My Texas Alphabet - R for Rockhounds

The very first when I read the words "Rockhounds meeting", I though it would be about rock music. That was what "rock" meant to me. Music.

Well, the club appeared to be the place where quite different rock lovers met (and it was not related to music at all).

Growing up and living in a city, rocks were nothing more  to us than useless "stones". You maybe kicked them while walking and seeing on a road, but you did not pick them up. You did not bring them home either. I remember what I was told when I was a child - "Do not bring stones home, they bring bad luck." 

The inside looks like a bone structure (?)

So we did not have rocks at home until now. Sometimes, during our walks in the countryside, we discover some interesting pieces (at least we find them interesting because of various reasons). It does not matter that most of them are quite usual and common in our area of Texas. They just look pretty to us and we like something about them, their shape, color, and/or structure.

 

 

With the Rockhounds we learned that flint and quartz in general are typical in the region of Texas we live in. There are also some other types of rocks that you can find in other parts of the state, but apparently not where we happen to stroll. Besides that, you can come across a piece of fossilized wood, or a fossil. The latter is a rare thing, though.

 

 

I cannot remember all the names of various rocks and its chemical components presented during the meetings, or in the videos we watched. So many names are quite similar, with little variations, due to their similar chemical elements. Most of them were totally new English vocabulary to me and sometimes, I needed to translate them to a recognizable version, to know what they were/meant. The blue topaz is the stone that you might come across in nature (if you are lucky enough) in the Mason County area. 

 

Llanite is a rock that originates in Llano County, TX.

 

 

In the past, I never gave any thoughts to topazes, tortoises or agates. They were simply items you bought at a jeweler (if you had enough money). Somehow, I did not consider where else they could be found, certainly not somewhere in the ground.

 

 

An amazing thing is that a rock might look quite boring and plain-grey on the outside. When cut in half, or split, sometimes it turns to be very pretty and colorful inside. Some of those brilliant structure compositions are so beautiful that it makes you think: Nature is the greatest artists of all.

 

 

Regarding the "bad luck" mentioned above - it is up to you if you believe in it or not.  As everything else in nature, each rock has its own vibration frequency. What we choose to pick up simply resonates with us. However, there might be something in what I was told in my childhood. Rocks, being part of nature, may be energy collectors/may have residual energy from the area were they originate from. To remove that energy residue/clear it, the net wisemen advise occasional soaking (for a few hours) the rock pieces in warm water. 

 

Another and quite positive thing is that some rocks, including quartz, are supposed to have a beneficial influence on human body/aura.

PS

No, we have not found any precious stones. Not yet.  :-)

Thoughts on Memorial Day

Somebody has said on the radio, "Happy Memorial Day". Well, nothing wrong in being happy, especially if somebody is having an extra day off on Monday. However, "Happy Memorial Day" sounds to me like "Happy death anniversary". The words contradict themselves and that would be the least cause why you just do not say that.

What is more, the point of this observance is not happy and it is not meant to be such. Anyhow, that is how I see it. Too philosophical? Just sharing my thoughts.

 Remembrance post series on our blog

• WW2 
  
• WW1 

WW2 - Praha, TX

Glory to the fallen Heroes!

My Polish Alphabet - "N"

 

"N" is for the Narrow Gauge Railway Museum in Wenecja, which we visited some years ago. 

 

Wenecja means Venice in Polish

 

The railway track (600 mm wide = 1 ft 11 5/8 inch.) was built to connect three local towns, nowadays it is just a tourist attraction. 

 

Unfortunately, on the day of our visit, the railway line was under maintenance, so we could not enjoy the ride on a small train, but I had had a chance to experience it in the past.

 

There is not much space to seat on the narrow gauge trains and the seats are rather narrow.  Carts and the engines are smaller too.

The museum collection consists of several steam locomotives. The oldest one was made in 1899, and others in the early 1900s.

Post office cart

The locomotive in the above photo was made in Hannover in 1923.

There is also the old station-waiting room and ticket office.

From the museum area, you can also see the ruins of the castle in Wenecja (the structure was built in the 14th century). 

 A good place to visit with the family as well.

It happened in 1897

A mysterious airship traveled across the states, and in April of that year, it arrived in Texas. The numerous sightings of the "air train" were reported by many (including the ones regarded as "truthful citizens"), while others were hoping to see it and travel in it.

