Historical Marker Ahead

Charles Town, WV courthouse. The building in which John Brown was tried for treason against the state of Virginia.

The room where the John Brown trial took place in 1859. On one wall are portraits of Robert E Lee and Stonewall Jackson. On the other wall is a picture of Martin Luther King, Jr.

If you visit the Charles Town Courthouse, you can visit the room where John Brown’s trial took place.

In one wall of the room they have pics of Lee and Jackson. But on the other wall, someone hung a pic of MLK… which feels like someone doing a quiet woke protest 🤪

Historical marker in Boonsboro, Maryland. It reads: The Battle of Antietam or Sharpsburg The bloodiest conflict of the war between the states occurred September 17, 1862, a few miles from this point (turn right in the center of Boonsboro). Maryland Historical Trust Maryland State Highway Administration

Spent the day at the Antietam and Monocacy Civil War battlefields and am reminded how over and over, since we compare war to sports, everybody forgets that home-field advantage matters, and a spectacular offense grabs your attention but defense wins championships.

A dog begs for my attention in front of a marker on the part of her Charles Town, WV, yard that was the site of John Brown’s hanging for leading the 1859 raid on the US Armory in Harper’s Ferry, West Virginia (then Virginia) designed to inspire a slave uprising.

Two dogs beg for my attention while I’m trying to look at historical markers about John Brown’s hanging. Of course I gave it to them.

Historical marker in front of the sidewalk by the yard that’s now the site of where John Brown was hanged in 1859. The dogs were behind the fence so they couldn’t get to me here. The marker reads: John Brown Scaffold Within these grounds a short distance east of this marker is the site of the scaffold on which John Brown, leader of the Harper’s Ferry raid, was executed December the Second, 1859. Erected by the Jefferson County Historical Society of West Virginia, 1932.

Looking north, there is a relatively new historical marker in front of the John Brown scaffold marker in Charles Town, WV. It reads: Green and Copeland Jr. Abolitionists Shields Green and John Copeland Jr. were sacrificed at the gallows on Dec. 6, 1859 for their pursuit of freedom for all Americans. Young Green and Copeland were two of the five African American men who participated in the revolt against slavery along with John Brown in Harpers Ferry in 1859. The field to the east was the hanging site. Erected 2025 by City of Charles Town; Green-Copeland American Legion Auxiliary 63; West Virginia Archives & History.

Visited the John Brown hanging site in Charles Town, WV. 32 years after his death there was a house built by the guy who first fired at Brown during his 1859 Harper’s Ferry raid. The dogs currently residing at the 1891 Victorian house let you look at the markers for the cost of sniffs and pets

Sorry, 18 and 20

@tonyreast.bsky.social

Jazz-Wizards was way more entertaining than you’d think in a game where Leaky Black and JuJu Reese each played 38 minutes for DC. Jazz 122, Wizards 112. Trae Young in his 19 minutes brought joy and fun to this moribund team. Juju, Angel’s little bro, had 19 points and 20 boards in his 3rd NBA game.

Trae Young shooting 30-foot warmup shots

Trae Young, debuting as a Wizard tonight, working on game shots

Advertisement for the NBA’s greatest halftime show, Red Panda, at the March 16 Wizards game

Come see Red Panda! Also comes with free Wizards game

Jersey night at the Washington Wizards

A historic moment, yes, Trae’s first Wizards game. But I and most everyone else will be wearing 26, what with it being free jersey night.

Oh yeah a Trae Young Wizards jersey

Washington Wizards banner outside Capitol One Arena with four “stars” you’ve never heard of on that sad roster

Keeping tabs on the opps tonight, @tonyreast.bsky.social (vs Utah, I’m a sicko)

A dog begs for my attention in front of a marker on the part of her Charles Town, WV, yard that was the site of John Brown’s hanging for leading the 1859 raid on the US Armory in Harper’s Ferry, West Virginia (then Virginia) designed to inspire a slave uprising.

Two dogs beg for my attention while I’m trying to look at historical markers about John Brown’s hanging. Of course I gave it to them.

