White House

                            Oh, That White House!

Our People's House has been a part of our history for over 200 years. Our first President, George Washington, chose the site where it was to be built. Mr. Jamnes Hoban won the 500 dollar prize and was commissioned to design the  President's House (later known as the White House.) 

John Adams was the first President to live in the White House in June1800. It was not completed and Mrs. Adams wrote to her daughter that there was no bell to summon servants, no firewood for heat as people could not be found to go into the forest to cut trees and cart in the wood.  The grounds were filled with old kilns, water filled pits for brickmaking,  sheds for supplies, a stonecutter's shack, rubbish and mud. She told her daughter not to share with anyone her displeasure. The building was completed  on November, 1, 1800.

President Jefferson was the first President to live in the House his entire first term.He hired Benjamin Henry Latrobe to fix the leaking East Wing roof and wall damage. Mr. Latrobe used sheet iron for the repairs. The White House is made of sandstone, which is porous so it was whitewashed.

Then the British came along and burned the President's House down on August 24, 1814. .A summer downpour finally put out the fire.By 1817 the White House was again livable.Twelve new fireplaces were added.The building was painted white in 1818. It was known as the President's House or the Executive House.

James Monroe entered the residence and installed gas lights in 1849. 

Running water from the city's system happened with Jackson.

President Harrison's wife ordered the green mold caused by faulty plumbing scrubbed off old walls and had layers of rotting floorboards taken out of the ground floor and replaced.

During Andrew Johnson's time the Commission of Public Buildings found that a large ceiling section had collapsed and almost all the ceilings were cracked and some cracks were several inches. The basement was very damp and unhealthy, and no closets were found in the entire building.  ( No one had closets in the 1790 when the White House was built.)All repairs were made. 

President Van Buren had a furnace installed.

Grover Cleveland had the East Room floor propped up with stout posts as they were sagging.

Theodore Roosevelt hired the architects McKim, Mead& White. They found the Ground Floor in poor condition, the State Floor was settling dangerously, the flooring in the second floor needed replacement. Rainwater was still draining through the walls in hollowed-out logs, the sanitary system was beyond description, the wiring was obsolete, as its insulation was worn off and had charred the wooden beams and the building needed a new basement for the heating system. Everything was repaired.He nicknamed the President's House the White House in 1901 and added a tennis court in 1902.

 

Calvin Coolridge wanted a third floor added. In doing so it was found that some of the old wooden drainage system for rainwater caused the thick beams ends crumbled so the roof had decayed to a dangerous point. The second-floor ceilings were removed, steel girders were added and the third floor in 1927.

In World War II the building was used for the three stories of offices and the first white House bomb shelter.

In 1949, the Commission on Renovation of the Executive Mansion was established. The partitions and floors of the entire building were dismantled, steel shoring was installed and the bulldozers began digging. Concrete underpinning was added to the the old walls, a new two-story basement, new foundations, a new steel frame installed and the interior was restored.The East Wing was added 1942.

A swimming pool was installed. in 1934, to help President Roosevelt with his polio exercise 

President Truman had fireproofing added and a modern fire-detection system in 1965. There was cracking plaster and sagging floors. Truman had the entire White House gutted.New subflooring in the second-story corridor, new foundation with load-bearing materials were added. He added the balcony off the second floor, which he paid for money set aside by Congress to maintain the W.H.

The Kennedy's created the modern Rose Garden in 1963.

In 1970, President Nixon converted the indoor swimming pool in to the Press Room and added a one lane bowling alley.

President Ford had a swimming pool added to the outside of the White House. 

President Obama adapted the tennis court for basket ball. and Michelle planted the W.H. Kitchen Garden on the South Lawn.

Many Presidents and their wives updated the inside paint, wallpaper, and furniture. 

In 2025, President Trump had a 300 million dollar ballroom. He said it would be next to the East Wing but not part of it.  The East wing was demolished in a few days and the ballroom took its place. 

OOOPS! I forgot to include this information. One of Pat's Snippets called it to my attention. Thank you. Important: The 300million dollar ballroom will be paid for by donations from companies and individuals. No taxpayer money will be used!

I hope this has been informative for you. I included the major changes to the People's House. You can decide if you approve of the changes or not. 

History in Your Birth Year.

                  History in Your Birth Year.

 Have you wondered what happened in history in your birth year? I have. Here are a few years and the events that happened in the year.

1919, The U.S. declared its neutrality in the European conflict.

