Happy St. Patrick's Day! - 2024

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Happy St. Patrick's Day to all our cherished readers! Today, we embrace the luck of the Irish, a day when green isn't just a color but a state of being, and when finding a four-leaf clover in your backyard isn't just luck—it's practically a mandate. So, don your most vibrant shades of emerald, chartreuse, or lime (because let's face it, on St. Patrick's Day, every green is the new black), and let's raise a glass (or three) to the leprechauns who've yet to lead us to a pot of gold. May your day be filled with mischief, your pints never empty, and your hearts as full as a leprechaun's treasure chest. Sláinte to a day of folklore, fun, and perhaps a little folly!

Irish Ginger Ale and the "Shandy Gaff" (1887)

 

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Irish Rose, No Alcohol

1 oz of cherry or raspberry juice

1 oz of lemon juice 

3 oz of soda water

Stir, and pour over ice.

Shandy Gaff

Use a mug for measurements.  

Pick your favorite Irish ale, or any ale for that matter.  

Fill the mug half full.  Fill the rest of the mug with ginger ale.  

You can use Irish whisky as well. 

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From the Jerry Thomas Bartender's Guide, 1887

Irish Point and Crochet Lace - Exceptional Irish Craftmanship (1910)

 

Library of Congress

Part of stereo 1s28055, 1910

Irish point lace is a magnificent form of needle lace that originated in Ireland during the 19th century, stands as a testament to the intricate artistry and skill of Irish lacemakers. This lace is characterized by its delicate, yet elaborate designs, often inspired by natural elements such as flowers, leaves, and vines, intricately interconnected with fine, mesh-like backgrounds. The technique involves using a needle and thread to create a series of intricate stitches and loops, forming a lace that is both robust and exquisitely detailed. Irish Point Lace not only played a crucial role in the economic development of Ireland by providing employment to many, especially women, during times of hardship but also contributed to the country's cultural heritage, 

Irish crochet lace is another type of lace that is made using a hook and thread, and is characterized by its three-dimensional motifs, such as flowers, leaves, and vines, which are crocheted separately and then assembled onto a mesh background. The motifs are typically more raised or reliefed compared to the flatter appearance of needle lace. Irish crochet lace became popular in the 19th century as a less expensive alternative to the more costly needle laces, providing a means for Irish families to earn a living during times of economic hardship, particularly during the Great Famine.

click on the book below, from the Library of Congress, to learn how to make Irish Crochet Lace!

Library of Congress

Irish Crochet Lace, 1910

Christopher Baine (1832 - 1899) - Carpenter and Firefighter

 

PCA Archives

Christopher Baine was born about 1832 in Dublin, Ireland—possibly to Lawrence and Ellen Bain.  It is not known when he immigrated to the United States but, by 1860, he was living in Sacramento, California, and working as a wheelwright and wagon-maker.  Several newspaper articles attest to the fact that, while living in Sacramento, Baine was a member of the city’s fire department.  He served in Engine Company #2.

 Baine was in Arizona City (now Yuma), Arizona, in 1868, when he married Jesus Dominguez Esquer, born 1844.  At the time of the marriage, Jesus Dominguez already had a little daughter named Maria Cruz by her previous relationship with Donaciano Cruz.  With Baine, she had a daughter Guadalupe, born 1869, a daughter Emilia, born 1871, a son Thomas/Tomás, born 1873, a daughter Sarah, born in 1875, and a daughter Juanita, born in 1879.

 The Baine family’s life in Yuma was thrown into turmoil on July 29, 1879, when Baine shot and killed his brother-in-law, Antonio Ruiz, who was married to Jesus’s sister.  At about 1 AM, Ruiz, drunk, appeared at the Baines’ house, from which he had been ejected a month before.  When told to leave, he did, but returned a few hours later.  Baine, fearing that Ruiz had come back with a gun, again ordered him to leave.  When Ruiz advanced instead, Baine fired four times.  Ruiz died several hours later.

 Baine immediately turned himself in to the sheriff.  The grand jury set his bail at $1000.  It does not appear, however, that Baine was charged with anything beyond defending his home from an intruder. 

There is more to this story!  Baine is buried in City Loosley.  Come find out more about him at the Pioneer and Military Memorial Park!

-By Donna Carr

PCA Archives

Before Daylight Savings Time - "The Day of Two Noons"

Taking the Time, Brooklyn Navy Yard. ca. 1890-1901. 

Detroit Publishing Company. Prints & Photographs Division

The advent of the railroad and telegraph systems necessitated a more standardized approach to timekeeping, as scheduling became increasingly complex with the multitude of local times. This led to the creation of standard time zones, which were first proposed by Sir Sandford Fleming in the late 19th century and gradually adopted worldwide. The United States, for example, adopted standardized time zones on November 18, 1883, an event known as "The Day of Two Noons," when railroad stations set their clocks to the new standard time as the sun reached noon.

