Finding the unexpected in the everyday.
August 1, 2012 In the western part of Scotland, a newly built railway station along the waterfront of the town of Gourock was officially opened. This station replaced the one that had been in operation in the immediate vicinity since June 1, 1889. Gourock railway station is a terminus of the Inverclyde Line, which has... Continue Reading →
June 25, 1916 Paul H. Kreibohm, who had been captain of the Red Star ocean liner SS Kroonland, received the American Cross of Honor for the heroism that he and that vessel’s crew and officers demonstrated at sea more than two-and-half years earlier. The now-defunct medal was awarded by the American Cross of Honor Society,... Continue Reading →
June 24, 1850 A major milestone for a lighthouse in Maine took place when a contract was officially entered into for rebuilding that navigational aid’s tower. This lighthouse is on Monhegan Island, which is located about 12 nautical miles (22 kilometers) off the state’s mainland coast. The call for proposals to replace Monhegan Island... Continue Reading →
June 5, 1905 In the northwestern part of Washington State, a lighthouse on Semiahmoo Bay first went into service. The Semiahmoo Lighthouse -- located near the Evergreen State’s port city of Blaine -- was built in response to the notable increase in shipping traffic due to numerous fish canneries in the region. This Victorian-style structure... Continue Reading →
In 1980, Ming Chang was promoted to U.S. Navy rear admiral and in the process became the first naturalized Asian American to reach flag rank in that U.S. military branch. He was born on April 20, 1932, in Shanghai. His father, Yu Chin Chang, was a chief petty officer in the U.S. Navy. When he... Continue Reading →
Fujio Matsuda was born in Honolulu on October 18, 1924. His parents Yoshio and Shimo had both emigrated to Hawaii from Japan. They taught Fujio, who would later be affectionately called “Fuj” -- a nickname ultimately modified to “Fudge” -- to embrace a wide range of traditional Japanese values that included gambare (to persevere), kansha... Continue Reading →
May 12, 1875 The first official fireboat of the Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY) was placed into service. This steam-powered, wooden-hull vessel was named the William Frederick Havemeyer in honor of a prominent local citizen who had been the city’s mayor three times and was also a volunteer fireman. The importance of... Continue Reading →
In December 2010, Shanti Sethi achieved a notable milestone when she became the first woman of Indian descent to command a major. U.S. Navy combat ship. This vessel was USS Decatur (DDG-73), and Sethi served as her commanding officer until May 2012. Sethi started out life in the city of Reno, Nevada. Her father... Continue Reading →
May 2, 1810 A groundbreaking ceremony was held in southeast Washington, D.C., for a new canal. Those attending this event included James Madison (1751-1836), who served as the fourth U.S. president from 1809 to 1817. The building of the Washington City Canal reflected the widespread enthusiasm during that era for waterways that would help facilitate... Continue Reading →
For two decades, Sally Snowman served as the keeper of Boston Light on Little Brewster Island at the entrance to Boston Harbor. When she retired from the position on December 30, 2023, Snowman – 72 years old at the time – had the distinction of being the last official lighthouse keeper in the United States.... Continue Reading →
Transportation History 