Holocaust to Haven to Home #SkywatchFriday #AtoZChallenge

Yes, I admit this is a weird combination, but today is both Skywatch Friday and "H" day for the Blogging from A to Z Challenge.  There is an important story connected with my theme, New York State, that needs to be told.

So, as you look at the sky, I hope you'll stay for the story of Safe Haven, in honor of Holocaust Remembrance Day, which was yesterday.  The story of Safe Haven in Oswego, New York is part of the history of our country that many don't know, and should know.  I grew up in New York City and never heard of it until a couple of years ago.

Taken during a visit in September 2019

Welcome to Ft. Ontario State Park, Oswego, New York, near the shores of Lake Ontario.  Ft. Ontario has the distinction of having seen military service in every war our country has been involved in, up to and including World War II.

But it also completed a special mission that many people alive today are not aware of.

World War II created millions of refugees as war raged between the Nazis and the Allied Forces, including the United States.  In 1944, then President Franklin Roosevelt signed an order permitting a group of mostly Jewish refugees from Europe to come to the United States.  Other than the invite, they had no legal right to stay here.  In fact, they had to sign an agreement to leave our country at the conclusion of the war.

Some 982 refugees made the journey to Ft. Ontario and Oswego, New York.  There, they were to spend nearly two years in a type of limbo at the Ft. Ontario Emergency Refugee Shelter, as it was called.  It was the first, and only, refugee shelter set up during World War II in the United States.  

These refugees came mainly from Austria, Czechoslovakia, Poland, Yugoslavia and Germany.  Some of them had already been refugees for well over five years.  Some had been tortured.  All of them were hungry, malnourished, and scared.  The ship journey to the United States had left many of them with major seasickness.

At the camp, they lived enclosed by barbed wire.  They were "guests" and not permitted to work or leave the camp for the first month or so.  Eventually, the refugee children (all ages were at the camp, including children and the elderly) were able to go to school in Oswego.  Residents of the city brought the refugees food.  A couple got married.  Volunteers taught them English.  They published a camp newsletter for themselves.  They dreaded their first winter up in the snowbelt of New York State, but made their way through.

After World War II ended in 1945, the refugees' legal status remained doubtful, but eventually, they were allowed to stay in the United States if they wished.  The camp then closed in early 1946.  A 50th reunion was held in 1994 and a commemoration of the 75th anniversary was held in 2019 with 19 former refugees and their families.

Various oral histories and other documents are available online.

Lake Ontario, Oswego, September 2019

I will close today with a couple of Oswego sunsets.

A Humble end to a little known story.  Thank you for reading.

"H" day at the Blogging from A to Z Challenge.  My theme:  New York State.

Joining Yogi and other Skywatchers for #SkywatchFriday.

Gardens #AtoZChallenge #ThursdayTreeLove

Before I begin - today is Holocaust Remembrance Day.  Because tomorrow is "H" day in the Blogging from A to Z Challenge, I am delaying my Holocaust Remembrance Day post until tomorrow.  I hope you will join me.

For "G" day in the Blogging from A to Z Challenge, I want to bring you to several Gorgeous gardens in my theme of "New York State". 

But before I begin, I wanted to show you this small tree, which isn't in any garden, but is along a popular walking trail near where I live in New York State.  It's commonly called a pussy willow, one of several small trees that have small, fuzzy catkins, which will contain the flower.   Only male pussy willows have these catkins.  Wouldn't a tree like this be a lovely addition to any garden?

And now, to our gardens.

Grace Gardens in Penn Yan, New York is a day lily retailer.  Their grounds are beautiful, especially in July, when these pictures were taken.

Also at Grace Gardens, a Gorgeous tree.

One more from Grace Gardens.

This is my favorite garden in New York State and I've blogged about it several times - Untermyer Gardens in Yonkers, New York.  This spectacular city park is free to visit and has a fascinating history. I've been there three times now and always leave a contribution to the upkeep.  Part of the grounds are in ruins and renovation has been going on for several years now.

Here's more on the history of the gardens and Samuel Untermyer.

 Speaking of historic gardens, Sonnenberg Gardens in Canandaigua, New York is worth a visit if you are visiting the Finger Lakes.  Besides the gardens, there is a historic mansion and a wine center you can tour.  The above picture was taken in a greenhouse complex built in the early 20th century.  Sadly, part of it is in ruins.

One more from Sonnenberg.

My last photo was taken from the gardens at President Franklin Roosevelt's home in Hyde Park, New York.

"G" day at the Blogging from A to Z Challenge.  My theme "New York State".

