History – Gardens of Oak Hollow

Founding Fathers and Forefathers

keta7598 — Tue, 25 Jun 2024 16:20:00 +0000

Founding Fathers

Next week we celebrate July 4th, Independence Day

Our Founding Fathers came together on July 2nd, 1776, the Continental Congress voted in favor of independence, and two days later delegates from the 13 colonies adopted the Declaration of Independence, a historic document drafted by Thomas Jefferson.

Forefathers

In addition to remembering what our Founding Fathers did to create our wonderful nation, I also want to remember their Forefathers who struggled to establish a home in this “new world”.

On September 6, 1620, 102 passengers crowded on the Mayflower to begin the long, hard journey to a new life in the New World. Two months later, on November 11, 1620, the Mayflower anchored at what is now Provincetown Harbor, Cape Cod.

To honor the passengers of the Mayflower, our Forefathers, this impressive 81 foot, granite monument was completed in 1889.

On the main pedestal stands a 36-foot-tall sculpture representing “Faith” with her right hand pointing toward heaven and her left hand clutching the Bible.

Sitting four sides of the octagonal pedestal are smaller allegorical figures, each carved from a single block of granite. “Morality”, “Education”, “Law” and “Liberty”.

So, the 4th of July, I will reflect on the foundation of our country and the values upon which it was born.

“Faith”, "Morality", "Education", "Law", and "Liberty".

The Boy Who Designed the U.S. Flag

keta7598 — Tue, 04 Jun 2024 16:30:00 +0000

Flag Day

June 14, 2024

History

No country has changed its flag as frequently as the United States.

The current flag law was enacted in 1817 and permanently limited the number of stripes to 13. The stars were to correspond to the number of states, with new stars added to the flag the following Fourth of July. Star arrangement is not specified.

Throughout the 19th century a variety of exuberant star designs—“great luminaries,” rings, ovals, and diamonds—were actually used. Finally, in 1912, President Taft set forth exact regulations for all flag details.

The original, sometimes dubbed “The Betsy Ross”—though few researchers express confidence that Ross created the first flag—displayed 13 stars and 13 stripes, with the stars arranged in a circle.

High School Junior

In the late 1950s, as Alaska and Hawaii were being considered for statehood, then-president Dwight Eisenhower asked for design proposals for a new flag.

Young Bob Heft was a junior in Lancaster (Ohio) High School when his American History teacher gave the class the assignment to create a project that illustrated their interest in history. The 17 year-old Heft knew the new states would join the union, so he planned to design an American flag with 50 stars.

Bob took an old flag stored in a closet in his grandparents’ home and cut out its star-covered blue field and replaced it with $2 worth of blue cotton fabric. Using a cardboard pattern as a guide, he traced the stars on white iron-on tape and arranged them on the flag – five rows of six stars with four alternation rows of five stars.

Despite Bob’s hardwork on the project, his teacher gave him a B-minus for his effort. When Bob protested the teacher said he would change the grade if Congress accepted the flag design. Not easily daunted, Bob hopped on his bike and rode to the nearby home of Congressman Walter Moeller, who promised to take the flag to Washington.

Among the hundreds of submissions received, there were reportedly at least three for the current flag. Most famously, one of those had been sent by then-high school junior Bob Heft of Ohio, who had designed the 50-star flag for a class assignment. Heft, who died in 2009, received a B- from an unimpressed teacher, who reportedly called the design unoriginal.

Alaska and Hawaii joined the nation in 1959, and Bob received a phone call from President Dwight Eisenhower who told him his design had been accepted to replace the 49-star flag. It is estimated that more than 1500 people offered designs, and several produced the same star pattern. Yet, he was given credit for the design, which became our nation’s official banner on July 4, 1960.

Bob’s high school history teacher made good on his promise. Bob returned to Lancaster High School shortly after his design was accepted and his former teacher symbolically changed his B-minus grade to an A in honor of his accomplishment.

Heft’s design had earned its rightful “A” from his teacher—and he earned himself a visit to the White House.

