The Outskirts of Suburbia

Where There Is Smoke...

2012-02-17T00:01:00.001-05:00

Where there is smoke... there is firemen. Some of my pictures from last month's apartment fire. All these, and all of the pictures I took that night, are handheld between 1:30 and 4 AM. High ISO, low f stop. Shoot three or four and hope one is worthy.

This is post 17 hundred for me.

Winter Drive

2012-02-16T00:01:00.002-05:00

This past weekend I took a drive out to the State Game Lands. My Mission; take a picture of the cold. How do you do that? We were to have a storm over the weekend but it never really materialized. I tried to get some video for you but the batteries finally died on me. They've been replaced now and they're talking about another storm this weekend. Maybe I can get that video finished that I started.

Haculla & I'm So Tall... NYC Graffiti

2012-02-15T00:01:00.001-05:00

Some New York City graffiti along the Bowery. If you Google Haculla he is apparently a well known street 'artist' in SoHo and Brooklyn. This blue guy overlooks the New Museum of New York City. I don't know if Mr Haculla is responsible for the Tall remark but you gotta wonder how many people walk around the city with a can of paint and an extending paint roller and hang out on top of buildings? Or is this an old Steve Martin reference?

2012 Harrisburg Auto Show

2012-02-14T00:01:00.025-05:00

2012 Dodge Charger

2012 Chevrolet Cruze

2011 Jeep Wrangler

2012 Audi R8

2012 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque

2012 Chevrolet Camero Convertible 45th Anniversary Edition

Here is the Best of Show cars from the 2012 Harrisburg Auto Show. In no particular order. Pictures and selection to this list by Junior. I was more of a fan of the 1966 El Camino.

Returning the Favor; 29 Years Later

2012-02-13T00:01:00.007-05:00

The year was 1983, January 4th. As normal I was at the firehouse that evening. An alarm came in for a basement fire in Letterkeny Township. To say I remember every detail would be a stretch. I remember an interior attack. Was I on the nozzle? I don't know. I do remember this picture. I was getting a fresh air cylinder when I noticed the Public Opinion photographer (Christopher Shatzer) snapping away. I grabbed my helmet and told Charley to hurry up. Next day, to my surprise, we were front page. Fast forward 29 years and 12 days and a major fire on East Garfield Street in Shippensburg. I, long ago, stopped packing up and carry my camera when I go to a fire call. Charley is still at it. The top picture is my son, born more than twenty years after that basement fire on Sandy Mount Road, helping Charley out with a breath of fresh air. That old newspaper picture followed me through my Air Force enlistment, always found on a wall or on a shelf, reminding me of where I came from.

Sparrows at the Feeder

2012-02-11T00:01:00.001-05:00

For me distinguishing one sparrow from another is too much work. I'm 90% sure these are sparrows. But only 110% sure that I think they're White Crowned Sparrows? Maybe not?

F.D.N.Y. Reserve Engine 500

2012-02-10T00:01:00.002-05:00

What would a trip to Gotham City be without fire engines? Here is Reserve Engine 500 sitting near the Mott and Canal Street intersection. Engine 500 is assigned to Ladder 18's house. I can't figure out what engine this was before going to the reserve. And I can't believe that I didn't get a picture of the front of the engine.

As a bonus is another video I posted on YouTube the other night, I call it NYC Police, Fire and Ambulance. It shows Little Italy's Engine 55 responding down the Bowery near Spring Street.

Mid Winter

2012-02-09T00:01:00.001-05:00

Taken last month out at the State Game Lands. Not the first or last time these dead trees will pose for me. Just liked how this looks cold.

Welcome to My Walmart

2012-02-08T00:01:00.002-05:00

This was taken last month during our second snow storm of the season. This is off to one side of the Shippensburg, Pa. Walmart. It looks like the Amish don't return their carts either. Maybe I should have saved this one for Barn Charm Monday.

Oceanfront After Dark

2012-02-07T00:01:00.004-05:00

I realized that I have hardly posted any of the pictures I took at the beach last Christmas. So here is a shot of North Myrtle Beach, SC, after dark.

Ice Fest 2012

2012-02-06T00:01:00.000-05:00

This year's Ice fest in Chambersburg, Pa was nearly a wash out. It was to open on Thursday the 26th but was postponed due to rain. And from it's opening until we got there on Saturday evening just before the fireworks the unseasonably warm weather had taken it's toll. A lot of the smaller sculptures were anybody's guess what they were. A few had fallen apart. The large one were still in pretty good shape. The last one here was on of the small ones. The Ice Throne was still in use and so was the ice slide. The kids sure were enjoying that.

Cormorants in Flight

2012-02-05T10:25:00.000-05:00

Some Cormorants flying over Crescent Beach in North Myrtle Beach, SC. Oddly enough they fly in a small formation similar to geese.

Downy Woodpecker

2012-02-04T00:01:00.002-05:00

Some of the Downy Woodpeckers I have coming into my suet block. Which reminds me I better go refill it before the sun comes up. These (and I think this is at least two if not three different ones) showed up two weeks ago along with the Red-Bellied Woodpecker and both last Saturday morning and evening.

Chinatown Parade 2012

2012-02-03T00:01:00.000-05:00

Here's the video clips from the Lunar New Years Parade in Manhattan's Chinatown, NYC. Not sure what the creepy Kewpie doll head kid is saying to the fireman. The performers in the second clip were from Beijing, China. Third clip is a bunch of lion dancers. Forth is the World Journal float. I was trying to get them with the confetti tubes. I have more video of them later. Fifth is the large Gold Dragons. My favorites. Next is what you would expect for a State farm float. Like a good neighbor... And lastly is the Gold and Blue Dragon, this was our first time seeing this one.

So, that ends Theme Week of the Dragon. My annual sum up of my trip to New York City to see the Parade. And my week of no one viewing or commenting. Next week is back to normal. If you consider this normal.

