First Labor Day Official Parade in Manhattan, New York Was Nearly a Dissaster!

While searching the internet I found this Article interesting and thought you might too. "An official website of the United States government" Labor Daze - Pride, Chaos and Kegs on Labor’s First ‘Day’ On the morning of September 5, 1882, a crowd of spectators filled the sidewalks of lower Manhattan near city hall and along Broadway. They had come early, well before the Labor Day parade marchers, to claim the best vantage points from which to view the first Labor Day parade. A newspaper account of the day described "...men on horseback, men wearing regalia, men with society aprons, and men with flags, musical instruments, badges, and all the other paraphernalia of a procession." The police, wary that a riot would break out, were out in force that morning as well. By 9 a.m., columns of police and club-wielding officers on horseback surrounded city hall. By 10 a.m., the Grand Marshall of the parade, William McCabe, his aides and their police escort were all in place for the start of the parade. There was only one problem: none of the men had moved. The few marchers that had shown up had no music. According to McCabe, the spectators began to suggest that he give up the idea of parading, but he was determined to start on time with the few marchers that had shown up. Suddenly, Mathew Maguire of the Central Labor Union of New York (and probably the father of Labor Day) ran across the lawn and told McCabe that two hundred marchers from the Jewelers Union of Newark Two had just crossed the ferry — and they had a band! Just after 10 a.m., the marching jewelers turned onto lower Broadway — they were playing "When I First Put This Uniform On," from Patience, an opera by Gilbert and Sullivan. The police escort then took its place in the street. When the jewelers marched past McCabe and his aides, they followed in behind. Then, spectators began to join the march. Eventually, there were 700 men in line in the first of three divisions of Labor Day marchers. Final reports of the total number of marchers ranged from 10,000 to 20,000 men and women. With all of the pieces in place, the parade marched through lower Manhattan. The New York Tribune reported that: "The windows and roofs and even the lamp posts and awning frames were occupied by persons anxious to get a good view of the first parade in New York of workingmen of all trades united in one organization." At noon, the marchers arrived at Reservoir Park, the termination point of the parade. While some returned to work, most continued on to the post-parade party at Wendel's Elm Park at 92nd Street and Ninth Avenue; even some unions that had not participated in the parade showed up to join in the post-parade festivities that included speeches, a picnic, an abundance of cigars, and "Lager beer kegs... mounted in every conceivable place." From 1 p.m. until 9 p.m. that night, nearly 25,000 union members and their families filled the park and celebrated the very first, and almost entirely disastrous, Labor Day. Happy Labor Day to All!

Ruby Valley, Nevada by Zina Abbott

 

Located in south-central Elko and northern White Pines counties in the state of Nevada is a large basin known as Ruby Valley. As part of the Overland Trail, it played a significant role in the early western development of the United States. The valley starts at Secret Pass and runs south-southwest for about sixty mines to Overland Pass. To the south are the Ruby Mountains, which is a steep escarpment. To the north is the East Humboldt Range and Clover Valley.

Franklin Lake, Nevada

 

The east end of the valley near Franklin Lake is only ten miles wide at the most.

 

At the south end is the Ruby Lake National Wildlife Refuge, which includes the wetlands of Ruby Valley.

 

The first settlers of Ruby Valley were the nomadic Shoshone tribes which used the area as a winter home. They found it warmer than nearby locations.

Although the California Trail, heavily used after the 1840s, was located just to the north, other wagon trains traveled through this valley on their way west. 

 

The Donner Party passed through the southern end of the valley in 1846. As part of the Hastings Cutoff, they headed over the Overland Pass route across the Ruby Mountains.

In 1855, Howard Egan scouted a transportation route through central Nevada. Although both western Utah and most of Nevada were desolate regions, he found a series of water sources such as spring-fed lakes and springs. He also discovered many passes that made crossing the mostly steep north-south mountain ranges passable.

Interior Ruby Valley Station

 

In 1859, in an effort to find a better transportation route for supplying western forts, his same area was surveyed by Captain James H. Simpson for the U.S. Army. Simpson built a trading post at the south end of Ruby Valley near Overland Pass..

NPS Pony Express Route

Interior Ruby Valley Pony Express Station

In 1860, George Chorpenning built a way station at the same location as the trading post for his mail and stagecoach line. 

Ruby Valley Pony Express Station

The Pony Express and its successor, the Transcontinental Telegraph, also ran through Overland Pass.

Fort Ruby Archeological project

In September 1862, to protect the passage of settlers and these important communication connections with residents of California during the war years, the U.S. Government established Fort Ruby (also known as Camp Ruby) at the east entrance to the pass on the west side of Ruby Lake, which is south of Franklin Lake.

Western Shoshone

In 1863 the U.S. Government signed the Treaty of Ruby Valley with twelve chiefs of the Western Shoshone, who authorized access but did not cede any territory. The US also gained permission to conduct gold mining in this territory, as it needed gold in order to wage war against the Confederacy. The treaty included a promise to pay annuities in the form of goods and livestock of $5000 annually for twenty years to the Western Shoshone. As often happened, the government failed to make any payments after the first year.

