This day in History: April 14

Noah Webster published his first dictionary.
(Thank heaven for spell check!)

President Abraham Lincoln was shot by John Wilkes Booth
And the Titanic hit an iceberg.

But it wasn't always such a bad day.

Lorretta Lynn was born.
Julie Christie was born.
And in 1954 I was born.

Above: Me on my first birthday 52 years ago

And to help me celebrate, this little girl, daughter Laura, (pictured on her first birthday) came out to Texas for a visit.
She's 28 now...
We'll see about getting some more recent pictures of us later today after we go around having some fun.

Fun at work.

Student: “Do you have Shakespeare translated?’

Reference Interview: “Translated into what?”

Student: “English”

Ref Interview “Um, Shakespeare wrote in English. Do you mean an annotated version?”

Student: “That’s OK. I'll just go buy it.”

Ref Interview “What book are you thinking of buying”

Student “Othello”

(I quickly look it up, hoping for a modern English version. Victory!)

Ref Interview: “I have a copy of Othello in Modern English. Would that work for you?”

Student “Yeah! That would be perfect.”

(Student walks away)

Chapter 21: The Hannah Dustin Memorials

The Five Memorials to Hannah Dustin in America.

First Memorial: 1874: Penecook Island: First Memorial Statue to a Woman in America.

It was erected in 1874, primarily as a tribute to Motherhood, as exemplified by Hannah Dustin. Huge crowds overwhelmed the island on the day of it's dedication, with speeches presented all day long.

It was the first publicly-funded statue in New Hampshire.
Note the one bare foot, the hatchet and that she is holding a cluster of scalps.

The base of the New Hampshire statue reads as follows:

Westerly side facing the tracks:

"Heroum Gesta Fides-Justitia. Hannah Duston Mary Neff, Samuel Leonardson March 30, 1697, Midnight.

Easterly side facing the river :

March 15 1697 30. The War-Whoops-Tomahawks-Fagot and Infanticides were at Haverhill, the ashes of the camp-fires at night and ten of the tribe are here. Northern side: honors 23 donors

Southerly side:

Statua 1874
Know ye that we with many plant it;

In trust to the state we give and grant it,

That the tide of time may never can't it

Nor mar, nor sever;

That Pilgrims here may heed the Mothers,

That truth and faith and all the others

With Banners high in glorious colors,

May stand forever

Graces.

(Personally I think that is the worst poem I have ever seen.)

Second Memorial: 1879: Duston Monument Erected in Haverhill Massachusetts

(Photography by Joseph R. Modugno)
citation: http://www.hawthorneinsalem.org/images/image.php?name=MMD2436

The monument stands on the site of the Second Church, of which Hannah Duston became a member in 1724.
(Photography by Joseph R. Modugno)
citation: http://www.hawthorneinsalem.org/images/image.php?name=MMD2433

The original small axe or hatchet held by Hannah Duston can be found today in the Haverhill Historical Society. The Duston hatchet is not a tomahawk. It is usually called a biscayan or biscayenne, a common trade item of the late seventeenth-century New England frontier.
(Photography by Joseph R. Modugno)
citation: http://www.hawthorneinsalem.org/images/image.php?name=MMD2435

There are four plaques on the base of the Hannah Duston Haverhill Statue:

1. The capture of Hannah Duston and Mary Neff

(Photography by Joseph R. Modugno)
citation: http://www.hawthorneinsalem.org/images/image.php?name=MMD2437

2. Thomas Dustin Defending his children:

Hannah Duston's husband defending the Duston children
(Photography by Joseph R. Modugno)
citation: http://www.hawthorneinsalem.org/images/image.php?name=MMD2438 3.

3. Sleeping Abenaki Indians

(Photography by Joseph R. Modugno)
citation: http://www.hawthorneinsalem.org/images/image.php?name=MMD2440

4. The Escape of Hannah Dustin, Mary Neff and Samuel Lenorson (Lennardson) down the Merrimac River

(Photography by Joseph R. Modugno)
citation: http://www.hawthorneinsalem.org/images/image.php?name=MMD2441

Third Memorial: 1908: Boulder in Memorial to both Hannah and Martha, placed on the site of Hannah's son Jonathan's home.

(Be sure to enlarge these and check out the ladies in hats. The dedication events must have lasted for hours, it just amazes me that the women spent the day wear those huge heavy hats. I have had an opportunity to try on similar hats of that era, and let me tell you, those hats are very heavy. VERY VERY heavy!)

Old Postcard of the Jonathan Duston House Site, Monument Street, Haverhill, MA.

The Duston boulder (location of the home of Jonathan Duston with whom Hannah lived in her final years.)

Local history tells us that Haverhill's immense Duston boulder marks the site of Jonathan Duston's home, where Mrs. Duston lived her final years with a son. Haverhill public library records say it took 30 horses with 14 drivers to haul it to the present location.

Its weight is estimated at from 30 to 60 tons. Hannah Duston died at this location in 1736.

(courtesy of “The Story of Hannah Duston/Dustin of Haverhill, Massachusetts” Website )
citation: http://www.hawthorneinsalem.org/images/image.php?name=MMD2122

Fourth Memorial: A mill stone placed on the shores of the Merrimack River where Hannah, Mary and Samuel beached their canoe upon their return to Haverhill.

I can not remember when this memorial was dedicated, but I think it was 1982. Or 1928, based on the date inscribed on the top. If any one out there reading this knows, please leave a comment!

Fifth Memorial: The Site of James Lovewell's Home, where Hannah, Mary and Samuel rested on their way home from captivity.

