Resurrection of Christ
1407-1411
Guerau Gener
Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya – MNAC, Barcelona
On a cold morning in Huletts, I hope this Easter finds you and your family well. Hopefully everyone will be back in Huletts soon.
1915 – 2015 Hulett Hotel Fire Anniversary: Picture (Teaser)
2015 marks the 100th anniversary of the Hulett Hotel fire, which I chronicled in my book, the Hulett Hotel Fire on Lake George.
As we get closer to the actual date of the 100th anniversary of the Hulett Hotel Fire in November, I will post some pictures that did not make the book. Others pictures that did make the book, but which you’ll see better when you can expand them to full-screen, and finally one picture that I have found since the book was released that would have made it into the book if I had had it during the first printing. As we get closer to November, and the 100th anniversary of the fire, I will release items more frequently. You’ll want to see these pictures, because they’re very old and quite unique.
So to begin this endeavor, I will release a picture here on the Huletts Current on Friday April 10th, of one of the main participants in the trial that occurred after the fire, that I was given after the book went to print and which was not included in the final edition. It is a great picture and enhances the story that I presented in the Hulett Hotel Fire book.
If you have not read the book, here is a great opportunity to go out and purchase it, so that when I start sharing these additional pictures, you’ll appreciate them fully.
Good Friday 2015
The Procession to Calvary, c.1505
Ridolfo Ghirlandaio
Saturday Quote
“That religion, or the duty which we owe to our Creator, and the manner of discharging it, can be directed only by reason and conviction, not by force or violence; and therefore all men are equally entitled to the free exercise of religion, according to the dictates of conscience…”
Article XVI – Virginia Declaration of Rights
Virginia’s Declaration of Rights was drawn upon by Thomas Jefferson for the opening paragraphs of the Declaration of Independence. It was widely copied by the other colonies and became the basis of the Bill of Rights. Written by George Mason, it was adopted by the Virginia Constitutional Convention on June 12, 1776, weeks before the Declaration of Independence.
Now For Some History: 1959
Whitehall’s William B. Franke (left) being sworn in as Secretary of the Navy by President Eisenhower in June 1959.
Congresswoman Stefanik Commemorates “Miracle on Ice” on House Floor
Former Vietnam POW Proudly Wears Whitehall Shirt
Richard D. “Moon” Mullen, Commander United States Navy and former Prisoner of War in Vietnam, proudly wears his Whitehall shirt given to him by Peter Ballantyne. Captain Mullen is the recipient of the the Silver Star, Legion of Merit, 3 Bronze Stars, Air Medal, 2 Purple Hearts, POW Medal and other decorations.
On a cold winter day, this story will warm your heart.
As I previously reported, Peter Ballantyne when in Whitehall this past summer, picked up some tee-shirts commemorating Whitehall’s contribution to the birth of the U.S. Navy. He distributed these to some veterans he works with at the Paralyzed Veterans of America, at his winter home in San Diego, California.
Last week Peter had the privilege of meeting the daughter of Captain “Moon” Mullen, whose story of bravery as a POW for over 7 years in Vietnam is well chronicled and presented below. Captain Mullen is the recipient of the Silver Star, Legion of Merit, 3 Bronze Stars, Air Medal, 2 Purple Hearts, POW Medal and other decorations. Peter Ballantyne gave Captain Mullen’s daughter one of the Whitehall shirts for her father, who proudly accepted the gift. Cdm. Mullen’s daughter passed along the above picture of her father wearing the shirt. In another coincidence of local significance, Captain Mullen’s last flight before he was shot down originated from the USS TICONDEROGA.
Cdm. Mullen was shot down on January 6, 1967 and was not released until March 4, 1974. Below is a partial account of Captain Mullen’s ordeal as presented in WE CAME HOME copyright 1977 Captain and Mrs. Frederic A Wyatt (USNR Ret), Barbara Powers Wyatt, Editor P.O.W. Publications, 10250 Moorpark St., Toluca Lake, CA 91602 Text is reproduced as found in the original publication.