1941, Franklin Roosevelt's third inauguration and he is the first and only president elected to a third term Japan attacks Hawaii, Guam, and the Philippines.  The U.S. declares war on Japan. Germany and Italy declare war on the United States. The U.S. declares war on both countries

1942,Allies invade North Africa.

1943, Allies invade Italy.

1945,Allies invade France on D-Day.

1945, Franklin Roosevelt's fourth inauguration as President. President Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin meet at Yalta in the USSR to discuss postwar occupation of Germany. President Roosevelt dies of a stroke and is succeeded by his vice president, Harry Truman. Germany surrenders unconditionally. The first atomic bomb is detonated at Alamogordo, New Mexico. President Truman, Churchill, and Stalin meet at Potsdam, Germany to demand Japan's unconditional surrender  and to to discuss postwar Europe. The U.S. drops atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan. The U.S. drops atomic bomb on Nagasaski, Japan. Japan agrees to unconditional surrender. Japanese envoys sign surrender terms aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo harbor, Japan.

United Nations is established.

1946, The Philippines, which had been ceded to the U.S. by Spain at the end of the Spanish-American War, becomes and independent republic.

1947 Presidential Succession Act is signed into law by President Truman.  Central Intelligence Agency is established.

1948 Congress passes foreign aid bill including the Marshall Plan, to provide for European postwar recovery. Soviets begin blockade of Berlin in the first major crisis of the Cold War. In response, U.S. and Great Britain begin airlift of food and fuel to West Berlin.

1949 Truman's second inauguration. North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is established. Soviets end blockade of Berlin, but airlifts continue for four months.

If you did not find your birth year in this list let me know and I will try to find the historical events. 

                  Brrrr! Cold Weather.

With the cold weather we may be staying in our warm, cozy habitation. We may have more time to read. Here is a suggestion.

At this website www.gutenberg.org there are 75,000 free books to download. there are classics of literature, science & technology, social sciences& society, history, arts and culture, religion and philosophy, lifestyle & hobbies, health,& medicine, education & reference, children's and adult books.  

There are books on animals, countries, crime, fiction, law, music, and wars and much more. And don't forget there are children's books.

                                                       Gerrymandering

I do not take political sides. Democrats, Republicans, and Independents all have a place in our election system. Everyone should vote for what they think is best for the country, not for party or family biases.

There is a lot of news about gerrymandering in some states. That is not new. In the State of New Jersey in 1797, women could vote. Aghast!

In 1790, New Jersey changed their constitution. It said,:No person shall be entitled to vote in any other township or precinct than that in which he or SHE doth actually reside at the time of the election. But they did have to be property owners, and women could not own property. At marriage, the property went to the husbands. 

Then, in 1797, the wording in the Constitution was changed again. This time, it became that property owners no longer needed "clear estate," or clear ownership of their property.  Women in the state went to the polls and voted!!!

The following year, the women voted to block a Republican candidate. The local newspaper wrote this,

 "Although reinforced by the petticoat band

The Republican valor they could not withstand

And of their disasters in triumph we'll sing

For the petticoat faction's a dangerous thing."

 In 1807, the New Jersey constitution was revised again to limit the vote to white male taxpayers (Sorry to say it was the Republicans).

In 1870, the Fifteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution stated that African Americans could vote.

However, it wasn't until 1920 that the 19th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution was ratified, and all women could vote throughout the country. 

My take from this snippet of our history is: watch the gerrymandering in your state so you are included.

                                                 Widow's Peak

Many years ago, I was in college. ( an aside point-)At this point, if I were teaching, a sweet child would spurt out, "Were you alive when Lincoln was President?" 

I would say," No, I missed him by a few years."

Now, to go back to college days. My grandmother, no, she wasn't alive when Mr. Lincoln was either, she wanted a picture of me. She asked me to reveal my Widow's Peak by brushing my hair sideways.

Perhaps you're not familiar with a widow's peak?  It is estimated that one out of three people have one.  It's a typical hairline featuring a v-shaped point on the forehead.

If you are as curious as I am about trivia that is not needed, this is why it is called a widow's peak.

In the 16th and 17th centuries, English widows in mourning for their husbands' deaths wore pointed hoods that formed a V-shape point on the forehead.

If you're unsure if you have one, check in a mirror. If you don't, don't worry. I've never heard of non-widow's peak people being discriminated against. 

                                                                     *          *          *

I am recovering from a broken hip. So, I have watched too much TV.

Do any of you watch the program Dr. Pimple Popper? The title turns me off. I can't imagine spending time watching someone getting their pimples popped. They may need to have it done, but on TV? They must be paid a lot of money. Please let me know if you watch it and if you find it worthwhile. If I receive a lot of positive feedback, I'll try it.