The Patchwork Dragon

2012-02-02T00:01:00.005-05:00

More dragons, These were some of the less elaborate dragons. Almost a cross between a dragon and a lion dancer. See the guy from yesterday's post in the middle picture? And those creepy cupie-doll-head people in the last picture? The last picture was my only good hole to get pictures. And they had to be vertical. I was set up on the intersection of Mott and Bayard Streets. If I stood on the curb I could see over the only guy in front of me. He was up against the barrier but as soon as the parade started his camera went up over his head and right in front of my face. Of course, the clear shot at the intersection I had was destroyed as three cops moved in, four fireman showed up and all the national media camera guys took their stand. I was left with this little hole. And I was set up an hour before it started.

Waiting for the Parade

2012-02-01T00:01:00.002-05:00

Yes, if you're asking it is ThemeWeek of the Dragon. More dragons and the 'old' Chinaman hanging near their stations on Mott Street waiting for the parade to start. These two florescent dragons ended up on the Macy's float.

NYPD Officer Attacked by Dragon

2012-01-31T00:01:00.000-05:00

No. Don't be silly. That's not a real NYPD officer. A real NYPD officer would have moved out of the way. After balancing on the edge of the curb for over two hours we cut out and made our way to the end of the parade I think this is Grand Street at Forsythe Street near Sara Roosevelt Park and the soccer field. Our favorite Chinese bakery, Natalie's, is diagonal across the street. This was the gold and blue dragon. Yesterday's dragon was gold and red. It is the Year of the Dragon, you know.

2012 Year of the Dragon 4709

2012-01-30T00:01:00.001-05:00

Yesterday I made my annual trip to NYC for the Lunar New Years Parade in Chinatown. This is the Year of the Dragon.

Snowy Owl in Shippensburg

2012-01-29T00:01:00.001-05:00

On my way home from my annual trip to the Harrisburg Auto Show I got a call. "The Owl is out in the field". Two weeks ago I heard about the rare visit to the area by a Snowy Owl. I was told, "Duncan Road and Mud Level Road". That is an intersection of open fields. I saw others driving and looking so I don't think I missed him. Yesterday there were half a dozen cars parked on Mud Level Road just east of Duncan Road and I assumed that the big white dot out in the field is why. The top two pictures I cropped in a lot and a little. The last picture is the best I could do with my 300mm zoom, handheld. Many moons ago there was a snowy owl living in the hanger I worked in out in Utah, so this is my second sighting.

Willit

2012-01-28T00:01:00.001-05:00

These willits didn't seem to be too afraid of us as we passed by on our sunrise walk along the beach on Assateague Island, Virginia last summer.

North Myrtle Beach Fire Department Station 3

2012-01-27T00:01:00.005-05:00

This is the only other fire station I got pictures of in North Myrtle Beach, SC. This is North Myrtle Beach Fire Department's Station 3 or the Windy Hill Station. Located in the Atlantic Beach neighborhood at 803 33rd Avenue. Built in 2001, Station 3 houses Ladder 734 and QRS 737. It is also home of Hydro the dalmatian. The statue out front reads:

When you hear the sirens wail

or see the flashing lights

Stand aside and look with pride

We're going to save a life

Wish I Was Here

2012-01-26T00:01:00.000-05:00

Sunrise over Swan Pool. That is the ocean just beyond that last dune. Taken from the Beach Access Road crossing Assateague Island last summer.

Big Rollin'

2012-01-25T00:01:00.001-05:00

I found this huge roller skate, just one of them though, along Route 17 near Bealeton, Prince William County, Virginia. Just a little eye catcher for Rollerworks.

Oak Island Lighthouse, NC

2012-01-24T00:01:00.002-05:00

While at the beach over Christmas vacation we spent a day and drove up to Calabash, NC to blunder around Callahan's Gift Shop and the St. Nick Nack Christmas Shop. We left there and headed a little further north, then east to Oak Island, NC. I knew from a little research that there where 4 lighthouses up in that area. Of course, the Oak Island Lighthouse was the easiest to find and drive to. Across the water you could see the Bald Island Lighthouse but you needed to take a ferry over to Bald Island first. We opted not to do this. The Cape Fear Lighthouse and the Price Creek Lighthouse were also out of reach. Cape Fear is only a foundation and it too is on Bald Island. And the Price Creek light has no public access. The Oak Island Light (shown here) was built in 1958 to be the last time they replaced it. It is 158 feet tall and is built from 8 inch thick concrete. And for durable colors they mixed paint right into the concrete. The lighthouse now belongs to the Town of Caswell Beach, although the light itself is still operated by the US Coast Guard, located right next door.

Sollenberger Barn at Norlo Park

2012-01-23T09:01:00.008-05:00

Barn Charm 20. You know, I look at all the barns submitted weekly to Tricia's Bluff Daily Photo blog and I try, I really do. I try and find those neglected rundown barns with character that everyone else posts. And I drive around sometimes just looking for these barns. There just isn't a lot of those around here. Most barns are being used and well cared for. Some, like this one, have been re-purposed. Some have had steel siding put on to protect them. Some have had so many additions that it's difficult to see the original barn. This barn sits has been sitting here along Route 30, the Lincoln Highway, near Fayetteville, Pa. since 1881. The farm it once served is now a community park, Norlo Park, and the barn was completely restored in 2000 by the late Wayne L. Bowerman. The spaces in the bricks are vents to allow air to flow through the barn. I think these shapes are called goblets. I think you can rent this place and have your wedding reception there.

As always, check out all the other barns this week by clicking on the barn icon above. You'll be transported to a whole bunch of different awesome places.

Red-Bellied Woodpecker

2012-01-22T10:23:00.000-05:00

Came out to work on the computer this morning and found this guy outside the window and snarfing on my suet block. You can tell by the distinctive red markings that this is indeed a Red-Bellied Woodpecker.

Initial Attack

2012-01-20T00:01:00.002-05:00

Earlier this week there was an apartment fire in town. From the initial dispatch you could just tell that it was going to be one of those fires. It was a little after 1 AM. As a camera guy I try to get pictures that show some action. But I also take documentary-type pictures. I try to tell a story. And sometime I'm just in the right place at the right time. This was what the crew from Engine 152 had to tackle. I debated with myself on posting it here. While I will refrain from posting complete pictures from this fire you will see some of those story pictures I mentioned. This picture has made the rounds already anyways, from our firehouse website, to two local TV news channels and, of course, the Facebook pages of two certain firefighters.

