How Were Hot Air Balloons Made in the 1800s?

 

Val Digital Art and AI

In the 1800s, the construction of hot air balloons marked a fascinating era of experimentation and innovation, blending the art of craftsmanship with the burgeoning principles of aerodynamics and material science. Early balloons were made from silk or cotton fabrics, materials chosen for their lightweight and relatively airtight qualities, which were then coated with rubber or a varnish to enhance their ability to retain hot air. The process of constructing these balloons involved sewing large panels of fabric together to create a massive envelope capable of lifting a basket, or gondola, into the air. The source of hot air was typically a fire built on a platform below the open bottom of the balloon, which required careful management to control the balloon's ascent and descent. This era's balloonists were not just adventurers but also skilled craftsmen and engineers, pushing the boundaries of what was possible with the materials and knowledge of their time.

W. H. “Red” Nelson - Traveling hot-air Balloonist

Generated by Bing AI

W. H. Nelson was said to have been born in York, Pennsylvania, around 1860.  At some point, he became a parachutist whose act involved jumping from a hot-air balloon. How he came to his risky occupation is not known, but he and his partner, Otto Burke AKA Lochbaum, had been touring the West Coast with a carnival show. 

Red and Burke billed themselves as 'aeronauts'.  Their act depended upon a balloon which, when inflated, was fifty feet high and about thirty feet in diameter.  On August 1, 1895, they were booked to perform in Phoenix at a vacant lot on Jackson and Center Streets, where a merry-go-round had also been set up.  Coincidentally, this was the same lot where evangelists from the Salvation Army had been preaching in a tent nightly for about a year.

Many bought tickets to see the ascent that afternoon. The huge balloon was inflated and, when the ground ropes were untied, it rose about thirty feet in the air.  Unfortunately, the balloon sprang a leak and collapsed; Burke received minor injuries in the fall.

On another performance, more tragedy struck.  It involved Nelson this time.  When the balloon had ascended several hundred feet into the air, Nelson jumped.  His parachute opened properly but, in the gathering dusk, Nelson may have miscalculated his distance from the ground and detached the trapeze bar from the parachute too soon.

The tragic demise of the aeronaut had a sobering effect on the citizenry.   Pious folk murmured that the accident was divine retribution for using the Salvation Army’s meeting place for entertainment purposes…and poor “Red” Nelson had paid the price.

There is more to this story!  Come visit us at the PMMP for more about this incredible story!

--Story Shortened, Original by Donna Carr

Unusual Occupations

Val Digital Art with AI

In the late 1800s, a period marked by rapid industrialization and social change, a number of unusual occupations flourished, reflecting the unique needs and technological advancements of the era. Among these, the "knocker-upper" held a peculiar yet crucial role, especially in Britain and Ireland, where they were employed to wake up workers in time for their shifts before the widespread adoption of reliable alarm clocks. Using long sticks, pebbles, or even pea shooters, they would tap on windows or doors to rouse sleepers. Another intriguing profession was that of the "ice cutter," who harvested natural ice from frozen lakes and ponds in the winter, storing it in insulated ice houses for use throughout the year. This was a vital service before the invention of modern refrigeration. Additionally, "leech collectors" played a significant role in the medical field, gathering leeches for use in bloodletting, a common medical treatment of the time. These occupations, though now obsolete, highlight the adaptability and ingenuity of workers in the face of the era's technological limitations and societal needs.

Edna Laziola (1872 - 1900) - A Pioneer "Party Girl"

 

Edna Laziola

(click on Edna's name above for video)

Happy New Year!  In the spirit of the new year, we present to you a video on one of Territorial Phoenix's true party girls, edna Laziola!

Edna was born October 23, 1872 in Branford, Connecticut to William and Anna Oblenis.Edna’s father died prior to 1880 and Edna’s mother, Anna, now had five girls to support.  The census showed Anna and sister Minnie were employed sewing corsets.  However they were accused of doing more than sewing.

Click on "Edna Laziola" above to watch a video about these amazing and rowdy sisters! (we have used artist renditions of the characters in the video)

Happy New Year from Behind the Epitaph! 2024

Library of Congress, "When New Years Calls", 1861

 

• As we bid farewell to the old and embrace the new, we want to extend our warmest wishes to everyone for a joyous and prosperous New Year! The significance of celebrating New Year's goes beyond just marking the passage of time; it symbolizes fresh beginnings and the opportunity for personal growth. It's a moment to reflect on the lessons learned in the past year and to set new goals and aspirations for the future. It unites people across cultures and backgrounds in a shared sense of hope and renewal, reminding us that no matter the challenges we face, there is always a chance to start anew.

  So, let's embrace this new chapter with enthusiasm, resilience, and a commitment to making the most of the days ahead. Happy New Year to you and your loved ones from Behind the Epitaph!

