Sunset Tour (Cedar Hill)

Photo by Katie Jackson

This evening (6:30 p.m. start) was my second tour at Cedar Hill Cemetery. (See my post about my first tour in July). This evening's theme was "Sunset." The idea was that the tour would finish at the top of one of the hills in time to view the sunset. And basically, that is what happened.

I had to leave work promptly at 5 p.m., go home and change clothes, and drive to the cemetery. Just made it in time (no speeding).

Foolishly, like last time, I did not take notes nor take pictures. Instead, I just soaked it all in. Some of the graves we visited included:

• General Griffin Stedman

• Katharine Hepburn (actress)

Marker for Hepburn family plot.

• Mark Howard

Mark Howard's pyramid tomb.
(I took this picture in Oct 2015)

Of course, there were others (it was a 90 minute tour) but I have no notes. All-in-all, a fascinating and pleasant evening. Good sunset too.

From the CHF Facebook site. I am on the left (back to camera).

------------------------------------------------------------

Links:

http://www.cedarhillcemetery.org

http://cedarhillfoundation.org/notable-residents/general-griffin-stedman

-----------------------------------------------------------

Written Friday 27 November 2015 (a good time to catch up a bit).
Added FB pic August 13, 2016 (Sat).

Stratford Lighthouse...Revisited

Advertisement for Open House/Tour.

When my son, Richard, was little (as in elementary school age), we went to the Stratford lighthouse and to our surprise were invited in for our own private tour. The keepers had just moved in and were delighted to have visitors. A few years later we returned to find "No Trespassing" signs all over the place.

So when I saw that there was going to be an open house, I knew we had to attend. The Coast Guard claimed that the last time the lighthouse was open to the public was in 1973 (42 years ago). So who knows if and when we would be able to visit again. Nostalgia time!

Typically, I was not in a big rush so we didn't get there until about 2:30 p.m. I wasn't expecting a big crowd but I was shocked to discover I was wrong (this time). The streets were packed with parked cars. Richard was frustrated and suggested it was not worth our time. But, as usual, I persisted and we were able to get to the top. Little did we realize how long a wait it would cost us.

Waiting in line at the start.

Fortunately, the Coast Guard were very good hosts and didn't throw us out at the time of the scheduled closing (3 p.m.). Instead, they were very polite and hospitable and went up and down the line assuring us that everyone would get a chance to see the lighthouse and go to the top. 

We were out of this picture at the left.

As the weather was a perfect August day (sunny and hot), I quickly returned to the car to retrieve the sunscreen. We had a nice time chatting with the others in line. In front of us was a woman and her husband. She worked at a nearby Stop & Shop and had convinced a young female colleague to come along. Unfortunately, Toria was dressed head to toe in black leggings and LS shirt (because of the cold AC in the store). While this surely was warm, it kept her protected from sunburn.

This gives an indication of the line. We are towards the end of line at right.

They were selling hotdogs, burgers, soda, and bottles of water at very reasonable prices. Around 5 p.m. they sold dogs and burgers 2 for 1 and also gave away the water and soda.

Getting closer. This was the view from the far corner of the fence.

The Coast Guard Commander of the Sector Long Island Sound, Captain Ed Cubanski, walked up and down the line chatting with everyone and answering questions about the Coast Guard and the lighthouse. He told us he lives in the adjacent keepers house.

Capt Cubanski chatting with visitors.

When we reached the lighthouse, it was close to 6 p.m. and there were only a few people behind us in line.

These were the last in line behind us.

At the base of the lighthouse, a Coast Guard sailor gave us an introduction. We were allowed to go up as soon as people before us came down.

This sign is posted at the door of the lighthouse.

These are some of the stairs we had to climb.

The spiral staircase took us to a small room just below the lamp level. There was a seven rung ladder that you had to climb in order to get to the lamp. We had to wait again until people from above descended.

Rules for Visitors sign posted.

Finally, we got to the top. It really wasn't a dramatic view since the lighthouse is only 35-ft high (but about 52-ft above the water). Still, it was a nice view. Unfortunately, we could not go out on the surrounding catwalk. As you can see by comparing the pictures below with those above, the sky had clouded up by the time we reached the top.

View from the top (looking East towards Milford).

Looking directly down (south side) at water's edge.

The light.

When we climbed down and got out, we had to wash our hands due to the lead paint "hazard." When one of Coast Guard sailors asked if the view was worth the wait, I candidly said, "not really." Actually, it was hard to believe that we waited so long but who knows when the next time we will be able to go there? The Captain said he'd like to do this annually but he is only scheduled to be stationed there another year. It will be a while before we will want to return but hopefully one day we will be able to come back (but not have to wait in line for so long).

The newspapers later reported that only about 500 or so visitors were originally anticipated. However, close to 2,300 actually went to the top of the lighthouse this time. And that included Richard and me!

