April 15th is a sad and scary day. Not just for Taxes, which are scary enough, but for other reasons. Four years ago, on April 15, 2019 there was a fire in Notre Dame Cathedral. I have several books on display for you. They are under the watchful eyes of a gargoyle that I bought near Notre Dame years ago. My granddaughter still gets scared of it so she always turns it to face a corner.
The first book is ‘the Churches of Paris’ by Sophia Beak, 1893. There is wonderful chapter about the history and details of the architecture and statuary of the cathedral. Also a mesmerizing illustration of a grotesque (not a gargoyle) on balcony facade looking at burning buildings during the fires of the Commune in 1871. Strange that in 2019, Paris would look back and watch their Cathedral burn.
Second book is ‘Cathedral- the story of Its Construction’ by David Macaulay, 1973. This was the first of his remarkable books on architecture. Through his illustrations, you can see how a Cathedral like Notre Dame was built, along with the sheer size it is. One also gets a better understanding is what is made of stone, and what is made of wood. There is a huge wooden ‘attic’ between the ceiling stone domes, and the lead roof. His book is a wonderful read for children and adults alike.
After reading these books, and seeing on the news-what was destroyed and what was saved, I have better understanding, and renewed hope, that Notre Dame will be repaired to its previous glory. Sometime soon, in December of 2024.
April 15, 1964, the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and Tunnel opens. I have the book “A New Era Opens: Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel” Commemoration of opening day, 1964. This book was printed for that opening of the bridge. I wonder if it was sold that day, or given out to dignitaries.
This is an illustration of the two tunnels, and the three spans of bridges. the Total span of bridge-tunnel is 17.6 miles. The two tunnels are each over a mile long. There had to be four man-made islands (for each bridge-tunnel connection to go under ground.) The water depth is between 25 to 100 feet.
This is a picture of one of the manmade islands, and the sinking of sections of the tunnel.
I also have a souvenir book “Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel: America’s Coastal Gateway where the Ocean Meets the Bay” 1968.
I have driven across and under in this engineering wonder. For someone who is afraid of heights and drowning, it was tough to do. And as I was white-knuckling the steering wheel, my wife was reading a google article about the bridge, and said “Hey, did you know that 15 vehicles have driven off of this bridge, and 18 people have drowned?” She then giggled as I began to hyperventilate. I could barely press on the gas, by the end of the bridge, as fear was causing my knees to shake, and lose strength. I don’t know what was worse- driving across, or having my wife taunt me and my fears.
And I still have to finish my taxes…
Librarytomes 