Wyoming Gives Grants For State History Research

By Kate Snyderksnyder@rawlinstimes.com  From the Rawlins Daily Times                                

The Wyoming State Historical Society (WSHS) is offering cash grants to people involved in research projects about the state’s history. The Carbon County Museum will likely experience a bump in visitors as a result, said Kelly Morris, museum director.
 “We have a research area in our museum,” she said. “We have a lot of research capabilities.”

 

Part of the grants will likely go toward travelling to facilities like the Carbon County Museum to conduct research for historical projects about Wyoming, she said.

The grants will range from $100 to $1,500, according to a press release from the WSHS. The grants will be awarded based on the application. A committee will review all proposals and make final decisions in the spring, the release stated. Proposals must include a statement of purpose, an explanation of the project, the value the project has to Wyoming history and a description of how the public will benefit from the research.

Projects could include writing books, restoration projects and oral histories, which compiles the history using audiotapes and videotapes.

“This kind of money can only help places like ours,” Morris said.

Learning about the state’s history is important for the general public as well as those conducting the research, Morris said.

“To know where you should go, you better know where you’ve been,” she said.

Many researchers spend their own money to fund their projects, she said. While the museum has several services it offers for free, such as staff assistance, if the project is more in-depth, such as setting up interviews, staff services could cost money.

The money for the grants will come from a fund established by the late Lola Homsher, an historian and state archivist, the press release stated.

Previous recipients, applications and rules can be found by visiting the WSHS’s website at www.wyshs.org and then by selecting “Homsher Endowment,” the release stated.

The Celebration of War

The celebration of war, well maybe celebrate is the wrong word, perhaps remembrance of war would be better.  Besides currently observing the 150th anniversary of the American Civil war and the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812 starting this summer we will observe the 100th anniversary of World War One (1914 to 1918). The war is generally considered as starting on June 28, 1914 when the Archduke Franz Ferdinand was killed in the Bosnian City of Sarajevo. Compared to the number of Europeans who died in WW1, American troops made out well, however on returning home they would bring the Spanish influenza which would kill many in the United States.

Max Keil and The Jewish Historical Society Of Delaware

Over at the Jewish Historical Society of Delaware there is an interesting article about Max Keil.  apparently besides having a liquor business he also donatated a pair of binoculars to the Coast Guard during World War One.  He was one of the ones who received his binoculars back after the war plus a check for one dollar.  Go here to read the article http://jhsdelaware.org/jhsd-a-liquor-bottle-and-why-the-navy-can-not-balance-its-books/

Ice Harvest in 1919

With the recent cold weather I thought some of you might be interested in this blog piece on harvesting ice in New England.  Included in the blog post is a ten minute movie made in 1919 of them cutting and moving the ice blocks to an ice house.  Out about the 9 minute mark is a horse drawn elevator to move the ice blocks to the 2nd floor that I found interesting.  The blog post address is http://histsociety.blogspot.com/2013/11/ice-ice-baby.html

Last Passenger Service Between Cape Charles and Delmar

On January 11th 1958 the last passenger train ran between Cape Charles and Delmar.  Train # 454 was called the Delmarva Express.

The Zinc Tombstone

Yesterday I paid a visit to Buckingham cemetery in Berlin Maryland.  While there I came across this nice example of a Zinc/white bronze tombstone.

The tombstone is for Doctor Robert J. Bowen - April 27, 1827 to December 12, 1914.  Dr Bowen is the son of  Robert Fleming Bowen and Andasia Ironshire whose tombstones set to the right of Dr Bowen's.   Robert J. Bowen was born in the Berlin area.  In 1853 he graduated from the American Eclectic Medical college in Cincinnati Ohio.   He practice medicine in Northern New Jersey but kept a summer home in the Berlin area.  When he was in his 70's he returned to the Berlin area and lived with his brother, William, until his death.

