Much of my life revolves around history. I get to teach World History to 7th grade students at my local Junior High School in Oregon. I have written articles, lesson plans, and assisted with research at the New Netherland institute in New York. For the past year and a half, I have served as the director of the East Linn Historical Museum. The last several months have brought opportunities to participate in multiple presentations to the public about the local history of the area I live in.
After attending some of my discussions, a local radio station invited me to do three live history shows at their station. The beginning show is about the Santiam Wagon Road, the first passageway over the Cascade Mountains from the Willamette Valley in the 1800s. It is filled with stories of pioneers, exploration, roadhouses, and an automobile race.
Next up is a brief summary about the Kalapuya Tribes that resided in the Willamette Valley when pioneers began to arrive from the East Coast. Their organization, social structure, and agriculture are unique and fascinating. Details of how these tribes lived, what they ate, and the extent of their trade is also discussed.
Finally, there is a tour of the East Linn Museum which includes discussions of objects in the museum related to early schools on the area, the Civil War, medicine and other unique items.
These shows are available to listen to, simply follow the instructions listed below:
- Go to KGAL Radio (Lebanon, Oregon)
- Use the pull down menu under PROGRAMMING and select VALLEY TALK
- Select RECENT VALLEY TALK SHOWS (MP3 AUDIO)
- Choose a date:
4/17/17 Santiam Wagon Road
4/27/17 Kalapuya Tribes (start at around 19:45)
5/11/17 East Linn Museum tour
- You may also click on the link below and select the dates listed above.
- Enjoy!
http://www.kgal.com/valley-talk-shows
Wednesday, August 9, 2017
Tuesday, March 7, 2017
Who Cares about History?
I have to admit, I am a bit over the top when it comes to
history. I teach Jr. High history, I read books about history, I teach
community classes about history, I watch movies about history, I write about
history, and I am the director of our local history museum. That being said, I
have noted a disturbing trend leading people away from studying history. In the
schools, there has always been an emphasis placed on testing and this idea
continues, especially in the areas of math and reading. Sometimes middle school
students who are behind in math and reading skills are removed from history
classes until they reach high school. I don’t have anything against math and
reading, and I understand that some view test scores as an indicator of
success, test scores are linked to funding, and thus the emphasis on reading
and math.
I recently read an old journal written in the late 1800s by
a schoolteacher from the small town I live in. I was interested to read what
school was like over 100 years ago and quickly noticed state tests were given
then also. The state test topics the teacher prepared her students for in the
late 1800s were Arithmetic, History and Oregon History. I was shocked at this,
and the idea that students were tested over two types of history was
magnificent. Why was history emphasized as a vital part of learning then, but
so easily brushed aside today? I don’t have an answer. At the beginning of each
school year, I am reminded that history often does not have a big fan base. I
hear my students say history does not matter because it happened so long ago
and everyone is dead anyway. When I hear this, I am always quick to remind my
students, that this is their future as well, and they had better think about
the legacy they will leave.
The filmmaker Ken Burns said, “The great arrogance of the
present is to forget the intelligence of the past.” As society moves forward
and improves, people sometimes discredit those who came before, thinking that
somehow their predecessors lacked intelligence because they did not have our
technology. However, those before us, lived with what they had and created
better things as they went, just like we do today. The dates were different but
the general issues are the same.
A line from a song by the Dixie Chicks reminds us, “Who do
we become, without knowing where we started from?” It is critical to
understand the path taken by those before us who got us to where we are today.
We have connections to the past that cannot be broken, even if we are ignorant
of them; they are still a part of us. Time does not travel in straight lines,
but in circles, and these circles connect to others to make patterns that are
often repeated throughout history. When we can identify and understand these
connections we are privy to amazing insights - ideas that can only be learned
by studying history.
Discover the joy of getting to know people who lived before you. Study what they learned during their lives, how they influenced their own circles of history, and how their circle connected to other ones. The great historian David McCullough challenged us, “Because you were born into a particular era doesn’t mean it has to be the limit of your experience. Move about in time, go places. Why restrict your circle of acquaintances to only those who occupy the same stage we call the present?” (Brave Companions, 223) You don’t have to look very far to find hero from the past, common people who lived unbelievable lives. They may have only influenced a few people while they were here, but their influence can continue to inspire us today if we take the time to learn about them. When we explore the lives of people from the past, we realize they still have lessons we can learn from, and ideas we can aspire to. Take some time to learn about people who lived before you, how they handled challenges and successes, and what they struggled to achieve. They may have lived a very long time ago but you will quickly see that they are more similar to you than you think.