Source: OhioMagazine.com

Memorial Day

keta7598 — Tue, 21 May 2024 16:20:00 +0000

Next Sunday is Memorial Day and our Flags are posted throughout our Community. As I reflect about the meaning of Memorial Day as we honor those who have paid the ultimate price in defense of our Nation, I decided to share just a few items.

Ancient Roots

The practice of honoring those who have fallen in battle dates back thousands of years. One of the first known public tributes to war dead was in 431 B.C., when the Athenian general and statesman Pericles delivered a funeral oration praising the sacrifice and valor of those killed in the Peloponnesian War—a speech that some have compared in tone to Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address.

Early Commemoration

On May 1 1865 in Charleston, South Carolina, three weeks after the Confederate surrender, more than 1,000 people recently freed from enslavement, accompanied by regiments of the U.S. Colored Troops (including the Massachusetts 54th Infantry) and a handful of white Charlestonians, gathered in the camp to consecrate a new, proper burial site for the Union dead. The group sang hymns, gave readings and distributed flowers around the cemetery, which they dedicated to the “Martyrs of the Race Course.”

Decoation Day

In May 1868, General John A. Logan issued a decree that May 30 should become a nationwide Decoration Day to honor the more than 620,000 soldiers killed in the recently ended Civil War. Americans should lay flowers and decorate the graves of the war dead “whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village and hamlet churchyard in the land.” According to legend, Logan chose May 30 because it was a rare day that didn’t fall on the anniversary of a Civil War battle.

Washington’s Mother

keta7598 — Tue, 07 May 2024 16:10:00 +0000

Mother's Day

Sunday, May 12, 2024

As we look forward to celebrating Mother’s Day next Sunday, I thought I would share some background about the mother of our country’s first President, George Washington.

In the history books, Mary Ball Washington has been cast as a villain and a saint—or written out entirely. In reality, she was an independent woman at a time when few others were.

“She has been the object of both meaningless praise and more often antagonism from writers who dreamed of a different mother for their hero George,” historian Martha Saxton writes in “The Widow Washington”, a biography of our first president’s deeply misunderstood mother.

Mary's Childhood

When Mary was 12, her mother died, and she moved in with her half-sister. Her religious education deepened at this time. She read devotional books, and was moved by many of their teachings. In time, Mary’s religious conviction gave way to a profound and long-lasting sense of inner strength—a contrast to the traits of submissiveness once associated with pious women.

Mary was 22 when she married Augustine Washington, a 36-year-old widower. They moved to a spacious plantation and had George in 1732. Over the next ten years they would have five more children (one, Mildred, died shortly after childbirth).

George's Childhood

In 1743, George was 11 years old when his father died. Mary was left to raise their five children and run Ferry Farm. While her property holdings (including roughly 20 enslaved workers) made her an eligible option for re-marriage, she chose not to do so. Rather than risk marrying someone unsavory and putting her children at risk, she decided to shoulder the burden of raising them on her own—another testament to her independent streak.

Despite her modest means, she did the best she could to provide her children with an improvised education. Although she could barely afford it, she loaned George money for dancing lessons, which she knew were essential for entrance into elite Virginia society. (He ended up paying her back.) Mary loved tea, and she trained all her children in the genteel art of tea serving and drinking, something George would carry with him his whole life.

Historians Weigh In

As the years went on and her children grew up or died, money became increasingly tight for Mary. Money soon became a contentious issue between her and her oldest son. For the rest of her life, she would occasionally write to him asking for small sums of money.

At one point, in a letter George complained to his brother “It is too much while I am suffering in every other way (and hardly able to keep my own estate from sale) to be saddled with all the expenses of hers“.

Historians point to this as evidence of Mary’s avarice or ineptitude, while ignoring that George was famously penny-pinching, even though he was worth an estimated $525 million in today’s dollars.

“The problem with some of the material about her is that it can make both people look bad,” Saxton says. “For example, if you start to use evidence about George not wanting to give his mother any money, you run the risk of making him look awful. So you have to spin a story in which she’s the villain.”

