Friday, October 28, 2005

From The Blue

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Photo: Sunset Downtown Springfield, IL 10.26.05


From The Blue
by JeromeProphet

A tear in your eye.
Dropped from the sky.
It took me.
Then you.

We fell in love.
But not with each other.
It knew what to do.

A tear so fake.
A loss replaced.
With a lie.
And a lover.

Like an angel it said.
it was my sin.
Like a demon it said.
It was my win.

It's my approval you sought.
As you look into my eyes.
Then you no longer care.

Puddles of tears fall as you turn.
I reach out my hand.
While the sun rises upon another day.

How To Install A Street Lamp V

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Photo: CWLP Journeymen Wire Street Lamp

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Photo: CWLP Journeymen - Downtown Springfield, IL

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Photo: CWLP Journeymen Install Street Lamp 10.26.05

These photographs were taken minutes before new Victorian style street lamps were erected. The Victorian styled street lamps replaced older "modern" street lamps. The new street lamps are being installed in the downtown historic area. Springfield, Illinois is host for the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library, and Museum and has been undergoing extensive revitalization, and beautification. Downtown Springfield, Illinois has seen a significant increase in tourism since the opening of the Abraham Presidential Library, and Museum, and many specialty shops, and eateries now cater to this increased customer base.

Having either lived, or worked in downtown Springfield, Illinois for the last two decades I can honestly say that downtown Springfield looks better now than at any point since the early 1970's. Clearly, downtown Springfield is a great place to work, play, and live - and it's only getting better with each, and every day! My hat is off to those responsible!

Photographs by JeromeProphet.

Wednesday, October 26, 2005

How To Install A Street Lamp IV

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Photo: Seventh & Washington - Prior to Sand & Brick Application

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Photo: Fresh Cement Applied Around Street Lamp Base 10.21.05

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Photo: Same Location Four Days Later After Brick Work 10.25.05

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Photo: High Pressure Water Blows Out Stray Sand Prior To Wiring


This post is another in the series of postings detailing the installation of new Victorian style street lamps in downtown Springfield, Illinois. This photo series was captured during the final weeks of October 2005 on Washington, and Seventh Streets. This area is just one block south of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library, and Museum Complex.


Photo Chronology

After the lamp base is sanded smooth a cement collar is smoothed around the base. After the cement drys the depression is filled with sand, and bricks are tightly fitted together. A jet of water is applied to clear out the underground electrical conduit piping to clear out any stray sand. Electrical wiring is then pushed through the conduit piping, and threaded up into the lamp base.

Tuesday, October 25, 2005

How to Install A Street Lamp III

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Photo: CWLP Employee Replaces Masonry Around New Street Lamp Base

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Photo:Washington Street Between 6th, & 7th Streets

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Photo: Springfield, Illinois Street Light Replacement Project

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Photo: Downtown Springfield, Illinois October 21, 2005

Springfield, Illinois' ongoing street light replacement project continues. Older street lights are being replaced with new Victorian styled street lamps. The project started nearly three years ago, and will not be completed for several more years. The look of downtown Springfield, Illinois is changing for the better with each and every light replacement. Downtown Springfield's sidewalks are also undergoing a makeover. Brick masonry is being added to downtown's sidewalks to create a Victorian era look.

The photographs above show a City Water Light & Power employee applying brick masonry to the sidewalk area immediately surrounding the recently installed base for a soon to be installed Victorian styled street lamps.

Springfield, Illinois is host to the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library, and Museum, and significant efforts are underway to revitalize the downtown Springfield historic district. Installation of more ornate lamp post, and bricked lined sidewalks are part of that effort.

A Rising Sun at UIS History Night

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Photo: David McCullough Signs 1776 (Mine)


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Photo: David McCullough at UIS in Springfield, IL 10.24.05

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Photo: Richard Norton Smith Talks to Daughter (Mine)

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Photo: Richard Norton Smith at UIS in Springfield, IL 10.24.05

David McCullough spoke at the University of Illinois at Springfield tonight - Monday, October 24, 2005. I must admit that I feel that I could listen to this fine historian, and author speak for days without interuption. Mr. McCullough is just that interesting! Unfortunately, Mr. McCullough spoke for just fifty two minutes perhaps cutting short his oratory by a few minutes due to a scratchy throat.

