Since Spring Break we've been attending quite a few artistic endeavors. They've all been impressive in their own ways and have offered us diverse entertainment.
We went down to Playmakers at UNC to see a staged reading of The Train Driver written by Athol Fugard which starred John Beasley and Treat Williams. Both actors have had extensive careers, Mr. Williams having been nominated for 4 Golden Globes, an Emmy, and has won two Theatre Guild Awards. The play is about a white South African train driver who runs over a black woman and her baby when they step in front of the train he is driving. He goes to a black cemetery looking for the woman's grave and there meets a black grave digger. The play revolves around their developing relationship and the train drivers quest for some sort of closure. It is an interesting play which deals with hope, despair, humanity, and understanding. Just when you think there is a resolution, the play ends with - well I won't tell you just in case . .
The performance was made special by the presence of Mr. Fugard who participated in a "talk-back" after the performance. In his 80s, Mr. Fugard was energetic and engaging. He answered questions from the audience and discussed the play with the actors. When asked about the ending, he merely said that he hopes all his plays leaves his audiences a bit unsettled and thinking. We was extremely complimentary of the actors, saying that he just writes the words, it's the actors who bring the characters to life. I usually find talk-backs a waste of time. You generally hear the same stupid questions - "How did you learn all those lines?"(In this case how did you learn the accent? - the fact that the program listed a dialect coach was obviously lost to the questioner.) or someone is so impressed with their own intelligence they make statements rather than ask questions. Anyway, this talk-back was truly rewarding.
For 50 years The Durham Savoyards have been producing and performing Gilbert and Sullivan musicals. We attended their presentation of Iolanthe and came away impressed. The play is a bit bizarre featuring fairies and politicians, but the company seemed to be having fun and we were entertained. They tried to give it an updating - actors carried on conversations via cellphone(didn't work) - politicians were from two parties one wearing blue ties the other wearing red ties(did work). The voices were strong and a full orchestra accompanied them. It is surprising how the political commentary and the skewering the politicians done by Gilbert and Sullivan in this musical remains timely.
For the first time in as long as anyone can remember, the Duke Theater Studies Dept., Music Dept., Dance Dept., and Hoof n Horn(Duke student runs musical club) worked together to stage a show. They presented the musical Ragtime and did a bang-up job. It was by far the most professional production we've seen on campus in our three years here. I had never seen the musical before(Nan had seen it on Broadway) and was moved by the production. Particularly strong performances were offered by Alessandra DiMona as "mother", Sam Caywood as "Tateh", Dominique Barnes as "Sarah". The blend of the voices between Ms. DiMona, Mr. Caywood, and Tyler Pease as "father" in the number "Journey On" was excellent. The scene in the second act between Ms. DiMona and Mr. Caywood built around the song "Our Children" was outstanding. There are moments when actors can draw the audience into their world, their emotions, and their thoughts - That song was one of them. Great work to all!
It's sad that I have to admit this, but I never saw a live production of a Shakespeare play until I met Nan. Since then I must have seen 10 or more. The most recent foray into Shakespeare's world was in seeing a production of Titus Andronicus. If you're not familiar with Titus, I'm not surprised. It's not done very often as it has a rather high body count(most of whom are killed on stage). Our good friend Jenna Lenox played Tamora, the evil Goth Queen. It was an interesting production staged in an old textile mill. The audience followed the action by moving from scene to scene through a 180 foot long section of the mill. The director did a nice job of taking the original script and paring it down and finding a good through line. The plot was very accessible - revenge it's central theme. The body count ends when Tamora is suffocated in a meat pie composed on the ground-up bodies of her son, the emperor kills Titus, who is then killed by Titus son. As they lay in a pile downstage, life goes on and Titus son becomes Emperor. Some strong performances by Tom Marriott as Titus, Chris Burner as Saturninus, and of course Jenna.
Sunday, April 15, 2012
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Catching Up - Part II
The second day of our trip to Petersburg consisted of driving the 33 mile road which basically follows the earthwork lines of the opposing forces all the way to the Five Forks Battlefield, the western most site which is part of the park. Along the way we passed the remains of a number of trenches, embankments, and forts.
The picture above is of a site which was known as Fort Fisher. It was the largest earthwork fortification on the Petersburg front. On April 2, 1865 Union forces assaulted the Confederate lines just west of Fort Fisher and achieved a breakthrough.
Just to the southeast of Fort Fisher is the Poplar Grove National Cemetery which was established in 1866 for Union soldiers who died during the Petersburg and Appomattox campaigns. It is the location of the Western Front Visitors Center which is open only during the summer.
As fate would have it, when we reached the Five Forks Battlefield Visitors Center the ranger at that location is assigned to Poplar Grove during the summer. She had some great stories about the cemetery. One of the strangest has to do with the grave markers. Originally national cemeteries were under the supervision of the army, but in the 1930s they were transferred to the National Park Service. Funds were not forthcoming to keep the cemeteries in good condition. The Superintendent of Poplar Grove decided to cut the granite markers in half and place the remaining granite face up lying flat on the ground. He then sold the other half of the markers to a local businessman to build a house. The result of this "brilliant" decision is that the markers, lying face-up in the ground, have weathered poorly.
