Sad Mystery

I became aware of this mystery when I was in the 6th grade attending Central Middle School in Laurinburg NC. After school, a friend took me to the local funeral home a block away and stowed in the corner of the garage where the Hurst were parked stood a 5 foot by 2 foot wooden box on edge. Opening the lid of that box, I jumped and yelled and needless to say I ran all the way home (about a mile). Inside rested the remains of the man we called Spaghetti. A carnival worker killed in a fight in Laurinburg in 1911. The body was to be claimed but never was and so time passed and he ended up in that corner of that garage. I paid several visits to that wooden box to satisfy my curiosity and to this day have vivid memories of that man. Carefully reading the photo will answer the end of this mystery. If anyone wishes to enquire about the rest of the story then comment and I will respond.

I Feel Patrotic!

I heard on the news today that 10 American Solders died in combat operations in Iraq over the weekend. The human sacrifice for this flag is very high. I pray its not in vain. God Bless This Flag.

A Little Known Fact

Today I was engaged in a conservation about property lines and state boundaries in NW Ohio. To stimulate conservation I related a little know fact that all property and boundary lines north of Defiance Ohio to Canada are measured of the baseline of the flagstaff located at Fort Defiance. Fort Defiance was built by General Anthony Wayne in August 1794 at the confluence of the Auglaize and Maumee Rivers and played an important role securing lands for a growing nation. Two hundred years later actions taken by our ancestors are affecting everyday life from state boundries, county lines, townships, personal property in NW Ohio to the taxes we pay all because of a flagstaff located at Fort Defiance, Defiance Ohio.

Miami-Erie Canal

The Miami-Erie Canal played an important role in the
development of Ohio. It allowed huge amounts of trade to flow through Ohio and allowed Ohio farmers to ship vast amounts of crops.

The building of the canal was an engineering challenge in 1825 and pictured below is Lock 13 of 103 Locks used to connect Cincinnati to Lake Erie via Toledo. Today the canal is being restored in several places by local governments and I will have additionl pictures and information in the future.

Fort Defiance

Few people today recognize the importance of Fort Defiance in American history. It is from this place that General Anthony Wayne lead an army against the Indians and defeated them in a battle called Fallen Timbers in present day Maumee Ohio thus acquiring the territory that is now the states of Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, and Wisconsin. I visited Fort Defiance Dec. '06 and took this pictures. There is not much left to see.

I heard on the news today that 10 American Solders died in combat operations in Iraq over the weekend. The human sacrifice for this flag is very high. I pray its not in vain. God Bless This Flag.

Chief Tecumseh Speaks

I am reading about Tecumseh a Shawnee Chief who fought bravely for his people and this is part of a speach that I beleive is true today as it was 200 years ago.

"So live your life that the fear of death can never enter your heart.
Trouble no one about their religion; respect others in their view, and
Demand that they respect yours. Love your life, perfect your life,
Beautify all things in your life. Seek to make your life long and
Its purpose in the service of your people."

If only we.... only I could live by these words wouldn't life be that much greater.