Sunday, April 22, 2012

The Trip Home

After a long winter trip, with over 14000 miles, we're finally headed home. On the way, we stopped to see some of our friends from Florida. We've known these folks since 1999. Our first stop was in Belle Missouri, where we visited Fritz and Ann, and we also visited Doc and Jan. Further up the road we stopped in Covington Kentucky for a couple of days to visit Homer. And finally we stopped in Newmarket to visit my two daughters, and grandaughter. It was Chloe's 4th birthday. Here are some pictures from this trip:
Belle, Missouri Belle is a city in Maries and Osage counties in the U.S. state of Missouri. The population was 1,344 at the 2000 census. The Osage County portion of Belle is part of the Jefferson City, Missouri Metropolitan Statistical Area. Notable Belle natives include distinguished geologist and geophysicist, J. Michael Party. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.3 square miles (3.3 km²), all land. Belle is surrounded by the Osage and Gasconade Rivers, and is approximately 100 miles (160 km) west southwest of St. Louis. As of the census of 2000, there were 1,344 people, 595 households, and 357 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,062.1 people per square mile (408.6/km²). There were 652 housing units at an average density of 515.2 per square mile (198.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.10% White, 0.07% African American, 0.52% Native American, 0.60% from other races, and 1.71% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.12% of the population.
There were 595 households out of which 29.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.3% were married couples living together, 13.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.0% were non-families. 36.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.83. In the city the population was spread out with 26.0% under the age of 18, 10.2% from 18 to 24, 24.9% from 25 to 44, 20.2% from 45 to 64, and 18.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 82.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 74.6 males. The median income for a household in the city was $24,091, and the median income for a family was $35,982. Males had a median income of $27,917 versus $17,857 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,785. About 14.7% of families and 19.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 31.3% of those under age 18 and 15.2% of those age 65 or over.
Covington, Kentucky Covington is a city in Kenton County, Kentucky, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 40,640; it is the fifth-most-populous city in Kentucky.It is one of two county seats of Kenton County. Covington is located at the confluence of the Ohio and Licking Rivers. Covington is part of the Cincinnati – Northern Kentucky metropolitan area and is separated from Cincinnati by the Ohio River and from Newport by the Licking River. Covington is located within the Upland South region of the United States of America.
Covington was established in 1814 when John Gano, Richard Gano, and Thomas Carneal purchased 150 acres (0.6 km2) on the west side of the Licking River at its confluence with the Ohio River, referred to as "the Point," from Thomas Kennedy for $50,000. The city was incorporated by the Kentucky General Assembly a year later. Covington experienced growth during most of the 19th century, only to decline during the Great Depression and the middle 20th century. The city has seen some redevelopment during the late 20th and early 21st centuries.
Covington Blue Sox In 1912, city leaders attempted to acquire a baseball franchise in the Class D Blue Grass League; the Cincinnati Reds, whose park was just five miles away across the Ohio River, nixed the move. Instead (after several larger cities backed out), Covington was awarded a team in the new "outlaw" circuit, the Federal League. The city raised $12,500, with $6,000 budgeted to build the ballpark. Bernard Wisehall, a prominent local architect, designed Federal Park (also known as Riverbreeze Park) with a capacity to 6,000. The playing field (bounded by East 2nd Street, East 3rd Street, Madison Avenue and Scott Boulevard was tiny, believed to be smallest for any pro baseball park ever built: just 194 feet down the right-field line, 267 feet to dead center and 218 feet down the left-field line. Construction didn't even begin until a month before Opening Day; after starting the season on a long road trip, the Blue Sox managed to sell out their home opener in late May, with thousands of fans turned away.
But Covington simply didn't have the populace to support such an ambitious endeavor. On June 26, the team moved to Kansas City and ownership of the team reverted to creditors. Federal Park was used for other events the next few years, but it was eventually torn down and a tobacco warehouse was put up in its place; Covington has never hosted a professional team in any sport since.

