Category: Photo Post

  • Kenosha History Center

    Kenosha History Center

    Kenosha History Center, Simmons Island, Kenosha Wisconsin

    Saturday when I had the pleasure of the Pike River Rendezvous and the tour of the Kenosha Light Station I went around the corner to the Kenosha History Center. It’s a wonderful small museum dedicated to the history of the Kenosha, earlier called Southport, community.

    The Center has a collection of things related to life in Kenosha. There’s everything from cars once made here to toys played with by children growing up here. I too had a Mrs. Beasley doll like the one one display. I enjoyed my stroll through the museum as one of a few people that had found this gem.

    Kenosha History Center, Simmons Island, Kenosha Wisconsin

    I was surprised more people weren’t stopping by the Center. First off, it’s free – they ask for a small donations if you are able but if not that’s fine. It was air conditions and on a hot day it was nice to come in and cool off. It had indoor plumbing bathrooms which beat the port-a-pottys at the Rendezvous all to pieces. (I will only use a portlet in case of emergency.) It was just a block from the Rendezvous and half a block from the Light Station. But the final reason was it was very interesting to see how the community developed from the time period of the Rendezvous to today.

    I made pictures as I do when I go places. I do apologize for the warm coloring of some but it’s the type of lighting used in the museum to preserve the artifacts combined with the no flash photography rule. I’m always appreciative of museums that allow photos and understand why flash photography is out. Don’t want to fade the color of the objects. Textiles are especially vulnerable to that. That also accounts for the grain in the photos due to the higher the ISO. (The more light sensitive the higher the ISO. The higher the ISO, the more noise to picture ratio on single pixels. Eh, what I refer to as grain which is a throw back to silver grains in the higher ASA films back in the day when I did my own darkroom work.)

    Sit back and enjoy a tour of a few things that caught my eye.

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  • Restoring the Keeper of the Light

    Restoring the Keeper of the Light

    Kenosha Light Station, Simmons Island, Kenosha Wisconsin
    Kenosha Light Station, National Register of Historic Places #90000995

    Saturday when I attended the Pike River Rendezvous the Kenosha History Center was having a fund raiser for the restoration of the Simmons Island lighthouse. I made a donation and toured the  keeper’s house as well as a bit of the lighthouse. The house is completely restored downstairs. Upstairs is in process with one room is complete.

    I didn’t go all the way up in the lighthouse. The deck up there was closed so there’s not much to see at the top. It was extremely hot so I just went up part way and enjoyed the wonderful wrought iron stairs in there. Why don’t we make every day things beautiful any more? Like stairs and warehouses?

    The lighthouse and the keeper’s house were built by the federal government in 1866. It is 74 feet above lake level. The light only operated for 40 years but light keepers lived in the house until the 1940s. There are other harbor lights they tended and posted weather warning flags on this lighthouse. It is being currently being renovated. It’s funded by donations and grants. It was placed on the National Register of Historic places in 1990.

    Kenosha Light Station, Simmons Island, Kenosha Wisconsin

    Enjoy the tour after the jump. Until next time!

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  • Pike River Rendezvous

    Pike River Rendezvous

    Pike River Rendezvous on Simmons Island in Kenosha, Wisconsin

    Yesterday I went to Simmons Island here in Kenosha.  I went to the Pike River Rendezvous.  It is a historic reenactment of life in the late 1700s and early 1800s in this area.  It is open and free to the public.  The reenactors like to share their stories, history, goods, and services.  There was a battle with pirates on the shores of Lake Michigan.

    I’d like to thank all the participants that were nice enough to allow me to photograph them and their things.  So many were gracious to allow it and look forward to seeing themselves there.  If you stop by please say hi.  I’m sorry but I lost my notes on who is who.  I would so like to give you credit for being such a gracious host/hostess.

    Pike River Rendezvous on Simmons Island in Kenosha, Wisconsin

    Oh one nice thing for me is I got to drive the Mustang.  Mike had taken the car to the airport to go on his long weekend of active duty.  Aaron had taken the truck to go to work so I got to take the lady out for a drive.  I didn’t put the top down because there was a prediction of storms rolling in about 11am or so. Don’t worry honey I was careful and even parallel parked her just fine.

