 |
| Reminder: Daylight "Saving" Time begins tomorrow morning at 2:00 AM (March 9, 2025) in USA |
100 years ago there were no smartphones to check for accurate time. At that time, the most accurate time was provided by Western Union Time Service. This little folder (cover image above) was issued to advertise their service to banks, stores, and offices. How did they know the exact time? They got it from the United States Naval Observatory, where a telescope was used to track time by looking at the stars. How did they get time from the stars? By measuring the time it takes for the Earth to rotate exactly once a period of 24 hours could be determined precisely. (I know, if you're a Flat-Earther this is problematic, but just go with the Earth is round this time. 😉) What does all this have to do with Western Union? Once accurate time was determined at the Naval Observatory a signal was sent daily over the Western Union Telegraph System to update clocks all across the nation.
 |
| Click on image for larger image ... possibly readable. |
Learning Table Manners, postcard from 1939 ...
 |
| An old postcard from my collection. This one is titled "Learning Table Manners" |
 |
| Postmarked July 17, 1939 To Mrs Lucy Graves, PO Box 94, LeMoille Illinois no ZIP code 😉 |
 |
| Ok, I flipped the card so you can read the message. I love the way J. E. Stelzer signed the card with his nickname "BROMO" as in Bromo-Seltzer ... a headache remedy invented in 1888. |
 |
| I love the title and description. Enjoy more critters at Saturday's Critters! |
 |
| Same Daffodils, different days. A little over a month from breaking ground to bloom. [Click on image for larger view.] |
 |
| Nature makes an ordinary traffic circle look pretty good. |
 |
| 10 Stamps Wonderland Series 7 |
 |
| Clockwise from top left: In the Heart of the Cascade Range At Canon Beach Near Astoria, Oregon On the Summit of Mt Hood, Oregon 11,225 Feet High A Glimpse of the Columbia River |
 |
| Clockwise from top left: Mt Rainier Wash 14,408 Feet High From the Summit of Mt Spokane The Gallatin River Montana Sport on a Mountain Trout Stream The Celilo Falls Columbia River Green River, Cascade Range Wash |
 |
| March 5 - Clouds and Sun near sunset looking across Puget Sound to the Olympic Mountains |
 |
| Another March 5 capture after sunset. The thing that interested me ... the shadows of the rain falling from clouds in the distance. The Chopper was a happy coincidence. 😊 |
This week's question ...
 |
| By Richard Paul Evans |
Hello John,
ReplyDeleteAre there still people that think the earth is flat, maybe the same people do not believe about the moon landing. I like the cute bear postcard. Great stamp collection, I have been to most of the places. I loved Cannon Beach, Mt Hood, the Cascades NP, Mt Rainier NP, all along the Columbia River. They were all some of my favorite places to visit. Beautiful sky captures! Thank you for linking up and sharing your critter post. Take care, have a great weekend. PS, thank you for leaving me a comment. I know google is following me all around the internet, there are so many ads. Thank you for linking up and sharing your critter post. Take care, have a great weekend. PS, thank you for leaving me a comment.
I always enjoy my visits and look forward to seeing that you're posted. Your posts are mini Americana history lessons and always interesting.
ReplyDeleteMy Daffodils are just starting to poke through the ground. I planted some last Fall for the first time, because the tulips that I planted out by my fence near the road were all (almost all) eaten by gophers. Those little rascals are not suppose to eat daffodils. They must be afraid to come up near the house because the tulips planted there were not disturbed. I'm so grateful for that:)
Thank you again for another wonderful post.
Connie :)
...during the part of the year when we have more hours of sunlight, I enjoy DLST. The opposite is true when we fewer hours of sunlight. If bears can learn table manners, why can't some humans learn? On March 8, our daffodils are up but not as much as your on January 31. Wonderland Series 7 is wonderful. Keep looking up at the beautiful sky. Yep, Fisher wouldn't be interested in your $1! Make you statement count! Thanks John.
ReplyDeleteTom, just wanted to let you know you are exactly right. Fischer would not be interested in my $1. I deleted the word "Million" ... it just seemed like a lot. Thanks for stopping by and your comment! John
DeleteNice to see the daffodils. None around here yet, we got more snow today.
ReplyDeleteAs always, I enjoy your posts so much. And I'm glad someone else figured out what you changed in that one bit. I am truly happy to be one of your followers. I always learn something and am entertained as well.
ReplyDeleteI love the lengthening hours of daylight this time of year. Now if the snow was done…
ReplyDeleteThe postcards are interesting. I would like to have kept ones we received over the years. Too late!
What a fascinating mix of history, nature, and collectibles! I never knew Western Union played such a big role in keeping time synchronized across the country—what an incredible system before the digital age. Also, those daffodil photos are a beautiful reminder that spring is on its way. And I love the old postcard—BROMO is such a fun signature! Thanks for sharing these treasures, John!😊
ReplyDeleteWhat a fascinating mix of history, nature, and humor! The daffodil collage and sunset photos are beautiful.
ReplyDeleteJohn, you've been saving many topics for this post. I like the explanation of how accurate time was calculated and communicated. When I was a child on the farm in the forties, the clock would sometimes stop when we forgot to wind it. We had to phone the neighbors to get the time. Radios improved things when they gave the time between programs.
ReplyDelete