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Brewster County

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Texas, Brewster County, near Alpine
Formed from Presidio County
Created February 2, 1887.
Organized February 14, 1887.
In 1897 the territory of Buchel
and Foley counties was
added to Brewster. Named for
Henry Percy Brewster, 1816-1884
soldier and statesman, a hero
of San Jacinto.

Murphyville, county seat, 1887,
name changed to Alpine, 1889.
Largest county in area in the
state

(Settlements & Settlers) Includes location, directions, 3 photos, GPS coordinates, map.

Nolte-Rooney House

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Texas, Brewster County, Alpine
Built 1890 by F.H. Nolte, early settler, on land in Murphyville (now Alpine). The 20-inch walls are made of adobe bricks molded at the building site. Home was sold 1893 to John Rooney, second county Sheriff. The exterior looks as it did in 1890.
Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1968

(Notable Buildings) Includes location, directions, 3 photos, GPS coordinates, map.

Gage-Van Sickle

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Texas, Brewster County, Alpine
Home of early ranchers, merchants, legislators. Stucco over thick adobe. Remolded 1896, 1920, 1960.
Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1965

(Notable Buildings) Includes location, directions, 3 photos, GPS coordinates, map.

Old Welding Shop of H. C. Nicol

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Texas, Navarro County, Coriscana
Old Welding Shop of
H. C. Nicol (1892-1963)
Expert with acetylene torch, Nicol is remembered as first welder operating in the Navarro County oil fields, which opened 1894. He began work about 1912, at a time when he had to mix own welding chemicals. In addition he pioneered welding of cast iron and aluminum in this area.
Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1968

(Industry & Commerce) Includes location, directions, 3 photos, GPS coordinates, map.

Creating a National Park

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Maryland, Washington County, Williamsport
It is a refuge, a place of retreat, a long stretch of quiet and peace at the Capital’s back door…William O. Douglas.

Look around you. The park you stand in exists because people cared. In January 1954, Justice William O. Douglas of the Supreme Court of the United States responded to a Washington Post editorial recommending that the C&O Canal be turned into a parkway. Writing in support of preserving the canal as a national park, Douglas wrote, “It is a sanctuary for everyone who loves woods—a sanctuary that would be utterly destroyed by a fine two lane highway.” He invited the editors and other reporters to join him on a hike of the entire canal to enjoy its beauty and better understand his point. Merlo Pusey, who wrote the editorial, and his editor, Robert Estabrook, accepted the challenge.

On March 22, 1954, the hike began near Cumberland. Douglas and his companions invited authorities on the natural and cultural history of the Potomac River and the C&O Canal to join them. The hikers learned about the canal and enjoyed the scenery. After the hike, Estabrook wrote an editorial in the Post supporting setting the canal aside as a national park. The walk, and the news stories it generated, motivated hundreds to fight to save the canal. In 1961 the C&O Canal was preserved as a National Monument. Through Douglas’s action and the efforts of those he inspired, this park was preserved for you to enjoy. If you would like to learn what you can do to help care for the park, visit the nearest park visitor center.

The hikers at the hike’s end in Georgetown. As the hikers reached the outskirts of Washington D.C. other people joined them. The hike inspired many people to join in the efforts to created Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park.

(Waterways & Vessels) Includes location, directions, 2 photos, GPS coordinates, map.

Lemon St. Grammar and High School

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Georgia, Cobb County, Marietta
The Lemon Street Grammar School opened in 1894. The original wooden structure was funded by Marietta’s school board, and designed to educate Negro students. The high school was built nearby in 1930 at urging of Ursula Jenkins. Professor M. J. Woods became principal of both schools in 1929 and led the high school until 1962. Lemon Street and Marietta High Schools merged in 1967 and the Lemon Street building was demolished. The new grammar school was built at the direction of city council in 1951 and operated as a school until 1971.

(African Americans • Education) Includes location, directions, 3 photos, GPS coordinates, map.

Patuxent River Naval Air Museum

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Maryland, St. Mary's County, Lexington Park

This Museum is the vision of a group of Navy and civilian personnel who in 1974 set out to formally organize a museum to preserve and celebrate the history of the Naval Air Test Center at Patuxent River.

They received support from the community, the county, and the State; and in 1978 the Naval Air Test & Evaluation Museum opened in a building on grounds provided by the Naval Air Station. The building was originally built as the USO Canteen toward the end of World War II.

In 1992, the Secretary of the Navy designated the Museum as one of the ten official Navy museums.

In 1997, the Museum’s name was changed to the Patuxent River Naval Air Museum to reflect its new mission of preserving and interpreting the research, development, testing & evaluation of naval aircraft and their related systems.