The above picture is what you call, SOOC, straight out of camera. No cropping, no adjustments no nothing. Below is one I worked a little Photoshop on.

The End of the Day

2012-01-19T00:01:00.003-05:00

A bonus barn for the week. I went out to get some pictures two weeks ago and this is the best of them. Taken somewhere out along Roxbury Road north of Shippensburg.

W O Hickok

2012-01-18T00:01:00.013-05:00

I posted a picture of the Hickok water tower a couple of months ago. Since then I was back in the area and took the single shot of the entrance. The rest of the building looks old and, in places, neglected. The entrance though was very clean and inviting. I wondered if the place was even still operating or simply renting parking spaces to state workers. Well that is easy enough to figure out... start working in the middle of the street leading up to their warehouse dock and see how many trucks need to get by you. W O Hickok sits in the city of Harrisburg on Cumberland Street at 9th Street. They have been around since 1844 making high quality machines and machine parts. Who knew?

Trapped Under Ice

2012-01-17T00:01:00.003-05:00

Sometimes the next photo-op is right there under your feet. State Game Lands, Cumberland County, Pa.

The Star Barn

2012-01-16T00:01:00.035-05:00

Barn Charm 19. In last weeks comment section Tricia (Ms. Barn Charm) mentioned seeing a post of a barn with a star on it and what that means. I wasn't able to find the barn she mentioned but I looked into it. And from what I see the star is simply a symbol of good luck. On some farms southeast of here in Lancaster County many of the old barns have a 6 pointed star, also called a hex sign (possibly a mispronounced variation of the German word sechs, meaning six). This is the locally famous Star Barn which sits along Route 283 between the PA Turnpike and the Harrisburg Airport (heading towards Lancaster County). It was built in 1868 by banker/farmer John Motter. I took these pictures in May of 2008. First posted here.

To see what Tricia, and everyone else is up to, click on the little barn and you can take a trip and never leave the farm.

St. John the Baptist, Lansford, Pa.

2012-01-15T00:01:00.014-05:00

One of the few churches in Lansford that didn't get closed. St. John the baptist is a Byzantine Catholic Church of the Eparchy of Passaic and was established in 1895. Sits on Bertsch Street in Lansford. And has more of those awesome gold onion domes. Hey, you can Google and Wiki it yourself but from what I can gather this is a Slovak/Ukrainian church.

Ring Billed Gull

2012-01-14T00:01:00.001-05:00

A Ring Billed Gull basking in the sunset light on Crescent Beach.

Shiny Red Advertisements

2012-01-13T00:01:00.004-05:00

For some reason there are a lot of old fire engines sitting around Myrtle Beach and North Myrtle. I saw these two in Myrtle sitting out in front of beach wear/ souvenir shops. There were others in front of restaurants and one at the pawn shop. That old Ford looks about as old school as it gets. But the La France looks like it could be put back in service pretty quick.

Further on Down the Line

2012-01-12T00:01:00.004-05:00

Sometimes, with my job, I get to go to far away places and see exotic views. And sometimes I'm working along the railroad tracks out near Pittsburgh. I don't ever really go to exotic far away places. Pittsburgh is about exciting as it gets.

Mr. G and the Really Big Hot Dog Guy

2012-01-11T00:01:00.001-05:00

North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. 17th Street South just off of Ocean Boulevard. Not open in the winter. Actually there were these large burgers and hot dogs all over the place. Mr. G here was just the only one within walking distance. Too bad he was closed, cause dang, he's got a little bit of everything.

And Then There Was the Time We Climbed Mt. Ogden

2012-01-10T00:01:00.002-05:00

While stationed in Utah I remember on Labor Day Weekend in 1984, my room mates and I decided to hike up and over Mt. Ogden. I don't remember just who was responsible for the idea but it sounded like a good idea at the time. So we drove Dave T's car over to Snow Basin Ski Area and parked it. Then we took my car up into the hills above Ogden and Weber State University. I see now there are three different routes from the west, I haven't a clue anymore which one we took. At some point we hit the camping area and set up our tent and built a fire. I remember sleeping outside by the fire that night instead of the tent. Got cold, too. Next morning we headed to the top. I, of course, was the last one there. Then it was all down hill from there. We walked down, under and through the ski lifts back to the car. I think we celebrated by going to our favorite Mexican Restaurant that night.

Picture 1: The summit from the camping area.

Picture 2: Hill AFB, the Great Salt Lake, Antelope Island and the Lakeside Mountains west of the Great Salt Lake from near the top. Mt. Ogden sits along the Wasatch Front which is the western slope of the Rocky Mountains. Denver is on the eastern front of the Rockies.

Picture 3: My room mates Dave T (who was soon leaving to be a hurricane chaser) and Dave O (who I don't think had been on base more than a week or so), on the summit at 9572'.

Picture 4: Dave T and me, in desperate need of oxygen, at the base of the summit. Ogden and the Great Salt Lake in the background. I think that might be Weber State University in the lower right corner.

Picture 5: Looking down the east side at Snow Basin Ski Area and Pineview Reservoir, near Huntsville, Utah.

Spring View Farm

2012-01-09T00:01:00.021-05:00

Barn Charm 18. Spring View Farm sits on the outskirts of Newville, Pa. along Big Spring Road. The Big Spring runs right across the road from where I am standing, Hence the name. When I walk along the Spring to take bird pictures I pass by this barn. But when I'm walking and birding I'm usually only carrying my zoom lens and it doesn't back up enough to get the whole barn. So, until today, I have never gotten any pictures of this barn. Or the white board fence . Or the stone row.

As with every Barn Charm every week (with or without me) you can find more and better barn pictures than these here by clicking the logo below and checking out Tricia's site.

Gravel Springs Lutheran Church

2012-01-08T00:01:00.002-05:00

Another look at the Gravel Springs church from a trip to Frederick County, Virginia last fall. The Lutheran Church sits at the intersection of Brill Road (which I'm standing on) and South Pifer Road. The cemetery was no more than a hundred feet or so wide and extending from Pifer road southeast maybe 500 feet. The iron fence surrounded the entire place.

