Philatelic Photograph: Paddington Station - London, England

Interesting Places I've Photographed

Paddington Station

London, England

Topic: Philatelic Photographs

GPS: N 51° 30.973; W 000° 10.588

Quick Description: 

Paddington Station is a railway terminal located between Bishops Bridge Road and Praed Street in London, England.

Long Description:

Isambard Kingdom Brunel, FRS (April 9, 1806 – September 15, 1859) was an English mechanical and civil engineer who designed and built many of the great structures in London during the 19th century. Paddington Station, constructed in 1854, is one of his signature accomplishments and is shown on this stamp from Great Britain issued in 2006 to honor the 100th anniversary of the birth of this famous engineer.

The National rail station officially called London Paddington Station opened on May 29, 1854. It characteristically features three adjacent glazed arched roofs each supported by wrought iron arches. The left arch spans 68 feet, the central arch is spans 102 feet and the right arch spans 70 feet. The roof is 699 feet long.

Paddington Station now has 14 terminal platforms with platforms 1 through 8 situated below Brunel's original three spans. Platforms 1 to 5 and 8 to 12 can be used by any of the station's train services. Platforms 6 and 7 are dedicated to the Heathrow Express. The station's concourse, containing the information booth, ticket offices, shops and access to the trains, connects platforms 1 to 12. The stamp depicts the central arch span of Paddington Station as seen from the station concourse.

Roadside Attraction: Bewitched Statue - Salem. MA

Interesting Places I've Photographed

Bewitched Statue

Salem. MA

Topic: Roadside Attractions

GPS: N42° 31.285; W070° 53.747

Quick Description: 

The statue of the leading fictional character, Samantha Stephens, from the classic TV situation comedy, Bewitched, is installed by TV Land in Lappin Park in Salem, MA.

Long Description:

The situation comedy Bewitched was broadcast for eight seasons on ABC from September 17, 1964 to March 25, 1972. Created by Sol Saks and starring Elizabeth Montgomery, Dick York (1964–1969), Dick Sargent (1969–1972), Agnes Moorehead, and David White. The lead character, Elizabeth Montgomery, plays Samantha Stephens. Samantha is a witch who marries an ordinary man, Darrin Stephens - played by Dick York and then by Dick Sargent. She pledges to forsake her magical powers and live the life of a typical suburban housewife. However, her magical family disapproves of the marriage and often interferes in the couple's lives. In 2002, Bewitched was ranked #50 on TV Guide's 50 Greatest TV Shows of All Time.

In 2005, the re-run network TV Land paid $75,000 to have a bronze statue of Samantha Stevens installed in Lappin Park in Salem, MA. Salem is famous for its 17th century witchcraft trials and was the site of episodes of Bewitched in 1970. The 7.5' high statue was sculpted by Elliott and Ivan Schwartz and fabricated at StudioEIS. It was dedicated on June 15, 2005. Samantha Stephens is depicted seated on a broom above a cloud and in front of a crescent moon. She is wearing a long sleeveless dress. Her right hand is resting near the bristle end of the broom and her left hand is held up face high. She is sporting a characteristic mischievous smile.

Three overlapping bronze stars, inlaid on the sidewalk in front of the statue, are inscribed:

Elizabeth Montgomery as
Samantha Stephens

Hair of gold, eyes that twinkle
A nose that neatly twitched,
Clever, charming and enchanting
Samantha left us all Bewitched

Presented by the people of
TV LAND
The statue of Samantha Stephens/Elizabeth Montgomery exudes the same charm as the character did in real life. The small park is always open and it's well worth the short detour off the historical path while you are in Salem, MA.

Specific Veterans Memorials: Admiral David Glasgow Farragut - NY, NY

Interesting Places I've Photographed

Admiral David Glasgow Farragut Monument

New York, NY

Topic: Specific Veterans Memorials

GPS: N40° 44.570; W073° 59.260

Quick Description: 

A monument to Admiral David Glasgow Farragut is located in the north central area of Madison Square Park in New York City.

Long Description:

David Farragut was born on July 5, 1801  at Lowe's Ferry, Tennessee. His naval career began at age nine when he was commissioned a Midshipman and ended with his death in 1870, at age 69, as First Admiral of the United States Navy. He saw action in the War of 1812 and most notably in the American Civil War where he had victories in the Battle of New Orleans and the Battle of Mobile Bay, where he gave the famous command - “Damn the Torpedoes!”.

