On the Road Again with Merle

[Jakeywax31]

After adventuring out, Merle told me he wanted to spend some time closer to the house, so we decided to go to the Isle of Wight County Museum. There, Merle learned everything that went in to creating a "Smithfield Ham" and ham in general.

Merle also got to see the largest ham (weighing in at over 65 lbs) and the world's oldest ham, which began the curing process in 1902. More information on the world's oldest ham, including a live webcam, can be found here.

Merle also decided he wanted a selfie with the world's oldest peanut, which this area is widely known for.

We found an exhibit on wooden duck whittling, though Merle thought that they would probably look even better after some lessons from @Jiki .

With everything at the museum, Merle needed a rest and laid down in a small bed of cotton bolls, another major farm crop grown in this area.

We were lucky to be there to hear a small portion of a talk given by Gary Powers Jr regarding his dad. If you're not familiar with the name, Gary Powers was the U-2 pilot shot down while on a reconnaissance mission in Soviet Union airspace in 1960.

On our way back to the car we ran into this life size market hog statue, 1 of 8 throughout town painted by local artists as part of the "Porcine Parade" meant to highlight one aspect of the town's history and culture.

Looks like a great little trip Jeremy. A great little walk through history.

 

[sbh06]

Thanks for showing Merle a bit of history, Jeremy.



I like ham as much as the next guy, but I'm afraid that 1902 ham might be a bit past its best-by date. As an Arkansan and graduate of the University of Arkansas, I enjoyed spotting the "Genuine Razor-Back Ham" advertising shown in one of the displays. Another fun post, Jeremy. Thanks!

I've thoroughly enjoying this, Barrett. I'm with you, this is a great display piece but nothing I'd consider eating.

Looks like a great little trip Jeremy. A great little walk through history.

Thanks Paul, the museum is about 5 minutes from the house, and embarrassingly, I'd never been there before in the almost 6 years we've lived here.

 

[Jakeywax31]

I've thoroughly enjoying this, Barrett. I'm with you, this is a great display piece but nothing I'd consider eating.

Thanks Paul, the museum is about 5 minutes from the house, and embarrassingly, I'd never been there before in the almost 6 years we've lived here.

Looks like merle is teaching you a thing or two .

 

[mbkr]

Great posts Jeremy
The whole "borax" thing sent me down another internet rabbit hole

 

[btb01]

The whole "borax" thing sent me down another internet rabbit hole

Same here.

 

[JM2]

Slice off a piece of ham for me! Heck I’ll try it, bet it’ll be darn good if my wife fries it in coke.

 

[Hyesouljah]

Slice off a piece of ham for me! Heck I’ll try it, bet it’ll be darn good if my wife fries it in coke.

This reminded me of Joe Rogan’s recent podcast with John Reeves, from The Boneyard Alaska. A gold miner who uncovered the remains of thousands of Ice Age animals lying beneath the permafrost on his property. He talked about eating Woolly Mammoth

 

[Horsewright]

Years ago I was able to take a private tour of the US Borax mine out at Boron, the largest borax mine in the world. Thats no rabbit hole, its a huge hole!! They told us that borax was in everything, literally everything but ham! Dang knew they used it to make damascus!

Great adventures Merle is having! Thanks.

 

[sbh06]

Years ago I was able to take a private tour of the US Borax mine out at Boron, the largest borax mine in the world. Thats no rabbit hole, its a huge hole!! They told us that borax was in everything, literally everything but ham! Dang knew they used it to make damascus!

Great adventures Merle is having! Thanks.

Great picture and thanks for the information Dave. The only mine I’ve ever seen that can compare to that is the Thunder Basin Coal mine a few hours from where I grew up in northeastern Wyoming.

 

[Horsewright]

Great picture and thanks for the information Dave. The only mine I’ve ever seen that can compare to that is the Thunder Basin Coal mine a few hours from where I grew up in northeastern Wyoming.

Ya bet. Kinda a funny tidbit. There is a road out there called Twenty Mule Team Road and was literally the path of the the big twenty mule team wagons as they came down out of Death Valley loaded with borax and heading to the train depot at Mojave to ship the stuff. Their trail literally ran right over the top of the mine. They were literally driving those big wagons over the largest borax deposit in the world and never knew it. There is a hill that you come to (now on Hwy 58) as you are heading west to Mojave that is known locally as Nine Mile Hill as you crest it, heading west bound you look down and can see Mojave. Probably brought a lot of excitement to those old teamsters to know they only had 9 miles more to go. In Mojave, in front of the old KFC is a large historical plaque commemorating those old teamsters and what they did. The plaque says this was the site of the train depot back in the day. Here's the funny part, numerous old timers have told me: "Nah, that was where the whorehouse was, the depot was on the other side of the road."

 

[BigKurtHaze]

I remember the picture of the mule teams on the canister of Boraxo when I was a kid. Didn’t realize ‘til I googled it just now that it’s discontinued.

 

[Horsewright]

And us a few years older will remember the old TV show of the same name hosted by some actor…who was it.. oh yeah Ronald Reagan. Before he went into politics.

 

[sbh06]

Not much new for Merle to speak of. He did go to band practice with me last night but after seeing the drum set I was working with we both agreed that he would be best suited as a spectator and not a participant. He did agree to take a selfie, though, after a little sweet talking.

 

[Jack Black]

Great posts Jeremy, some fascinating stuff

 

[sbh06]

Great posts Jeremy, some fascinating stuff

Thanks Jack. We are going to check out some new places this weekend before Merle has to depart.

 

[sbh06]

Markeologist I tried sending you a PM but your inbox is full.

 

[Markeologist]

Markeologist I tried sending you a PM but your inbox is full.

Woops, let me get in there and clean some stuff out!

 

[sbh06]

For Merle's final trip we went to Fort Monroe over in Hampton. There is a lot of history here, going all the way back to 1619 with the landing of the first Africans in Virginia. Just across the bay was Norfolk Naval Base, the largest in the world. Merle was in awe at this sight, though he was disappointed he couldn't see any submarines from this distance.

Next we went to visit the Old Point Comfort lighthouse. This was built in 1802 and is the oldest building on Fort Monroe.

Fort Monroe was used as a defensive placement for the waters surrounding Hampton Roads. While these remaining 3" guns at Battery Irwin, installed in 1946, were intended for salute use only, the prior installed guns were used for coastal defense.

Merle was fascinated with the moat that surrounded the fort.

 

[sbh06]

One last picture of the sticker I found to add to the box Merle will be traveling in. Thanks again btb01 for putting this together.

 

[Daniel W]

This has been a fascinating thread thanks to all who have participated.