Category: HHHistory Blog - Anita Mae Draper

Swinging in a Circle

9/5/2017

Playgrounds, May Day, Glass negative, 1924 May. Source: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington

Yes, May Day is in May, and although this image may look like children are dancing around a May pole, these youngsters are actually swinging around an old piece of playground equipment called, The Giant Stride. This apparatus can still be found today, but many communities have banned it for being too dangerous.

If you're interested, I have information, images, and videos over on the Heroes, Heroines and History blog where you're welcome to share your thoughts and memories.

www.hhhistory.com/
http://www.hhhistory.com/2017/09/fun-filled-danger-of-giant-stride.html

White House Conservatories & Giveaway

2/4/2017

Illustration of the south face, circa 1860, with the first greenhouse (1857-1867). Courtesy White House Museum

I'm blogging about the White House conservatories and greenhouses over at Heroes, Heroines and History today with lots of interior and exterior photos, as well as how they all disappeared as construction of the West Wing took over the location.

I'm also holding a #Giveaway for one print copy of The American Heiress Brides Collection to one person who leaves a comment before 11:59 pm, Feb 12, 2017 on my post:
White House Conservatory: Then and Now and a Giveaway

Botanical Conservatories at HHH

1/4/2017

Oh, the delight of puttering around a colorful conservatory with the smell of damp vegetation hanging in the air while the cold wind blows pristine snow crystals through the air outside the glass-paned enclosure. That is the reality of my past, as well as the imagery I wanted for my fictional heroine in my newest release, the novella, Sweet Love Grows, which is found in The American Heiress Brides Collection. Well, perhaps not exactly since I set the story in the spring time due to the plot, but I hope you got the picture.

If you haven't already entered my Sweet Love Grows Prize Pak Giveaway, you can do so at the end of my Botanical Conservatories post, over on the Heroes, Heroines and History blog where I'm posting about conservatories, orangeries, palm houses, etc with pictures of the past.

Or, if you'd rather not go there, you can enter right here.

Carousel Derby Ride

10/4/2016

I'm blogging over on the Heroes, Heroines, and History blog today where I'm talking about Derby rides which some people call horse racing carousels. I've posted several images and videos on my Derby Race Carousel-Type Rides post including the one above which is part of a photo shoot showing how they trained WW1 soldiers how to ride horses using the Derby ride. I've also included info on the status of these rides today. You're welcome to come over and share your experience or dream of this type of amusement park ride.

Historical Haying Season Photo

6/5/2016

I'm blogging about Alberta Ranch Summer Haying over on the HHH blog today so if you're interested in seeing how ranches and farmers put hay up back in 1895-1900, you might want to pop in and take a look.

I'm including my own experience working a hay cutter and rake on my grandparents' farm back when I was 12 and other than changing the horses in for a tractor, there wasn't much difference in the way things were done.

Here's the image I used of me on the Heroes, Heroines, and History post. It's the same one I use on my website Long Bio page except I made it B&W to fit in with all the other images on the post.

Anita Mae Draper nee Muir, Ryland, Ontario

Early 1900 Cowboy Chores

5/5/2016

Ever wonder what the daily life of a rancher, cowboy or ranch hand looked like back in the early 1900's?

Over on the Heroes, Heroines and History blog, I'm continuing my series of the Biggs Ranch near Beynon, Alberta with photos taken by Hugh B. Biggs, and preserved by the Glenbow Museum Archives in Calgary.

If you'd like to play a little game, tell me what you think this rancher is happy because he's doing laundry, or do you think he's yelling at someone not to take his picture.

Or... What do you think he's saying?

Bachelor washing clothes, Beynon, Alberta. ca. 1900. Courtesy of Glenbow Museum Archives, Calgary, Alberta

Pamila Draper White - Upper Canada Heroine

12/5/2015

Visit me at the Heroes, Heroines and History blog as I introduce you to a Draper ancestor who defended her Upper Canada home and family against half-drunk men using only a pair of tongs.

The question I'm asking at the bottom of the post is:
Do you have someone in your family tree that deserves to be talked about in today's 21st century? Please share.

Music in Upper Canada

9/5/2015

Since it's the 5th of the month I'm blogging at Heroes, Heroines & History today in what is the 3rd part in my series on the Sharon Temple National Historic Site & Museum.

If you enjoy reading about the history of music and life in the early 19th century in Upper Canada, you'll be interested in this post.

Hope and the Sharon Temple

8/5/2015

The Sharon Temple, 1860 glass negative. Courtesy of Ontario Archives © Queen's Printer for Ontario

The glass negative above is held at the Ontario Archives and is said to be the oldest image of the Sharon Temple. The lines you see are the cracks in the glass and while I've seen other images that have been retouched to cover the cracks, I believe seeing it like this adds a unique dimension to this grand temple built by people who considered themselves as plain.

I'm blogging about a breakaway Quaker sect known as the Children of Peace over on the Heroes, Heroines and History blog today.

This first post goes into the history of the Children of Peace and their founder, David Willson. Most of the images are in historic except where needed to show detail.

Part 2 will be posted August 19th on the Inkwell Inspirations blog. This post will shown the photos taken while I toured the Sharon Temple Museum and grounds during my recent trip to York County, Ontario.

Part 3 will be posted on Sept 5th back on the HHH blog where I'll talk share the history of David Willson's music and the Sharon Temple Band. I have photos of the original barrel organs that are still in use, one being the oldest of its kind in Canada, and talk about the unique acoustic sounds of the Sharon Temple.

So head over to www.hhhistory.com/ and see what some fascinating Americans did when they arrived in Canada.