Dr Seuss

Springfield, MA  2017

Surrounded by the Springfield Museums is the Dr Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden which features a number of the characters made famous by this beloved children's author. Theodore Robert Geisel was born and raised in Springfield, MA.  Adjacent to the sculpture garden is the recently opened "World of Dr Seuss" museum.  

Gee Bee

Springfield, MA  2017

This airplane is the only "Zeta" model made of the popular racing Gee Bee planes.  Between 1929 and 1934, Granville Brothers Aircraft, Inc, produced the popular Gee Bee racing planes in Springfield.  They were fast, but not the safest planes ever built.

Indian X4

Springfield, MA  2017

When the Ford Model T began to sell at a price less than an Indian V-Twin Chief, sales of Indian motorcycles fell.  The company went into the auto business in 1926  and designed four automobiles, this being the last, the X4.  The company was perfecting this design just as the stock market crashed in 1929 and it never went into production as the company was forced to sell its automobile business.

Pair of Scouts

Springfield, MA  2017

1916 Indian Powerplus

Springfield, MA  2017

The Indian Powerplus  celebrated it's 100th anniversary last year.  It was the first motorcycle to feature a clutch and a kick starter rather than the traditional bicycle pedals.

1932 Indian Scout Pony

Springfield, MA  2017

The original selling price for this motorcycle was $225.  

Indian 'Eighty'

Springfield, MA  2017

I have never been on a motorcycle and never had any great desire to ride one.  Seeing some of these classic bikes makes me wonder what I might have missed in life.  

Indians

Springfield, MA  2017

The Indian Motorcycle Co, the first motorcycle company in America manufactured motorcycles in Springfield from 1901 to 1953.  The History of Springfield museum now houses the Esta Manthos Indian Motorcycle Collection which contains over two dozen rare Indian Motorcycles.  

1925 Rolls Royce Silver Ghost Picadilly Roadster

Springfield, MA  2017

This Rolls was once owned by S. Prestly Blake, a co-founder of the Friendly Ice Cream Co, an institution throughout New England.

1928 Rolls Royce Phantom I

Springfield, MA  2017

For a short time Rolls Royce had a manufacturing facility in Springfield to make their luxury cars for the US market.  This Phantom I was made in Springfield.

1993 Springfield Duryea

Springfield, MA  2017

This is an original copy of the first successful gasoline-powered automobile built in 1993.  It was built to commemorated the first test drive that vehicle in Springfield 100 years earlier.

T-Rex

Springfield, MA  2017

No science/natural history museum would be complete without one of these guys.  

Springfield Museums

Springfield, MA

There are now five separate museums located around a quadrangle, close to downtown Springfield. This is the entrance to the Science Museum. Located nearby are the George Walter Vincent Smith Art Museum, the Michele and Donald D'Amour Museum of Fine Art, the Lyman and Merrie Wood Museum of Springfield History and the newly opened "World of Dr Seuss".  Recently my wife and I took in three of the museums which kept us occupied for the better part of a Saturday.  It was well worth the hour drive to Springfield and the reasonable price of admission.

Fun with Filters

Madison, CT  2017

I don't use a lot of filters, or presets in processing my digital photos, but every now and then I run across a scene that really calls for a vintage type look.  This old house on the outskirts of Madison, CT has been unoccupied for years and is showing its age.  I think it is over 100 years old.  

Head Start

Madison, CT  2017

Madison Hose Co.

Madison, CT  2017

Tony's

Madison, CT  2017

Face and Owl

Madison, CT  2017

I would think these two sculptures were done by the same artist.  Similar forms and materials were used.   

Zipper?

Madison, CT 2017

I'm not sure what to call this. 

Blue Sculpture

Madison, CT  2017

The sculpture walk in Madison had some very interesting pieces, but I could fine no names or artists for the individual sculptures.  Some were obviously done by the same artist, with the same materials. This one was rather unique, however. 

Trio

Madison, CT  2017

Reflection

Madison, CT  2017

Key Bank Courtyard

Madison, CT  2017

I recently did some exploring through the shoreline communities in Connecticut and spent a few hours enjoying the downtown/business area of Madison, CT.  The main street in Madison is US Route 1, also known as Boston Post Road.  Tucked between the businesses there is this courtyard which features a number of interesting sculptures, although none had any attributions from what I could see.  I'll be featuring some of the more interesting sculptures this week.  

Bench

Madison, CT  2017

Town Marina

Clinton, CT  2017

Beached

Clinton, CT  2017

Hovercraft

New London, CT  2017

Apparently there is a new way to travel to Fishers Island or  Long Island from  New London.  These hovercraft can be chartered for your trip.  The don't even need a pier to dock, and take you right up to any sandy beach.  They are a bit pricey though.  A 20 minute, one-way trip to Fishers Island will cost you $200, while a trip to Sag Harbor on Long Island will set you back $700.  For comparison, taking a car with driver and a passenger on the Susan Anne, pictured in yesterday's post, to Orient Point, NY costs a mere $70.75.  

Susan Anne

New London, CT  2017

No photo walk around New London would be complete without at least one photo of a ferry.  I can't help myself.  

Future Home

New London, CT  2017

New London is the home of the Coast Guard Academy, just up the road from the site of their new museum.  It doesn't look like much now, but according the museum's website, President Trump's budget included $5 million for construction, so maybe construction will start sometime soon.