Clipping source: Ousley, Clarence. Galveston Tribune. (Galveston, Tex.), Vol. 17, No. 129, Ed. 1 Monday, April 19, 1897, newspaper, April 19, 1897; Galveston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1253119/: accessed April 13, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Rosenberg Library.

Clipping source: Cain, Thomas C. The Bastrop Advertiser (Bastrop, Tex.), Vol. 45, No. 8, Ed. 1 Saturday, April 24, 1897, newspaper, April 24, 1897; Bastrop, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth205344/: accessed April 13, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Bastrop Public Library.

Clipping source: Gardner, J. W. The Daily Texarkanian. (Texarkana, Ark.), Vol. 13, No. 215, Ed. 1 Friday, April 16, 1897, newspaper, April 16, 1897; Texarkana, Arkansas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1656744/: accessed April 13, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Arkansas State Archives.

The assumptions and speculations on the air ship (ships?) origins had no end. 

Clipping source: Ousley, Clarence. Galveston Tribune. (Galveston, Tex.), Vol. 17, No. 129, Ed. 1 Monday, April 19, 1897, newspaper, April 19, 1897; Galveston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1253119/: accessed April 13, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Rosenberg Library.

 

Clipping source:  Ousley, Clarence. Galveston Tribune. (Galveston, Tex.), Vol. 17, No. 128, Ed. 1 Sunday, April 18, 1897, newspaper, April 18, 1897; Galveston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1252872/: accessed April 13, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Rosenberg Library.

The air ship designer was found?

Clipping source: The Houston Daily Post (Houston, Tex.), Vol. Thirteenth Year, No. 7, Ed. 1, Sunday, April 11, 1897, newspaper, April 11, 1897; Houston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth84148/: accessed April 13, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; .

 Some suspected it could be a secret state project.

Clippings source:  Gardner, J. W. The Daily Texarkanian. (Texarkana, Ark.), Vol. 13, No. 215, Ed. 1 Friday, April 16, 1897, newspaper, April 16, 1897; Texarkana, Arkansas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1656744/: accessed April 13, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Arkansas State Archives.

More and more sightings were reported.

Clipping source: The Galveston Daily News. (Galveston, Tex.), Vol. 56, No. 24, Ed. 1 Saturday, April 17, 1897, newspaper, April 17, 1897; Galveston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth465634/: accessed April 13, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Abilene Library Consortium.

Some people suspected the craft was out of this world.

Clipping source: Wheeler, Jesse O. The Daily Herald (Brownsville, Tex.), Vol. 5, No. 213, Ed. 1, Tuesday, April 20, 1897, newspaper, April 20, 1897; Brownsville, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth115928/: accessed April 13, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; .

Some claimed they not only saw the air ship, but also photographed it.

Clippings source:  Ousley, Clarence. Galveston Tribune. (Galveston, Tex.), Vol. 17, No. 127, Ed. 1 Saturday, April 17, 1897, newspaper, April 17, 1897; Galveston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1252926/: accessed April 13, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Rosenberg Library.

Others quickly discredited the photos and somebody, inspired by the air ship craze, wrote a poem abut the mysterious vessel.

Clipping source: Ousley, Clarence. Galveston Tribune. (Galveston, Tex.), Vol. 17, No. 128, Ed. 1 Sunday, April 18, 1897, newspaper, April 18, 1897; Galveston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1252872/: accessed April 13, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Rosenberg Library.

The air ship flew over El Paso in the middle of the night.

Clipping source: El Paso Daily Herald. (El Paso, Tex.), Vol. 17, No. 93, Ed. 1 Tuesday, April 20, 1897, newspaper, April 20, 1897; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth295941/: accessed April 13, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; .

And the judge saw it too.

Clipping source: The Galveston Daily News. (Galveston, Tex.), Vol. 56, No. 25, Ed. 1 Sunday, April 18, 1897, newspaper, April 18, 1897; Galveston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth465540/: accessed April 13, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Abilene Library Consortium.

 More truthful citizens observed it in Texas.

Clipping source: The Galveston Daily News. (Galveston, Tex.), Vol. 56, No. 25, Ed. 1 Sunday, April 18, 1897, newspaper, April 18, 1897; Galveston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth465540/: accessed April 13, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Abilene Library Consortium.

