Aviator To Make Debut In Fresno -- September 7, 2011

This article from, the 24-April-1910 San Francisco Call, talks about aviator Whipple S Hall. Hall was injured in a crash about a year later (I'm looking for the article) and became an aviation promoter. I found it interesting that he is described as the heaviest man to fly. Charles K Hamilton was an early aviator who died in 1914, but from illness rather than a plane crash.

AVIATOR TO MAKE DEBUT IN FRESNO

Whipple S. Hall Will Show His Skill as Birdman With Hamilton Machine

[Special Dispatch to The Call]


FRESNO, April 23.— Whipple S. Hall, son of Judge Hall of the district appellate court, who is to make his debut as a professional aviator in Fresno April 30, has been a student of Charles K. Hamilton for the last four years. For four months he has been almost continually with Hamilton and during that time he learned to drive an airship.

When Hall purchased his machine he made a few trial flights near Tacoma and then brought it to Mendota, where he has made many successful flights. This aviator weighs more than 200 pounds and has the distinction of being the heaviest man who ever rode in an airship.

After his performance in Fresno he will leave for San Jose, where he is scheduled to fly at the rose carnival. Hall intends to follow aerial navigation as a profession and takes a keen delight in the sport.

"It beats automobillng all to death," he declared recently, in speaking of his
experiences.

"Until the aeroplane is automatically balanced it will never be a conveyance of common use," declared Hall. "For some time I believe it will be used only for sport by young men who enjoy taking risks."

Hall is enthusiastic about his work and his machine and shows no hesitation in talking about it. He is particularly gratified because of the success he has had thus far in the heat fields near Mendota and believes that he has mastered enough of the art of aerial navigation to be able to give a good public exhibition. He will make experimental flights daily until April 30.

Ardenwood Farm Railroad Fair - September 6, 2011

Yesterday we went to the 11th annual Labor Day Railfair at Ardenwood Farm. It was cold and overcast when we got there at 10am, but the sky gradually cleared. There were no horse-powered train rides this year, but two steam locomotives operated, Antelope and Western 1, an 1889 Porter 0-4-0, which had visited from 2005-2008, and Anne Marie, an 1890 Porter which was there for the third straight year. A&W 1 pulled a three car train: a flat, the covered car usually pulled by horses, and another flat. Anne Marie pulled 1010, an 1882 combination car that last ran on the Southern Pacific narrow gauge.

While A&W 1's train loaded at Ardenwood Station, Anne Marie would arrive from Deer Park and pull its train past on another track and into the yard behind. After A&W 1 left, Anne Marie would push her train into the station. When A&W 1 arrived at Deer Park, she would run around to the front of train. When Anne Marie arrived, she would run around on the other track and A&W 1 would leave. Back at Ardenwood Station, A&W 1 would pull back around to the front of the train. So A&W 1 always ran around, while Anne Marie would push and pull.

The line at Ardenwood Station kept getting longer and longer during the day. Kids were having a great time.

There was a big Garden Scale display, and a modular N-Scale display. A steam calliope played in the gazebo. I didn't see the Oakland horse car, which was supposed to be on display.

This video shows A&W 1 backing onto its train at Deer Park. A brakeman drops the pin to couple the locomotive to the train. The locomotive pulls the train to Ardenwood Station.

Happy Labor Day #4 -- September 5, 2011

Harry Lundeberg, born in Norway, was a sailor and a leader of the Sailors' Union of the Pacific and the Seafarers International Union. He led the unions through difficult times in the 1930s, when maritime labor issues often led to violence against the working people. The monument stands in front of the SUP headquarters on Rincon Hill. The plaque reads "He was indeed a man who crowded into a short life no glittering promise, but unselfish service and general achievement for the course he called his own."

Playing Tourist #4 -- September 4, 2011

Today we showed family around Chinatown. It was fun to see people go through the shops with fresh eyes. We went to the fortune cookie factory in Ross Alley and got some nice samples. We had lunch at the Irish Bank.

Giants vs Diamondbacks -- September 3, 2011

Today we parked at Fifth and Mission and caught an N Judah at Powell. They threw us off at Embarcadero. I forgot the N got cut back on weekends. Muni should change the signs. We crammed onto a T and got off to have dinner at Red's Java House. I had a double cheese dog and french fries. Very good.

It got cold at the ball game. Tim Lincecum struggled and the Giants lost 7-2.

We caught an L back. It was very crowded. It got stopped before going into the tunnel and sat for a long time.

Ardenwood Farm Railroad Fair Coming Soon -- September 2, 2011

If you are looking for something to do this Labor Day weekend, I can recommend the Eleventh Annual Washington Township Railroad Fair at Ardenwood Historic Farm Regional Park in Fremont. Every year, the Society for the Preservation of Carter Railroad Resources brings in a steam locomotive to join their regular horse-drawn rail operation. There are rides on steam-drawn trains and handcars. There is a large garden railroad display, and all the regular animals and farm equipment and the beautiful Patterson house.

For the third straight year, there will be two visiting steam locomotives, 1889 Porter 0-4-0T, Antelope and Western 1, which visited in 2005-2007, and 1890 Porter 0-4-0T, Cortez Mining Company 1, which visited the last two years.

It's well worth a visit, and it's just across the Dumbarton Bridge.

I took this photo of Antelope and Western 1, on Labor Day Weekend, 2006.

The SPCRR is building a car house to provide shelter for its collection.

Admission:
$8/adults;
$6/Seniors (62+);
$5/children (ages 4-17)
children age 3 and under are free

Society for the Preservation of Carter Railroad Resources:
http://www.spcrr.org/

Fair flier:

http://www.spcrr.org/PDFs/RailfairFlyer2011-color-v2.pdf

Sales Force -- September 1, 2011

Yesterday on my way to work, I saw a sign on New Montgomery that said Howard was closed at Third. They closed the street for SalesForce.com, the same way they close it for Oracle World. There were a lot of people during the day. I got a free badge to visit the exhibits. Today the street was open, but they will close it again this weekend for Oracle World.