Along the way to Five Forks we came upon a small area called the White Oak Road Battlefield owned and maintained by the Civil War Preservation Trust. The trust raises money to obtain and maintain Civil War battle sites outside the boundaries of the national parks. The Trust had constructed a half mile loop trail with displays that explain the White Oak Road battle. It was very well done and gave us a chance to walk the dogs and enjoy a beautiful Spring day.
Our last stop was the Five Forks Battlefield. In this battle the Union forces were able to capture the South Side Railroad which was the last remaining rail line supplying Petersburg. The Union was led by Philip Sheridan. George Pickett was in command of the Confederates. It seems that at the time of the Union assault Pickett had withdrawn from the front lines to have a lunch of shad some two miles behind the lines. One of the Union leaders was George Armstrong Custer. The battlefield featured a new visitors center and some wonderful forest trails. We took a 1 1/2 mile hike to a pond that was a bird sanctuary.
One of the things we didn't do on this trip was to visit downtown Petersburg, which despite the siege and shelling still retains a number of Civil War era buildings including a Siege Museum and Farmers Bank Museum. The is a 68-stop auto tour of Civil War Petersburg that we'll catch next trip.
The picture above is of a site which was known as Fort Fisher. It was the largest earthwork fortification on the Petersburg front. On April 2, 1865 Union forces assaulted the Confederate lines just west of Fort Fisher and achieved a breakthrough.
Just to the southeast of Fort Fisher is the Poplar Grove National Cemetery which was established in 1866 for Union soldiers who died during the Petersburg and Appomattox campaigns. It is the location of the Western Front Visitors Center which is open only during the summer.
As fate would have it, when we reached the Five Forks Battlefield Visitors Center the ranger at that location is assigned to Poplar Grove during the summer. She had some great stories about the cemetery. One of the strangest has to do with the grave markers. Originally national cemeteries were under the supervision of the army, but in the 1930s they were transferred to the National Park Service. Funds were not forthcoming to keep the cemeteries in good condition. The Superintendent of Poplar Grove decided to cut the granite markers in half and place the remaining granite face up lying flat on the ground. He then sold the other half of the markers to a local businessman to build a house. The result of this "brilliant" decision is that the markers, lying face-up in the ground, have weathered poorly.
Along the way to Five Forks we came upon a small area called the White Oak Road Battlefield owned and maintained by the Civil War Preservation Trust. The trust raises money to obtain and maintain Civil War battle sites outside the boundaries of the national parks. The Trust had constructed a half mile loop trail with displays that explain the White Oak Road battle. It was very well done and gave us a chance to walk the dogs and enjoy a beautiful Spring day.
Our last stop was the Five Forks Battlefield. In this battle the Union forces were able to capture the South Side Railroad which was the last remaining rail line supplying Petersburg. The Union was led by Philip Sheridan. George Pickett was in command of the Confederates. It seems that at the time of the Union assault Pickett had withdrawn from the front lines to have a lunch of shad some two miles behind the lines. One of the Union leaders was George Armstrong Custer. The battlefield featured a new visitors center and some wonderful forest trails. We took a 1 1/2 mile hike to a pond that was a bird sanctuary.
One of the things we didn't do on this trip was to visit downtown Petersburg, which despite the siege and shelling still retains a number of Civil War era buildings including a Siege Museum and Farmers Bank Museum. The is a 68-stop auto tour of Civil War Petersburg that we'll catch next trip.
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Catching Up - Part I
For those 3 or 4 of you that actually check in on this blog, I apologize for not posting in awhile. We've been busy and I've been lazy. The combination is deadly to blogging. Since my last entry we've continued to explore the area, gone on Spring Break, and attended various cultural events. I've been singing with the Eno River Unitarian Universalist Fellowship choir and am beginning to develop some friendships. Jeff and Jane from Sommers, NY, are also recent relocaters to Durham. Jeff and I have jogged and chatted together once a week. He in much better shape than I, but has been very amenable to walking when I need to(which unfortunately seems to be much more often than in the past). I ran a race here in Durham this past Saturday and finished almost two minutes slower than last years time. Admittedly it was a different course and it was raining, but it shows I still have a lot of work to do.
On Spring Break we took the dogs and went up to Petersburg(no "h"), Va. and explored the battlefield sites around that city. The battle for Petersburg actually started in June, 1864 when General U S. Grant attempted to capture the city, which was a railroad hub, and thereby cut off the Confederacy's ability to supply Lee's army in Richmond. The battles for Petersbug turned into a nine month "siege" of the city, which was ended when General Philip Sheridan's forces defeated General Pickett's(yes the same General Pickett) at the Battle of Five Forks.
The Petersburg National Battlefield Park consists of several specific sites: Grant's Headquarters, the Eastern Front, the Western Front, Five Forks, the Home Front in downtown Petersburg and a 33 mile long drive which generally follows the siege lines. Along those lines, there are physical remains of forts and artillery batteries where you can stop and view the siege up close.
The start of our exploration was Grant's Headquarters at City Point. This cabin located on the Appomattox Plantation(see below) was built in November 1864. Up until that time Grant had lived in a tent. It was part of a series of 22 log cabins erected for Grant and his staff. Grant's wife and his son Jesse stayed with him in the cabin during the last three months of the siege which ended in April, 1865.