Branson Missouri

On April 17th, we toured Branson Missouri. In the evening we took in the oldest show in Branson, the Baldknobbers. This show was the first show in Branson. It has run continuously since 1959. 53 straight years of performances. We had a great time. Just a week before, Branson was hit by a nasty tornado. We saw evidence of damage all along the theatre strip. Here are some pictures:
Branson, MO incorporated, on April 1, 1912, It had 1,200 residents. Shortly there after, the notion of Branson as a resort town began to take root. The right kind of industry and infrastructure emerged for a resort community to evolve such as; a commercial ice plant, a soft drink bottling plant, a candy factory, an ice cream factory next to the waterfront and soon dams creating lakes. The first visitors to Branson, Missouri were lured by the water. In 1907, Harold Bell Wright published the novel Shepherd of the Hills which tells about the Ozark area and its' settlers such as the Ross family. Mr. Wright was afflicted with tuberculosis (consumption) and stayed with the Ross' while he waited for the White River to recede enough to be crossed. Mr. Wright was a young man seeking his health. He stopped among the hill folks and found peace. He explored Marvel Cave and was amazed with its beauty. He visited each summer for seven years collecting notes about real life events of the people of the area. He stayed in a tent near the Shepherd of The Hills homestead. The experience moved him to set a story-part fact, part legend, part dream. The novel gained popularity quickly and attracted many tourist to see the area he wrote about. The Shepherd of The Hills novel has become a widely read book and had over a dozen television productions and eight movies made from it. The first dam across the White River created Lake Taneycomo, which became a byword for those who loved the challenge of bass fishing, and for those who loved the serenity of the placid lake. The dam and lake also created a resort town that was known nationwide-Rockaway Beach. The water drew enthusiasts, adventures who relished the challenge of the unknown. By the 1930's Lake Taneycomo had become an inexpensive vacation get away. The area enjoyed increasing tourism due to its ease of accessibility by car or train from distant or nearby cities and the Shepherd of The Hills novel. The tourism helped the town's businesses survive through the Depression and banking industry failures.
After World War II many craftsmen, artists, and retirees came to the area. In the late 1940's the Hugo Herschend family visiting from Chicago were struck with the potential of the area, as well as that of Marvel Cave, which drew a few thousand people a year. The family leased the cave from Lynch's daughters and moved here. Hugo, Mary and their sons, Jack and Peter, worked to establish cave tours. When Hugo died, the three continued, improving the cave and exploring new areas for development. Not everyone could or would make the difficult journey into its depths. Some waited above ground. It was Mary who realized these people needed to be entertained while they waited. She planned that several women would make crafts and show them in keeping with the heritage of the hills. Thus was born Silver Dollar City, so named for the change first given customers. It opened in 1960, with a single street of shops and a stagecoach ride.
Preparations for the construction of Table Rock Dam began in 1954, and was completed in 1959. The water rose to its expected average level, and Branson's citizens were relieved that floods no longer threatened their waterfront. Tourists came in growing numbers to enjoy the big new lake, the Herschends' 1890's Silver Dollar City theme park, and the Trimbles' new outdoor theater at the Shepherd of the Hills Farm. Resorts near Branson and downstream were encouraging their guests to fish and visit the area's new attractions. Lake Taneycomo was too cold for swimming now that it was fed by the deep cold waters of Table Rock Lake, although it quickly became a first class trout fishing lake. Meanwhile, an enterprising family, the Mabes, from Springfield, Missouri began the Ozarks Jubilee, a music show. In 1959, the Mabes moved their show to the basement of Branson City Hall, where they set up 50 folding chairs. Since their "theatre" was also the police station, they had to put away the stage after every performance. The group called themselves the Baldknobbers: there were brothers Bob, Jim, Bill, and Lyle Mabe, and friend Chick-Allen. They played on home made instruments, all except Allen. We called him Chick-a-boo. "Bill says, "He played the jawbone of a mule, literally." Advertising was homemade too. The men's wives stood beside Highway 65 with signs. The band travelled and promoted the show and the wives mailed out invitations. We were gone from home so much,"Bill says, "the women figured if they couldn't lick us, they'd join us." So after work in Nixa and Ozark, the men would drive by their homes and their wives would jump in the cars armed with sandwiches for evenings meals. Off they would drive to Branson to entertain. Sports people on the Table Rock side needed entertaining, too. Another musical family from Springfield took their show there. The Presley family played in a cave, the Underground Theatre of Lakeview, some five miles north of Kimberling City. The cave was damp. Sometimes the instruments got wet. Plus, the Presleys found the location was out of the way. Branson had developed into the base for travelers to Silver Dollar City and Shepherd of the Hills, a farmstead/attraction that featured an open air production based on Wright's novel. So the Presleys put up a simple metal building on the road west of Branson. And they waited. "Some nights we would all stand out in front and watch for car lights coming down the road, hoping the would turn in here," says Gary Presley. Everyone in that family helped out too. They did double and triple duty. After performing, they cleaned the building. And during intermission,10 year old Steve dropped his drumsticks and ran to the parking lot to tape bumper stickers on cars. In 1960, when tourism increased rapidly in the area, the Missouri Pacific cancelled all passenger service on its White River Line. With so many visitors forced to arrive by automobile, traffic on winding U.S. 65 to Springfield often slowed to a crawl. To shorten and straighten the 75 mile route to 40 miles, blasting crews and earth moving equipment constructed a road through the limestone hills between Springfield and Branson. A two-lane highway with alternating third passing lane was completed in the mid 1970's. The bypass rerouted U.S. 65 away from Branson's congested downtown business district and with interchanges at Highway 76 and at Highway 248, and a new bridge across lake Taneycomo. At that time, businesses were just beginning to develop along 76 west of Branson with only a few scattered shops and five music shows. A decade later, eleven more music shows and many restaurants, motels and tourist attractions had extended the built up area three miles further west. The number of music shows, which started with the Baldknobbers in 1957 and increased to sixteen in the 1980's, now exceeds thirty; and with the addition of the Ozark Mountain Christmas Celebration, the tourist season has increased to nine months.