A 7.5' high bronze statue of Admiral David Glasgow Farragut stands on an 11' wide granite exedra both of which were sculpted by Augustus Saint-Gaudens. Farragut is wearing a naval frock coat, which is blowing in the wind, and facing south. He is holding a pair of binoculars in his left hand and has a sword on his left hip. Three steps lead up to the exedra which is decorated with bas-relief carvings of two female figures representing Loyalty on the left and Courage on the right. There are also carvings of a sword and of ocean waves.

The architect for the monument was Stanford White and the sculpture was cast by Adolphe Gruet. The monument was dedicated on May 21, 1881, relocated to Madison Square Park in 1935 and rededicated on October 21, 2002.

On the center of the exedra is the inscription:


DAVID GLASGOW
FARRAGUT

Dedication

On the left side of the exedra a dedication to Farragut: 
THAT THE MEMORY OF
A DARING AND SAGACIOUS COMMANDER AND
GENTLE GREAT-SOULED MAN WHOSE LIFE FROM CHILD-
HOOD WAS GIVEN TO HIS COUNTRY BUT WHO
SERVED HER SUPREMELY IN THE WAR
FOR THE UNION MDCCCLXI -
MDCCCLXV MAY BE PRESERVED AND
HONORED THAT THEY THEY WHO COME AFTER
AND WHO WILL OWE HIM SO MUCH MAY
SEE HIM AS HE WAS SEEN BY FRIEND AND
FOE HIS COUNTRYMEN HAVE SET UP
THIS MONUMENT A.D. MDCCCLXXXI

Military Biography

On the right side of the exedra a summary of Farragut's military career: 

BORN NEAR KNOXVILLE TENNESSEE JULY V
MDCCCI - MIDSHIPMAN - MDCCCX - BATTLE OF ESSEX
AND PHOEBE - MARCH XXVIII - MDCCCXIV
LIEUTENANT MDCCCXXV - COMMANDER
MDCCCXLI - CAPTAIN MDCCCLV
BATTLE OF NEW ORLEANS - APRIL XXV
MDCCCLXII - REAR ADMIRAL MDCCCLXII
BATTLE OF MOBILE BAY - AUG V
MDCCCLXIV - VICE ADMIRAL - DECEMBER
II MDCCCLXIV - FIRST ADMIRAL OF
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
MDLXXXVI - MDCCCLXVI - DIED
PORTHSMOUTH NEW HAMPSHIRE
AUGUST XIV MDCCCLXX

Philatelic Photograph: Independence Hall - Philadelphia, PA

Interesting Places I've Photographed

Independence Hall

Philadelphia, PA

Topic: Philatelic Photographs 

GPS: N39° 56.920; W075° 09.000

Quick Description: 

Independence Hall is located on Chestnut Street between 5th and 6th Streets on the Independence Mall in Philadelphia, PA.

Long Description:

Independence Hall designed by Edmund Woolley and Andrew Hamilton and was built between 1732 and 1753. It was commissioned as a meeting place for the Pennsylvania colonial legislature and later the Pennsylvania State House. The symmetrical red brick building Georgian styled building is located in the southwest end of the Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia, PA. The central building contains the a bell tower and 168.5' high steeple. Two smaller wings flank the main building are are connected to it by arcades.

The building is important in the history of American. It is the location where First Continental Congress met and both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States were debated and adopted. The Liberty Bell once hung in the bell tower and for many years was displayed in Independence Hall before being moved to its own building on Independence Mall.

The stamp was issued by the United States on August 28, 1987,  as the second stamp in a series of thirteen stamps commemorating the ratification of the Constitution by each of the thirteen original colonies. Pennsylvania was  the second colony  to ratify the Constitution on December 12, 1787.

Dead Poets' Society Memorials: George M. Cohan Statue - NY, NY

Interesting Places I've Photographed

George M. Cohan Statue

New York, NY

Topic: Dead Poets' Society Memorials

George M. Cohan

East Side

North Side

West Side

GPS: N40° 45.523; W073° 59.110

Quick Description: 

The statue of George M. Cohan is located in the center of Times Square at 46th Street between Broadway and 7th Avenue in New York City.

