Filling up Space

I just noticed I haven't posted anything for awhile. I've been rather busy doing some research for the Lincoln exhibit at the local historical society and also still working on Minnie Torkler's 1926 diary.

I recently purchased a Roku box and have a Netflix streaming plan so I've wandered around their site looking for stuff that appeals. We tried looking at some of the older series like Quincy , Moonlighting and Remington Steele. We both remembered them fondly back in the day but they haven't held up well. They're just dated!!

Tamaroa Rumors

I've been hearing a rumor about my old cutter, the USCGC Tamaroa. Her present owner intends to sink her as part of an artifical reef off the coast of Delaware. I was asked if there was anything on board that I would like as a keep sake. A couple years ago, I donated a Flag showing the Great Seal of the Zuni Nation to the ship since she was originally commissioned as the USS ZUNI. If the flag can be recovered, I'd like it back. But that's about it.

Minnie Torkler Update

I've been transcribing Minnie's diary for a few weeks now. Initially I thought it might be hard to get into it; however, I found that not doing it for a week because of the snow storms made me restless. I started looking up her and her family on the internet and found her in two Federal Census, two state census and a steam ship roster in 1925. So I have a bit of information of her and her family from 1900 to 1926 so far.

Her husband Fred has no occupation listed, she is listed as a House Wife and their son Fredy (sic) works for Harley Davidson Motor Cycle Co. She has an affiliation with a real estate company collecting rent and paying bills on a building in Manhattan.She makes frequennt trips to Manhattan via ferry and train. Minnie is also a social butterfly. Her memberships in various clubs are numerous. Also there are two adopted children living in the house hold.

The diary is getting interesting showing life in Rockland County in 1926. Will continue my internet search tomorrow.

ADDENDUM
 5:25 AM  February 22, 2014. I can't sleep so here is more Torkler family info. Fred Sr. Registered for the draft in September of 1918. Fred senior was stocky, blue eyes and brown hair. Fred jr. died in Haverstraw in 1967. Minnie's maiden name was Wortz they were married on January 26, 1896.............

Snow, More Snow and Birds!

We've had about 6 snow storms in 6 weeks, the last three pretty close together. I'm a bit nervous because there is about 2 feet of snow in the back yard so I am wondering about the pressure/stress on the flat roof of my house. Well, almost flat, it is about a 4 inch pitch. The roof is fairly new. We stripped down to the rafters (air) about 6 years ago and put new plywood and roofing membrane down. 

In the course of worrying about all this snow, I discovered something fun and interesting. We put a bird feeder up. I'm not an expert but we have identified Juncos, a female Cardinal, a Mourning Dove, sparrows, Chick-a-dees and a Tufted Titmouse. They are hilarious to watch. The drained the seed from the feeder pretty quick. At one point we had 40-50- birds flitting about. When it got low, a few of them actually perched on the Feeder arm as if to say "It's time for a refill."  The snow was so deep, I could barely get the back door open, but finally managed it and we refilled the feeder, they waited a bit then came back to feast some more. We have a bird book in the house somewhere, I'll have to find it and put it by the back window.

Teddy Roosevelt on Immigration

1919 Quote


"We should insist that if the immigrant who comes here does in good faith become an American and assimilates himself to us he shall be treated on an exact equality with every one else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed or birth-place or origin.

But this is predicated upon the man's becoming in very fact an American and nothing but an American. If he tries to keep segregated with men of his own origin and separated from the rest of America, then he isn't doing his part as an American. There can be no divided allegiance here. . . We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language, for we intend to see that the crucible turns our people out as Americans, of American nationality, and not as dwellers in a polyglot boarding-house; and we have room for but one soul loyalty, and that is loyalty to the American people."

Miscellaneous Stuff!!

Well. let's see. Me and my lovely wife Regina celebrated our 43rd Wedding anniversary on January 10th, also we are also going through a second round of empty nest syndrome because my youngest son was in an awkward position. He was the lone renter in a house as its lease expired. Since his other roomies moved on, he didn't want to assume the whole burden on his own, so he stayed with us while looking for a studio apartment. He was with us for about two months until he found an apartment to his liking. It was a real pleasure to have him back in the house again. I think we miss him now more than we did the first time he left.

Retirement agrees with me more and more, I  volunteer at the local Historical Society once a week and attend Civil War Round Table meetings monthly. It keeps the cobwebs out of my brain. For now, I don't think I want to add any more activities. Have to ease into all this fun you know, i don't know if I can stand it?  :-)

Who Is Minnie Torkler?

I've started off my stint as a volunteer at the Historical Society of Rockland County by transcribing the 1926 diary of Minnie Torkler. I've done two weeks so far. It's pretty interesting, a New Years Eve Dinner plate at the Hotel St. George in Nyack went for a whopping $4.00,

It appears that she and her husband Fred are landlords for several buildings in Manhattan since she makes references to several people not having hot water and she mentions bookkeeping a lot. I think this might be an interesting slice of life in 1926 as I delve deeper into the transcribing.