Also joining Parul at Happiness and Food every second and fourth Thursday for #ThursdayTreeLove.

Flowers Finally and Feathers #AtoZChallenge #WordlessWednesday

Finally, finally.  Spring is here.  The snow and snow squalls of last Thursday and Friday are a memory, replace by my flowers.

I am supposed to be blogging on my theme of "New York State".  Well, I live in New York State.  "F" is such an easy letter.

I could have blogged about the Finger Lakes. (They will have to wait).

I could have blogged about Floral Avenue Park in Johnson City, New York (hey, I still can.  And I will.)

But I have spring Fever and I'm in my back yard listening to the birds.  My native cherry tree is budding.  Fall planted pansy Flowers should be fully open tomorrow afternoon.  I can't wait for Garden Bloggers Bloom Day (April 15) to blog about flowers.  So, please Forgive me.  For a flower gardener, winter can't be over soon enough.

The last of my crocuses. (OK, I cheated. This is from two days ago).

My jonquils.  My first of the daffodils, they are tiny treasures.  The first of my full sized daffodils should be open today or tomorrow, daffodils that came with the house.  So they are over 30 years old now.

Purple Lenten Rose.  I have two Lenten Roses.  The other is a real early bloomer and survived two months of constant snow cover, but its flush of blooms is spent.

Bloodroot is just now coming out.  Blink twice and you'll miss it, but it's lovely while it is in bloom.  This is a native member of the poppy family, and has made a nice home in my yard.

One more picture I must show you.  I took this at our local Rail Trail on Saturday.  I fear some bird met its end - these were scattered on the side of the trail.  Does anyone have any idea what type of bird these may have belonged to?

Joining with Sandee at Comedy Plus for her #WordlessWednesday.

"F" day for the Blogging from A to Z Challenge.  

Endicott (New York) #AtoZChallenge

Endicott, New York, about five miles (eight km) west of Binghamton, is where I worked for much of the first 11 years I spent in this area.  Today's story is a story of greatness lost, a story which, sadly, must be told as part of my theme for the Blogging from A to Z.  But there is also hope, as you will see later in today's post.

The Village of Endicott has an interesting history, which is intertwined with two industries:  shoe making, in the form of a company called Endicott-Johnson (yes, the Endicott of the village's name), and IBM.  Endicott actually started out as a "company town" for Endicott-Johnson, a major shoe manufacturer, which was the world's largest shoe manufacturer in the World War I era.

Fortunately, compared to many, Endicott-Johnson (E-J) was a benevolent employer (building houses for the workers, providing free health care, recreational facilities, hospitals and more), and this area thrived.  E-J was also one of the first employers to institute a 40 hour work week.  George F. Johnson was beloved by many, and his funeral was one of the largest in United States history.

But it was, make no mistake, hard work, if you were employed by E-J.  Hard, stinky work. 

Then,  there was IBM.  Actually it's a long story, and neither my spouse nor I ever worked for IBM, but I never would have come to this area if not for IBM.

When I first started to work in Endicott in 1986, IBM, which was once headquartered in Endicott, was still a strong influence on the community.  Unfortunately, I don't have pictures of that era.  But I do have pictures taken more recently.  Before I get into some recent history, how about some pictures of beauty?

Main Street, Endicott, features an arch built, and paid by, the workers of Endicott-Johnson, in 1920.  It was restored (and widened) in 1995 and put on the National Historic Register in 2001.  There is another arch on Main Street at the Johnson City/Binghamton border.  I was concentrating on getting the blooming trees so the arch is a bit far away in this capture.  You can see it in the bottom center.

Taken near the former Ideal Hospital founded by the Johnsons (now a nursing home) in the fall of 2018.

A winter scene from almost the same vantage point.

Now, for the sad part.   Endicott-Johnson. declined and no longer has factories or facilities in our area, although it survives as a division of an Ohio shoe company.  Many of the IBM buildings stand vacant.  Sadly, one of IBM's legacy is a plume of underground pollution which has been mainly cleaned up but - you never know.  My manager of many years at my Endicott job lives in the plume area.

More of the IBM campus.

Let's follow the sad with happy (or hoppy).. When I worked in Endicott, a lot of shopping centered around Washington Avenue, a short avenue that was just a short walk from the IBM facilities and a former E-J factory (torn down and now a shopping plaza).  Today, a number of urban renewal projects, such as murals, are centering around Washington Avenue.  

Some eight years ago a vacant building formerly occupied by Elks Bakery was converted into the North Brewery, which thrives today. There are some other recent, hopeful signs of recovery, despite the pandemic.

