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Disclaimer: We are not medical professionals, we are not giving medical advice. For the most up to date information regarding COVID-19 please visit the CDC’s website or your local State Department of Health and Human Services website.

 

 

The Spanish Influenza (H1N1) pandemic is believed to have wiped out 50 million people worldwide[1]. In 1918 the flu’s effects took over headlines, rating above World War I in placement in local papers. Nearly the entire first two pages of Boston Globe print on September 24, 1918 were dedicated to updating the public on the status of Spanish Influenza in the greater Boston area. Headlines read “Influenza toll in Boston for Day 87”[2] and “F.D. Roosevelt out of danger, say physicians”[3]. With little medical treatment available for the Spanish Influenza, people were limited to “non-pharmaceutical interventions” like quarantine, good hygiene and limited public gatherings[4]. To that point, some schools were closed due to outbreaks and there was a ban on public funerals in Quincy[5]. Image (left) shows Boston nurses in the spring of 1919 (National Archives).

Tom and Olive likely would have read these headlines and stayed abreast on the spread of the ailment. They may have noted who was sick, the treatment methods, the reach of the illness, and the effects on the global politics and economy. They likely would have been very thankful for their isolated home in northern New Hampshire where they were surrounded by nature, and their interactions with the outside world were limited and intentional.

Today, we are inundated with headlines surrounding the Coronavirus (COVID-19). According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Coronavirus spreads both by personal interactions and through contact with infected surfaces. Symptoms include fever, cough, and shortness of breath[6]. Centered in China, Coronavirus is spreading globally, people have been quarantined, there are travel restrictions, closed schools, hotels, companies, and rerouted air travel due to the infectious nature of this disease. Currently, the CDC lists the risk of getting the coronavirus in the U.S. as low risk. They recommend covering your coughs and sneezes, clean your hands often, avoid sharing personal household items, clean “high-touch” surfaces, monitor any symptoms you may experience, and stay home if you’re sick[7]. Though we are actively in a “low-risk” area, Massachusetts government has encouraged those who have recently traveled through China to partake in a voluntary quarantine and they have sent updates to schools on how to deal with students and staff who may be exhibiting symptoms. The government encourages the public to remain calm and continue daily life as normal at this time, though they have measures in place in case of pandemic[8].

Castle Preservation Society who owns and manages Castle in the Clouds is working diligently to ensure our offices and public spaces are cleaned properly, hand sanitizer is made available throughout the buildings, employees are encouraged to wash their hands frequently and to stay home if feeling ill.

What are you doing to protect yourself, your family and your friends from the Coronavirus?

[1] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD). (2019, March 20). 1918 Pandemic (H1N1 virus). https://www.cdc.gov/flu/pandemic-resources/1918-pandemic-h1n1.html

[2] The Boston Globe. (1918, September 24). Influenza toll in Boston for day 87. 1-2. From: https://bostonglobe.newspapers.com/image/430650882

[3] The Boston Globe. (1918, September 24). F.D. Roosevelt out of danger, say physicians. 2. From: https://bostonglobe.newspapers.com/image/430650886

[4] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD). (2019, March 20). 1918 Pandemic (H1N1 virus). https://www.cdc.gov/flu/pandemic-resources/1918-pandemic-h1n1.html

[5] The Boston Globe. (1918, September 24). Influenza toll in Boston for day 87. 2. From: https://bostonglobe.newspapers.com/image/430650882

[6] U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (2020, February 18). Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). From: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/symptoms.html

[7]U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (2020, February 18). Coronavirus Disease: Steps to take when sick. From: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/steps-when-sick.html

[8] Freyer, F. (2020, February 26). As CDC warns of coronavirus’s spread in US, officials reveal that more than 600 in Mass. have been monitored for illness. The Boston Globe. From: https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/02/27/metro/cdc-urges-preparing-an-epidemic-health-officials-reveal-that-more-than-600-mass-have-been-monitored-coronavirus/

By: Mackenzie M. Padula, 3/6/2020

January 6, 1920 The Boston Globe announced with the bold headline: “Red Sox sell Babe Ruth for $100,000 cash” (picture of article left, taken from Boston Globe Archives). The article outlined the cash sale of the “home-run hitter extraordinaire” from the Boston Red Sox to the New York Yankees. Mr. Frazee discussed the change to the roster – saying that he believed the Yankee’s investment in Ruth to be a gamble[1].

With few local newspapers in the New Hampshire Lakes Region in the early twentieth century, Tom – a baseball fanatic- would have found out this news via word of mouth, or the Boston Globe directly. He likely would have had many thoughts about the sale and roster change. A businessman at heart, he would understand the monetary value of Babe Ruth, and how the owner of the Red Sox would not be able to turn it away. He’d be anxious to know who would fill the open spot. Tom likely would’ve talked about this with his wife, Olive, and perhaps wrote letters to his friends from the minor league baseball team he had played for.

