George Washington's Headquarters Valley Forge Pennsylvania

I posted one of these pictures last week, here's the rest of some pictures of the place, including the Valley Forge Cat enjoying some sunshine. These were taken in really early spring 1989 I think.

1988 Topps Mini Leaders #59 Lenny Dykstra

I haven't had a lot of time to get out and read all of the awesome blogs I follow for a week or so because I was scanning things like crazy. I started this blog with just a bunch of matchbooks and some old pictures I've been scanning, but last week I finally cleared the decks and got a lot done toward getting rid of those old pockets of junk that accumulate around the house!

So with that, look forward to some really weird scans and pictures in the days and weeks ahead! Totally random bits of ephemera- like this baseball card- it was one of a stack of them I found in a closet. I love to look at old sports stuff like this because it's such an interesting little time capsule.

Like this card- Lenny Dykstra. He hustled hustled hustled on the field and became a big time player and then disappeared, only to resurface as a member of the Howard Stern Whack Pack. This whole set of cards I found was interesting because it's kind of cool to see who we thought were "leaders" in 1988. Some went on to Hall of Fame careers, some went gently into that good night, and some became members of the Whack Pack!

Independence Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

I like this picture of Independence Hall. I took it in late 1988 or early 1989.

The Liberty Bell

Here's the Liberty Bell, taken in Philadelphia in 1988 or 1989.

Valley Forge

Here's a picture of some of the buildings at Valley Forge. Taken in late 1988 or early 1989 by me.

Blue Mist Motel Florence, Arizona

Blue Mist Motel Florence, Arizona matchbook

Statue of "Mad" Anthony Wayne

Huge statue of General Anthony Wayne at Valley Forge. Taken by me in late 1988 or early 1989.

Remember Getting Photos Developed?

I've been scanning old photos (as I'm sure you can tell) and it occurred to me to scan the envelope some of the pictures were in. Do you remember the old days when you sent in your film in a mailer and a week or two later you got them back? A WEEK OR TWO!!

I grew up in the sticks, so city folk probably had this earlier but eventually we were able to take our film to the local drug store and drop it off and A WEEK LATER we'd get the pictures back. Eventually this was cut down to a few days and we felt like the Jetsons.

I think kids today have a harder time than we did, so I don't fault them for missing out on this whole process, but I do think we learned a hard lesson from the days of snail-mail film developing- we'd send in a roll of film thinking we had bunches of great pictures on there and ended up with blurry shots or the flash didn't work or whatever. I learned both patience and disappointment while my films were being processed!

konica film developing envelopes.

The Thistle Inn Boothbay Harbor, Maine Summer 1988

The Thistle Inn Boothbay Harbor, Maine Summer 1988

Here are some pictures of The Thistle Inn in Boothbay Harbor, Maine. Taken in the summer of 1988.

George Washington's Headquarters

Here's a picture of George Washington's Command Center at Valley Forge. Taken by me in late 1988 or early 1989.

Alsea Manor Motel Waldport, Oregon

This one scanned strangely and made the cover hard to read, and if I recall correctly, the cover of the matchbook was a bit off center, adding to the issues. This is from the Alsea Manor Motel in Waldport, Oregon. I googled it to make sure I had the name right and I don't believe this motel exists anymore under this name, but there's plenty of stuff in and around Waldport with the name Alsea!

Independence Hall Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Here's a picture of Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania that I took in 1988 or 1989.

Superstition Grand Hotel Apache Junction, Arizona

This is one of the favorite matchbooks I've found in the collection so far, The Superstition Grand Hotel in Apache Junction, Arizona.

I like it so much I'm using the artwork for my avatar and the fav icon for this website! Old classic advertising art like this are exactly what drew me to want to make a website and try to preserve these old things.

Declaration Chamber, Philadelphia, PA

This is the plaque on the wall (or at least WAS the plaque on the wall in 1989 or so)  describing the Continental Congress and the Declaration of Independence! Photo by me.

