Eddiedeandavis, 1409 Haven Lane, Chicago, IL (2025)

02/03/2025

Toni Morrison -- 'I want to discourage you from choosing anything or making any decision simply because it is safe. Things of value seldom are.'

01/29/2025

In 1909, a young berry picker, just six years old, was photographed in a field in Maryland, capturing a poignant moment of childhood labor during a time when child work was common in rural America. The child, likely part of a family engaged in agricultural labor, spent long hours in the fields, helping to harvest crops to support the household. Berry picking, though seemingly simple, was a demanding task, requiring attention to detail and endurance as children filled baskets with the ripe fruit.
The photograph underscores the harsh realities of childhood in early 20th-century America, especially in farming communities. Economic necessity often meant that children, even at a young age, were expected to contribute to the family’s livelihood. While many children were able to enjoy their youth, for some, work in the fields was a routine part of daily life. It was not unusual for entire families to work together in the fields, as agricultural labor was seasonal and required all hands on deck.
This image serves as both a reminder of the past and a call for progress. The presence of young children in the workforce, particularly in physically demanding tasks like berry picking, led to increased awareness of child labor issues and helped pave the way for labor reforms in the early 20th century. While the photograph captures the innocence of a young child, it also highlights the difficult circumstances that many children faced, contributing to the broader movement for better working conditions and child labor laws.

01/29/2025

The name “Gomez” was not originally part of The Addams Family lore. In Charles Addams’ original cartoons, the character of Gomez remained unnamed. When John Astin was cast as the eccentric patriarch for the 1964 TV series, the role was still without a definitive name. It was during the development of the show that the name “Gomez” was chosen, and while Astin did not invent the name, he played a key role in shaping the character’s identity. His insistence on giving the character a distinct and memorable name helped solidify Gomez’s persona, adding charm and depth to the role.
Astin’s influence on Gomez didn’t stop at the name. Initially, the character was conceived as more subdued, but Astin’s larger-than-life energy and theatrical flair transformed the role. His portrayal of Gomez added exuberant humor, passion, and devotion to Morticia, infusing the character with warmth, eccentricity, and a comedic sensibility. Astin’s choice to make Gomez a romantic figure, deeply in love with Morticia, became a defining element of his personality.
One of the most iconic aspects of Gomez’s personality—the love for destruction—was inspired by Astin’s own enthusiasm for model trains. While the train-crashing scenes were not part of the original concept, Astin suggested these sequences to highlight Gomez’s peculiar interests. The result was a memorable addition to the show, showcasing Gomez’s quirky sense of joy and chaos.
Astin’s physicality and expressions also played a significant role in bringing Gomez to life. His exaggerated facial expressions, playful gestures, and comedic timing made the character feel cartoonish in the best way. Drawing inspiration from silent film comedians like Charlie Chaplin, Astin incorporated slapstick humor into his portrayal of Gomez, blending sophistication with absurdity, and creating a character that was both lovable and hilariously unpredictable.
The chemistry between John Astin and Carolyn Jones, who played Morticia, was another cornerstone of The Addams Family’s success. Their onscreen relationship, full of passionate devotion and dark humor, stood out in 1960s television, setting the series apart from other family sitcoms of the era. Astin and Jones’s ability to create a believable, loving dynamic made their portrayal of the Addams family’s marriage both iconic and unique.
Behind the scenes, Astin’s collaborative approach with the cast and crew allowed him to add depth to Gomez’s character. He suggested making Gomez a more multidimensional figure, incorporating interests like law and eccentric hobbies, which helped keep the character engaging throughout the series’ two-season run.
Although The Addams Family aired only from 1964 to 1966, John Astin’s portrayal of Gomez left a lasting legacy. His version of the character has since become a cultural touchstone, influencing later adaptations in film, television, and animation. Astin reprised the role in various projects, including an animated series in the 1990s, further cementing his connection to the character.
As of January 2025, John Astin is 94 years old and resides in Baltimore, Maryland, with his wife, Valerie Ann Sandobal. While Astin officially retired from acting in 2021, his portrayal of Gomez Addams remains a timeless masterpiece of television comedy. Through his passion and creativity, Astin shaped a character that continues to delight audiences around the world, proving that some roles—like Gomez Addams—are truly unforgettable.
~ Weird but True