Then there are the more, um, shall we say, unique tributes:

There is a Hannah Dustin Health Care Center, a Hannah Dustin Rest Home, and a Hannah Dustin Elementary School, that a few years ago was under discussion for renaming due to the controversial elements of Hannah's story.

Wonder why they didn't think of re-naming it Thomas Dustin then?

Anyway, there are apparently a couple of train engines christened "The Hannah Dustin":

And Hannah Dustin Memorial Parking

(Parking in memory of Hannah? A memorial parking lot? Oh wait, I get it, it is the parking lot where you leave your car before walking over to the bridge to the Penecook Island.)

After seeing all these memorials, we got a little punchy. We later went to the coast for a sea food dinner, and there was a statue of a woman looking out to the ocean.

Bernie quipped: "Oh look, it's "Hannah goes to the Sea Shore!"

But it is this final tribute that has left us in stitches:

The 1973 collectible "Hannah Dustin" Jim Beam bottle:

"4/5 quart 180 month old 86 proof. Beam Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey."

We all knew Hannah was a Christian woman.

And know we can say with confidence that Hannah Dustin was also "Spirit-filled."

Glory!

Easter bread; Bernie, Me and our Church on Cold Easter Morn

Isn't this cute?
It's called a "Honey Bunny" and it's made with honey wheat bread dough.

Not by me...I've done lots of Easter breads in the past including individual bunnies, Hot Crossed Buns, and Braided Easter Bread with Eggs tucked into the braid (I made a lot of those one year and delivered them on Saturday night to friends with small children, with a note that Easter breakfast was DONE!)

The "Honey Bunny" was made by our fabulous Great Harvest Bakery.
I used to make bread a lot more often before GHB came to town.
Their Challah bread is almost as good as mine!
Great Harvest Bakery is a chain, but each store seems to have their own specialties.

I also got the White Chocolate Cherry bread there to enjoy. They only make it for holidays.
Our loaf only lasted two days!

Yesterday there were snow flurries north of us, and the weather reported that the temperatures dropped into the thirties last night.
Canada apparently sent winter our way, and snuck a bit of early summer in up there in trade.

(It works for me. I'd rather be cool than very hot on Easter. I've done my share of Easter melting with heat!)

On Easter morning it was still quite chilly and in the forties.

I was glad I had a warm pink dress to wear, abandoning my plan to wear my new chiffon dress that would just not be quite warm enough.

At church we attended the Contemporary Worship Service first.
It was the usual young people in jeans, drums and guitars, and free wheeling lively worship. (By Presbyterian standards at least.)
After service there was coffee and all manners of pastries to enjoy while everyone mingled.

We visited with our Assistant Pastor, who told me he was so glad to see someone in PINK and a HAT; that at the sunrise service everyone was wearing dark colors and only two women wore something colorful.

(I like Fred. He's a good Assistant pastor!)

Then we stayed for the Traditional Service, where there were two other women in hats, and two little girls in hats, and one little girl in bunny ears.
(Oh dear.)
Oh well....

It was lovely to sing the traditional Easter hymns, and to be a bit crowded in the pew.
It was good to see entire families worshipping together.

Our Sr. Pastor Bob Covington preached on "Behold the Man."
Bob will be retiring next year, much to our dismay.
It is always a privilege to hear him speak.
He has had such deep experiences after years of life as a Military Chaplin, including serving on the front in Viet Nam.
He's a man's man, yet he has such soft spirit, so typical of the men raised in Tennessee.
I'll always treasure that I was there to hear Dr. Covington's final Easter Message.

Bernie looked handsome as always.
I thought his Mama and Daddy might like to see him on the blog for a change.

And yes, I DID wear white gloves to church!
And yes, I WAS the only one wearing gloves.
They felt wonderful.
I can't imagine why they fell out of fashion.

It truly was a Blessed Easter.

I know I am blessed.

I know HE has RISEN!

Easter eggs

For several years my mom took ceramic classes, and created all sorts of wonderful decoration and serving pieces for our homes.
One year she made ceramic eggs, painted them pastel colors and used decals to add designs for "permanent" Easter Eggs.
I added gold highlights.
The middle egg was from Mexico, and the orange bunny egg was made by Jeff as a four year old.
I suspect he had help, but I still think it is funny to see the black eggs in the bunny cart. None of that sissy pastel stuff for all boy Jeff!

Each year I enjoy putting out the eggs and reliving the afternoon Mom and I worked on making the eggs.

It's a nice memory. And each year I seem to find a different way of displaying the eggs.

I think that is just part of the fun.

The butterfly as a symbol of resurrection.

Forget-me-not.

I never will!

Millinery: Lavender Easter hat

I added the above flower last night, and the bead "fall" (picture below) on top of some additional leaves that I also fashioned last night.
Using the vintage stamen was so cool, it added just the right touch of mauve to the flower.
The purple beaded balls on the center of the flower was a trim I acquired in the interior fabric and trims section of a yardage store.
The balls were about an inch apart; I gathered the silk ribbon that they dangled from and made it into a compact design element.

I'm always on the prowl for something new.

I also added a few more of the little purple flowers, and the beads were a lampshade bead trim, again I gathered and compacted the ribbon upon which the beads were sewn.

Easter bonnet

(Tiggie's hunting Easter Eggs. Or Easter Lizards maybe.)
I decided to reshape the brim (again!) while Bernie was on hand to thumbs up and thumbs downs the tweaks.
Much easier than steaming the brim, running to a mirror, running back again.

The trim STILL needs to come forward about an inch.
Sigh.

The outfit works for the Southern belle garden party look.