Travels with Auntie M

Indian Motorcycle, Springfield, MA - JUL 2013

The Quadrangle (Springfield Museum Complex) held an Indian Motorcycle Day honoring Butch Baer and four generations of Indian enthusiasts.

Butch is an Indian Motorcycle historian, collector and son of Frank (Fritzie) Bare of the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame.

The Indian Motorcycle Company was started in Springfield in 1901, making it America's oldest motorcycle brand.

Harley-Davidson didn't present its' first prototype until 1904.

In 1902, the Indian Motorcycle set a speed record...56 mph.

By 1910, Indian was the largest manufacturer of motorcycles in the world.

Their most popular models were the Scout (1920-1946) and the Chief (1922-1953).

With the start of World War I, they over-sold their Powerplus line to the US Government.

This depleted domestic availability, which lead to the loss of dealers, from which they never recovered.

This faux pas, lead to Harley-Davidson becoming the number one brand during the post war business boom of the 1920's.

In 1930 they merged with Du Pont Motors.

Du Pont stopped making cars and concentrated on Indian.

In 1934, 24 color options were offered.

The Indian head dress logo was featured on the gas tank.

By 1940, they were nearly back to matching their major rival (Harley-Davidson) in sales.

However, the company was also manufacturing aircraft engines, bicycles, motor boats and air conditioners.

By World War II, the US Army was using mainly Harley-Davidson.

In 1945, Ralph Rogers purchased controlling interest in the company and began making lightweight motorcycles such as the Arrow and Super Scout.

The company went bankrupt in 1953.

In 2011, Polaris Industries purchased the Indian Motorcycle.

Today they are back in business with three models: Chief Classic, Chief Vintage and the Chieftain.

2014 Indian Chief

Holyoke Merry-Go-Around, Holyoke, MA – 03 AUG 2013

Carousels date back to medieval times, where they were used as a training device for knights, to prepare for battle.

This 1929 Merry-Go-Around was originally located in Mountain Park, Holyoke, MA.

Few Carousels survive after their homes are closed as each horse can sell for thousands of dollars.

Luckily, this one found a new home in a custom-built recreation of its’ original carousel pavilion.

It spins at a whopping 6 miles an hour…the fastest one I’ve ever seen.

It was fun to see it attract riders of all ages.

As I was photographing the horses, I began to notice their expressions.

None of them looked happy.

Even with the gay music, I felt as if they were being forced into service.

The Titanic Museum, Indian Orchard, MA – 03 AUG 2013

I followed my navigation system, looked out the window and said, “Where is it?”

Then I spotted the small sign in the window:

I walked into a small crowded jewelry/bric-a-brac store and said I was looking for the Titanic Museum. The Owner said, “It’s in the back” and walked into a room about the size of my hotel room. She took my $4.00 entry fee and proudly presented me with a stub. “Here’s your Boarding Pass and don’t forget to check out the other room,” she said nodding to the right.

I turned around and found I was in the Museum. There were no pictures allowed so I bought a few old postcards with images of the room.

The total lack of technology gave a strange feeling of having fallen through a time warp into the 1960’s. I swear all the signage looked as if it was printed on a Smith Corona.

I ask if anything was from the actual ship and got a brisk, “We don’t believe in salvage.”

“Because it’s a grave?” I asked.

“Yes, and shouldn't be disturbed.”

All of the antiques came from other White Star or similar ships or had been property of survivors, their relatives or relatives of the deceased. The other room which turned out to be 1/3 the size of the first room was filled with poster, book, souvenirs and other curios relating to any movie ever made relating to the Titanic.

As I was expecting, it was a small, strange place, but I enjoyed it and was able to get a new battery for my watch which I just happen to have in my pocket.

In nearby Springfield, is the Oak Grove Cemetery which has the above monument.

Milton C. Long, 29, was born in Springfield and was a First Class Passenger, traveling alone. His body was recovered.

Jane Carr, 47, a Third Class passenger, worked as a domestic and cook in Springfield. Her body was never recovered.

Norman Rockwell Museum, Stockbridge, MA – 13 JUL 2013

This complex was founded by the artist himself and exhibits the largest public collection of his artwork.

Rockwell images were used on signs around the grounds.

There were also sculptures done by his son, Peter.

If you think of Norman Rockwell as an American painter and illustrator who depicted everyday life of small town America in days gone pass, you have only scratched the surface of his art.

Yes, he created many images for the cover of the Saturday Evening Post and for Boy Scouts of America's publication Boys' Life...

...however, his work was carefully constructed and pulled from his imagination to depict life not as he saw it but as he wished it to be. He is quoted as saying, “I paint life as I would like it to be.”

The Gossips

He painted universal situations with hidden messages and multiple meanings. As with any art…leaving it open to individual interpretation.

He was commissioned to paint every major presidential candidate from 1952 to 1972.

I love his self-portraits and how he often incorporated himself into the image as with The Gossips where he is the victim.

(Note: in the Triple Self-Portrait, he surrounds his own image with those of painters he admired: Rembrandt, van Gogh, Picasso and Dürer.)

In the Golden Rule, which was painted for the 14^th Anniversary of the United Nations, his dedication to global peace and harmony is reflected. Of the piece, he said, “I wanted to include people of every race, creed, and color, depicting them with dignity and respect.”

Looking around the gallery I saw the same type of faces admiring his art.

He also took the opportunity to express his social concerns, as with this image, The Problem We All Live With, depicting Ruby Bridges, the little girl who integrated the New Orleans school system in 1960.

The museum was also displaying an exhibit of his son, Jarvis, who does three-dimensional art.

I liked these toy story boxes that reminded me of the ones Tinky Winky played with at the Brewery Art Walk: Brewery Art Walk

His third son, Thomas is an, author. I saw this image walking to Norman Rockwells' studio:

Below is his studio which was moved here from his former home on South Street in Stockbridge:

Originally, the studio was left as it was found when he died in 1978, but later, it was reset to represent how it looked in 1960 when he painted the Golden Rule.