Aviation, Freemasonry, Tech nerdery, random musings and anything else that interests me.
On this day, May 12th in 1949, and the Berlin Blockade ends after 318 days. Joseph Stalin, leader of the Soviet Union, abandoned a blockade of the city that began on 24 June 1948. Germany had been partitioned into four zones of occupation by the Allies in 1945, with its capital Berlin also split into…
On this day, March 6th, in 1775 a man named Prince Hall and 14 other men of color were initiated into Freemasonry. This work was conducted by Sergeant John Batt of the Irish Militia Lodge No 441, attached to the 38th Foot of the British army When the 38th Foot left Boston in the colony…
The Masonic Temple at One North Broad Street in 1902, home of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania. “The stately Masonic Temple, some thirty years old at the time of this photograph, seems a symbol of stability, for it remains virtually unchanged today. Across Broad Street, however, the site of Reyburn Plaza and the present Municipal…
Wow, it’s been twenty years already… On this day in 2003, the final commercial flight of the Concorde. Arriving at London Heathrow (LHR) for the final commercial flight of the Aérospatiale/BAC Concorde. The historic final landing is performed by British Airways G-BOAF Aérospatiale/BAC Concorde (CN 216 – preserved) flight BA002 New York (JFK) – London…
Shown here is the actual petition for membership of Brother James Buchanan, written in his own hand, dated 1816! It reads: “To the Worshipful Master, Wardens, and Brethren of Lodge No. 43 Ancient York Masons, The petition of the subscriber respectfully showeth that having long entertained a favourable opinion of your ancient institutions, he is…
Mary McDonald was born on November 14, 1770 in Frogtown (near Norristown). When Mary was 4 years old, her mother died. She was then sent to live with the family of Rees Howell as a bound servant. Howell had a farm situated on the road between Gulph Mills and Valley Forge. In mid December, 1777,…
While The Masonic Temple in Philadelphia is gorgeous, there were several other grand Masonic edifices in the city prior to its construction. Once such building was the 1855 Masonic Hall, which was consumed by fire. Remnants of that building can still be found in today’s Temple. For instance, the seats in Gothic Hall were actually…
Admiral William Halsey, who once said “I never trust a fighting man who doesn’t smoke or drink,” was not a supporter of the Navy’s ban on alcohol on ships. During WWII, he requisitioned 100 gallons of bourbon so that flight surgeons could issue shots to his pilots. h/t – US Naval Institute
71 years ago today, with World War II underway and 640 NFL players serving leaving a number of teams with depleted rosters, the NFL approved The Pittsburgh Steelers – Philadelphia Eagles merger.While the league’s official record book refers to the team as the “Phil-Pitt Eagles-Steelers Combine,” the unofficial nickname that would stick was “The “Steagles.”
This was the face of the living, strong George Washington in 1785. A French sculptor was commissioned to make a full size statue of him for the state capitol in Richmond, VA. He wanted to get the face right, so he made this. He put goose quills in George’s nostrils so he could breathe, and…