James Robinson was born in Scotland back in 1860. When he was three the family moved to the United States settling in Pennsylvania. By the time he was 12 you could find him working in the coal mines, by the time he was 20 he had worked his way up to journeyman machinist. He studied mechanical engineering at Cornell University. In 1907, he founded a company in Pittsburgh however, due to America’s entry in WWI he moved to Blairsville, Pennsylvania. That company is still in operation to this day. Now you may be asking yourself what company did he start and what does the company do? Are you ready, let’s go.In 1907, he started the Robinson Ventilating Company. The company manufactures industrial fans for the coal mining industry and other industries. In 1922, he wrote a book about how to ven... 02/18/2018

Let’s go bike riding Jimmie.Well my wife insisted we go bike riding. I knew it could not turn out good however, we took off to see the island in two wheels with pedals.      Of course 10 minutes later she was done.  I think we made it 6 blocks.  I believe it will be sometime before we go bicycle riding again   02/09/2018

I’ll be the first to admit I am not a good picture taker. However, my wife and I are in the market to move. I have set myself up a listing alert on homes in our price range. One came on the market today and I notified my wife. Of course, she went on the internet and looked at the photos provided.I believe a child could have done better. After looking at the photos she won’t go by the home to look. Why am I posting this, just to let you know the photos killed the deal. When I saw them my first thought was, this is not good. This was the photo of the living room.  Yep that’s it, no other ones were taken. I looked up the agent, she has been around and has several listings. Somebody needs to talk to her don’t you think?Anyway, like Barbara Todaro  would say, just a thought for the moment 02/02/2018

If I wrote about all of her accomplishments it would take 1-2 weeks with myself imposed, limit of around 200 words so let’s hit the highlights.Elizabeth Blackwell was born in Bristol, England back in 1821 to Samuel and Hannah. She was well educated. In 1844, she had landed a teaching job in Henderson, Kentucky for a lofty sum of 400.00 per year. In 1847 she moved to New York to continue her education at Hobart College. After two years she continued her education in Europe.Returning to the United States in 1853, she was involved in the Civil War working for the United States Sanitary Commission. I can see my limit is drawing near so I’ll cut through the red tape. Elizabeth Blackwell was the first woman to receive a medical degree in the United States, as wll as the first woman on the UK ... 02/02/2018

Isaac Leopold was born in Wachenheim, Bavaria back in 1850. He moved to the United States with his mother in 1856. Graduating from Central High School in Philadelphia, at 19 he was sent to Paris where he studied music for 3 years.He moved back to American where he received a Law Degree from Columbia College in 1880. By the early 1890’s he was involved in many ventures including the Electric Vehicle Company, the Consolidated Rubber Tire Company and as president of the Electric Storage Company. He was a prominent figure of the American chess world. In 1892, he won a chess game against Wordsworth Donisthorpe, co-founder of the British Chess Club. He died in New York City in 1915.What you may not know about Isaac Leopold Rice is in 1899 he bought the Holland Torpedo Boat Company, renaming i... 01/30/2018

Percy Fitch was born in Orange County, California back in 1882 to James and Coralinn.  Sorry but I don’t have any information as to his education or his early childhood.  Of course, as always what I can tell you is the rest of the story. Percy was an accomplished inventor, he received his most notable patents number 789,881 in 1903, number 1,087,552 in 1913, number 2,316,365 in 1925, number 1,767,699 in 1930 and number 2,497,559 in 1947.  Now, you may be asking yourself what in the world did he invent?  Well I’m so glad you did.  For Percy Fitch Rice the inventions in order are: an automatic paper feeding device for printing presses, an automatic transmission for automobiles, the push-button radio tuner, the gasoline gauge for automobiles and a multiple exposure camera. He died in 1954.... 01/27/2018

Joseph Reed was born in Trenton, Province of New Jersey back in 1741 to Andrew and Theodosia.  Shortly after his birth the family moved to Philadelphia where he attended the Philadelphia Academy, now the University of Pennsylvania.  He received his bachelor’s degree from the College of New Jersey, now Princeton in 1757.At the beginning of the Revolutionary War at the request of General George Washington he left his law practice to serve as the aide-de-camp to Washington.  In 1778, he was one of the five delegates from Pennsylvania to sign the Articles of Confederation.  In that same year, he was elected as President of the Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania, now we would call him governor.  During his term Pennsylvania passed a law for gradual abolition of slavery.  What you may ... 01/24/2018