Sunday, January 1, 2017
Reading Only Three Things
I was reading a book about archeological work done
in New Netherland and it mentioned a related book. A young man, Daniel M.
Tredwell, who lived in New York, wrote this additional resource. The book,
“Personal Reminiscences of Men and Things on Long Island - Part One,” was
published in 1912. I planned to quickly read through the book and get to the
archeological parts, but once I started reading I could not stop. The
perspective and insights about life in the United States during the late 1800s
was riveting. Daniel's book was not written to impress anyone; it was simply a
journal about what he observed while growing up. He lived at a time before
kindling wood, anthracite coal, gas, friction matches, canned fruit, sewing
machines, typewriters, telegraphs, mail, railroads, policemen, cigarettes,
blotting paper, and steel pans. He said it was a time when “everybody was happy
and content.”
One thing that interested me was the value his
family placed on education. There were not a lot of literary resources where
Daniel lived, and he mentioned only three things he and his family read
regularly. First was the newspaper; his family received two different
subscriptions each week delivered by a stage driver. One was The Long Island
Telegraph and Friend of Education, and the other was The Long Island
Farmer, published in Jamaica. Daniel’s family looked forward to this
delivery since it was their “weekly supply of literature and information from
the outside world.”
A second piece of reading the Tredwell Family
enjoyed was the Farmer’s Almanac, which hung prominently in the chimney corner
of their living room. They consulted this piece of literature often to: verify
times of the rising and setting of the sun and moon, check tides, and predict
the seasons for the coming year. The last part of the almanac had a list of
chronological historic events beginning with the Garden of Eden and progressing
to the current date. Additionally, the almanac included medical advice and
recipes. The Tredwell family pursued scientific and historical occupations
later in life and I can’t help but think this book was a major influence in
those decisions.
The most interesting piece of literature the
Tredwell family read was a manuscript they referred to as the “Old Farm Diary”
- it came with the house they lived in. Daniel said it “had been about our
house from our earliest recollection.” It was made up of approximately sixty pages,
with the first and last pages missing. The faded, brown ink filled the pages
and many of the corners were worn off but Daniel noted the “penmanship was a
masterpiece of excellence.” The "Old Farm Diary" covered a period
from 1720 - 1744 and described matters related to the farm the Tredwells lived
on. The people that wrote the diary made trips to Sag Harbor and the Hamptons
on horseback. About these journeys, Daniel recorded, “The[se] trips constituted
a great travel in our mind at the time and we read them over and over with the
utmost delight.” The people who had previously lived in the home were the
Tredwell's ancestors and this manuscript was a few generations removed from
them. Daniel's father recognized the neighbors and slaves mentioned on its’
pages from stories his father shared with him. After reading through this
document for years, Daniel went back to look up some facts but it was gone. No
one remembered the day it disappeared it was simply not there.
One idea stayed with Daniel and his siblings from
reading the “Old Farm Diary.” Daniel claimed the old manuscript “made a lasting
impression on our mind and our first unfledged literary efforts were made in
imitation of it, and we made a resolution early in life to write a diary of the
events of our lives.” Daniel’s attempts to write a journal like the one he grew
up reading started out a bit patchy but his published journal ended up being
two volumes and recorded his life from 1838 to 1888 - nearly fifty years.
I have thought of so many questions
since contemplating Daniel’s small library. First, I am impressed with how what
we read is a real influence in our lives. I am also extremely intrigued about
the “Old Farm Diary.” How could it just not be there one day? What a treasure
to come with a house and was this a common practice? I know people kept records
in family bibles but I had never heard of a journal of a house being kept.
Reading from Daniel's journal about the way people thought, what the inventions
were, and how their views changed are fascinating.
So like Daniel, I hope you would take
a minute each day and write about the events and thoughts about your own life.
Describe your iPhone, your favorite app, how you get to work, what you think
about current events, and what interests you. When someone reads it 70 years
from now they will be amazed that you could even do anything with such basic
technology and find it unbelievable what you worried about in your daily life.
