Sepia Saturday 1 March 2014

The mysterious life of Carson, continues.

Unknown location, taken from Carson's page, "Speaking of Restored Scenes"

Venturing into the unknown, always leads to worthy adventures.  I've yet to meet a gross encounter.

SEPIA SATURDAY

Alan's theme photo this week involves, "Three men hiking up a mountain with a big telescope, one of them being a famous composer. "

With that focus, there are a number of ways one could begin.  I will flip through Carson's journal and see if any detours get in the way.

From Carson's Journal.

A brief glimpse into Carson's journal suggests that he's a journalist and I naturally assumed he was of the male gender.  However, after various leads I'm questioning that notion.  What if, he wasn't? 

Was Carson a known American writer of novels, short stories, plays, essays or even poetry? Such a writer would be capable of exploring the spiritual process and possible isolation of misfits or outcasts from small towns located deep in the United States South, and sounds perfectly fitting.

The cover to Carson's Album.

Let the theme unravel.

Going back to Natchez seems like a good place to begin.  It appears Carson spent a great deal of time in Mississippi and Georgia, besides going abroad.

An interesting scribbled note mentions Longwood, Nutt's Folly and Windy Hill Manor, with Natchez circled in red.  

Will any of it, lead to any famous composer as our theme photo offers this week?

Well yes, speaking of composers from Mississippi, there's, Gerald Wilson, born in Shelby, Mississippi he wrote arraignments for Ray Charles, Dizzy Gillespie, Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday just to name a few.  The Gerald Wilson Orchestra, "Lyons' Roar" listen here.

Or, possibly William Grant Still, born in Woodville, Mississippi.  A lovely Symphony No. 1 here for William Grant Still listen here.

While composers and their magical tunes are stimulating, I found the reference to Nutt's Folly, along with any encounter of an old manor, very intriguing. 

Researching Longwood, alternate title, Nutt's Folly, it was built by Dr. Haller Nutt and is described as being a moorish castle of 32 rooms, although unfinished in areas.

As well as this photo below.

Longwood, Adams County, Mississippi sometime in 1938.  Apparently, the construction of this 32 room castle ended when workmen left for war, leaving their tools and paint buckets behind, never to be touched again.  They still remain there today.  The unfinished state illustrates the impact of the Civil War.  The building structure dates back to 1860.

Natchez Pilgrimage Tours, seen here.  I like to think Carson took part in this tour as well.

The Library of Congress in Washington describes this photo as

"Quiet scene at Longwood, called the "Unfinished Symphony" of American restoration, Natchez, Mississippi.

Photo taken sometime after 1980.

Carson's album shows his strong liking to cities, and especially their streets.

From the streets of Natchez, Mississippi

Alan mentioned hiking up a mountain, so how about the Natchez Bluffs for hiking?

Silver Street, Natchez Bluffs and Under-the-Hill Historic District

sometime in 1972.

This photo was taken in August of 1940.

Surprisingly enough, you can't trust the modes of transportation to date a photo.  

Apparently, Natchez, as well as other areas in Mississippi one can travel in various styles.

Lastly, Alan mentioned big telescopes.  Carson's closest connections to "big telescope" that I see, would be Carson's scope into people, and the places and  situations that surrounded them.  A wide scope into the lives of unknown people actually.

Carson had several pages about Pithiviers.

A bit of a stretch?  Not so much.  Oddly enough, on the top of one of the pages reads, the name Nancy.  Perhaps a lost lover, or dear friend?

And this photo of Pithiviers (Loiret) - Hopital (Hospital)

Photo listed as Pithiviers (Loiret) La Place du Martroi

Pithiviers, more recently.

An interesting afternoon of singing and drinking (possibly a tad too much) in the shade of a beautiful, hot sunny day in Pithiviers, France seen here, "Chant sur la base d'une Maisona Pithiviers, heard here.

Carson had to have been an interesting character.  The following is posted at the beginning of his journal.

"Alle Rechte vom Verleger vorbehalten." 

Translates to "All rights reserved by the publisher."

Just another little quirky trait.

Special Note-

       For those folks curious about references for Carson, I only have an album with brief messages jotted across the pages and a few postcards and other miscellaneous notes stuffed inside as well.   I purchased it a few years ago,  and I've used a few photos in my first year posting with Sepia Saturday.  

Thematic Photographic - Return to the Scene of the Crime

"There is nothing like first-hand evidence." - Sherlock Holmes


THEMATIC PHOTOGRAPHIC

Can you solve this crime?  Carmi is calling for any Return to the scene of the Crime, that you may need solved.

"There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact." - Sherlock Holmes 


As for Sherlock and Watson's next case, see Carmi's theme photo below.



Photo by Carmi, at, Written Inc. blog. Peanuts, always peanuts. London, ON February 2014

"Who dunnit?"

Bring your return to the scene of the crime and we'll see if it's solve able.

The Mag - That Which You Feel

In generation after generation of wordsmiths, just as we blend our humble mixtures to bake, cool and later frost as our own delicious concoction, so shall our story go.

