City hedgehogs

[janki]

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In the part of my city where I live, there is in progress a large densification of the housing stock.

Old gardens with trees and shrubs disappear in favor of new trendy houses.

 

I am so lucky to live next to a small, sprawling protected forest.

This forest, together with a slightly “unkempt” old garden spot behind my house, still serves as an oasis for a shrinking tribe of urban hedgehogs.

 

Every evening and night during the spring and summer is more than twenty hedgehogs visiting into my garden to drink water, and to get a little extra bite to eat.

Here is a picture taken from the stairs to my entrance.

 

An image with very limited qualities as photography. Nevertheless, a lot of fun as a summer memory now that winter has fastened its grip.

 

"Garfield" just has to realize that the struggle for the evening meal is going to be tough.

 

People, who see this picture, always wonder how many hedgehogs that are gathered here.

 

How many hedgehogs can you count?

[Michael Geschlecht]

Hello janki,

 

Nice photo.

 

Welcome to the Forum.

 

If you include the one who seems to be under the fern in the center back I would say 11.

 

Best Regards,

 

Michael

 

BTW: You are lucky to live next to a protected forest w/ garden, etc. Here historical preservation altho technically present is so unappreciated that a significant portion of what is historically significant has disappeared forever & what little is left is disappearing @ an accelerating rate

 

Once you lose your past you cannot get it back. What you get is what people wish the past had been.

 

I live in an intact 90% original inside & out historic 19th Century firehouse which has been in my family for 48 years. We have kept it historically intact - Aways a firehouse first. We are 2.5 meters from the current firehouse which replaced it in 1953. The replacement was originally an automobile dealership. The crennelated metal fireman's bedroom walls (currently my bedroom) are done entirely in long stem cut roses. The type you would bring one of to the most important woman in your life @ a special time or maybe just because. A decoration you would never think of in terms of firemen here @ the time the building was built.

 

The firepole like all others originally iron w/ a brass sheathing had the brass donated to the metals drive during the Second World War. What remains of the iron pole is standing in the swirl of the spiral staircase like one on a submarine only made of wood built in 1923 by someone who lived 2 blocks away.

 

All original.

 

This firehouse may soon be scooped out & most everything thrown away & the building made into a restaurant. The currently intact physical hisory, what I mentioned & a lot more, gone & never replaceable.

 

Best Again,

 

Michael

[stuny]

Janki -

 

Thank you for posting this. I really like hedgehogs and their relatives, such as the tenreck in Madagascar.

[pauledell]

Janki,

 

I believe Michael is right, I also count eleven but had to use my imagine for a couple of them. Looks like Garfield and the Hedgehogs are coexisting quite well

 

Paul

[janki]

Michael, Stuart and Paul, thanks a lot for showing your interest in this somewhat special, but so enjoyable topic.

 

When I decided to grab the Leica and take this picture, I counted 11 pieces. But just before I pressed the shutter release, one of them darted out of the viewfinder frame.

 

In the twilight I lost the control of him, and these animals can move a lot faster than the rumor suggest.

I think you're right. This "number 11" has actually managed to reach back into the picture.

 

 

Michael, I'm actually really fascinated by old fire stations. What you are telling here make me very curious!

If possible, please post some pictures, e.g. under the topic "Architecture " or "Technology and Industry. "

 

I look forward with great interest to have a look.

 

My nearest local fire station is from the early fifties.

It is an architectural designed building, and in my opinion, the finest in the country.

And, yes, it has “fire poles” and a tower for drying water hoses made of textiles.

Due to restructuring of the Fire Department, this station is now being closed down.

Nobody knows today whether the building itself will be preserved.

I'll see if I during the Christmas holidays can look up some pictures of old Norwegian-American fire engines, and this fire station.

 

Best regards!

[Michael Geschlecht]

Hello janki,

 

I would be glad to Post some pictures - originals from 1897 - on the Forum but unfortunately this is like when I win the "Where in the World" in Landscape & Travel. I always pass because I am somewhat of a computer neophyte & don't know how to put pictures on a computer & I don't have anyone to help me w/ the computer.

 

If you, or anyone else reading this, would like some photocopies of photographs please PM me w/ an address I will be glad to send them to you/them.

 

The tower for drying hoses you mentioned is called a "hose tower" in English. Many 19th Century Firehouses had them. For this Firehouse the tower was built in 1903. They may have simply used a flagpole before that. Somewhere we have an invitation to the dance celebrating the hose tower's construction. We are in the middle of renovations & the invitation like most things is in a box somewhere in the Firehouse.

 

The tower was torn down before my family bought the Firehouse in 1962. We have never been able to find out when it was torn down.