Noah's ark?

Clipping source: The Galveston Daily News. (Galveston, Tex.), Vol. 56, No. 24, Ed. 1 Saturday, April 17, 1897, newspaper, April 17, 1897; Galveston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth465634/: accessed April 13, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Abilene Library Consortium.

Did it multiply?

Clipping source: Ousley, Clarence. Galveston Tribune. (Galveston, Tex.), Vol. 17, No. 128, Ed. 1 Sunday, April 18, 1897, newspaper, April 18, 1897; Galveston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1252872/: accessed April 13, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Rosenberg Library.

Some claimed they had been taken for a ride in the air ship.

 

Clipping source: Lowry, J. H. Honey Grove Signal. (Honey Grove, Tex.), Vol. 7, No. 8, Ed. 1 Friday, April 23, 1897, newspaper, April 23, 1897; Honey Grove, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth387865/: accessed April 13, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Honey Grove Preservation League.

A few lucky Texans had a chance to inspect the air ship.

 

Clipping source: Source: Cain, Thomas C. The Bastrop Advertiser (Bastrop, Tex.), Vol. 45, No. 8, Ed. 1 Saturday, April 24, 1897, newspaper, April 24, 1897; Bastrop, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth205344/: accessed April 13, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Bastrop Public Library.
 

The air ship passengers spoke English and they talked to a local sheriff.

 

Clipping source: Wheeler, Jesse O. The Daily Herald (Brownsville, Tex.), Vol. 5, No. 219, Ed. 1, Tuesday, April 27, 1897, newspaper, April 27, 1897; Brownsville, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth115934/: accessed April 13, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; .

 

An extraordinary person was spotted among the air ship passengers.

Clipping source:  Wheeler, Jesse O. The Daily Herald (Brownsville, Tex.), Vol. 5, No. 218, Ed. 1, Monday, April 26, 1897, newspaper, April 26, 1897; Brownsville, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth115933/: accessed April 13, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; .

Mr. Schrader (the person really existed) was another phenomenon and a kind of celebrity of that time. He used "blessed handkerchiefs" during his divine healing sessions. Well, it was quite a different story, though.

Was the air ship real? Did it really travel around the state? What do you think?

Clipping source: Cain, Thomas C. The Bastrop Advertiser (Bastrop, Tex.), Vol. 45, No. 8, Ed. 1 Saturday, April 24, 1897, newspaper, April 24, 1897; Bastrop, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth205344/: accessed April 13, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Bastrop Public Library.

• Kudos to "The Portal to Texas History" for the old newspapers.
  

Andrew Wos & Agnes Zdeb

Andrew and Agnes did not live in Texas. However, some of their descendants do reside in the Lone Star State.

✬

Andrew (Andrzej) Woś was born in (or near) Nisko, Subcarpatian region, Poland (then Galicia, Austria), on 27 November 1884. On 🚢1 March 1902, 27-year-old Andrzej left the port of Hamburg, Germany on deck of the vessel "Milano". The man arrived in New York on 17 March of the same year.

13 June 1908 - Andrew filed an application/declaration of intention to become a US citizen. At that time, he resided in Wallingford, Connecticut (1,2).

 

⚭ 26 November 1908 (3) Andrew married Miss Agnes (Agnieszka) ZDEB, born on 1 February 1887 (4). The marriage took place in Wallingford (I did not find any records confirming the year when Agnieszka came to the US).

👉 Mr. Andrew Wos signed a petition for naturalization on 15 June 1910 (5). On 7 October of the same year, he became a US citizen (6, 7). 

Andrew lived with his wife at 52 Pearl Street (New Haven, Connecticut), and worked as a spinner. The man was 5 feet 6/8 inches tall and had grey eyes and brown hair.

On ♦ 26 March 1915, a daughter, Jeanne Evelyn, was born in Wallingford to Andrew and Agnes (8).

By September 1918, the young couple had moved to Passaic, New Jersey where some of Andrew's relatives lived as well. In the WW1 registration draft, he stated that he worked at the "saloon business" at 131 Passaic St., and he resided at that address with his wife Agnes. The record reads also that Andrew Wos had blue eyes and black hair (9).

👉 Census 1920 - the family was registered at Wallington (borough), New Jersey. Andrew owned a soft drink cafe there (10).

