This Job's for the Birds-- Part 3: Many Uses of the Tower of London

The jet-black birds are a familiar feature at the Tower of London landmark, which has served as an arsenal, palace, prison, zoo and more recently a tourist attraction. 

Built by King William I after hiss conquest of England in 1066, it served as a royal residence for several hundred years, but is more famous as a prison.  Famous inmates have included Princess Elizabeth, the future Queen Elizabeth I; Guy Fawkes, who tried to blow up Parliament; and Adolph Hitler's deputy, Rudolph Hess.

Nowadays, almost 3 million tourists come each year to soak up history and see the glittering Crown Jewels which are kept there.

--Cooter

This Job's for the Birds-- Part 2: The Beefeaters

Michael "Barney" Chandler took over the post of Ravenmaster on March 1, 2024.  As such, he leads a group called Yeoman Warders, which goes back to the 15th century.  You may know them better as Beefeaters who dress in the very distinctive black and scarlet Tudor-style uniforms.  If you've ever seen a bottle of Beefeaters Gin, that's them.

They perform a hybrid role at the Tower of London.  They not only provide security, but also lead tours of the tower and perform ceremonial duties.

He leads a group of 4 former military men looking after the tower's seven ravens-- the six decreed by Charles II and a spare.  In case you're wondering, their names are Jubilee, Harris, Poppy, Georgie, Edgar, Branwen and the latest addition, Rex, who was named in honor of King Charles III last year when he had his coronation.

--Cooter

This Job's for the Birds: Tower of London's New Ravenmaster

From the March 5, 2024, Chicago Tribune "A job that's really for the birds" by Jill Lawless, AP.

If an ancient prophesy is correct, then Michael "Barney" Chandler has the most important job in England.  The 56-year-old former Royal Marine is the new ravenmaster at the Tower of London.  It is his new job to be responsible for looking after the feathered protectors of the 1,000-year-old fortress.

According to legend, if the ravens leave the 11th century fortress beside the River Thames, its White Tower will crumble and the Kingdom of England will fall.

In the 17th century, King Charles II was told of the prophesy and decreed that there must always be six ravens at the tower.

--DaCoot

I Found a New Picture of the HMS Kestrel Dog in the WW I Plane

One of the pictures that accompany this blog is of the bulldog dog in the cockpit of what appears to be a WW I plane.  I attempted to find out some more information about it.

I came across a similar photo, this time in color, of the English bulldog in the cockpit of the WW I era airplane.

He is wearing an HMS Kestrel sailor hat.

At first I thought that meant the plane might have flown off the HMS Kestrel, but since it was a destroyer, it was way too small to have a plane.  Plus, I did not read anything about it having a plane.

So, not sure about why the bulldog had the hat on in that plane.

Quite the Dog.

Neat Picture, Though.  --Cooter

Lake Geneva's Riviera-- Part 2

The Riviera was originally named the Northport and the building was dedicated on May 22, 1933.  Ever since, it has been a landmark for the region's tourism, including its design as a launch site for tour boats on the lake.  (Definitely something you want to try, especially the mail boat.)

Through the 1950s, the ballroom hosted renowned musicians including Tommy Dorsey, Glen Miller and Louis Armstrong.  And then in a more modern era: Chubby Checker, Herman's Hermits and Stevie Wonder who performed on the ballroom's Top Deck in the 1970s.

The building was renovated and repurposed as a hub for civic events in 1983.  Three years later it earned a spot on the state and national Register of Historic Places.

Restoration efforts were led by local architect Daniel Curran, who preserved the structure's architectural integrity and historical significance.

Today, the ballroom hosts weddings, corporate events and other social gatherings.

--DaCoot

Lake Geneva's (Wisconsin) Riviera

From the March 2024, Northwest Quarterly.

THE RIVIERA

812 S. Wrigley Drive

Lake Geneva, Wisconsin

Architect  James Roy Allen designed this Italian Renaissance Revival-Style reception hall during the Great Depression.  The project was initiated by Lake Geneva city authorities and funded with public bonds to generate employment.

It juts out into the beautiful Geneva Lake tight downtown and is one wonderful sight to see.

The two-story brick building boasts corner towers, a hipped ceramic tile roof and symmetrical facades.  Inside a central parquet dance floor is surrounded by a promenade containing towers housing restrooms and facilities.  Outside, a landscaped grassy area and wooden piers extend out over Geneva Lake.

--DaCoot

Garrison School in Rockford-- Part 3: Find a New Use

Developers Chandler Anderson and Joseph Morrissey took over the property in the mid-2000s and spent $6 million transforming the Garrison School and its surrounding property into 14 upscale lofts and townhomes.

Though they transformed much of the surrounding land. the developers preserved much of the original schoolhouse and gym, integrating exposed brick, reclaimed wood flooring and steel beams into these private residences.

In case you're interested in buying one of the townhomes, there is one listed on Trulia with 3 bedrooms, two baths and 2,717 feet of area,  It is listed at $256,900.

Studio GWA has many pictures of the lofts.  They are beautiful.

Great to have adaptive uses instead of tearing down significant structures like this.

--Cooter

Garrison School in Rockford, Illinois-- Part 2: Growth and Closure

Garrison School doubled in size in 1892, and a gymnasium was added in 1920 for physical education, school assemblies, community programs and elections.

