Fort Ticonderoga June 2008

Yale June 2008

Holy Cow I am studying at YALE!!! An amazing campus steeped in History, tradition and incredible architecture. I spent a week studying at Yale with the world renowned Professor John Demos who is expert in Colonial Life. This seminar focused on the Everyday Life of Colonials in Connecticut. This water monument was created by Maya Lin who developed the Vietnam Memorial. This is the Women's Water monument and is meant to symbolize the life that both women and water give to us.

YALE CAMPUS TOUR

These last two pictures are of the classroom where Professor Demos taught and me standing at his podium

NEW HAVEN CEMETERY

This very old cemetery was right outside my dorm, so I spent a couple hours walking through it. The above picture is of Roger Sherman, a Founding Father, and Signer of the Declaration of Independence. Top picture is of some of the Amistad slave ship victims. The Amistad case was tried not to far from the campus. Second picture, ironically, is of Ely Whitney, creator of the cotton gin. Many historians have argued that his invention single handedly led to the rise in cotton plantations and slavery. Third picture is of Lyman Beecher minister, aboltionist and, father of Harriet Beecher Stowe who wrote Uncle Tom's Cabin. When Abraham Lincoln met Harriet, he said, "so, this is the little lady whose book started the Civil War."

HEMPSTEAD HOUSE

The Hempstead House is one of the oldest surviving homes in the area. Hempstead was a wealthy merchant who enlisted in the Revolutionary cause and fought in the Battle of Groton (Ibelieve, have to check my notes) The last two photos are of the cemetery close to the home. You can see that many of the headstones are from the late 1600's and early 1700'.s We had a lesson on headstone imagery.

Professor Demos Home

Professor Demos and his wife hosted a last evening dinner for us at his home in the Berkshires, which ironically is not too far from where my Goodrich ancesters lived. As a gift, we presented John with a "bundling board" which of course we made from a scrape piece of wood we found. This above last picture is the final picture I took of the sunset before boarding the bus. It wsn't until later that I discovered something on the photo. Some say it was a ghost, others say a bug. I leave it up to you.

Lincoln/Springfield 2008

Meet me and a pensive Lincoln

In summer 2008 I was chosen as a Horace Mann - Abe Lincoln Fellow and went to Springfield Ill to study Abe for a week of all expenses paid, intensive study on the 16th President. It was by far the most impressive study trip I have ever taken. All of these pictures are not going to do justice to the program. Springfield was Abe's home when he was an Illinois lawyer and Representative and presidential candidate. We teachers were given private tours of his Springfield home, the Hearndon Law office where he practiced law and wrote his first Inaugural Speech, the House of Representatives chamber where he was a rep, his office in the State Capitol where he campaigned and was notified that he won the presidency, New Salem where he first worked and the Presidential Museum. Come share just a few of the pictures.

The Presidential Museum

Inside the museum they have recreated the facade of the White House. Inside the White House we take a walking journey of Lincoln's time in office. There is a recreated cabinet room where Lincoln is meeting with all of his advisors to discuss the Emancipation Proclamtion (my second favorite room) a recreated room of Lincoln's son Tad as he laying ill and subsequently dying. The most impressive (but couldn't take pictures) is a recreated room where Lincoln is laying is state.

New Salem

New Salem is the town where Lincoln heads out on his own at about 18. He is said to have become a merchant and postmaster first. This top building is a recreation of that building, however, it is built on the exact location. The archealogist on the dig also mentioned that he has found the primary document that lists Abe Lincoln also owned a home on this spot as well. I have a picture of tha document if needed. The other two pictures are of an original building left in New Salem. We were given a rare visit on the inside narrated by the archealogist, who is in the hat above.

Old State Capital

This is the Old State Capitol where Lincoln was a representative for a period of time and also argued cases before the State Supreme Court. The top picture is the building itself, the second is the chamber where Lincoln was seated. Third pictures is inside the State Supreme Court where Lincoln argued over 300 cases. Fourth is an original Lincoln banner. The above is Lincolns campaign office which is next to the Governors office. All the furniture in this room is original to Lincoln's day. Including the hat box and chair and the foreground.

Lincoln-Hearndon Law Offices

This is the Law Office where Lincoln was partnered and took cases. We received an extensive and private tour of the offices and allowed to take numerous pictures, which I took them up on :). This is the desk that Lincoln wrote his First Inaugural Address on.

Lincolns Tomb

A stormy and dreary evening awaited us when we toured Lincoln's tomb. A very emotionally powerful place. It was as if the tears of the nation had rained down on us that evening. We had spent several days learning and discovering who Lincoln was and the tomb tour was the final culmination of his life and our journey with him. Above his tomb it reads "He now belongs to the ages."

Lincoln's Home

I could have posted many pictures of inside his home but space doesn't permit it. The first picture is of his bedroom and the second is of Mrs. Lincolns. Wealthy people of the period kept separate bedrooms, but probably did not use them as such. The third is of Mrs. Lincolns kitchen and the last is of their parlor where they kept their evenings.

Lincoln Fellows and Friends

The first picture is of me and Fred, who was my partner in developing some Lincoln Leadership lesson plans. I told him repeatedly that he looks like Dick Cheney :). The last picture is the last one I took before all of us had to head our separate ways. We stood and sang.