👉 Census - 4 April 1930 - Mr. Andrew Wos owned a restaurant in Passaic Ward #1, Passaic, New Jersey (11).

♦ 1937 - the man passed - I did not find any records regarding his death.

 

After that, Jeannie was married to Mr. Richard F Wilderotter, born on 10 August 1914, in New Jersey (12), to Philipp J Wilderotter and his wife Caroline Becker. The young couple traveled to the Bahamas in July and August 1939 (13,14).

👉 Census 1940 - Mrs. Agnes Wos (age 52) still lived in the same place in Passaic. She had 3 lodgers who lived at her place (15).

Ten years later, the lady lived with the family of her daughter Jeannie in Newark Township, Essex, New Jersey. Mrs. Agnes worked as a housekeeper at the local college (16).

Agnes Wos passed in ♦ January 1978 in South Orange, Essex, New Jersey (17).

Sources:

1."Connecticut, Naturalization Records, 1795-1945", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:ZFHG-28MM : Sun Mar 10 10:32:08 UTC 2024), Entry for Andrew Wos, 13 Jun 1908.
2. "Connecticut, Naturalization Records, 1795-1945", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Z8LR-7MMM : Sun Mar 10 06:06:14 UTC 2024), Entry for Andrew Wos and Agnes Wos, 13 Jun 1908.
3. Connecticut marriages
4. "Connecticut, Naturalization Records, 1795-1945", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6KRM-RDRC : Sat Mar 09 01:32:19 UTC 2024), Entry for Andrew Wos, 7 Oct 1910.
5. "United States Social Security Death Index," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JKT2-S2C : 8 January 2021), Agnes Wos, Jan 1978; citing U.S. Social Security Administration, Death Master File, database (Alexandria, Virginia: National Technical Information Service, ongoing).
6. "Connecticut, Naturalization Records, 1795-1945", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6KBZ-S8FR : Sat Mar 09 05:55:24 UTC 2024), Entry for Andrew Wos and Agnes, 15 Jun 1910.
7. "United States, New England Petitions for Naturalization Index, 1791-1906", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VX5T-5RK : Fri Mar 08 10:15:01 UTC 2024), Entry for Andrew Wos, 1910.
8. "United States, Social Security Numerical Identification Files (NUMIDENT), 1936-2007", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6KMG-Y6GY : 10 February 2023), Andrew Wos in entry for Jeanne Evelyn Wos, .
9. "United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KZJB-M7X : 31 December 2021), Andro Wos, 1917-1918.
10. "United States Census, 1920", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M4PR-2S4 : Mon Mar 11 01:40:29 UTC 2024), Entry for Andrew Wos and Agnes Wos, 1920.
11. "United States Census, 1930", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X4FD-54D : Sat Mar 09 23:17:08 UTC 2024), Entry for Andrew Was and Agnes Was, 1930.
12. "United States Social Security Death Index," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JY9T-BQQ : 7 January 2021), Richard F Wilderotter, 17 Dec 1993; citing U.S. Social Security Administration, Death Master File, database (Alexandria, Virginia: National Technical Information Service, ongoing).
13."United States Census, 1940", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K4TT-WC8 : Sat Mar 09 12:48:58 UTC 2024), Entry for Agnes Wos and Michael Petrabuska, 1940.
13. "New York, New York Passenger and Crew Lists, 1909, 1925-1957", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:24L4-KPS : Sun Mar 10 03:47:51 UTC 2024), Entry for Jeanne Wilderotter, 1939.
14. "New York, New York Passenger and Crew Lists, 1909, 1925-1957", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:24L4-B6R : Sat Mar 09 15:19:56 UTC 2024), Entry for Jeanne Wilderotter, 1939.
15. "United States Census, 1940", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K4TT-WC8 : Sat Mar 09 12:48:58 UTC 2024), Entry for Agnes Wos and Michael Petrabuska, 1940.

 16. "United States 1950 Census", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6F92-X5SH : Mon Mar 18 21:22:48 UTC 2024), Entry for Richard Wilderotter and Jeane Wilderotter, 15 April 1950.

17. "United States Social Security Death Index," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JKT2-S2C : 8 January 2021), Agnes Wos, Jan 1978; citing U.S. Social Security Administration, Death Master File, database (Alexandria, Virginia: National Technical Information Service, ongoing).

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