Pelican Surfing

2012-01-07T00:01:00.001-05:00

Last one this week from the beach. Someday I'll actually get some pelican pictures were they're not flying by me, fly towards me or flying way out there.

North Myrtle Beach Fire Department Station 2

2012-01-06T00:01:00.003-05:00

Of course I took some firehouse pictures at the beach. This is North Myrtle's Cherry Grove station on Sea Mountain Highway. Right across from the IGA. Stopped by Thursday morning to get some pictures and as I turned around they yelled form the second floor window and asked if I wanted to look around. Sure. So they opened the doors ad we talked a bit. Thanks to ... ah... Mike (I think). He was a former New Jersey firefighter who moved down south. This station was built in 1989 and houses the Engine here, along with a Squad (QRS), a jet ski and ATV.

Looking for Gold

2012-01-05T00:01:00.012-05:00

Last Thursday while everyone else was chilling in the penthouse I went for a walk on the beach. I walked northeast until the sun hit the horizon then turned around and walked back into the sunset. On the way out I passed this guy with his metal detector. I thought about asking for a picture if he made eye contact but he was engrossed in his quest. And me? Yeah, I don't like people anyway. But after he passed I looked back and saw this opportunity.

The House of Blues

2012-01-04T00:01:00.000-05:00

While at the beach I spent two evenings out with the camera and tripod. Lots of neon down there. I think I shot 14 different signs last week. The House of Blues was first opened in 1992 in Cambridge, Massachusetts and was financed in part by Dan "Elwood Blues" and Jim Belusi, John "Jake Blues" Beluhi's brother. It has since been sold to Live Nation. We ate here one night, pretty good. And the atmosphere was awesome with all the paintings, old shoes and tramp art. They even had a live act in the restaurant. Rumor has it there might be one coming to Philly. Also notice the Blues Mobile in the footer.

Jake: What's this?

Elwood: What?

Jake: This car. This stupid car. Where's the Cadillac? The Caddy? Where's the Caddy?

Elwood: The what?

Jake: The Cadillac we used to have. The Blues Mobile!

Elwood: I traded it.

Jake: You traded the Blues Mobile for this?

Elwood: No. For a microphone.

Jake: A Microphone? OK, I can see that. Well what the hell is this?

Elwood: This was a bargain. I picked it up at the Mount Prospect City Police auction last spring. It's an old Mount Prospect Police car. They were practically giving them away.

Jake: Well, thank you pal, the day I get out of prison my own brother picks me up in an old police car.

Elwood: You don't like it?

Jake: No, I don't like it.

(Elwood guns it and jumps an open drawbridge)

Jake: Cars got a lot of pick up

Elwood: It's got a cop motor, a four hundred and forty cubic inch plant, it's got cop tires, cop suspension, cop shocks, it was a model before catalytic converters so it runs on regular gas. What do you say? Is it the new Blues Mobile or what?

(Jake unsuccessfully tries to light a smoke)

Jake: Fix the cigarette lighter (as he tosses it out the window)

Stormy Tuesday

2012-01-03T00:01:00.001-05:00

Tuesday morning was stormy. Winds, waves, rain. By afternoon the sun had found it's way out and the temperatures rose to a comfortable 60. After dark I stood on the balcony and watched the lightning storms out at sea. That's the kind of thing that old weathermen do for enjoyment.

Beach Week

2012-01-02T09:01:00.000-05:00

Last week I returned to one of my old habits; I spent some time at the beach between Christmas and New Years. This time it was North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The weather was great. Tuesday we saw some rain and stormy conditions, but after Monday mornings long drive we slept through most of the mornings bad weather. The afternoon wasn't so bad. The rest of the week was nice shorts and sweatshirt weather.

This is the view from the balcony of the 10th floor penthouse suite. I'd bet this room cost as much per night in mid-summer as we paid all week.

Happy Twelve

2012-01-01T09:01:00.001-05:00

A scene of the chaos on the Square in Shippensburg, PA. The annual Anchor Drop is now in it's 11th year. Can't say I've been to all of them but I've been to a few. Weather was bearable. In the past it's been freezing and it's been rainy, last night was nice enough that no one was in a huge hurry to vacate after midnight. Happy New Year!

Emergency Aircraft

2011-12-30T00:01:00.003-05:00

Lifeflight Helicopter, I believe, from San Diego. Take n at the air show at Marine Corps Air Base El Toro, April 1985. MCAS El Toro was near Irvine, California. It has since been closed and is the site of some of the taping for the US version of the Top Gear television show.

Sikorsky S-62C Seagaurd Amphibious Helicopter. The HH-52 had 99 of them, they served the USCG from 1963 until 1989. Number 1402, from the USCG Los Angeles, was withdrawn from use and dumped in the auxillary field at Elgin AFB, Florida. Taken at the air show at MCAS El Toro, April 1985.

C-9 Nightingale, an aeromedical transport aircraft. Basically a military version of the DC-9. Taken on one of the taxiways at Hill AFB, Utah. This was the view from my office. This is sometime in the Spring of 1985.

Christmas Sunset

2011-12-29T00:01:00.006-05:00

A near rainbow of colors painted the skies Christmas evening. Just proof that some of the gifts of the season aren't under the tree. Some are up and over the trees. Just gotta get off the couch and find them.

Stevens Cannery, Roy, Utah (PG 174)

2011-12-28T00:01:00.003-05:00

Here is proof that I've been shooting Painted Gentlemen for almost 28 years. This is the Stevens Cannery in Roy, Utah. Roy sits between Ogden, where I lived, and Hill Air Force Base where I worked, if you go around the northwest side of base on Interstate 15. This was taken in the spring of 1984. The Stevens Cannery took over the Varney Cannery in 1955 and operated here until 1980. (2757 West 6000 South, Roy, Utah) You can faintly read Varney under Stevens. I did read that they canned tomatoes here, what else, I don't know.