The Appomattox Plantation stands at the confluence of the Appomattox River and James River. It was the home of Dr. Richard Eppes and his family until 1862 when Union gunboats came up the James River and convinced Dr. Eppes to move his family into Petersburg. During the siege it served as the offices for the U. S. Quartermaster and his staff. It now serves as a museum and Park Visitor Center. If I remember the brief tour properly, the house remained in the Eppes Family until turned over to the Park Service. Most of the furniture in the two restored rooms comes from the family and is original.
The driving tour starts at the Eastern Front Visitor Center where on June 15, 1864 the Union forces started their attack on Petersburg. Five railroads lines passed through the hub of Petersburg and brought supplies from the South which were then forwarded to Lee at Richmond for that city's defense. Grant decided that capturing Petersburg would quickly cause Richmond to fall. The Confederates were dug in along a defensive perimeter called the "Dimmock Line" which contained a number of artillery batteries. Confederate Battery Number 5 was captured by Union forces on the 15th. Like so many other battles in the Civil War, the Union forces failed to follow-up on their initial positive results and push straight into Petersburg. As a result, the opposing forces 'dug-in' and the siege started.
From the captured Confederate Battery Number 5, Union forces were able to lob mortar shells into Petersburg and the Confederate positions beyond the Appomattox River. They did this with huge mortars such as "The Dictator" - pictured below.
At Confederate Battery Number 9 the Park Service has reconstructed examples of siege fortification. The site itself was a stronghold captured by Black troops on the first day of the battle and converted into a Union "fort".
Throughout this portion of the park are trails that take you along thoroughfares used by the troops to move supplies from railroad sidings to the front lines. We were there on a beautiful Spring day and were able to hike several miles. We managed to tire out ourselves as well as the dogs.
The last major site in the Eastern Front portion of the Park is the site of the Battle of The Crater. On July 30, 1864 Union troops exploded 4 tons of dynamite in a tunnel they had dug under the Confederate lines in an attempt to create a hole in the Confederate line.
This section of the Union line was manned by miners from Pennsylvania. They hatched a plan to dig a tunnel to a point under the Confederate lines and then explode the TNT to cause the breach in the line that the Union could then pass through. This is the tunnel entrance where the miners started their tunnel.
As a kid I had a jigsaw puzzle which was based upon a painting of the Battle of the Crater. I had that picture in my mind as we approached The Crater. Much like my expectation regarding Devil's Den at Gettysburg, I found that actual site much smaller. It is hard to imagine that the union lost 4,000 men and the Confederates 1,500 in a space as small as the Crater.
Of course, over the years I assume much of the crater has filled in, but it still covers a relatively small area. Interestingly enough I recently read a Golf Magazine article about the fact that a golf course existed on this site until the 1930s. That course kept much of the military earthworks and used them as hazards.
We stayed in a dog-friendly motel which was just across the street and through the woods from the Crater site and in the morning were able to cut through the woods and visit the Crater on a still and beautiful Spring morning.
On Spring Break we took the dogs and went up to Petersburg(no "h"), Va. and explored the battlefield sites around that city. The battle for Petersburg actually started in June, 1864 when General U S. Grant attempted to capture the city, which was a railroad hub, and thereby cut off the Confederacy's ability to supply Lee's army in Richmond. The battles for Petersbug turned into a nine month "siege" of the city, which was ended when General Philip Sheridan's forces defeated General Pickett's(yes the same General Pickett) at the Battle of Five Forks.
The Petersburg National Battlefield Park consists of several specific sites: Grant's Headquarters, the Eastern Front, the Western Front, Five Forks, the Home Front in downtown Petersburg and a 33 mile long drive which generally follows the siege lines. Along those lines, there are physical remains of forts and artillery batteries where you can stop and view the siege up close.
The start of our exploration was Grant's Headquarters at City Point. This cabin located on the Appomattox Plantation(see below) was built in November 1864. Up until that time Grant had lived in a tent. It was part of a series of 22 log cabins erected for Grant and his staff. Grant's wife and his son Jesse stayed with him in the cabin during the last three months of the siege which ended in April, 1865.
The Appomattox Plantation stands at the confluence of the Appomattox River and James River. It was the home of Dr. Richard Eppes and his family until 1862 when Union gunboats came up the James River and convinced Dr. Eppes to move his family into Petersburg. During the siege it served as the offices for the U. S. Quartermaster and his staff. It now serves as a museum and Park Visitor Center. If I remember the brief tour properly, the house remained in the Eppes Family until turned over to the Park Service. Most of the furniture in the two restored rooms comes from the family and is original.
The driving tour starts at the Eastern Front Visitor Center where on June 15, 1864 the Union forces started their attack on Petersburg. Five railroads lines passed through the hub of Petersburg and brought supplies from the South which were then forwarded to Lee at Richmond for that city's defense. Grant decided that capturing Petersburg would quickly cause Richmond to fall. The Confederates were dug in along a defensive perimeter called the "Dimmock Line" which contained a number of artillery batteries. Confederate Battery Number 5 was captured by Union forces on the 15th. Like so many other battles in the Civil War, the Union forces failed to follow-up on their initial positive results and push straight into Petersburg. As a result, the opposing forces 'dug-in' and the siege started.
From the captured Confederate Battery Number 5, Union forces were able to lob mortar shells into Petersburg and the Confederate positions beyond the Appomattox River. They did this with huge mortars such as "The Dictator" - pictured below.
