Exploring America State by State

Monthly Archives: November 2022

The Rocket at the Rest Area

Posted on by Posted in Alabama Leave a comment

I drove south into Alabama on Interstate 65. I had never been into the Cotton State before and as I was heading down the highway off in the distance I could see a tall white object standing near the roadside. As I got closer I could make out that it was a rocket and it had stabilizing ropes coming off the top. At first I thought it was an inflatable rocket like the Santas with inflated with the fans that you see during the holidays.

As I passed the sign for the upcoming rest area I got close enough to see how tall the rocket was and then I knew it was a real rocket. It did not surprise me since Huntsville and NASA was close by. It was a treat to stop at the rest area and get a close up view of a Saturn IB rocket.  The 224 foot tall rocket has been on display at the Alabama rest area and welcome center since 1979.

I love large mechanical things and I had to check out the historic rocket. I thought it was strange or maybe sad that I was the only one that walked over to it and admired it from close up. The parking lot was full of vehicles and travelers using the restrooms. Nobody seemed interested in the historic rocket. Maybe they were from around that part of the country and had seen it several times before or maybe it just did not interest them. To each their own I guess. I thought it was a magnificent thing to see and for Alabama to be proud of. If you are ever traveling thru Alabama I hope you will stop and check out the old rocket for yourself.

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Pursuit Of Happiness

Posted on by Posted in Ohio Leave a comment

I am fortunate and thankful that I am able to travel the United States. It is a wonderful thing that we set aside a day every year to reflect on the things we are thankful for. I wish things were better and I could travel more but I am grateful for the blessings in my life and the opportunities that I have been given. I also appreciate that you take the time to read my posts and are able to share in the places I explore. I hope that you are happy and healthy, and able to enjoy time with your family and friends.

P.S. If you are wondering I saw this old barn in south eastern Ohio.

Ohio’s Mechanical Monster

Posted on by Posted in Ohio Leave a comment

At one time, a giant monster roamed the hilly forests of southeastern Ohio. It was not Bigfoot or any other living creature but a massive mechanical one. It was built in 1967 to strip mine coal from the region. The largest dragline ever built, it was like an enormous crane that had a massive scooping bucket. Named the Big Muskie, it took more than 300 railcars and 250 trucks to haul the components to build it on site. It stood 240 feet tall, and the massive bucket could hold 325 tons of earth in one scoop.

The dragline worked twenty-four hours a day and seven days a week. By the early 1990s, it cost more to operate than the coal it produced, and Big Muskie finally retired. There were efforts to save it for a tourist attraction, but ultimately they failed and it was dismantled for scrap. The only thing that remains, and it is a really large thing, is the bucket it once used. It now stands at a roadside park on Ohio State Route 78 near Jesse Owens State Park. Visitors can climb inside the enormous bucket to see and feel how large it is.

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Lost In Ohio Book Winner

Posted on by Posted in Ohio Leave a comment

Thank you to everyone that posted a comment to enter my Lost In Ohio book Giveaway. it was wonderful to read so many nice and supportive comments. I wish I could send each of you a book but unfortunately I don’t make that much money from my books sales. I want to congratulate Lois Gompers Cobb. She was chosen at random from all the comments. Please email me with your shipping info to huronphoto@gmail.com so I can send out your book.

Thank you again, If you would like to purchase a book they are available on Amazon HERE

I have plenty more posts coming from around the country and I am currently working on Lost In Indiana and hope to have it available in the spring.

 

 

Richloam General Store

Posted on by Posted in Florida Leave a comment

This old general store stands in the Withlacoochee State Forest east of Ridge Manor. The Richloam General Store once held the post office for the small town of Richloam. In 1921, the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad (ACL) decided to relocate its depot in Riverland to Richloam. Soon after, in 1922, Postmaster Lucius Sidney “Sid” Brinson moved the Riverland Post Office to the growing community of Richloam and opened a general store. The store and post office operated until the late 1930s, when the Great Depression forced the railroad to close the depot. In 1936, Brinson closed the store and post office and relocated to Sarasota. He rented the building as a residence to the Mills family until the 1950s. After sitting vacant until 1973, Brinson’s nephew, John Brinson, acquired the property. John Brinson’s son, Eric Burkes renovated the general store and reopened it in 2016. It still operates as a store and a nice place to stop while on a road trip exploring the back roads of Florida.

 

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Indiana Ghost House

Posted on by Posted in Houses, Indiana Leave a comment

I was traveling through Indiana to the Initial Point in the Hoosier National Forest. 37 was closed at a bridge and I was detoured down winding Forest back roads. I came across a big old house and stopped to get a pic. I noticed someone or something was looking back at me from the window. I realized it was a sheet tied over a ball. I guess someone has a sense of humor.

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Lost In Ohio Book Giveaway

Posted on by Posted in Florida 5 Comments

here is an opportunity for you to win a copy of my new book Lost In Ohio. It is full of interesting places and stories from the Buckeye State and available on Amazon HERE

I hope you will take a look at my new book. Whether you from Ohio or not, it is full of interesting stories from early American history to strange places that I think anyone who loves American history of fun facts will find fascinating.

For a chance to win a book, just post a friendly comment below.

The winner will be selected at random from the comments and the name will be given in a post on Tuesday November 15th, and I will send the winner their book in the mail.

Thank you for taking the time to read my posts and good luck.

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Washington Island Stavkirke

Posted on by Posted in Autumn, Churches, Wisconsin Leave a comment

Washington Island sits off the tip of Wisconsin’s Door Peninsula. At the heart of the island is the Stavkirke. It is a modern building but it was constructed to replicate old Norse Christian churches. It was constructed in the late 1980s using timber harvested from the Island. It has twelve 18 foot tall pine posts or “staves” for supports. The building is contructed entirely out of wood and has 9600 wooden shingles on the roof.

The beautiful church was funded and constructed by Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church which stands across the street. James Reiff, who was the acting pastor of Trinity Evangelical Lutheran church proposed building the Norse Church to honor the Scandinavian heritage of Washington Island

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