"Roll up for the....History Tour"

(Courtesy of WH Historical Society) 

Roll up, roll up for the Mystery Tour.
Roll up, roll up for the Mystery Tour.
Roll up, we've got everything you need, roll up for the Mystery Tour.
Roll up, Satisfaction guaranteed, roll up for the Mystery Tour.
The Magical Mystery Tour is waiting to take you away.
Waiting to take you away.
-"Magical Mystery Tour" (Lennon & McCartney).

"Roll up for the Magical History Tour."

The newspaper article describing a bus tour of historical sites around town, made me think of the Beatles' Magical Mystery Tour. It promised a 90 minute bus tour to showcase the "hidden history" of our town. Hmmm. I thought it might be interesting to learn something new and perhaps meet some new people.

By the time I signed up (i.e., made a reservation), the original tour was sold out. Fortunately, a second tour was added for a 3 pm departure and I was in! The price was $20 for members (which I got through my Let's GO Arts! membership) otherwise $25. I was kinda surprised of so much interest since the tour was scheduled for the same day (Saturday November 21, 2015) and time as the penultimate high school football game between both of our town's high schools. 

"Climb aboard"

Glen was the name of the bus driver; tour guide and narrator was Sarah. There were about 25 people on the bus. We were provided with handouts showing the tour route (similar to the picture above) along with pictures of the structures and places that once were at each spot. 

The tour was called "History Drives Us." They had given several of these tours as part of a history class or lecture series offered at a nearby University (why?). There were 22 locations on the map but we skipped a couple due to traffic conditions (plus Sarah was suffering from a migraine - the first tour group must have been quite a bunch!).

Stop #3: Sarah Whitman Hooker House.

Several of the sites, I was familiar with but others were new to me. Unfortunately, there was no time to get out and look at each place. Some places we could only drive past. Some were still private houses not open to the public.

"Stop" #6 Charter Oak Driving Park/Luna Park

My son, Richard, would've been interested in hearing more about the defunct amusement park (Luna Park) which was near the present location of Colt Arms Manufacturing & Home Depot.

Stop #7 Quaker Burial Yard

Stop #11 Wadsworth Tavern (now a private home)

"Stop" #20 Four Mile Marker

Near the end of the tour we drove past "Four Mile Marker." This is a stone marker has " H IV M" on it signifying 4 miles to Hartford (at today's Old State House). One of the people on the bus said that they measured it and the distance is pretty accurate. Since I live within walking distance of the marker, I came back later and took a closer look and shot the picture above.

When we finished the tour (in about 75 minutes instead of 90), I realized there are a lot of historic and interesting sites in West Hartford. There are enough places to have several bus tours. Although I didn't really meet any new people, my curiosity about the history of my town has increased. It is something I hope to learn more about in the future, especially since the Historical Society is located within walking distance of my apartment.

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Links:

https://www.noahwebsterhouse.org

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magical_Mystery_Tour_(film)

https://www.letsgoarts.org

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarah_Whitman_Hooker_House

http://connecticuthistory.org/luna-park-a-20th-century-story-of-amusement-and-morality/

http://www.hartfordquakers.org

http://www.courant.com/real-estate/property-line/hc-wadsworth-tavern-hartford-connecticut-sold-20141203-story.html

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Written Thursday 31 December 2015.

Shenandoah

Advertising  poster for the 1965 movie"Shenandoah."

Recently (F11/20), I pulled out my DVD for the 1965 movie, Shenandoah starring (among others) Jimmy Stewart. Although I had not watched it for a long time, I have seen the movie many times and it is a favorite as well as an influence.

I don't exactly remember when I first saw Shenandoah. I am pretty sure that I saw it at a Drive-in, probably during the summer. That was a popular entertainment event for our family at that time (especially in pre-Air Conditioner days). I remember seeing it multiple times on TV, probably during the 70s (probably with my dad at my side).

DVD cover

You can click the link above (and referenced below) to find out about the plot, etc. Essentially, it is an anti-war, Civil War movie. Some have described it as Libertarian. I wasn't thinking about that (i.e., politics) during early viewings. Rather, it was the story and adventure and ideals that got my attention.

• It is anti-war. Jimmy Stewart as Charlie Anderson firmly is avoiding participating in the Civil War (aka "War of Northern Aggression") even though his family lives in the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia. The slogan on the poster above referencing "the Fighting Virginians" is a misnomer because the only real fighting that the family does in this movie is to fight to stay out of the war.
• It has a strong father figure with respectful and loving children. The father has his views but encourages his children to express their perspectives and defend them.
• Although the family lives in a "slave" state, they do not own slaves.
• Jimmy/Charlie is loyal to his marriage even though he is a widower. There are multiple scenes where he "talks" to his wife (Martha) at her grave.
• Jimmy/Charlie is the "Good Shepherd." When one of his sons is captured by soldiers, the family goes after them to get them back.
• Marriage is taken seriously. The scene where Doug McClure's character confronts Charlie to ask for permission to marry Charlie's daughter is a sermon on the difference between "like" and "love." We use the word "love" so lightly and yet there is a profound difference. While it might be rather silly to debate the difference in use, contemplation about what it means to love someone is a worthwhile result of this scene. One blogger summed it with noting that 'love is a choice, not a feeling.' Oh, that would make such a difference today if more understood that.
• The horrors of war. This is not a graphic movie that realistically shows wounded flesh but it shows enough to get the point across. There is a battle scene where a Confederate is shot in the forehead. The horror of that has remained with me as a sudden and awful aspect of combat. Another scene involves a group of  Confederate scavengers who attack those left at the farm. The horror of these scenes are imprinted in my memory despite the lack of graphic depiction.
• Family loyalty. A unity is expressed in various ways throughout the movie. There is also the contrast between death/past (e.g., wife/mother/Martha), the trials of today, the future (marriage and grandchildren). Despite some dreadful losses, the family survives and continues on.
• Religion. I noticed this this time. There is tension between Jimmy/Charlie and the preacher. Charlie is not religious (and is somewhat skeptical) but promised his late wife he would bring the children up in the church. And so, he keeps his word.

There is probably more I could write and I could/should do it better. However, this movie really touches me and I wanted to share that at this time. Shenandoah is a very good film that is worth viewing and contemplating.

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Links:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shenandoah_(film)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Stewart
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drive-in_theater
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Libertarianism
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Civil_War
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shenandoah_Valley
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Good_Shepherd
http://kindredgrace.com/journal/wisdom-on-marriage-from-jimmy-stewart
http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/19069/Shenandoah
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Written Wednesday 23 December 2015.