Just as I felt when I read Daniel’s words, your words will also be riveting, as
your readers discover what your life was like - they won’t be able to stop
reading.
Monday, November 14, 2016
A Change in Trajectory
Each day is filled with decisions, some more important than
others. Sometimes we don't realize that choices we make may cause our situation
to head in an entirely different direction. A tiny shift can totally change the
trajectory of our lives. These pivotal decisions may be part of our daily
routine, which can alter our lives and what we contribute to the world.
The musical performer Sting had one of these simple, yet
life-changing experiences. As a young boy, he lived near a small port in
England, in the “shadow of a shipyard.” It was a town that had built some of
the largest sea going vessels in the world. For generations, the people living
there did the same thing: they worked in the shipyards and struggled to make
ends meet. Once an important ship was completed it was christened, and usually
members of the royal family attended the celebration. On one such occasion, Sting’s
small town hosted the official gathering. He had attended these events before.
As usual, his mother made him wear his Sunday best and stand on the sidewalk
waving the British flag in his hand. As a young boy, Sting sensed the
excitement in the air and watched as the motorcade steadily approached,
carrying the Queen Mother. As her vehicle drove by, Sting waved with enthusiasm
and smiled. Just as he did, the Queen made eye contact with him and smiled and
waved back. He said at that moment he was infected with the idea that he wanted
a bigger life. One that was out of the ordinary and different from what his
family had known for generations. Because he attended that one event as a young
boy, Sting was introduced to an idea that altered the rest of his life. He
began to think outside of the box on what he could do with his life and his
trajectory changed from that day forward.
Neil deGrasse Tyson also had an experience that adjusted the
direction of his life. Today Tyson is a well-known astrophysicist and the
director of the Hayden Planetarium in New York. When he was first getting
started as a young man from the Bronx, Tyson was interested in astronomy and
applied to attend Ithaca at Cornell for his first year of study. Carl Sagan,
then a successful astrophysicist, noticed Tyson’s application and invited him
to spend the day with him. What an opportunity for Tyson! The two of them spent
the day touring astronomy faculties, and that evening, Sagan gave Tyson the
book, “The Cosmic Connection” and signed it, “to a future astronomer.” It was a
cold, snowy December evening in New York when Sagan drove Tyson back to the bus
station to go home. Sagan wrote his phone number on a scrap of paper and gave
it to Tyson telling him to call if the bus couldn’t get through the storm.
Tyson already knew that he wanted to study astronomy, but something changed
during the day he spent with Carl Sagan. The kindness and interest Sagan showed
Tyson, changed his idea of what kind of scientist he would be and he recognized
the importance of including people in science and not just facts.
Russell Shorto is a journalist, best-selling author, and
historian who had a question that changed his life. He lived in New York and
routinely took his daughter to an old churchyard at St. Mark’s-in-the Bowery.
It had a lawn filled with large sycamore trees, a perfect place for a young
child to run and get some fresh air. Each day as his daughter played there,
Shorto looked at the tombstones that filled the old churchyard. One stood out
more than the others; it belonged to Peter Stuyvesant one of the leaders of the
early settlement in New Netherland in the 1600s. Shorto’s mind began to
question what the original settlement was like. He followed this idea, which
led him to a man named Charles Gehring. Shorto learned from Gehring that where
his daughter played each day was once the Dutch Colony of New Netherland and Peter
Stuyvesant had been one of the directors there. This meeting with Gehring led
Shorto to an obsession to learn all he could about the colony and he eventually
wrote, “The Island at the Center of the World” about this location.
Shorto also became actively involved in the New Netherland Institute
(whose director is Charles Gehring), and has taught the public about New
Netherland ever since. Shorto’s solitary question led him to an area of history
he knew little about and now he successfully shares that knowledge with the
world.
I could go on with examples of people who have made a
drastic change in their lives because of one small decision. In many of these instances
the people ended up being successful in their individual lives, and then
sharing their newfound knowledge with all who would pay attention. Their change
in trajectory ended up being a chain reaction, which led others to alter their
paths also. As you go about your normal day be aware of questions that come to
your mind or ideas that you have. Keep them bouncing around in your head and
see if they eventually become one of those pivotal decisions which will send
you in an entirely different direction.