At Confederate Battery Number 9 the Park Service has reconstructed examples of siege fortification. The site itself was a stronghold captured by Black troops on the first day of the battle and converted into a Union "fort".
Throughout this portion of the park are trails that take you along thoroughfares used by the troops to move supplies from railroad sidings to the front lines. We were there on a beautiful Spring day and were able to hike several miles. We managed to tire out ourselves as well as the dogs.
The last major site in the Eastern Front portion of the Park is the site of the Battle of The Crater. On July 30, 1864 Union troops exploded 4 tons of dynamite in a tunnel they had dug under the Confederate lines in an attempt to create a hole in the Confederate line.
This section of the Union line was manned by miners from Pennsylvania. They hatched a plan to dig a tunnel to a point under the Confederate lines and then explode the TNT to cause the breach in the line that the Union could then pass through. This is the tunnel entrance where the miners started their tunnel.
As a kid I had a jigsaw puzzle which was based upon a painting of the Battle of the Crater. I had that picture in my mind as we approached The Crater. Much like my expectation regarding Devil's Den at Gettysburg, I found that actual site much smaller. It is hard to imagine that the union lost 4,000 men and the Confederates 1,500 in a space as small as the Crater.
Of course, over the years I assume much of the crater has filled in, but it still covers a relatively small area. Interestingly enough I recently read a Golf Magazine article about the fact that a golf course existed on this site until the 1930s. That course kept much of the military earthworks and used them as hazards.
We stayed in a dog-friendly motel which was just across the street and through the woods from the Crater site and in the morning were able to cut through the woods and visit the Crater on a still and beautiful Spring morning.
Friday, February 10, 2012
Other Outings Besides Sports
You may get the impression from reading my blog that all I do here in Durham is go to sporting events at Duke. Admittedly the scale does tip in that direction, but in the last week we evened it out a bit. Here's a quick look at some our more culturally based outings.
MEMPHIS -The Musical - The Durham Performing Arts Center is a large theater in downtown Durham that brings in large touring shows and big named performers(much like Proctors in Schenectady). It seats about 2800. We went to see the Tony award winning musical Memphis - The Musical.(so titled to distinguish it from Memphis - The . . ?) All I can say is that it must have been a slow year for musicals for this to win the Tony. The book covers territory seen before(try Hairspray, Dreamgirls, Smokey Joe's Cafe, and just about any other musical using the 50s and 60s as a backdrop). It follows the rise and fall of a "red-necked Cracker DJ"(the plays description not mine) as he brings black music to the masses, falls in love with a black woman, kisses her on local TV, but can't leave Memphis because "he is Memphis"(?) when her career takes off. The play ends with him still a DJ, but on a 3rd rate station "way up on the end of the dial."
The performances and the music were the redeeming qualities of the musical. Bryan Fenkart and Felicia Boswell have the leads. Ms Boswell has a "big" voice and Mr. Fenkart has just the right "twang" to make their roles engaging regardless of how stereotyped. Throw in some smart dancing and good ensemble work and you can almost make it past the trite script.
AVANTE - The first Sunday I attended the Eno River Unitarian Universalist Church a group called Avante sang. It is an a capella double quartet which sings jazz arrangements of a broad spectrum of music. I was very impressed.(So impressed that I decided to join the church choir) So when we had a chance to see them in concert, I took Nan out on a date. The concert began with a group of high schoolers from Chapel Hill called Lucky 13. This all-female group presented several numbers. I was impressed by their composure and the quality of their arrangements. The songs were not familiar to me, and both Nan and I had trouble understanding the lyrics. It always amazes me when I see the quality and talents of kids.
Avante's performance was on a whole different level. They did two sets: one which could best be described as of traditional folk and the other more contemporary. They were spectacular. Great balance and variety in their presentations. Nan and I particularly liked "Silence of Time" by Caprice Fox, "A Boy and A Girl" by Eric Whitacre, and "Cells, Planets" arranged by Vince Peterson. The groups founder Kevin Badanes arranged or wrote five of the numbers. His arrangements were creative and musically interesting. I felt like I was in a little club in NYC. A great night of music. If you'd like to listen to Avante try - When I Fall Youtube.wmv.(Great arrangement - Kevin's- Great sound)
CYMBELINE - Duke Performances presented a version of this Shakespeare play performed by the Fiasco Theater. Fiasco was founded in 2007 by graduates of the Brown University/Trinity Rep acting program. As Nan is a graduate of Trinity Rep, we thought it would be a good idea to see what the old alma mater is turning out these days. We can report that it was a fine, energetic, well-acted adaptation. They had fun with it - even fluffs were done in character.(At one point a hat fell into the audience to which the character merely said "Now I've gone and lost my hat!"). The troop played multiple roles with the clear distinctions as to character. They were clear and non-confusing(even in the final scene where all the characters showed up). It's always good to see a Shakespeare that's done clearly and with good acting.
