The Monongah Heroine

As I stood in front of the Monongah Town Hall staring up at the woman before me who was clutching her children close, I tried to imagine what it would be like to lose all the men in my family at once- my husband, my brother, my son, my nephew, my father... I couldn't. I couldn't even bare the thought of what her life must have been like or what she went through; what she thought; what she felt... after a disaster of this proportion.

On December 6, 1907, on a day I am positive was absolutely freezing, the worst mine disaster became forever ingrained in American History. Upward of 360 plus men including boys lost their lives. They left behind 250 widows and over 1000 children. The sad fact is that there were a lot more victims unaccounted for, most being Italian and Slavish immigrants. In the early 1900's, workers were paid for the amount of coal they extracted not by the hours they worked. It was not uncommon for one man to bring his sons, brothers, cousins and so forth to help him mine for coal. The fact remains that there were a lot more men and children in the mine than could have ever been expected by rescue workers.

Poor regulations and not enough pressure to follow them is ultimately what created this disaster. Simply put, methane lit the coal dust in mine numbers 6 and 8. Had there been stricter regulations and better ventilation this disaster may have never happened. As rescue workers arrived they were limited on the help they could give due to lack of respirator devices. In fact, a few rescue workers died due to the poisonous gases in the air and their determination to help. Many changes in safety practices began in response to the Monongah Mine Disaster shortly after. In fact, the New York Times reported on December 19, 1907 the rise in mine deaths due to poor regulations. In 1908, more proof came to the surface that unsafe conditions were more costly and inefficient. Its a shame that the 'inefficiency' is what finally turned the heads of mine owners. By 1910, the US Bureau of Mines was established and government regulations on mines with inspections began.

In October 2007, nearly 100 years after the tragedy, the Monongah Heroine statue was dedicated to all those left behind. The statue project took 4 years and $75,000 (with the aid of the Italian government) to accomplish. She was made from Carrara marble and became known as "an obligation finally fulfilled".

As I turned to leave her standing there, I had an over whelming haunted feeling run through my bones. I had stood underneath a true heroine. One I could never fully understand but one that was finally recognized.

Check out this website if you would like to read a more complete history on the Monongah Mine Disaster. It also includes photos of the mine, the workers and their housing, as well as the funeral procession that followed the disaster.

What's that in my garden?

I was admiring the herbs in my garden when I happened to look over at the lemon balm and saw something that wasn't suppose to be there. Another mushroom had made itself at home in my garden. But this time it wasn't just any old mushroom. No - I recognized this fella. It was a morel or more lovingly known as a mollymoocher. I probably wouldn't have recognized it if Granny Sue hadn't just wrote about them in her blog. I must have jumped out of my skin as I realized what I had just found. I gathered up all the ones I could see, which weren't many, and I ran to show Aaron. He took one look and said, "Yep, you found mollymoochers."

I am used to seeing mushrooms in my garden. They come up all the time. I usually leave them since my knowledge is limited on mushrooms. Plus, their lifespan is short and in the end they feed my soil. I've seen all sorts pop up in my garden from the beautiful fairy ring mushrooms to the little ugly, spindly mushrooms. But none that I thought I could harvest. This time I felt like I had struck gold since I love mushrooms. I wonder if they will come back from year to year or if this was just a fluke? Perhaps a seed that was planted when the mulch came in? Its life's little surprises like these, that keep me happy.

Veggie gardening with James

James and I spent Sunday planting seeds in this years veggie garden. He told me in all his sweetness, "I'll do anything you want me to do Mommy." I thought to myself for a moment and then I said, "Alright James! I need you to fill this bowl for me with Miracle Gro and we are going to get started." His enthusiasm was definitely infectious.

We started with the peas putting 46 seeds in the ground (2 in each hole plus indeterminate plants, just in case) and of course, James planted them all. After we finished with the peas James was still revved up and ready to help. So we moved onto the green beans and put 22 more seeds in the ground but then the neighbor kid came home and his attention turned to playing. Which was okay because he had worked so hard up to that point, it was definitely time for him to go have some fun. I finished planning out where the tomatoes would be and planted the cucumber seeds, a few more onions, as well as, the squash and zucchini. I still have to plant my eggplant and my green peppers. After I figure out where they are going to be I hope I have room for a few more green bean plants. In any case, I'm hoping in a few weeks I'll have a rather green garden.

This years victory garden and herb garden are considerably bigger than last years. I absolutely can't wait to watch them grow and see how much they produce. Of course, my favorite part will be actually eating it.