The Zinc Tombstone was made of sand cast zinc and were made between 1875 to 1914 when the government took over the production of the Monumental Bronze company for WW1 war material production.  The zinc has a bluish gray color.  This type of monument tend to be a rare find in our area.  The tombstone could be fitted with additional plates to bolt on to the marker as additional family members died.  As you can see above the plate with the Robert Bowen information is held on by four bolts.  This example looks quite nice with it bluish color and there are no stains or cracks that I saw.  For a monument that will be a hundred years old shortly, based on his death date, it is in excellent shape.

First DHAS Meeting of 2014 Is Tonight

Delmar Historical and Arts Society

Our first meeting is Thursday 7 PM January 9 at the Avenue Building downtown. 

 

If you are unable to make the meeting please send your comments and suggestions to us for projects and improvements we can make so we can kick off 2014 with a bang.  We need your help, there are several areas in which we lack the knowledge to include them in the newsletter or do projects related to them, but they are all synonym with Delmar.  Among those areas are The Railroad, School Sports and Stockcar Races.  Being a DHAS member is a worthwhile adventure.  All of us are needed, including you, to take us thru this year with vigor and joy.  We are on the path of creating a fun and exciting Historical and Arts Society, to keep our rich history alive and growing. 

This is not only a meeting announcement but it is a request for you to join DHAS or renew your membership.   The membership dues structure is a follows;

 ·         Individual Membership $24.00

·         Family Membership $48.00
·         Life Membership $200.00
·         Husband/Wife Membership $300.00
·         Senior/Student $12.00

The annual dues are due in January and cover the Period January thru December.

Please send your check to DHAS, PO Box 344, Delmar, DE 19940

I do hope you will join or renew your membership and give us your support to carry out the purpose of our society as stated in our bylaws.

DHAS Email: delmarhas@Yahoo.com

DHAS Blog: http://delmarhistoricalandartsociety.blogspot.com/

 

Laurel Delaware Rape attempt - 1925

From The State Sentinel, Dover Delaware February 11, 1925

 CRIES ROUT MAN AS WOMAN FIGHTS ASSAILANT

Levin J. Hitchens, 20 year old, the son of a farmer living about five miles from Laurel, was arrested on Sunday charged with assaulting Mrs. Hattie Waller, 35 years old, married and the mother of several children.  The assault is alleged to have taken place about 10:30 o’clock Saturday night on the causeway leading to Record’s Mill, one of the most isolated spots in Laurel.

When about midway of the causeway the assailant is said to have jumped from behind some bushes and seized the woman.  Being of medium size and strong, Mrs. Waller fought desperately to save her money, which she thought was what the man wanted.

Realizing that the man would soon overpower her she dropped her pocketbook together with the bundles of food.  The man then told her he wanted her and not her money, and Mrs. Waller then fought the harder.  In the battle her clothes were badly torn.  Finally the man drew a revolver and threaten to kill her.

Mrs. Waller screamed for help and was heard by George Coverdale, a negro chauffer, and another negro, who rushed to her aid.  As they neared the scene the man ran away.  Coverdale recognized the man and after assisting Mrs. Waller to her home, he and his companion notified Chief of Police Charles Hickman and soon a posse was formed and a man hunt was on.

Hitchens was captured at the home of his father.  He vehemently denied the charge, but later, after being jailed and identified, is alleged to have confessed to Hickman and Highway Officer Oscar James.

Last Passenger Service between Wilmington and Delmar

On January 1^st 1966 the last regular passenger train service ended between Wilmington and Delmar when PRR train #455 pulled into Delmar at 7:44 PM and M. B. Parsons called out for the last time “Delmar”.   Called the "Blue Diamond" the run had been established with State funded support for an early morning AM trip North to Wilmington and a PM trip south to Delmar Monday thru Friday. 

Since that time various “special” trains have been run.  Mainly for the Delaware State Fair in Harrington or for the Nascar races in Dover.