BS: Any 1876 Philly World's Fair Buffs?

Subject: Any 1876 Philly World's Fair Buffs?
From: katlaughing
Date: 09 Aug 01 - 08:04 PM

Another request for help on a research question for my dad's book.:-)

My greatgrandfather told the story that he not only had the first threshing amchine in Indian Territory (OK), but that he also won first place in a threshing competition at the World's Fair in Philladephia, which I am guessing was the one and only held there in 1876. That date coincides with where he was and what he was doing at the time.

I have found a place for queries on the Oklahoma end, but am not getting anywhere on trying to verify the first place claim in Philly.

Anyone have any ideas or suggestions? Thanks a bunch!

Otherwise, it is coming along. I've been doing a lot of research, some of which has changed some aspects of old family lore; all of it interesting.

At the moment I am waiting for the Colorado Hist. Society to research and send me copies of newspaper articles on the trial of the same ggranddad for shooting his neighbour to death. He was acquitted as it was self-defense. My dad just told me the prosecuting attorney was known as "Pegleg" Watson. Seems he was on top of Independence Pass, way up in the Rockies, when his wagon turned over on his leg. He had no help, so cut his leg off, lived off of the grub he had in the wagon. When it was healed up, he took the wagon and horses on down to Glenwood Springs and became "Pegleg." Tough people!

Thanks a bunch!

kat

Subject: RE: BS: Any 1876 Philly World's Fair Buffs?
From: M.Ted
Date: 09 Aug 01 - 09:41 PM

The site of the fair is part of the Fairmont Park in Philadelphia--their are still some of the reflecting pools, a few pieces of statuary, and of course, Memorial Hall. I believe that Memorial Hall has a collection of photos from the Exposition, as well as a detailed map of the grounds. I can't think where, but I have read numerous accounts of the exhibits, so there is a lot of information around. You should contact the Fairmont Park Commission--there are a number of restored colonial mansions in the park, an there is a good sized staff of curators and historians. Some of the park is a national park as well, and, the Free Library of Philadelphia(which is on the Parkway) has a collection related to the Exposition as well. If memory serves me, through a clever ruse, Susan B. Anthony read the Declaration of Women's Rights at the opening ceremonies of the Fair--

Subject: RE: BS: Any 1876 Philly World's Fair Buffs?
From: katlaughing
Date: 09 Aug 01 - 10:25 PM

Kewl! Thanks so muhc, M. Ted, for the information. I will put it to good use.

I am flying high tonight...just found an unbeknownst, to my family, 1905 published bio of that same greatgranddad!! It pays to be persistent and keep searching!

Thanks, again,

kat

Subject: RE: BS: Any 1876 Philly World's Fair Buffs?
From: Mark Cohen
Date: 10 Aug 01 - 02:50 AM

Also in Fairmount Park -- which I once learned is the largest park in the US, or maybe the world, within a city limits -- is Robin Hood Dell, where the Philadelphia Orchestra used to (maybe still does?) have a summer concert series. Just to make this a musical thread.

And the Philadelphia Zoological Gardens, the oldest Zoo in the US. There is a children's zoo there on a "replica" of Noah's Ark. What I'm still trying to figure out is how Noah's Ark has managed to shrink so alarmingly since the early 1960s....

Alexander Graham Bell gave the first public demonstration of the telephone at the 1876 Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia.

The part of Fairmount Park which is most familiar to non-Philadelphians is the aforementioned Benjamin Franklin Parkway, at the end of which is the Art Museum, whose steps were ascended by Rocky in the (first) film of that name. The same Art Museum (along with the wonderful old Greek-temple-style Waterworks below it on the Schuylkill) can also be seen in Marshall McLuhan's 60's classic, "The Medium is the Massage"!

Hey, M.Ted, maybe we should start a Philly tour guide service! Getcher soft pretzels right here!