MEMPHIS -The Musical - The Durham Performing Arts Center is a large theater in downtown Durham that brings in large touring shows and big named performers(much like Proctors in Schenectady). It seats about 2800. We went to see the Tony award winning musical Memphis - The Musical.(so titled to distinguish it from Memphis - The . . ?) All I can say is that it must have been a slow year for musicals for this to win the Tony. The book covers territory seen before(try Hairspray, Dreamgirls, Smokey Joe's Cafe, and just about any other musical using the 50s and 60s as a backdrop). It follows the rise and fall of a "red-necked Cracker DJ"(the plays description not mine) as he brings black music to the masses, falls in love with a black woman, kisses her on local TV, but can't leave Memphis because "he is Memphis"(?) when her career takes off. The play ends with him still a DJ, but on a 3rd rate station "way up on the end of the dial."
The performances and the music were the redeeming qualities of the musical. Bryan Fenkart and Felicia Boswell have the leads. Ms Boswell has a "big" voice and Mr. Fenkart has just the right "twang" to make their roles engaging regardless of how stereotyped. Throw in some smart dancing and good ensemble work and you can almost make it past the trite script.
AVANTE - The first Sunday I attended the Eno River Unitarian Universalist Church a group called Avante sang. It is an a capella double quartet which sings jazz arrangements of a broad spectrum of music. I was very impressed.(So impressed that I decided to join the church choir) So when we had a chance to see them in concert, I took Nan out on a date. The concert began with a group of high schoolers from Chapel Hill called Lucky 13. This all-female group presented several numbers. I was impressed by their composure and the quality of their arrangements. The songs were not familiar to me, and both Nan and I had trouble understanding the lyrics. It always amazes me when I see the quality and talents of kids.
Avante's performance was on a whole different level. They did two sets: one which could best be described as of traditional folk and the other more contemporary. They were spectacular. Great balance and variety in their presentations. Nan and I particularly liked "Silence of Time" by Caprice Fox, "A Boy and A Girl" by Eric Whitacre, and "Cells, Planets" arranged by Vince Peterson. The groups founder Kevin Badanes arranged or wrote five of the numbers. His arrangements were creative and musically interesting. I felt like I was in a little club in NYC. A great night of music. If you'd like to listen to Avante try - When I Fall Youtube.wmv.(Great arrangement - Kevin's- Great sound)
CYMBELINE - Duke Performances presented a version of this Shakespeare play performed by the Fiasco Theater. Fiasco was founded in 2007 by graduates of the Brown University/Trinity Rep acting program. As Nan is a graduate of Trinity Rep, we thought it would be a good idea to see what the old alma mater is turning out these days. We can report that it was a fine, energetic, well-acted adaptation. They had fun with it - even fluffs were done in character.(At one point a hat fell into the audience to which the character merely said "Now I've gone and lost my hat!"). The troop played multiple roles with the clear distinctions as to character. They were clear and non-confusing(even in the final scene where all the characters showed up). It's always good to see a Shakespeare that's done clearly and with good acting.
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Exploring
There are a great many points of interest in the Durham area, and we decided it was time to start visiting a few of them.
Bennett Place - This historic site is located in Durham and is the scene of the largest surrender of the Civil War. The surrender took place on April 17, 1865 in the parlor of a farm owned by James and Nancy Bennett. Gen. William T. Sherman was pushing north to combine with Grant in Virginia and chasing General Joseph Johnston's confederate troops through North Carolina. The generals met at Bennett's farm to discuss a surrender. Just before they were to sign the surrender Sherman got word of the assassination of Lincoln a fact he did not disclose to his troops for fear that would riot and loot Raliegh. Sherman's terms were more generous than those given to Lee by Grant. As a result they were rejected by the politicians in Washington. When Johnston and Sherman went back to the negotiating table they were joined by the Confederate VP John Breckinridge who wanted Johnston to reject the terms and continue fighting. Breckinridge left taking with him the Confederate cavalry to help Jefferson Davis escape the Union forces. Johnston had seen enough fighting and signed the surrender, which followed the terms Grant had set forth. Johnston and Sherman remained friends with Johnston being an honorary pall bearer at Sherman's funeral.
Occoneechee Speedway Trail - This a 44 acre site which is on the National Register of Historic Places. The park surrounds the former Occoneechee/Orange Speedway which was used from 1948 - 1968. Still remaining on the site are a few of the buildings and grandstands used for the races. There are 3 miles of trails including the one-mile dirt oval used for the racing. If you missed the second turn you could easily end up in the Eno River. More information about the raceway can be obtained at www.historicspeedwaygroup.org.
Washington Duke Homestead - This is state historic site which features the house Washington Duke built for his second wife, Artelia, in 1852. The Dukes are the founders of the American Tobacco Compant and, of course, Duke University. The Dukes lived in the house until 1874 when they moved into Durham to oversee their expanding tobacco empire. The brightleaf tobacco produced by Duke was the foundation of the Duke wealth. The site includes a tobacco curing barn, factory, tobacco packhouse,and other out-buildings. Also at the site is a museum which reviews the history of the tobacco industry(no smoking on premises).
Alamance Battleground - The backcountry of North Carolina was a hot-bed of anti-British feeling prior to the Revolutionary War. This anti-British feeling resulted in armed confrontations with British authorities. The colony's governor Tryon(later governor of New York) finally decided to take action against the troublemakers. In May of 1771 a militia force of approximately 1000 met an armed band of Regulators of about 2000 at Alamance. The Regulators were not well organized and were routed by the militia. The militia suffered 9 killed, but there is no official documentation concerning the Regulators losses.(London newspapers reported the battle stating 300 Regulators were killed). The site features a small visitors center and a nature trail badly in need of repair.
