The History Book Club discussion
COFFEE, TEA AND CONVERSATION
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THE HISTORY OF WHERE YOU LIVE
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Boston is a beautiful spot Doreen - was up there myself after Thanksgiving last year and spent some quality time in Boston - went to the JFK library which I enjoyed tremendously.
Thank you for helping Barsha.
Bentley wrote: "Doreen wrote: "My favorite place in Boston, where I live, to sit, read,have a cup of coffee or just people watch."
Boston is a beautiful spot Doreen - was up there myself after Thanksgiving l..."
I do love that spot Bentley. It's in the North End of Boston and is soo peaceful. Haven't been to the JFK library and with baseball season coming up it would take some planning but maybe.
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OMG Mike's Pastry has the best cannoli
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Barsha - when you get an opportunity please go to this link and introduce yourself to the group - Nepal sounds like a great and beautiful place to live and we would like to get to know you more. We are delighted you joined the group.
Here is the link:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
This thread is for talking about the place in which you live - maybe you can add some photos of Nepal and talk about the history of Nepal on this thread.
I lived in the Lancaster-York-Gettysburg area of Pennsylvania, and to me, there's just no better area to live. Walking down the street in any of these towns (especially in the off-tourist times), you can feel the history around you. The culture and food was a unique blend of English, Scottish, Irish and American. The York Library had just been renovated, and it was BEAUTIFUL! Four floors of polished wood trim and very classy. Wish I could say the same for the Gettysburg Library, which was a block of concrete. But the rest of the town is beautiful!
Wow Josh that sounds wonderful! Hope someday to be able to visit that area.
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Josh put a coffee shop near the library and my family would never see me again. I could get lost for days in one.
Doreen wrote: "My favorite place in Boston, where I live, to sit, read,have a cup of coffee or just people watch."That is a lovely spot, Doreen. My wife and I did the Freedom Trail walk a couple of years ago and I think we lingered there much longer than anywhere else.
Your photo brought back some lovely memories of the trip.
Steve wrote: "Doreen wrote: "My favorite place in Boston, where I live, to sit, read,have a cup of coffee or just people watch."That is a lovely spot, Doreen. My wife and I did the Freedom Trail walk a couple ..."
OMG I embarrassed myself one time by loudly correcting a tour guide leading a group of French tourists on historical dates. She was saying Lexington and Concord battles happened first when it was really the Boston Massacre in 1773.
Sounds like the tour guide should have been embarrassed!
Those poor tourists had no idea what we were arguing about because they didn't speak English.
Bentley wrote: "Josh it sounds like a beautiful library and a great place to live."The library has one built on the side, about 15 flavors and a slew of pastry's from the local Bakery...thankfully there are steps to burn off what you eat!
Now I definitely have to plan a visit there.
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Bentley wrote: "This is the York library you are talking about right? Sounds terrific."Yes it is, Haven't been there for a few years (moved to western PA) but it is beautiful!
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Born and raised in western Pennsylvania, in a town and hospital that no longer exist, I've spent all of my thirty years right around the same area. My father's family has been in the state of Pennsylvania since before the country was established, although only about 100 miles east of where I currently live. The area I call home is interesting because it's technically part of Appalachia, although it isn't celebrated like it is throughout areas of the south. It is also a very Catholic area with lots of connections to old world Europe, mainly Italy and Poland, some German thrown in the mix, but I grew up Protestant and very WASPy. So I've never really fit in here. But I've eaten well.
Here's a link with some great info on my home state: http://explorepahistory.com/
That being said, my heart has always belonged out west and I've been making steps towards moving out there. Although I'm not sure which location exactly. I currently have my eyes set on Texas, although I've been obsessed with the idea of Montana for quite some time too.
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Sometimes the grass looks greener in a far away spot but the place you call home is where the heart is. You never said where your mother and her family are from - possibly Texas or Montana?
Thank you Elin for sharing.
You never said where your mother and her family are from - possibly Texas or Montana?No, from Pennsylvania as well. Little farming and coal communities. I grew up on an old farm, we raised pigs, and my uncle married into a dairy farm, so I've milked cows before and am very connected to the land and the state.
I just haven't grown out of that "horse phase" that started around age five I suppose.
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What a terrific way to begin with your story, Elin.
I wish you will find what you're looking for wherever it is you decide to move.
