dispel our fear.

Now ladies shall have lovers plenty,

Rich and brave and five and twenty,

Young men shall strive fine clothes to wear,

More than their parents can well spare,

The Sage, the Rich, the old, the poor,

Shall all this year expect much more.

And yet they'll find perhaps at last,

This year no better than the past.

But who neither hope nor fear

Find little change in any year.

CH Jany 1, 1843

 At the end of January Harrison penned these lines:

Such never was such weather seen
In Winter, as this month has been,
So right the sun, so mild the air,
You'd almost think that Spring was here.

I love these lines in February:

A Valentine's a paper present
To our beloved; by it is meant,
That love inflames the sender's breast,
Before conceal'd, but now confess'd.

In March Harrison wrote:

Well this is Spring, all cold and wet,
Shiv'ring she comes along, and yet,
She has a smile upon her face,
A smile that charms the human race.

And later the same month:

Why winter, do you linger here,
and pinch with cold, poor motels so,
do you not know the time of year?
You should have gone ten days ago.

In April, Harrison mellows along with the weather but shows concern for the animals:

The Fields, at last, are growing green,
And Flocks and Herds are grazing seen,
But plain their Ribs and scant their height,
Of goats, poor souls, a piteous sight.

In May:

Now lovely Spring she laughs outright,
In gaudy drefs, red, blue and white,
She throws aside her cloak, yet sighs,
For oh, 'midst pleasures soon she dies.

By August:

The Harvest o'er, secur'd the grain,
In Barns and Ricks from wind and Rain,
What price for wheat is next the cry
Of ev'ry Farmer low and high.

In October:

The beauties of a harvest field
of Golden Wheat all parts praise
But Wheat itself I think must yield
To Indian Corn this Silver maize.

As the year winds down in November:

The labors of the year are over
Feed now your stock with roots and clover
With friends be merry, now's the Season
T' enjoy pastimes but yet in reason

Finally, December:

Cold Winter comes with Rain and Snows,
And cruel cold the North Wind blows,
Midst plenty, don't forget to aid
The suffering poor, the Sick, the laid.
Co Christ commanded as 'tis said.

Harrison died on August 29, 1862 and is buried at Fair View, in an unmarked grave I am told. He never married. Skinner lived until October 27, 1894. She married in 1847. Skinner, by the way, is the daughter of Harrison's sister, Elizabeth (Harrison) Skinner.

I bought the diary many years ago and it is one of my most prized possessions. I'm guessing Skinner felt the same way about it.