Winston Racing Nation Matchbook

From back in the days when it was "The Winston Cup" in NASCAR, here's a matchbook from the Winston Racing Nation!

My Cats' Version of Ice Fishing, 1988

Growing up we had a birdfeeder in the back yard and two very lazy cats. They had no interest in the birds except watching them from the window of the warm house. They DID however develop a love-hate thing with a squirrel who vexed my step-father by outsmarting his every effort to keep the squirrel from the feeder.

I always thought these two pictures were funny because here's my cat Rocky, waiting for the squirrel to poke his head up, (he never caught him) and of course, a picture of the squirrel popping his head up as soon as the cats were safely inside!

Cara Wooden Matches- Gold Leaf Tea

This is not a matchbook, but an actual match box or matchbox for wooden matches. For some reason I think I picked this up in Ireland. I seem to remember the Cara matches from my time there, and the Gold Leaf Tea advertisement would certainly make sense if this were Irish.

Looking at the picture now, yes, haha, definitely from Ireland, 1987 or 1988.

Shop and Save Matchbook

My step-father was a big smoker and he would buy matchbooks like this one by the box.
There were ALWAYS matchbooks like this one with these very familiar colors and the Shop and Save logo lying around the house.
I believe that these probably came from Bud's Shop and Save in Pittsfield, Maine. I know they are not much for a collector, but the sentimental value for me with this matchbook is off the charts!

Sunken Barge on the Ohio River, 1988

This is a picture of the Ohio River from the Kentucky side (Villa Hills- Crescent Springs, Kentucky) looking across the river to the Ohio side. This barge was there for quite some time, but has since been removed.

Irish Traffic Jam

This is a traffic jam I encountered in Ireland, 1988.

The Claddagh Irish Pub Newport Kentucky

The Claddagh Irish Pub Newport, Kentucky
Matchbook

National Memorial Arch

This is a picture of the National Memorial Arch at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. I took this picture in 1988 or 1989. The front has a quote from a letter by George Washington

Naked and starving as they are

We cannot enough admire

The incomparable Patience and Fidelity of the Soldiery

El Rancho Motel Moses Lake, Washington

El Rancho Motel Moses Lake, Washington
Terry and Chun Jordan
Independent Motels of America
Matchbook

The National Memorial Arch Valley Forge, Pennsylvania

This is a plaque on the National Memorial Arch at Valley Forge. I took this picture in 1988 or 1989 I think. The plaque has an excerpt from a speech given by Henry Armitt Brown on the hundredth anniversary of the encampment.

And here in this place of sacrifice, in this vale of humiliation, in this valley of the shadow, of that death out of which, the life of America rose, regenerate and free, let us believe, with an abiding faith, that to them, union will seem as dear, and liberty as sweet, and progress as glorious, they were to our fathers, and are to you and me, and that the institutions, which have made us happy, preserved by the, virtue of our children, shall bless, the remotest generation, to the time to come.

Budget Host Motels

Generic Budget Host Motels
Matchbook

Riverside Resort Laughlin, Nevada

Riverside Resort Laughlin, Nevada
Matchbook

Don Quixote and Sancho Panza, San Sebastian Spain 1988

I took this photo on a rainy day in San Sebastian Spain in 1988.  I loved loved loved the novel Don Quixote and was delighted to find him and Sancho still riding proud and tall all these years later!!

Plaza Inn Motel, Budget Host Sioux Falls, South Dakota

Plaza Inn Motel, Budget Host Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Matchbook

Hebron Deposit Bank Hebron, Kentucky

Hebron Deposit Bank Hebron, Kentucky

Offices in Petersburg and Oakbrook

Matchbook

Central Motel Frackville, Pennsylvania

Central Motel, Frackville, Pennsylvania
Matchbook

Gilbert's Publick House Camden Maine

Gilbert's Publick House, Sharp's Wharf, Camden, Maine
Matchbook