Muir Wood - The Rest of the Slides

As mentioned in an earlier post, the DigMyPics slide and film scanning service is back in business. So, I was able to get the rest of my Muir Woods slides scanned. There were not many, but here they are including George C. Scott resting between scenes (see previous post). Photography in Muir Woods is extremely difficult because of the extremes in lighting. Even digital cameras have trouble with the high contrast, but by taking more than one photograph of the same scene at different exposures, software can correct the problem.

Harpers Ferry -- And Last, but not Least

Just about 100 years before I arrived at Harper's Ferry, my boyhood (and adult) hero rode through the streets of the town. The town changed hands several times during the Civil War and on this date, the place was under the control of Federal troops. General Custer in 1864 was 25 years old, and had become a brigadier general at 23. The following year, he was promoted to major general, and given a command of a cavalry division under General Phil Sheridan. He remains the youngest person to ever achieve the rank of general in the American army.

Harpers Ferry and the Railroads

Two railroads, the Baltimore & Ohio, and the Winchester & Potomac converge at Harper's Ferry, and pass over a couple of bridges to the Maryland side of the Potomac. The W & P line passed right behind our house on curved tracks, and made the most wild screech of iron wheels on iron track as it slowly moved by. And, of course, their freight trains usually came through in the middle of the night! However, there was an advantage having the trains right there -- you could take a passenger train directly to Washington, D.C. and back.

Harpers Ferry -- The Seasons

Ah yes, the four seasons at Harper's Ferry. Summer, winter, fall and spring. Click here for more seasonal photographs.

Harpers Ferry Buildings and Other Details

Here's a few photos of some of the architectural details of Harper's Ferry. The sign above was also part of the Harper's Ferry scene -- remember I was there during the psychedelic 1960's! (For other "detail" pictures, click here.)

Harpers Ferry National Historical Park

Harper's Ferry is located at the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers in West Virginia. Directly across the Potomac is state of Maryland, and across the Shenandoah is the state of Virginia.

Harper's Ferry is most famous for John Brown's raid in 1859. Since a Federal arsenal was located here, Brown and his men (including Harry Flashman) hoped to seize the arsenal weapons and ultimately arm slaves for a rebellion to obtain their freedom. They held the town for 36 hours until they were either killed or captured by U.S. Marines commanded by Robert E. Lee.

Over the course of the Civil War, the town changed hands several times, and the armory was destroyed. Now the lower part of the town by the rivers is part of the National Park while the upper area is privately owned and features shops that cater mostly to tourists.

While working there, our quarters were the entire second floor of the Master Armorer's House (shorter building facing the street in the left hand photo below) which was built in the 1850's. The first floor was a museum displaying the firearms produced at Harper's Ferry while it was a Federal armory.