    Pike River Rendezvous on Simmons Island in Kenosha, Wisconsin

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  • Mike’s time in Naples told in Photos

    Mike’s time in Naples told in Photos

    Naples, ItalyThe final set of photos from Mike’s 17 days of active duty in Naples Italy this June.  He worked the night shift so he had a bit of free time during the day to see the city.  As usual he made lots of photos for me.  I love them but I think this one to the left is my favorite by far.

    So take a photo trip with me after the jump and see the sights of Naples.

    Naples, Italy

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  • Pompeii In Pictures by Mike

    Pompeii In Pictures by Mike

    Pompeii, Italy

    This is the last of Mike’s day trips during his 17 days of active duty in Italy. He was there to work after all but three days off wasn’t bad given the places he got to go.  There will be another post of his photos of around Naples but those were mostly jaunts about after he got off work.

    I want to go to Pompeii and the working class Herculaneum some day. I’ve always been fascinated by their story. Also the casts of the people’s death impressions in the ash amaze me in a morbid sort of way. When I’m rich and live in my two bedroom apartment on board the World I’ll be sure to visit there when we are in the Med. In the meantime I’ll enjoy Mike’s photos of his trip.

    Pompeii, Italy

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  • A Historic Spring Drive In Kenosha

    A Historic Spring Drive In Kenosha

    Back in early Spring Mike was itching to get out in his new toy. But being a man he can’t just to out tooling around to see where the road goes, he needs a goal, a destination.

    Kenosha, WisconsinWhich is where I come in. I’d been wanting to get out and get some photos of historic homes in Kenosha that are on the National Register of Historic Places. So I provided a list of destinations, Mike put the top down and got behind the wheel. I hopped in the passenger side with my trusty Nikon DSLR and we were off. So enjoy a quick historic photo tour of a few of the places in Kenosha on the National Register.

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  • When In Rome – Make Pictures of Roman Things

    When In Rome – Make Pictures of Roman Things

    Rome, Italy That is exactly what Mike did when he got to take a trip to Rome during one of his few days off. He made over one hundred pictures. I suspect partly because he knows I love photos and I love history. He got to capture those to share with me. Also I’m sure for himself too! So this is a picture post of Mike’s Roman Day. You can click on any image to be taken to my Flickr account where you can browse more of his photos from that day. Sit back, scroll on and enjoy.

    Rome, Italy

    Rome, Italy

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  • 1 If By Land, 2 If By Sea, 3 If By Air?

    1 If By Land, 2 If By Sea, 3 If By Air?

    A few weekends ago, just before or after the garden tour, Mike and I went to the Land & Air Show at the Kenosha Airport.  It’s a car and plane show.  Yes, Kenosha has a small airport.  We even took along Mike’s Mistress and she had her top down. He enjoyed looking at engines and mechanical things. I loved getting pictures of shapes, colors and textures. So we both were very happy. Which I guess is why we’re a good couple for over 25 years, we can find something in the other’s interest that intrigues us.

    Oh if you look at how brown the grass is you get an idea of what the drought is doing to us here in Wisconsin. We’ve gotten some rain since then but not nearly enough.

    Any way, here’s a picture post of the day – Enjoy.

    Land & Air Show at the Kenosha Airport.

    Land & Air Show at the Kenosha Airport.

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  • Mike’s June Day Trip to Capri Island

    Mike’s June Day Trip to Capri Island

    Back in June Mike spent 17 days in Naples for his annual active duty in the Navy.  He was working but did have some days off and went sightseeing.  These photos are by him to show me (and now you) his day trip to the island of Capri.

    Capri Island, Italy

    Capri Island, Italy

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  • Tour The Secret Gardens of Kenosha

    Tour The Secret Gardens of Kenosha

    A few weeks ago Mike and I took the Secret Gardens tour of Kenosha. Mike enjoyed gardening ideas. I enjoyed the photo opportunities. Despite the drought the gardens were lovely.  I’m sure the owners put in a lot of hard work and watering expense to make them ready for the event. Sit back and enjoy this colorful photo post.

    Close up of bloom

    Orange petals tipped in yellow

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