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I have fond memories of my first day on horseback. It was in Texas, near Amarillo, on a trip I had won with Mars chocolate bars... a really nice pony - quite lazy (thank goodness!)- and the wide open space. After a while the pony sort of decided to take a walk away from the others and I let her go.
Where in western PA, Elin? Part of my childhood was in Erie, Pa.
Bryan wrote: "Where in western PA, Elin? Part of my childhood was in Erie, Pa."Firstly, I love Erie. One of my favorite places in the state.
However, I'm from a few hours southwest of there in Cambria County.
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I have fond memories of my first day on horseback. It was in Texas, near Ama..."
Andre - that is an intriguing story - Mars chocolate bars - were you a kid?
Thank you Andre!Growing up I used to trail ride, but that's not nearly as fun as just being out in the open and doing your own thing. The horses are usually so trained to just go the same way every day. It's routine.
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No - though it's ages ago. I bought a bar and won the prize. What I didn't know when I got myself the chocolate was that it was a group trip... I had thought one couple goes to Texas, the other to NYC, the third to San Francisco etc. Instead the group got to travel to seven cities/locations across the US in 14 days, one of which was a Texas ranch with horses.
I managed to sell it to a magazine so I had fun taking notes and doing the pictures while staying away from the group as much as possible.
On the first day, in NYC, the bus stopped at a red light in Greenwich Village and the tour guide suggested whoever wanted to get out and discover the city on their own should do so. I took my girlfriend and we had a great time. The others stayed in the bus. It was like that for the entire trip...
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I guess mine was in routine mode too. I was lucky that his routine somehow was a different one from that of the others... I love horses (and most other animals) but don't necessarily have to ride them. I had a great time once in Italy where they taught me a lot. Some time has passed since then so I'd need to start all over again... I still know the front from the back so at least I'd be looking in the right direction. That said, the saddle also helps I guess.
I'd want to do some Western riding but without the bit and all. Some horse whisperers do a great riding style which is to my taste.
Elin wrote: "Bryan wrote: "Where in western PA, Elin? Part of my childhood was in Erie, Pa."Firstly, I love Erie. One of my favorite places in the state.
However, I'm from a few hours southwest of there in ..."
Got it, a little further east. Great, I have some great memories of Erie.
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No - though it's ages ago. I bought a bar and won the prize. What I didn't know when I got myself the chocolate was that it was a group trip... I had thought on..."
That is a fabulous trip - fortunate you. Did a bit of horse back riding years ago too - but not lately.
I live in Carnation, Washington, in the Snoqualmie River valley, about 25 miles east of Seattle. The town was founded in 1913 as "Tolt", a Native name, but changed to "Carnation" when the big dairy took over most of the jobs in town (yes, the evaporated milk folks!). The stone sign entering town still says "Tolt". We are at the confluence of the Tolt and Snoqualmie Rivers, which was the site of Chief Patkanim's longhouse in the mid-19th century, when "Boston" settlers first came here. The tribe is the Snoqualmies, "People of the Moon." Our area is sometimes called "Valley of the Moon." You can see Mt. Rainier on a clear day. Snoqualmie Falls, nearly 200 feet of powerful waterfall, crowns the top of the valley. The Snoqualmies say that their people slid down on a frozen moonbeam, and that the falls is all that is left of that moonbeam.
Michael wrote: "I live in Carnation, Washington, in the Snoqualmie River valley, about 25 miles east of Seattle. The town was founded in 1913 as "Tolt", a Native name, but changed to "Carnation" when the big dair..."Is there a lot to do and see for a state history buff there and surounding area? I've been wanting to take a day trip there on a Saturday from Tacoma. Few people know that Chief Patkamin had a lot to do with the early history of western Washington. In a round about comical way he had a little to do with the naming of Seattle.
You can see the big cow by Carnation dairy - now Kamp Kory for seriously ill children. But I don't think there's much of obvious historical interest - perhaps the Tribe knows, but I think it is "secret" knowledge. It's a beautiful area. I recommend a day hike at Rattlesnake Ridge or Little Si (need a discovery pass for the latter, and it is really crowded on weekends), jazz at Boxley's in North Bend or lunch / dinner w/ music at the Black Dog in Snoqualmie, visit to Snoqualmie Falls, Millers artisan shop in Carnation. If you get as far as Duvall its a nice little town with lots of shops. OH - Duvall has a preserved Pioneer home on Cherry Valley road, the name of which escapes me.NOW - tell me the Patkanim story, please!