Stephen Collins was born in Lawrenceville, Pennsylvania back in 1826 to William and Elizia.  He attended several schools receiving an education in English grammar, diction, the classics, penmanship, Latin, Greek and mathematics.  He taught himself to play the clarinet, violin, guitar, flute and piano.  In 1846, he moved to Cincinnati, Ohio where he worked as a bookkeeper.  In 1860, he moved to New York City where in 1864 he became ill with a fever.  He fell in his hotel cutting his neck, he died three days later at 37.  His wallet contained a scrap of paper with 38 cents in Civil War scrip with 3 U.S. pennies. Of course, you probably don’t recognize Stephen Collins but you surely know Stephen Collins Foster.  Among his works are Oh! Susanna, Camptown Races, Old Folks at Home, My Old Ken... 01/20/2018

Isaac Pitman was born in Trowbridge, Wiltshire, England back in 1813.  In 1831, he spent a whole five months training at the Training College, which qualified him as a teacher.  In 1836, he moved to Wotton-under-Edge in Gloucestershire where he opened up his own school.  He moved again to Bath where he opened another school in 1839. He was a lifelong advocate of spelling reform of the English language.  He published a pamphlet in 1837 on the subject.  This set him on another profession and that was publishing works on spelling reform.  In 1845, he published the first version of the English Phonotypic Alphabet.  He was the first person to provide distance education courses in the 1840’s.   He was a vegetarian, discontinuing alcoholic beverages in 1838.  What you may not know about Isaac ... 01/09/2018

Timothy Pont was born in Scotland to Robert and Catherine.  He attended St. Leonard’s College graduating in 1580.  In 1584, he also graduated from St. Andrews University.  From 1601 to 1610 he was the minister of Dunnet Parrish Church in Caithness.   He was an accomplished mathematician however; his calling was making maps.  He was meticulous that he personally surveyed all the shires and island of the kingdom.  Sadly, he died in 1614 just after completing the first detailed map of Scotland.  His maps are among the earliest surviving to show a European county in minute detail from an actual survey.His originals are preserved in the National Library of Scotland, Edinburgh. They are characterized by his neatness and accuracy.  They were published in 1654 and again 1850. Until tomorrow kee... 01/07/2018

Petrache Poenaru was born in Banesti, Wallachia, Romania back in 1799.  He attended school at Obedeanu in Craiova while working as a copyist at the office of a bishop. Between 1820-1821 he taught Greek at the Metropolitan School in Bucharest.In the 1821, Revolution he joined the army however, he proved he didn’t have any fighting abilities so the leader of the Revolution made Petrache his personal assistant.  After the war in 1824 he was awarded a scholarship to further his education.  In 1826, he went to France where he studied surveying.  He died in 1875.  However, it was his invention in 1826 that he will forever be in the history books for.Now you may be asking yourself what in the world did Petrache invent?  While his name may not ring a bell for you what he invented surely will.  ... 01/04/2018

Beverley Christiani was born in Georgetown, Guyana to Elaine and Clive back in 1956.  She attended Pius Primary School graduating from St. Rose’s High School in 1974.  She won a scholarship at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.  After graduation, she received her commercial pilot’s license in 1977.     She married Randolph before moving to the United States.  She tried to join the U.S. Air Force but was turned away because she wasn’t a citizen.  In 1991, she was hired as an investigator moving to Washington, D.C.  She divorced in 1994, she returned to get her master’s degree in Aeronautical Science.   What you may not know about Beverley Christiani Drake is that she is one of the first two women to earn her pilots license with the Government of Guyana, the first woman commercial pilo... 01/01/2018

This one will be short, sweet and to the point.Squire Whipple was born in Hardwick, Massachusetts back in 1804.  At the age of 13 his family moved to New York.  He attended Fairfield Academy and then on to Union College.  He must have been an exceptional student as he graduated just a year later. He died in 1888 at 83.  What he accomplished during those years is nothing short of amazing, for you see he was a Civil Engineer.  He held two patents Number 2,064 and 134,338.  What he is best noted for was bridge building.  In fact the Whipple Cast and Wrought Iron Bowstring Trues Bridge is still standing over Norman’s Kill near Albany, New York.  It is still in use but the thing about that bridge is there is no weight limit.  Some of his designs were sued to help design the Erie Canal.  Anot... 12/15/2017