A man and his tractor

Aaron never ceases to amaze me. He takes what others would consider rusted garbage and turns them into functioning machines. For him, its a challenge. He has a want and need to beat father time. Over the years I've seen him repair snowmobiles (vintage 1978), rotor tillers, generators, various motors, cars, etc... His most intriguing project thus far has been an old, well used 1959 Massey Ferguson 65 farm tractor. Used may be an understatement. It was a bit abused as well. But being a farm tractor is a thankless and hard job.

Aaron purchased his Massey Ferguson in November 2005 for a mere $700. It was in obvious disrepair. The previous owner repeated several times, "Are you a mechanic?" as he handed Aaron the hydraulic lift tube and the old tire he used as a make shift seat. It took some muscle to get the sleeping tractor that had froze to the ground up on the trailer to bring home. But Aaron did it and he was proud.

It took Aaron two years, lots of money, and many, many hours of hard labor to finish the tractor. In all he rebuilt the engine, brakes, drive train, hydraulics, and the entire front end. He also rewired the electric components and replaced many of the body panels, as well, as the accessories. At times we weren't sure we were ever going to see a complete tractor again and then... one day it all came together. I think it was worth it. Its one sexy tractor.

The old Massey is definitely in its retirement phase of life as it hauls kids on hay rides, sits in tractor and car shows, and does odd jobs for people in the neighborhood. But don't be fooled its once again in its prime. If we have our way, it will be the tractor that works our first farm.

Hammond, WV Part II

As we walked down the path, Aaron gave me a brief history of Hammond and what laid before us.

The History

Hammond was established in 1802 and was originally named Nuzum's Mill after Richard Nuzum who settled the area. At the time that Nuzum had bought the land, he had no idea that the area had rich natural resources and over time it would become a rather lucrative, bustling town.

In 1865, Nuzum sold 370 acres of his property, mineral rights included, to James O. Watson. Watson immediately took advantage of what the land had to offer. He built a brick factory and used the clay along the banks of the river to make the bricks. The brick company exchanged hands several times, including through the worst flood the Tygart Valley has ever seen. It never became fully successful until 1899 when the Hammond Fire Brick Company took over. At this point the property was renamed Hammond and had grown to 410 acres. The Hammond Fire Brick company took full advantage of the rich 2' thick clay seam that ran 100' below the coal seam. Both seams of coal and clay were being extracted from the earth to form a sort of co gen operation which made Hammond very successful, very quickly.

By 1903, new round kilns were built along with housing for the brick workers. By 1910, the company was making 50,000 brick a day. By 1945, it grew to 100,000 brick a day and WV became famous for its Hammond bricks. The Hammond bricks were in high demand all over the country and were bought for such structures as the Empire State Building in New York and the Ford Motor Co. in Detroit. Samples of the Hammond fire brick were taken all the way to the World's Fair in Chicago and judged the best clay fire brick in the United States. Hammond had figured out how to best use the three different clays the earth had to offer and had created not only a strong, durable brick but a small empire in West Virginia. The town of Hammond quickly grew larger than the University town I currently live in.

Unfortunately, this all changed in 1952 when a major fire destroyed the brickyards. However, a few years prior the Hammond Fire Brick Company had once again exchanged hands following Hammond's death. The new owner did not have the talents Hammond had when it came to creating brick and his were not as durable. One has to wonder if the main failure of the town was due to the fire or the ineptness of the new owner. In any case, the town never recovered and in 5 years had become a ghost town. In 1965, the Southern Ohio Coal Company burnt what was left when they took over the land. This was to keep trespassers from harming themselves. And up until the 1990's Hammond continued to be the dumping ground for garbage and trash. So what fascinates me the most about what's left? Lets take a look.

Entering the Brick Yard

Apparently its takes more than flooding, fire, and the forces of the earth to completely destroy a double or triple bricked structure. This may say a lot for the Hammond fire bricks that were voted most durable at the Chicago World's Fair. Eventually these brick ruins may return to the earth but for the time being there is still a lot left to explore. Upon entering we found a lot of different brick that were stamped with town names such as Fairmont and Hammond. James was ready to pack them all out and home till he found out that they weigh approximately 15 lbs a piece.

Many walls, foundations and basements are still intact. James and I loved to run along the ruins and peek inside. Of course, Aaron reminded us that in a few more months as it gets warmer this becomes snake heaven. I can see why. I'd be a happy little snake amongst all that warm brick as well. Where one building ended another began. This was truly a brick city.

Amongst the structures, we found a beautiful arched bridge as well as a bricked street still intact.

