Thursday, June 09, 2011

June 9, 2011 House of Interest

Larry, my brother, had a painting business from which he retired. A property near Gettysburg, Pa. was in need of painting and Larry had been asked by a friend if he would do the job. Being the person that Larry is, he agreed. The house is quite unique and intriquing. Larry had told Tom and I about this place and said that we should come up one day to see it. Yesterday morning we arranged to meet Joanne so she could show us the way to this place. Driving into the property there is a large barn and other farm buildings with the house located at the top of a hill beyond the farm buildings. The house was built in the 1930's but outwardly looks newer than that time. It is a stone structure on one level plus the basement. Inside the house there are, I believe, 4 units each consisting of a bedroom with a fireplace and a bathroom and several, also, have a living room. The exterior walls looked to be at least a foot thick, exterior doors were 2.5-3 inches thick. In a central area was a large kitchen. In the basement there were a large walk-in freezer and refrigerator and a huge water tank probably 3o feet long and 8-10 feet in diameter. One side of the basement had garage doors that cars could be pulled into the basement. The basement windows were all bricked up. The known people that lived here when first built were a German man and wife by the name of Lovejoy. Pictures have been found of Lovejoy in German military uniform. Aerial view of the house looks very much like a swastika. The Lovejoys were said to stay to themselves not having any interactions with the neighbors. Mr. Lovejoy died of a sudden heartattack and Mrs. Lovejoy ended her days in a nursing home. The last owner was a Sterner connected to Snyder's of Hanover. The present owner/group is rehabbing the property for a business venture of some sort.
There seems to be a mystery about this property and just what it was used for. Speculations are there was some sort of spy operation from here. The structure suggests that they were prepared for a major distructive act should it occur. The prior owners had painted the rooms very bright colors that often did not contast well together. The colors that Larry is painting are various shades of browns and terra cotta reds. It will be a beautiful house once the renovations are completed. The location is beautiful- situated on a hill the views are of rolling tree cover hills, wildlife is frequently seen and this will be a haven for them.


The property is loaded with security. As soon as we drove into the driveway of the house we were followed. Larry working in the house heard reports of our driving up the driveway and knew we were on the way up. Throughout the house are security cameras and a sophisticated system of cataloging folks that come onto the property.

Tuesday, June 07, 2011

June 7,2011- June Traveling Americans Weekend

Friday, June 3rd, Tom and I left home once again for a weekend of camping with the Traveling Americans. This was the 5th weekend straight that we had been away for the weekend. We went about 160 miles to Sandy Hills campground on the Eastern shore of Maryland. Sandy Hills campground is an old facility with many permanent sites but it is located on the Nanticoke River which is quite a picturesque area. Larry and Joanne had gone down earlier in the week to attend Joanne's granddaughter's graduation from high school. Before we arrived they had contacted us and said not to stop for lunch that they had lunch for us when we got there. So shortly after noon when we got to the campground we had a lunch of steamed crabs and corn-on-the-cob. How nice! There were only 5 units in attendence this weekend with 1 of the units being guests of another unit. Several of the members had graduations of grandchildren this weekend. Friday evening Larry, Joanne, Tom and I went out to dinner at a local restaurant Boonies which had an outside patio area called the Tiki Bar that we were seated.
From Drop Box
From Drop Box
It was a really nice evening for eating outdoors. Good food, good company and a nice atmosphere could not ask for anything better.
Saturday morning the Hagans, Libby and Dave, and Larry and Joanne, hosts for the weekend, had a continental style breakfast of hard boiled eggs, doughnuts, English muffins, fruit and juice and coffee. During the day we all went in different directions exploring the area. Tom and I went down to Crisfield, Maryland by way of a road that crossed a river at Whitehaven with a small 6 passenger, up to 3 cars free ferry.
From 2011-06-05 Eastern Shore Weekend
Crisfield is indeed a fishing area. We stopped at the town pier and watched folks fishing and crabbing before grabbing a bite to eat at a restaurant in town.
From 2011-06-05 Eastern Shore Weekend
From 2011-06-05 Eastern Shore Weekend
For dinner Libby Hagan had made reservations for the group at another local restaurant, the Red Roost. Unfortunately, it was only the Hagans and Tom and I that went since others had other plans but we still had a nice evening with good food.
Sunday morning we again enjoyed a continental style breakfast and then the others packed up to go home. Tom and I decided to stay Sunday night and leave on Monday- we felt the traffic crossing the bay bridge would be better. After the others had left Tom and I again went for a drive out to Deal Island, and again we had to take the ferry at Whitehaven. Before getting on the ferry we stopped at an old school in Whitehaven that a flower sale was going on and I purchased a Bleeding Heart and a small pot od basil.
From 2011-06-05 Eastern Shore Weekend
From 2011-06-05 Eastern Shore Weekend
After our drive to Deal Island, we drove into Salisbury for dinner at a Mexican restaurant. As we were heading back towards the campground we saw signs about blueberry picking and decided to stop. It was late afternoon so we were told that we only had 15 minutes to pick as they were closing at 4pm. So we took a little bucket and picked for 15 minutes and had all the berries that we wanted. The bushes were really loaded with berries and they are real tasty.
From Drop Box
From Drop Box
After returning to the campground I walked out to the waters edge to see a very pretty sunset.
Monday morning we packed up and headed for home. It was cloudy on the Eastern shore but sunny on the Western shore. The traffic was light going across the bay bridge. We hit some areas of congested traffic around the Baltimore beltway which is not unusual.
We are now home for a spell. It was fun going out these past several weekends camping with the various groups of folks but it feels good not to be facing another weekend for a spell. We now have time to do other things besides mowing grass at home.