A one-story octagonal  structure with a library at its center and six classrooms surrounding it, was added onto the north side of the building in 1969.  (I am willing to bet it was part of the "open classroom" concept that was pushed so much back then.  The classrooms only had walls  between them and weren't separate.  It was hard to conduct classes with the noise levels.  Thus becoming another in a long series of ideas to "better" education.)

Garrison was one of nine buildings abandoned in 1989 when the school district had to close a $9 million budget deficit.

--DaCoot

Making New Use of Old Stuff: Garrison School Lofts-- Part 1

From the Northwest Quarterly magazine 2024.

I am all for finding new uses for old buildings rather than tearing them down, especially when they are architecturally significant.

GARRISON SCHOOL LOFTS, 1105 North Court Street, Rockford, Illinois.

Near the end of the 19th century, Rockford was growing quickly as families moved in, so did their kids.  There was great pressure on providing schools for them.  Several new schools opened around this time, including Garrison School which just had four rooms when it opened in 1887.

It was named for Thomas Garrison, a real estate developer from New Jersey, who in 1853 settled in Rockford's Signal Hill neighborhood where the school is located.

Of interest, the school's first four principals were women.  The first principal. Lizzi Shaw, ran the school until 1891.

--Cooter

A Whole Bunch of History Magazines Folded Last Month

I just found out about this this past week.  I was wondering why I couldn't find them anymore at my local Meijer store or Woodman's.  The reason being they are no longer published and this is a big loss to those of us with a penchant for history.

These magazines are no longer with us:

* Military History (one of my favorites)

World War II (another favorite)

Military History Quarterly

Civil War Times  (my favorite of them.  I've subscribed every since the 1970s)

American History

Wild West

Aviation History

Vietnam

America's Civil War (another favorite)

Sad Times.  --Cooter

Chicago Bears Coaches: Trestman, Fox, Nagy and Eberflus

MARC TRESTMAN

Years:  2013-2014

Record:  13-19

***********************

JOHN FOX

Years:  2015-2017

Record:  14-34

***********************

MATT NAGY

Years:  2018-2021

Record:  34-31

***********************

MATT EBERFLUS

Years 2023-2023

Record:  10-24

Oh Well.  --Cooter

Chicago Bears Coaches: Wannstedt, Jauron & Smith

DAVE WANNSTEDT

Years:  1993-1998

Record:  40-56

***************************

DICK JAURON

Years:  1999-2003

Record:  35-45

***************************

LOVIE SMITH

Years:  2004-2012

Record:  81-63

--DaBear

Chicago Bears Coaches: Da Coach, Mike Ditka

MIKE DITKA

Head Coach 1982-1992

Record:  106-62

WHAT MANAGEMENT SAID:  "I like his ability to handle himself and handle other people.  And, I know he'll do a good job getting people to play according to his desires."  --George Halas

WHAT DA COACH SAID:  "I believe that everyone has a destiny in life, and mine is with the Chicago Bears.  I'm going to give Chicago a winning football team, an interesting football team and a football team that everybody is going to be proud of.

Man, did he ever do just that.  True words.

Da Coach.  Let's Bring Him Back.  --RoadBear

Chicago Bears Coaches: Neill Armstrong

NEILL ARMSTRONG

Years Head Coach:  1978-1981

Record:  30-34

Hired by Jim Finks, who had this to say:  I'm not saying you have to be an assistant in the National Football League to be a successful head coach.  But who in the hell ever heard of Chuck Knox when he was an assistant at Detroit?  Who ever heard of George Allen when he was with the Bears, except the people in Chicago.

Regardless, you could see the Bears improving.

AND, you probably know who the NEXT coach was.

DaCoach--  DaCoot

The 'Iron Curtain' Descends in 1946-- Winston Churchill

I will be finishing my list of Chicago Bears head coaches, but yesterday marked an important date in an era I lived through and never thought would end (or has it?).  The Cold War.

MARCH 5, 1946

Winston Churchill delivered his famous "Iron Curtain" Speech at Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri.

Liz and I accidentally found Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri, back on one of our trips.  I came across a very informative article on this speech and a historic London church that has been rebuilt in Fulton and will write about it after Da Bears coaches.

--Cold War Coot

Chicago Bears Coaches: From Driscoll to Dooley to Gibron and Pardee

JOHN "PADDY" DRISCOLL

1956-1957

Record 14-9-1

************************

JIM DOOLEY

1968-1971

20-36

************************

ABE GIBRON

1972-1974

11-30-1

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JACK PARDEE

1975-1977

20-22

DaBears.  --DaCoot

Chicago Bears Coaches-- Part 1: Halas to Jones to Anderson/Johnsos

From the January 30, 2022 Chicago Tribune  "By way of introduction..." by Kori Rumore.

The new head coach of DaBears is Matt Eberflus.  He is the 17th head coach.

Of course, the longest tenured head coach was Papa Bear, George Halas.

GEORGE HALAS 

1920-1929; 1933-1942; 1946-'55; 1958-'67.

RECORD:  318-148-31

*****************************

RALPH JONES    

1930-'32

record:  24-10-7

*****************************

HEARTLY 'HUNK'ANDERSON/LUKE JOHNSOS (co-coaches)

1942-'45

RECORD:  14-9-1

George Halas was away in WW II.

--CootBear