I am originally from Philadelphia area and now live in the NYC area. I couldn't ask for better areas for history because both areas were so important to the country. I have developed a true love of NYC history and read it whenever I can get my hands on the subject. I grew up next to Valley Forge, so you can imagine my love of founding fathers history too.
Michael wrote: "You can see the big cow by Carnation dairy - now Kamp Kory for seriously ill children. But I don't think there's much of obvious historical interest - perhaps the Tribe knows, but I think it is "se..."It's kind of a long story. I recommend you read it in Bill Speidels "Doc Maynard; The Man Who Invented Seattle" He does a much better job at telling it than I ever could. You can get the book on ebay for $5 or all over Seattle for much more.
Michael wrote: "You can see the big cow by Carnation dairy - now Kamp Kory for seriously ill children. But I don't think there's much of obvious historical interest - perhaps the Tribe knows, but I think it is "se..."This is a little long but here it goes:
So here is a little history of Chief Patkanim. Not to take away from an awesome book, this is all paraphrased from “Doc Maynard, The Man Who Invented Seattle” by Bill Speidel.
For good Washington History and humor I highly recommend this book.
Chief Patkanim: Having a lot of influence with the other tribes and the white man, in particular Doc Maynard and Arthur Denny, was a major player in the development white man in the Puget Sound area.
He was in short shrewd, ruthless and cunning.
Seattle was built on a mess of scandals, believe it or not.
He was the dominant power from Whidbey Island to Snoqualmie Pass, between what is today British Columbia and King County, Washington According to historian Bill Speidel, he was the major Indian power on Puget Sound, in no small part due to control of Snoqualmie Pass and therefore the profitable trade between the tribes on either side.
Patkanim first gained notoriety among American settlers by arranging a meeting on Whidbey Island in 1848, of 8,000 Puget Sound Indians to discuss the rising threat of white colonist.
Patkanim opened the conference by a speech, in which he urged that if the Americans were allowed to settle among them they would soon become numerous, and would carry off their people in large fire-ships to a distant country on which the sun never shone, where they would be left to perish. He argued that the few now present could easily be exterminated, which would discourage others from coming...
Chief Graybeard challenged him by saying that if they kill off the white man there would be no one to protect them from his (Patkanim) people. Chief Seattle countered Graybeard saying that he was between the tribes and would protect them, so to speak. (Not to bright of a statement in my opinion).
In 1849, Patkanim staged a raid on Ft Nisqually. To pull this off he had about 150 warriors hidden outside the Fort and he went in to "make a complaint" about Chief Graybeard and “accidently” discharged his gun (to signal the warriors) not knowing that the gate was closed behind him, so the raid failed. He disclaimed all knowledge of the raid because he was already inside launching a complaint against Graybeard.
The US judicial system decided to prosecute these culprits to prove they can’t do this sort of thing. Patkanim said he could “produce” the culprits for a fee. Showing his love of family, for $500 he produced his brother to be hanged. (pretty loving of him)
Chief Patkanim also ran the Grayline and Western Tours of the time. He was known for taking white people on tours of Puget Sound (sometimes forgetting to bring them back). A couple of his braves one time took a new engineer on a tour but they returned without him but wearing his clothes. This agitated some of the pioneers so Chief Patkanim allayed their fears and promptly hung the braves, not for stealing, but for not being brave enough not to get caught.
Naming Seattle
So, the story goes, Mid March of 1852, Chief Seattles tribe, more like 200 indians, returned to their fishing grounds on the Duwamish, after years in exile for fear of Patkanim (another story).
Seattles heart was bright, regardless of the weather God blessed the Pacific NW with that day (Mar 23), and had a flotilla of canoes to depart from Olympia to going to Elliot Bay. This trip would take 9 days. Doc Maynard was going for the ride with Chief Seattle, but lo and behold they were riding in an elaborately large war canoe that Doc swindled off of Patkanim for 32 cents.(again, another story) Charlie Terry was also riding in the canoe. Charlie basically stole a town called Cherry grove and renamed it New York in honor of where he was from. And here's what happened to New York...
