I recommend you spend some time here. I admire Dottie’s work very much. She is quite an asset to our community. Check it out.
My favorite veteran on Veteran’s Day
Seen above is my dad on October 18 1950 with the motor pool of his company, the 14th Explosive Ordnance Disposal Squad. They are in Japan prior to deploying to Korea for bomb disposal duty as part of the US Army support for the Marines. My dad is fourth from the left in the top row. Seen here as a young man of 18, he’s now 77, and living in Redding along with my mom Pauline.
According to my dad, only 5 of these soldiers seen here survived the “forgotten” war in Korea, with its 54,229 US killed in action. See The Battle of Chosin Reservoir. Unfortunately, not many people talk about this war. However, so many Americans were lost in this battle, so people should show support for those who sacrificed their lives for us. To show support this Veteran’s Day, people could fly some army flags from their houses to remember those who lost their lives whilst fighting for us.
Click on the image to see a larger view of these young men. Today is a day to consider the faces of those soldiers, and the lives not lived. It’s a big photo, so may require patience to load.
He’s not one to talk about it much. I try to imagine disarming weaponry in the freezing cold on the border of China. I guess I can understand not wanting to dwell on it.
Thanks Dad. Thanks to all veterans.
From Redding's newest church to it's oldest
Last week I featured Redding’s newest church. At least I think it was the newest. This one is our oldest, I think. A difference of 115 years.
Here we see PG&E starting the pilot light on the heater for the coming winter. I found it surprisingly bright inside, illuminated by natural light.
There was an article in redding.com about the intention to move the church to make way for development. But not enough money was raised, and the idea has languished. Given the current glut of vacant commercial property in town, perhaps the church will be spared for a while longer. I couldn’t find anything about the current congregation on the web. When it was built, it was the Zion African Methodist-Episcopal church. There were churches built in Redding prior to this one. Most were larger, but all were burnt or demolished. Only this humble testament to faith remains.
Photographic reminder
Sundial bridge time is correct once a year
Yesterday a group of folks gathered at the north end of Redding’s Sundial Bridge to observe the Solstice, and perhaps to verify that their cell phones report the same time as the planet. Noon. Yep.
There was a band, and some booths. At one of the booths you could look at the sun, but there were no sunspots or flares, so it pretty much looked like just a bright disk.
Redding lays claim to the tallest known sundial on the planet at 217 ft. We humans have a history of building large and relatively permanent structures to observe the planetary movements.
Hopeful message spotted on Redding sign
Happy Father’s Day to me, and to you and/or your father. I spotted this sign a few days ago and it made me smile. This is the Methodist Church on the corner of East and South Street in Redding. The church is a handsome and utilitarian building in a classic Redding style, and the thoughtful sign is appropriate today. I went looking for them on the web, and they are a very interesting church. Check it out HERE.
Sulphur Creek before and after yesterday’s big rain
Seen above, Sulphur creek from the bridge on the north side of the Sundial from Friday. Seen below, the same creek yesterday, Monday, after a big storm blew through.
Also seen, this Rainbow over Redding. No sign of the rumored Irish guy at the end of it with a pot ‘o gold for you, though. A pot o’ debt perhaps. Luck of the Irish. Have a fun and safe St Patrick’s Day!
Rare historical Drag Racing video from Redding CA 1962 or 63
I posted a very rare short video of a day at the races in either 1962 or ’63 at the Redding Dragstrip in Redding. It’s fascinating to see what it looked like back then. The video appears to a be a dub of an 8mm film titled “Drag Day”, and made by the Sparman family. Shot in “Sparmascope” no less. Really fun to watch:
Our great thanks to the Sparmans for preserving this bit of our history about 45 years ago. I am tracking down another one like this that is also very interesting, and hope to post it soon. If you have any old movies or videos of the Redding Dragstrip, I’d appreciate hearing from you. As of now, it looks like our dragstrip is the oldest continuously operating drag racing facility in California. Redding has always been a big car town, and these images reveal a glimpse of our past.
As an aside, I run the website for the Redding Dragstrip, since a neighbor found out I had the ability, and their previous web person bowed out. It’s been a lot of fun, and I’ve met lots of nice folks. You can view that website HERE.
100 years of flight in Redding
I snapped this photo of an Ultralight flying past my house yesterday. I was reminded of an old photo I saw of the first airplane that landed in Redding, almost exactly 100 years earlier in 1909.
An interesting resemblance between the two aircraft, and the spirit of their pilots. Photo courtesy of Shasta Historical Society. Consider joining us.
My Great Great Grandfather, Civil War Vet
This is John Rodney in his later years, wearing the Union uniform he wore fighting for Vermont in the Civil War. We’re told he never really recovered from the war, in terms of his health, but we see him here looking proud, about 120 years ago. Happy Veterans Day John. We salute you. John Rodney was the great grandfather to my favorite veteran, my dad.
My dad George, received 3 Bronze Stars in Korea. He was in the Army then, and he noticed the Navy guys seemed to have a better gig, so he joined the Navy reserves after getting out of the Army. I don’t know many who served in two branches of the military. My dad is a pretty special guy.
Last week I took him to have cataract surgery here in Redding at Shasta Eye on Butte Street (thanks!), and he is really grateful about being able to see so well now. Except when he looked in a mirror. Who is that old guy? I know the feeling! Probably John Rodney felt the same about his photograph.