Celebrate Arbor Day

Hi Puzzlers,

Arbor day is the day that is dedicated to the planting and care of trees and here in New Hampshire we celebrate it on April 30th.

People are encouraged to go out and plant a tree, be it in your own yard or in a community spot. You should remember to ask the community before planting. Homeowners, this is a good time to check existing trees for insect infestations and broken branches and, of course, to plant a new tree.

The first Arbor Day was celebrated on April 10, 1872 in Nebraska. Julius Sterling Morton, a Nebraska journalist and politician, thought Nebraska would benefit from the planting of trees. Trees, he felt, would add to the landscape and economy.

“He set an example himself planting orchards, shade trees and windbreakers on his own farm and urged his neighbors to follow suit. Nebraska’s first Arbor Day was an amazing success with more than one million trees being planted.”

“Windbreaks reduce heating and cooling cost to homes, and add value. They provide a barrier from sound and sight, smell, protect livestock, they look good and provide wildlife habitat for birds and little furry critters.”

Presently all 50 states celebrate Arbor Day although the dates vary according to local climates. I am also happy to report Arbor Day is now celebrated in other countries, with some adopting variations on the theme such as “Greening Week” of Japan.”

"Other holidays repose upon the past - Arbor Day proposes for the future.”

J. Sterling Morton

Happy Puzzling!

Firefighters Part II

Hi Puzzlers,

In today’s Part II post we will look at the history of female fire fighters. I feel it is always important to inspire our girls to believe they can do and be anything they want. Nothing, to me, says it better than showing ladies from our historic past. They made things happen at a time when it wasn’t socially acceptable, when they couldn’t vote or own their own property. Talk about overcoming adversity!

An African-American slave named Molly Williams was the first recorded female firefighter in US history. She worked on the Oceanus Engine Company # 11, where she became known as Volunteer # 11 and was said to be, “as good as a fire laddie as many of the boys.” Her bravery was especially noted during the blizzard of 1818. “Male firefighters were scarce, but Williams took her place with the men on the dragropes and pulled the pumper to the fire in the deep snow.”

Marina Betts, a resident of Pittsburgh in 1820, served as a volunteer firefighter. She claims she never missed a fire in the ten years she was a firefighter. Paul Ditzel stated: “Betts became famous for dumping buckets of water over male bystanders who refused to help fight fires.”

In 1851 Lillie Hitchcock began working on the Knickbocker Engine No. 5. Her journey began as she watched two other fire engine companies pass the understaffed men of the Knickbocker Engine, while enroute to a fire. As the other firefighters passed the Knickbocker they yelled out humiliating remarks. “Fifteen year old Lillie saw their plight and dashed to the vacant spot on the rope. Pulling with all her might she shouted to bystanders, "Come on, you men! Everybody pull and we’ll beat em!”

Can you imagine doing that at fifteen in the 1850’s?

A special note of thanks to all our firefighters.

Happy Puzzling!

Firefighters

Hi Puzzlers,

Today’s blog is about Firefighters. I have always been curious about the fire fighting profession. I wonder if it was always volunteers trying to keep their communities safe? When did it become a paid profession? What about women firefighters? I have so many questions, in fact, that I am going to have to make it a two part series. In this post we will look at the early days of volunteer fire fighting.

Volunteers have and continue to be the backbone of all firefighting. The Union Fire Company established by Benjamin Franklin, in 1736, was the first volunteer fire department. Unlike other “Fire Clubs” of its day, which only protected property of its members, the Union Fire Company served everyone in the neighborhood. This became the role model for subsequent fire companies that sprang up all over Philadelphia. Each Fire Company of this time had to pay for all their equipment; luckily, wealthy volunteers donated the funds to keep the fire companies running.

Prior to this type of organization, “private fire brigades would compete with one another to be the first to respond to a fire because insurance companies paid brigades to save buildings. Even after the formation of paid fire companies in the United States, there were disagreements and often fights over territory.”

“New York City companies were famous for sending runners out to fires with a large barrel to cover the hydrant closest to the fire in advance of the engines. Often fights would break out between the runners and even the responding fire companies for the right to fight the fire and receive the insurance money that would be paid to the company that fought it.” I wonder how many buildings burned to the ground before the fight was settled? Yikes!

Here is a list of some famous volunteer firefighters: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Ben Franklin, Samuel Adams, John Hancock, Paul Revere, and Alexander Hamilton.

Happy Puzzling!

Baseball Parks

Hi Puzzlers,

It’s official baseball season and many of you may be cheering or jeering. I personally am in between. I am not a die-hard fan but I know a few of the players, watch the World Series and enjoy a day at the park.

The day at the park is definitely my favorite. The closest official ballpark to New Hampshire is Fenway Park, which is home to the Red Sox and the Green Monster, or “Monsta” as they say in Boston. Fenway is also the oldest ballpark in the country! It opened in 1912 on the same day the Titanic sank!

I can remember my first time at the park and how fun it was strolling down Yawkey Way. During the games half the street is closed off to traffic and lots of vendors line up selling all kinds of goodies. It’s like a giant street party with music playing, food everywhere and thousands of happy people enjoying the day.

I have yet to go to the new Yankee Stadium in New York. My husband has been a Yankees fan all his life and you can well imagine the taunting he gets from every one in our family for being a traitor. Yes, they are all Red Sox fans. But I so enjoy the parks I can’t wait to go and check this one out. The new stadium was opened on April 16, 2009 boasting new wider seats and more legroom. Most seats even have cup holders.

Next on the hit list would have to be the second oldest ball park in the country, Wrigley Field, home of the Chicago Cubs, which opened in 1914. It went under several different names until 1927 when it was renamed after the Cubs owner William Wrigley Jr., owner and founder of Wrigley Chewing Gum Company. Hmm… Baseball and chewing gum- did that get started here?

Those are my top three - enjoy the season!

Happy Puzzling!