Roof Work

2011-12-27T00:01:00.001-05:00

A Fannett Metal Fire Company firefighter working from the roof at a Christmas Eve greenhouse shed fire.

Emanel United Church of Christ

2011-12-26T00:01:00.001-05:00

Another buying opportunity in Lansford, PA. The former Emanuel United Church of Christ is just another of many empty churches throughout the Coal Region of Pennsylvania. Sitting on the corner of Ridge and Spring Garden Streets someone has already started the process of converting it to a private residence. Can you imagine living with all that stained glass? And a 1922 pipe organ? Just $60 grand and it could be yours.

Merry Christmas 1983

2011-12-25T00:01:00.002-05:00

Merry Christmas one and all from everyone here at the main offices of the Outskirts of Suburbia. My Christmas card to the blog-o-sphere this year comes courtesy of 1983. My first Christmas away from home, Hill AFB, Utah. The tree is courtesy of Gram and followed me for the next 3 holidays. May your season be bright and your day be merry and I hope you have a stack of gifts taller than your tree.

Decorating the VHC for the Last Time

2011-12-24T00:01:00.002-05:00

The lights at the Vigilant Hose Company in Shippensburg aren't what they once were but next year we will be in a whole new firehouse and starting new traditions.

Summerdale Fire Company

2011-12-23T00:01:00.001-05:00

Digging deep for pictures today. I took these last fall. This is, or should I say was, the Summerdale Fire Company, Cumberland County Company 20. It's been about a year now that they joined forces with the Citizen's Fire Company of Enola (Company 18) and formed the Northeast Fire and Rescue. I was through this part of East Pennsboro last fall and caught the apparatus sitting out on the ramp, thought I'd burn a few images.

Morning Light

2011-12-22T00:01:00.009-05:00

The Assateague Island Lighthouse, taken from the channel bridge over Assateague Bay about a half hour after sunrise.

Henderson Gymnasium at Ship U

2011-12-21T00:01:00.002-05:00

Henderson Gymnasium on the campus of Shippensburg University in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania. (from SU's website...) "The Henderson Gymnasium houses the Department of Exercise Science and is located in the historic part of campus behind Old Main and Horton Hall. Henderson was built in 1937". This was taken from David See Field in the Robb Sports Complex.

Baltimore to New York or Washington

2011-12-20T00:01:00.002-05:00

This is a picture I took from the concourse of the nose bleed section at Camden Yards in Baltimore. Just playing around I made it look old and like someone printed it backwards. Why? Because I can. And it makes it look more interesting.

Christmas at Children's Lake

2011-12-19T00:01:00.005-05:00

Don't you just love last minute decisions? Saturday night I was at the camera shop, 12 miles southwest of home. While talking we decided to go check out the floating tree at Children's Lake in Boiling Springs, Pennsylvania. 25 miles northeast of home. It was cold and it was cool, but I may have to go back at try the picture thing again. The long exposure was not the problem. It was a light breeze the was my problem. There was just enough wind to move the lights and screw the focus. Anyways, the tree floats out on the lake and the lake is surrounded by luminaries. We drove home looking at some of the ridiculous, Clark W. Griswald wanna be Christmas decorators. Wow.

And, no, that is the old mill back there, not a barn. So, no barn this week.

Pink

2011-12-17T00:01:00.000-05:00

Taken last August on Assateague Island, Virginia.

1985 Scans

2011-12-16T00:01:00.003-05:00

From late 1983 until early summer of 1985 I was stationed in Utah. Camera-wise I started with a old Kodak Disc camera that I finally upgraded just before leaving. My upgrade was an Olympus 35mm point and shoot. This was probably about the time that they finally put 35mm roll film into a point and shoot. These are from that Olympus. The first is the fire department I belonged to while I lived off base. This is the Washington Terrace Fire Department. I lived 4 or 5 blocks away, along Route 89 by the high school. Nothing real significant happened during my time spent with these guys. I sure they don't remember me. I can remember a couple of the guys. There were the Father and Sons, the boys were Phil and Bart, I think. Roger and Toby. And the Chief, I think he was Peterson. There was weekly training and meetings and a few calls, but they weren't near as busy as I was back home. They ran two of these Van Pelts. One was really old. And there was another piece of apparatus I no longer recall. The only pictures I have are three of this unit. Before leaving Utah I visited my cousin ion Huntington Beach, California. I guess she actually lived in Santa Anna, but we visited Huntington Beach were this Lifeguard Jeep was stationed. Got to love the tail step with the hand holds. And the last one is a Crash truck that was sitting out at El Toro Marine Corps Air Station at an air show.

Monday Sunset

2011-12-15T00:01:00.004-05:00

Did you ever drive past some place and say to yourself, "Self" (I'm assuming that's what you call yourself what you are talking to yourself). "Self, sometime, when the time is just right, I'd like to get a picture of that." I can't tell you how many of these locations are stored in my Swiss cheese brain. Monday on the way home from work I saw that the sunset was gonna be a nice one and when I saw the scattered cirrus was glowing with an awesome pink/purple tinge I swung by the house and grabbed my camera and tripod. Of course in the 5 minutes it took me to get here the color was gone. I was left with the tail end of sunlight and fading blue skies. I have no complaints. (to be honest as I was watching the sunset form while on the road home I wanted to go to another location to get some pictures that I saw in my mind. But those pictures need a clear sunset, no clouds. Maybe this weekend) This is, by the way, the Cumberland Valley Co-Op. Sitting along Mount Rock Road just off of Interstate 81 near exit 24. And the Big Old Paint Can.

at Mile High

2011-12-14T00:01:00.015-05:00

I dug another oldie from the dusty files of my 2005 summer vacation to Colorado. And for "Larger Than Life" I give you football equipment that is bigger than Tim Tebow himself. While in Denver we drove past Invesco Field and saw this equipment in the sidewalk from the parking lot. That is a big mouth piece and facemask and collar and chinstrap. How did I know six and a half years ago (two years before the Outskirts came to be) that I would need fodder for some random Wednesday post? I'm a genius I tell you. A genius.

