Conestoga: more than just a wagon

Conestoga is the name of the high school that I attended many moons ago. On the side of the building, there was a metallic cutout of a Conestoga wagon, and fittingly, our mascot was a Pioneer. This 1979 photo shows our high school band, ready to march in the 1980 Rose Bowl Parade (yes, we had some good trips!).

You can see a very disinterested me, 4th from the right, with the rest of the saxophone section. The tall hat really sucked; balancing it was a pain in the a#$.



My dad drove me crazy taking photos of us during the games; of course now I treasure these.



The band trip during my senior year included a detour to Walt Disney World in Orlando. Couldn't complain about that.



On graduation day in June 1982, you can see my high school in the background.



This vintage April 1958 Disneyland image shows a Conestoga Wagon, which once graced Frontierland and provided a very bumpy ride for guests looking for an authentic old west experience.



Zooming in for a closer look:



This shot shows the Wagon barreling out of the loading queue area:



Unfortunately, this attraction bit the dust a few years before I was born, so I am unable to say that I've actually been on a Conestoga Wagon. However, the name of it sure provides a few warm memories of my high school years.

See more Daveland vintage Disneyland Conestoga Wagon photos at my main website.

The Upper Main Line Y

Growing up near Philadelphia, I lived in an area called the Upper Main Line, which refers to the "Main Line" of the Pennsylvania Railroads, which ran parallel to Route 30, aka Lancaster Avenue. One of the jewels of this area was the Upper Main Line YMCA, which was built around the 1908 Cassatt Mansion.

Out for a walk one day when home last month, I decided to take the back route to the "Y." As a child, I have many happy memories of this wooded area where I attended summer camp, played Capture the Flag, and also participated in Indian Guides.



The beauty of this area still remains; it was wonderful to leisurely stroll through the paths that I had romped through some 40 years ago.



Once through the wooded area, the Cassatt Mansion becomes visible, still impressive in its ornately detailed style. The modern YMCA facilities that have been tacked on around it make me cringe, but I am still grateful that the historic Mansion has been able to survive.





I recall racing through the interior of the Mansion, whose once grand rooms were converted into classrooms.







What a change from the Southern California landscape I have become accustomed to over the last 15 years. Being completely surrounded by these majestic trees gave me a welcome feeling of peace and tranquility.



And then my allergies kicked in. Oops. Forgot about those. I guess every Eden has its drawbacks!

See more Daveland Upper Main Line photos at my main website.

In my own backyard

Growing up in the burbs of Philly, my neighborhood was surrounded by trees as opposed to the somewhat barren and rocky landscapes one encounters in Southern California. Whenever I go back east, it's a gentle reminder of the differences between the two coasts. Just down the street from the house I grew up in is Sharp's Woods Preserve, a 27-acre "island of nature" surrounded by a suburban development in Easttown Township.



Typically, I visit Philly in November when fall has already had its effect on the trees and lawns of the burbs. Changing things up this time, I was rewarded with a lush green landscape and perfect temperatures. The headwaters of the Darby Creek run through the woods, and the surrounding banks were a bit marshy. I was able to see deer tracks (missed photographing the deer by a few seconds!) and (sadly) bicycle tire tracks.



Spring blooms were still out in abundance, just slightly past their peak.



It was wonderful to experience this preserve again and know that there are still at least a few places left where nature (and animals) can thrive in an environment that is undeveloped.



See more Daveland Philadelphia photos at my main website.

Trip to Philadelphia, Pt. 3: Grace Kelly

One of the highlights of my trip east was to see the Grace Kelly: Beyond the Icon exhibit at the James A. Michener Art Museum in Doylestown. The displays included photographs of the actress, wife, mother, and Princess, who was one of the top style icons of the 20th Century.



The images of Grace and her wardrobe from the exhibit were kindly sent to me by the museum's publicity department, since photography was not allowed inside.

Grace flirted shamelessly with Cary Grant in Alfred Hitchcock's "To Catch a Thief," while wearing this peach ensemble designed by Edith Head.



This 1954 photo of Grace was taken by Philippe Halsman as part of a Life Magazine layout. This Edith Head designed dress was also worn by Grace to "The Country Girl" premiere as well as the 1955 Oscars ceremony.



It was amazing to see it in person, displayed next to the Oscar that she took home that same evening, beating out Judy Garland in "A Star is Born."



For Grace's last film, "High Society," she wore this Greek Goddess draped gown designed by Helen Rose:



Grace's sense of style was understated, as she could make even the most simple dress appear to be chic. The woman just exuded class.



Oscar winning designer Edith Head herself said, "I have never worked with anybody who had a more intelligent grasp of what we were doing."



Grace wore a fitted suit by MGM's costume designer, Helen Rose, for the Civil Ceremony with Prince Rainier of Monaco:



The outfit with matching hat and shoes was on display at the Michener; apparently Grace kept almost everything.





For the Royal Wedding on April 19, 1956, Helen Rose designed this classic dress:



Unfortunately, the original (owned by the Philadelphia Museum of Art) is too fragile to be transported.



A Mondrian inspired dress by Yves Saint Laurent:



This March 1967 shot reveals a loving mother with her son, Prince Albert.



A 1969 dress designed by Marc Bohan, which Grace wore to a costume ball at the Monte Carlo Casino:



Christian Dior was a favorite designer of the Princess; this 1967 design was part of her cherished wardrobe:



The exhibit paints a warm portrait of a lovely and stylish woman who thoroughly enjoyed motherhood as much (if not more) as her brief Hollywood career. If you want to catch it, you'll need to hurry, as the exhibit goes back overseas on January 26.

The Michener Museum is only part of the Doylestown Cultural District.



Across the street is The Mercer Museum, which was built to house Henry Mercer’s extensive collection of objects representing everyday life in the pre-industrial age. The Museum's permanent exhibits represent over 60 early American trades, including woodworking, metalworking, agriculture, and advertising, plus furnishings and folk art.



I didn't get a chance to go inside (next time!), but still enjoyed zooming in to see the building's weather vane.



Doylestown's Main Street area included a number of interesting buildings, including 1938's County Theatre.







The final museum I experienced during my trip home to Philly was my mother's infamous Food Museum. I was raised on homemade fruitcake. Every holiday season, my mom would make my favorites like Apricot, Bourbon, and Old English. It has been years since my mom made any, so imagine my surprise when she casually mentioned that she thought there was one "downstairs."



When I asked how old, I got the standard answer: "Oh, I don't know; not that long ago." I inquired if it was in the freezer. "No, it's in the refrigerator." Camera in hand, I went down to the basement (where food goes to die) and pulled the brick of tin foil out. It was marked 2006. 7 years. Under the foil was Saran Wrap, and underneath that was a layer of cheesecloth that had been soaked in Old English.



I could still smell the booze, but after a seven year stint in the fridge, there was no way I was going to eat it. After cutting a slice (which took some extra effort), even Mom finally admitted that it might look a little "dry."



Can't wait to see what else I might discover in mom's fridge/freezer on my next visit. Where else but Daveland could you read about Grace Kelly and fruitcake all in the same post?

See more Daveland Doylestown photos on my Doylestown web page.