01/29/2025

In 1939, Mrs. Annie Eller, a 44-year-old widow with an infant son, lived at Reddies River in Wilkes County, North Carolina. Her income was uncertain and primarily derived from work for others, often performed in the homes of the people she boarded with. In most cases, she paid for her board by providing labor, reflecting the informal and sometimes precarious nature of her living and working arrangements. When she was not boarding, she managed to pay for groceries, which amounted to about $5 a week, by working at a local grocery store.
Mrs. Eller owned ten acres of land, where she had a small two-room shack. Despite this modest property, her assets were limited to a few chickens, and her livelihood depended on her ability to work for others. For about five years, Mrs. Eller supplemented her income by stringing to***co bags, earning roughly $7 a month from this work—her only cash income. However, this work was not without its challenges. After contracting measles, she suffered from eye problems that made any kind of sewing or needlework, including bag stringing, difficult at times.
Mrs. Eller’s story highlights the struggles of rural women in the 1930s, particularly widows and single mothers who often had to rely on a combination of informal work arrangements and meager earnings to survive. Despite owning land, the lack of consistent income and the toll of physical labor made it difficult for her to achieve financial stability. This snapshot of her life reflects broader economic and social issues faced by many rural families during the Great Depression, as well as the resilience and resourcefulness required to make ends meet in such conditions.

01/29/2025

Agatha Christie's life took a dramatic turn in 1926. At the age of thirty-five, she was plunged into despair by the loss of her mother and the betrayal of her husband, Archie, who left her for another woman. This double blow sent her spiraling into a deep depression, leaving her feeling utterly lost and disillusioned. The only solace she found was in the love of her seven-year-old daughter, Rosalind.
Born into wealth and privilege in 1890, Agatha had shown a remarkable talent for writing from a young age. She married Archie Christie, a dashing pilot, in 1914. Together, they weathered the storms of World War I and welcomed their daughter in 1919. By the time her marriage began to unravel, Agatha had already established herself as a successful author with five acclaimed detective novels.
As she slowly emerged from the shadows of her failed marriage, Agatha turned to writing as a source of comfort and escape. A journey on the Orient Express offered a brief respite, but it was an archaeological dig in Iraq in 1930 that truly transformed her life. There, she met Max Mallowan, a younger archaeologist, and their love story blossomed. They married later that year and embarked on a lifelong partnership filled with love, adventure, and intellectual companionship.
The year 1926, a year of immense pain and uncertainty, marked a turning point in Agatha Christie's life. In the decades that followed, she would go on to become one of history's most celebrated authors, penning over 70 best-selling novels and creating the longest-running play ever staged. Her second marriage brought her happiness, and both she and Max received prestigious honors: Max was knighted in 1968, and Agatha was made a Dame of the British Empire in 1971.
Agatha Christie passed away on January 12, 1976, at the age of 85. With over two billion copies of her books sold worldwide, she remains the best-selling novelist of all time. Her enduring legacy is a testament to her resilience, her extraordinary talent, and her ability to turn adversity into triumph.

01/29/2025

Non-Native Americans call these cradleboards papoose, but Native Americans call the baby a papoose and the carrier a cradleboard. The Algonquian word papoos means child. The word originally came from the Narragansett tribe.
These cradleboards vary greatly from tribe to tribe. Some are extremely decorated with great beading, others are more practical. If you were going to hunt berries, or plant seeds you would not use the best one which was saved for special events.
It is a very safe way to carry a baby by the mother so her hands are free to do other things. It is only in recent decades the habit has been picked up by non-Native American mothers and fathers. Today, the babies are often carried on the front of the adult by non-Native Americans.
The early cradleboards usually had protective covers at the top to stop the heat of the suns rays and protect from rain. This cradle was not used for indoor events, but the top was still constructed to protect the babies’ heads. The binding gave the baby security and restricted the child's movements for easy travel. A child could be transported this way until about age two or the child was able to walk

01/28/2025

The 800 year old Beaulieu Abbey, Hampshire was founded by King John in the 13th Century.
The abbey became one of the wealthiest Cistercian houses in England, but it met its demise during the Dissolution of the Monasteries under King Henry VIII in 1538. Its impressive ruins remain today.

01/28/2025

Slim Pickens and Will Rogers are two iconic figures in American culture, each representing different aspects of the Western genre, but both sharing a deep connection to the American cowboy spirit.
While Will Rogers was more of a social commentator, performer, and writer, often seen as a symbol of the common man with his cowboy origins, Slim Pickens was a true cowboy who brought authenticity to his roles as a Western character actor. Though they were both associated with the American cowboy lifestyle, their careers took different paths—Rogers as a humorist and entertainer and Pickens as a Hollywood actor.

