Strasburg Train Museum

Thick shield on the luggage tractor

One HELL of a snowplow!

After a wonderful train ride, we went across the street to the museum.

The "train shed" was not air conditioned. Boy howdy it was hot in there. Still, some wonderful pieces of history were well preserved. The displays were well thought out and one could walk right up to some great trains and boxcars.

There is an outdoor section, and it was hot and sunny. It was most certainly time to seek air conditioning and a dinner.

We skipped the small cased exhibits this time. I have a belief that it is okay to leave something to go back to see. I would rather take the time to really see a part of the exhibits than rush through the whole thing and not really enjoy any part of it.

Hollinger House

Our room

Hollinger House

This past weekend, my better half and I celebrated our Anniversary. The Adams period three story brick house was built in the 1870s. The Hollinger family owned a tannery and was known nationally for their leather goods. They sold shoe leather and other wares to the Union Army during the civil war.

I like the bed and breakfast/gasthaus concept. It forces people to interact with the owners and other guests. The houses are unique and each room is unique.

Voodoo Lady and I have stayed in other places. Notably Warner Hall in Virginia (an Inn, a B&B with more than just breakfast) and a Hostel (B&B minus the meals) in Old Town Montreal.

The owners were very hospitable and nice to talk to. They were very helpful in preparing our weekend exploration of the surrounding area.

No 89 Train ride, Strasburg Pa.

This past weekend the Mrs and I spent the weekend in Lancaster County Pa for our anniversary. We stayed in a great B&B that was built in the 1870s. (post to follow).

I had pre-purchased tickets for the Strasburg historic railroad. I knew the weather would be extremely hot, so I decided to get tickets on the Presidential car. The car was used to transport execs from the railroad company and their families. It is complete with its own small galley and three sleeping compartments. The data plate shows two dates 1896 and 1906. We were told the cars are refurbished every four years or so.

We were one of the first to board the car (only 20 seats on this car). I scrambled to get one of the three private compartments. We ended up with the smallest one, but we did not care.

The ride was shorter (almost an hour this time) than the ride to Jim Thorpe Pa. we took a while back, but the air conditioning and view was great. I snapped way more photos than I can post here, but some of my faves are above. They have several engines that are relic status. One of the conductors told me they use them for spare parts to keep their engines running.

The engine that took us on our tour, No 89, was once an engine from Canadian National Railway, Canadian National and Grand Trunk Railway. It was built in 1910.

Urban Unusual: Hex Murder House

After doing some research, we figured out we were pretty close to the site of an infamous murder. On the 28th of November 1928 at one minute past midnight three men: John Blymire, also a practitioner of witchcraft, aged 32, John Curry, aged 14 and Wilbert Hess, aged 18 murdered Nelson Rehmeyer. Why?

The leader of the three, John Blymire, was convinced that Nelson had placed a hex or curse on him. John Blymire was told by another witch (Nellie Noll the "River Witch of marietta") that Rehmeyer was the one that had placed a curse on him and his two friends Curry and Hess. The only way to remove the curses was to take a book of remedies and spells called "Long Lost Friend" or "Pow-wows" from Rehmeyer and also to remove a lock of Rehmeyer's hair. Burning the book and burying the lock of hair would lift the hex from Blymire, Curry and Hess.

Blymire and Curry met with Rehmeyer and tried to convince Rehmeyer to turn over the book and give up a lock of hair. Blymire tried to mentally Rehmeyer to turn over the book. It is no surprise that the tactic failed.

The men returned the next night with Hess and beat Rehmeyer with a block of wood and strangled him with a length of rope they brought with them. In an effort to cover their crime. The men tried to set the house on fire, but it did not burn. Two days later the body was discovered.

All three men were caught quickly and confessed to the murder. Blymire and Curry, murder in the first degree and Hess, murder in the second degree. Blymire and Curry were given life in prison and Wilbert was given 10 to 20 years. In 1934, Hess and Curry were paroled. Blymire was finally paroled in 1953, returned to York and worked as a janitor.
The murder is one of the last cases involving witchcraft. The fact that witchcraft was still in existence in 20th Century America shocked the nation.

Note: After a failed attempt at turning the house into a museum attraction and a series of break-ins by teens. Security is extremely tight. Anyone caught on the property or attempting to gain entry will be prosecuted. It is best to stay on the road (state property).

Wikipedia entry

Enchanted Forest Urbex

Having done a lot urban explorations of hospitals as of late. We decided to try something a little different. This site fit the bill perfectly.

Not too far from Vicious HQ, there was a defunct amusement park. There was lots of warnings against exploring the site. As in security patrols, neighbors that call the police, etc. Never one to shy away from a challenge, we decided to go for it. Nothing ventured, nothing gained!

The site opened in 1955 and closed in 1989. It only reopened partially in 1994 and has been closed ever since. The theme of the park was derived from childhood stories and nursery rhymes.

The site was not too difficult to get into after all. The main hindrance was thick undergrowth that kept us from venturing too far. We did see several of the attractions. We got to see Hansel and Gretels house (now with a tree on the roof), Snow Whites house (almost collapsed), and Cinderella's Castle. The facade is coming off of the castle. I would suspect in another 10 years, most of this site will be gone.

This defunct amusement park had been used several times since closure for movies like the John Waters film Crybaby, and several TV series.

Enchanted Forest Wikipedia entry...

Fellow bloggers entry.....

Sugarloaf Mountain Walkabout

Went for a nice walk with Voodoo Lady today. Both of us did not feel like climbing to the top (it is getting a little hot and humid) but we did take a trail we had not been on before. Got to use my new camera with some settings I had just worked out.