The Museum is the repository for all of the artifacts, photographs & films, documents and other heritage memorabilia from Patuxent River, and other stations, such as Warminster, Pennsylvania, and Trenton, New Jersey, now all consolidated at Patuxent River under the Naval Air Systems Command and the Naval Air Warfare Command Aircraft Division.

The aircraft on the Museum grounds are representative of the aircraft developed for the Navy and actually tested at Patuxent River.

The Museum is dedicated to all of those who have expended their talents in a myriad of different ways to the cause the advancing naval aviation technology.

(Air & Space • Education • Industry & Commerce • Waterways & Vessels) Includes location, directions, 4 photos, GPS coordinates, map.

Mt. Zion Baptist Church

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South Carolina, Darlington, near Dovesville
Front

This church, founded in 1869, was organized by 36 black members of nearby Black Creek Baptist Church, who received letters of dismissal to form their own congregation. Rev. William Hart, its first minister, served until his death in 1872. He was succeeded by his son, Rev. Alfred Hart, who served here 1872 ~ 79, after representing Darlington County in the S.C. House 1870 ~ 72.

Reverse

The church held its first services in a brush arbor on this site, which its trustees bought from James C. McCallman in 1872. After worshiping under a frame shelter for several years, Mt. Zion built its first permanent sanctuary, a frame building in 1890. The congregation grew enough to build build a second frame church in 1908. The present brick sanctuary was dedicated in 1979.

(African Americans • Churches, Etc.) Includes location, directions, 6 photos, GPS coordinates, map.

Hartsville Graded School / Mt. Pisgah Nursery School

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South Carolina, Darlington, Hartsville

Hartsville Graded School


The first public school for the black children of Hartsville and vicinity operated on this site from about 1900 to 1921. It was renamed Darlington County Training School in 1918. A new school was built on 6th St. south of this site in 1921. Rev. Henry H. Butler (1887 ~ 1948) was principal at both sites for a combined 37 years. The 1921 school was renamed Butler School in Butler’s honor in 1939.

Mt. Pisgah Nursery School

Mt. Pisgah Presbyterian Church grew out of a Sunday school started on this site by Rev. T.J. James in 1922. The church was organized that same year, and a new church building was erected nearby in 1926. Rev. James also founded Mt. Pisgah Nursery School, which operated in the old graded school here for many years. Rev. James’s family later donated this property to the city for Pride Park, established in 1986.

(African Americans • Churches, Etc. • Education) Includes location, directions, 4 photos, GPS coordinates, map.

The Godfrey Miller Home

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Virginia, Winchester
Built in 1785 by Daniel Sowers on a lot granted by Lord Fairfax dated 1753. The Sowers’ owned many horses, possibly for a livery business. In 1801, the house conveyed to Adam Douglas, an Irish export merchant and author of The Irish Immigrant. Dr. Benjamin Grayson owned the property until 1812, when John Miller purchased it. It passed to his son, Godfrey Sperry Miller, in 1857. Confederate and Union wounded soldiers received care here during the Civil War. The Millers made brick additions and reportedly installed the first elevator in the city. Margaretta, daughter of Godfrey, left the home in 1938 for use as a residence for elderly ladies. It became a senior community center in 1976.

(Notable Buildings) Includes location, directions, 2 photos, GPS coordinates, map.

Horace Greeley - George Jones

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Vermont, Rutland County, East Poultney
At the original settlement in East Poultney, Horace Greeley, founder of the "New York Tribune", worked on the "Northern Spectator", 1826-1830. George Jones, co-founder of the "N.Y.Times", also came from here.

(Communications • Politics) Includes location, directions, 1 photo, GPS coordinates, map.

Jeffrey Brace

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Vermont, Rutland County, East Poultney
Jeffrey Brace was born in West Africa with the name Boyrereau Brinch. At sixteen he was captured by European slave traders, shipped to Barbados, sold to a ship's captain, and eventually arrived in New England. Some years later, while still enslaved, Brace enlisted in the Continental Army and he won his freedom fighting in the Revolution. At the war's end in 1784 he settled in Poultney, in newly formed Vermont - the first state to prohibit slavery. He met an ex-slave, married, and they raised their family here. In 1810 he published his life story, one of the most unique and important anti-slavery memoirs written in America.

(Abolition & Underground RR • African Americans • Patriots & Patriotism • War, US Revolutionary) Includes location, directions, 1 photo, GPS coordinates, map.