Long Description:

George Michael Cohan was born in Providence, RI into a vaudeville family on July 3, 1878. Together with his sister, Josephine, and parents, Jeremiah and Helen, they performed under the name the Four Cohans. In 1904, he began his career as a lyricist, composer, producer, and actor in Broadway musicals. He wrote and published numerous songs during his career and is considered the father of the American musical comedy. George M. Cohan died in New York City on November 5, 1942. He was inducted into Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1970.

A 7' high bronze statue of George M. Cohan by sculptor Georg Lober was installed in Times Square in 1958. The statue commemorates his contribution to American musical theater. The statue depicts George M. Cohan standing on an 8' high granite pedestal. He wearing a suit and tie. His left arm is hanging down and he is holding a hat in his left hand. He is leaning on a walking stick held in his right hand. Each side of the pedestal contains the title of song for which is most famous.
The front is inscribed:


George
M.
Cohan
1878-1942

* Give my Regards to Broadway *
The east side is inscribed:

* Forty-five Minutes from Broadway *
* Yankee Doodle Dandy *
The north side is inscribed:

* You're a Grand Old Flag *
* Over There *
The west side is inscribed:

* Mary's a Grand Old Name *
* Harrigan *
Song list from the Songwriters Hall of Fame website.

BIG PARADE, THE
BILLIE
BLUE SKIES, GRAY SKIES
BORN AND BRED IN BROOKLYN
CHARMING
COHAN’S SONGS OF YESTERYEAR
DANCING MY WORRIES AWAY
DARN GOOD CRY
EASTER SUNDAY PARADE
EPILOGUE
FATHER OF THE LAND WE LOVE
FOR THE FLAG, FOR THE HOME
FORTY FIVE MINUTES FROM BROADWAY
GEORGE WASHINGTON, JR.
GIVE MY REGARDS TO BROADWAY
GOD IS GOOD TO THE IRISH
GOODBYE BARGRAVIA
GREAT NEW YORK POLICE
HARRIGAN
HERE COME THE SOLDIERS
HINKY DEE, THE
I GUESS I’LL HAVE TO TELEGRAPH MY BABY
I LOVE YOU
I WAS BORN IN VIRGINIA
I’D RATHER WRITE A SONG
I’M A ONE GIRL MAN My Town
IN A KINGDOM OF OUR OWN
INDIANS AND TREES
JOHNNY Q. PUBLIC
LIFE’S A FUNNY PROPOSITION AFTER ALL
LITTLE NELLIE KELLY
LOVE DREAMS
MARCH OF THE CARDINALS
MARY’S A GRAND OLD NAME
MOLLY MALONE
MUSICAL COMEDY MAN
MY LITTLE GIRL
NAME OF KELLY, THE
NELLIE KELLY
OVER THERE
REVOLUTIONARY RAG
RING TO THE NAME OF ROSE, A
ROSE
SHOES THAT HURT
SO LONG, MARY
THIS IS OUR SIDE OF THE OCEAN
THOMAS EDISON, MIRACLE MAN
THOSE LOVELY LOVE SONGS
TO HEAVEN ON THE BRONX EXPRESSWAY
TWENTIETH CENTURY LOVE
TWO OF US, THE
UNTIL MY LUCK COMES ROLLING
VENUS, MY SHINING LOVE
VOICE IN MY HEART
WHAT A MAN
WHAT THIS COUNTRY NEEDS
WHEN JUNE COMES ALONG WITH A SONG
WHEN NEW YORK WAS NEW YORK
WHEN YOU COME BACK, IF YOU EVER DO
WHERE WERE YOU, WHERE WAS I?
YANKEE DOODLE BOY, THE
YOU CAN’T DENY YOU’RE IRISH
YOU REMIND ME OF MY MOTHER
YOU WON’T DO ANY GOOD
YOU’RE A GRAND OLD FLAG 

Civil War Generals: General Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain - Brunswick, ME

Interesting Places I've Photographed

Brigadier General Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain

Brunswick, ME

Topic: Civil War Generals

GPS: N43° 54.615; W069° 57.803

Quick Description: 

The Brigadier General Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain statue is located at Bowdoin College, opposite his home in Brunswick. He successfully defended Little Round Top at the Battle of Gettysburg on June 2, 1963.