Mother's Day

Once a year, countries around the world celebrate Mother’s Day – a day dedicated to all mothers, so that we can show our appreciation. Mothers and mother-figures are indispensable. They’re likely the first people we ever know when we enter the world, and they love and care for us as we grow up.

While Mary was not without short-comings (as we all are), she raised a son who became an exceptional leader for our Country. So this year, in addition to giving thanks for my own mother, I want to gives thanks to Mary for raising her son, George.

Texas Recognition Month

keta7598 — Tue, 27 Feb 2024 18:20:53 +0000

When I began this article, I had the thought of writing about some of the important events in Texas History that occurred in March. Two of the most notable days are:

March 2, 1836: The Texas Declaration of Independence is signed at the Convention of 1836 at Washington-on-the-Brazos.
March 6, 1836: Colonel William B. Travis and the Alamo defenders are overwhelmed by Santa Anna and his Mexican troops.

Soon, I was wondering if “Texas History Month” was official, or just what my History teacher (way back when) had called it. I soon was lost down a different ‘rabbit trail’.

Texas Legislature

Soon, I was wondering if “Texas History Month” was official, or just what my History teacher had called it. I soon was lost down a different ‘rabbit trail’.

I ended up at Chapter 662 of the Texas Government Code “Holidays and Recognition Days, Weeks, and Months”. I did not find anything surprising in the first two subchapters, “Holidays for State Employees” and “Legal Holidays”.

However, I spent time reading the other three subchapters: the official Texas Recognition Days, Week, and Months. I strolled through this document and noted a few things.

Recognition Days

The earliest notation in this document was “added by Acts 1993, 73rd Legislature” and specified five dates:

January 6 – Sam Rayburn Day
April 9 – Former Prisoners of War Recognition Day
Second Monday of October is Columbus Day
November 3 – Father of Texas Day
May 22 through May 26 is International Trade Awareness Week

There are now more than 40 Recognition Days including “Dr. Hector P. Garcia Day”, “National Day of the Cowboy”, “BRAVE Day”, “Master Sergeant Jonathan J. Dunbar Day”, “Blue Tie Day”, and many more.

The most recent additions were added in 2023

June 28 – Special Forces Day
March 4 – COVID-19 Heroes and Memorial Day

Recognition Months

In 1999, the 76th Leg. added “July is Buffalo Soldiers Heritage Month”
In 2003, the 78th Legislature unanimously passed amendment which proclaimed: “March is Texas History Month”.

So my History teacher was ahead of her time. Now March is officially “Texas History Month”. So get out your old history books and re-read a few chapters.

(One more note) Just in case any of you may be curious about the other Texas Recognition Days, Week, and Months, here is a link to the Statute.

Washington’s Birthday

keta7598 — Tue, 13 Feb 2024 18:10:43 +0000

aka Presidents Day

Did you know? “This holiday is designated as ‘Washington’s Birthday’ in section 6103(a) of title 5 of the United States Code, which is the law that specifies holidays for Federal employees. Though other institutions such as state and local governments and private businesses may use other names, it is our policy to always refer to holidays by the names designated in the law.” U.S. Office of Personnel Management.

President George Washington the first President of the United States of America was born on February 22nd. Another much loved and very popular President, Abraham Lincoln, was also born in the month of February, the 12th. Referring to Washington’s Birthday as Presidents’ Day is an effort to recognize both Presidents.

Washington’s Birthday, aka Presidents’ Day, is celebrated on the third Monday of February. This that is next Monday, February 19th.

Unified Monday Holiday Act

In 1971, the Uniform Monday Holiday Bill was adopted by Congress to move a number of federal holidays to Mondays. The change was designed to schedule certain holidays so that workers had a number of long weekends throughout the year. Thus Washington’s Birthday was shifted to the third Monday of February.

During debate on the bill in Congress, it was proposed that Washington’s Birthday be officially renamed Presidents’ Day to honor the birthdays of both Washington and Lincoln. The idea behind the name was to create a holiday that did not recognize a specific president, but rather celebrated the office of the presidency. Following much discussion, Congress rejected the name change.

Since the bill went into effect in 1971, “Presidents’ Day” became the commonly accepted name, due in part to retailers’ use of that name to promote sales and the holiday’s proximity to Lincoln’s birthday.