Lt. Cdr. Richard D. Mullen was the pilot of a single seat fighter, a F8E Crusader assigned to Fighter Squadron 191 onboard the aircraft carrier, USS TICONDEROGA (CVA 14). Mullen launched on January 6, 1967 on his 31st combat mission over North Vietnam. During the mission, Mullen’s aircraft was seen to be engulfed in flames and explode. A good parachute was sighted and subsequently, Mullen was observed standing on the ground and waving. Contact between him and the airborne aircraft was established and Mullen reported to be “OK”. At this time, Mullen was near the coast of Nghe An Province, about five miles south of the city of Tho Son.
On subsequent passes, neither Mullen nor the parachute were sighted. However, intermittent emergency radio transmissions were heard. It was believed that Mullen was captured, and he was classified as a prisoner of war. Richard Mullen had been captured and was held prisoner by the North Vietnamese in the Hanoi Hilton (New Guy Village, Heartbreak), Zoo (Office, Pig Sty, Carraige House, Pool Hall), Camp Hope, Hanoi Hilton (Rm 3, 5) back to Heartbreak) Skid Row, Hanoi Hilton (Rm 2,3) until March 4, 1973. At that time, he was released with 590 other Americans from POW camps. He had been a prisoner for just over seven years.
He sustained no injuries upon ejection, but while captive was subjected to “the normal bone crusher manacles, ropes, leg stocks and whipping with a fan belt. The worst was strangling noose around neck tied to manacles behind my back.” While in captivity, he suffered a severe blow to his head. Since the war ended, nearly 10,000 reports relating to Americans missing, prisoner or unaccounted for in Southeast Asia have been received by the U.S. Government. Many authorities who have examined this largely classified information are convinced that hundreds of Americans are still held captive today.
Of the Crusader pilots shot down, nearly 50 are still missing. These fighter pilots in Vietnam were called upon to fly in many dangerous circumstances, and were prepared to be wounded, killed, or captured.
Richard Mullen retired in 1978 from the United States Navy as a Captain. Although retired, he remains active with youth, church, golf and travel. He still says about returning to the United States after his ordeal, “I was so choked up seeing the American flag at Clark AFB (March 4, 1973) I could barely get off the plane. Seeing my wife and children (at NAS Miramar) had to be the happiest moment of my life.”
Now For Some History: February 13, 1912
Taken from the Glens Fall Star: February 13, 1912.
Wins First Money in Ice Race at Lake
Large numbers of lovers of horse racing assembled at the head of Lake George yesterday to witness the matinee races held over the kite-shaped course under the auspices of the Lake George Driving Association. The association officers are arranging for a three-day meeting to take place the last three days of this month. A number of excellent purses are to be offered and considerable interest is already being taken in the events.
The events yesterday consisted of two named races for purses of $50 each and a town race, with a prize of ten bushels of oats for first place and five for second. Four heats were necessary to decide the named races and five to decide the town race.
James Dougrey’s “Putnam Jack” of Glens Falls took first money in the first event of the afternoon, securing first place in the first, second and fourth heats and finishing second in the third, in which James Wilson’s “John O” nosed Putnam Jack out at the wire. The fastest time for the event was 2:23 1-2 made in the second heat.
Fort Fever Series Program February 8th Highlights Fort Ticonderoga’s World Renowned Museum Collections
Fort Ticonderoga’s “Fort Fever Series” on Sunday, February 8, at 2 pm with a presentation by Curator of Collections Matthew Keagle, titled “Beyond Founding Fashion”. Image of 18th-century military apparel, copyright Fort Ticonderoga Museum.
Fort Ticonderoga kicks off its second “Fort Fever Series” with a special guided tour led by the Curator of Collections, Mathew Keagle, to explore Fort Ticonderoga’s collection of military clothing—the largest collection of 18th-century military uniforms in North America. “Beyond Founding Fashion” is a unique opportunity to discover the evolution of military fashion in the decades after the American Revolution. The program takes place on Sunday, February 8 at 2 pm in the Mars Education Center. The cost for the program is $10 per person and will be collected at the door; free for Fort Ticonderoga members.
