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#RockSolidHistory from Lake Superior! Not long ago, I missed an important memorial! On November 10, it was the 50th anniversary of sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald (in 1975).
The freighter, immortalized by Gordon Lightfoot’s 1976 shanty, sank in Lake Superior with 29 men on board. The terrible wintry storm, mixed with the ship’s impact with a shoal near Caribou Island, resulted in no survivors. The Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum at Whitefish Point, Michigan, talks deeply about the Edmund Fitzgerald and even has the ship’s bell, which was retrieved by deep divers. But most shocking is just how many ships have sunken in Lake Superior - approximately 300! By the beach at Whitefish Point, there is a memorial to Gordon Lightfoot’s song, by artist Timothy Schmalz, who has several leaf sculptures dedicated to Lightfoot’s songs throughout Michigan, the U.S., and Canada. As we continue into this winter, keep positive thoughts for all those traveling in that deep, cold, and treacherous Great Lake. #LakeSuperiorHistory #LakeSuperiorShipwrecks #WhitefishpointShipwreckMuseum #MichiganTragedies #GordonLightfootsong #EdmundFitzgerald
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 #RockSolidHistory from #NorvinGreenStateForest in #RingwoodNJ!
This sign is a reminder to be gentle with yourself this New Year’s. While yes, things can change around you and alter you a little, always be true to your core being. Let those little things surprise you, tickle you, recharge you like a child. Look at the world with wonder and excitement. It will bring you immense joy. So go easy on yourself if you didn’t complete all you wanted this year. You are still you. And you are fabulous. (Just a note: this sign may say, “Hiking’s Best Here in the Garden State.” It probably says, “Report Forest Fire to the Warden by Phone.” If you really do know what is says, drop a line below. Thanks!) Also, just a little announcement that many parks in New Jersey hold First Day hikes on January 1. #RingwoodNJmystery #historydetective #happygentlenewyear2025 #alwayscurious #bekindtoyourself #GetOutdoorsNJ #HikeNJ #FirstDayHikeNJ  Dear friends, family, and faithful readers, I hope everyone is having a great holiday.
I have been quiet for a little while. It was a self-imposed break after some intense weeks at work and at home, followed by the flu, unfortunately. I wasn’t terribly sick thanks to modern medicine. But it put a real kink in my holiday preparations! Somehow things came together. Thank you to all who considered buying “A Rock Solid History of Hawthorne, New Jersey” as a holiday gift. It’s never too late! I also wanted to thank the many northern NJ establishments who carry the book, for I shopped at each one myself for the holidays: Colour and Whim in Hawthorne, The Curious Reader in Glen Rock, and Bookends in Ridgewood. (I’m hoping to add another one soon – I’ll keep you posted). I promise to continue to add historical content you may not know. It gives me great joy to discover these things myself. Wishing you the best of the holiday season, health, and joy. (Pictured: Me at Fraunces Tavern in Manhattan – the oldest building on the island – right before flu took down members of my family. It was beautifully decorated though! More on the museum there soon…) #happyholidays2025 #colourandwhim #thecuriousreader #bookends #frauncestavern  #RockSolidHistory and #MovieMonday from #MackinacIsland in #Michigan!
You may know the 1980 film called “Somewhere in Time” featuring Jane Seymour and Christopher Reeves. Many years later, people continue to flock to Mackinac Island to see where the majority of this romantic film was made. This island, found in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, has been a tourist destination for many years, which was bolstered by the film’s success. Featured in the film are the Grand Hotel and the Round Island Lighthouse (also called Old Round Island Point Lighthouse). Both date back to 1887 and 1895, respectively. The movie’s settings are 1912 and modern day with an almost sci-fi-like twist to the experience of love at first sight. I will say no more. #NoSpoliers See in on tubi! #mackinacisle #UPMichigan #mackinacfudge #UpperPenninsula #Michiganislandlife #MichiganLakeLife #MichiaganUP #MichiganUpperPenninsula #UPNorth #JaneSeymour #SomewhereinTime #ChristopherReeves #GrandHotelMackinac #RoundIslandLighthouse  #RockSolidHistory from #BronnersChristmasWonderland in Frankenmuth, MI!
This 2.2 acre store, founded by Wally Bronner in 1945, was grown from a tiny store to a large store with 350 decorated Christmas trees, 6,000 ornaments, 500 nativities, and 50,000 trims and gifts. His German upbringing, and Christmas festivities such as decorating St. Lorenz Lutheran Church and other traditions, were always enjoyed by Wally and inspired him to keep his love for Christmas going. Today younger generations of the Bronner family run the large store and indoor café. #Christmasstore #Bronners #Michiganattraction #MichiganHistory  For #GivingTuesday, you may not know that I use a portion of profits from my book sales to reinvest back into the community for children’s education.