Several of those in the audience tonight stated that they feel that there is something special about the way Mr. McCullough brings historical figures to life - both in his written word, and in his oratory. It was a full house at Sangamon Auditorium tonight with two thousand attending. The price of admission was just ten dollars per ticket, quite a bargain for the opportunity to hear a nationally famous historian wax eloquant on the founding of this great nation of ours.

Sangamon Auditorium is located on the Campus of the University of Illinois at Springfield.

The David McCullough visit represents the first in a series of speaking engagements to be presented in coming years in Springfield, Illinois. The series is titled, The Jim Edgar Series.

Former Governor Jim Edgar initiated the evening by introducing Richard Norton Smith. Richard Norton Smith is the Director of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library, and Museum located in Springfield, Illinois. Richard Norton Smith in kind introduced David McCullough. David McCullough gave an impressive oratory centering on the year 1776, the title of his recently published book. His monologue made special emphasis upon George Washington. He ended his speech to a standing ovation.

My daughter who also attended, had notebook in hand, and jotted down many notes, and personal observations. I electronically recorded much of the Pulitzer Prize winning author's monologue. My daughter is writing a report as an extra credit project for her high school history class.

I encouraged my daughter to ask both David McCullough, and Richard Norton Smith a simple question which a historian, or a history buff would know how to answer.

Several years ago my daughter prepared a history report on George Washington as part of a school project. The impetus for the question she chose to ask Mr. McCullough, and Mr. Smith sprang from this history report. It was a question which was originally asked by a very famous diplomat, and inventor - a founding father.

Her question was, "Is the sun a rising sun, or is it a setting sun?".

My daughter asked each historian separately, and not in the presence of each other. Both David McCullough, and Richard Norton Smith seemed somewhat amused by the question, and both had the same answer. Each sees the sun as rising.

In case my readers are wondering what all this talk of rising versus setting sun refers to it is in reference to the question Benjamin Franklin had proffered. In the founding days of this nation Benjamin Franklin, while attending some of the first sessions of Congress would gaze upon George Washington's presidential chair. He noticed it was embellished with a rising/setting sun design. It isn't possible to tell if the sun is rising, or setting, but Benjamin Franklin was actually using the question as a means of expressing his concern over the fate of the just created United States. There was much squabling taking place in the first congress, and he felt it was enough to make anyone wonder if the sun was rising, or setting on this new nation - if this new nation had a future.

Some people still wonder about the future of this nation, and so my daughter asked both esteemed gentlemen her simple question. Both historians turn out to be optimistic about the fate of America. Despite all the challenges America faces I too believe we will create a better future for ourselves, and for those living in other nations.

Sunday, October 23, 2005

Union Station Project Late October 2005

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Photo: ALPLM Union Station Park Project 10.21.05

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Photo: Pile of Broken Cement - Union Station Park Project

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Photo: Union Station Project - Pile of Gravel 10.21.05

This post presents three more photographs of Union Station, and Union Station Park. The rain that fell on Springfield, Illinois late last week certainly changed the pace of work outdoors, but work did continue on the Project. Friday was a cold, and gray sky day. Earlier in the week, the field which will become Union Station Park had been a hub of intense activity with earth moving machines, and contractors trying to beat the coming bad weather. The field is now a sea of mud. And an enormous mound of trucked in topsoil is a large mound of mud.

The photographs for this post feature the skyline of Springfield, Illinois in the background. The high rise cylindrical shaped building in the far background is Springfield Illinois' Hilton Hotel. The Hilton is a thirty story building, and is the tallest building in Springfield, Illinois. Also seen is the art deco style Illinois Building. The Illinois Building is now the Ameren-CIPS building. In the foreground is the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library, and Museum Campus.

All photographs taken for this post were captured on Friday, October 21, 2005 by JeromeProphet. Union Station, and the Union Station Park are part of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library, and Museum Complex. The Union Station Project, and Union Station Park Project are slated for completion by the summer of 2006.

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  • jeromeprophet@gmail.com

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