Fast forward to early 2020 when New England’s beloved Red Sox announced major changes to their line up including trading players Brock Holt and Mookie Betts. Brock, now playing for the Milwaukee Brewers echoed Babe Ruth’s sentiment – both never thought they’d wear a jersey other than Red Sox[2]. Fans are struggling to come to terms with Mookie being traded to the LA Dodgers[3]. The owners of the Red Sox have tried multiple times to explain the business decision – insisting that the trade was “more about improving the team’s talent base than cutting payroll”[4], and have tried to appeal to the public with a response from “Big Papi”, David Ortiz[5]. These stories are gaining traction and have caused concern amongst fans who are hopeful for the future of the club – some are going so far as to say that they won’t continue watching the Red Sox without these players.

We know that we’re all waiting anxiously for sports (and life) to resume post-COVID-19 social distancing. With hopeful thoughts we are planning to host a vintage baseball game this fall – check back to our programs calendar for details and updates.

What are your feelings about the trades as the baseball season starts?

[1] O’Leary, J. C. (1920, January). Red Sox sell Babe Ruth for $100,000 cash. The Boston Globe, https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/1920/01/06/red-sox-sell-babe-ruth-for-cash/muYGoMdAzCl8WlRHK2LumI/story.html

[2] Ciccotelli, J. (2020, February). Brock Holt ‘never expected to wear any other uniform but a Red Sox uniform’. The Boston Globe,  https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/redsox/2020/02/20/brock-holt-never-expected-wear-any-other-uniform-but-red-sox-uniform/3hJnHyMOyUAU2VQJBlOZoI/story.html

[3] Abraham, P. (2020, February). Red Sox owners insist that Mookie Betts trade was a baseball decision. The Boston Globe, https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/redsox/2020/02/17/red-sox-mookie-betts-trade-reasons-john-henry-sam-kennedy/1uMpTbNWk8fZpt9ToOo6yM/story.html

[4] Abraham, 2020.

[5] McWilliams, J. (2020, February). David Ortiz chalks up Mookie Betts trade to the ‘business side’ of baseball. The Boston Globe, https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/redsox/2020/02/20/david-ortiz-red-sox-mookie-betts-trade-comments/lQlpg27gs4PS2XRdpg5m1O/story.html?p1=Article_Recirc_InThisSection

By: Mackenzie M. Padula, 4/7/2020

King Tutenkahmen’s Tomb was opened in March of 1922 – it dominated headlines thence forth with descriptions of where it was found, the jewels and mummies found in it, and notes on the luxury and opulence. It was mentioned in newspapers throughout the 1920s, and likely would’ve been discussed over the radio and within social circles that eyed artifacts, science and history.

Tom and Olive likely would’ve discussed the findings of the archaeologists, and perhaps discussed what they did or did not want in their own mortuary services. While the Lucknow Estate is steeped in quality, it’s by no means considered opulent, lavish or over the top. Perhaps, the Plants would marvel and scoff at decorating with gems and gilded gold, never mind decorating a tomb so extravagantly.

The collections scavenged from King Tut’s tomb have traveled the world and returned to Egypt to be displayed at the Cairo Museum. In 2019 the exhibition left for a tour once more – this is the last scheduled travels for the collection, and it is said to be the “mummy of all King Tut exhibits”. It showed first in London, then traveled to Los Angeles and will continue through 10 other cities including Boston, Massachusetts. This exhibition in the past has drawn record number of visitors to the museums – this year, Boston’s exhibit actually has an online lottery to order tickets in advance. It’s meant to be on display from June 13, 2020 through January 3, 2021. In response to COVID-19 presale for tickets has been postponed until further notice.

Will you go see King Tut’s exhibit when it opens? If you’re unable to see it in person, here is a link to tour the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, Egypt.

By: Mackenzie M. Padula, 5/5/2020

In late May 2020 civil unrest has erupted across the country – the result of the death of George Floyd, a black man, at the hands of a white police officer.  News headlines and discussion on social media are rightfully angry at the continued mistreatment and injustice that plagues the United States, as well as protests and riots that have turned violent. One of the goals of this blog is to share connections and inspire conversation around the news of the day and similar happenings at the time that Tom and Olive Plant lived at Lucknow.  