------------
http://www.ted.com/talks/sting_how_i_started_writing_songs_again#t-834662
Monday, October 3, 2016
Ultra light Hikers from the Past
If you follow trends in backpacking you are aware that ultra
light backpacking is what many hikers are trying to achieve today. To
accomplish this, hikers bring the lightest possible backpack equipment so they
can journey longer and faster. As a result, backpacking equipment is made from
lighter materials and hikers often use tricks to take weight from their packs
such as drilling holes in the handles of their forks and making stoves out of
soda cans. Today people work extremely hard and go to great expenses to earn
the designation of being an ultra light backpacker. Looking to the past, it is
interesting to see that people moved about the world as ultra light travelers
without quite so much expense, planning, and preparation as we do today.
One example is Otzi the Iceman who was an ultra light traveler
from Europe. He crossed the Austrian Alps but was killed on his journey by
other travelers in the area. In 1991, his 5,300-year-old body was discovered on
a glacier by some hikers. Otzi’s gear included a few tools and weapons, a piece
of fungus on a leather string (his first aid kit) and two birch bark
containers. One of these containers was blackened inside and had the remains of
items that had been burnt. This was Otzi’s charcoal, which he carried around
with him so he could easily start fires when he set up camp each night. Otzi
traveled across extremely difficult terrain with only a few items carried on
his belt and across his back because that is all he really needed to survive. The
only expense for these items was the time and effort he put into crafting them.
One of my favorite ultra light explorers is Ernest Shackleton.
His story is one too amazing to be believed. He and 27 men left for Antarctica
the day after World War I began. Their ship, The Endurance, was trapped and later crushed in the Antarctic ice
and they were without any communication from the outside world because of the
war. To rescue his men, Shackleton and his crew sailed to Elephant Island where
he left most them under the care of his trusted friend, Frank Wilde. While these
men were left at Elephant Island, Shackleton and five of the men sailed 800
miles across the ocean to South Georgia Island. They went there to find a whaling
station to acquire a ship large enough to rescue the men left on Elephant
Island. However, once they reach South Georgia Island, they landed on the opposite
side of where the whaling station was located because they had survived a hurricane
the previous night in their small boat. After setting up a makeshift camp, Shackleton
and two of the five men, left at 2:00 a.m. and made a 36-hour journey across
the island to reach help. They traveled ultra light through crevasses, up and
down mountain ranges, and endured extreme cold because they were too exhausted
to carry much and were nearly out of supplies. In the end, they repelled down
through an icy waterfall to get to the area where the whaling village was. On
this short but grueling journey Shackleton and his two companions only brought
a pickax, a small stove, a logbook, a rope, and some powdered milk. This
incredible ultra light adventure has not gone unnoticed by climbers and
adventures today. A few teams have attempted to humbly recreate the lifesaving
journey that Shackleton and his men took. They were successful but had to use a
lot of climbing equipment to make it.
Another traveler, John Muir always comes to mind when thinking
about ultra light backpacking. When he took off across the country, he put bread,
tea, sugar, and a tin cup in a blanket and set off. Muir mainly ate bread on his
hikes, which he dried so it would not get moldy. He never brought a gun on his
wilderness excursions and did not hunt so he often hiked with a calorie deficit.
Today the trail that John Muir often hiked is 210 miles long and has an
elevation change of 80,000 feet. This would not be a journey to be weighed down
with too many supplies, however Muir’s provisions seem a bit scanty.
In today’s busy world, looking to the past gives us critical
insights as to how we could be more minimalist and ultra light in our lives. Many
people from long ago did not plan out carefully what they would have with them
on their daily journeys, they simply used what was available to them and they
survived. Technology and inventions are wonderful but sometimes the best option
is to grab what you have, put it in a blanket and enjoy an adventure.
Thursday, September 10, 2015
10 Reasons why the Dutch and Their Bicycles are a Thing
Introduction
When people hear the word “Dutch”
they think of windmills, wooden shoes, tulips and of course bicycles. In the
Netherlands, people of all ages are on bicycles and it’s not just an activity
for the fit, young guys or a cycling subculture. Riding bikes starts very early
in the Netherlands, so are Dutch infant’s first memories of handlebars and the
backseats of bicycles? Possibly, because in the Netherlands biking is not a singular
event, it is just how it is – no matter what the distance, time of day or the
amount of rain that is falling.