 

Irish Card Game: "Twenty-Five"

 

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There is an Irish card game called "Twenty-Five," also known simply as "25." It is a trick-taking game that is widely played in rural Ireland, often considered the national card game due to its popularity. Twenty-Five is an engaging game that combines elements of strategy and skill, and it has been a staple of Irish social gatherings and pub culture for generations. there are many variations of the game.

Basic Rules and Gameplay of Twenty-Five:

Players: Twenty-Five is typically played by two to five players, with the five-player game often involving partnerships where players sitting opposite each other are allies.

Deck: The game uses a standard 52-card deck, but with the cards numbered 2 through 9 removed, leaving 25 cards (hence the name). All cards are ranked from highest to lowest as follows: Ace (high), King, Queen, Jack, 10, and down to 5.

Objective: The goal of Twenty-Five is to be the first player or team to win three tricks in a round.

Dealing: Each player is dealt five cards, usually in batches of two and three, or three and two. The next card is turned up to determine the trump suit for that round.

Gameplay: The player to the dealer's left leads to the first trick. Players must follow suit if possible; if they cannot follow suit, they may play any card. The trick is won by the highest trump played; if no trumps are played, the highest card of the suit led wins the trick.

Scoring: The first player or team to win three tricks wins the round. The game continues until a player or team scores a predetermined number of points, often five or seven, to win the game.

Jinking: A unique feature of Twenty-Five is the option to "jink," which means to change the trump suit during a round. A player who cannot follow suit and has not yet played a card may declare "jinking" and lead a new trump, effectively changing the trump suit for the remainder of the round. This can only be done once per round.

 

John David Murphy (1830 - 1897) - Civil War Soldier

 

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John David Murphy was a Roman Catholic of Irish descent.   Records imply that he was known throughout his life as John D, John David, or Jerry. 

In April 1853, John married Sarah C. Jacobus.  It was a ‘runaway marriage’ or elopement, so the young couple married in Essex County, New Jersey, where they were not known.

The Murphys had five children:  Jane, Sarah Elizabeth, Mary, Jerome Franklin, and Loretta.  The federal census of 1860 recorded the Murphys living in Orange, Essex County, New Jersey, where John was working as a carpenter.  The family seems to have been quite poor.

Notwithstanding his age, John D. Murphy volunteered to fight in the Civil War.  He enlisted on May 23, 1861, and was assigned to Company F, 72nd New York Infantry.  His unit fought in the Peninsular Campaign, and Murphy was reported as wounded at the Battle of Williamsburg on February 5, 1862.

After the war, Murphy was unable to work and, by 1880, he was no longer with his family.  Family members say that he had developed a mania for wandering around the country.  He lived for a time at the Old Soldiers Home in Dayton, Ohio, before heading out for Arizona.

Around July 1, 1897, Murphy was living in a boarding house in Phoenix when he fell ill.  His landlord cared for him for four days before sending him to the County Hospital.  Murphy died there on July 10, 1897, and was buried in the Salt River Cemetery.  check out more of his story at the PMMP!

-story by Donna Carr

 

 

Daylight Savings Time - Why is it Practiced?

 

Daylight Savings Time Ad

1918

Library of Congress

Daylight Saving Time (DST) originated from an idea proposed by George Vernon Hudson, a New Zealand entomologist, in 1895. Hudson's proposal aimed to make better use of daylight by shifting the clocks forward in the summer months. However, it was not until World War I that DST was widely adopted, initially by Germany and its allies in 1916, to conserve coal by reducing the need for artificial lighting in the evening hours. This practice quickly spread to other countries, including the United Kingdom and the United States, as a way to save energy during the war effort. The concept behind DST was to make better use of daylight during the evenings, thereby saving on energy consumption.

St. Patrick - Patron Saint of Ireland

 

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In Ireland, the month of March holds a special place in the heart of its people, not only for the arrival of spring but also for the celebration of St. Patrick's Day on March 17th. This day, dedicated to the patron saint of Ireland, transforms the country into a vibrant tableau of green, with parades, music, and dancing taking center stage in towns and cities across the nation. Beyond the festivities, March is a time when the Irish landscape begins to awaken, with the first signs of spring breathing life into the emerald countryside. It's a period of renewal and reflection, deeply rooted in Irish culture and heritage, where ancient traditions and modern festivities blend seamlessly. The month encapsulates the spirit of Ireland itself—joyful, resilient, and richly steeped in history and tradition.

The Girl I Left Behind Me

 

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One of the songs associated with the Spanish-American War is "The Girl I Left Behind Me," which, although not originally from that period, was popular among soldiers during various American military engagements, including the Spanish-American War. The song itself dates back much further and has British origins, but it became part of American military culture. The lyrics speak to the feelings of soldiers as they leave their loved ones to go off to war. Here are the lyrics to one of the versions of "The Girl I Left Behind Me":

I'm lonesome since I crossed the hill, 

And o'er the moor and valley,

Such heavy thoughts my heart do fill,

Since parting with my Sally.

 

I seek no more the fine or gay,

For each does but remind me

How swift the hours did pass away,

With the girl I left behind me.