My People Picture Rule Gets Broken, Again

2011-12-13T00:01:00.001-05:00

You may recall the number one rule here at the Outskirts... "I Don't Take People Pictures". Well sometimes you gotta bend the rules. I had a friend ask to take some family pictures and some of her high school senior son. He wanted them taken at the cabin in the fall and as nice as the leaves are in these pictures two weeks earlier were much better. One week earlier it was a lot whiter, though. So one Sunday afternoon the family and my wife and I walked and climbed around the acreage surrounding their cabin. We kicked up a few turkeys on our hike, too (the feathered kind). And the whole day ended with warm homemade apple pie. Like I said, sometimes you gotta bend the rules.

Save Your Green (PG 173)

2011-12-12T00:01:00.003-05:00

Barn Charm 17. Painted Gentleman 173. I dug into my old files looking for something I haven't posted anywhere yet. This barn sits near the intersection of Sleepy Hollow Road and Route 286 near Clymer, Pennsylvania. Why do I have a picture of a random barn in Indiana County? It all about the faded ad. I love getting pictures of old faded ads, especially Mail Pouch. I call them Painted Gentlemen, I play on the terms Painted Lady and Gentlemen Farmer. If you haven't already clicked my label in the sidebar for Painted Gentleman, try it and see where it takes you. This barn though is a small mystery. It is nearly too faded. I can make out the words "Sales & Service" and "Save Your Green Rt 286 S Indiana Pa" It's the top line that baffles me. is that an "F"? It could be an "F" for the word Firestone. It is close to the same style. Unless someone remembers It will remain a mystery.

For more Barn Charm follow the link below to Tricia in Southeast Missourah.

Footer Review 2011

2011-12-10T00:01:00.001-05:00

December means it is time for my yearly review of the footers that have grace our presence on this here web log.

January 2011 - This is a Black Vulture sitting on a light post at the Conowingo Dam from last November. The moon came from somewhere else. IDK

February 2011 - This is one of the dragons along the sidewalks of Philadelphia's Chinatown. Taken last year between Christmas and New Years Eve.

March 2011 - A detail of my old Kodak No. 2 Premo camera. The post with that camera still is one of my highest hit posts. Next to anything about the FDNY.

April 2011 - Detail of the phone booth I stood near during the NYC Lunar New Years parade. Near the intersection of Mott and Canal Streets.

May 2011 - My Kwanzan Cherry tree in bloom.

June 2011 - Another from Chinatown NYC. Cleaning up after the parade. Remember to Keep the Outskirts of Suburbia Clean.

July 2011 - July 4th fireworks here in Shippensburg. This one I did a little twist to.

August 2011 - Some flowers I ran onto out in the State Game Lands.

September 2011 - The mascot for the Harrisburg Senators, Riverside Rascal, showing some Outskirts love.

October 2011 - My favorite hot dog stand. This sits on the lower concourse of Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore.

November 2011 - Yes, baseball three months in a row. This is the scoreboard from Coca Cola Park in Allentown when I whooped up on the Lehigh Valley Ironpigs. They never stood a chance.

December 2011 - Interstate 95 through southern Maine. We looked and looked. My daughter complained about false advertisements.

Best Decorated Firehouse in Town

2011-12-09T00:01:00.001-05:00

The click click click you hear on the rooftop is just the workers putting on the roof. The construction guys obviously feel a little Christmas spirit. Dear Santa, I want a new firehouse for Christmas.

Passing Blind No. 1

2011-12-08T00:01:00.001-05:00

At the end of the day the hunter leaves his stand and starts a journey through the woods and up out of the river bottom to return home.

L'asso NYC (PG 142 Revisited)

2011-12-07T00:01:00.004-05:00

I originally posted pictures of L'asso NYC's pizza shop in Nolita back in May of 2010. As with all of New York things change on a daily basis. L'asso's is still there on the corner of Mott and Kenmore Streets but apparently someone took offence to Mr. Spock all Marilyn Monroe'd up.

The Pink Berries

2011-12-06T09:01:00.001-05:00

More autumn color. Only this time it's in the form of berries. I haven't a clue what these are but I couldn't resist digging the camera out of my pack to snap a few pictures of them. I've seen a lot of berries in my time in the woods. I've seen red, black and orange. Green and yellow. But I don't ever remember this shade of pink. Or is it mauve? I think Crayola calls it CHERISE (which is the French word for cherry). Let the debates begin.

The Barn at Pine Haven

2011-12-05T00:01:00.006-05:00

Barn Charm 16. It's beginning to look a lot like it's that time of year again. Yesterday was the day for the annual trek down Pine Road the Christmas tree farm. We have been cutting our tree at Pine haven for more than 15 years now. This year the kids abandoned us for other commitments but we managed. I guess we're gonna have to get used to it. I'm sure they would have joined us if it were possible. I guess this evening will be spent tearing the house apart and trips to the attic. Only to be repeated in reverse in less than a month. Ho Ho Ho.

For more Barn Charm click the logo below.

My Tower Groweth Over

2011-12-04T09:46:00.000-05:00

The former St. Ann's Catholic Church at the corner of East Bertch Street and Tunnel Street in Lansford, Pa. One of the many churches closed and consolidated by the diocese in recent years. I found that the building is for sale and could be yours for the low low price of $99,000.

Gas Food Ice

2011-12-02T00:01:00.001-05:00

Taken out behind Captain Bob's place in Chincoteague Island, Virginia. This turned out to be a good crabbing spot.

The Powerline

2011-12-01T00:01:00.002-05:00

Blue Virginia Skies. I guess those skies past the top of the ridge are actually blue West Virginia Skies.

Gaultheria Procumbens

2011-11-30T00:01:00.001-05:00

It's hard to walk through the mountains in the late fall and not stop and pick a Teaberry to chew on. Unless you know just where you can get a teaberry milkshake. Or a pack of Clark's Teaberry Chewing Gum.

The Sunset in Black and White

2011-11-29T09:01:00.007-05:00

Yesterday was my best opening day of deer season in a while. I saw two deer. Yes, two. I lost count of opening days when I saw two less deer than the two I saw yesterday. I have three days of hunting in Virginia already this season and this is two more deer than I saw down there. I stopped on the way out to the truck and snapped this shot of the sunset since the sun wasn't visible.

