Mt. Washington

It looks like my parents took a trip to Mt. Washington in 1970. Here are a few photos from the journey. It seems that the road up to the top wasn't paved yet.

Philadelphia, miscellaneous

Here's a batch of random shots from the Philadelphia / Pennsylvania trip in 1982. Above is looking at Art, Maryann, Eric, Lisa and Arthur as they travel on the road ahead of us in their yellow station wagon.

The group of vacationers visit a fountain.

Mom in front of some building.

Some historic boat.

Liberty Bell

During the trip to Pennsylvania in 1982, we stopped in Philadelphia to see the Liberty Bell.

From Left to Right: Mary-Ann, Lisa, Kate, Jer (legs only), Eric, Josh, Arthur, Art.

From Wikipedia:

"The Liberty Bell is one of the most prominent symbols associated with the American Revolutionary War. It is one of the most familiar symbols of independence within the United States, and has been described as an international icon of liberty and justice for all. According to tradition, its most famous ringing occurred on July 8, 1776, to summon citizens of Philadelphia for the reading of the Declaration of Independence."

Ball Pit Madness

Mom waving from a ballpit. I'm thinking this must also be from Sesame Place. I can remember it smelling like feet.

Or maybe I just imagine that it must have smelled like feet.

Below is Lance, Lee and Kate.

Fun time's over as Jer gets hauled from out of the pit.

A Smile is a Frown Turned Upside Down

Mom and Jer at some theme park in Pennsylvania, slide processed September 1982.

The slide below seems to make it pretty clear that it's Sesame Place.

Below: Jer, Ernie, Kate W, Me, and Bert. On Jer's shirt: "A Smile is a Frown Turned Upside Down." On my shirt: "Lousville Kentucky," and a picture of a horse. I had never been to Louisville until October 2006 while on tour.

Hancock Shaker Village

In this same batch of slides with the photos of the house are a big set of pictures from a visit to Hancock Shaker Village. The slides are dated July 1975 on them, which is when they were processed.

Above is the main barn on the grounds of the village.

This one is housing. Very dormitory-like.


Big ole' stove and rocking chairs. Notice the dressers. The shakers were very famous for their furniture building skills. If I remember correctly a lot of the buildings on the grounds were workshops.

From Shakershoppe.com:

"The Shakers were the largest and most successful Utopian venture in existence in their time, with an estimated four thousand to six thousand members in eighteen principal communities from Maine to Kentucky by 1840. The Shakers peacefully pursued the vision of their English founder Mother Ann Lee (1736-1784), who came to America with eight followers in 1774. They turned away from the rest of society, which they simply called the World. They lived in large families that were both celibate and communal, devoted their lives to work, and celebrated their love of God in the rousing dance worship that gave them their name. Simplicity was their hallmark, they cared little for worldly goods.

"As they created a new, more perfect society, the Shakers also produced a visual environment of such quiet power that it continues to impress the observer centuries later. Shaker work, devoid of any unnecessary ornamentation or frivolous detail, endures."

El Morro Fort, Puerto Rico

In 1972 my father went on a National Guard trip to Puerto Rico and took these photos showing El Morro fort in Old San Juan.

From GoToPuertoRico.com:

El Morro, officially known as Fuerte San Felipe del Morro, sits atop a high promontory overlooking the entrance to San Juan Bay. It is the result of the efforts of many different Spanish engineers over a period of more than 200 years and is one of the largest forts built by the Spaniards in the Caribbean.

My father told me they flew in to Ramey Air Force Base (and, I'm guessing, stayed there). The Wikipedia entry on Ramey can be found here: Ramey Air Force Base

According to the Wiki, Ramey was closed in 1973 as a military facility, so he made it there just under the wire.

Here's the Ramey AFB Historical Association website: www.rameyafb.org

EDIT: My father tells me that this third slide was taken of some abandoned buildings not far from Ramey AFB.