Nov 9 2011

Clevelands Time Machine

Brent

Western Reserve Historical Society

Today’s Photo: Cleveland’s Time Machine

To walk though these doors is to step into our past. You can travel though time from the present back to the beginning of
Connecticut’s Western Reserve. Here is a little of the Western Reserve Historical Societies history from their website:

In 1867, the Western Reserve Historical Society was founded to preserve and present the history of all of the people of northeast Ohio. Today, it is the largest privately supported regional historical society in the nation. The reason we’re called the Western Reserve Historical Society instead of the Cleveland or Northeast Ohio Historical Society has to do with how the area was  settled. When the original colonies of the United States were formed, most of the western borders were left blank, since the settlers didn’t know how far west the land went. If you look at the map to your right, you’ll notice that northern Ohio is exactly west of Connecticut, so we were originally part of the state of Connecticut. In 1786, the State of Connecticut gave up its claims to Western lands of the United States, except for a portion of northeastern Ohio known as the Connecticut Western Reserve. Later, the land was sold to the Connecticut Land Company, which surveyed and settled the region, but the name Connecticut Western Reserve – or just Western Reserve – continued to be used to describe the northeastern section ofOhio.

Please support this wonderful institution, we are lucky to have it. For more information:

http://www.wrhs.org/

Today’s Quote:

If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be – Thomas Jefferson


Nov 7 2011

Rock Hall Resting Place

Brent

Rock and roll hall of fame

Today’s Photo: Rock Hall Resting Place

This photo was taken on a warm evening while walking in Cleveland’s North Coast Harbor. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame can be seen at
the end of the walkway.

Today’s Quote:

“You are not only responsible for what you say, but also for what you do not say.”- Martin Luther


Nov 2 2011

Guitar Mania

Brent

guitar Mania

Today’s Photo: Guitar Mania

Guitar Mania® is a Greater Cleveland community public art project that has raised $2 million for its two benefiting charities – United Way of Greater Cleveland and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum’s education programs. The project consists of large, 10-ft-tall Fender® Stratocaster® guitars creatively transformed into works of art by local artists and national celebrities. The guitars are displayed on the city streets of Cleveland for residents and visitors to enjoy from the end of May through October, 2012. Corporations, organizations and individuals sponsor the guitars and select from a variety of local artists to paint, sculpt or decorate them. Celebrity artists also paint and decorate guitars.

For more info: http://www.cleveland.com/guitarmania/

Today’s Quote:

Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could do only a little. -Edmund Burke


Nov 1 2011

Superior Viaduct

Brent

Superior Viaduct in cleveland

Today’s Photo: Superior Viaduct

From the Encyclopedia of Cleveland History:

“The Superior Viaduct was proposed for improving transriver commuting in the years following Cleveland’s 1854 annexation of Ohio
City. The Cuyahoga River bridges up to that time had been “low-level,” necessitating being opened for every river craft that needed to pass. City voters in Apr. 1872 approved construction of the new bridge, which was to extend from Superior Ave. and W. 10th St. on the east to Detroit Ave. and W. 25th St. on the west. Plans called for a western approach consisting of Berea sandstone arches built on piles
driven 20′ into the muddy subsoil. A total of 10 arches carried this portion of the viaduct a length of 1,382′, 72′ above the foundations. Connecting the masonry arches to the eastern portion of the bridge was a 332′ pivoting center span. The eastern end of the viaduct was of girder design, 936′ long. With approaches, the viaduct totaled 3,211′, with a 64′ roadway. Construction began in Mar. 1875; the bridge was completed at a cost of $2.17 million and opened to traffic on 28 Dec. 1878.”

“The Superior Viaduct was closed in 1920. Its eastern portion and center span were demolished in 1922, and in 1939 the easternmost 3 arches of the remaining sandstone segment were blasted away to allow for a widening of the river. Seven arches, a total of 600′,  remained in place on the west side of the river.”

Today’s Quote:

The high destiny of the individual is to serve rather than to rule.-Albert Einstein


Oct 31 2011

A River Runs Through It – Cleveland Skyline Cuyahoga River

Brent

cuyahoga river in cleveland

Today’s Photo: A River Runs Through It

From the Encyclopedia of Cleveland History:

“The Cuyahoga River divides the east and west sides of Cleveland. It  originates in springs in the highlands of Geauga County, in the adjoining  townships of Hambden and Montville. The 2 sources, forming the East and West  branches of the river, are 35 mi. east of Cleveland. The river flows southwest  to Cuyahoga Falls, on the northern edge of Akron, where it drops into a large,  deep valley and turns sharply north, thus forming the letter U with its 80-mi.  course. Upon reaching Cleveland, about 6 mi. from its mouth, it becomes a sharply  twisting stream before emptying into Lake Erie. It is believed that the Mohawk  Indians meant “crooked river” when they called it  “Cayagaga,” although the Senecas called it “Cuyohaga,” or  “place of the jawbone.” Originally the old river bed’s last bend took
the mouth westward along the lakeshore to Weddell St. (now W. 54th St.), until  the present mouth was dug in 1827 to form Whiskey Island and a more direct channel which leads straight into Lake  Erie. The business district of the early city fronted on the river, where
steamers, schooners, and canal boats exchanged imported goods for the products  of local industry. In the 1850s and 1860s, shipyards lining the old ship  channel on the west side turned out hundreds of vessels of all classifications.”

For more info:  http://ech.cwru.edu/ech-cgi/article.pl?id=CR9

Purchase this photo: Brent Durken Print Sales

http://brent-durken.pixels.com/

Today’s Quote:

“We all have our time machines. Some take us back,  they’re called memories. Some take us  forward, they’re called dreams.”- Jeremy Irons


Oct 11 2011

In Bloom

Brent

University Circle

Today’s Photo: In Bloom

This photo was taken in early spring near Case Western University in Cleveland, Ohio. To me it looks like the trees are reaching for the sun.

Today’s Quote:

At present, I am mainly observing the physical motion of mountains, water, trees and flowers. One is everywhere reminded of similar movements in the human body, of similar impulses of joy and suffering in plants – Egon Schiele


Oct 10 2011

The Dark Knight at Cleveland Museum of Art

Brent

The Dark Knight at Cleveland Museum of Art

Today’s photo: The Dark Knight

When I was a kid I used to like to go to the art museum for one reason and one reason only, the Armor Court. I liked to see the swords, guns and armor hanging on the walls. It turns out that while I like going to the art museum to look at other things now the Armor Court is still my favorite area. I had to post a photo of my favorite exhibit in the museum.  How cool is that?

For more info on the free Cleveland Museum of Art click here:

http://www.clevelandart.org/

Today’s
Quote: But what is liberty without wisdom, and without virtue? It is the greatest of all possible evils; for it is folly, vice, and madness, without tuition or restraint. – Edmund Burke


Oct 7 2011

Rock in Retrospect – The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Brent

cleveland "Rock and Roll Hall of fame"

Today’s Photo: Rock in Retrospect

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame reflecting in the waters of Lake Erie. The museum is part of Cleveland’s redeveloped North Coast Harbor. Cleveland disc jockey Alan Freed is widely credited with promoting the new name of “rock and roll”, and Cleveland was the location of the first rock and roll concert. For more information on the Rock Hall please visit:

http://rockhall.com/

Today’s Quote: The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.-Eleanor Roosevelt