The program begins with a guided tour of the Founding Fashion exhibit in the Mars Education Center gallery. Get a behind-the-scenes perspective of new research on the uniforms featured in the exhibition, the stories of the men who wore them, and how they fit into the evolution of military clothing. This will be followed by a rare chance to examine additional original garments from the collection not on display. These garments will complete the story of 18th-century military dress and show how military dress evolved from those worn during the Revolutionary War through the early years of the American Republic. Many of these garments and related accessories are one-of-a-kind survivors preserved only in Fort Ticonderoga’s collections.
“With the installation of Founding Fashion in the Mars Education Center, Fort Ticonderoga has finally been able to showcase its excellent collection of 18th-century military uniforms,” said Mathew Keagle, Curator of Collections. “But Founding Fashion is just the beginning; the museum’s collection is much larger—stretching through the American Revolution, the War of 1812, and beyond.”
Founding Fashion: The Diversity of Regularity in 18th-Century Military Clothing Exhibition opened in May of 2014 and runs through November of 2015. The exhibit explores how European military fashion and global commerce influenced American martial appearance throughout the American Revolution. Funding for the Founding Fashion exhibit was made possible in part by the following supporters: Best Western Plus Ticonderoga, D&E Technologies, Glens Falls National Bank, History Channel, Lake George Mirror, National Grid, Ticonderoga Credit Union, and individual donors.
Saturday Quote
“Lay down your arms, you damned rebels.”
A British officer to American militiamen on Lexington Green in 1775. The site of the first skirmish of the Revolutionary War.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Now there is a final reason I think that Jesus says, “Love your enemies.” It is this: that love has within it a redemptive power. And there is a power there that eventually transforms individuals. That’s why Jesus says, “Love your enemies.” Because if you hate your enemies, you have no way to redeem and to transform your enemies. But if you love your enemies, you will discover that at the very root of love is the power of redemption. You just keep loving people and keep loving them, even though they’re mistreating you. Here’s the person who is a neighbor, and this person is doing something wrong to you and all of that. Just keep being friendly to that person. Keep loving them. Don’t do anything to embarrass them. Just keep loving them, and they can’t stand it too long. Oh, they react in many ways in the beginning. They react with bitterness because they’re mad because you love them like that. They react with guilt feelings, and sometimes they’ll hate you a little more at that transition period, but just keep loving them. And by the power of your love they will break down under the load. That’s love, you see. It is redemptive, and this is why Jesus says love. There’s something about love that builds up and is creative. There is something about hate that tears down and is destructive. So love your enemies.
I think of one of the best examples of this. We all remember the great president of this United States, Abraham Lincoln—these United States rather. You remember when Abraham Lincoln was running for president of the United States, there was a man who ran all around the country talking about Lincoln. He said a lot of bad things about Lincoln, a lot of unkind things. And sometimes he would get to the point that he would even talk about his looks, saying, “You don’t want a tall, lanky, ignorant man like this as the president of the United States.” He went on and on and on and went around with that type of attitude and wrote about it. Finally, one day Abraham Lincoln was elected president of the United States. And if you read the great biography of Lincoln, if you read the great works about him, you will discover that as every president comes to the point, he came to the point of having to choose a Cabinet. And then came the time for him to choose a Secretary of War. He looked across the nation, and decided to choose a man by the name of Mr. Stanton. And when Abraham Lincoln stood around his advisors and mentioned this fact, they said to him: “Mr. Lincoln, are you a fool? Do you know what Mr. Stanton has been saying about you? Do you know what he has done, tried to do to you? Do you know that he has tried to defeat you on every hand? Do you know that, Mr. Lincoln? Did you read all of those derogatory statements that he made about you?” Abraham Lincoln stood before the advisors around him and said: “Oh yes, I know about it; I read about it; I’ve heard him myself. But after looking over the country, I find that he is the best man for the job.”
Mr. Stanton did become Secretary of War, and a few months later, Abraham Lincoln was assassinated. And if you go to Washington, you will discover that one of the greatest words or statements ever made by, about Abraham Lincoln was made about this man Stanton. And as Abraham Lincoln came to the end of his life, Stanton stood up and said: “Now he belongs to the ages.” And he made a beautiful statement concerning the character and the stature of this man. If Abraham Lincoln had hated Stanton, if Abraham Lincoln had answered everything Stanton said, Abraham Lincoln would have not transformed and redeemed Stanton. Stanton would have gone to his grave hating Lincoln, and Lincoln would have gone to his grave hating Stanton. But through the power of love Abraham Lincoln was able to redeem Stanton.
