John Hunter's Cabin Resurrected

My ancestor John Hunter (c1776-1850) and his family  built this cabin in Union County in the 1830s.  He and his wife Polly Edwards are buried in Old Salem Church Cemetery, which he deed the land for.  After John died his daughter Harriet and her husband Daniel England and their family took possession of it.

On postcards it was described as the oldest man made dwelling in Union County, Georgia.

In the latter part of the 20^th century it was vacant.  The Twigg family owned the land it was on.  They sold their land in the early 2000s and the new owner said the cabin would have to go to make way for new mountain homes that was to be built.

To save the cabin Charlie Hunter bought it and had professions to disassemble it, number the boards, for a future resurrection of the structure.

It now has been rebuilt and is standing near the Blairsville’s Farmer Market on Old Smokey Road.

We visited it today.  I have been in it before, when it was in Choestoe area and my memory was confirmed that the whole house inside is smaller than our den.

As a detail they even have a rabbit trap, just like kind I used to have when I was a kid.  That is old!

Fathers' Day a Day Early

Fathers' Day came a day early this year with this family (I couldn't wait).

SUNDAY FUNNIIES! MAD #4, Flob was Slob

Story by editor Harvey Kurtzman and illustrated by Georgia own's corn-fed Jack Davis

What Law?

On separating children from their refugee parents at the border Trump was asked “Why”?  He said it was a law the Democrats made,  they are the ones that would have to change it.

Both Democrats and Republicans are asking each other “What law?”

We carried Willow to the vet this past Monday for routine glucose check and her annual shots.  Willow is a diabetic.  When they test her blood, between 200 and 300, is acceptable.  This time it was well over 500.

500 sounds like death could strike any minute!

The vet suggested we bring her back in a few days in the evening before she eats and test her again.  We arranged for her to come back Thursday (yesterday) at 5pm.

On the way to the Vets yesterday early evening I stopped at Home Depot to buy a bow-saw and everybody there  that we faced had to bend over and Pet Willow and talk to her some.  Willow timidly took the petting and charming baby talk.

At the Vet her blood count was under 100!  It was in the 80s!

Over a four-day period it is a mystery why it changed from dangerous to beyond super healthy.

Maybe  charming -baby- talk is the best medicine.

First Telephone Conversation

H

"Hello, Is this Mr. Bell?   Can you hear me?  I am from the Warranty department, oh don’t worry,  your warranty is fine, but I can get you a much deal, just give your credit card number."

Hunter Cabin Resurrected!

I got an interesting email yesterday from Betty, a long time friend, fellow researcher, and distant cousin.  I haven’t heard from her in years.  But first let me fill you in.

My great-g-g-grandfather John Hunter (1775-1850) built the above cabin in Union County, Georgia, not far from Volgel State Park and Blood Mountain.  Up until recently, although deserted,  was considered the oldest man-made dwelling in Union County. 

It sat in the middle a field with Notley River behind it.  Not that it has anything to do with this but the Notley River is one of the rare rivers that flow north.

Once my sons and I visited the cabin and I was amazed how small it was inside.  I think our den is bigger than the whole cabin.

About five years ago, the land John Hunter’s cabin was on.  The new owners said it would have to be destroyed to make way for a “mountain cabin” development.

Nope!  My distant cousin Charley Hunter came forward, bought it, and paid to have the boards and thing marked and cataloged so one day it could be reassembled.

Charlie Hunter, his nephew Prof Andrew Wallis, and behind them, the cabin packed and tagged.

Betty’s email said that  the day is here.

The reassembled cabin will have its grand opening at the Blairsville Farmers’ Market, this Saturday,   I suppose it will be on display there from now on.

If any Hunter relatives are interested in attending, I Googled the Blairsville Farmer's Market and it is 148 Old Smokey Road.

Queen Elizabeth Job Hunting?

If Elizabeth ever gets tired of her 24 x7 position  she can always get a job holding a STOP/SLOW sign, where there is roadside work, wearing that outfit.   It pays overtime.

HAPPY FLAG DAY!!

Those Sneaky Valedictorians !

I read on one of the on-line news that a young lady, a Valedictorian, was giving a speech to her fellow high school graduates when without warning went off her approved script and started talking about the NRA, legislator lawmakers,  and the school mass murders recently.  The speakers were turned off within seconds.  She did not get her message through.

Also

In southern Kentucky, where Trump is worshiped like God, the Valedictorian, a young man, gave his fellow students a speech that everybody liked and applauded.  They cheered and applauded because the Valedictorian said, “as our President Donald Trump said…”…….” And he went on to say something heavy and meaningfully. 

After they did their cheering, the Valedictorian said, He was just joking, he was actually quoting President Obama.   I think the crowd decided they didn’t like the quote so much after all.

You Don't Say, Mr. President!

On a local TV News an anchor person made a retraction.  She told what was reported and then told us what should have been reported.

I think most newspapers and news on TV are fairly accurate, because they check and recheck the proof they have before they actually tell it.  Of course, human are humans and something untrue occasionally slip through the cracks.

Trump calls the real news phony news because, I think, they tell things he wish they wouldn’t.

But on the other hand, Trump tells so many untruths it is hard to keep up with them all.  He is not above making up a phony fact to give him credence

I think the certifiable press and Trump should make an agreement with each  other, kind of like the old days when we had to put a quarter in a jar each time we said a bad word:  when either tells an untrue statement they will retract it the next day.  If CNN tells an untruth then they will be expected to admit it the following day.  If (not if  but when) Trump tells an untruth, rules are rules, and Trump will be expected to admit his scapegoat misinformed him.