10. A Common Mode of Transportation
A quick look at the geography of the
Netherlands makes it obvious that the land is nearly entirely flat. And for
those of us who have pushed and grunted to get up a hill on our bikes, an even
path is quite inviting. Take a look at their neighbor, Germany. This is also a
relatively flat country but biking never took off in Germany like it did in the
Netherlands. A lot of this had to do with the attitude of the people. While the
Germans saw cycling as a way for the common laborer to get around, the Dutch
viewed biking as a reflection of themselves: hardworking, determined and ambitious.
If
you live in a car-centered country and don’t quite believe the universal use of
bicycles in the Netherlands, take a look at the city of Amsterdam, its
population is approximately 800,000 and it has about 880,000 bikes.
9. A Safe Way to Travel
Since children in the Netherlands
start riding bikes before they are old enough to go to school, they experience
what it is like to be an active part of traffic. In the Netherlands, those
driving cars do not usually steer dangerously close to bicyclists or honk at
them for being on the road because at one time or another, they have been
riding a bicycle in traffic so they have empathy for those on bicycles. To increase
the safety of this mode of travel, elementary students have classes in school each
year to help them understand traffic laws and how to maneuver in traffic.
Biking is not only physically safe in
the Netherlands, but it increases the health and well being of the Dutch. If
you are on a bike you are spared from being sneezed on in the subway. In
addition, the Dutch are physically active every single day. This cuts down
substantially on the amount spent on health care in the Netherlands because people
generally stay healthy longer. It is not uncommon to see a 4-year-old riding
alongside an eighty-four year old.
8. It’s a way of life
In the Netherlands, the bicycle is
the best way to get from Point A to Point B whether that point is school, work
or running errands. Instead of getting in a car to pick up a gallon of milk,
the Dutch ride their bike - that is just how it is in the Netherlands. Approximately
70% of all journeys (7.5 km or less) are made on bikes in the Netherlands. Many
Dutch businesses even have company bicycles instead of company cars.
Since bicycles are how the Dutch get
about, the traffic scene doesn’t change once it starts to rain or it gets colder.
Many children in other parts of the world seem to think they will melt if they
get rained on. As a result, when the rains come, they are driven to school in
cars while their bikes are abandoned until the sun comes out again. The Dutch
would never think of doing this. In the Netherlands, an added bonus of riding a
bike to school is that student’s alertness lasts throughout most of the morning
because of the exercise they have had getting to school.
7. Dutch Bicycles and Dutch Cyclists
Commuting looks different with the Dutch
and their 13 million bicyclists. First of all, they view spandex shorts and
helmets as unnecessary items for biking. The idea of not wearing a bike helmet
would make many cyclists, outside of the Netherlands cringe. However, consider
the fact that most of Dutch transportation is done on bicycles, which is a
slower way to move than riding alongside a ton of speeding metal. The cars that
maneuver the streets of the Netherlands move much more slowly and give bicycles
the right of way.
The Dutch have a few items to keep
them comfortable when they ride. For the wet months, they have specially
designed pants that will keep the top parts of their legs dry. They also have
bicycle ponchos that cover the rider and extend out to cover the handlebars as
well. But be careful what you do with the puddle of water that accumulates on
the poncho between you and the handlebars - there is an art to this.
Also, Dutch bicycles are different
because they are usually not geared and often come with back pedal brakes. A
warning to those visiting the Netherlands, don’t try to use your non-existent
handbrakes to stop or you might find yourself in a pile of bicycles and cyclists.
6. Some Bike Paths provide Solar
Power
A recent innovation in the
Netherlands are their solar powered bicycle paths. SolaRoad builds these paths and
they are made up of sections of cement with solar panels built into them. The
power from these bicycle roads is channeled to the national energy grid. The
panels are skid proof, and strong enough to hold up under the daily traffic of thousands
of bicyclists. One section of the solar path (230 feet) produces enough energy
to provide 2-3 homes with power for an entire year. It makes one wonder if the Dutch
even have a carbon footprint?
