On This Day 150 Years ago, Camp William Penn Was Inaugurated And The First Members Of The U.S.C.T. Arrived

On this day 150 years ago, Camp William Penn was inaugurated and the first Members of the United States Colored Troops (U.S.C.T.), the Black Soldiers of the Union, arrived. In honor of the day and in honor of the overall Sesquicentennial of the American Civil War, I travelled to Elkins Park, Pennsylvania, the location of Camp William Penn, to commemorate this occasion. That iron gate you see is all that remains of the Camp. That gate is a century and a half old! 



Unfortunately I could not record any video footage due to the heavy rain. I look to return to this site very, very soon.

June 11, 1813 Baltimore Patriot Newspaper With War Of 1812 News ... Published Exactly Two Centuries Ago!

In this video, I showcase a copy of a Baltimore Patriot Newspaper from June 11, 1813 ... exactly 200 years ago today. It contains War Of 1812 News specifically the Battle Of Fort George. This is very special and very apropos for the War Of 1812 Bicentennial. You will note references to Colonel Winfield Scott, Major Benjamin Forsyth, Major General Morgan Lewis and Major General Henry Dearborn. Advertisements fill the front page including one advertisement about a stray cow and a "coloured" man!


Here is the url for the above video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWuX-HAMcfw

Photographs ...












There you have it ... a newspaper with first-hand accounts of the War Of 1812 from the very day it was printed and published ... literally two centuries ago!

Jimmy Weston Of The Danleers Passed Away 20 Years Ago Today

My Friends: I have a very special tribute for you this evening. On this day, 20 years ago, Jimmy Weston, lead vocalist of The Danleers, passed away. His voice can be heard on the big hit "One Summer Night", no doubt one of the quintessential songs that epitomized the Doo Wop Era.

June 10, 2013 ... two decades since the passing of Jimmy Weston. Gone. Certainly not forgotten.

I never got to see The Danleers in concert and, to me, that is very unfortunate. Very sad.


The url for the above video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=li6vGLZ9SIs

Here I am with an original pressing of the single for "One Summer Night" (released in 1958):