American Heirlooms - October 2019

American Heirlooms - October 2019

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OCTOBER 2019

THE ZIMMERMAN FAMILY CHASES THE STARS TO WEST VIRGINIA

Sometimes a little spontaneity is worth the work. At least, that’s the lesson my family learned on our August trip to West Virginia. We had heard about this spot in rural West Virginia that is so dark and untouched by light pollution that stargazing is near perfection. I had also heard of a meteor shower scheduled to peak on Aug. 11 and 12, but, when we looked at the calendar, we noticed that it would be a full moon. This can often hinder your ability to see meteors, and, with the light pollution near our home, it would be even more difficult to see the meteors light up the sky. If we had any hope of seeing a spectacular meteor shower, we had to find total darkness, and we are always willing to go the extra mile to see the miraculous events the Creator makes. So, after I finished up with a customer on Saturday, Aug. 10, our entire family loaded up in the van and headed to Seneca Rocks, West Virginia. My wife packed food, and I focused on getting a cabin lined up before we hit the road. Once we were in Washington, D.C., we began to see signs that read: “All lanes closed.” Nervous for what that could mean, we found a spot on the highway where we could hop off and drive north, just as Interstate 495 was turning into a parking lot. But, after avoiding bumper-to-bumper traffic, our GPS began to die. I was able to log onto my work computer to navigate our path, but, as we headed into the mountains, I knew we were going to lose service. Thankfully, I had

written down our route. (Plus, Bethany has a great sense of direction! Her guidance made this navigation much easier.) After almost six hours, we finally reached our cabin. As it was already nearly dark, we quickly unpacked our luggage and food into the cabin, and we made our way to the dark, dark forest for some stargazing. We drove to a location we would later learn was called Spruce Knob, but, before hitting the knob, we had to drive. And drive … and drive … we were up in the mountains where oncoming headlights were rare, and with as much as we could see, we were keeping an eye out for a lookout point where we could view the heavens. It finally got to the point where I said that if we didn’t find a spot within the next five miles, we were going to turn around, cut our losses, and head back to the cabin. Not even a mile or two after this declaration, we found a pull-off where we could see the beauty in the skies. After we hauled the chairs and blankets out of the car, we watched the sky. We all took turns sitting in the car with one of our younger children who was scared to go outside, but in the hour we sat there looking up at the sky, we saw 26 meteors streak across the sky. It was just us and this miraculous event that had been hours of travel and searching in the making. I still can’t believe that moment of spontaneity worked.

The next morning, we drove about 10 minutes down the road to a local Mennonite church. We managed to sneak in right as the first song was ending, and afterward, we stayed for the fellowship meal. While there, we discovered some family ties we didn’t know existed. We visited with our newfound family before heading for home again. Along the way, we stopped so the children could splash in the creek, too.

By the time we reached home after a whirlwind of just 24 hours of packing,

traveling, and exploring, we all headed to bed that night satisfied with our spontaneity. The only question left is when do we go back?

–Ethan Zimmerman

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Today, some of the most fantastic discoveries are being made in the far reaches of space, but there was a time when people were more interested in what was going on beneath their feet. In the early 1820s, a United States army officer named John Cleves Symmes Jr. traveled the country teaching audiences about the Hollow Earth Theory. Symmes and some others at the time believed the Earth was made up of several solid spheres, one inside of another. They also believed each of these subterranean worlds was habitable and full of life. This is where the myth of the mole people originated. Symmes wanted to lead an expedition to the North Pole, where he believed he would find an entrance to the center of the Earth. He went to Congress and lobbied for money to fund his expedition. Congress shot him down, but Symmes found an ally in an unlikely place: President John Quincy Adams. John Quincy Adams was the sixth president of the United States and son of the second president and founding father, John Adams. He traveled the world with his father, graduated from Harvard with honors, helped create the national observatory, and secured funding for the Smithsonian Institution. It’s possible Adams’ interest in Symmes’ trip to the North Pole was less about the Hollow Earth Theory and meeting the mole people than his larger interest in learning more about such

a remote part of the world. However, Adams’ reputation as a naturalist didn't protect him from scrutiny.

Even in the early 1800s, the Hollow Earth Theory was like the Flat Earth Theory today; there were a couple avid supporters, but most people knew it was ridiculous. Having a sitting U.S. president greenlight the expedition was shocking. However, you didn’t learn about Symmes’ expedition in your history class for a reason. Adams wasn’t a popular president, and not just because he might have wanted to meet the mole people. He only served one term. By the time the expedition started to get off the ground, Andrew Jackson had been elected, and he quickly killed the project. In 1936, Congress would approve funding for an expedition to the South Pole, though this expedition focused on exploring the surface of the Earth, not what is underneath it.

Every craftsman worth his salt knows the right wood can make or break a project. The strength, grain, color, and styling of the wood can be the difference between a durable, beautiful piece of furniture that lasts for generations and one that degenerates after a few years of use.

And airplane propellers are no different.