The legendary Roy Clark was the first of the national country stars to recognize the potential here, giving his name to theatre. He was followed soon by Boxcar Willie, the first to settle permanently in Branson. Now, the names on theatres read like a Music Who's Who: Moe Bandy, Glen Campbell, Mickey Gilley, Cristy Lane, Charlie Pride, Bob Nichols, Eddie Rabbit, Kenny Rogers, Jim Stafford, Mel Tillis, Buck Trent, Jimmy Travis, Jennifer, Doug Gabriel, Yakov, Don Williams, New York's radio City Music Hall Rockettes, Pump Boys and Dinettes, John Davidson, the Lawrence Welk Show with the Lennons, the Osmonds, Tony Orlando, Shoji Tabachi, Bobby Vinton, and Andy Williams. Even Mr. Las Vegas himself, Wayne Newton, has found his way to Branson. and Buck Trent. Various theatres feature guest appearances by other stars such as Barbara Mandrell.
Although the music scene is broadening, the area maintains its culture of the American "country," with family values and family activities. As you look around, you see shopping lights, excitement, people, action and more development. It seems everything has changed. Residents work to preserve the natural Ozarks' beauty while accommodating development. They strive, in the midst of economic boom, to maintain the small town family atmosphere, the friendliness and trust of the Ozarks. Baldknobbers
Began over 50 years ago...It was in 1959 that the Mabe brothers (Jim, Lyle, Bill & Bob) created a legacy of country music and comedy that would forever change the face of family entertainment in the Ozarks. Adopting the name of an old Ozarks vigilante group, it was on the downtown Branson lakefront that the “Baldknobbers” paved their way into America’s musical history.
The Baldknobbers were an immediate hit with fishermen and tourists to the Branson lakes area. Outgrowing the original location, the Mabe brothers’ moved their show into an old skating rink, converting it into Branson’s first live entertainment theatre.
Expanding again, The Baldknobbers Theatre was built on 76 Country Boulevard in 1968. The current building has undergone six sets of renovations, making the longest running show in Branson also one of the largest by seating 1,500, fans of country music and comedy. Now Branson is home to over 100 live shows, with more theatre seats than Broadway and hails as the “Live Music Show Capital of the World” and the Baldknobbers is the show that started it all!
On January 27, 2011 the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History held a donation ceremony and received a number of original Baldknobbers artifacts from brothers Jim, Lyle and Bill Mabe including costumes and instruments for the permanent collection of the Arts and Culture Division of the museum in Washington D.C.
Over the past five decades, the Baldknobbers have evolved with the changing times, but they have always remained true to their rich traditions, their family roots and their ever-present faith by providing great country music and hilarious comedy.

