NW_history_buff
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Posts posted by NW_history_buff
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ATTENTION ALL WAYMARKERS:
The potentially new category, FISH MOUNTS, is under a peer review. Please look over the category description and give thoughts and any additional suggestions before hopefully making this category official!
Thank you!
Doug
thebeav69
I haven't been in the forums in a while. Did you have NO comments on your original proposal here in the forums?
I need a little more convincing on this category. Your writeup looks really good--but maybe an example would be nice?
I've seen fish mounts before, but aren't they in a LOT of seafood restaurants? Would I just waymark the restaurant ONCE, even if there are a LOT of fish mounts in there?
QuesterMark,
Thank you for your thoughts, I've been surprised that no one has commented before on this potential new category since I personally believe fish mounts to be a very good conversation piece as that many of them are the biggest of the big and have stories to share. A good question you brought up for a waymarker who might find a multitude of fish mounts in one location. I know other categories limit the number of waymarks per waymarker to two. I could apply the same principle to fish mounts as well.
And as I'm writing this, I did a quick search for ANY category containing trophy mounts for ANY species of animal and found nothing! Does this mean that I need to change my category to include other animal mounts like elk, bear, deer, moose, mountain goats, safari animals, etc??? Hmm... this could really turn into something BIG if so!
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ATTENTION ALL WAYMARKERS:
The potentially new category, FISH MOUNTS, is under a peer review. Please look over the category description and give thoughts and any additional suggestions before hopefully making this category official!
Thank you!
Doug
thebeav69
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Thank you all for your comments and suggestions. From reading responses, it looks like the general consensus is to create a Fire Lookouts category that invites submissions worldwide and would include 'officially registered' and unregistered fire lookouts in addition to those that have been destroyed but yet still accessible for historic purposes.
I will get started on creating a category with some variables such as whether they are publicly accessible or not, the types of materials utilized in the fire lookout, whether it's an 'officially registered' lookout, etc.
A category such as this will encourage waymarkers who have already submitted a fire lookout in the Lookout Towers category to include them here as well, BUT... should the category description encourage waymarkers to archive existing fire lookouts in the Lookout Towers category? Communication to the officers of the Lookout Towers category letting them know of this new category is imperative so they can include some verbiage in their long description instructing potential waymarkers NOT to waymark Fire Lookouts in their category but in this new one.
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Out of curiosity, how many of these do you guess are accessible to the public, as opposed to authorized personnel only?
I realize that the ones on the database have a plaque, but that doesn't mean the public can go see it.
Very interesting database you've stumbled upon.
Max and 99:
Thanks for your reply, I did some more research and discovered the following verbiage off a related website to the National Historic Lookout Register website (www.fflos.com) that says:
At one time there were 8,000+ fire lookouts in 49 states according to the national inventory completed by FFLA and partners in cooperation with the U.S. Forest Service. State listings are posted on the "Towers Page" at.ffla.org. The only state without a fire lookout is Kansas, and that will soon change with the future construction of a fire tower on the Cimmaron National Grassland. Today fewer than 2,000 lookouts remain and FFLA's goal is to recognize, help maintain and restore as many as possible. Currently there are nearly 1000 lookouts registered on the National Historic Lookout Register, and most are received some kind of maintenance and about 500 are staffed by paid observers or volunteers.
We are in a race with time, as abandoned fire towers are sold for scrap to make way to new electronic facilities, including cell phone towers, on high points throughout America. Members of FFLA continue to do all they can to prevent that, and are becoming more successful every year. Some lookouts get moved to parks, fairgrounds and museums where people can visit and learn of the proud history of these recognized symbols of forest conservation. Others are sold to private parties who move them to their own woodlands and farms to enjoy and preserve them. A few, especially in the south, revert to the landowner when the forestry agency no longer can staff them and face an uncertain future until one of us comes forward with an offer to help.