After all,  no one, not even the President is above rules… or the law.  On second thought, this probably won’t work.

THE FANTASTICKS is FANSTATIC!

Now that the TONY awards are here with all the good catchy music that goes with it reminds me of a musical, that as far as I know, never made it to Broadway:

THE FANSTASTICKS

I first saw THE FANTASTICKS in Greenwich Village, in the basement of an old building, it might have once been a church annex.  My Navy buddy Sam Kauske went to see the play a few days before was so carried away with it, he went again to see, this time with me.

I thought it was great, it was once bouncy song after another, and each song you have probably heard over and over, the one that comes to mind is the song: SOON ITS GOING TO RAIN, I CAN FEEL IT.

The play stereotypes typical ideally neighbors interacting and their teenage children falling in love.  The scenery is brought to the audience visually by the scenery man, which is usually (I have seen it several times) a non-descript guy with either a derby or a top hp on.  It they need the neighbors to interact between yards the scenery guy holds up his walking cane or director baton, to use as a fence.  It they need autumn or fall conditions ballet around with a sack, reaching into it throwing out and scattering colorful paper cuts to represent falling leaves.

There are few players in the play.  Two fathers, a teenage boy, a teenage girl for a love story, the scenery guy, a very dignified worldly devil like character, and for some reason his Indian companion. and that is all the characters  I can recall.

Since I first saw it, we saw it at Kennesaw College and someplace in Atlanta.

If you see it is being played someplace, even by a high school, get tickets, you might enjoy it.

Here is ACT I:

No Pie in the Face here

SUNDAY FUNNIES!!! MAD's SUPERDUPERMAN

The story was written by editor Harvey Kurtzman and illustrated by Wallace Wood.  This is the first story of MAD I read..  I was in the 7th grade at the time.  We visited by grandmother and while the family was visiting with them I walked over to their neighbors to visit a classmate Archie Richarson.  Archie had a unique talent:  In the boys' restroom at school he could piss all the up the wall to the ceiling.  

While visiting with Archie that evening I went through he comics and he had a strange looking one, it said MAD on the cover.  I read the first story  (this) and my life changed.

Donald Day

Every day is Donald Trump Day

But today is also Donald Duck Day!

I Beg Your Pardon

Click on above to read without squinting your eyes

Bring On the Clown

In the ole days when knighthood was the thing and kings were kings, maidens were maiden, and so on the king had a royal jester.

When the king was depressed or tensed the jester told a one-liner joke; tell a plain false statement;  or did something totally unpredictable that made the king giggle in delight.   It worked well back in the  1200-1400s.

Maybe we now need a professional jester in the White House, just to keep things interesting.

On second thought, never mind.

My mother was born 100 Years Ago

Yep, my mother, Ethel America "Janie" Petty  was born June 6, 1918, in Gillette, Wyoming.  Eighteen years later she married and her last name changed to Hunter.

One time I Googled Gillette to see what they are known for.  They were at one time the Women's Mud Wrestling Capital.

She died in 1996.

A Tree to Ponder

On our walk this morning we saw a large tree that has fallen.  It is still hanging on to it roots.  The tree’s base is in the Sweat Mountain Park.  But it is so big, when it toppled most of the tree landed in the parking lot of Mabry Middle School.  Luckily the timing was good, school is out for summer vacation.

Forget about the age old question to ponder did it make any sound?  County management needs to decide if chopping up the tree and grinding it away to nothing, should  the expense go to Cobb County Board of Education or Cobb County Parks?

Darlene Gaines' Memorial at the Arbor at Campground Methodist

The Arbor

Today we went to the Memorial Service of Darlene Gaines, wife of my life long friend Walker James Gaines.  In the 1960s Walter was in the Air Force, station in Maine and met and married Darlene July 7, 1962.

We have only met Darlene twice and she was very nice and might have been a bit hyper, it seems she enjoyed being busy.

The service was in the Arbor of the Marietta Campgrounds.  There were a lot of people there which I do not know.  Therefore these pictures are mostly of people I know.

The Arbor closeup

The Campground Academy Schoolhouse/Campground Museum

Walker's sister Grace

Grace and her husband

Walter's sister Martha

James Walker Gaines.  

Since I last saw him a couple years ago he has grown a beard..  That last time I saw him we met at the Varsity for lunch.  He gave me a present:  A brick from the demolished Waterman St. School.

SUNDAY FUNNIES!! DOONESBURY by Gary Trudeu

click on to make readable

Walker and Darlene Gaines in front of their Methodist Campground Cabin

Walker and Darlene as docents for the Marietta Methodist Campground Museum

My old friend since the first grade, Walker James Gaines sent me an email about a memorial service for his wife Darlene.  She left this earth January the 10^th.   The email said June 3, at 3pm. at Campground (East Cobb) Methodist Church.

Uncle John says Pet Owners Live Longer

A UNCLE JOHN’S BATHROOM READER trivia fact:

 

‘Pet owners live longer and are less stress and have fewer heart attacks.’

My first thought was “They do?”  With all that fretting about keeping them free of fleas and heart worms, the right foods, and making sure they get a good walk daily? – but wait!  The good walk for the pet is good for me too – so, maybe that is the reason pet owners live longer.  But that would not go for animals that you can’t walk such as snakes, goldfish, and hamsters.

Also, I think it is probable that if pet owners live longer, so do the pets, than if they were ownerless.  Like, take Willow and me for example:  We both are considered “old”, we both probably  have already outlived out life expectancy – are we trying to outlive each other?