Historical marker in front of the sidewalk by the yard that’s now the site of where John Brown was hanged in 1859. The dogs were behind the fence so they couldn’t get to me here. The marker reads: John Brown Scaffold Within these grounds a short distance east of this marker is the site of the scaffold on which John Brown, leader of the Harper’s Ferry raid, was executed December the Second, 1859. Erected by the Jefferson County Historical Society of West Virginia, 1932.

Looking north, there is a relatively new historical marker in front of the John Brown scaffold marker in Charles Town, WV. It reads: Green and Copeland Jr. Abolitionists Shields Green and John Copeland Jr. were sacrificed at the gallows on Dec. 6, 1859 for their pursuit of freedom for all Americans. Young Green and Copeland were two of the five African American men who participated in the revolt against slavery along with John Brown in Harpers Ferry in 1859. The field to the east was the hanging site. Erected 2025 by City of Charles Town; Green-Copeland American Legion Auxiliary 63; West Virginia Archives & History.

Visited the John Brown hanging site in Charles Town, WV. 32 years after his death there was a house built by the guy who first fired at Brown during his 1859 Harper’s Ferry raid. The dogs currently residing at the 1891 Victorian house let you look at the markers for the cost of sniffs and pets

This is an interesting piece not only about the afterlife of monuments taken down during the 2020 George Floyd reckoning, but also how people have transformed the sites where they once stood.

Braintree Detecting UK Bronze Artifact Whats its Age & Use? YouTube video by John's History & Detecting Adventures

Braintree Detecting UK Bronze Artifact Whats its Age & Use? youtube.com/live/VDA-odC...

Siakam est juste un bijou. La palette offensive affichée sur cette première mi-temps ... Il leur a tout fait.

Historical marker in Boonsboro, Maryland. It reads: The Battle of Antietam or Sharpsburg The bloodiest conflict of the war between the states occurred September 17, 1862, a few miles from this point (turn right in the center of Boonsboro). Maryland Historical Trust Maryland State Highway Administration

Spent the day at the Antietam and Monocacy Civil War battlefields and am reminded how over and over, since we compare war to sports, everybody forgets that home-field advantage matters, and a spectacular offense grabs your attention but defense wins championships.

Robin Ficker for Congress sign in Frederick, Maryland. Ficker was best known for being the NBA’s loudest heckler, performing at Wizards and Bullets games.

Sorry @kdonhoops.com I was in a moving car

(Robin Ficker for Congress sign in Frederick, Maryland. Yes, the heckler at Wizards/Bullets games)

Pioneer Cemetery Historical Marker

Pioneer Cemetery (f.1832)
Southfield, Oakland County Michigan

On the east side of Lahser between 10 Mile and Civic Center Drive.

#graveyards #cemeteries #suburban #southfield #oakland #michigan @hmdb.org @historicalmarker.bsky.social

Resharing not only because it’s a big primary night but also that I’m in the middle of a road trip where I’ve stopped and gotten pics of lord knows how many historical markers (including the one below).

So get ready, fans of signs.

Monument in Richmond, Indiana, for the 41 killed in two gas explosions on April 6, 1968. It wasn’t as big as news story as you might expect because the nation was dealing with the aftermath, two days before, of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Monument in Richmond, Indiana. It reads: The memory of the forty-one persons who lost their lives in the tragic downtown explosion April 6, 1968 And with everlasting gratitude to those who helped give rebirth to the city

1 of 2 monuments (the other has the names of the dead) for two April 6, 1968, gas explosions that killed 41 people and leveled much of downtown Richmond, Ind. There were multiple gas leaks in the area, so bad a lot of businesses kept doors open to fight the smell. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richmon...

Another lynching-site marker from an @eji.org project. The Equal Justice Initiative site says 89 are up but with recent additions it must be 100 or more by now.

National Historic Marker Weekend | William G. Pomeroy Foundation The William G. Pomeroy Foundation® presents National Historic Marker Weekend 2026, taking place Friday, April 24 through Sunday, April 26.

National Historic Marker Weekend (April 24 – 26) is a weekend where everyone is encouraged to do some spring cleaning of historic markers in their communities. Your organization can participate, and the William G. Pomeroy Foundation has a volunteer kit and is holding a photo challenge this year.