THE MAG

Poet's Sleep, 1989 by Chang Houg Ahn

Image provided by Tess Kincaid, for a magpie tale.

THAT WHICH YOU FEEL

YOU SEE

Drowsy, he submerges between gargled thoughts and deliverance.  Teetering on the edge of his own musings; he plunges, only to rise in deliberation of it all.

Eaten to pieces by his trite, boisterous dialogue and coaxing stories from his own counterfeit scenery, he tires of all the trash he swallowed whole, now deep within his words.

Having scraped this loathsome, inelegance before, he bites the crooked nail, where flesh and contrived doctrines always sell infinite copies.

We are but ceramic-faced drifters nonetheless, alive across our empty pages where mind will supply whatever is missing.

You can visit other magpie tales here.

Scavenger Hunt Sunday - 23 February 2014

Let the hunt begin.

SCAVENGER HUNT SUNDAY 

Ashley Sisk, from Ramblings and Photos, has us scrambling for, See...sea or C, chair, symmetry, blanket and giggle.  Quick, what is the first item?

1.  See the sea.

Obviously, this photo isn't recent, but taken from my album.

As you see, I used all three.


Also, see my "C" as Crazy Cherie the chimpanzee, is coloring.

2.  Chair

Or, in this case, chairs.

3.  Symmetry

Symmetry in

Symmetry out.

4.  Blanket

Blanket of green, green grass (oh how I miss you) and one more beautiful Symmetry. 

5.  Giggle

Stop on by Ashley's blog and view more of our hunt.

Sepia Saturday - 22 February 2014

The world is full of obvious things which nobody by any chance ever observes. - Arthur Conan Doyle, From the Hound of the Baskervilles.
.....and so it goes, generation after generation.



Sadly, there are events, and horrifying situations that have occurred in our history, which often times go completely unnoticed, as if the accounting of it has been permanently, vaporized.  Unless, those events are important enough to someone closely affected.  This is a story about such a sad occurrence.

On the road.  Natchez Trace Parkway Mississippi.

There was a man named, Carson (don't know if that's his first or last name) or, whether or not he's still alive.  But, he lived someplace near Natchez, Mississippi and his days were consumed with one particular ship, the schooner Clotilde, (slave ship)  and especially the shipwreck of Clotilde in 1859.   The Clotilde was the last known U.S. slave ship to bring captives from Africa to the United States, and arrived at Mobile Bay in autumn of 1859.  Other sources list the date as, July 9, 1860 with 110-160 slaves. 

Does the date matter?  Not to Carson.

You may already know about this disaster, and one well known passenger, Cudijo Lewis (1835-1935) also aboard that ship.  But Carson was searching for a person unknown to most. 


SEPIA SATURDAY





Sepia Saturday this week is all about- Mystery men, or just men in general, or possibly, hats as well as any other theme one could sail away with from Alan's photo above. 


For my post, a mystery is about to unfold.

Where in the world is this?  Follow along.

Photo by Carol Highsmith.

Beginning from Natchez, Mississippi, where Carson, a determined researcher (as far as I know) loaded up supplies for a lengthy stay away, stuffing in as much as possible inside an old and borrowed station wagon.  It was a humid day when he headed toward Alabama.   However Carson, still being obsessed with the story of the Clotilde, trudged on, prepared to let nothing stand in his way.  His destination, a grave that we see in the photo above, with the name barely legible.

Carson's Ride.

The entire trip from Natchez to his location outside of Mobile, was about 244 miles.  He wasn't the only person interested in the back story.  Even now, after Clotilde's fatal ending, from the hands of Captain Foster who burned and sank the ship upon arrival in Mobile Bay, archaeological searches still continue for the wreck of the Clotilde in the bay.  


About half way there, Carson entered the town of Hattiesburg.  If you've never been to Hattiesburg or are unfamiliar with Hattiesburg, you can view it here, and if you haven't heard the Hattie jingle, you should.

How about a few more mystery men?

I wonder if Carson ever ran into these men?  All happily due for a fresh haircut at Camp Shelby in Hattiesburg.  Photo taken about June 1941.

Getting a haircut at Camp Shelby.

Getting back on the road again, and Carson's mission, his station wagon continued from Hattiesburg, to Africatown, Alabama.  Once Carson arrived outside the gate to Plateau Cemetery, in Mobile County, Alabama, there are conflicting stories describing his search inside.

The cemetery is located at Bay Bridge Road and Cut-Off Road near the Cochrane and Africatown Bridge.

About this photo here.

Sources say he spent two solid days reading grave stone after grave stone, until he finally stumbled upon this graveside here.


Apparently, there was much care taken in preserving this grave, as many had been destroyed by vandals and other weather related events.  Many of the buried remains were even exposed.
The full name reads, Keeby, as in husband, Osia Keeby, and wife, Innie Keeby, a survivor of the Clotilda crossing.  Story of repairs to her graveside here.
The name Innie, is corrected as Annie, in other historical documents, and Osia is described here, as Ossa.

