Travels with Auntie M: November 2011

Beer Can House, Houston, TX – 12 NOV 2011

In 1968 when John Milkovisch retired from the railroad as an upholsterer, he started tinkering in his workshop. It turned into a project that continued the rest of his life…transforming his ordinary bungalow and garden into a wonderland.

He began using intricate patterns of concrete studded with marbles, salvaged industrial washers, and stones…covering the entire yard and drive. When asked why, he responded simply that he no longer wanted to mow the grass.

Then he started on the house, first embellishing it with garlands made from beer can tops, rims and pull tabs hung in a dense row from the eaves in the front of the house…eventually around the entire house.

He cut and flattened some beer cans and created a band around the bottom of the house near the back door. His wife would return from work each day and find a little more of the house had disappeared under an ever growing skin of beer cans.

Eventually the entire dwelling was hidden beneath thousands of beer cans, ensuring that he would never have to paint the house again.

The cans also created a protective and energy-efficient covering that lowered the family’s electric bills. He denied any artistic intent.

Today it is owned by the Orange Show Center for Visionary Art and is open to the Public on Saturday and Sunday from noon to 5:00 PM.

Here is the sound of Beer Can House:

Tribute to American Statesmanship, Houston, TX – 12 NOV 2011

Roadside

America

called it Mount Rush Hour, which is most appropriate as it is located on a dead-end street next to the Freeway.

20 feet high busts of George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Sam Houston and Stephen Austin at the intersection of Interstate 45 and Interstate 10 near downtown Houston, TX. They were created by Texas artist David Adickes who has done several larger-than-life sculptures.

National Museum of Funeral History, Houston, TX - 12 NOV 2011

1925 Solid Glass Adult Casket

This Houston museum houses the country’s largest collection of funeral service artifacts.

Large One in Back, Custom-Made Family Coffin

When I was here in 1994 it was slightly rustic and a third the size of today’s very polished presentation.

Cold Air Ice Casket

They have several novelty caskets…

Wicker Ambulance Basket

Fantasy Coffins of Kane Quaye

Spend Eternity in an Onion

1900s Railroad Baggage Cart

1900s Children’s White Hearse

1939 Superior-Lasalle Mount Claire Hearse

There are many cars…all of them hearses.

1951 Superior-Cadillac Landaulet Hearse

1921 Rockfalls Hearse

It's hand-carved body is composed of six types of wood.

In 1994, they had several coffins, caskets, historical hearses, and the history of embalming, but now they have several more exhibits including: Presidential Funerals, Celebrating the Lives and Deaths of the Popes, Egyptian Funeral Practices, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Japanese Funerals, Day of the Dead and 19^th Century Mourning Customs.

Halloween Classic Car Show

Sign reads: The Basket Case Orgin – During the Civil War era, the soldiers that had their legs amputated because of battle field injury or disease were carried around in a wicker basket and were know as a “basket cate”. Thereafter the deceased were removed from their place of death in a wicker basket.

Historic Coffin Parts

19^th Century Mourning Costumes

1855 Victorian Hair Wreath Shadow Box

Items Made From Human Hair

1920’s Mourning Quilt Made
From Floral Ribbons

They also have an impressive gift shop you can visit online: Link to: Shop NMFH

I warned Tinky Winky about playing with plastic bags.

Check out my cemetery art: EnfocusGallery.com

Glenwood Cemetery Houston, TX – 11 NOV 2011

Created by the Houston Cemetery Company in 1871, it was located in a rural area with natural ravines.

When I was last here, in 1994, it was located in the heart of a poor, run-down, ruff-looking neighborhood.

Now it’s surrounded by townhouses and well-kept apartment buildings.

I love these 19^th century romantic garden cemeteries which were considered landscaped parks in their era and afforded the general public a pleasant place to spend a Sunday afternoon.

I saw signs of well preformed re-construction on statues that had once been vandalized.

I didn’t know it at the time but, Howard Hughes (Hughes Aircraft) and Gene Tierney (Actress) are buried here.

The statue below is the one I remembered the most from my previous visit. Quinlan, Texas is named after this man and Anna, Texas was named after his daughter. The initials stand for Houston and Texas Central Railway Company.

George Austin Quinlan

This is what was written around the base: “He entered the service of the HTCRR Jan 1,1866 and was advanced step by step until he became its Vice President and General Manager Apr 1, 1893. Which position he held at the time of his death.” ”QUINLAN” : “Born Oct 31, 1838 - Died Aug 29, 1901” : “Erected by employees of the HTCRR Co to the memory of George Austin Quinlan.” : “Soldier, Gentleman, A True Friend, A Honest Man”