1848: Wisconsin joined the Union

Wisconsin joined the Union on this day in 1848.    It was state # 30 on the way to 50!

Our family lived in Wisconsin when we came to the US.   It was a wonderful place and I still have great memories of friends and places in Wisconsin.    

In fact, I wrote a book about it.

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We remember Gary Brooker (1945-2022)

We remember Gary Brooker, vocalist and keyboardist for Procol Harum.   He was born in the UK on this day in 1945 and died in 2022.

Back in 1967, the band scored a worldwide hit:  "A whiter shade of pale".  

It is still one of the most popular songs on oldies radio.      

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May 1813: Jefferson and Adams started their historic correspondence

On this day in 1813, a couple of former US presidents started writing letters to each other.

Who were these two men?   John Adams (the second president) and Thomas Jefferson (the third president).  They were partners in The Declaration of Independence and the formation of the new nation.  

Adams was the first VP serving two terms under President Washington.  He was elected to his own term after Washington retired to Mt. Vernon.  On the other hand, Jefferson served in President Washington's first Cabinet and VP under President Adams.

In 1800, Jefferson defeated the incumbent Adams in a very bitter presidential election.  As a result, the two men did not speak to each other again.  As I understand it, outgoing President Adams left town and did not go to his successor's inauguration.

President Jefferson served two terms and retired to Monticello in 1809.

Jefferson broke the ice and wrote to his old colleague.  Over the next 10 years, the two men wrote each other many letters and restored their friendship.  The letters were great insight into their lives and the new republic.

Incredibly, the two men died on July 4, 1826 or the 50th anniversary of The Declaration of Independence.

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We remember Bob Hope (1903-2003)

Did you know that Bob Hope was born Leslie Townes Hope in England?   I didn’t until researching this post.   

He was born on this day in 1903 and lived 100 years plus 2 months!

Hope’s family moved to the US when he was 4 and grew up in Cleveland, Ohio.   The Hopes passed through Ellis Island in 1908.

Hope started on the radio in the 1920's and gradually made it to movies.   Later in life, he’d visit US troops every year at Christmas.    

Very funny guy.

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