A. W. Gray & Sons

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Vermont, Rutland County, Middletown Springs
Near this site Albert W. Gray manufactured his horse power treadmills, which he invented and patented in 1844 and 1856. He also invented a corn sheller, patented in 1836, and a machine for making wrought iron nails.

For over 50 years the shop, under the management of A.W. and his sons, Leonidas and Albert Y., employed some 60 workers to produce treadmills, threshers, wood saws, ensilage cutters and gasoline engines that were sold all over the world.

In 1868 A. W. Gray rediscovered Middletown's mineral spring which had been lost after the flood of 1811, inspiring a change in the town's name to Middletown Springs in 1885. The Grays bottled and sold the waters, helped finance construction of the Montvert Hotel resort in 1871, and built their own fashionable homes nearby.

(Agriculture • Industry & Commerce) Includes location, directions, 2 photos, GPS coordinates, map.

Isaac Blackford

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Indiana, Marion County, Indianapolis

Front
Born 1786 in New Jersey; admitted to the bar 1810. Residing in Vincennes, Indiana Territory in 1815; later elected Speaker of the first state House of Representatives. In September 1817, Governor Jennings appointed Blackford to Indiana Supreme Court. He served 1817- 1852, publishing the Court’s decisions in his eight- volume, nationally acclaimed Reports of Cases.

Reverse
Blackford invested in Indiana land, including properties in new state capital, Indianapolis; purchased land here, 1832. He helped establish Indiana Colonization Society, and promoted education. In 1855, U.S. President Franklin Pierce, appointed Blackford to U.S. Court of Claims, Washington, D.C.; he served until his death; buried in Indianapolis January 1860.

(Notable Persons) Includes location, directions, 2 photos, GPS coordinates, map.

The Lincoln Funeral Train

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Indiana, Laporte County, Michigan City

Front
Assassinated President Abraham Lincoln’s funeral was April 19, 1865 at the White House. The funeral train left for Springfield, Illinois April 21 directed by military; stops en route allowed the public to pay homage. From Indianapolis, train passed mourners lighted by bonfires and torches along the way; arrived in Michigan City by 8:35 a.m., May 1.

Reverse
Residents decorated depot north of here with memorial arches adorned with roses, evergreens, flags, and images of Lincoln. Train stopped to switch engines and to allow dignitaries from Illinois and Indiana to board. Sixteen women entered funeral car to place flowers on casket. Train left for Chicago on Michigan Central Railroad; track was lined with mourners.

(Patriots & Patriotism • Peace • Politics) Includes location, directions, 2 photos, GPS coordinates, map.


State Seminary of Indiana

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Indiana, Monroe County, Bloomington

Front
Congress, asserting that education was necessary for representative government, granted Indiana one township of land to support a seminary as part of its admission to statehood in 1816. In 1820, Governor Jonathan Jennings approved the act creating the State Seminary. When classes first began here April 4, 1825, only Ancient Greek and Latin were taught.

Reverse
Legislation recreated the Seminary as Indiana College (1828) and Indiana University (1838) to teach “useful arts and sciences” and attract more students. After a fire in 1883, University Trustees purchased land northeast of here at Dunn’s Woods for a new campus that would allow for development and enlargement of the University; classes began there in 1885.

(Education) Includes location, directions, 2 photos, GPS coordinates, map.

Rosa Parks Lived Here

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Alabama, Henry County, Abbeville

Front
Civil rights pioneer Rosa McCauley Parks was born on February 4, 1913 in Tuskegee, Alabama. Shortly after her birth her parents James and Leona McCauley, moved here to a 260 acre farm owned by her grandparents, Anderson and Louisa McCauley. Her father, a builder, designed and constructed the Henry County Training School for black students in 1914. After a few years in Henry County, Rosa and her mother moved to Pine Level, Alabama, to live with her maternal grandparents, while her father went north seeking new building opportunities.

Reverse
Rosa McCauley married Richard Parks of Pine Level in 1932. She returned to Henry County in 1914 on behalf of the NAACP to investigate the alleged rape of a young black mother by seven white youths. Rosa McCauley Parks gained national attention on December 1, 1955 when she refused to relinquish her seat on a Montgomery, Alabama public bus to a white man. Her refusal to go to the back of the bus sparked a successful bus boycott that earned Rosa McCauley Parks the title of “Mother of the Civil Rights Movement in America.” She died at her home in Detroit, Michigan, on October 24, 2005.

(African Americans • Civil Rights) Includes location, directions, 3 photos, GPS coordinates, map.