When Was Washington Really Born?

President George Washington was officially born on February 11th, 1731. At that time the entire British Empire adopted the Julian calendar. The Gregorian calendar was adopted by Catholic Church in the Vatican along with the rest of the Catholic world. The British considered themselves not to be bound by the Gregorian calendar and remained with the Julian calendar.

There was utter confusion especially during the 1700’s since the Julian calendar was eleven days behind the Gregorian calendar. Then to put things right, in 1752 the British too reverted to the Gregorian calendar. Hence. important dates like George Washington’s Birthday, had to be re-calculated to the new Gregorian calendar.

Hence, February 11th the day that President George Washington was born was calculated, under new calendar, to be February 22nd.

Valentine’s Day

keta7598 — Tue, 30 Jan 2024 18:10:38 +0000

Who Was St. Valentine?

According to History.com, there are at least two men named Valentine that could’ve inspired the holiday, including one Valentine who was a priest in third century Rome. As the story goes, this Valentine defied Emperor Claudius II’s ban on marriage (he thought it distracted young soldiers), illegally marrying couples in the spirit of love until he was caught and sentenced to death.

Another legend suggests that Valentine was killed for attempting to help Christians escape prison in Rome, and that he actually sent the first “valentine” message himself while imprisoned, writing a letter signed “From your Valentine.”

Early History

At the end of the 5th century, Roman Pope Gelasius officially declared the date of February 14 “St. Valentine’s Day.” It wasn’t until until the Middle Ages, though, that the holiday became associated with love and romance, a tradition that first started from the common belief in France and England that birds started their mating season on February 14.

Who Is Cupid?

He’s the charming cherub that appears on Valentine’s Day cards, often depicted with a bow and arrow — but how did Cupid become a common symbol of Valentine’s Day? According to Time, the figure can actually be traced all the way back to 700 B.C., to the Greek god of love named Eros, who was actually a handsome, immortal man with the intimidating power to make people fall in love. It wasn’t until the 4th century BCE that the Romans adopted Eros into the image of a cute little boy with a bow and arrow, naming him “Cupid.” By the turn of the 19th century, Cupid had become linked to Valentine’s Day due to his love-matching powers.

15th Century

The oldest record of a valentine being sent, according to History.com, was a poem written by a French medieval duke named Charles to his wife in 1415. Charles penned this sweet note to his lover while he was imprisoned in the Tower of London at just 21 years old. One of the lines in the poem? “I am already sick of love, My very gentle Valentine.” Swoon!

17th Century

Giving red roses may be an obvious romantic gesture today, but it wasn’t until the late 17th century that giving flowers became a popular custom. In fact, the practice can be traced back to when King Charles II of Sweden learned the “language of flowers” — which pairs different flowers with specific meanings — on a trip to Persia, and subsequently introduced the tradition to Europe. The act of giving flowers then became a popular trend during the Victorian Era — including on Valentine’s Day — with red roses symbolizing deep love.

19th Century

The first heart-shaped box of chocolates was introduced in 1861. It was created by Richard Cadbury, son of Cadbury founder John Cadbury, who started packaging chocolates in fancy boxes to increase sales. He introduced the first heart-shaped box of chocolates for V-Day in 1861, and today, more than 36 million heart-shaped boxes of chocolates are sold each year. That’s 58 million pounds of chocolate!

SOURCE: Thanks to Good Housekeeping for these facts about Valentine’s Day.

Words From The Past

keta7598 — Tue, 16 Jan 2024 18:20:00 +0000

I am working on this Newsletter on Monday – MLK Day. My mind has drifted back to my high school years. Growing up the south my perception of “normal” included things like separate water fountains; “white only” signs; etc. I didn’t question it – it’s just the ways things were. Then in my high school years, I began hearing about the civil right movement. My understanding of “normal” changed dramatically.

And then August 28, 1963 I heard MLK’s “I have a dream” speech.

Now in 2024, judging others by “the content of their character instead of the color of their skin” seems to be totally out the window! So, I have retreated to reading MLK’s message and it still resonates with me.