                                                              *           *           *

During this downtime, I also see a lot of commercials.

Have you seen the emu wearing a yellow shirt and a man wearing a yellow shirt who says he is a duck? They are selling insurance. I would not look into any insurance company that has an emu and a man (duck) as a representative.  But I know I am odd. Do you have insurance based on commercials like these?

Another commercial that has me wondering. Does my smeller, my nose, work? The commercial has clothes coming out of the dryer, and they smell. The solution is to buy another product in a plastic bottle to add to the wash.

I take my clothes out of the dryer, and they seem fine. I use Arm and Hammer Laundry Soap in the cardboard box, not the plastic bottle. Cardboard can be recycled. I do add Twenty Mule Team Borax to the wash (also in a cardboard box), mainly because my mother and grandmother did. I figured what worked back then would work now. If we run into each other, smell my clothes, and let me know if they are odorous.

                                                             *          *          *

So long as I'm spouting off, I wonder if I'm the only one who does not like to watch couples argue. It is supposed to be the real life of someone getting out of prison, marrying or living with someone, and finding they have issues and not bliss. I know the TV is only showing the worst instances, but why would I want to sit and watch two people argue, badmouth, and swear at each other? There is enough misery in this world, at least in my opinion, which doesn't count for much, without seeing it on TV. I would much rather read a book. 

Well, enough sounding off from me. Please let me know if you disagree or agree. Do you have something you'd like to share? Send it to my email.  pstinson23@comcast.net

Celebrating July Fourth

                                       July Fourth Celebrating

Soon we will be celebrating the birth of our nation. It is a time to learn about and honor all those who made our democracy possible.

We are all familiar with George Washington and the men we refer to as our founding fathers. However, there were many we do not think about. Let's take a look at two of the lesser-known

Anna Marie Lane lived in Virginia with her husband. When he enlisted in the Continental Army, she dressed like a man and fought alongside her husband from 1776 to 1781. After the war, she was awarded a pension for her heroic actions during the Battle of Germantown. 

Margaret Corbin (also known as Molly Pitcher) was a camp follower after her husband enlisted in the army. She and the other wives cooked, cleaned, and cared for the wounded. 

Molly would bring water to the front line for the soldiers and to cool the cannons. While she was delivering water to the men at the Battle of Fort Washington in 1776,.her husband was killed while manning a cannon. She took his place operating the artillery until she was wounded. Later, she became the first woman to receive an army pension.

Some women served as spies for the Continental Army, warning George Washington and other leaders of British plans.

Some were Mary Ludwig Hays, Deborah Sampson, and Mercy Otis Warren, to name a few. 

Let's stop during our celebrations and thank all the people past and present, known and unknown, who have served our country with honor, integrity, sacrifice, and love. 

patriots. 

OLd Moms

 

                     Grandmas Are Old Moms.

Old moms talk on a plastic play phone with their grandchild for half an hour, listening to the little one describe the scary dream from the night prior, including spaceships and monsters.

Old moms always have band-aids to put on invisible wounds and kisses to make them better.

They will give their grandchildren a "little nibble" a half hour before a meal to "time them over" so they don't starve, and every meal at their house always includes dessert.

Old moms don't pay too much attention to "bedtime" and often read one more story, chat, or snuggle a little longer.

Old moms have lots of room for pictures in their purses, and as they show others these pictures, they ramble on about the cuteness, smartness, perfection, and " one-of-a-kindness" of the one pictured.

Old moms always have the time to listen to a joke, laugh, and slap their knees like it's the funniest joke they've ever heard. When a grandchild goes to the store and climbs up on a platform next to a mannequin, knocks the mannequin's arm off, and stares at it with amazement and wonder, the old mom is not at all embarrassed or tempted to discipline, but instead chuckles and grabs her phone to take a picture. 

Old moms sit for hours building architectural wonders and replicas of castles out of blocks and "eat" all culinary creations made for her out of Play-Dough. 

When asking a potty-training grandchild how things went in the bathroom and if any help was needed, old moms try to remain stoic. They listen to a description of the big one that occurred. 

Old moms get tired a lot, just like regular moms, but they always find the time to nap.

When the tears come, no matter how old the grandchild or how great the infraction, the old mom will always take time to listen, sympathize, and comfort. She will hug and encourage and share words of wisdom she has learned during all the years before she was an old mom. She will let the grandchild know that everything always will turn out just right. Mostly, she will pray that God will make good on her old mom's promise.