As they were riding north they passed Chief Patkanim along the bank of the sound. Imagine the look on his face to see Doc Maynard and his archenemy Chief Seattle in HIS canoe.
Doc Maynard not oblivious to the situation, but appreciative of his new whipping boy (Seattle), wanted to make the Chiefs day complete so he says to Chief Seattle, “What I am going to do, Chief, is name the most important town in the world after you; beside, it will tick off Patkanim. [Doc Maynard pp81-84]
Thanks, John (& Bill). That's fascinating.
Great stuff! Guess I should read more about the history of my hometown. :-) 
by William Speidel (no photo)
Cold-Blooded Murder by Patrick GregThis book tells the story about a murder that took place in my hometown of Newry back in 1961. Robert McGladdery was found guilty of the brutal murder of 19 year old Pearl Gamble and as a result became the last man ever to be hanged in Northern Ireland.
Very much worth a read, and the main features in the book are still there today very much untouched.
Interesting, Neil, thanks for sharing this. It does look good.Great attempt at the citations. Throw in a bookcover and (no photo) for those authors who do not have a photo, and you got it:
by Patrick Greg (no photo)
I moved to Vienna some years ago, and it's a city steeped in history. I regard myself as a mainly post WWII-type of guy, but the architecture of the Ringstrasse and the hundreds (or thousands!?) of Greek/Roman mythological statues spread around in the city prompted me to for the first time dive into the classics by Homer and Ovid. I have a year pass at the Kunsthistorishes museum, and I like to bring a book there to read - in the café mostly, but also in the galleries.Right now I take delight in reading about the art and architecture of my city:
by Rolf Toman (no photo)
I live in Southern California and we have a lot of history in our area. San Diego Bay (discovered by the Spanish in 1542) is not too far away and there's Cabrillo National Monument commemorating the discovering. http://www.nps.gov/cabr/index.htmThen there's California Missions and Adobe Ranches dating to the 1700's and 1800's.
One of my favorite very local history facts is that Confederate General Albert S. Johnston escaped California via the Warner Springs mountain pass area (not too far from where I live).
When I was younger I was always a little disappointed that I didn't grow up on the U.S. East Coast where a lot of major history events took place, but now I have an appreciation for the history of my west coast state. It's really unique and very interesting too!
I am from Dhaka (the capital), Bangladesh. Bangladesh is a small and one of the most densely populated country. It gained its independence in 1971 from Pakistan. Most of the people talk in Bangla (Bengali) and most of its inhabitants are muslim. Things you should know at first to be interested in this country and its culture - 01. Bangladesh is located in the largest river Delta ( most fertile land on earth ).
02. Bangladesh possess Sunderbans (the largest mangrove forest on earth ) and Cox's bazar sea beach ( the longest continuous sea beach on earth).
03. Bengali is the only language for the establishment as a state language, its people gave their lives. And 21st February is the INTERNATIONAL MOTHER LANGUAGE DAY is celebrated across the world (UNESCO 1999) to commemorate those martyrs.
04. The only Noble Laureate in Bengali language RABINDRANATH TAGORE (1913) is the first asian nobel prize winner.
Hold on a second, there's more. But you have to find out them by yourself if you are interested. :)
I am Annegret from Germany. I would like to know whether there are any Germans in this group.
Annegret wrote: "I am Annegret from Germany. I would like to know whether there are any Germans in this group."We have many members from Germany in the club, Annegret. One that jumps to mind is André.
The History Book Club
Books mentioned in this topic
Belong: Find Your People, Create Community, and Live a More Connected Life (other topics)Land of Giants: Drive to the Pacific Northwest, 1750-1950 (other topics)
Washington: A History of Our National City (other topics)
Vienna: Art and Architecture (other topics)
Cold Blooded Murder - When Pearl Gamble Rejected Robert McGladdery, Lust Turned to Rage. This is the True Story of Her Cruel, Vicious Murder (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Radha Agrawal (other topics)David Lavender (other topics)
Tom Lewis (other topics)
Rolf Toman (other topics)
Patrick Greg (other topics)
More...
thanks"
Barsha you can get ebooks on amazon.com and iTunes. Not sure as much with amazon.com but I use iTunes for all my books and download them to my laptop or more preferrably my cell. I have found many really good and some really bad books on iTunes that are free. You would need to download the iBooks app which is free to read your books. Like you I am on a fixed income so the free books really help.