Long Description:

Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain was born in Brewer, Maine, on September 8, 1828 and died in Portland, Maine, on February 24, 1914. He was a Professor at Bowdoin College who volunteered for service in the Union Army during the Civil War. Despite his lack of previous military background, he became a highly decorated Union officer and reached the permanent rank of brigadier general and the temporary rank of brevet major general.

General Chamberlain is most famous for his for his gallantry at the battle of Gettysburg. On July 2, 1863, he commanded the 20th Maine Regiment, which held the extreme left flank on Little Round Top, a position that had to be held at all cost. To defend his position he initiated and led a successful bayonet charge for which he was later awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. At Appomattox Court House, Virginia, he commanded the Union troops at the surrender ceremony of Robert E. Lee's Army that ended the Civil War.

After the war, he served as the 32nd Governor of Maine and returned to the faculty of Bowdoin College, where he became president of the college.

The statue depicts a standing figure of Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain dressed in his Union uniform and wearing high top boots. His left arm is at his side and he holding a broad brimmed hat by the crown against his left thigh. His right arm is raised to waist level and his fingers are outstretched. The granite pedestal is inscribed:

Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain
1828 - 1914
The bronze statue was dedicated on May 31, 2003. It was sculpted by Joseph Query and cast at the Modern Art Foundry. The landscape architect for the project was Richardson Associates. An accompanying plaque lists the persons that were responsible for the memorial statue and the surrounding grounds.

American Guide Series - Lincoln Address Memorial - Gettysburg, PA

Interesting Places I've Photographed

Lincoln Address Memorial

Gettysburg, PA

Topic: American Guide Series

GPS: N39° 49.053; W077° 13.911

Quick Description:

Memorial to the Gettysburg Address at the Gettysburg National Military Park.

Long Description:

"I. The SOLDIER'S NATIONAL CEMETERY, Baltimore Road to Taneyton Road, at the southern boundary of Gettysburg, embraces 17 acres and contains graves of 3,604 soldiers, 979 of them unidentified. The cemetery was established through the efforts of Governor Andrew Gregg Curtin, of Pennsylvania, and David Wills, of Gettysburg. Curtin, visiting the battlefield shortly after the troops departed, was shocked to find that shallow, scattered graves revealed portions of uniformed corpses above ground. He took measures to collect the bodies and inter them decently. In the cemetery stands the 60-foot marble SOLDIERS' NATIONAL MONUMENT, designed by J.G. Batterson and executed in Italy under the supervision of Randolph Rogers. It occupies the site where Lincoln gave his address. Near by is the LINCOLN SPEECH MEMORIAL, a semicircular monument with a bust of the Great Emancipator." --- Pennsylvania: A Guide to the Keystone State, 1940; page 232"

The Lincoln Speech Memorial is about 300 yards north of the actual site where this famous speech was delivered. The actual site is marked with the Soldiers' National Monument (q.v.) above. The Speech Memorial is dedicated to the address that Lincoln gave at the dedication of the Soldiers National Cemetery on November 19, 1863 in Gettysburg, PA. The memorial was dedicated in January 1912. It is unusual it that it is actually dedicated to a speech. The a bust of President Lincoln was sculpted by Henry K. Bush-Brown.

This version of the speech is reproduced on the monument:

"Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.

But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate—we can not consecrate—we can not hallow—this ground. The brave men, living and dead—who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us—that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion—that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."
It's the only version which has Lincoln's signature.

The other tablet reads:

"The several states having soldiers in the Army of the Potomac who were killed at the Battle of Gettysburg or have since died at the various hospitals which were established in the vicinity have procured grounds on a prominent part of the battlefield for a cemetery and are having the dead removed to them and properly buried.

These grounds will be consecrated and set apart to this sacred purpose on Thursday the 19th instant. It is the desire that you as Chief Executive of the nation formally set apart these grounds to their sacred use by a few appropriate remarks. It will be a source of great gratification to the many widows and orphans that have been made almost friendless by the great battle here to have you here personally and it will kindle anew in the breasts of the comrades of these brave dead who are now in the tented field that they who sleep in death on the battlefield are not forgotten by those highest in authority and they will feel that should their fate be the same their remains will not be uncared for."
From letter of invitation to President Lincoln inviting him to give a speech at the dedication of the cemetery.