So, I thought I would share some quotes with you.

Ten MLK Quotes

“I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.”

“The silence of the good people is more dangerous than the brutality of the bad people.”

“Vanity asks, is it popular? Politics ask, will it work? But conscience and morality ask, is it right?”

“You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.”

“We may have all come on different ships, but we’re in the same boat now.”

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”

“Everyone has the power for greatness, not for fame but greatness, because greatness is determined by service.”

“It is always the right time to do the right thing.”

“The surest way to be happy is to seek happiness for others.”

“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”

Who Was Caleb Brewster?

keta7598 — Tue, 02 Jan 2024 18:20:00 +0000

Sea-Bound Boy

Without Caleb Brewster (1747-1827), it is entirely possible that we may be living under the Union Jack (English flag) now.

Young Caleb grew up along the shores of Long Island Sound in New York, undoubtedly dreaming of sailing the Sound and the far greater expanse of the Atlantic Ocean. At 19 years old, Caleb began his sea-bound adventure when he signed on to a Nantucket whaler. When he tired of whaling, he pursued a life at sea as a mate on a merchant ship. Caleb was familiar with every cove and eddy on both sides of the sound and soon became well known for his resourcefulness and expert seamanship.

American Revolution

As news of the American Revolution and the battles of Lexington and Concord reached his ship, Caleb quickly returned home to fight the war against British oppression. General George Washington was utilizing a spy ring in support of the Continental Army. The Culper Spy Ring, headed by Benjamin Tallmadge from 1778 to 1783, was a group of patriots was primarily based in New York City and Long Island. They recognized Caleb for his expert navigation and maritime skills and set out to recruit him.

Within the Spy Ring, Caleb primarily serve as a courier utilizing his whaling boats and expertise. Few could navigate the Long Island Sound between New York City and General Washington’s headquarters in New Jersey as Caleb could. He conducted precise navigation throughout the Sound at night and through inclement weather while out-maneuvering British ships to deliver crucial information.

His resourcefulness is evidenced by one account of an encounter with a British officer who discovered him while he waited to receive information from another member of the Culper Ring. He knocked the officer from his horse and forcibly took some of the man’s possessions before fleeing. By doing this, Caleb disguised this encounter as a simply robbery rather than a matter of espionage.

Washington's Spy Ring

The Culper Spy Ring used a variety of clandestine methods such as invisible ink on documents and codes to protect communications regarding British troops and warnings to General Washington and the Continental Army. These reports were of utmost importance in making strategic decisions when combating British troop movements and potential attacks. The secrecy and effectiveness of the Culper Spy Ring along with Caleb Brewster’s maritime skills required to relay the information played a significant role in the success of Continental Army during the Revolutionary War.

The spy ring’s methods and Caleb’s efforts are recognized as pivotal in the outcome of the war and are considered the roots of American espionage. Historians surmise that without Caleb Brewster’s maritime skills and bravery, the American Revolution may have had a far different ending.

Here is a link for more information

Importance of December 25

keta7598 — Mon, 11 Dec 2023 18:10:00 +0000

When asking people the importance of December 25^th, you would expect most to respond with “Christmas” or various other responses relating to the spiritual holiday. Most likely no one would mention Trenton, New Jersey and The Battle of Trenton without which, we may not be celebrating Christmas as we typically do today.

Bold and Risky

It was December 25^th 1776 that General George Washington and 2,400 soldiers set off on a very bold and risky mission in the dark of night, crossing the ice filled Delaware River to get to Trenton, New Jersey. The ensuing battle on December 26^th was a pivotal moment in the Revolutionary War and American history. Defeating the German mercenary Hessian soldiers, who were hired by the British, in this battle, marked the turning point of the war. The victory at Trenton boosted morale of the American forces and reinvigorated the Continental Army to march on to victory over the British army at York Town.

General Washington’s bravery and victory over the Hessians elevated his stature as a great leader and quite likely was pivotal in his election as our first president. The next time someone asks what the importance of December 25^th is, surprise them and mention The Battle of Trenton.