01/28/2025

Tsar Nicholas II, Empress Alexandra Feodorovna with their daughter little Olga Romanov 1896.
Everyone at Balmoral was charmed by the chubby and happy ten-month-old Olga, including her admiring great-grandmother. “The baby is magnificent,” she told her eldest daughter Vicky in Berlin; all in all she was “a lovely, lively grandchild.” “Oh, you never saw such a darling as she is” wrote the queen’s lady-in-waiting Lady Lytton, “a very broad face, very fat, in a lovely high Sir Joshua baby bonnet – but with bright intelligent eyes, a wee mouth and so happy – contented the whole day

01/28/2025

Ohio / West Virginia, 1896-1912...
Caption
Portrait of six young children next to the porch of a house...
This photograph was taken by traveling photographer Albert J. Ewing, ca. 1896-1912. Like most of Ewing's work, it was likely taken in southeastern Ohio or central West Virginia...
Source
Albert J. Ewing Collection, Ohio History Connection

01/28/2025

Ava Gardner, one of the most enchanting and talented actresses of Hollywood’s golden age, demonstrated her undeniable screen presence in the 1959 post-apocalyptic film On the Beach. Set in a world ravaged by nuclear war, Gardner starred as Moira, a character marked by both vulnerability and strength, reflecting the complexity of her acting range. The film, while undeniably gloomy in its depiction of a bleak future, showcased Ava at her finest, capturing the emotional depth that made her a standout talent of her era. Born in 1922 in North Carolina, Gardner’s rise to fame was as striking as her beauty. She initially found success in Hollywood in the early 1940s, but it was her role in The Killers (1946) that solidified her reputation as an actress capable of portraying raw emotion. Over the years, she became known for her passionate roles in films like The Night of the Iguana (1964) and Mogambo (1953), often alongside legendary leading men, including Clark Gable and Gregory Peck. Their collaboration in On the Beach is one of the film's most memorable aspects, with their undeniable chemistry bringing depth to the sorrowful narrative. Gardner’s legacy is not only defined by her stunning beauty but also by her exceptional talent and fearless approach to roles that pushed boundaries. Even today, Ava Gardner remains an iconic figure in cinema history, her roles continuing to inspire and captivate audiences worldwide

01/28/2025

On the day of the wedding of Grand Duchess Xenia Alexandrovna (Nicholas II's sister) with her cousin, Grand Duke Alexander Mikhailovich in 1894, a curious fact happened:
""I cannot wait to get rid of this silly dress,” Xenia complained to me in a whisper, "it must weigh pounds and pounds. I wish we did not have to sit through that dinner. Look at papa, he is all in.” We all could see how worn out the Emperor was, but even he could not order the cancellation of the boring gala dinner. Only at 11 p.m. were we able to change into more comfortable clothes, and off we drove in a court carriage to the suburban Ropsha Palace to spend our wedding night. On our way we had to change horses as the coachman was not able to control them. The Palace of Ropsha and the adjoining village were brilliantly illuminated, so much so that our nervous coachman, blinded by the lights, overlooked a small bridge and landed us — three horses, carriage and two newlyweds — flat in the brook. Xenia fell at the bottom of the carriage, I on top of her, while the coachman and the footman were thrown into the water. Fortunately nobody was hurt and we were rescued promptly by the second carriage occupied by Xenia's servants. My wife’s gorgeous ostrich-feathered hat and ermine-trimmed coat were covered with mud, my face and hands were absolutely black. We wondered what General Wiazemsky, who was to meet us at the entrance to the Ropsha Palace, would say, but that experienced courtier said nothing. As far as he was concerned, it may have been a new fashion among the newlywed members of the imperial family to take a swim fully dressed."
Source: Once a Grand Duke, by Grand Duke Alexander Mikhailovich

01/28/2025

The Romanov Children - Grand Duchesses Olga, Tatiana, Marie and Anastasia Romanov and Tsarevich Alexei Romanov in 1907.

01/28/2025

Swain County, North Carolina, ca. 1910...
Caption
This glass plate negative labeled Worley cabin at Hewitts, NC is part of the Frank Fry Collection and shows three people standing in front of a cabin...
Source
Western Carolina University

01/28/2025

In March 1936, a mother from Alton, Hampshire, captured the spirit of rural British life in a simple yet enduring scene: walking to the shops with her children and a pet sheep in tow. This moment, set against the backdrop of England’s picturesque countryside, was a snapshot of a world balancing tradition and change during the interwar years. For small-town communities like Alton, daily life was often centered on local businesses, family connections, and the rhythm of rural living.
This mother’s story reflects a mix of practicality and charm. Owning a pet shop, she likely brought a deep understanding of animal care and a strong bond with her community. Taking a pet sheep along for errands may seem unusual today, but it spoke to a time when animals were an integral part of daily life. The sheep’s presence likely brought smiles and sparked conversations among townsfolk, adding warmth to the routine of shopping and errands. For her children, it was undoubtedly a day to remember, blending familial devotion with the simple joys of rural life.
The 1930s in Britain were a time of recovery and resilience. The scars of the Great Depression were healing, and small towns like Alton were testaments to the perseverance of ordinary people. This mother, with her children and sheep, represented the adaptability and resourcefulness of working-class families who navigated change while staying rooted in their traditions.
"In the small acts of daily life, we find the heart of resilience—balancing change with the strength of tradition."

