Into the Wild Blue Yonder part 2

Last Saturday I went to the air show in Peru honoring our WW 2 vets. There was fun, excitement, and So many vintage planes you could scarce take them all in. There were fly by's, flying in formations, period music was being played and several people were walking around in period uniforms and flight suits. One fellow had a full get up including leather flying helmet and an inflatable life vest in case he had to ditch!

Though there wasn't as much colorful nose art as I would have liked ( Pity ) many did have colorful names. "She's the Boss", "Spanish Lady", Naked Fanny" and "Ida Red" were some of the ones there. There were single engines, twin engines, biplanes, monoplanes, fighters, observation planes, jets, and oh so much more.

If you didn't go you truly missed a great show. But as it was wrapping up there was talk of doing it again next year so you may have another chance. Be sure to take it. Again kudos and many thanks to Lil Sidekick Nick for walking around and taking photo's I couldn't get to. Be sure to check out his interior shots of one of the TBM Avengers showing the rear gunners station and a mock torpedo in the bomb bay.

Into the Wild Blue Yonder part 1

On Saturday Lil' Nick and I went in search of another kind of forgotten memorial. In Peru, they had an airshow/fly in honoring WW 2 vets. There were nine TBM torpedo bombers there out of the fifteen that are still flying in America. There were half a dozen T-6 Texans. There were a couple WW 2 Russian YAK aircraft. Thee were four Stearman biplanes. There were smaller US planes, there were military jets, There was so much to see and experience I'm sure I missed half of it.

One of the highlights of the day was a tribute to the vets as four of the Tbm's flew over head, one plane breaking off in the classic "Missing Man" formation as the speakers played Taps.

In fact, There was so much to see that I cannot show it all in one post so this is going to come to you in two parts. Big shout out to my Lil' sidekick Nick for taking a lot of the close up pics I couldn't reach.

Just a Hodge-Podge

Lil' Nick and I haven't had a chance to get out for the last couple weeks so I'm throwing in a group of assorted pictures that aren't quite enough for an article of their own. Just clearing the shelves, as it were, to make room for the new summer stock.

First up is Matson Corners. This marker was placed at the site of the Matson homestead in 1942 by the Matson relative to honor Enos Matson. A fun bit about this marker is the road arrows and directions cast into the plaque. Giving approx miles to travel for Princeton, Dover, Ohio and Walnut.  Not far down the road is another marker honoring Enos and his wife Elizabeth and Peter and Jane Matson. Though hard to make out it is inscribed as having been erected June 21, 1936.

Then there is the marker for the Halladay school. It commemorates the 'First school West of Bureau Creek' and is also dated 1936. These are all just past the Red covered bridge and surprisingly quite easy to find.

Fresh posts are forthcoming, I promise, so enjoy these for now!

Amongst Friends

On a recent outing we were up near McNabb and came across an interesting site. Not a forgotten monument or abandoned house but still historically significant. If you travel up route 89 until you come to county rd. 350 N. and take a right hand turn you'll find yourself at the Friends Meeting House. Built in 1874 and listed on the National Register of historic places it is the westernmost meeting place of the Religious Society of Friends, better known as the Quakers.

Founded in the mid 1600's, the Quakers are widely known for their plain dress, formal speech and pacifist beliefs. Quakers refused to participate in war, were bitterly opposed to slavery and many of them helped runaway slaves escape to a better life in pre civil war America.

Every year, usually in June, there is a meeting of people coming from all over the country. In addition to the main meeting house which can hold up to 700 at one sitting, there are cabins across the road. Also nearby is a cemetery devoted just for the Friends. If you're ever curious take a drive up that way. The spot is quiet with only the wind blowing and the birds chirping most of the year.