The Semiahmoo Trail

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British Columbia, Greater Vancouver Regional District, Surrey
This trail was an ancient Indian travel-way linking tribal villages in the south to salmon grounds of the Fraser River.
The first white explorers, lead by Chief Trader James McMillan of the Hudson’s Bay Company passed here in December of 1824.
Using the Nicomekl and Salmon Rivers, they reached the Fraser and located the site of Fort Langley. Erected by the This trail was an ancient Indian travel-way linking tribal villages in the south to salmon grounds of the Fraser River. The first white explorers, lead by Chief Trader James McMillan of the Hudson’s Bay Company passed here in December 0f 1824. Using the Nicomekl and Salmon Rivers, they reached the Fraser and located the site of Fort Langley.

(Roads & Vehicles) Includes location, directions, 2 photos, GPS coordinates, map.

Historic Port Elgin

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British Columbia, Greater Vancouver Regional District, Surrey

River Routes
Located near the intersection of the King George VI Highway and the Nicomekl River, the Port Elgin area has been a crossroads for various forms of traffic for thousands of years. For centuries prior to the arrival of the first European settlers, Natives regularly canoed up the Nicomekl River and down the Salmon River as they made their way to the salmon-fishing platforms in the Frasier Canyon.

The Hudson’s Bay Company’s chief trader James McMillan and his party of men followed the same route in their search for a location for a new fort for the fur trade in 1824. When European farmers began to settle in the area the native population abandoned the age-old route, traveling instead on the Fraser River.

A Working River
Prior to the construction of the Semiahmoo Road in 1873-74 and Crescent Road in 1884, the Nicomekl and Serpentine Rivers were the primary means of transportation in Port Elgin and Mud Bay areas. A customs office was located at the junction of the Semiahmoo Road and the Nicomekl River from 1880 to 1895. A post office operated from various settlers homes from 1885 to 1909.

Small steam powered vessels routinely traveled up both rivers to provide supplies to settlers; to pick up grain, hay and other produce; and to pull logs and lumber to market. Vessels travelling the Nicomekl River in the early 1900s included the supply boat Stella, the Brackman-Ker Milling Company’s Grainier, and the Port Elgin, a vessel initially used as a water taxi and later converted to a tug. Improvements to the road network and construction of the Nicomekl Dam in 1911-12 lessened the area’s reliance on river-based transportation.

Trails & Roads
First Nations people developed a number of trails to supplement their river-based routes through the Fraser Valley. Some of these may have been used by later European settlers. One of the earliest overland routes developed by Europeans was the Semiahmoo Wagon Road, plotted by two former Royal Engineers. The route ran between Semiahmoo Bay in the south, continued north through Port Elgin, and ended at what later became Brownsville, on the Fraser River opposite New Westminster.

The short-lived Collins Overland Telegraph Company used part of the route in 1865 for its telegraph line. The road was upgraded with assistance from the Province in 1873-74 and became known as the Semiahmoo Trail by 1890. Much of the route was incorporated into the King George VI Highway, which officially opened October 1940.

The historic use of the rivers, trails and roads provided continuity from the past to the present and continues to influence transportation and communication in the Elgin community.

(Communications • Native Americans • Roads & Vehicles • Waterways & Vessels) Includes location, directions, 2 photos, GPS coordinates, map.

Mountain Meadows Massacre

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Utah, Washington County, Central

Massacre of Men and Boys
On September 11, 1857, a procession of Arkansas emigrants bound for California marched northward up this valley having been persuaded to leave their beseiged camp by Mormon militiamen, bearing a white flag, who falsely promised them protection. As directed by the militia leaders, the women, children and wounded left the camp first. The men and older boys were last to leave, each escorted by a militiaman. As the men neared this spot, a signal was given. The militiamen at their sides turned and fired upon the unarmed emigrant men and older boys. Within minutes all were dead, their bodies strewn near the wagon road. Further up the road, the women, children and wounded who had traveled ahead were also murdered. Only 17 children, aged six and under, survived.

Burials
This ground has traditionally been associated with the burials of the men and boys killed nearby. On the day following the massacre, Mormon militia members hastily buried the victims in shallow graves near where they fell. However, within days, wolves and coyotes had pulled the bodies from the earth. Local ranchers, a federal Indian agent, and soldiers reburied many bones in 1858 and 1859. Small rock cairns once marked the sites of some of the burials, but the stones are now mostly scattered. One of these stones, with a cross on its face, has been incorporated into the memorial. For more than a century, this ground has lain untilled and protected from desecration by its owners out of respect for those who died in the massacre and are buried in the vicinity.

(Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Settlements & Settlers) Includes location, directions, 4 photos, GPS coordinates, map.
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