That’s it. There is a power in love that our world has not discovered yet. Jesus discovered it centuries ago. Mahatma Gandhi of India discovered it a few years ago, but most men and most women never discover it. For they believe in hitting for hitting; they believe in an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth; they believe in hating for hating; but Jesus comes to us and says, “This isn’t the way.”
Taken From “Loving Your Enemies,” Sermon Delivered at Dexter Avenue Baptist Church
Martin Luther King Jr.
17 November 1957
Fort Ticonderoga Purchases Carillon Cruise Boat
Fort Ticonderoga announced today that it has acquired the Carillon cruise boat, 60 foot replica 1920s 1000 Islands cruise boat. Plans are underway for 2015 waterway tours and programs at Fort Ticonderoga.
Fort Ticonderoga, a not-for-profit educational organization and major cultural destination, announced today that it has purchased the Carillon cruise boat, formerly located on the shores of Lake Champlain in Shoreham, Vermont. Waterway tours will be offered by Fort Ticonderoga beginning in the spring of this year. The acquisition of the boat is part of a larger Fort Ticonderoga waterway recreation and transportation initiative that is anticipated to continue to develop over the next several years.
“Fort Ticonderoga is thrilled to have the opportunity to expand its cultural destination experience to the internationally significant waters of Lake Champlain. The lake is a tremendous asset for our region and with Fort Ticonderoga’s 2 miles of shoreline and story that is intricately linked to Lake Champlain, the development of a water experience is an obvious next step in our program development,” said Beth Hill, Fort Ticonderoga President and CEO. “Thanks in part to a New York Empire State Development grant and other generous supporters, Fort Ticonderoga’s waterway experience will expand our tourism demographic, increase the length of stay of our guests, connect our historic properties on both sides of Lake Champlain, and highlight Ticonderoga’s epic story in a new and exciting way. We are particularly enthusiastic about this project as it is directly linked with a Town of Ticonderoga priority to increase access and waterway experiences through tourism development.”
“We are extremely pleased to acquire this iconic vessel,” said Sanford W. Morhouse, Fort Ticonderoga Chairman of the Board. “My wife and I were privileged to be guests of Captain Paul Saenger and his wife Rene, the Carillon’s prior owners, on Captain Paul’s last Carillon cruise prior to his passing. Captain Paul clearly wanted the boat to stay in the southern part of Lake Champlain, and we at Fort Ticonderoga are exceedingly pleased that we will fulfill that wish while greatly enhancing the Fort Ticonderoga experience.”
The Carillon boat, a replica of a 1920s 1000 Islands cruise boat, is a 60 foot luxury vessel previously owned by Paul and Rene Sanger. The Saengers owned and operated the boat from a dock in Shoreham, Vermont, offering scenic and educational tours in southern Lake Champlain that highlighted the region’s history, beauty, and nature. Fort Ticonderoga plans to finalize ownership of the boat this spring as it builds plans for waterway tours on Lake Chaplain for the 2015 season.
Fort Ticonderoga recently received a funding in the latest round of the New York State Regional Economic Development grant awards. The grant was awarded to Fort Ticonderoga to support the first phase of development in a waterway transportation and recreation system. Specifically, the funding will be used to construct a dock. Fort Ticonderoga continues to seek philanthropic support to fund the development of this waterway initiative and related educational programs.
Saturday Quote
“Mediocrity knows nothing higher than itself, but talent instantly recognizes genius.”
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
The Valley of Fear (1914)
Now For Some History: Date Unknown
These two old postcards, which are a bit different from ones I’ve seen before, are courtesy of my brother Al’s collection.
They’re a bit tricky to date. The Horicon was in service from 1877 to 1911 and the picture of the shoreline has people in it. Judging from their attire, I would guess, the bottom one dates from about the late 1800’s.
What a good way to start the New Year, by looking at some scenes from long ago. (Click to see full-scale.)