Following the American Civil War, John Warren Butterfield and Wells Fargo & Co continued stagecoach and freight wagon service across the West using the Central Overland Trail, which included Ruby Valley and the passes on either end. This soon became more popular choice for many wagons trains headed for the southern gold fields of California.

About 1866, Wells Fargo began to develop agriculture in Ruby Valley to help support its way stations.

The situation changed in the late 1860s when the first transcontinental railroad was routed well to the north of the Overland Trail. The trail fell into disuse. Fort Ruby was closed in September 1869, seven years after it was built.

Lucy, my third book in the Prairie Roses Collection, includes scenes traveled along the Overland Trail, which would have included Ruby Valley. This book is available for sale as an ebook and in paperback, as well as at no additional cost with a Kindle Unlimited subscription. To find the book description and purchase options, please CLICK HERE

 

 

My next book to be published is Wyatt’s New Bride. This book is available on pre-order and scheduled for release on September 26, 2024.

To find the book description and pre-order link, please CLICK HERE

 

 

 

Sources:

https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?search=Nevada+Pony+Express+stations

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruby_Valley_Pony_Express_Station

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruby_Valley

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruby_Lake_National_Wildlife_Refuge

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Ruby

What we can learn from book characters--by Rhonda Lee Carver

 

As an author, I'm always asked "Why should I read your book?"

This question used to stump me. I mean, I could give the obvious answers. One, a good romance never goes out of style. Two, you'll always get an HEA. Three, I'm asking for my fans to pick it up and take a risk on me as an author. Readers rock!

Over the last few years my answer to the question has morphed. At the beginning of my writing career, I played storylines safe. I kept them on the sidewalk and watched others speeding by on a wild chase on the country back road. Now my motto is, "Write what gives you goosebumps." And that's what I'm doing, and sometimes readers are like WTH?!?

Let me break this down.  I still want to make my readers happy. Because at the end they are the reason why I'm where I am. Yet, I'm willing to take risks with my characters. Don't follow the safe route. Allow the heart-breaking discussions to arise. Inject emotion into each book. Real life is messy and so should the storylines...in my opinion.

In my latest book, Chasing Liberty, releasing this month, I did venture out a bit. I had grappled with two ways to present this story. I won't give away spoilers, but I promise you, the story has a bit of my own heartbreak in it.

So, grab your copy.

Preorder here!

Wild Roses grow in unexpected places, and the sisters of Sagebrush Rose have a hankering for forbidden romance.

Sam Rose knew exactly what he was doing when he gave his daughters an ultimatum. Marry and calm their wild ways or he was writing them out of the will.

Full of vinegar and passion, Liberty will show her daddy! How dare he treat her like a child and meddle in her love life. She'd show him by marrying a ranch hand and Wyler Ranks is the perfect choice!

A surprise turns the fake marriage into something real.

The last thing Wyler wanted to do was fall in love with his wife. Yet here he was. He'd agreed to the "fake" marriage because he saw a chance at running his own ranch, but he didn't expect that his life would be turned upside down. He's never chased a woman before, but he's willing to chase Liberty and prove to her that he is the cowboy for her.

He will face danger to protect his new family.

Little do they know that flowers, and love, can grow in the least nurtured soil. Read this captivating novel of Liberty and Wyler's unplanned emotions and a gift neither saw coming.

EXCERPT!

“Time?” His voice was a husky, broken tone produced from lack of sleep. They’d brought each other hours of pleasure and there wasn’t a spot on her body that he hadn’t explored.

Didn’t everyone have wild, passionate s%^ before they ended a relationship?

He flashed that grin—the grin that undid her like a ball of yarn.

Get it together, Liberty!

The “talk” had always been easier with her prior lovers. Of course, she’d never felt like this for anyone else.

The jar of hazelnut chocolate spread still sat with the lid off on the nightstand as a reminder how fun last night had been. She’d never think of dessert the same.

Focusing on the tiny white scar at center of his forehead, because that was the only spot on his body that was safe. She refused to fall victim to his confused expression.

Spit it out!

“A separation.” Whew! There. The words were out.

He remained silent.

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The Ridge Ranch Continues

A new story to The Ridge Ranch is here. 

In a man’s world of ranching, she was determined to prove she belonged—Not even the alluring blue eyed cowboy in charge or her team.

Bonnie

I was not going to be derailed by a breakup. The timely acceptance letter to a premier Ranch Management Intern Program gives me time to clear my head. It’s not the first time I’ve come across men who don’t think I belong in their world. I might have to work harder than they do, but I deserve it just as much. When there's a mention of a permanent job, I know it’s mine. I just can’t let a handsome ranch hand distract me no matter how much I want him.