Also on the Alamance site is the Allen House. This house dates from about 1780. It remained in the Allen family until given to the state and moved to the Allmance site. It stands as an excellent example of an 18th century frontier house. Since we were the only people at the site on the day we visited, the historical interpreter gave us a tour of the house and discussed what was known of the inhabitants. The house had been in the Allen family from two centuries and as a result some of the original furniture remained on display. It's not often you get to see a 18th century house with some of the original furniture. The interpreter was also kind enough to give Nan a copy of the herb remedy book compiled by Rachael Allen, who was described as a "Traveling Healer."
Bennett Place - This historic site is located in Durham and is the scene of the largest surrender of the Civil War. The surrender took place on April 17, 1865 in the parlor of a farm owned by James and Nancy Bennett. Gen. William T. Sherman was pushing north to combine with Grant in Virginia and chasing General Joseph Johnston's confederate troops through North Carolina. The generals met at Bennett's farm to discuss a surrender. Just before they were to sign the surrender Sherman got word of the assassination of Lincoln a fact he did not disclose to his troops for fear that would riot and loot Raliegh. Sherman's terms were more generous than those given to Lee by Grant. As a result they were rejected by the politicians in Washington. When Johnston and Sherman went back to the negotiating table they were joined by the Confederate VP John Breckinridge who wanted Johnston to reject the terms and continue fighting. Breckinridge left taking with him the Confederate cavalry to help Jefferson Davis escape the Union forces. Johnston had seen enough fighting and signed the surrender, which followed the terms Grant had set forth. Johnston and Sherman remained friends with Johnston being an honorary pall bearer at Sherman's funeral.
Washington Duke Homestead - This is state historic site which features the house Washington Duke built for his second wife, Artelia, in 1852. The Dukes are the founders of the American Tobacco Compant and, of course, Duke University. The Dukes lived in the house until 1874 when they moved into Durham to oversee their expanding tobacco empire. The brightleaf tobacco produced by Duke was the foundation of the Duke wealth. The site includes a tobacco curing barn, factory, tobacco packhouse,and other out-buildings. Also at the site is a museum which reviews the history of the tobacco industry(no smoking on premises).
Alamance Battleground - The backcountry of North Carolina was a hot-bed of anti-British feeling prior to the Revolutionary War. This anti-British feeling resulted in armed confrontations with British authorities. The colony's governor Tryon(later governor of New York) finally decided to take action against the troublemakers. In May of 1771 a militia force of approximately 1000 met an armed band of Regulators of about 2000 at Alamance. The Regulators were not well organized and were routed by the militia. The militia suffered 9 killed, but there is no official documentation concerning the Regulators losses.(London newspapers reported the battle stating 300 Regulators were killed). The site features a small visitors center and a nature trail badly in need of repair.
Also on the Alamance site is the Allen House. This house dates from about 1780. It remained in the Allen family until given to the state and moved to the Allmance site. It stands as an excellent example of an 18th century frontier house. Since we were the only people at the site on the day we visited, the historical interpreter gave us a tour of the house and discussed what was known of the inhabitants. The house had been in the Allen family from two centuries and as a result some of the original furniture remained on display. It's not often you get to see a 18th century house with some of the original furniture. The interpreter was also kind enough to give Nan a copy of the herb remedy book compiled by Rachael Allen, who was described as a "Traveling Healer."
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
The New Semester
We had a relatively easy trip back to Durham, albeit a day or two earlier than we thought. The scheduling of some extra meeting required Nan to be back by the 9th. So we headed South on the 7th. Weather was great, but with the dogs and stops every couple of hours it still took 11 hours plus.
The first big event of the semester was a concert by the Branford Marsalis Quartet. Mr. Marsalis and his entire quartet are currently participating in an extended artist in residency program at North Carolina Central University here in Durham. The concert was one of those incredible experiences where you get to enjoy the talents of four great jazz musicians. The quartet is made up of Mr. Marsalis on saxophones, Joey Calderazzo on piano, Eric Revis on bass, and Justin Faulkner on drums. They played for almost 2 hours straight. Some of the music was based on the songs found on a new album they recorded in October. Marsalis explained that they really hadn't rehearsed them since October, but you couldn't tell. Their first number was written by Calderazzo, which for recording purposes was called "Joey's fast number". When pressed for a title by the record company Mr. Marsalis named it "Twister", which appeared to be news to Mr. Calderazzo. In any event, the music soared. I loved watching Calderazzo get into his solo's sometimes standing up(a la Jerry Lee Lewis) and playing away. One other high point was a drum solo by Mr. Faulkner. At most jazz concerts that I've been to the drum solo gives the band an opportunity to rest. They walk off stage and let the drummer bang away for 5 or 10 minutes. In this case, the rest of the quartet stayed on stage and played a repetitive series of five or six notes while Faulkner and his drums became the center of focus and became one - it was great. Another piece that both Nan and I found moving was one written by Marsalis in the style of the French jazz artist Sidney Bechet - very romantic. One of the best concerts we've been to since being down here.
