Author Archives: Nick Foster
Did You Know? Your 4th of July Pinwheel is Actually a Whirligig
“English-speakers, and particularly children, began spinning whirligigs as early as the 15th century.
A man and his dog . . . for George Washington, it was his beloved war-horse, Nelson.
“Thomas Jefferson once referred to George Washington as “the best horseman of his age, and the most graceful figure that could be seen on horseback.
Thomas Jefferson and the Mammoth Cheese
American presidents are traditionally associated with Air Force One, the State of the Union, “Hail to the Chief,” and the West Wing.
The original Yankee Doodle was a local boy . . .
Happy 4th of July! Did you know? Most Americans are familiar with the Yankee Doodle tune, and can recite some of its familiar verses, but few are aware that the song was originally adopted in this country during the French and Indian War in 1755.
240 Years Ago Today, April 28, 1777, the British Marched South through Wilton after Tryon’s Raid on Danbury and the Battle of Ridgefield
Find out where they stopped, and what happened! On April 27, 1777, approximately 1800 troops under the command of British General William Tryon marched towards Compo Beach after they burned houses and destroyed twenty-two storehouses of supplies, including 1,690 hard-to-replace tents, in Danbury.
March 12, 1888: The Great White Hurricane struck the northeastern U.S.
The storm lasted 36 hours with snowfall totaling over 40 inches in New York City.
President Roosevelt’s Four Freedoms are at the heart of what it means to be an American
It’s always important to remember the ideals that have made us a beacon of hope around the world.
The famous time-ball that drops in Manhattan on New Year’s Eve has its origins in the British Royal Observatory!
The actual notion of a ball “dropping” to signal the passage of time dates back long before New Year’s Eve was ever celebrated in Times Square.
This unlikely trio are connected . . . Abraham Lincoln, Santa Claus and Thomas Nast
“Most people do not associate Santa Claus with war, but in fact the connection goes back to Santa’s very beginnings.
Presidential Thanksgiving Turkey Pardon
Each Thanksgiving, the President “pardons” a hand-selected turkey (or two)! Tater and Tot, fine birds who hail from Iowa, were the participants at President Obama’s final ceremony of reprieve, November 23, 2016.