With any luck, all moms will someday get to experience all the joy of being an old mom, and then they will realize that all the trials and angst of being a mom were part of God's blessing for them and that all the tears and sleepless nights were so TOTALLY WORTH IT!

Written by an old mom, Margaret Campbell.

Famous Lovers

                               

  Lovers

February is a month of love with Valentine's Day,  cupids, candy, and flowers.

Romeo and Juliet is a famous love story by Shakespeare, but it is fiction.

Who were these two historical figures? What do we know about them?

Ladies First-Cleopatra:

She was Cleopatra the VII, but we drop off the Roman Numberal and know her as Cleopatra, the ruler of Egypt. She was a co-regent  ( at 18) with her brother PtolemyIII (age 10). As was the custom at the time, Cleopatra and her brother married and ruled together. He died while swimming in the Nile River. She married her next bother, Ptolemy XIV. After Rome took over Egypt, Cleopatra went to Rome to have an affair with Julius Caesar. They had a child whom she named Caesarion. Caesar did not recognize the boy as his son.  Cleopatra asked Julius Ceasar to kill her brother in Egypt, which he did. She returned to Egypt and ruled with her son under the Roman Empire. 

Some ancient scholars wrote that Cleopatra was an expert in botany and pharmacology. She was attractive, intelligent, and cultured, speaking several languages. She was the ruler of Egypt and commanded over 200 ships. 

Second-Mark Anthony

 He was the right-hand general in Julius Caesar's army. Julius Caesar was assassinated by Brutus and Cassius. Mark Anthony and Octavian, Caesar's nephew, defeated the assassins and their forces. Octavian and Anthony formed an alliance to take over Caesar's rule. Octavian took over Italy and other western territories, and Anthony was in charge of the eastern domains of the Roman Republic, which included Egypt.

Anthony summoned Cleopatra to Tarsus in 41 B.C. Anthony was married to Fulvia and had two children. They were Marcus Antonius Antylllus and Lullus Antonius.Fulvia knew of Mark Anthony's romance with Cleopatra. Fulvia died, and Cleopatra and Anthony had twins Alexander Helios and Cleopatra Selene II.  Later, they had a son named Ptolemy Philadelphus. However, Mark Anthony's relationship with Octavian was rocky, so he married Octavian's sister, Octavia. This did not stop him from playing dice games and hunting with Cleopatra. She also conspired with Mark Anthony to kill her sister ArsinoeIV.

The daughter, Cleopatra Selene II , later married a ruler in the northern African Territories

Some ancient scholars contend Mark Anthony and Cleopatra did marry in Egypt, but this was not recognized in Rome, where he was considered to be the husband of Octavia.

Together:

Now, Mark Anthony was the Queen of Egypt's consort, which gave him dominion over Egypt's power. The flooding of the Nile made Egypt a great source of wheat, and Egypt's trading routes across the Indian Ocean brought in the riches of black spices, incense, silks, and gems. Egypt's bringing stability in the East helped Anthony maintain control. 

And Cleopatra gained from her affair (or, some say, marriage). Mark Anthony ordered King Herod of Judea to collect an annual tribute of 200 talents from the king of Nabataea and give it to Cleopatra. King Herod the Great had to grant Cleopatra the Dead Sea bitumen deposits. The bitumen was used for caulking ships and baskets and for embalming mummies. Mark Anthony also ordered King Herod to grant agricultural land near Jericho, which produced harvests of date palms. He also gifted to her areas noted for timber production used for building ships.

When Mark Anthony divorced Octavian's sister, Octavia, it infuriated Octavian, who now was called Caesar Augustus. Caesar knew the Senate would not approve a war against Mark Anthony, so he declared war against Cleopatra.

She supplied Mark Anthony with 200 talents from the royal treasury, food, ships, and other supplies to fight Octavian. 

Octavian won at the Battle of Actium and annexed Egypt. Cleopatra and Mark Anthony fled to Alexandria, and Ocativian followed. Mark Anthony killed himself with a sword, and Cleopatra had a poisonous snake bite her. Some scholars contend she used poison rather than a snake.  

Her son, Caesarion, whom she had with Julius Caesar, was killed by Octavian Augustus. Octavian was Augustus Caesar, the ruler of all his territory, including Mark Anthony's and Egypt. 

Mark Anthony and Cleopatra's love affair was used for political advantage and to strengthen their power. But it all fell apart when Otavian had enough after his sister getting divorced.

This famous love affair proved to be disastrous for them and the way they are remembered in history; however, it unified the powers of Rome. 

                                                                 Star Crossed Lovers

                            (Was it love or was it politics or both?)