I would honestly say that the great majority of Fire Lookouts are publicly accessible via a forest service access road. If by chance the road is gated to prevent public autos from passing through, then it SHOULD be accessible via hiking to it.
ANOTHER THING TO THINK ABOUT... This potential new category could ALSO list those fire lookouts that have been destroyed or abandoned and ALSO registered in the Former Fire Lookout Sites Register website! That increases the potential waymark listing exponentially! Click on the Former Fire Lookout website to read more about their mission: http://www.fflos.com
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UPDATE:
I've sent The Fish Mount group an email to vote on this potentially new category and hopefully, when approved, will call for a peer review.
More to come soon...
Doug
thebeav69
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I'm all for this category idea! I found one headstone in a nearby cemetery that said MURDERED in big, bold letters. I'm still trying to find the story behind it and so this category would entice waymarkers to try and find the history behind some of these causes of death.
I've become a HUGE fan of cemeteries since they contain SO MUCH HISTORY about the local area through the people who are buried in them. Many people buried in local cemeteries often helped to establish the village, town, city, etc. and I find it interesting to try and look up the history and accomplishments of many of these people.
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Greetings, Waymarkers,
In logging a visit to a fire lookout tower in the Lookout Towers Category recently, I was pleasantly surprised to discover that there is a national register (database) for fire lookouts categorized in the National Historic Lookout Register official website (www.nhlr.org). This website ALSO includes fire lookouts from other countries, so this database is not restricted to only US fire lookouts.
I would like to take the necessary steps to create a new category for these fire lookouts since many of them have been abandoned, destroyed and in need of rehabilitation and a category for them would be a wonderful step in the right direction towards highlighting as many of them as possible for other waymarkers to visit, take pictures and share some history about them before some of them are lost forever.
PLEASE take a moment and visit the official website which includes an awesome map of the USA to pinpoint specific fire lookouts registered in your state of interest. I believe there are over 1000 fire lookouts in the national database so far and growing!
http://www.nhlr.org/Lookouts/lookoutlinks.aspx and the Forest Fire Lookout Association website which includes a neat stat sheet of lookouts in every state and ALSO other countries! http://www.ffla.org/
There is also an OFFICIAL placard that is placed at each fire lookout site that states the following:
This Site Listed on the
NATIONAL HISTORIC
LOOKOUT REGISTER
A national register recognizing
fire lookout sites, structures
and towers with historic and
cultural significance to forest
fire detection in order to
promote their protection.
Maintained in cooperation with
federal, state, and private
forestry agencies and
landowners throughout the
United States.
www.firelookout.net
The following text comes directly from the nhlr.org website and describes their mission:
The National Historic Lookout Register (NHLR) is maintained by the American Resources Group® in Washington, D.C. This is the U.S. equivalent of the World Lookout Register. The registers are a cooperative effort of the Forest Fire Lookout Association, the National Forestry Association, the National Woodland Owners Association, the U.S. Forest Service, state foresters and Interior agencies.
Listing in the National Historic Lookout Register is often a first step toward eventual nomination to the National Register of Historic Sites maintained by the U.S. Department of the Interior. Sometimes necessary structural modifications preclude listing in the latter register, and the only appropriate recognition given to these historic lookout sites is that afforded by the NHLR.
When a structure is less than 50 years old, but has sufficient historical significance to be registered, the lookout is listed in the National Lookout Register with an NHLR number, and is automatically transferred to the NHLR upon the 50th anniversary of its construction.
Fire lookouts are a proud symbol of forest conservation in America and are well recognized by the general public. They also often continue to perform an invaluable role in early detection, so important in keeping wildfires manageable and within budget.
