Category: History

Chanukah 1932

On: By: Romeyn

“It was on a Friday afternoon right before Shabbat that this photo was taken. My grandmother realized that this was a historic photo, and she wrote on the back of the photo that ‘their flag wishes to see the death of Judah, but Judah will always survive, and our light will outlast their flag.’ My grandfather, the rabbi of the Kiel community, was making many speeches, both to Jews and Germans. To the Germans he warned that the road they were embarking on was not good for Jews or Germans, and to the Jews he warned that something terrible was brewing, and they would do well to leave Germany. My grandfather fled Germany in 1933, and moved to Israel. His community came to the train station to see him off, and before departed he urged his people to flee Germany while there’s still time.” – Yehudah Mansbuch

Written on the back of the photo (translated):

“Chanukah, 5692.

‘Judea dies’, thus says the banner.

‘Judea will live forever’, thus respond the lights”.

San Gervasio, Cozumel

On: By: Romeyn

Most Mayan sites were found deep in the interior of their lands, with the exception of structures like Tumba del Caracol, San Gervasio was built roughly two miles from the nearest coast. It is believed that no human sacrifices were made at this location, mostly because there is no evidence of such a practice happening here; no skeletal remains, no artifacts, and no (human) sacrificial alter. Once in their life Mayan women would travel to San Gervasio and offer their sacrifices to Ix Chel, an aged deity of childbirth, and fertility. Like many Mayan sites, there was only one way in and out of San Gervasio. In this case it was through the arch pictured below. A white limestone road was be illuminated by the full moon which would lead travelers to the sacred site, where it is said that on a full moon, the moon appeared over the alter.

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Tumba del Caracol, Cozumel

On: By: Romeyn

Tumba del Caracol is a Mayan building found on the southern end of Cozumel, erected during the post-classic period. There are a couple of legends concerning the buildings. One is that it functioned as a weather alarm, producing a whistle via conch shells that would precede the arrival of a hurricane, The other is that the building was used to send a pillar of smoke into the air so that travelers could find their way back to the island, the later is more believable because of the Maya ruins found at San Gervasio. Those ruins were believed to be the home of some sort of fertility ritual, those ruins are unique to Mayan culture as there are no signs that any human sacrifices had taken place there.



Photos copyright paper-dragon, 2018

New Union Station, Kansas City

On: By: Romeyn

New Union Station, Kansas City, Mo.
Cost of Building $6,000,000.00.
Cost of Terminal $44,000,000.00.
From Drawing by Teachener-Bartberger Eng. Co. Kansas City, Mo.


Union Station made headlines on June 17, 1933, as four lawmen were gunned down by gang members attempting to free captured fugitive Frank Nash. Nash was also killed in the gun battle. The “Kansas City Massacre” highlighted the lawlessness of Kansas City under the Pendergast Machine and resulted in the arming of all FBI agents. (Wikipedia)

Ghost Ship of the Arctic, 1931-????

On: By: Romeyn


S.S. Baychimo in ice.

Captain Cornwell

As we go to press, the S.S. Baychimo is fast in the ice off Franklin Point on the northwest coast of Alaska, not far from Point Barrow, the northernmost tip of the mainland of this continent. She is expected to remain there until the ice goes out late next summer. Continue reading “Ghost Ship of the Arctic, 1931-????” →

Pocket Guide to Iran, 1943

On: By: Romeyn

AS AN AMERICAN SOLDIER assigned to duty in Iran (once called Persia), you are undertaking the most important job of your life. There is no other war theater where military success by the United States and her fighting Allies will contribute more to final victory over the Axis.

You’ve heard a lot of talk in this war about life lines — the sea lanes and land routes by which military supplies flow into the combat zones to be turned against the enemy. Iran is much more than a life line. It is a major source of the power that keeps the United Nations’ military machine turning over — oil.

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