San Antonio River Walk and The Mission District

On April 16th, we toured the River walk. This is a section of the river that is populated by bars, hotels and restaurants, all set in relaxing surroundings. We also toured the missions district, with San Juan Capistrano, San Jose, and other ancient missions. Her are some pictures from this tour: History of the River Walk In Texas, water has been a lifeline for many generations for centuries past. The San Antonio River is a source of a South Texas Treasure, The San Antonio River Walk. Development of San Antonio and its most popular tourism attraction has come a long way. 1691 June 13. Domingo Teran de los Rios, first Governor of the new Province of Texas, accompanies Father Damian Massanet on his return trip to East Texas. Camping at a rancheria of Payaya Indians on a stream called Yanaguana, someone said "let's celebrate mass and rename the stream 'San Antonio' because it is Saint Anthony’s day" 1718 Martin de Alarcon, Governor of Texas, names the presidio San Antonio de Bejar in honor of the Duque de Bejar, The Mission of San Francisco de Solano is moved from the Rio Grande to merge with Mission San Antonio de Padua. The mission is renamed Mission San Antonio de Valero. The presidio, the villa and the mission comprise the municipality named San Antonio de los Llanos (of the Plains) by Governor Alarcon. 1792 All the missions are closed down by order of the Spanish government. Their lands are distributed to the mission Indians attached to the compounds Through the late 1800s and early 1900s, San Antonio's growing population and expanding boundaries were the cause, to a large degree, of problems brought about by flooding. In fact, if steps to control the flooding had not been taken in the 1920’s, later commercial development along the river would not have been possible. 1845-1848 The Mexican War. The Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo is signed in Queretaro. Mexico cedes Texas, California, New Mexico and most of Arizona to the United States for $18,250,000. The Texas border was established by this treaty as the Rio Grande. 1861-1865 U.S. Civil War 1929 June 28. Robert H. Hugman presents his plan for 'The Shops of Romula and Aragon' to Mayor Chambers, two city commissioners, property owners and civic leaders. The proposal endorses the bypass channel and recommends flood gates at the north end, a small dam at the south end and a tainter gate in the channel to check the flow and create pools of water. Bypass channel completed, but the Depression prevents further expenditures. 1936 Texas Centennial. Jack White, owner of the White Plaza Hotel, visits City Hall to urge clean-up and beautification of the river. White and the Mexican Businessmen's Association stage 'A Venetian Night' on the river- the first river parade. 1938 The full esthetic potential of the river becomes recognized. Congressman Maury Maverick, Mayor C.K. Quin and a group of citizens, headed by White, push for development of the river. October 25. A special election is called to approve a tax of .015 cents per $100 valuation to raise the $75,000 needed to leverage $325,000 in WPA funds for river work. The tax passes 74-2. 71 voters live in White's hotel. 1961 Marco Engineering Company of California, major designers of Disneyland, complete a report, funded by the City and the Chamber, on the commercial potential of the river. The plan suggests that all buildings which back up to the river be developed in an early Texas or Mexican colonial style, and that as many as possible be rehabilitated to provide basement space that would open at the River Walk level to accommodate retail and entertainment facilities. Criticism arises over the carnival-like aspects of the plan, but other elements, like forming a merchants' association and holding frequent festivals are used as a basis for further plan development.
1962 Straus, along with Harold Robbins and Jimmy Gause from the Chamber staff, visit Carmel, CA, and New Orleans' Vieux Carre Commission to look at their ordinances guiding development. Straus frames an ordinance based on these two documents which establishes a River Walk District and a seven member Riverwalk Advisory Commission. Council adopts the ordinance on March 28. The Department of Parks and Recreation completes a major landscape program along two miles of river walkway, including over 17,000 assorted tress, shrubs, vines and ground cover. El Tropicano, the first riverfront hotel, opens. La Sirena at 107 West Commerce opens with a patio at river level. The Three Wives Antique Shop, at a location now part of the Hilton Hotel opens in November.
1963 April 15. The San Antonio Chapter of the American Institute of Architects unveils a plan for the Paseo del Rio. The plan takes the form of drawings, text and a scale model. It includes a land use plan, the basis for a planning district recommendation, and a capital improvements program for public and private development. The Chamber of Commerce creates a staff position to assist the Tourist Attractions staff manager of the Paseo del Rio project. The Landing opens in the basement of the Nix Hospital in April.
1964 San Antonio voters approve $500, 000 bond issue for Paseo del Rio improvements. City Council adopts an ordinance regulating signage on river walk. March 17. The Paseo del Rio Association is formed; with a staff person funded by the Chamber of Commerce staff position and the money used to pay a PR person to write the weekly Rio Ramblings for the Express-News.