The Barn with a View

2011-11-28T00:01:00.001-05:00

Barn Charm 15. The last of the Virginia barns from last month. This one, like the others, sits west of Star Tannery and north of Gravel Springs along South Pifer Road. Mostly hidden there in the fence row it was a rather small weathered board structure with a view farther west along the edge of the George Washington National Forest. I believe that the highest mountain top you see is called Johnnies Knob. I was just back down in this area last weekend and the color is gone. It's still just as beautiful, though.

If you like this and would like to see more barns from across the blog-o-sphere click on the Barn Charm logo here and it will take you to magical places. I promise.

Baltimore Baseball

2011-11-27T09:23:00.000-05:00

A detail of the seats at Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Charm City, Baltimore, Maryland. This seat is directly behind home plate and about 5 rows from the top.

Fire Engines in Coaldale

2011-11-25T00:01:00.001-05:00

Today we have a few of the fire engines I saw while in Coaldale last summer. The first Tower 4024, is a 1982 Mack/Baker Aerialscope they acquired in 1996. The tower was once FDNY Ladder 84. The second is a 1970 Kaiser/Jeep Wildlands Services Brush Truck. Acquired in 1998 from the Department of Forestry it holds 1200 gallons of water. The last is Engine 1411 of the Diligence Fire Company of Summit Hill, Pa. this unit was privately purchased and was parked at Coaldale's firehouse the day I was there. It looks to be an early 1980's Mack MC pumper.

Thank You

2011-11-24T00:01:00.000-05:00

Thank You. Thank you for stopping by, it lets me know I'm not here by myself. Enjoy your day.

A Car More a Day (PG 172)

2011-11-23T00:01:00.004-05:00

Hey, the Painted Gentleman is not dead, I just ran low on entries. I haven't post a PG since mid-July and it too was from coal country. I've tried to keep the spirit going by posting signs on Wednesday. This bus stop sits in Coaldale on Water Street at First Street. Water Street in Route 209. This is a memorial, dedicated in 2000, to the miners who in 1937 organized a sit down strike at the No. 8 colliery. You can read about the dedication here.

W.O. Hickok Manufacturing Water Tower

2011-11-22T09:01:00.001-05:00

This old water tower is in Harrisburg, Pa. near the intersection of Ninth Street and Cumberland Street behind the W.O. Hickok Manufacturing building. The building itself deserves a post. Some day I'll wander back for some more pictures.

The Air Marker Barn

2011-11-21T00:01:00.003-05:00

Barn Charm 14. Starting in the mid 1930's the government started painting rooftops to help pilots know where they were and where they were going. By 1941 some 13,000 of these air markers were out there. Some were airport or town names with directional arrows and some where, like this one in Path Valley, longitude and latitude coordinates. After Pearl Harbor they reconsidered this plan and started to remove those near the coasts. This one can be seen on the south side of the Pennsylvania Turnpike, near mile marker 189 (or so). As you can see from Google Earth the back side of the barn was repaired and the longitudinal coordinate is no longer visible. Also, according to Google Earth, the more precise reading on the barn would be 40-06-50 North, 77-47-01 West. Just in case you happen to be flying by and your GPS is broken.

That's right it is Barn Charm time again. Hop on over to Tricia's Barn Charm site and check out all the barns that are there this week. Just click the barn below.

Rising out of the Dust

2011-11-18T00:01:00.001-05:00

This is the Shippensburg Emergency Services Building. These pictures take you from Labor Day weekend until now. Progress seems to be moving quickly now, I think they want to get it under roof before any more snow falls. They have begun to frame up the first floor rooms and I hear that some of the roof trusses were set on the second floor since I last took any pictures. TYo folow along more slowly check out the site... http://ship-esb.blogspot.com/

Sunset over the New Drawbridge

2011-11-17T00:01:00.010-05:00

Here is a picture I took on our first night in Chincoteague last August. As the sun sank lower and lower I took a walk down Taylor Street to Main Street. Here I sat on the rocks at the edge of the bay and waited. Take a few pictures. Change some settings. Move over a little. Snap a few more pictures. It ain't like the old days of film where you had to make the first picture count. Flash drive space is cheap. Pictures like this are worth it.

Hosak Pontiac GMC

2011-11-16T00:01:00.013-05:00

These signs sit on Route 309 on the outskirts of Tamaqua, Pa. Hosak's isn't here anymore. They moved down Route 309 to the other side of town by the Little Schuylkill River. But they aren't there anymore either. I think, like this old sign, they just faded away.

The Farm at the Edge of the Forest

2011-11-15T00:01:00.000-05:00

Barn Charm 13. This weeks barn is another I found down in Virginia. Sitting on the outskirts of Star Tannery this one is nestled up against the George Washington National Forest. Yes, a telephoto lens was needed to get up close and personal but with a backdrop such as this who wants to zoom?

Like this? There's plenty more where this one is headed. Check out Tricia's Barn Charm site for more of what America's barn-bloggers have to offer. (just click the barn below)

The Criterion, Bar Harbor, Maine

2011-11-14T00:01:00.012-05:00

The Criterion Theatre can be found on Cottage Street in Bar Harbor, Maine. I couldn't resist taking a picture of this colorful theatre while we wandered about downtown. This classic art-deco structure has been serving the island since 1932. And, yes, I did see Tim and Susan while we were downtown for the July 4th fireworks. He was dropping her and her dog off at a restaurant while he went to find a parking space for the minivan.

If I keep posting old movie theaters I'll have to start another label category. See (The Angela in Coaldale), (The Capitol Theater in Chambersburg and The County Theater in Doylestown), (The Cumberland Drive-In in Newville) and I have another I need to post sometime.

Great Egret

2011-11-13T11:07:00.000-05:00

Taken along the beach road on Assateague Island, Virginia on Tom's Cove.