I did some more research and discovered the following verbiage off a related website to the National Historic Lookout Register website (www.fflos.com) that says:
At one time there were 8,000+ fire lookouts in 49 states according to the national inventory completed by FFLA and partners in cooperation with the U.S. Forest Service. State listings are posted on the "Towers Page" at.ffla.org. The only state without a fire lookout is Kansas, and that will soon change with the future construction of a fire tower on the Cimmaron National Grassland. Today fewer than 2,000 lookouts remain and FFLA's goal is to recognize, help maintain and restore as many as possible. Currently there are nearly 1000 lookouts registered on the National Historic Lookout Register, and most are received some kind of maintenance and about 500 are staffed by paid observers or volunteers.
We are in a race with time, as abandoned fire towers are sold for scrap to make way to new electronic facilities, including cell phone towers, on high points throughout America. Members of FFLA continue to do all they can to prevent that, and are becoming more successful every year. Some lookouts get moved to parks, fairgrounds and museums where people can visit and learn of the proud history of these recognized symbols of forest conservation. Others are sold to private parties who move them to their own woodlands and farms to enjoy and preserve them. A few, especially in the south, revert to the landowner when the forestry agency no longer can staff them and face an uncertain future until one of us comes forward with an offer to help.
I would honestly say that the great majority of Fire Lookouts are publicly accessible via a forest service access road. If by chance the road is gated to prevent public autos from passing through, then it SHOULD be accessible via hiking to it.
ANOTHER THING TO THINK ABOUT... This potential new category could ALSO list those fire lookouts that have been destroyed or abandoned and ALSO registered in the Former Fire Lookout Sites Register website! That increases the potential waymark listing exponentially! Click on the Former Fire Lookout website to read more about their mission: http://www.fflos.com
All waymarkers to any fire lookout should think of this category in much the same way as the US National Register of Historic Places Category and the long description that I would create would be in much the same manner. I am also looking for any interested folks to join the group I'm establishing for this potential category so if anyone is interested please message me or reply here on this topic.
I look forward to any feedback and am excited to be able to create a new category for these historic lookouts!
Doug aka thebeav69
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What's the ETA for this awesome benchmarking app? I'm definitely interested in beta-testing it unless an 'official' version will be out soon...? I benchmark frequently by looking for them on my topo map app (Trimble Navigator Pro) and seeing if any BMs show up wherever I'm at in my travels around Oregon. Having an actual Android app to also pick up the NGS BMs in my area would be icing on the cake!
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I saw this article online and immediately thought of the Photos Then and Now category! This photographer did some excellent work blending photos of the past with photos of today. Some great spots to do a Then and Now waymark or two!
Happy Waymarking!
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Saw this article online and had to share. Would make a great waymark for the Infamous Crime Scene category (assuming it is publicly accessible)!
AND here:
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I saw this article online and had to share... The story of the Bloody Benders. I looked through the Kansas Historical Marker category and it hasn't been waymarked! This crime story also fits in the Infamous Crime Scene category! Sad but true story of the Old West.... Would be neat to see someone waymark this scene...
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I saw this on FOX News and had to share for those waymarkers that like to waymark Post Offices! At least one of them is ALSO on the National Register of Historic Places... Enjoy!
http://www.foxnews.com/travel/2012/08/21/unique-post-offices-across-nation/?intcmp=features
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How interesting to see Brandy Station in VA listed which I have extensively explored and waymarked.
Just a few of them --
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Brandy Station Battlefield - Buford's Knoll
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Brandy Station Battlefield - St. James Church
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Battle Of Brandy Station - Fleetwood Hill
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Graffiti House at Brandy Station
Because of urban development, most of the Brandy Station Battlefield is spread out in different parcels of land preserved by the CWPT.
Nice job, La de Boheme! It's nice to see that you've already waymarked one of these historic places. I was particularly impressed with the picture you posted of the Graffiti House. Wow, that would be so much fun to slowly take the paint and plaster off the walls to expose the wonderful signatures and sayings from yesteryear.
