Robin Hood’s forest of mighty oaks needs saving by the rich–or the poor–or a miracle

by Jamie Rhein on

With half my roots in Southeastern Kentucky where coal mining has decimated great swatches of mountain tops, I’m easy to hook into environmental stories. Such was the case when I read about Sherwood Forest made famous by Robin Hood’s work of robbing the rich to pay the poor. As you know, that’s where he and his merry men hung out. There really is such a place in Nottinghamshire County, England, although the forest is becoming smaller and the mighty oaks are falling. See, here’s the problem. Oaks only live for 900 years. That’s a lot you might say. Time does fly, and it’s passing.

Since the landscape has been changed to accommodate more people over the centuries, trees have been cut down for buildings and fields to grow food. So, there is less space for the forest to rejuvenate itself. Plus, there’s the effects of global warming. The trees that are left sound like they have osteoporosis or something. A strong wind can knock them down. The solution is a reforestation project which costs money. Sherwood Forest is in the running for some grant money to plant thousands more. Here’s the thing where I see it might take some convincing of folks that this money will make a more wonderous world for their great, great, great, great, great, (surely that’s enough greats) grandchildren is that it takes 300 years for an oak to grow to its massive size. That’s a bit of delayed gratification for you. “I paid what for that dinky thing?”

Kate Shuman’s AP article where I found out about this forest woe is accompanied by some wonderful photos of movie scenes that have helped make Sherwood Forest famous.

Give me a head with hair shoulder length or longer, or just the hair: The Hair Museum

by Jamie Rhein on

This year I’ve heard about three productions of the 60s musical “Hair.” Given that it’s a love song for the planet and a war protest musical to boot, no wonder. I used to know several of the songs by heart. My parents went to the play in New York City eons ago and we had an album. That’s not what this post is about, however, but when I found out about Leila’s Hair Museum in Independence, Missouri, I made the connection.

The Hair Museum doesn’t have hair displayed in any old way, but in an art form that still has a following. In the early 1900s it was fashionable to make art from hair. People would collect hair when it was cut–or brushed and then tie it into knots and twist it into flowers and curly cues then put those together when there was enough for a wreath. These often were framed. Hair was also made into jewelery, hat pins, bouquets and so forth.

Last year when I was writing a magazine article on historical societies in Ohio, I came across a small hair wreath collection at one of the societies. Years ago, I saw one on the parlor wall of the historical society museum in Delaware, Ohio when I wrote a travel article on this town. Someone wrote a letter into Ohio Magazine after that article was published saying that he still makes hair wreaths. The Hair Museum Web site has a link to the Victorian Hairwork Society devoted to this art. The above picture is of a hair bouquet made with 15 different people’s hair. [Click here for details.]

When you think about how expensive and rare family photographs were in 1900, I wonder if the wreaths were one way to preserve family heritage. I know I have my dad’s hair from his first haircut tucked in a box and when my son had his first haircut I kept a lock of it. Maybe this hair wreath thing is genetic.

Coney Island’s Astroland has one more year

by Jamie Rhein on

Coney Island in New York is staying as is–more or less–for one more year. Astroland, the amusement park there can stay for a little while longer.This past summer when my husband, kids and I were visiting my brother in Manhattan, we headed to Coney Island because I wanted to see it at least once in my life. It had hovered around my idea bank of things to do in New York for years, but we never made the time. Plus, I’d heard it was rather grungy so my motivation was low. Nothing like a deadline to get one moving and on a subway.

The best parts of going to Coney Island were the black and white photographs on the Coney Island subway station walls. People sure looked like they were having fun back in the 1920s when the park was in its glory. Because we went there during a weekday and it was cloudy, the boardwalk, beach and amusement park weren’t crowded. It actually felt a bit desolate. I hope by next summer more people will show up because it must be dreadful being a vendor there waiting to make a sale.

If you want some Coney Island nostalgia, the Coney Island Museum is dedicated to preserving the heritage of the famous landmark location. It’s being renovated until November 16.

Running a Marathon from Marathon

by Iva Skoch on

New York wasn’t the only place with a big marathon going on yesterday. The “original” Marathonas to Athens marathon took place on Sunday. The 42.195km (that’s 26.2 miles) course traces an approximate, possible route of the legendary run of Greek soldier Pheidippides, who ran from Marathon to Athens to announce the victory of the Greeks over Darius’s Persian army in 490 B.C.

Of course, since it’s ancient history, there’s disagreement over whether the run happened at all, let alone which of two (or more) routes the runner took (south along the coast, then around the mountains, or simply over the mountains). (Worse yet, Herodotus has him running 145+ miles to Sparta to ask for help in the battle, rather than to Athens afterwards.)

Depending on who retells the legend, the runner either said, “we won,” “masters, victory is ours,” or “victory!” Either way, he died immediately at the end of the run. (Athens’ triumph over the Persians was somewhat short-lived, as Darius’s son, Xerxes, came back ten years later and burned Athens to the ground, following the famous Spartan stand at Thermopylae, popularized in last year’s movie, “300.”) It also makes you wonder why people actually run marathons.

Anyway, probably the best part of the current official race is the fantastic finish into the ancient Panathinaiko stadium (pictured right), which got it’s beautiful, and famous, white marble around 329 B.C.

This year was a record turn-out of over 4,000 runners for the 25th anniversary of this exact course. And, I’m happy to report from the ground that all made it, joyous and victorious.

A Rittenhouse Gem: The Rosenbach Museum

by Kelly Amabile on

While engrossed in my entertaining introduction to vampires last week, I learned about a fantastic museum in Philadelphia that I’m eager to visit. The Rosenbach Museum and Library is housed in the former residence of two brothers: Dr. A.S.W. and Philip Rosenbach. The siblings were experts in decorative arts and collected rare books and manuscripts, many of which became part of this unique museum and research center.

Eric Nuzum visited the Rosenbach to review Bram Stoker’s notes and outline for Dracula, which are part of the museum’s permanent collection, along with a celebrated first edition copy of Don Quixote, more than 600 letters written by Lewis Carroll, and over 10,000 drawings and sketches by author and illustrator Maurice Sendak. The museum hosts a variety of creative exhibits and programming throughout the year, and runs guided tours of the home. Recently, they began offering a hands-on tour: Made in Philadelphia, which focuses on decorative arts created in the city between 1750 and 1850. Visitors are invited to look closely and even handle selected pieces of furniture and silver.

A museum that hosts an annual Dracula Festival and lets you touch things?! Sounds like a place not to be missed. They’ve got a blog too.