 

I hope your Firehouse will be preserved. Maybe you can help. You should ask someone. Some people think 50 years is not very much but there are sometimes other things to consider: A Firehouse is a relatively rare building. Where I am is quite possibly reflective of Firehouses all over the World. Your Firehouse may not be much different:

 

We are in Metuchen; a village of approximately 13,000 people & 4,000 buildings, enough people to be considered a town in many parts of the World but reasonably tiny by standards here. The State would like it to be absorbed into the town which completely surrounds it, Edison. Named for Thomas who invented the light bulb, phonograph, etc not far down the street in front of us to the right & then left up a hill 2 blocks. He kept his horses 3 blocks down the same street in front us in the other direction then around the corner to the right. On the left. I grew up 1/2 block from that horse farm.

 

Metuchen has had 4 Firehouses: This one, the current Firehouse housing 2 separate Fire Companies 2.5 meters away next door across our driveway. This second Firehouse is a 1953 renovation of a 1910 automobile dealership. The third Firehouse is around the corner 1&1/2 blocks down. Our main shopping district is 2 blocks of that street.

 

This third Firehouse is all scooped out inside & is now 2 modern retail stores w/ apartments above. What wasn't removed of the front of the building was painted red. The only thing left is a very nice terracotta plaque saying "Eagle Hook & Ladder" w/ a really nice eagle & the date 1885. The very plain plaque on our building simply says "Washington Hose Company Established 1897".

 

The fourth firehouse is the one built near the third. It burned down which is why they built us.

 

The two on the street around the corner from us, Main Street, were built near the Railroad. A common practice all over at the time. Fires often occured along wood & coal burning Railroads in the 19th Century & were specially a problem where the town met the Railroad so that is where many Fireouses were built until enough burned down after which then they would be moved. We are that resultant Firehouse.

 

Now - One Firehouse for 1,000 buildings. Probably an average ratio around here.

Possibly also about the same in many parts of the World. 1 : 1,000 seems reasonaby rare to me.

 

Beyond that Firemen are special people. Who else would : Go to the home of someone they don't know @ 3 in the morning, kick down the front door, run up the stairs into not away from smoke & flames, save someone's life, go back in to get their cat, put out the fire & go home & call it another day's work?

 

They are the primary reason for this museum.

 

These are actual heroes who risk their lives every time they answer a call whether an actual fire or a practice. Our Fire Department (Volunteer) practices @ least once a day, rain, shine, snow, nite or daylight. Sometimes more.

 

My father originally bought this for my mother as a birthday present for her 50th birthday. The beginning of a new career for her - an antique shop & art gallery. She like you liked Firehouses since she was a young child. We subsequently decided to make it additionally into a historically protected teaching museum, Firehouse museum, local history museum & home.

 

You might be able to do something similar to this where you are.

 

If you have any questions please ask me.

 

Best Regards,

 

Michael

 

 

 

 

 

.

[janki]

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Hello again Michael!

 

Many thanks for your inspiring letter.

 

I myself have had an extremely steep learning curve when it comes to digital imaging and computer skills. I have experienced much frustration.

Luckily I have a couple of younger brothers, who pushed me “over the hill”.

They are creative professionals, and fortunately know a lot about the practical use of both Mac and PC.

I have "broken some codes" in recent years, and today I'm actually the best of us, when it particular comes to digital imaging.

 

I have unfortunately never had the pleasure of visiting the United States.

However, the "Promised Land", which the U.S. is for many Norwegians, obviously is at the top of my wish list.

 

After I got High Definition TV to my house, I've seen several great picture series from the beautiful New England States.

Paul Dell, in this photo forum, has also inspired me to seek information about the states northeast of New York.

The desire to give priority to those States is not diminished after reading all the exciting and enjoyable that you write.

I have already found some information about Edison, Metuchen, and these great historic fire stations in areas around New York.

Here are some great historical photos from the Metuchen Fire Department.

The eldest actually show the “Eagle Hook and Ladder Company” in front of the fire station in 1898. Metuchen Fire Department

 

Like I mentioned in my last post Michael, I'll try to come back with some visual material about the subject during the Christmas.

I think it can be included in the column "Technology and Industry".

 

Friendly greetings

and

Merry Christmas to all viewers!

[Michael Geschlecht]

Hello Again janki,

 

It is good you have learned computers & such so well. Would you like to lend one or more of your brothers?

 

Thank you for the pictures & text.

 

We are the picture on the top on the right. Today what was then our center & right door are combined into one to allow a larger firetruck. Probably in the 1920's. The left door is the one you walk into today. Otherwise we look like the picture today except w/ ivy growing over parts.

 

The other building photos are the building around the corner which today is scooped out inside & had most of the front torn away w/ the remainder painted red. We on the other hand maintain our original softly striped lower layer of sculpted brick w/ black speckled glazed yellow brick from Denmark on the upper layer.

 

We have a photo of the hand drawn Fulton 21 mentioned in the book you abstracted from. In our photo it is being pulled by the local firemen & was taken from more or less where the photo in the upper right was done without the building to the left (built 1910) as well as nothing on the right except the back yard. The picture shows us w/ mostly trees & grass.

 

While we still look pretty much like this photo we don't suffer from the perspective distortion the picture does. Come see for yourself. You are always welcome.

 

Best Regards,

 

Michael