5. Bicycles during World War I
During World War I, the Netherlands
remained neutral. They suffered numerous shortages during this time but their
country remained a peaceful place. During this time of scarcity, bicycles were
used in the Netherlands because of their reliability as a way of getting from
place to place. They were also very affordable during a time when the people
did not have a lot of extra money. So during World War I bicycling caught on in
the Netherlands, and the Dutch began to build an infrastructure to support all
the bicycles that wheeled through the cities each day. As a result, bicycles
soon had their own system of signs, paths and bridges that were separate from
cars.
4. Continuing Infrastructure
The Dutch continued to support the
modest and unassuming ways of the bicycle as they built the infrastructures of
their cities. In the 1920s, a law was made that each house built, had to have a
shed with rear access to store bicycles.
So while Americans were building sizeable garages at the front of their
homes for their gas-powered vehicles, the Dutch were building tiny, little
sheds out back to wheel their bicycles in each evening after work.
During the 1970s the Dutch continued
to build their roads and cities around a bike-centered way of life, they even
made their historic sites and city centers inaccessible to motor vehicles. Once
the infrastructure was set up, the maintenance of these roads were much less
expensive than countries that used their streets for cars.
3. A Different Kind of Rush Hour
Rush hour traffic in the Netherlands
is a walk in the park compared to big city traffic jams that last for hours in large
American cities. In comparison, it is necessary to describe rush hour in the
Netherlands so it can even be recognized as such. For example, during rush hour
in Amsterdam, a city of over 800,000, the streets are filled with hundreds of people
in casual clothes riding their bicycles home from work. To someone who is new
to the Netherlands, you may hold your breath as you watch hundreds of bicycles
weave in and out of one another’s path. Although it may seem a bit chaotic, the
traffic is continually moving and no one is left endlessly waiting in line for
their turn to move through traffic. During this time, some cyclists are stopped
at the store to buy groceries, while other ride side-by-side talking to each
other. Cycling in the Netherlands is a very natural, safe and, relaxed way to
get about.
2. Bicycle Warfare
During World War I while the Germans
fought and built up machinery to inflict destruction and death upon their
enemies, the Dutch stayed out of the war. Then in May of 1940, during World War
II, things changed when the Germans attacked the Netherlands and this gave the
Dutch no other choice but to join the war. Since the Dutch had lived a peaceful
existence during World War I, they hadn’t put any effort towards building
weapons of any kind, like the Germans had. So after the Dutch joined World War
II, some of them went to war on their bicycles armed with guns with bayonets on
the end. You have to really give the Dutch credit for bravery here. Imagine
going up against a tank and machine guns on a bicycle with a bayonet – go Dutch
people!
1. The Healthy Highway
One of the newest bicycle roads
built in the Netherlands is the Greenport Bikeway, also called the Healthy
Highway. It is a bicycle road that is good for the environment, the people, and
the animals in the area. It helps the environment because 15,000 people use it
each day to get to work on their bicycles, cutting down on their carbon
footprint. It is helpful to the people of the Netherlands because they have a
more efficient way to get to work and will be healthier and happier for
continuing to commute to work on their bicycles.
It is helpful to some of the animals
in the area because it is a bat friendly path. How many times have you
considered whether or not you are using a bat friendly path as you go to work? The
path uses “bat-friendly” lighting and the Dutch have planted 500 fruit trees
along this bicycle road to help the bats and other mammals. These trees provide
shade for people who want to stop and visit on their way home from work, and fruit
for hungry bikers and for the bats. The trees are also helpful to badgers and
other small mammals that ramble around at night and eat the fruit that has
fallen to the ground from the trees.
So remember,
the next time you need to grab something from the store, leave your car behind;
pump up your bicycle tires, take a deep breath and bike like the Dutch.
---------------------
I found this
topic interesting because my husband and I commute together to work everyday on
our bicycles. There are no huge crowds of cyclist as there are in the
Netherlands when we ride; it’s just the two of us with a lot of people hurrying
to work in their cars.
As an extra
addition to this post I wanted to share a video of what bicycling looks like in
the Netherlands. It is impressive to watch the unbelievable amount of Dutch bicyclists
weaving in and out of one another’s path. Enjoy!
Sources:
https://bicycledutch.wordpress.com/2011/10/20/how-the-dutch-got-their-cycling-infrastructure/
http://residentalien.co/2012/05/20/soldiers-on-bikes/
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