Wednesday, June 01, 2011

June 1, 2011 Maryland Samboree

A week ago today, Wednesday, we left home and traveled the 25 miles to Frederick Fair Grounds in Frederick, Maryland for the Maryland Good Sam Samboree. We went in early to help getting things readied for the weekend. Woody and Linda Woodruff, members of the Traveling Americans, also came in on Wednesday. Wednesday afternoon we walked around tables with pamphlets and trinkets filling the "goody bags" that are given to the Samboree attendees upon arrival. In the evening a group of about 12or more went to a local restaurant, Mountain View Diner, for dinner.
Thursday was arrival day for "early birds". We made a run to Sam's Club to pick up some items for ourselves. More of the Traveling Americans arrived on this day- Art and Joy Welsh, Bill and Rita Fordham, Bruce and Cricket McGinnis, and Ed and Barb Perry. In the evening our group walked across the street to the Moose Club for dinner. A husband and wife retired schoolteachers provided the entertainment in the evening. We won a door prize of a $25.00 gift certificate to Lohr's Diner.
Friday morning Tom, Bruce McGinnis, Bill Fordham and Ed Perry went to play a round of golf. So without husbands around the wives just spent a leisurely morning. In the afternoon Cricket, Rita and I joined a walking 2.5 hour tour of Frederick. We had taken a tour with a different tour guide once before that we felt had done a better job with keeping the tour moving but it was a nice way to spend the afternoon. As we were headed back we passed an ice cream store, the 3 of us decided that we were leaving the tour at that point and stopping for a treat. As others saw what we were doing they also opted to make the stop. Returning back to the fair grounds the golfers had returned and then we went to a local diner within walking distance for dinner, Lohr's Diner, (we used our $25.00 gift certificate). Opening ceremonies were held in the evening in which Tom and I carried the Traveling American flag.
Saturday and Sunday we had various activities at the Samboree- flea market, a parade of sorts with folks dressing in costume according to the theme of "Nursery Rhymes", a Chinese auction and a few seminars and fewer vendors. Sunday morning there was a pancake breakfast which I got up early (6:15am) to help with the mixing of the pancake batter. Tom and I received patches for the Triboree (attending West Virginia, Virginia and Maryland Samborees) as well as a flower patch for attending 10Samborees. Patches are the awards given out by Good Sams. We have accumulated quite a few but have not decided just what to do with them. Most folks have vests that the patches are sewn onto and then worn at Samborees. Bill and Rita Fordham unfortunately received word that a family member had died causing them to leave on Sunday.
Monday morning was closing ceremonies and then we all departed scattering to all directions to home or elsewheres. We came home to a yard that needed to be mowed.
Again this week we will be home until the weekend and then we will be going camping with the Traveling Americans.