Of course the new semester also includes getting back into Duke sports. One of the first things we went to was the opening match of the women's tennis season. Duke is ranked #3 in national poles and features the top-rated Freshman recruiting class led by the 7th ranked amateur Beatrice Capra. The opening match was against William and Mary and resulted in a Duke sweep. In order to entice students to attend, pizza was served during the break between the doubles ans singles matches. The second tennis match I went to was against Indiana, and again Duke prevailed with a sweep. This time Bojangles chicken sandwiches were featured as "half time" treats. If we keep attending tennis matches, I think we can save on our food bill.
It was a doubleheader sports day as I went from the tennis to Duke (#5) versus Maryland (#8) women's basketball game. I got to go with my friend Spiro who has great seats in the front row just above the student section. It was an excellent game in which Duke triumphed. We were not so fortunate last night playing UConn. The Huskies played great defense and shot a high percentage of 3s to beat us by 16. Despite the loss it was a battle of quality teams. We just couldn't find enough offense to stay close. The place was hopping though, which is great for a women's game which only recently has begun to develop strong student support.
There was an interesting article in The Chronicle, the Duke student newspaper, about how student attendance has fallen off dramatically at sporting events. It appears that some of the students' seats are now available to the community at large. The article has sparked an interesting debate in the paper about the level of funding the sports' program is receiving in light of the falling student attendance. Of course as long as the programs continue to produce massive revenues for the University, I doubt very much if there will be a reallocation of funds to other programs. I can't help but wonder if this is something that is occurring only at Duke, or is happening at other schools.
The first big event of the semester was a concert by the Branford Marsalis Quartet. Mr. Marsalis and his entire quartet are currently participating in an extended artist in residency program at North Carolina Central University here in Durham. The concert was one of those incredible experiences where you get to enjoy the talents of four great jazz musicians. The quartet is made up of Mr. Marsalis on saxophones, Joey Calderazzo on piano, Eric Revis on bass, and Justin Faulkner on drums. They played for almost 2 hours straight. Some of the music was based on the songs found on a new album they recorded in October. Marsalis explained that they really hadn't rehearsed them since October, but you couldn't tell. Their first number was written by Calderazzo, which for recording purposes was called "Joey's fast number". When pressed for a title by the record company Mr. Marsalis named it "Twister", which appeared to be news to Mr. Calderazzo. In any event, the music soared. I loved watching Calderazzo get into his solo's sometimes standing up(a la Jerry Lee Lewis) and playing away. One other high point was a drum solo by Mr. Faulkner. At most jazz concerts that I've been to the drum solo gives the band an opportunity to rest. They walk off stage and let the drummer bang away for 5 or 10 minutes. In this case, the rest of the quartet stayed on stage and played a repetitive series of five or six notes while Faulkner and his drums became the center of focus and became one - it was great. Another piece that both Nan and I found moving was one written by Marsalis in the style of the French jazz artist Sidney Bechet - very romantic. One of the best concerts we've been to since being down here.
Of course the new semester also includes getting back into Duke sports. One of the first things we went to was the opening match of the women's tennis season. Duke is ranked #3 in national poles and features the top-rated Freshman recruiting class led by the 7th ranked amateur Beatrice Capra. The opening match was against William and Mary and resulted in a Duke sweep. In order to entice students to attend, pizza was served during the break between the doubles ans singles matches. The second tennis match I went to was against Indiana, and again Duke prevailed with a sweep. This time Bojangles chicken sandwiches were featured as "half time" treats. If we keep attending tennis matches, I think we can save on our food bill.
It was a doubleheader sports day as I went from the tennis to Duke (#5) versus Maryland (#8) women's basketball game. I got to go with my friend Spiro who has great seats in the front row just above the student section. It was an excellent game in which Duke triumphed. We were not so fortunate last night playing UConn. The Huskies played great defense and shot a high percentage of 3s to beat us by 16. Despite the loss it was a battle of quality teams. We just couldn't find enough offense to stay close. The place was hopping though, which is great for a women's game which only recently has begun to develop strong student support.
There was an interesting article in The Chronicle, the Duke student newspaper, about how student attendance has fallen off dramatically at sporting events. It appears that some of the students' seats are now available to the community at large. The article has sparked an interesting debate in the paper about the level of funding the sports' program is receiving in light of the falling student attendance. Of course as long as the programs continue to produce massive revenues for the University, I doubt very much if there will be a reallocation of funds to other programs. I can't help but wonder if this is something that is occurring only at Duke, or is happening at other schools.
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Hectic Holidays Up North
At the close of the Fall semester Nan and I headed back to our home for the holidays. The weather cooperated and we made it home after driving overnight. The next three weeks were filled with a variety of social engagements and family get-togethers.
One of the first opportunities I took was to visit my friends in Schoharie County, where I worked for 16 and 1/2 years. The day I visited was one which had been designated for a luncheon honoring all those who worked so hard and under such tough conditions caused by the flooding in the Schoharie Valley after the rain from hurricane Irene. The coiurthouse is still not fully functional, as the first floor is undergoing major renovation because of the flooding. My friend Tim Holmes, Supreme Court Librarian, had his Library completely destroyed. Some of the Third District staff was present and it was good to see them as well. The presentations gave you an idea of how devestating the floods were and how much work went into keeping the courts going. It was truly very moving.