Here's hoping Endicott can find even more new life and purpose in the coming years.  It deserves a new chance to thrive again.

"E" day of the Blogging from A to Z Challenge.  My theme:  New York State.

Downtown and "D" Songs #MusicMovesMe #AtoZChallenge

 It's Monday, and it's time to join up with other music bloggers for #MusicMovesMe.

Who are the #MusicMovesMe bloggers? We are bloggers who blog about music each Monday and if you have music to share with us, you are most welcome to join! (Music Posts Only , please!)   First, there is XmasDolly,   Her co-hosts are: Stacy of Stacy Uncorked, Cathy from Curious as a Cathy, and me. Each month we have a guest post and this month we welcome DrillerAA of Driller's Place.

His theme:  You Pick.

This is also the 4th Day of the Blogging from A to Z Challenge, meaning my artists or song titles must all begin with the letter D.   My theme for Blogging from A to Z is "New York State" and I am choosing for today a New York State downtown and the song "Downtown"

When you think of downtowns in New York State, many think right off of Manhattan.  But New York State is more than New York City.  Instead, I want to show you a couple of views from a city along Lake Ontario - Oswego, New York, plus a view of downtown Binghamton, New York.

Here, a view of downtown Oswego along the harbor.

Thanks to Oswego's Harbor Rail Trail.

Foliage trees turning color in downtown Binghamton, New York.

Now,  to our music.  I'm not quite Done yet.

Petula Clark sings her 1964 hit "Downtown".

How about some other "D" songs from New York State artists?

Dirty Work from New York State's Steely Dan's debut album in 1972.

 The Beastie Boys and "Deal with It".  Short, and you either like it or you don't.  I like it.

One more New York State group - Donna the Buffalo is a band somewhat local to me (about an hour away, and they have played in this area.  Here is one of their songs, "Dance in the Street".

And so ends another episode of #MusicMovesMe.

Next week, my Music Moves Me post will be published on Sunday, so that I can devote Monday to my Blogging from A to Z post.

"D" day in the Blogging from A to Z Challenge.  My theme:  New York State.

RIP April the Giraffe

 On this Easter Sunday, and  first Sunday off from the Blogging from A to Z Challenge, I must share some sad news from our area of New York State.

April the Giraffe, who captivated millions around the world in early 2017 as she prepared to give birth, lived about 20 minutes from me near Harpursville, New York.  On Friday morning, she passed away at the age of 20.  Her death made headlines in our area.

In 2017 and 2019, I blogged about April.  Here are two of the posts (with some edits):

In early 2017, Animal Adventure Park near Harpursville, New York owned a pregnant giraffe by the name of April.  Wanting to keep their fans updated as to the progress of her pregnancy, they installed a web cam in her stall.

Internet lightning struck.  April, as they like to say, went viral, and hundreds of thousands of people watched April give birth in - of course - April, of 2017.

I feed April at Animal Adventure, July 2017

It was a bit of a rocky road, this event that took everyone by surprise.  There are many people who oppose the concept of zoos.  But millions of others took April, Oliver, and the eventual baby - Tajiri - into their hearts.

April and Tajiri, July 2017

The owner of Animal Adventure, Jordan Patch, was not an overnight success.  He started out with a dream and a camel by the name of Maxx.  (Maxx passed away in the summer of 2017).

When the Internet chose April to go viral, Jordan Patch saw an opportunity to help save the world's giraffes.  Giraffes are vulnerable to extinction.  Several species (yes, there is more than one giraffe species) have already gone extinct.  He used the publicity to raise money and awareness.

He has also raised awareness of the world of special needs (as my regular readers know, I have an autistic brother in law) through his young daughter, Ava.and their charity, Ava's Little Heroes.

I was fortunate enough to be able to see April twice - in July of 2017 and, again, in the summer of 2020. 

April had another baby giraffe in April of 2018. Azizi, sadly, predeceased April last year.  (I must note here that Azizi was not living at Animal Adventure by then.)

In a perfect world, no animal should have to live in captivity and have their births live streamed on You Tube.  The animals at Animal Adventure, yes, should be roaming wild in a world where they never have to worry about climate change, or poachers or encroachment of humans on their territories.  But that is not our world.

I hope that one day, it can be. 

Commemoration 12 #AtoZChallenge

I wish  I could blog about something else for my C post for the Blogging from A to Z Challenge.

Back when I wrote my first C post during Blogging from A to Z, I said that "Commemoration" would forever be the topic of my "C" post, and so it continues to be, on the 12th anniversary of a horrible day that will be marked by the community where I worked for many years.

April 3, 2009.