Despite being a cultural melting pot, the United States of America has a deep rooted history of white supremacy and the distrust and mistreatment of Black and Brown persons. Many believe that slavery was contained in the South, but slavery persisted in the Northern states as well. Slavery disappeared on paper and public notices in New Hampshire in 1833, even though the 1840 census supports that the crude establishment was still in place. In 1859, Mrs. Harriet E. Wilson, a free Black servant living in Milford, New Hampshire published Our Nig; part fiction, part autobiography and an overall recognition of prejudice in the North[1].  There was a distinct hypocrisy in the Northern Abolitionist movements that focused on the South but ignored that “shadows of slavery” also fell over the North. In 1865 the last enslaved African Americans in Texas were freed[2] (please read about Juneteenth), and slavery was federally outlawed in December of that year with the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution[3].   

Unfortunately, the freedom of enslaved African Americans did not resolve racial tension, and segregation persisted with Jim Crow laws and a sentiment of separate inequality. At the height of American segregation, academics shifted focus to the root of the idea of slavery, women’s rights, and the psychological effects of it all – series, books and essays were published highlighting racism and the history of slavery in New England including Lorenzo Greene’s The Negro in Colonial New England (1942), his earlier novel co-authored with Woodson, The Negro Wage Earner, and Elizabeth Donnan’s multiple volume set which highlighted the slave trade (1932)[4].

Amongst this, Boston established the first U.S. police force in 1838 as an effort to better control the quickly growing population – harsh and brutish tactics were first targeted to European immigrants but as African-Americans fled the South, fleeing the Jim Crow laws, they too became the victims of punishing policing in the Northern cities where they sought asylum[5]. In 1929, President Hoover established the National Commission on Law Observance and Enforcement (a.k.a. The Wickersham Commission) to investigate crime related to prohibition and policing tactics. Findings were published between 1931 and 1932 in 14 volumes – one titled “Reports on Lawlessness in Law Enforcement”, highlighting the realities of police brutalities.

Racism and police brutality made Boston Globe headlines regularly while the Plants resided at Lucknow. Tom and Olive more than likely would’ve read the headlines of the times. Perhaps they played devil’s advocate and argued all sides of the story. Perhaps they let the upsetting headlines and findings pass unspoken. While we don’t know Tom and Olive’s thoughts and feelings on the matters – we know that they would’ve witnessed the segregation, the racism and the mistreatment either in their New Hampshire community or throughout their travels across the country.

The issues that sit at the heart of the current situation unfolding in our country are not new and we firmly believe that knowing more about our collective history can help us move together into a brighter, stronger future. We at Castle in the Clouds stand together against racism, for inclusion, and with the entire Black community at this time.

 Edit (6/19/2020): Please explore Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire’s website and offerings for more information about the history of POC in New Hampshire. 

[1] https://scholars.unh.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1067&context=thesis

[2] Juneteenth

[3] https://www.battlefields.org/learn/articles/10-facts-emancipation-proclamation

[4] https://scholars.unh.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1067&context=thesis

[5] https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/long-painful-history-police-brutality-in-the-us-180964098/?utm_source=smithsoniandaily&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=20200529-daily-responsive&spMailingID=42615380&spUserID=MTA2MTUwMTExNzQ2OAS2&spJobID=1762894708&spReportId=MTc2Mjg5NDcwOAS2

By: Mackenzie M. Padula, 6/2/2020

The modern automobile was founded first in Germany and France by men such as: Gottlieb Daimler, Karl Benz, Nicolaus Otto, and Emile Lavassor in the late 1800s. The 1901 Mercedes was considered to be the first modern motor car with 35 horsepower and reaching 53 miles per hour. At the same time America was mass-producing the Oldsmobile – a single cylinder, three horsepower “motorized horse buggy”. The industry rapidly evolved, by 1908 there were 253 manufacturers in the industry. In this year, Henry Ford released the infamous Model T, and William Durant founded General Motors.

Amidst the height of the early automobile industry – Tom and Olive moved to rural Moultonborough, New Hampshire (1914). Our records reflect that while Lucknow was under construction, Tom would have his private train car attached in New York an follow the line from New York City, New York to Meredith, New Hampshire where would be picked up by his private car and chauffeur to be brought to his property in Moultonborough. On the Lucknow property The Carriage House Restaurant once boasted stables, a five car garage, as well as dormitory style housing for servants working on the property. Having a car or a few cars was simply part of the luxurious life Tom and Olive lived. Olive, herself, even drove the cars around the Lakes Region, and throughout the Ossipee Mountain Range.

Today, the car industry is more varied and accessible than it ever has been. There is a level of environmental sustainability that was not accessible to early models of the automobile, and added technology. Now a car is not only a mode of transportation from one destination to the next, but it’s an experience, a hobby, a sound system, and it often has its own computer – even pushing to self-driving technology.

By: Mackenzie M. Padula, 7/7/2020