USS Constitution Reopens for Public Visitation

From the August 10, 2020, WCVB 5 ABC News.

It reopened Friday, August 7 and will be open  from 10 am to 6 pm  on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

About 1,000 visitors came to the "Old Ironsides" on its opening weekend.  All guests are required to wear a mask and groups are limited to 25 people to promote social distancing.

Visits last around 30 minutes and the ship's crew clean and sanitize surfaces and handrails between groups.

The ship closed on March 14 due to COVID-19.  After that, the crew gave virtual tours and around 3 million took them up on it.

The USS Constitution is the world's oldest commissioned  warship afloat and played a crucial role in the Barbary Wars and the War of 1812.  It also actively defended the sea lanes between 1797 and 1855.

So Glad the Ship is Still With Us.  --Brock-Perry

Two North Carolina Men Whose Lives Spanned Three Centuries, from the Presidencies of George Washington to That of George W. Bush-- Part 1

From the June 2, 2020, Mountaineer (Waynesville, N.C.)  "Two local men whose lives  spanned three centuries had other traits in common" by Kathy Ross.

Two men from Hayward County, North Carolina, lived across three centuries.

Federic Messer was born in 1792, during the presidency of George Washington and died in 1907 at the age of 114.  His life spanned the early days of our country's Constitutional history, the War of 1812, the formation of Hayward County, the Civil War and the Spanish-American War.  The first time he voted in a presidential election, it was for James Monroe.

Carl Winford Bryson was born 100 years later, in 1892 and died June 28, 2001, at the age of 108.  His lifespan covered two world wars, the Great Depression,  the Cold War, the rise and fall of the Soviet Union and the internet.  George W. Bush was president when he died.

The two men had a lot in common.  Both born one hundred years apart, together, they spanned three centuries, but, they had other interesting traits.

--Brock-Perry

The Civil War Sesquicentennial Versus the War of 1812 Bicentennial-- Part 1

From the September 24, 2015, Washington Post.

These figures represent the states of Virginia for the Civil War and Maryland for the War of 1812.  Virginia/Civil War numbers given first:

YEARS SINCE:  150  //  200

STATE COMMISSION FACEBOOK PAGE LIKES:  7,712  //  11,430

STATE DOLLARS SENT ON EVENTS:  $7.4 million  //  $5 million

ECONOMIC IMPACT:  $290.3 million  //  332 million

More to Come.  --Brock-Perry

Some Facts About the War of 1812-- Part 1

From the November 12, 2012, WGRZ by Richard Kellman.

**** The war resulted in 20,000 deaths, 15,000 of them from disease.

**** Canadian hero Sir Isaac Brock (the Brock in my Brock-Perry signoff) died early in the war at the Battle of Queenstown Heights. He had a reputation for bravery and impulsiveness and thought his posting to Canada had him in a "backwater."

**** The U.S. commander at Buffalo, General Alexander Smyth, was untrained, inept and so hated by his men, some took potshots at him.

**** Peter Porter of Black Rock and Niagara Falls was a wealthy businessmen, officer and Congressman where he was a major War Hawk (those who wanted war) and demanded the annexation of Canada. He fought a duel with General Smyth on Grand Island over an insult. Both men missed.

He became Secretary of War under President John Quincy Adams in 1828. Smyth left the war early and returned to his native Virginia.

Just Some Stuff. --Brock-Perry

Remembering the Board Game "Broadside"

I don't know what brought this into my mind, but last night I awoke and was thinking about this game that I used to have and play.

I'm not even sure if I still have it, but will do some research into it.

Maybe I Still Have It?  --Brock-Perry