Bo

Helping oversee the boss’ Internship Program is not my idea of fun. I’d rather muck stalls all year, than babysit a bunch of wannabe ranchers. Girls in our program are few and far between and the guys don’t take it easy on them. Several of the interns don’t feel she belong, but she earned her spot just like they did. In fact, she gives them a run for their money. As an intern, she’s off limits, so why do I feel I want to protect her? She won’t let anything get in the way of what she wants, even me.

MATEO'S WOMAN: Book Three in the Mateo Series

 

Delilah is dead.

With her demise, everyone should be safe, but something insidious is happening to Mateo's town and to the woman he loves. People are dying and Blair is changing, taking on mannerisms that are clearly not her own. Becoming a danger to herself and others. He has no idea what is happening to the town's people but he has an inkling of what is happening to Blair and what he's thinking just isn't possible. But whether it's possible or not, he has to pry Blair from the evil that's sunk its fangs into her. 

Now, it's a race against time to save the woman he loves and get to the bottom of who is killing Grizzly's citizenry. And if that's not enough of a challenge for the shapeshifting sheriff, his future mother-in-law come for a visit.

 

Available at Amazon

The Trouble with Texting

The Beauty of Language

I hesitate to write this because it makes me sound like a grouchy, old lady, which I am becoming, but I fear that texting is killing the beauty of words.

I don't text very much. Texting has a purpose. I use it to jot a quick note to someone or ask a question, like "I'm lost. Where is your house?" I know I'm supposed to chop words like they're in a blender and spew them into the message like pureed thoughts, but I simply can't! Therefore, I spell out everything and make complete sentences with punctuation. I can't even bring myself to type "thx" at the end. I prefer, "thanks." Such a word nerd.

Yes, like an old guard, I feel it's my honor to fight to save the English language and the beauty and power of words. Not chopped up, misspelled, ill-used words. No. Whole, healthy, vibrant sentences that build upon each other to create beefy, wondrous paragraphs. Capital letters where they should be and periods to end sentences. Plain and plane, bear and bare, wait and weight, effect and affect where they should be and apostrophes and commas galore. If you are a writer or a reader, how can you possibly text? How can you insert numbers for letters without wanting to flog yourself? If we don't stand up for the marvel of whole words, who will? Surely, not the teams of texters happily churning out abbreviations that resemble less and less their true Latin roots. Rng me b4 u go. How could this be considered communication? IMHO. BRB. MMWTB.

My feeble hope is that writers and readers will hold strong and refuse to destroy their treasured baubles. They will stand back and allow the poor spellers and hate-to-readers text until their numbers grow fewer as the lovers of words stagger back to the fold, beaten into submission by their own shame and desperate for the sweet nectar of a striking sentence or breath-defying phrase.

There is nothing wrong with texting. It is communication. What is wrong is allowing it to be okay to not know the difference between fore and four, bough and bow, and peek and peak. This abbreviation of language is creeping into advertising. Nite and Lite are common ad words now. Won't they also show up in novels? They already are. Especially in books that weren't edited by a professional. I've seen some whoppers, such as "He was posed to be early for the meeting." I believe the word should have been supposed. But can we blame new writers for such mistakes when they probably spend a lot of their time texting?

Naturally, there are times when we write the wrong words on purpose -- especially in westerns when some of our characters aren't "school taught." The language adds to their characters. Words such as "ain't" and "purty" can sound natural in the right character's mouth. 

Our language is astounding and as rich as a ten egg custard. We should never willingly and wantonly water it down to frothy broth that can sustain nothing, not even a one-word message. Thx. Ugh. I did it.

Have you Seen Brisco County Jr.?

 Post by Doris McCraw

aka Angela Raines

Those who know me know I love Westerns. Western stories, Western movies, and Western TV shows.

Of the early westerns, "Ox-Box Incident" with Henry Fonda and Harry Morgan, and "3:10 to Yuma" with Glenn Ford and Van Heflin are probably my favorites.

Of the "B' Western, any Hoppy movie, or one with Alan 'Rocky' Lane are at the top of the list. Of course, Tim Holt movies are worth a look.

Alan 'Rocky' Lane
Image from Wikipedia

TV shows - "Gunslinger", "Laramie", and "Cheyenne" are tops. However, a late arrival in the Westerns is a show called "The Adventures of Brisco County Jr." I loved that show.

It was a unique take on the Western genre. There were some supernatural elements, a horse who was smarter than almost anyone else, along with a villain and hero who were just plain fun.

Bruce Campbell as Brisco County Jr.
 Image from Wikipedia

The cast, composed of Bruce Campbell, Julius Carry, and Christian Clemenson as, and get this character name, Socrates Poole.  

I made it a point to see every episode and even bought the DVD series when it became available.

If you get the chance and want a good laugh, check it out. 

Trailer for '3:10 to Yuma'

Trailer for 'Ox-Bow Incident"

Trailer for 'Brisco County Jr.'

Until Next Time: Stay safe, Stay happy, and Stay healthy. 

Doris