01/28/2025

On November 24, 1971, a man using the alias Dan Cooper boarded a Northwest Orient Airlines flight in Portland, Oregon, setting the stage for one of the most mysterious hijackings in history. Cooper, described as a calm and composed man in his mid-40s, purchased a one-way ticket to Seattle and boarded the flight wearing a business suit. After takeoff, he calmly informed a stewardess that he had a bomb in his briefcase, revealing a crude device inside. He then demanded $200,000 in cash, four parachutes, and safe passage to Mexico City in exchange for the 36 passengers aboard.

Once the flight landed in Seattle, Cooper’s demands were met. He released the passengers in exchange for the money and parachutes but retained several crew members, instructing the plane to take off once again toward Mexico. During the flight, somewhere between Seattle and Reno, Cooper executed an audacious escape: he jumped out of the rear of the plane, parachuting into the night with the ransom money. Despite an extensive search, neither Cooper nor the money was ever found, and his fate remains unknown.

The FBI's investigation, dubbed NORJAK (Northwest Hijacking), quickly mobilized as agents pursued hundreds of leads. Over the course of several years, the FBI interviewed numerous suspects and examined evidence, but they could not definitively identify Cooper. By the fifth anniversary of the hijacking, more than 800 individuals had been considered and eliminated as suspects, leaving only a few lingering possibilities. To this day, Dan Cooper’s identity and the circumstances of his disappearance remain one of the greatest unsolved mysteries in criminal history.

01/28/2025

Cornelia Stuyvesant Vanderbilt, born in 1900, was the only child of George Washington Vanderbilt, the founder of the Biltmore Estate in North Carolina, which is home to the largest privately owned mansion in the U.S. As the estate’s sole heiress, she was thrust into the public spotlight from a young age. In 1924, she married British aristocrat John Cecil in a lavish ceremony attended by 500 guests and witnessed by thousands. However, this marriage marked just the beginning of a life that would soon diverge from societal expectations.
By the early 1930s, Cornelia grew disillusioned with the constraints of life at Biltmore and sought freedom from her inherited responsibilities. She moved to New York City and later to Paris, where she embraced a more vibrant and independent lifestyle. Adopting the name Nilcha and dyeing her hair pink, Cornelia divorced Cecil, marking a bold break from the traditional roles expected of her. This period became one of self-discovery and cultural exploration, where she immersed herself in the excitement of her new life.
In her later years, Cornelia moved to London, where she married twice more—first to Vivian Francis Bulkely-Johnson and later to William Goodsir in 1972. Although she spent much of her life away from the public eye after her second marriage, she remained closely connected to the Biltmore Estate through her sons, George Henry Vanderbilt Cecil and William Amherst Vanderbilt Cecil, ensuring the continuation of her family’s legacy. Cornelia’s life remains a testament to her independence and her ability to carve out a unique path within the Vanderbilt family history.

01/28/2025

Here’s a polished version of the story with a promotional tone:
A Timeless Moment of Kindness: The 1957 Pulitzer-Winning Photograph
On a bright September day in 1957, the lively rhythm of a Chinese lion dance filled the streets, drawing crowds to the colorful parade. Among them, a young boy’s curiosity got the best of him. Enthralled by the spectacle, he wandered off the sidewalk, stepping dangerously close to the bustling street.
Standing nearby, a tall, gentle police officer noticed the boy’s precarious move. With a calm and caring demeanor, he reached out to guide the child back to safety, offering a gentle reminder of the dangers in the busy world around him.
Unbeknownst to them, photographer William C. Beall, on assignment for the Washington Daily News, had been documenting the parade. In that fleeting moment, he captured the innocence of childhood and the quiet heroism of compassion in a single, powerful photograph.
This image—brimming with humanity and connection—earned Beall the Pulitzer Prize for Photography in 1958. Decades later, it remains an enduring symbol of kindness, wonder, and the beauty of a single decisive moment.

Eddiedeandavis

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