This 1884 document records the sworn statements of Almanzo Wilder that he had built a “12 ft. square frame” house in the Dakota Territory and was cultivating the land. Wilder had established the 160-acre homestead five years earlier, through the Homestead Act. It was his first home with his wife, Laura Ingalls Wilder—author of Little House on the Prairie.
National Archives, Records of the Bureau of Land Management
The Statue of Liberty was designed by the artist Auguste Bartholdi. Eugene Violletle was the primary engineer, but when he passed away Gustave Eiffel took over. Yes, Eiffel as in Eiffel Tower. Lady Liberty is made of copper and its surface is only the thickness of two pennies! Just a little tidbit from the many you can learn from the Statue of Liberty eTour. Let us know what you learn!
Some New Year’s resolutions with tools to help you be successful:
Eat Healthier, Exercise, and Track it All with the New SUPER TRACKER
The caucuses are January 3rd. Do you know where you’re going? If you need help locating your caucus location, you may call or visit your affiliated party’s website:
Republican and Democratic caucuses are not always held in the same locations or at your regular polling place, so it is important to double check the location.
To participate in the caucuses on January 3rd, you may register or switch your party affiliation at the caucus location to participate. You will need a photo I.D. that indicates you are an Iowa resident and your age. Anyone who will be 18 years of age by November 16, 2012 (date of election) may participate in the caucuses.
Iowa Democrats will still hold caucus meetings. It isn’t just for the Republicans this year.
Get out and support your candidate!
Every year the U.S. Army publishes a book on its weapon systems that includes info on masks, tanks, guns, grenades, etc. Each item has some or all of the following information: its mission/purpose, when the army started using it, description & specifications, & the manufacturer. The web-based version includes additional images. You won’t find anything classified, it is on the web after all, but it makes for interesting reading.
You may check out a print copy from the library or view the print version online here.
National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day.
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Images from the Naval History and Heritage Command.Mr. Vice President, and Mr. Speaker, and Members of the Senate and House of Representatives:
Yesterday, December 7, 1941—a date which will live in infamy—the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.
The United States was at peace with that Nation and, at the solicitation of Japan, was still in conversation with its Government and its Emperor looking toward the maintenance of peace in the Pacific. Indeed, one hour after Japanese air squadrons had commenced bombing in the American Island of Oahu, the Japanese Ambassador to the United States and his colleague delivered to our Secretary of State a formal reply to a recent American message. And while this reply stated that it seemed useless to continue the existing diplomatic negotiations, it contained no threat or hint of war or of armed attack.
It will be recorded that the distance of Hawaii from Japan makes it obvious that the attack was deliberately planned many days or even weeks ago. During the intervening time the Japanese Government has deliberately sought to deceive the United States by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace.
The attack yesterday on the Hawaiian Islands has caused severe damage to American naval and military forces. I regret to tell you that very many American lives have been lost. In addition American ships have been reported torpedoed on the high seas between San Francisco and Honolulu.
Yesterday the Japanese Government also launched an attack against Malaya.
Last night Japanese forces attacked Hong Kong.
Last night Japanese forces attacked Guam.
Last night Japanese forces attacked the Philippine Islands.
Last night the Japanese attacked Wake Island. And this morning the Japanese attacked Midway Island.
Japan has, therefore, undertaken a surprise offensive extending throughout the Pacific area. The facts of yesterday and today speak for themselves. The people of the United States have already formed their opinions and well understand the implications to the very life and safety of our Nation.
As Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy I have directed that all measures be taken for our defense.
But always will our whole Nation remember the character of the onslaught against us.
No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people in their righteous might will win through to absolute victory. I believe that I interpret the will of the Congress and of the people when I assert that we will not only defend ourselves to the uttermost but will make it very certain that this form of treachery shall never again endanger us.
Hostilities exist. There is no blinking at the fact that our people, our territory, and our interests are in grave danger.
With confidence in our armed forces—with the unbounding determination of our people—we will gain the inevitable triumph- so help us God.
I ask that the Congress declare that since the unprovoked and dastardly attack by Japan on Sunday, December 7, 1941, a state of war has existed between the United States and the Japanese Empire.
Transcription courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.
To read more about Pearl Harbor, try our booklist.
Are you prepared for an emergency? Living in Iowa means that we have to think about winter storms, tornadoes, floods, and the power & water outages that accompany them.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency has a fabulous website that I’ve featured on here before, Ready.gov. FEMA recommends that each household maintain three days of emergency supplies for each household member. These are the recommended supplies for a BASIC emergency kit. Other types of emergencies like pandemics, nuclear power plant, and household chemical spills have different requirements, so check those out, as well.
FEMA also lists what should be in your first aid kit, your car, additional emergency supplies to be better prepared (medications), where to keep the kits, and how to maintain them, like changing out the water supply every six months. Listed is also what foods to store and water storage. A family emergency plan worksheet is also provided.
Information on how to prepare your business/workplace is also at the Ready.gov site.
For more information, visit Ready.gov and/or the American Red Cross.
If you want a book on emergency preparedness, a list of those and survival titles can be found here.
Prepare, plan, & stay informed.
Barlow Granger house
The American Buildings Survey began in 1933 and documents the following:
The list of building types . . . should include public buildings, churches, residences, bridges, forts, barns, mills, shops, rural outbuildings, and any other kind of structure of which there are good specimens extant. . . . Other structures which would not engage the especial interest of an architectural connoisseur are the great number of plain structures which by fate or accident are identified with historic events. – Charles E. Peterson
The Library of Congress stores these records, which sometimes include images, layouts, and textual documentation and makes them available to the public. Programs feeding information into this collection is administered by the National Park Service.
To find records for Polk County, Iowa, go to this page.
USA.gov Consumer News
