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HMCS Churchill

Date unknown. Photo courtesy Historic Sites of Manitoba.

Naval Radio Station (NRS) Churchill opened August 1, 1943. Its primary role was to study the ionosphere, and learn how it affected high-frequency direction-finding equipment used to locate submarines in the Atlantic. Churchill was to become a hot spot for people wanting to learn about the upper reaches of Earth’s atmosphere. With the end of the war, the Royal Canadian Navy closed down operations.

Miss Piggy

November 13, 1979. It was a chilly, -20C morning in Churchill, Manitoba. A Curtis C-46 Commando belonging to Lambair had just taken off and reported increased oil temperature, and decreased oil pressure in the left engine. The crew of three, turned the aircraft around to go back, but it was too late.

SS Ithaka

On October 21, 1922, the Frank A. Augsbury, a lake freighter built for the George Hall Coal Company is launched from the facilities of Fraser, Brace Ltd in Trois Rivieres, Quebec. She was 251 feet in length, 43 feet across with a draft of 18 feet. Powered by a 1,400 hp triple expansion steam engine, Augsbury traveled at 10 knots, with a crew of 37.

Over the years of her career, she would be renamed Granby in 1927, Parita 2 in 1948, Valbruna in 1951, Lawrencecliffe Hall in 1952, Federal Explorer in 1955, and finally Ithaka in 1960.

White Lake Pioneer Cemetary

While driving home from a weekend in Belleville, we stopped at this fascinating little cemetary. I had noticed it on our drive down, and made a mental note to stop on the way back for a closer look. I'm happy I did.

Mission San Jose

Mission San José y San Miguel de Aguayo, often referred to as the "Queen of the Missions," was founded on February 23, 1720, by Father Antonio Margil de Jesús. The mission was established to serve the Coahuiltecan Natives and to relieve overcrowding at Mission San Antonio de Valero (now known as the Alamo). The mission was named in part for the Marquis de San Miguel de Aguayo, José de Azlor y Virto de Vera.

Mission Concepción

Mission Nuestra Señora de la Purísima Concepción de Acuña, commonly known as Mission Concepción, was originally established in 1716 in East Texas. It was one of six missions authorized by the Spanish government to serve as a buffer against French incursions from Louisiana. The mission was developed by Spanish Franciscan friars with the goal of converting the local Indigenous communities to Christianity and teaching them European ways of life.

Mission San Juan

Completing my short hike from Mission Espada, I arrived at the back gates of a mission that seemed much better restored. Perhaps it was just much less damaged. In either event, I also noticed there were significantly more tourists present.

Mission Espada

After a pleasant conversation, I got out of the Uber I had taken from my hotel in San Antonio. It was a beautiful sunny day as I walked toward the crumbling walls of what I presumed must have been an impressive structure. I had no idea what to expect as I'd never visited a Spanish Mission before. Two days prior, I had walked some of the grounds of the Alamo, but the huge number of tourists, and lengthy lineup deterred me from actually entering.

As I entered the complex, the most noticable feature was, of course, the bare outlines of the former mission. One could see where the outer walls once stood, and one got a vague sense as to how others must have lived along the inside of these walls, probably sharing in their protection. I was struck by the relative quiet, and tiny number of tourists milling about the grounds.

By Mike , 1 April, 2023

New Orleans 2023

Each year I, and some of my coworkers, have the opportunity to take in an event called eLive, or Ellucian Live. This event is held in different cities each year, and offers and excellent opportunity to learn, meet people who face the same challenges as we do, and sometimes even have the opportunity to help each other out. The vendors set up in the large hall of the convention centre and show us what's new this year, and how they can help us. It's very informative!

St. Louis Cemetary, New Orleans

St. Louis Cemetery No. 1, located in New Orleans, Louisiana, is the oldest and one of the most prominent cemeteries in the city. Established in 1789, it replaced the older St. Peter Cemetery, which was no longer in existence after the city was redesigned following a devastating fire in 17881. The cemetery is situated eight blocks from the Mississippi River, on the north side of Basin Street, just beyond the inland border of the French Quarter1. It has been in continuous use since its foundation, making it a significant historical site in New Orleans.