James Smith was born in Denver, Colorado back in 1899.  The family moved to Little Rock, Arkansas where he graduated from Little Rock High School.  then it was off to Princeton, graduating in 1921.  He earned a Master of Science in Aeronautical Engineering from MIT in 1925.After graduation he was hired by the Ford Motor Company.  For the first several years he moved from place to place until 1938 where he started his own company, and as they say the rest is history.  His company was stationed in St. Louis where his company became aa principal supplier to the U.S. Air Force and the U.S. Navy.In 1967, the company merged with another one and moved their location to Huntington Beach, California where they are still located to this day.  What you may not know about James Smith McDonald is th... 11/29/2017

George Pollard Jr. was born in Nantucket, Massachusetts to George and Tamar back in 1791. His father was a ship’s captain, so it was to be a seafaring life for young George.By the time he was 23 he had served as second mate and then onto first mate from 1815-1819. In 1821, he was appointed captain and prepared to set sail for the Pacific Ocean in August of that year.Four days after leaving Nantucket the ship was struck by a sudden storm. He declared the damage to be severe enough to put back to Nantucket however, the first and second mate persuaded him to go forward to the Pacific.He was 1,500 miles west of the Galapagos when tragedy hit the vessel. The crew had only three life boats and divided up to try and make land. He was eventually rescued and returned to Nantucket.What you may no... 11/27/2017

 You may have seen his work in Las Vegas, Motreal or Colorado Springs. Everyone loves Chihuly! This fall his work creates a stunning outdoor exhibition at Crystal Bridges Museum in Bentonville AR " Over the years his creations have become familiar around the world. He is globally renowned for his site-specific installations in public spaces, as well as exhibitions in museums and gardens. At Crystal Bridges, Chihuly’s breathtaking works are installed along a paved and lighted trail, which winds through the museum’s natural Ozark forest." excerpt from the website:Chihuly at Crystal Bridges 11/14/2017

Clarence Everett was born in Raleigh, North Carolina back in 1921 to Calvin and Mammie. He graduated from North Carolina Central University and the Echols College of Mortuary Science in Philadelphia.During WWII he served in the United States Army. After the war he managed a funeral home for 45 years, succeeding his father as owner of his father’s business.In 1977 then Governor Jim Hunt appointed Clarence to replace State Senator Joh Winters position. Winter had resigned earlier that year. Clarence was appointed chairman of the Southeast Raleigh Improvement Commission from 1993-2001. Inn 2000, he was a delegate to the 2000 Democratic National Convention. Sadly, he died in 2002 at 80.What you may not know about Clarence Everett Lightner is that he was the first black popularly elected May... 11/14/2017

Charles W. Lindberg, sorry I do not know what the W. is for was born in Grand Forks, North Dakota back in 1920.He enlisted in the United States Marine Corp shortly after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. He was assigned to the Marine Raiders seeing his first combat duty on the island of Guadalcanal. He also saw action in Bougainville. Being reassigned to the 5th Marine division he saw action at a small island called Iwo Jima. In that battle he was assigned as a flamethrower landing during the fifth assault wave on the island.What you may not know about Charles W. “Chuck” Lindberg is that he was one of the first Marines to raise the American Flag on Mount Suribachi on 23, February 1945. The flag was only 54 by 28 inches taken from the USS Missoula. It was mounted by a long piece of a ... 11/11/2017

Elise Raymonde Deroche was born in Paris, France back in 1882. She enjoyed motorcycles and cars in her early years. As a young woman she was an actress using the stage name of Raymonde de Larouche.During WWI she served in the military as a driver, chauffeuring officers from the rear zones to the front line. she died in 1919, in a crash while she was in a plane.What you may not know about Elsie Raymonde Deroche AKA Raymonde de Laroche is that she is the first woman in the world to receive a pilot’s license. The crash in 1919 where she died she was in an experimental aircraft. Exactly what went wrong during the approach landing has never been found.A statue of her is at the Le Bourget Airport in France. Until tomorrow keep a smile on your face, pass it on. 11/07/2017

Nathaniel Pitt was born in New York City back in 1832. In 1854, he moved to Saint Paul where he worked as a banker involved with the investment of the Saint Anthony Park neighborhood.In 1862 he was a member of the Northern Overland Expedition ending up at Grasshopper Creek gold fields near Bannack, Montana. There he helped establish several companies including a saw mill and freight company.In 1864 he was appointed Collector of Internal Revenue and National Bank Examiner holding those positions for five years. In 1970, he was a member in an expedition which of course is the rest of the story.What the expedition found is still viable to this day. He was appointed superintendent with no salary. After their discovery he returned only twice during his five-year tenure. When he left he retur... 11/06/2017