Town of Kure Beach to unveil historical marker for German U-Boat attack The marker placement is an America 250 World War II Wilmington activity of the WWII Wilmington Home Front Heritage Coalition.

Town of Kure Beach to unveil historical marker for German U-Boat attack #Community

North Carolina historical plaque in Wilmington: “ WILMINGTON COUP Armed white mob met at armory here, Nov. 10, 1898. Marched six blocks and burned office of Daily Record. black-owned newspaper. Violence left untold numbers of African Americans dead. Led to overthrow of city government & installation of coup leader as mayor. Was part of a statewide political campaign based on calls for white supremacy and the exploitation of racial prejudice.”

I randomly read this one historical marker and it’s the only reason I know.

Disputed Election of 1876 | Miller Center In 1876, no clear winner emerged in the presidential election because the outcomes in three states were unclear

Today is the anniversary of settling the chaotic election of 1876, or, How the South Won the Civil War millercenter.org/the-presiden...

Don Knotts statue, Morgantown, West Virginia

Plaque in Morgantown, WV. It reads: Don Knotts, a Morgantown native, began his career performing as a ventriloquist here at the historic Metropolitan Theatre. After graduating from Morgantown High School in 1942 and West Virginia University in 1948, his impressive comedic and acting talents led to memorable television and movie roles, including: == Deputy Barney Fife in The Andy Griffith Show == Ralph Furley in Three's Company == Henry Limpet in The Incredible Mr. Limpet == Luther Heggs in The Ghost and Mr. Chicken == Theodore Ogelvie in The Apple Dumpling Gang Among the many honors Don received during his career were five Emmys for his role on The Andy Griffith Show and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2000. Married three times, Don had two children, Thomas and Karen. Never forgetting his roots, Don returned many times to attend high school reunions and visit friends. To commemorate his life and success in making us all laugh, Don Knotts Boulevard was named in his honor in 1998. Learn more about Don Knotts at the Morgantown History Museum. Erected 2022 by Morgantown History Museum.

Close-up of the Don Knotts statue in Morgantown, WV. It depicts him holding his police cap from his role as Barney Fife in the 1960s TV series “The Andy Griffith Show,” which made him a star.

One-time anointed comedy genius Don Knotts

The Metropolitan Theater and Don Knotts were born in Morgantown, WV, in 1924, and the man who became a comedy star in the 1960s debuted as a ventriloquist there. Thanks his statue outside the building they are still bonded.

A bartender told me people will put beads on the statue sometimes.

He shared this explainer link, but the short story is the statue the Texas Rangers baseball team is putting up was removed from Dallas’ Love Field in 2020 because its subject was so racist.

www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/...

Birthplace of Democratic rooster historic marker in Greenfield, Indiana. It reads: The use of the rooster as a Democratic Party symbol originated in Greenfield in the 1840 campaign. The rooster was later adapted by the state and national Democratic parties. Erected 1966.

Alice In Chains voice: “Here comes the Democratic rooster… oh yeah!”

(I highly recommend this glorious, purple-prosed 1913 article of the Democratic rooster’s invention in Greenfield, Indiana. The donkey competed with the rooster until winning out in 1932) www.newrivernotes.com/the-rooster-...

As someone who does a quirky thing for no discernible reward, I grieve at a society that doesn’t value doing quirky things for no discernible reward.

Very dirty and corroded historical marker in Chicago. It reads: Lake View High School Here in 1874, was built Lake View High School, one of the first township schools in Illinois. Erected in accordance with legislation enacted by General Assembly of 1872 Erected by Chicago’s Charter Jubilee Authenticated by Chicago Historical Society 1937 City of Chicago Incorporated 4th March 1837 Erected 1937 by Chicago’s Charter Jubilee

Entry to current Lake View High School building, which went up in 1898.

Hallway at Lake View High School, Chicago

Detail of murals at entry to Lake View High School, Chicago

Despite everything I’m staying on my shit so here’s historical marker and related pics from a visit to see one of my kids hoop at Lake View High School in Chicago