Here is my post from 2016.

It seems like nothing has changed except the number of dead and injured over the years, has it?

On April 3, 2009, a gunman burst into an adult education classroom at the American Civic Association, blocks from where I worked in downtown Binghamton, New York.  Within minutes, 14 people (including the gunman) were dead. Both the shooter and many of the victims were immigrants to our country, seeking a better life.  Two children were left orphans.

My first blog post, April 10, 2009, was taken from an email I sent to some friends after receiving phone calls and emails asking if I was all right.  It wasn't quite an eye witness report, but you can, if you want, call it the impressions of someone on the fringe of a tragic event.

The mass shooting in Binghamton April 3 helped me make up my mind to start a blog. I wanted this blog to be a type of journey through my life so I started with my personal experience the morning and afternoon of April 3. The description starts with my lunch period that day, spent with a co-worker who, sadly, passed away this past year. 

Back in 2016, when I posted pictures of a monument to the victims of this shooting , I asked, "How many more monuments to the dead will we have to build?"

The answer is simple:  way too many.

That's all I will say.  It's been said too many times.

The next post should be happier.  Thank you for reading to the end.  Except it isn't the end. There doesn't seem to be an end until we the American people decide it has to end.

We haven't decided that yet.

"C" Day for the Blogging from A to Z Challenge.  My theme "New York State".

Tomorrow is a free day, so I resume with "D" on Monday.

Happy Easter tomorrow to all who celebrate.

Binghamton #AtoZChallenge #SkywatchFriday #LastPhoto

 My "B" post for the Blogging from A to Z Challenge was a natural.  My theme is "New York State" and, for over 23 years, I worked in downtown Binghamton, New York.  I would still be working there except for the pandemic.

I took so many pictures of Binghamton's downtown over the years, mostly on my lunch break.  Sometimes I would be accompanied by one of my two long time work friends.  One is retired and doing well but the other, sadly, retired partially due to health issues and passed away several months ago.

So, I will dedicate today's post to both of them. 

Binghamton is the largest city in what we call the Triple Cities of the Southern Tier of New York.  We are about 20 minutes away from Pennsylvania.  The other two "triple cities", Johnson City and Endicott, are not cities, but villages.  Binghamton is the county seat of Broome County and has a population of about 43,601 as of 2020.  At its peak (1950), our population was 80,674.  IBM originated in our area, and the flight simulator was invented here.

We've seen better days, but I also think we have better days ahead of us.

First, we need a couple of sunrises.  This and the next photo were taken November 1, 2019. The building to the right is our county courthouse.

A lovely sunrise.

December 2016.

September 2016. (the white paper in the building to the left was there because of a projection festival to be held after sundown.)

Another photo from that day, with the white paper.

One of the last photos I took before the pandemic.

November color.

One last view of downtown from near our county courthouse.

It's time to go.  Our workday is over. The sun sets over Lady Justice on top of the courthouse.

Joining with Yogi and other bloggers who watch the sky for #SkywatchFriday.

"B" Day for Blogging from A to Z.  My theme:  New York State.

Allegany Amazement #AtoZChallenge

Today is the first day of the Blogging from A to Z Challenge, when hundreds of bloggers start April 1 with a post whose topic begins with "A".  Every day, except Sunday, we will blog - tomorrow, "B", Saturday, "C", Sunday off, Monday, "D", and so on.

Many of us have themes we try to keep to.  We are encouraged to write posts of 100 words or more.  And that's it!  I've been doing this for the past several Aprils and hope you will enjoy my topic:  "New York State".

I want everyone to be well rested for our journey.  So many people think that New York State is New York City, but I (as a native of New York City who has lived outside the City for almost 50 years) am here to show you how much more there is to this beautiful state than the skyscrapers of Manhattan.

Let's begin with a rest area on Interstate 86 westbound.  You'll note something special right off.

Photos Taken September 2019

I am not normally a big fan of highway rest areas but occasionally the traveler runs into something beautiful.  This rest area is one we found on a trip to Arkansas in 2015, and we made a return trip in 2019.

Let's go inside.

This rest area is dedicated to exploring some of the art and culture of the Seneca Native American tribe.

Another mosaic.

Let's go outside.  Here, this plaque explores "Turtle's Race with Beaver".  I'm sorry I didn't take a better picture.

Some of the shrubs and trees were labeled with information about their importance to the Seneca.

But now, it's time to leave, and continue our trip through New York State.

We've rested long enough.

The next stop coincides with "SkywatchFriday" so join me tomorrow for some skies in New York.

"A" day on the Blogging from A to Z Challenge.