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Links:

http://www.lighthousefriends.com/light.asp?ID=793
http://www.uscgnews.com/go/doc/4007/2577502/-Photos-Available-Coast-Guard-opens-historic-lighthouse-to-the-public-for-tours
http://www.uscg.mil/d1/sectlis/docs/bio.asp
http://www.uscg.mil/d1/antLIS/files/lights/spl.asp
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Written Wednesday 30 December 2015 (I just had to eventually get this logged).

Ugandan Martyrs

Letter received Thursday August 6, 2015 in the mail from Fr. Hattie.

Below is my transcription of the above letter. I have taken the liberty of giving the scan a slight tint in order to recall the Aerogram letters Father used to send when he was in Uganda. I also have "adjusted" the text to account for any typos, light impressions, and overstrikes (he literally types his correspondence using a manual typewriter). Overall, my goal for the transcription is to be faithful to the intention of the text and meaning. If I missed something or there is something you don't understand, please let me know.

In several ways this was an unusual letter:

1. An actual letter arrived in an envelope via US Postal Service (metered 08/03/2015) rather than the more recent emails.
2. It also contained two (2) pictures. See below, where they are incorporated in the transcription.
3. Since his previous post, Father celebrated his 93rd birthday (on July 18th)! See the short biography post for an overview of Father's life.
4. Much of the letter is a response to an article I sent him about Feast of the Martyrs of Uganda. The article was from the Fall 2014 issue (Volume LVII, No. 4) of the Divine Word Missionaries magazine (pp. 2-5).

For more letters and information on how to get in touch with Father, see my Fr. Hattie page. It also includes how to donate to help "his" orphans in Nsumba, Uganda.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

My dear Rick:                   Peace of the Risen Christ!

     So sorry to be late in writing, but I was in Canton for a week celebrating my 93rd Birthday & visiting donors. But, I was not at all ungrateful, but intensely delighted, by your kind & generous Gift of  $XXX.XX for my lovable orphans. It is regular donors like you that keep the place going. Sadly enough, we don't get a single penny from the Ugandan Government. Two years ago, the President promised solemnly to get us piped water from Lake Victoria, but we're still waiting. He is too busy trying to remain in Office after 29 years. So it goes.

     I enjoyed immensely the Article about the Ugandan Martyrs & I attended the Mass every year that I was there. In a small lake, surrounded by hills is a small artificial lake.  A short distance from the shore is an immense round platform that holds the altar and 400 priests, for that many concelebrate each year.  People leave home at 3 in the morning for the 10 a.m. mass, for the roads are jammed & mostly one way that day. All the police of Kampala are on duty. Some sleep all night at the grounds to get a good place & some come in wheelchairs on a journey that requires 2 weeks. Each year a different Bishop and Diocese prepare the ceremony.

     There is a walk that leads to the platform for offering gifts & that ceremony takes at least 45 minutes. Goats, pigs, chickens, vegetables & fruit are offered, plus money. It is a sight worth seeing & there is not a peep from any of the babies or kids. The President & his wife always attend. The Protestants have no celebration for their 22 martyrs (we had 23), so most of them attend the Catholic one. Every year there are some visitors from abroad & the newspaper is full of pictures. On that day, neither liquor nor beer is allowed to be sold or drunken. This sight is really seeing & taking part in, but it lasts about 5 hours. But, for Africans it is a religious & social affair that just wouldn't work in these good ol' USA.

Caption on back: "Some of my 1000 African Orphans (boys & girls) of different Religions.
It has been said that food is the quickest way to a boy's heart. But, just give one of those little guys
a baseball cap, old or new, and whether it fits or not, and he will think that he is the cat's meow."
[Note "Ssali" marked on cap of boy at bottom row right]

     Enclosed is a picture of Denis & myself. He is my adopted son that I picked up off the street some time ago. He hasn't a single relative, and, when he was about 6, he said: "All the kids in the school have a Dad except me. Can I please call you Dad?" And, it has been that ever since.

Caption on back: "Ssali Denis & myself "
 (Fr. Hattie on right, Note Father's "Jesuit" cap.)

     My love to your Mom when you speak to her & be sure that all of you have a super-prominent place in my daily Mass & prayers and in those of my 6 precious African Sisters who run the orphanage, and in those of the orphans, too. Daily they recite prayers for their donors.

Tons of love & gratitude,                                         

     

                              Fr. Gene, SJ      

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Links:

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

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

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Typewriter
http://ricketwrite.blogspot.com/2013/08/father-hattie.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uganda_Martyrs
http://www.svdmissions.org/
http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/4ffd82a8#/4ffd82a8/4
http://ricketwrite.blogspot.com/p/letters-from-fr-hattie.html

Written Sunday August 23, 2015