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Brandy Station Battlefield - Buford's Knoll
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I saw this article on Foxnews.com and thought I'd share with the Waymarking community for those folks who might want to waymark these locations if they haven't been waymarked already:
Happy Waymarking,
Doug
thebeav69
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BIGGEST CATCH
After spending some time geocaching at a lake resort not far from my hometown I was inspired by two fish wall mounts I saw at the resort's restaurant and general store. One was a German Brown trout, the biggest ever caught at Fish Lake. The other wall mount was a Rainbow trout, the largest ever caught in the same lake. After seeing these fishing trophies, I just had to create a category in their honor: Biggest Catch.
The mission as a waymarker if you choose to accept is to find and waymark any fish wall mount that you may come across in your travels. You see them everywhere. In bait shops, restaurants, book stores, hotels, motels, etc. Most of these wall mounts have a small metal plaque below them that tells some history about the fish and what significance it had (i.e., size, weight & who caught it and what year) . So many wall mounts you see are record setters for the state or local area they were caught in. In addition to logging your waymark, detailing some history about the body of water it was caught in would be an extra bonus.
I know that there is a category called Superlatives that many of these fish mounts would fall into. BUT... I believe that a category dedicated to these record-setting fish would be a great niche category that many waymarkers would find appealing.
I welcome any and all opinions on this category idea and please suggest ways to improve on this proposal.
Happy Waymarking!
Doug aka thebeav69
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Thanks, all, for your opinions. With so many responses not in favor of this category, I will not pursue this anymore and move onto something else.
Thanks,
thebeav69
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The idea has maybe some potential. But as long it is limited to one country and only one TV show as a resource, I doubt that it would be a viable category.
fi67, thank you for your opinion. I thought the same thing in regards to the limited landscape this potential category would dictate. But I have also seen other categories that are also limited to the USA. Specifically, any State Historical Marker or State Highway Road Markers, Grange Halls, VFW Posts, some of the silly fast food or restaurant chain categories (still scratching my head on these) are just a few...
I think that many waymarkers wouldn't mind logging onto NBC's website and look for potential sites near their hometowns that they might want to waymark.
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I love this idea as a category! Even more so than the Then and Now photograph category for the reason that there are a plethora of paintings in public art galleries and museums all over the world of renowned painters that could really put a physical place to the painting in question for others to visit and relive the moment where the painter was inspired.
I hope it becomes a category soon!
thebeav69
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FLEECING of AMERICA
Many of you have watched the evening news segments on NBC hosted by Brian Williams called 'Fleecing of America'. Williams highlights the US Government's waste of taxpayer money that has been dedicated to a litany of projects and developments over the years.
The mission of you as a waymarker, if you choose to accept, is to find those places where NBC has spotlighted the waste of taxpayer money and waymark them for others to realize where our taxpayer dollars have gone to fund projects that should never have been developed in the first place.
I've discovered that every episode of 'Fleecing in America' on NBC is available on their website:NBC Website as well as on their CNBC website: CNBC website
Not every 'Fleecing of America' episode can be waymarked since many of the episodes highlight the waste of government dollars WITHIN the government bodies themselves, but many episodes highlight actual locations around America where projects were completed (or not) and funded by taxpayer money at a wasteful level.
I welcome anybody in this forum to give me your opinion of this potentially new category as well as making any suggestions on how to improve this category before going through the process of a peer review.
You may also join my newly-established group titled 'Fleecing of America' if you'd like to be part of this potentially new category's officership. Please click the link to join my group: Fleecing of America group
Happy Waymarking, everyone!
Doug (thebeav69)
Fire Lookouts Peer Review!
in Recruiting and Category Proposals
Posted
I've posted the hopeful new category 'Fire Lookouts' for Peer Review and looking forward to any comments /suggestions here. It took about a week of research and editing lots of copy to finally get to the final description submitted. I've been in touch with the officers of the Look-Out Towers category and a couple have been receptive of working together to cross-reference each others categories in our descriptions.
I hope this category becomes official soon! Happy Waymarking!
Doug
thebeav69