  
  

The 12 Days of Christmas or "Twelvetide"

Picture by Val

The 12 days of Christmas, which traditionally begin on December 25th and conclude on January 5th with the Feast of Epiphany, hold deep significance in Christian tradition and folklore. This period marks the time between the birth of Jesus Christ and the arrival of the Three Wise Men at the nativity scene. Each day of this period is associated with a specific symbol or gift, as famously depicted in the beloved Christmas carol "The Twelve Days of Christmas." Beyond its religious importance, this period has also been embraced as a time of celebration and festivity in many cultures. It serves as an extension of the Christmas season, allowing for continued merriment and gatherings with loved ones. The 12 days of Christmas encapsulate the dual nature of the holiday season, encompassing both its religious and secular dimensions, making it a cherished and enduring tradition celebrated by people around the world.

#12 - Thomas Hayden (1880-1940) - Engineer

 

PCA Archive

Thomas Hayden was born June 2, 1880, in Nova Scotia, Canada, to Thomas Hayden and Elmyra Ringer. Young Thomas studied civil engineering at Yale and, in 1908, came west to work on a dam in New Mexico. He was in Phoenix by the outbreak of World War I, during which he served. After the war, he returned to Phoenix where he became a surveyor and engineer for the Salt River Valley Water Users Association. Walking home from his office near the State Capitol, he often passed by a neglected pioneer cemetery. Intrigued, he surveyed the graves in 1937 and helped found the Pioneer’s Cemetery Association to preserve the site. Following Hayden’s unexpected death on December 23, 1940, his ashes sat unclaimed at the mortuary for 48 years. In 1988, they were finally interred on the south side of the Avenue of Flags in the cemetery he had helped to save.

#11 - Theodore Holland (1901-1901) - A Quick Life of Twins

 

PCA Archives

Theodore Holland was one of a set of twin boys born to Joe Holland and his wife, Yit Sen, in Mesa, Arizona, on November 27, 1901. The Hollands, who were Chinese, already had four children, including a set of twin girls.  Unfortunately, the newborns did not thrive, and Theodore died on December 18, 1901. He and his twin brother Harold were buried in Rosedale Cemetery.

A Vintage Riddle

Picture by Val

What is the most awkward time for a train to start? 

12.50, as it’s ten to one if you catch it.

Rivers, conundrums, 1903

Thomas Jefferson Newland (1830-1896) - Prospector

 

Digital Art by Val

Thomas Jefferson Newland was born around 1830. He came to the Southwest in hopes that the dry, desert air would ameliorate a chronic respiratory condition. He was supporting himself as a prospector when, in 1877, he married a woman who had worked for several years as a telegraph operator. She too had an interest in prospecting and was willing to live in a tent in the desert. Together, they filed on several mining claims in Yavapai and Gila Counties.  As Newland’s health declined, his wife Saloma did the actual prospecting; she brought the ores to him so he could judge whether her find looked promising. Thomas Newland died of pneumonia on December 12, 1896, and was buried in City/Loosley Cemetery.

#9 - Theodore Charles Petersen (1851-1904) - Brick Mason

 

PCA Archives

Theodore Charles Petersen was born 1851 in Denmark and was a brick mason. He was married to Lena Toppen and the father of five children. While riding his bicycle down Washington Street on December 28, 1904, he turned in front of a streetcar, fell beneath it and was crushed. Petersen, who had been active in several fraternal organizations, was buried in the IOOF Cemetery.

#8 - John Bolton (1866 approx. - 1902) - First African American Mail Carrier

 

PCA Archives

John Bolton was born March 1866 or 1867 In Tennessee. When he first came to Phoenix, he was employed as a barber in Frank Shirley’s shop, The Fashion. Bolton married a woman called Hattie and in 1893, they had a son they named Chrenskey. Bolton eventually became one of the first African American mail carriers in Phoenix. A prominent member of Phoenix’s African American community, he was elected president of the Colored Literary Society. He died on December 26, 1902, and was buried in Rosedale Cemetery. 

#7 - Maude G. Seip (1871 - 1905) - Phoenix Socialite

 

Photo by Denise

Maude G. Seip was born on April 4, 1871 in Kansas.  She married Sam N. Seip around 1891, who was a notable cigar manufacturer in the city of Phoenix, and an admirer of the inventions of Orville Wright. Sam was also a well known and successful volunteer firefighter with the Pioneer Hose Company 1 in Phoenix AZ.  They had two children both of whom died in childhood and are buried at the PMMP.  

Maude was a known socialite who often gave garden parties and luncheons at their prominent home located at 373 N 1st Avenue in Phoenix.  In 1893, on a tour of the east, Maude and her husband were dragged from their sleeping car on a train in Texas, and told they were being arrested for murder.  After a telegram arrived to the police providing a more accurate description of the actual perpetrators, they were set free. 

 Maude died on December 25, 1905 of acute yellow atrophy of the liver, and is buried in the Knights of Pythias Cemetery. -Donna C.