John and Marlene 2022 Summer Trip

Providence/Woonsocket Falls, RI Roger Williams, an exiled Puritan from the Massachusetts Bay Colony, settled Providence in 1636, advocating separation of church and state.  Expected to fail, he developed good relations with the natives, who helped him survive the early years.  His settlement attracted many others and eventually succeeded. We visited a museum in Woonsocket, RI dedicated to the immigrants who came to this area to build a better life for themselves and their families.  The Blackstone River was ideal for water power, dropping 438 feet over 46 miles.   Samuel Slater, an English American industrialist, brought British textile technology to the US, becoming "The Father of the American Industrial Revolution".  He set up the first successful water powered roller spinning textile mill in America here around 1790. The Museum of Work and Culture highlights the life of immigrants who came to this area.  Over 35,000 French Canadians came here from the Qu...

  Tennis Hall of Fame Opened in 1880 as an exclusive resort for Newport Summer residents, the club quickly became a tennis facility hosting an annual US Lawn Associates Championship.  James Van Alen opened it as a Hall of Fame in 1954, with the first inductees in '55.  It became the International Hall of Fame in 1986.  Currently 253 inductees (I believe Van Der Meer will be inducted this year). Wonderful videos, stories, exhibits, pristine grass courts where you can take a lesson or play and where they have the annual Hall of Fame tournament just before the US Open.  A  must see if you get up this way. Me at the entrance; Marlene in front of the entry court. Racquet Bending Machine                                                              Ball Napper               All...

The Mutter Arrived in the Philadelphia area, where we lived for many years.  Lots of friends and family here.  Took a trip down to center city, visited a medical museum, The Mutter, presented by The College of Physicians of Philadelphia.  Not for everyone. Anatomical pathological specimens, wax models, antique medical equipment;  3000 skeletal specimens, 139 skulls,  every strange medical situation you can think of.  Among, to me, the most interesting: 1) slides of Einstein's brain, discussion of how it was different from other brains and 2) a plaster death cast of the original Siamese twins with conjoined liver.  Yes they actually existed, married two sisters, lived in NC, had different personalities, collectively had 21 children and lived to the age of 63.  Go figure!! Optique/The Parc We had a business in Philadelphia right next to Rittenhouse Square; it still looks good.  There was a great arts and craft festival that day on the Square, v...

  Eisenhower Frist stop Harrisburg, PA to visit dear friend Sharon Sidler.  Everything was green, lots of recent rain, good campground for our RV.  Had an interesting visit to President Eisenhower's retirement farm.  He was originally born in PA to Mennonite parents and after retiring from the military wanted to raise Angus prize cattle here.  It was more than a homecoming for him and Mamie, since, at the end of WWI, as a Captain ready to go to Europe and the front line, he was chosen to train soldiers in the use of a new weapon/vehicle: the tank (Rickenbach, did your family have something to do with this?).  Of course, there were no tanks, so the 27 year old Captain improvised by using flatbed trucks with artillery in the back to simulate.  He managed over 10,000 soldiers.  Excellent background for this West Pointer, who ended up graduating first in his class at Leavenworth with this logistics/tactical experience.  Of course, the rest is lit...