Aloha,
Mark

Subject: RE: BS: Any 1876 Philly World's Fair Buffs?
From: katlaughing
Date: 10 Aug 01 - 03:41 AM

You should! Specialised Mudcat Tour Guides...they all end up at Mudcat Central!!

Subject: RE: BS: Any 1876 Philly World's Fair Buffs?
From: Sourdough
Date: 10 Aug 01 - 06:03 AM

There is a book, I think by the same person who wrote "Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee", Dee Brown,, called "The Year of the Century" and it features the Fair. It is a fascinating book but I read it a long time ago, while involved in planning for the Bicentennial so I am not too clear about the contents except that there was a lot about that particular WOrld's Fair. The book should also have a bibliography which may be a great help to you.

Sourdough

Subject: RE: BS: Any 1876 Philly World's Fair Buffs?
From: GUEST,SharonA
Date: 10 Aug 01 - 02:17 PM

Did you know that the arm of the Statue of Liberty (with torch) was exhibited at that Fair? The whole Statue was originally intended to be a Centennial present to the US from France, but delays in design, construction and funding resulted in the display of the arm only.

Subject: RE: BS: Any 1876 Philly World's Fair Buffs?
From: katlaughing
Date: 10 Aug 01 - 02:50 PM

Wow, didn't know that, Sharon.

Thanks, SD. I called the PA Historical Society this a.m. and found out where to send a query. Evidently they have tons of info, BUT their research fees are high, staring at $40! So...I will continue to check other sources, too.

Thanks a bunch,

kat

Subject: RE: BS: Any 1876 Philly World's Fair Buffs?
From: Suffet
Date: 10 Aug 01 - 03:41 PM

To US stamp collectors the 1876 Centennial Exposition was a milestone event for two reasons:

1. The US Post Office Department issued its first ever commemorative postal stationery to honor the event. These were 3c stamped envelopes, with the embossed stamp printed in either red or green on white paper. The US did not issue adhesive commemorative stamps until 1893, when it did so to honor the World Columbian Exposition in Chicago.

2. In 1875, the American Bank Note Company, under contract to the US Post Office Department, reprinted all US postage stamps issued up to that time, for display and sale at the Centennial Exposition. In all instances these so-called Special Printings are distinguishable from the originals, and in many instances they are much more valuable.

I know this has nothing to do with folk music, but I am a member of the New York Philatelic Bandits, a loosely knit group of people who enjoy both folk music and philately. We get together each March in Rochester, NY, for a pizza party at which we sing songs about stamp collecting. Weird, but true!

--- Steve

Subject: RE: BS: Any 1876 Philly World's Fair Buffs?
From: Max
Date: 10 Aug 01 - 04:48 PM

What was his name kat? I can check around down here. Found a ton of great info with some good google searches.

Subject: RE: BS: Any 1876 Philly World's Fair Buffs?
From: katlaughing
Date: 10 Aug 01 - 06:02 PM

Wow, Max, thanks very much, only if you have some time, which I think is in short supply for you right now, eh?**BG**

He was Lorenzo Dowd (pronounced Dode) Hudson and at that time he would have been from Indian Territory (OK). He always told the story to my dad and granddad. I do know that they were the first ones to have a threshing machine on the Western Slope of Colorado and my dad grew up helping with harvesting for ranchers all over the area with his dad.

Thanks a bunch. I overdid the research last night/this morning (3a) and so must leave it for an evening.:-)

kat

Subject: RE: BS: Any 1876 Philly World's Fair Buffs?
From: Mark Cohen
Date: 11 Aug 01 - 04:42 AM

You know, philately is illegal in Pennsylvania...it's in the Blue Laws. (Otherwise Philadelphia would have had the first one of them, too.) Seriously, I've always been impressed with just how serious and focused those stamp folks can be. They put musicologists to shame! I had a friend in college, now a biologist, who wrote a paper for a philatelic journal that was all about errors in those little bar codes the post office prints on your envelope. Now that's dedication....

Aloha,
Mark