Perhaps what was most fascinating for me was seeing where the old housing once existed for the workers. The housing had smaller foundations here and there that definitely set them apart from the large brick factory buildings. But what made them homes? ...the daffodil plants set around them. I tried to imagine the woman who had once planted her flowers, what she was thinking, and if she had thought this brick city and little bit of nature was as pretty as I did. When I return, I will be packing a small spade and a plastic bag. I want to bring some of those plants and some of that history home with me.

Our final destination on this journey ended at another breath taking beach. We took a few moments to breath in the fresh air, listen to the rushing water, and take a few more pictures.

There is still a lot more to explore but having a seven year old with us I worried about how much longer he could endure and this happening

Oh wait...

Our fishing trip to a ghost town Part I

This weekend Michaela went to visit grandma and Aaron and I thought it would be a good opportunity to spend some time with James. Aaron's idea was to go hiking to the ghost town Hammond and take our fishing poles as well. It ended up being a trip I'll never forget and one I'll make again soon. Each step of the way into this little piece of history became more and more fascinating, almost addictive, as well as breath taking.



The walk out to the first fishing hole was beautiful. To the left of us, was the climbing mountain with jutting rock ledges and trees just beginning to wake up from the long winter. Below us, was the railway that once ran through the bustling town of Hammond, transporting its rich resources. Well below the tracks, the rapids were letting their presence known. I can't think of a more serene sound than the white noise that is produced by rushing water.



I admit the moment we came off the trail to drop down to our first fishing hole, I fell in love with the scenery. The water was absolutely clear. It was a little higher than it should have been, with all the rain that we've had lately, so I did not underestimate the power behind the rushing water. There is a lot of respect to be had for something so beautiful and so deadly at the same time.


Immediately we came across the first occupants in the area. A nesting set of wild geese. I also did not underestimate their power or territorial ownership. We watched them carefully as we quietly moved down to the beach. And we continued to watch them as we fished. We weren't alone in the stare down. We were watched the whole time. Occasionally, the male would move off the rock and nonchalantly take a drink of water all the while keeping one eye on us. He didn't have us fooled. We were being cased.


While the first fishing hole was beautiful, it didn't yield a lot of fish. In fact, we did not catch anything except for one hell of a view and a few rays of sun. The relaxation was much needed after Aaron's 2 long weeks of work.





It was also on this beach that I saw a little hint of the once bustling ghost town ahead. Hidden in the sand were a few of the bricks that were made years and years ago. My first thoughts were "How did they get to this small lonely beach? Surely they did not float." What I didn't know was that what laid ahead was a town that used bricks indiscriminately. It is not unusual in this area to find bricks laying here and there.

Aaron then asked me, "Do you want to see the falls?" I could hear them in the background and I said, "Sure." We worked our way back past the nesting geese and back up to the train tracks. We then worked our way back down the other side past a beautiful hillside of mountain laurel onto a view I could not even imagine. So what do you get when you have a beautiful waterfall in the background, a brick pump house, and a handmade brick dam?

A community bath!

We spent some time in front of the falls examining the community bath, exploring the rocks around the falls, and taking pictures. What laid ahead? What did the town look like 100 years later? A community that was once bigger than the modern community I now live in. What happened to it? Where did it go? What sort of legacy did the people of Hammond leave behind?

We then hopped back onto the railway and headed for Hammond...

Our favorite small town businesses

I took the kids to our favorite small town animal store to purchase some new fish and tank accessories. Its been a few months since we have done any upgrades on our 55 gallon tank, one of the best features in our house I must add. In any case, I knew the moment I walked in that there was something wrong. There was less to choose from, a sign stating no more club membership discounts, and the prices have risen significantly. Like every other small business, they have been hit with the recession.

I spent $52 in there today. Probably about $40 more than I intended, just to show my support. I hate this recession. There is no way I'm going to buy my fish at Wally World or any of the other chain pet stores where the fish aren't taken care of properly and are usually thick with disease. I want to be able to buy my pet stuff in my town from people who live in my town. That's all - its really a rather simple request.

On a side note - I love the new background, trees, and the 4 fish I bought. Its all absolutely beautiful. I think in a couple of weeks, the kids and I'll go back. I could use a few more fish and a few more plants, maybe some more rocks....

Anyone else have to watch their favorite small town business go out of business?

Is that Avril or Michaela?

Last week at Michaela's elementary school, the Library had "Rock'n' Roll Week in Reading". The kids were so excited. They love dressing up for Spirit Week or any of the other moral boosters the school offers. Friday was 'dress like your favorite rocker day' and Michaela not to be outdone by all the Hannah Montana's and High School Musical fans decided that she wanted to go as Avril Lavigne. Her favorite rocker chick.