Human flight is one of the greatest advancements of recent history, and hardwoods played a major role in getting humans off the ground and into the skies. According to the National Hardwood Lumber Association’s (NHLA) Wood Wednesday column, the Wright Brothers completely changed the course of humanity in 1903 when their wing-shaped propeller design allowed them to become the first men to fly. In the following years, manufacturers and inventors refined and perfected the parts that made the planes soar, improving the distance, speed, and safety of flights. Among these innovators were the experts in the lumber industry, whose craftsmanship gave planes the power necessary for flight. According to the NHLA, hardwood was the preferred choice of airplane manufacturers who needed a material that was light, easy to work with, and inexpensive. Many propellers were made out of mahogany, oak, and walnut wood, but nearly every type of hardwood has been used to craft a propeller. The shaping process up until the mid-1900s often involved

hand tools, which meant a craftsman had to be near-perfect in his production. After the holes were drilled and the propeller was sanded, varnished, and smoothed, it was placed onto the airplane and headed for the skies. In 1917, the U.S. sought the help of the NHLA to craft durable propellers that would give airmen the best chance against their enemies in World War I. This fueled the hardwood lumbering industry, and it enhanced the mechanics, manufacturing, and inspection. In fact, NHLA inspectors were in high-demand during WWI to ensure airplanes were crafted to perfection. After all, they were craftsmen who understood the value of good wood.

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Today, Maury’s findings and work continue to hold weight as scientists develop their understanding of how oceans and seas function and what that means for sea navigation and travel. Maury continued to study, and in 1855, he wrote the first textbook on

Exploring the open seas with accuracy and the understanding of how ocean and sea currents flow would not have been possible if it hadn’t been for Matthew Maury’s dedication to the Bible and God’s word. In 1825, the now-esteemed oceanographer entered the Navy, but, in 1839, an accident forced him to retire from active duty. Three years later, he was named superintendent of the U.S. Naval Observatory and the U.S. Depot of Charts and Instruments. Maury poured himself into his work and the Bible, but one passage from Psalm 8:8 always stuck out to him. It reads, “... whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.” To Maury, these paths had to exist, so he searched for them. Stealing a trick from folklore, Maury wrote and dated letters, stuck these letters into glass bottles, and tossed them into the sea and oceans. Maury instructed those who found the letters to return them with a few key explanations. Through this experiment and the goodwill of strangers, Maury was able to use these findings to develop charts of ocean currents, which advanced marine navigation and the ecological understanding of the sea.

oceanography, titled “The Physical Geography of the Sea and Its Meteorology.” Often, Maury’s work included passages from the Bible, which Maury used to fuel his curiosity and understanding of Earth. Maury died in 1873, and a monument was built in his honor in Richmond, Virginia. That monument includes an inscription in which Maury is credited as a genius who “snatched from the oceans and atmosphere the secret of their laws.” But that monument also includes mention of the real owner of Maury’s work: God and his Word. It ends with a mention of Maury’s inspiration, Psalms 8:8 and the Creator.

It’s a fitting honor for the scientist who spent his career mastering the seas and discovering the wonders God’s word highlights.

INGREDIENTS • 4 Granny Smith apples • 1/2 cup raw pistachios •

• • • •

4 Popsicle sticks

2 tbsp light corn syrup 1/4 cup heavy cream 1/4 tsp kosher salt

1 1/2 tsp plus 1 cup sugar 3 tbsp sesame seeds 2 tbsp white miso, divided

• •

INSTRUCTIONS 1. Heat oven to 275 F.

2. In a food processor, pulse pistachios and 1 1/2 tsp sugar. Add sesame seeds and 1 tbsp miso, pulsing until miso is fully broken up. Spread evenly on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake for 15–20 minutes and let cool. 3. Meanwhile, insert a Popsicle stick into the center of each apple. 4. In a saucepan, bring corn syrup, 1 cup sugar, and 2 tbsp water to a boil. Boil for 5–7 minutes, swirling infrequently, until caramel is a light amber color. 5. Add cream and salt to caramel, whisking to combine. Transfer to a large mixing bowl and quickly whisk in remaining miso. 6. To assemble, first roll apple in caramel, then in pistachio mixture, before resting on greased baking sheet. 7. Let cool 30 minutes and serve.

Copyright Nature Friend Magazine Used By Permission

Inspired by Bon Appétit

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Brought to you by KCS Builders of American Heirlooms and Penns Creek Furniture The Swiss Craftsman

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Inside this Issue A Spontaneous Adventure to West Virginia Page 1 Weird History: The President and the Hollow Earth The Lumber Industry’s Connection to Flight Page 2

Navigating the ‘Paths of the Seas’ Miso Caramel Apples Page 3 How Farmers Grow Giant Pumpkins Page 4

Forklifts and cranes may be used mainly for construction work, but every fall, thousands of backyard gardeners use them as gardening tools — or rather, harvesting tools — for their largest single crop. Massive pumpkins aren’t practical, but they can become a minor tourist attraction in your hometown, and even win a few thousand bucks if they’re really huge. However, with the time and effort it takes to get them that big, farmers aren’t in it for the money. They’re in it for the glory. Growing these monstrous fruits (yes, they are technically fruits) is kind of like breeding a racehorse. It takes practice, cultivation, and even good breeding. Competitive growers will often purchase the seeds of the previous year’s champions for their plant. After preparing the soil to make it extra fertile, they’ll plant the pumpkin in late winter or early spring. Before the gourd starts growing, flowers on the plant need to be pollinated. Farmers will usually take it upon themselves to pollinate, using pollen from plants with proven genetic lines. Winning pumpkins usually claim their “father” plant and “mother” seed, like racehorses.

Growing a great pumpkin is practically a full-time job, with some farmers reporting spending 40 hours a week on it. Using heated soil, installing fences to reduce wind, adding sand, and other specific cultivation techniques give the pumpkin a fighting chance to grow into a monster. But, in the end, there’s an element of luck. The competitive growing industry is getting bigger (pun intended). In 1979, the largest pumpkin on record was 438 pounds. Since 2008, the world record has been broken every year. The reigning heavyweight champion was grown in Germany last year, weighing in at 2,623 pounds. That’s the weight of a 2018 Toyota Yaris or 1,748 standard pumpkin pies.

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