It seems Carson found another grave for Mrs. Lottie Dennison, also listed as a Clotilde survivor.

Did this satisfy Carson's hunger for the truth regarding at least the Keeby ancestors aboard the Clotilde?

It does seem it has, for now anyway, as he turned the station wagon around and returned to Mississippi.

Will he, or has he written a book about his discoveries?  I'm still searching for that answer.  

Natchez Trace Parkway Mississippi

Venturing out-

You Just never know where the road my lead you.

Six Word Saturday - 22 February 2014

WORST THEY'VE SEEN IN 25 YEARS

SIX WORD SATURDAY

Minnesota State Patrol issues warning-  Stay off! 

Really?

Well, yes as a matter of fact.  Below, about three miles from my house, is Cedar Avenue, aka Minnesota State Highway 77, and just beyond my turn headed for home, it's Dakota County 23 into Northfield, Minnesota.

This is my evening commute back home last night.  Even though the plow trucks were out all through the night clearing the roadways for this day, Old Man (Can't stop being a nuisance) Winter, decided strong winds and blowing snow was just what we deserve after a two day heat wave.  

REALLY?

Really.

Of course, besides the snow, and extreme winds blowing, endlessly it seems, ICE has much to do with it.

ICE is never good, unless you're on skates and twirling on the Depot's rink, in Minneapolis.


Just when we were beginning to get out like a spring day........

Whether We Like the Weather

"A snowball in the face is surely the perfect beginning to a lasting friendship."

Markus Zusak, The Book Thief



"Whether we like the weather or not, it is what it is." - spoken by all snowed folks.

So, let's make happy of it, anyway!  We'll show Old Man Winter who the boss is!
My morning so far.  Photos taken after attempting to leave the driveway to the street, even before the sun woke up.



Honey, we'll carpool today.  My trusty Trailblazer will blaze the way for us!

We'll dig out your side of the garage tonight.  Okay?

Just a refresher, so you can see how my birdie bath is fairing.  It's still in plain sight, anyway.

When even your plow doesn't like the frozen snowbanks, (thanks old man winter for the refreshing spring rains yesterday)..... Yikes!

Next helper, the old snow-plow itself, to the rescue.  What?! The pole barn door is frozen shut!

Don't even think about grilling here tonight.

I already knew last night that this morning would be a really late start out.

Our deck was completely free of snow before yesterday.

The wind was blowing inside as I shot this, so I had to snap quickly!

Moral to the story, Trailblazers have their limits.

Alphabe-Thursday - Niches

My assignment is all about- niches- winter-wise.

For the Letter N.

ALPHABE-THURSDAY


Niches, now naturally.

Nice to see you again.  The nerve of that nefarious, old man winter, needing to keep you locked away.


Now, follow along, and do keep up, don't get stuck in a kNee-deep-snowbank.  

Nearby, The City looms for all to see.  Can you guess which one?

Never go riding without your trusty, nice steed.

Need a place to rest your snowy feet?

Never be so narrow-minded that you pass a group of trees without pausing, to catch their latest whisper.

Nice to know, natural-live greenery, is only a few snowy steps away.

Never say you can't nestle down on a snowy-picnic-table, this time of year.

Nostalgic moment.

Naked spirits soar naturally, naive to the nasty elements, nagging at our nimble toes.  

Now grab a ride, and I'll meet you in the middle of the lake.

Never know what you might discover out on the frozen water.

Never be so namby-pamby.  Get out and shake hands with your winter muse.


If you want to view more Alphabe-Thursday posts go here.  Never you worry, Jenny is a fabulously NICE teacher too.

The Mag - 207

Rooms to let fifty cents...la, la...la..two hours of pushing brooms buys an eight by twelve four bit room.  STOP! ..... no time for browsing - meet me at Russ & Daughters instead.


THE MAG

Universal Studios Lot, Instagram by Sessepien

Thank you Tess, for always knowing how to get the thoughts moving,
even within a hectic weekend.

MUN-DEY, TWOS-DEY, WEHN-S-DEY, THERRS-DEY, FRY-DEY, SATER-DEY!

Some folks complain about concrete cliffs

and being trapped in such an ugly, crime ridden city.

Not I.

Call it a shattering reflection 

where one becomes deliciously vivacious
with bustling trains linking five boroughs

brawling through heaping helpings of cream cheese

smeared over a bagel

and how a hot garbage breeze

reminds you why July

lacks perfection-
and 
Magnolia's confections
always please.

Or meeting strangers drowned in hair gel 
that ride in 

from outer limits

are such a tease
 insistent to reach "The city"

just to catch-up 

with pals on Houston Street.
I for one am
Always

anticipating

spirits rising

 and heartfelt cheer

over a beer

and a plain slice

and 

no visit is complete

without
devouring 
a Meshugge

Yummy for the tummy
Meshugge!


on Houston Street.
and
the silky touch of 

a deli cat

strumming by.

Just another glory to be had

so spontaneously amusing

and
always

binding my soul

to New York City.

Never shall we worry about those folks 

living in Black and White.

Please do visit other Magpie tales why not.