 

Oh ne'er shall I forget the night,

The stars were bright above me

 And gently lent their silv'ry light,

When first she vowed to love me.

 

But now I'm bound to Brighton camp,

 Kind heaven then pray guide me,

And send me safely back again,

To the girl I left behind me.

 

The bee shall honey taste no more,

The dove become a ranger,

The falling waters cease to roar,

Ere I shall seek to change her.

 

The vows we've made to one another,

Oh, they're recorded in the sky,

And never shall I wed another,

Till the day I die.

 

Though in the battle front we're placed,

And death is hovering round us,

No fear shall mine the line to waste,

Nor entwine the laurels round us.

And if we're called to face the foe,

No fear shall e'er unbind me,

 My thoughts will be with her I know,

The girl I left behind me.

 

 

John A Rodgers (1873 - 1908) - Spanish-American Soldier (repost)

                                       

Army Invalid card for John A. Rodgers, 1908

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)

John A. Rodgers, African American, was born around 1873 in Senatopia, Mississippi. On July 12, 1898, he enlisted in Company E, 23rd Kansas Volunteer Infantry. It was a segregated unit drawn from several Kansas communities founded by freedmen in the post-Civil War era. Black units were being sent to Cuba on the theory that African Americans would have some immunity to tropical diseases. Unfortunately, this proved not to be the case.

By the time the regiment reached Santiago, Cuba, in August 1898, the shooting war was already over. The 23rd Kansas was tasked with guarding 5000 defeated Spanish soldiers awaiting transport back to Spain. During much of his tour of duty in Cuba, Rodgers was laid up with dysentery and then malaria.
 
On March 1, 1899, the 23rd Kansas boarded a transport ship for New York City. Rodgers was discharged on April 10 at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. He moved to Hot Springs, Arkansas, where he married a woman named Annie Pickett on October 3, 1900.
 
Rodgers’s military service had left him debilitated and unfit for heavy physical labor. Pension records show that he was 6 feet 4 inches , unusually tall for that era.  He became a tailor, possibly because readymade clothing did not fit him and he had to sew his own anyway. 
 
On May 26, 1906, Rodgers applied for and received a disability pension (Invalid Certificate #1022317). Owing to his bout with dysentery in Cuba, he was afflicted with large, protruding piles (hemorrhoids). Initially, he received $10 a month. Over the years, payment was increased to $17 a month.
 
In mid 1908, John Rodgers was experiencing heart problems, although he was only 35 years old. He left his wife in Hot Springs and went to Los Angeles, possibly to the Old Soldiers Home in Sawtelle. Thereafter, he moved to Phoenix, Arizona, where he rented a room at 30 North 2nd Avenue. To support himself, he placed ads in the local newspaper, asking for work repairing old carpets and refurbishing used clothing.
 
John A. Rodgers died on November 14, 1908, of aortic insufficiency, mitral regurgitation, and hypertrophy of the left ventricle.  He was buried in Rosedale Cemetery.
 
Several days after Rodgers’ death, Marshal Moore of Phoenix received an urgent letter from a Mrs. Jennie Reeves, asking the marshal to take charge of Rodgers’ body and effects. She also said that the deceased was a military veteran and asked that Rodgers’ body be returned to Arkansas for burial or sent to the National Cemetery. Her request could not be accommodated, however, because Rodgers was already buried and no one could attest to Mrs. Reeves’ legal rights to Rodgers’ property.
 
- story by Donna Carr

World War I Rations

Val Digital Art and AI

During World War I, rationing became a crucial part of life on both the home front and the battlefield, as governments struggled to manage the scarcity of food and resources caused by the global conflict. In the trenches, soldiers subsisted on a diet that often consisted of canned corned beef, known as "bully beef," hardtack biscuits, and tea or coffee. These rations were designed for long shelf life and ease of transport, rather than taste or nutritional value.

Vintage Valentine Inscriptions

Bing Images - Creative Commons

Crafting inscriptions that capture the essence of vintage Valentine's Day cards involves a blend of charm, wit, and the romantic vernacular of bygone eras. Here are three inscriptions inspired by the style and sentimentality of vintage Valentines:

To My Dearest Heart

"Within this card, so finely made, 

Lies a tender truth, brightly displayed. 

For every beat my heart doth make, 

Is a vow of love I swear to never forsake. 

So, on this day, when lovers entwine, 

I ask thee, dearest, to be forever mine."

To My Beloved Companion

"As the rose in splendid bloom doth not compare, 

To the light and joy you bring, beyond compare. 

Through every season, come what may, 

My love for you grows day by day. 

This Valentine, with lace so fine, 

Is but a token of this love of mine."

To My Sweetest Friend

"From laughter light to deepest care, 

In every moment, 

you are there. 

A friend so true, 

a heart so kind, 

In you, my dearest treasure, I find. 

So, take this card, 

a small token, it's true, 

But know it's filled with gratitude, from me to you."

These inscriptions aim to reflect the eloquence and emotional depth characteristic of vintage Valentine's Day cards, capturing the timeless nature of love and friendship.