Last year we had an artificial Christmas tree and this year we decided to have a live one(well actually this wasn't a live tree either because it had been cut down). This year we went all out. Nan is the best tree decorator ever. When we got the tree, it represented the only thing in our living room. Having redone the floors in the summer, we had yet to have purchased any furniture. That was remedied by delivery of a sofa and comfortable reading chair the Wednesday before Christmas. It got there just in time to have someplace for the kids to sit.
It has become a Christmas tradition for us to go bowling several days before the big day. It is the only time all year that I for one go bowling and judging from our scores I don't think there was much practicing over the past year by anyone else. In a way we were all winners: Erin got her high game ever, Krista got her first strike, Spike went from the worst first game to the best second game, David collected the most total strikes, and I won total pin count.
Christmas Eve was spent at my sister's house. We moved the start time up a bit so that Nan and I could sing at the Christmas Eve Service in Averill Park. Joing us were Tony and Jane, some hiking friends and fellow "46ers". It was Spike's first Christmas Eve with us, so we were all on our best behaviour. One of my sister's trademarks, including the great food, are the "bows" she puts on her gifts. They're not really bows, but works of art.
Here's David and his package with the bow representing rolling terrain and skiing.
Nan's package represented her sliding downhill most of her hike of Coocheccarga with Sue and George. Her snowshoes broke and she spent most of the hike sliding on her ... well you can guess.
Singing at church in the candlelight on Christmas Eve was really nice. It took me back to when I was a kid and going to church on Christmas Eve was part of the tradition. We sounded pretty good if I do say so myself.
During the week after Christmas, we visted with a number of friends including Chase and Mac from Hillsdale.
We were looking for someplace to go dancing for New Years Eve, but they were all so expensive. Then we discovered "Party With Marty" at the American Legion in East Greenbush. Dancing with a DJ until midnight with our friends, Marie, Helen, and Larry was a great way to bring in the New Year, and the price was right - No Cover!
Our trip north ended with a trip to the RPI Field House for a hockey game. For over 40 years we had season tickets to RPI hockey. This was the first year that Suzanne didn't pick up the seats(which worked out in a way as RPI is currently 3 wins 15 loses). I just thought that we should go to one game "for old times sake". Sue, Jim Miller, and myself went to dinner first at Brown's Brew Pub in Troy and then on to the game. RPI lost, but we got to see a few of the old timers who haven't given up their seats.
The New Year is underway and we're back in Durham, where we'll be for at least another year.
One of the first opportunities I took was to visit my friends in Schoharie County, where I worked for 16 and 1/2 years. The day I visited was one which had been designated for a luncheon honoring all those who worked so hard and under such tough conditions caused by the flooding in the Schoharie Valley after the rain from hurricane Irene. The coiurthouse is still not fully functional, as the first floor is undergoing major renovation because of the flooding. My friend Tim Holmes, Supreme Court Librarian, had his Library completely destroyed. Some of the Third District staff was present and it was good to see them as well. The presentations gave you an idea of how devestating the floods were and how much work went into keeping the courts going. It was truly very moving.
Last year we had an artificial Christmas tree and this year we decided to have a live one(well actually this wasn't a live tree either because it had been cut down). This year we went all out. Nan is the best tree decorator ever. When we got the tree, it represented the only thing in our living room. Having redone the floors in the summer, we had yet to have purchased any furniture. That was remedied by delivery of a sofa and comfortable reading chair the Wednesday before Christmas. It got there just in time to have someplace for the kids to sit.
It has become a Christmas tradition for us to go bowling several days before the big day. It is the only time all year that I for one go bowling and judging from our scores I don't think there was much practicing over the past year by anyone else. In a way we were all winners: Erin got her high game ever, Krista got her first strike, Spike went from the worst first game to the best second game, David collected the most total strikes, and I won total pin count.
Christmas Eve was spent at my sister's house. We moved the start time up a bit so that Nan and I could sing at the Christmas Eve Service in Averill Park. Joing us were Tony and Jane, some hiking friends and fellow "46ers". It was Spike's first Christmas Eve with us, so we were all on our best behaviour. One of my sister's trademarks, including the great food, are the "bows" she puts on her gifts. They're not really bows, but works of art.
Here's David and his package with the bow representing rolling terrain and skiing.
Nan's package represented her sliding downhill most of her hike of Coocheccarga with Sue and George. Her snowshoes broke and she spent most of the hike sliding on her ... well you can guess.
Singing at church in the candlelight on Christmas Eve was really nice. It took me back to when I was a kid and going to church on Christmas Eve was part of the tradition. We sounded pretty good if I do say so myself.
During the week after Christmas, we visted with a number of friends including Chase and Mac from Hillsdale.
We were looking for someplace to go dancing for New Years Eve, but they were all so expensive. Then we discovered "Party With Marty" at the American Legion in East Greenbush. Dancing with a DJ until midnight with our friends, Marie, Helen, and Larry was a great way to bring in the New Year, and the price was right - No Cover!
Our trip north ended with a trip to the RPI Field House for a hockey game. For over 40 years we had season tickets to RPI hockey. This was the first year that Suzanne didn't pick up the seats(which worked out in a way as RPI is currently 3 wins 15 loses). I just thought that we should go to one game "for old times sake". Sue, Jim Miller, and myself went to dinner first at Brown's Brew Pub in Troy and then on to the game. RPI lost, but we got to see a few of the old timers who haven't given up their seats.
The New Year is underway and we're back in Durham, where we'll be for at least another year.
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