Contextualization

Posted on October 21, 2007 by Ryan Burke

From the Working in Carlisle oral histories, Stephen Gesemer interviewed Cassius Mullen. The interviewer frames his questions well, adding context to the question. Mr. Cassius responds in an equally thorough manner, adding depth to the interview. For example, when Gesemer is commenting on Mullen’s large family size, he notes the historical moment and the normalcy of large families for various reasons. 
 
Perhaps, contextualization is a tool that we, as interviewers, should utilize. This framing creates a sense of comfort to the sometimes uncomfortable interview. 

MO

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West High Health

Posted on October 21, 2007 by Ryan Burke

When interviewing Mr. Jeff Wood at Whistlestop Bookshop, he commented about the health of High Street near his store. The business fronts are usually full and there is a quicker turn around of empty ones. He noted that West High Street has always been economically healthier than its counterpart, Hanover Street. What makes West High appear more favorable to businesses? Is it the type of business, location, or perhaps both?

MO

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Interview with Mr. Seras, owner of Back Door Cafe

Posted on October 18, 2007 by Ryan Burke

My interview with Mr. Seras taught me new and interesting things about Carlisle. This interview allowed me to see Carlisle through the eyes of Mr. Seras who was born and raised here. He comes from a family of business owners and now he himself owns restaurant and catering business in town called the Back Door Café, The Back Door is a trendy spot on High Street that specializes in Salads, Soups, and the freshest sandwiches money can buy. What was most interesting to me is Mr.Seras history of Carlisle business. His father owned a cleaners on High Street and his father’s father owned a candy shop in the 1930’s and 40’s. He come from a Greek family and is 3rd generation Greek. He even mentioned that he has a photograph of when he was a child in a book publish about Greek Immigrants in Carlisle called,  The New Way Greeks Come to Carlisle Pennsylvania by Susan Eyster Meehan. This was the exact book that I pick up at my visit to the Cumberland Society Museum. All in all, there is so much to be learned about Carlisle and its history. Thanks Mr. Seras!

~CT~

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Charities of Carlisle

Posted on October 11, 2007 by Ryan Burke

A 1901 article by Robert H. Humphreville titled “Charities of Carlisle”describes the towns’ five different charitable facilities. They include a hospital, an Old Ladies’ Home, a Children’s Friend Benevolent Society, and the County Poor House and Insane Asylum. Humphreville gives a detailed description of each of the facilities and makes abundantly clear his feelings toward the people that have made these places work. “Opportunity nor space will allow the description due to any or all of these institutions of human kindness, whose founders and maintainers deserve to be immortalized as so many good Samaritans who dress the wounds caused by violated laws and pour the oil of kindness into troubled souls.” He makes clear that by giving to these causes, these people have enriched their lives in ways that most people cannot fathom.

E.M.

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How are “Others” viewed?

Posted on October 9, 2007 by Ryan Burke

In a 1901 Sociology class at Dickinson College, Jessie Houch, explained how some higher class (White) Calislians viewed “coloered people.  Houch states, “[Carlisle colored community ranges] from the queit unobtrusive colored gentlemen, of course, vulgar, loud, ‘coon’ who loafs on the street and by his or her presence makes the streets unsafe and the air unfit to be breathed.” He also notes, “for amusement colored people have many dances, cakewalks, fights etc, fill in their programme pretty well, and some exhibitions given are a novel to say the least.”

questions: i wonder how higher class (white) Carlislians view black hip-hop culture, as well there response to those  who are not black, yet choose to embrace the new black hip-hop culture?

ST

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Changes in Carlisle’s Retail Industry

Posted on October 9, 2007 by Ryan Burke

John Banco’s 1999 interview with John Dutrey of Dutrey’s Shoes reveals Dutrey’s opinion of how Carlisle has changed since he was a child. As Dutrey is in the retail business in Carlisle, he emphasizes how commercialization negatively influenced small retail shops in Carlisle. Dutrey states “but then as the malls became more viable the downtown eroded and now the malls have eroded too, so the most drastic change I’ve seen in the last twenty-five years was a total loss of shopping, which would affect me because its my livelihood.” Does everyone in Carlisle agree that a “total loss of shopping” has occurred? Is everyone affected by it or only retailers?

ES

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The Battle of Carlisle: Did it affect the outcome of the Battle of Gettysburg?

