JPK Huson 1863
Brev. Brig. Gen'l
- Joined
- Feb 14, 2012
- Location
- Central Pennsylvania
" Skating Season 1862 ", Central Park, NYC. One of an awful lot of popular images produced conveying the holiday, let-your-hair-down, what-war, winter break. You see uniform coats in the background- purposefully there.
Williamsburgh, L.I., New York's ' skater ', ' tent ' in center had a warming stove and seats. Guessing long structure, right, was yet another ' skating club '. I think I see a uniform on the ice- a break from war, a reminder it's out there.
By November an odd peace was forced over the war. We see photographs all the time " Winter camp ", " Building winter camp ", Inside a winter camp ". Well, between bitter cold, frigid rain, snow, animals intolerant of extreme hardship and needed to pull the entire thing from battle to battle- not to mention ground too hard to receive the dead, supply trains rendered unreliable by weather and the sheer bulk associated with all-things-winter- we quit for awhile. So odd, like a time- out.
National Archives, described as building a winter camp- seems to be accurate with rather scanty tents and solid structures taking shape. Time Out.
Time Out indeed, in a society increasingly dotted over with women in mourning, newly minted orphans, men's black arm bands and freshly dug graves. If it's an assumption, please excuse but noticed this perfectly splendid, winter emergence, at the same time, by our ancestors. Yes, this veritable rage continued post war but seem to see a war time engagement beyond anything previously. Crazy cool stuff.
Always the flag, see it? But always the escape, even in commerce.
As soldiers hunkered down in smoky, cramped and warm, log-lined respite, citizens at home, as if let off tense leashes, strapped various versions of sharpened steel to delighted toes and swarmed newly frozen ponds, lakes, streams and puddles, if one could be found. Swarmed? If misery loves company, joy makes hash of the concept by attracting battalions.
Snip inclusive of 'tent ' ( it was one of the warming huts ), NYPL says Central Park, may be Philadelphia
And..... fashion! Boy is wearing a kepi like a good reminder.
A great many era illustrations showing our ancestors plunged into this social and physical past time, ice skating, are from Central Park, New York City. It's erroneous thinking the ice skating clubs, ice festivals, massive, nearly nightly gatherings and weekend jams were local or limited. Nope. NYC, even 150 years ago central to art and publishing, just happened to also have a gigantic ' pond ', open to the public and climate offensive to anyone not dedicated to ice skating.
Just post war
Here's NYC Central Park's Skating Club
All Central Park. Really wanted to include the dress-up festival- what a kick, right?
Catch a good look at these deliberate depictions- " 1862 ", and most are from the war years. Looking carefully, a uniform or hat is depicted- just to drive the point home. Time Out, War. Gosh they had fun. Gosh they deserved some.
Godey's. No woman left behind. Who cares if you couldn't skate- look cute and go anyway. And forget.
Nowhere near a city? We forgot the war with whomever took a break on creeks, ponds and puddles. No ice time bills forthcoming, no driving to enclosed buildings with generated ice- just night air, the moon and frozen toes.