So, I jumped in the car and drove down to CVS and picked up a handful of eye make up and lipstick. When I got home I started working on making the wrist cuffs, gathering some of James' skateboarding clothes, and a black sharpe for nail polish. Before I knew it - Viola! I had Avril Lavigne standing in front of me. She was so excited and so cute. Oh and btw, did I mention how hard it is to put eye make up on a 6 year old. Between her wondering eyes and split second jerks, I didn't think I'd ever get her ready.

Aaron didn't get to see Michaela until after school. By the time school was over, her bangs had fallen and her eye make up had softened and he was left standing with his jaw dropped. He said, "Do you know who she looks like?" And of course, I replied "Well... a lot of what we did this morning has worn off." He said, "No, look at her. Who does she look like?" And I replied that I didn't know. "Mom, she looks like mom. With her wavy hair and big girl make up." I should have taken another picture because she did indeed look like Susie. Aaron is definitely looking at her in a different light now. One day she won't be our little girl in pigtails anymore, she'll be a young lady.

Art in a Teapot

Every night that it freezes, I clench my teeth in fear that the next morning I'm going to have a bed of floppy, mushy spring flowers. All year long ( and that's not an understatement), I look forward to my spring show more than any other time of the year and each year it only gets better. Over the long winter I know that we are only a few months away from seeing purples, pinks, reds, whites, and yellows emerging from the soil again. The beautiful colors of spring almost singing life back into everything. And that's something worth waiting for.

I decided this year, that my abundance of spring flowers meant that I could bring some inside and enjoy them a bit longer. I try to make sure that I don't deprive my beds of their color this time of year. So up till now, I had not cut any of my spring flowers. But this year the beds with their one hundred some blooms would not be deprived. It was time to start enjoying them indoors as well. But one question remains - How can the temps drop into the lower 30's at night and be back into the 60's by noon the next day? That has to be some kind of strange phenomena. And I'm sure that its probably the biggest nuisance to those of us who love our spring flowers.

In any case, I picked a lovely assortment of tulips and daffodils. The only thing left was to pick the perfect vase. I have several of varying sizes, colors, and texture. But what would be the perfect vase to showcase the yellows, whites, purples, and reds now sitting in my hand emitting the most wonderful scent? Ah-ha! A silver plated teapot given to me as a gift by my mother-in-law - PERFECT!

Homemade Seasoning Mixes

Making your own seasonings is a lot better than anything a store or packet can offer. If you can use your own herbs it can also be very rewarding. Of course, you don't have to use your own herbs and not everything in these recipes comes from my herb garden. But either way, I can guarantee you won't go back to premade packets.

I want to share two of my recipes - taco seasoning and italian seasoning. And of course, if you choose to try out any of these recipes - feel free to change them as you see fit. In the end, its all 'to the taste'.

Taco Seasoning

Ingredients

4 TBSP Chili Powder

1 tsp garlic powder

1 tsp onion powder

1/2 tsp red pepper powder

1 tsp dried oregano

2 tsp paprika

4 tsp ground cumin

4 tsp salt (preferrably sea salt)

4 tsp black pepper

Directions

Mix all ingredients together and store in an airtight container. After browning and draining the meat, add 1/3 cup water and use 2-3 TBSP per pound of meat depending on how spicy you like your taco meat. Mix into meat and cook on low till done.

**Alternatives - if you or your family needs to tone it down a bit, the red pepper can be eliminated and the black pepper cut in half.

**What I like about this recipe is that it packs a lot more punch than packet seasoning. What Aaron likes about this recipe is that it not only tastes good but it doesn't turn the meat the same day glow orange packets do.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Italian Seasoning

Ingredients

3 TBSP dried basil

3 TBSP dried oregano

3 TBSP dried parsley

1 TBSP garlic powder

1 tsp onion powder

1 tsp dried thyme

1 tsp dried rosemary (my favorite to grind in the mortar and pestle)

1 tsp marjoram

1/4 tsp black pepper

1/8 tsp red pepper powder

Directions

Mix all ingredients and store in an airtight container. Italian seasoning is great on chicken, pasta, and I love it on my homemade pizza bread. Just a little sprinkled across the top is not only pretty but delicious.

**Alternative - 1 tsp of savory can also be added to this recipe. I do not have it in my pantry, so I don't use it.

**Tip - Old plastic bullion jars are perfect for seasoning mixes. Not only can you tighten the lid down to keep them airtight but the clear plastic is perfect for writing the recipes on.