I spend my free time giving presentations to children for free and donate to causes to help children have equal access to educational opportunities and necessities, such as the Hawthorne Historical Society and Mutual Passaic County. Consider buying a “A Rock Solid History of Hawthorne, New Jersey” to help me invest in our local youth. It’s also a really fun book for kids to build curiosity and learn local history. My book is sold on Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/Rock-Solid-History-Hawthorne-Jersey/dp/0692097104), as well as at #ColourandWhim in Hawthorne, #TheCuriousReader in Glen Rock, and #BookEnds in Ridgewood. Thank you. #WomanOwnedBusiness #Charitableeducationalendeavors #SupportLocalYouth #ChildrensEducationIsEverything  #RockSolidHistory from #MackinacIsland and #FortMackinac in #Michigan!
This fort, which was active for more than 100 years, had not only soldiers staying onsite, but their families too. The Reading Room was a versatile place, including a library and schoolhouse for the soldiers and their children. Yes, the schoolhouse was for night school for adults, as well as day school for children. Interestingly, the small library had the book “Anne” by Constance Fenimore Woolson. The story is set on Mackinac Island, and Woolson knew the island well because she spent her childhood summers here in the 1840s. Woolson’s book, which was extremely popular in the 1880s, gives a true snapshot of how life used to be on the island. It reflects her true experiences. You can read it for free online today. #thisismackinac #AnneBook #ConstanceFenimoreWoolson #MackinacHistory #LiteraryHistory #FortMackinacReadingRoom #UPMichiganHistory  #RockSolidHistory and #SmallBusinessSaturday from northern New Jersey!
You can find my book “A Rock Solid History of Hawthorne, New Jersey” at local establishments such as #ColourandWhim in Hawthorne, #TheCuriousReader in Glen Rock, and #BookEnds in Ridgewood. This book takes grade-school children on a journey through history, told through local rocks, in this town. Children can go and see these rocks in the parks, cemeteries, old buildings and more, like a scavenger hunt! It sneakily teaches social studies and earth science in a fun away. My book builds curiosity in children. Soon enough, children will then see history wherever they go. #ShopLocally2025 #Independentbookstores #Indiebooks #Growyourlocalbusinesses  #RockSolidHistory and #HappyThanksgiving2025 from #LakeGeorgeVillage in New York!
Today we are celebrating the contributions of Native Americans. One such contribution is commemorated with a wooden sculpture in #LakeGeorge New York. Created by Oregon sculptor Paul Stark, this wood carving celebrates both Major Robert Rogers' and local Mohicans' roles in French and Indian War in the 1750s. They called themselves the “Rogers Rangers.” Together they conducted guerilla type scouting and warfare often in a canoe, like in this art piece. The battles were between the French and Native Americans, who were helped by local British settlers. These battles pre-dated the official founding of the United States. Major Rogers wrote the "Rules of Ranging" during this time at Fort William Henry on Lake George, which is still used by military experts today. The sculpture in Lake George, made from a pine tree sourced from the Catskills, was dedicated in 2017 and measures 24 feet with life-size likenesses. The art was purchased through local businesses, independent donations, and a sum from the village and town of Lake George to help promote cultural heritage tourism and history. #LakeGeorgeHistory #RogersRuleofRanging #FortWilliamHenry #FrenchandIndianWar #NewYorkHistory #MohicanHistory #SculptorPaulStark #NYheritagetourism #NYhistory #AdirondackHistory  #RockSolidHistory from #MackinacIsland and its wonderous #ArchRock.
This circle that peers into Lake Superior is created from breccia. Breccia is a limestone bedrock that is very easily eroded, but also cemented back with calcium carbonate over time, creating a jagged and rough appearance but a much stronger rock. The formation of Arch Rock was carved out after the last Ice Age by melting glaciers and their strong waves. Nearby, there was also a breccia formation called Fairy Arch, it had been obscured by vegetation until Dr. John R. Bailey found it in 1866. It looked like a portal into the lake. It became a tourist destination for 80 years, but then was destroyed in a stabilization effort in the 1940s. Arch Rock and Fairy Rock are just a few of famous (or formerly famous) rock formations on Mackinac Island State Park. Today there is also Robinson’s Folly, Friendship’s Altar, and Gibraltar Craig. #Breccia #mackinacisle #UPMichigane #UpperPenninsula #Michiganislandlife #MichiganLakeLife #MichiaganUP #MichiganUpperPenninsula #UPNorth #ArchRock #FairyRock #AftertheIceAge #MichiganGeology #MackinacGeology #LimestoneWonder |
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July 2025
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