USAF Academy and the WW1 Overseas Flyers' Memorial

2011-11-11T11:11:00.021-05:00

Greetings on Veterans' Day 2011. 11-11-11. I am a veteran of the USAF. I entered through Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. The Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado is the entry point for most officers. My family and I visited in the summer of 2005 and at the time there were squadrons of cadets going through Basic Training prior to starting their studies at the Academy. The top picture is the World War One Overseas Flyer's memorial. This memorial was designed and donated by Ira and Stella Jones on 11-11-1985. Ira was a pilot with the 25th Squadron and the 148th Squadron Pursuit Group in Toul, France during the war. World War One or as it was known, the Great War, ended with the Treaty of Versailles on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month in 1918, at the time known as Armistice Day. Today we call it Veterans' Day.

Blue Eutaw Skies

2011-11-10T00:01:00.002-05:00

The view from Eutaw Street at Camden Yards in Charm City, Baltimore. Just love that Bromoseltzer Tower. You can only see it from out here beyond the fences and the flag court since they built the stupid Hilton.

Subway Cafe

2011-11-09T00:01:00.012-05:00

I'm always on the look out for cool signs. Unfortunately Shippensburg doesn't have a very good supply of them. I was working in Harrisburg last week and sat one day checking this place out. Next time back I came equipped with the camera. Snapped a few and then waited for the sun to make it's way around to the west so that I could get a better lit subject. I haven't yet eaten here but I plan to. Their website lists a 32 oz fish bowl of beer for $4.50. And the sign in the parking lot claims the "best pizza in town since 1948." I know at lunch time the lot fills quickly. The Subway Cafe sits on Herr Street just west of Cameron Street in Harrisburg, Pa.

The Tunnel from Maryland

2011-11-08T09:01:00.008-05:00

Digging back in the old files for this one. This is the railroad tunnel in Harper's Ferry, West Virginia. That side of the river is Maryland.

Path Valley Harvest

2011-11-07T00:01:00.005-05:00

Barn Charm 12. Yesterday found me on the other side of the mountain. The other side of the mountain. Just to see what I could see. And all I saw was... friends, barns, trees and a couple turkeys. That was friends AND a couple turkeys. I was asked to take some family pictures and some senior pictures. I know I said that I don't take people pictures but on occasion I forget that rule and make a desperate attempt at it. (as I did here and here) It wasn't a total loss though, I think I may have captured a few keepers. Just hope they are happy.

Anyways, back to Barn Charm. I passed this scene on the way there. I told the wife, I'll stop here on the way back. And I did. I knew the setting sun would only help this view. I find it interesting how the Amish harvest their corn. I've seen this before. Saturday I saw a horse drawn hay bailer but I was traveling down the PA Turnpike and had no opportunity to stop. If you look to the left of the old barn you'll see the buggy sitting where it was parked after church.

For more charming barns check out Tricia's site by clicking the barn below.

Cormorants

2011-11-06T08:27:00.000-05:00

Double Crested Cormorants seen in and along Assateague Bay.

Working Fire Dispatch

2011-11-04T00:01:00.004-04:00

These pictures are from a recent house fire. You may have seen them on the Vigilant's website or even on WGAL channel 8. I was going to working up other pictures from this fire for today's post but realized these were some of the best of them and why wouldn't I post the best here?

Beach Sunrise

2011-11-03T00:01:00.001-04:00

You could be here.

Gravel Springs Lutheran Church

2011-11-02T00:01:00.010-04:00

I have attempted this effect on several different occasions and I think that this has got to be my best effort to date. This is the Gravel Springs Lutheran Church in Star Tannery, Virginia. Someday I'll post one I took further back the road with the fall colors are all around it. Today though all this is a result of a comment on my Barn Charm post last week, When I checked out the comment by Carole and found her site WhatDoYouMeanByArt, where I picked up this frame (in white) and the rusty pipe I used for texture, I thought I'd give it a whirl. I could almost pass this one off as old, don't you think?

Pizza and Snow Stuff

2011-11-01T00:01:00.001-04:00

E4Lt asked for snow and he gets it. I took approximately 15 snow pictures on Saturday. Sorry. But when I passed by Pizza and Stuff and saw the Pizza delivery Snowman I circled the block and took these from the gas station across the street. Some day I'll get around to taking more pictures of Fernando's place. He has the only decent neon in town since John and Mary's Pizza House shut down. And now the snow is nearly gone and we seem to be returning to autumn, with the exception of all the tree branches that fell down. I might just get some more fall color pictures next weekend, if there is any left.

It's the Great Pumpkin!

2011-10-31T00:01:00.001-04:00

Well, OK, it's not really the Great Pumpkin, but you have to admit that it is a Pretty Good Pumpkin. Maybe even a Really Awesome Pumpkin. I just don't think it's all that Great. I was driving around looking for something else a couple of weekends ago and I stumbled onto this pumpkin patch. I hear that I should have been there yesterday after the snow storm. I'll just do that the next time we get 8 inches of snow before Halloween. Will there still be blogging then?

Header Review 9

2011-10-29T06:01:00.001-04:00

Time for my semi annual header review. Just a reminder and to help explain when I change headers at the beginning of each month the old one goes away. This post helps save them for historical purposes and evidence.

May 2011 - This is the New York City skyline shot from the Brooklyn Bridge Park in August of 2009. The title is a play on the Saturday Night Live beginning.
June 2011 - Blue skies behind raindrops. The raindrops are on the cars windshield.
July 2011 - This is an old Mack MC fire engine that once belonged to the Diligence Fire Company in Summit Hill, Pa. It is now privately owned and sitting beside the Coaldale Fire station. Taken on Fathers' Day 2011.
August 2011 - The Angela Theater in Coaldale, Pa. playing my favorite show. Also taken on Fathers' Day 2011.
September 2011 - A sunflower I found growing at the State Game lands in western Cumberland County, Pa. I tried to make it look like I wrote on it with a sharpie. Taken in August 2011.
October 2011 - What is left of the aspen color in Colorado. Taken out of the truck window along Interstate 70 somewhere between Idaho Springs and Vail, Colorado in October 2010.

I am finally up grading the look of the site after four and a half years and one thousand six hundred posts. I hope you like it. For years now I have wished I could post buigger pictures and I think that day is here. Thanks for stopping by.