Wednesday, March 28, 2012

BULLIS HISTORY "POPPING UP"

A couple weeks ago we found a calendar issued at the time of the Macedon Bicentennial (1789-1989), for the month of March. The word "Lapham" caught our eye twice:

1.  "March 7, 1811 - Dr. Increase Lapham born in Macedon. Founder of U.S. Weather Bureau."
(In case you missed it, here is a paragraph from our December 11, 2010 post: "Through the Laphams, the Bullises were connected not only to the renowned Susan B.  Anthony but also to Increase Lapham (March 7, 1811–September 14, 1875), who emigrated from his birthplace in Palmyra, New York to Wisconsin, and is considered the “Father” of the United States Weather Service.")

2. "March 30, 1815 - During this year, Jacob Gannett and Daniel Lapham built first carding machine mill."

Once again, we are reminded of the Lapham family's strong  commitment to their community as well as their inventiveness, creativity, and business acumen.  Nettie Bullis was an embodiment of all these qualities, and this week we again celebrate and honor her birth. Here is a link to our March 19, 2009 post on Nettie Bullis: http://bullisbookchronicles.blogspot.com/2009/03/nettie-bullis.html

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

DISCUSSIONS ON CLIMATE CHANGE

Inside and outside of the Bullis Room, there's talk going on about our mild winter. (We can imagine Charlie Bullis wondering if his poppies and day lillies will bloom early this year.)

In recent years when the topic of global warming and climate change became a topic of general discussion, some of us were not aware that there is a book in the Bullis Room that addresses that exact subject...and it was written 126 years ago.

The next time you stop by, ask to see the collection's copy of Discussions on Climate and Cosmology, written in 1886 by James Croll.  He developed a theory that there is a relationship between climate change and the earth's orbit.  Then, as now, the idea of climate change in general had its share of supporters and naysayers.  However, Croll's book holds some intriguing information that deserves a second look.

(And by the way - Happy First Day of Astronomical Spring.)

Saturday, March 10, 2012

RATIONING

As we wrote last week's post, we thought about a Democrat & Chronicle article (2-27-12, 1B)  by Bob Marcotte regarding gasoline rationing during the war years. (See "Brakes put on pleasure driving," Democrat and Chronicle, 2-27-12).  He wrote:

"Gasoline rationing began in the eastern states in 1942..." following losses of oil tankers in the Atlantic. Gasoline shortages intensified, and in January 1943, "Americans in 17 eastern states and the District of Columbia were told they would no longer be allowed to drive their cars for pleasure--not to the movies not to a hockey game, not to a lodge meeting, and certainly not to accordion lessons." For those who did not comply with these rules, harsh penalties were imposed. For example, concert-goers at Eastman Theater had their ration books seized...which meant those drivers could no longer purchase gasoline.

Ration books ... do you remember them?  There are some in the Bullis collection, still partially filled with little coupons to be torn off and handed to a merchant in order to buy gas, sugar, etc. If you're feeling nostalgic, or just want to see what a ration book really was, stop by the Bullis Room and let us show you.

Today, we can drive for pleasure. Something to be grateful for.

Saturday, March 3, 2012

SELF-PROPELLED VEHICLES

Two D&C newspaper articles this week sent us searching through the Bullis records for books on automobiles. The first was an item in the "History" column on Sunday, noting that in 1911 Charles F. Kettering "demonstrated his electric automobile starter in Detroit by starting a Cadillac's motor with just the press of a switch, instead of hand-cranking." The second was Bob Marcotte's February 27 article titled "Brakes put on 'pleasure driving,'" referring to gas rationing in 1942.  So we decided to see what was in the Bullis collection on automobiles, and we found another fascinating book.

Self-propelled Vehicles was written by James E. Homans and published in 1912 by Theo. Audel & Company. It includes information on "construction, operation, care and management of all forms of automobiles." It has approximately 500 illustrations and diagrams and includes information on the "various types of motor carriages driven by steam, gasoline and electricity." This book is a must-read for readers interested in machine mechanics and a must-look-through for those of us who love old books. You are invited to take a look, whichever category you fall in.