1966 La Paloma del Rio opens at 215 South Broadway (Losoya). The Billboard Theater opens at street level of 231 S. Broadway over Venice Restaurant which opened the year before. The first Conservation Society-sponsored Las Posadas is held on the streets of San Antonio using the Courthouse, the Navarro House and the Spanish Governor's Palace.
1968 March. Hilton Palacio Del Rio opens. Hotel La Posada opens in the old St. Mary's Law School on College St. April-October, HemisFair '68. Construction is completed on the river extension and the convention center complex. August 12. Kangaroo Court opens. The Little Rhein opens in a San Antonio Conservation property. December. First Fiesta de las Lumlnarlas held. The bypass channel is modified.
1988 Channel Improvements are completed from Commerce to Houston Street incorporating Hugman's details. The Hugman wall across from La Mansion and below the Aztec is completed. Rivercenter opens on an extension of the river extension. The Mall opens in February, Dillard's in May and Marriott Rivercenter in October. The Original Mexican Restaurant opens at 528 River Walk.
1995 Southbank project between Presa, Crockett, Navarro, and river opens. Newly constructed buildings designed to fit in with existing architecture of San Antonio. Tenants are Country Line, Fat Tuesday, Hard Rock Café, Paesanos, Starbuck's, and Howl at the Moon.
2002 River improvements take place from Convent to Lexington dedicated. July 4th- Major Flooding on West Side creeks and San Antonio River. October- River Improvements from Houston to Convent dedicated. Silver Ventures purchases Pearl Brewery site with the idea of creating a varied premier mixed use development. Construction begins on the Museum Reach (Lexington St. to Josephine St.) of the San Antonio River Improvements Project. October- Saltgrass Steakhouse opens in the Casino Building. November- Initial construction begins on the Mission Reach of San Antonio River Improvements Project. 2010
December- Phase 1 of the Mission Reach project opens, providing 1 mile of bike and hike access. San Antonio Missions National Historical Park preserves four of the five Spanish frontier missions in San Antonio, Texas. These outposts were established by Catholic religious orders to spread Christianity among the local natives. These missions formed part of a colonization system that stretched across the Spanish Southwest in the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries.
In geographic order from north (upstream of the San Antonio River) to south (downstream) the missions are located as follows: Mission Concepcion, Mission San Jose, Mission San Juan, and Mission Espada. The Espada Aqueduct, also part of the Park, is due east of Mission San Juan, across the river. The fifth (and best known) mission in San Antonio, the Alamo, is not part of the park, rather it is owned by the State of Texas, and operated by the Daughters of the Republic of Texas; it is upstream from Mission Concepcion.
Mission District
Mission Concepción Misión Nuestra Señora de la Purísima Concepción de Acuña was established in 1716 as Nuestra Señora de la Purísima Concepción de los Hainais in East Texas. The mission was moved in 1731 to San Antonio. Founded by Franciscan friars, this is the best preserved of the Texas missions. Located at 807 Mission Road, Mission Concepcion was designated a National Historic Landmark on April 15, 1970. In 2002, Archbishop Patrick Flores appointed Father Jim Rutkowski the archdiocesan administrator of Mission Concepcion. As such, Fr. Rutkowski has been charged with the pastoral duties associated with the operation of the active church congregation. In 2009-10 Las Misiones Foundation began an active, aggressive campaign to restore the interior of the Mission. Work on the interior is expected to be completed in March 2010. Fr. Rutkowski continues to offer Sunday Mass regularly for the Mission community.
Mission Espada Misión San Francisco de la Espada was established in 1690 as San Francisco de los Tejas near present-day Augusta. and renamed San Francisco de los Neches in 1721. The mission was moved in 1731 to San Antonio and given its current name. Located on Espada Road, this mission was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on February 23, 1972. Mission San José y San Miguel de Aguayo. Main article: Mission San José (Texas) Misión San José y San Miguel de Aguayo was established in 1720. Located at 6519 San Jose Drive, it was designated the San Jose Mission National Historic Site in 1941. The historic site was administratively listed on the National Register on October 15, 1966. Mission San Jose was founded by Father Fran Felan.
Mission San Juan Capistrano Main article: Mission San Juan Capistrano (Texas) Misión San Juan Capistrano was established in 1716 as Misión San Jose de los Nazonis in East Texas.[4] The mission was renamed and moved in 1731 to San Antonio. Located on Mission Road, San Juan was listed on the National Register on February 23, 1972.