Posted on October 9, 2007 by Ryan Burke

The Battle of Gettysburg, fought over three days (July 1-3, 1863) was a bloody and horrific turning point for the outcome of the American Civil War. Yet little is known about the Battle of Carlisle that took place on the evening of July 1, 1863 that certainly affected the turn of events that were about to occur in the following days. On July 1, 1863, Confederate troops under Lt. Gen. Ewell’s command arrived in Carlisle searching for supplies and food. After resting in the town, they continued north towards Harrisburg with the intention of capturing the city; they were later diverted to Gettysburg under General Robert E. Lee’s orders. General J.E.B Stuart arrived in Carlilse later on that evening with the intention of finding Ewell and his troops. However, his arrival coincided with Carlisle’s occupation by Baldy Smith and New York and Pennsylvania militia from the Union Army. Though the Confederates had a numerical advantage, they did not attack Carlisle. Once it was confirmed that there was only a small contingent of Union troops, General Stuart ordered Maj. Gen. Fitzhugh Lee into the town to force the Union troops to leave and to clear out the women and children. Yet since Smith had already cleared the town of women and children he refused to retreat. Thus the Confederates’ horse artillery began bombarding the town. The shelling lasted for an hour before word spread that the two armies had begun fighting in Gettysburg. Gen. Stuart ordered that the Carlisle Barracks be set on fire before he immediately set off for the fighting in Gettysburg. Interestingly, during the shelling, misfire struck the church on 44 North Bedford Street (which was later the Carlisle Garment Factory and currently, Bedford’s Antique Store). One shell landed on the roof beams without exploding, which later affected church attendance since it scared the parishoners.

Gen. Stuart’s Confederate troops were distracted by actvity in Carlisle, PA, thus delaying their departure for the fighting that had erupted in Gettysburg. Had the Confederate troops not been in Carlisle and arrived more promptly in Gettysburg, would the outcome of the battle been in their favor? Would the South have been able to fight using offensive strategy rather than fighting defensively against the Union Army?

http://www.carlisle-pa.com/cgi-bin/db.cgi?id=1229

http://www.fmtrustonline.com/print/history.asp

*Visit to Bedford Antique’s

-C.Nally

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Newspapers

Posted on October 9, 2007 by Ryan Burke

J. Perry Wood, a Dickinsonian who wrote a paper on the local news establishments in Carlisle in 1901, had many opinions about the various newspapers of the time. The three main papers that he discusses are the “Herald,” the “Volunteer,” and the “Sentinel”. Wood writes that in Carlisle’s past, over 20 different newspapers have existed, the first being the “Carlisle Weekly Gazzette” which was published from 1785 to 1815.
In 1901, the “Sentinel” and the “Volunteer” were considered rivals. However, Wood preferred the “Sentinel” claiming that it “is a very modern and progressive newspaper”. Despite this, according to Wood, the “Sentinel” as well as the other newpapers, is guilty of “editorial prejudice” which prevents the newspaper from accurately reporting. Apparently, the newspapers never criticized the negative aspects of Carlisle, but instead glorified the town. Wood also accused the newspapers of not staying up-to-date, writing that “news is always a day or two late. There is no such thing as an editorial column. In fact there are no separate departments at all – nothing but a jumbled mass”.
Wood also comments on the “Dickinsonian” which he states should be fearless in its search for truth, but that it is instead fearful of the consequences. He believes that “it should be the open crier of college wrongs, the leader in college reform movements”.
Clearly, Wood had high expectations for the local newspapers, but shouldn’t we all? It is the newspapers’ job to make sure that the citizenry is properly informed and that stories are accurate and relevant. This is not just an issue from Carlisle in 1901, but a worldwide and contemporary one as well.

J.B.

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Militia, Fire Depts., and Police

Posted on October 9, 2007 by Ryan Burke

According to Bonner in 1901 the town of Carlisle boasted a 58 man Militia. Each man was only paid for time in service and that lasted three years. The initial pay was $1.50 but, if they reenlisted they would be given a $0.25 raise. The Carlisle fire depts. of the time were all volunteer. It consisted of about 40 men, 3 horses, a horse carriage, and a fire truck. The Carlisle police force was made up of four patrol men and a chief. Each patrol man was paid $35 dollars a month while the chief made $40.

JS

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1999 Interview

Posted on October 9, 2007 by Ryan Burke

While reading the interview of Margo McCrae by Lauren Bell Thomson, I picked up on something that we had talked about during our interviewing workshops in class.

The first thing I noticed was that Bell Thomson allowed McCrae to answer the questions as she wished, even if that meant going off on a tangent. Bell Thomson did not interrupt, which is something we all agreed should be avoided.

However, I believe that Bell Thomson could have strayed from her prepared questions. It was very obvious that she was reading from a script and she could have created impromptu questions to feed off of the information that McCrae was telling her. The interview seemed disjointed and Bell Thomson was asking questions at the wrong time. For example, Bell Thomson asks McCrae what she would have done differently in her life. This question would have fit better if it had been asked before the previous question. At this point, McCrae was talking about how she wanted to be a lawyer, but that she got married instead.

I think that our class can learn from this. We should have prepared questions in order to find out specific material. However, if the interview takes an interesting turn, it may be necessary to formulate new questions. Just something to think about.

J.B.

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