In My Footsteps Podcast Episode 133: The Horror of Red Asphalt; Las Vegas Gambling Disasters; 1980s Teen Movies; Edison Invents the Phonograph(2-21-2024)

 

A driver's ed film that scarred children of the 1960s. Stories of my time as a degenerate Las Vegas gambler. Some of the best 1980s teen movies, and more.
All of this is front and center on Episode 133 of the podcast.
Las Vegas is called 'Sin City' for a reason. All of the excesses that you could want are within arms reach. Even if you are a resident you cannot escape the pull of some of the vices. During my time living in Vegas in 2000-01 I found out that my major weakness was the lure of gambling. I will share some head-shaking yet hilarious stories of my days as a degenerate gambler.
From laughs to horror. In 1964 a film was created to help scare straight potential new drivers. It was called Red Asphalt and its gory graphic content depicting real traffic accidents is still shocking 60 years later. We go way Back In the Day as I review this unique and terrifying driver's ed film.
From horror to warm and fuzzy nostalgia we look back at some of the best 1980s teen movies this week in the Top 5. Get your Netflix, Hulu, or whatever streaming service you have ready to make a playlist.
There is also a brand new This Week In History and Time Capsule centered around Thomas Edison's creation of the phonograph and how the way we consume sound changed forever.
For more great content become a subscriber on Patreon or Buzzsprout!

Helpful Links from this Episode

• The Lady of the Dunes.com
• Purchase My New Book Cape Cod Beyond the Beach!
• In My Footsteps: A Cape Cod Travel Guide(2nd Edition)
• Kiwi's Kustoms - Etsy
• DJ Williams Music
• KeeKee's Cape Cod Kitchen
• Christopher Setterlund.com
• Cape Cod Living - Zazzle Store
• Subscribe on YouTube!
• Initial Impressions 2.0 Blog
• Red Asphalt - Archive.org

Listen to Episode 132 here 

In My Footsteps: Trip 41: Brockton, Mass.

-->

In My Footsteps

Christopher Setterlund

Trip 41: Brockton, Mass.

April 7, 2010

            Brockton, nicknamed the City of Champions for its connection to boxing legend Rocky Marciano.  It may be all of that to the average visitor but to me it is a lot more than that.  To me Brockton is where a large part of my family lived and came from.  This trip was just as much about seeing where my mother and grandparents lived and spent time as it was to see the historical sites and some natural beauty that lies within the city’s limits. 

            Originally called part of Bridgewater, and then North Bridgewater, until 1874 Brockton got its name from Isaac Brock.  Brock was a British soldier nicknamed the ‘Hero of Upper Canada.’  He fought and died during the War of 1812 at the Battle of Queenston Heights in present-day Ontario, Canada.  The feel as you drive through the downtown area of Brockton is that of a once thriving industrial center.  There are many old brick buildings that once housed successful businesses more than a hundred years earlier.  They still stand as a throwback to Brockton’s history.  One such building is the brick building that once belonged to the Brockton Edison Company Old Power Station.  Now housing the Metro South Chamber of Commerce(left), the building was constructed in 1883.  The power station was Thomas Edison’s first model of a complete power station.  The main reason that this incredible first in modern power has been overlooked is that Edison felt that it was much more important to achieve a similar three-wire electrical generation in New York City.  The Brockton Edison plant was never fully appreciated during its initial run but its pace in American history cannot be overlooked.

            In the same vicinity as the Brockton Edison building lies Brockton’s City Hall(right) which is a magnificent sight.  It was originally built in 1892 and sits overlooking an area called Brockton Common.  The Common is a small area with benches and a few rows of trees, it is a gathering place in the center of the busy city.  City Hall itself appears to be much more modern than the surrounding buildings despite being nearly 120 years old, the brick design looks like a second skin.  The monument to the Brockton Firefighters who perished in the Strand Theater fire in 1941 is an eye-catching statue and is only the first evidence of the importance of Brockton’s firefighters.  On Pleasant Street lies the Central Fire Station(below).  Built in 1884 it is an historic brick building that is a part of the National Historic Register.  

            Brockton may be the sixth largest city in Massachusetts but there are spots where peace and quiet reigns supreme.  One such place is D.W. Field Park, a 700-plus acre park that is used by frazzled city folk as a way to unwind.  Daniel Waldo Field donated the land during the 1930’s and was a well known contemporary and combatant of Thomas Edison.  Field believed that any city needed an abundance of natural beauty for its people to truly be happy.  He also believed that Edison would disrupt that upon his arrival.  His donation of the 700-plus acres is living proof of D.W. Field’s beliefs.

            The park is a great way to spend a sunny day.  There are several ponds and nearly seven miles of paved roads around the park.  Porter Pond is split by Oak Street into Upper and Lower sections.  Lying next to the park is the D.W. Field golf course as well as a tremendous stone observation tower simply called the Central Tower(left).  The tower, ponds, and golf course wrap together and make an incredible scene that seems to be so far removed from the downtown area but yet it fits right in perfectly.

            After all of the sites had been seen it was time for me to discover the areas that were important to my family in Brockton.  I enjoyed the drive out to a beautifully quiet section of Brockton on West Elm Street where I found the house my mother grew up in.  According to her and my grandparents it still looks the way they remember it.

            The last spot I needed to see was the location of my grandfather’s doughnut shop on Warren Avenue.  Sullivan’s Donuts was a staple of Brockton in the 1960’s into the 70’s.  It was after my grandparents moved down to the Cape my grandfather opened a new Sullivan’s Donuts on Bearses Way in Hyannis that was a popular meeting place into the early 1990’s.  I was truly able to appreciate where my family came from after seeing these spots with my own eyes. 

            Brockton is a mix of city life and history with a splash of natural beauty.  It is also very important in my own life as it is where my mother’s side of the family originated.  I highly recommend that everybody who has the ability takes a trip to areas where their families originated.  Brockton has a lot of culture and things to see, the fact that it holds personal significance only added to the allure.  Have fun and happy traveling!  



     My first book, In My Footsteps: A Cape Cod Travel Guide, is now available at SchifferBooks.com, BarnesandNoble.com, and Amazon.com, soon to be in stores everywhere!  Follow me on Twitter!

Directions:  DW Field Park:  Take Rt. 3 North, continue onto Yankee Division Highway.  Merge onto I-93 South, take Exit 4 to merge onto Rt. 24 South.  Take Exit 18B to merge onto Rt. 27 North.  Turn right at Oak Street.  The park is on either side of the road.

            Brockton Edison Building:  Take Rt. 3 North, continue onto Yankee Division Highway.  Merge onto I-93 South, take Exit 4 to merge onto Rt. 24 South.  Take Exit 18A to merge onto Rt. 27 South.  Turn left at Pleasant St., turn right at Montello St., turn right at School St.  The building is now called Metro South Chamber of Commerce.

            Central Fire Station: Take Rt. 3 North, continue onto Yankee Division Highway.  Merge onto I-93 South, take Exit 4 to merge onto Rt. 24 South.  Take Exit 18A to merge onto Rt. 27 South.  Turn left at Pleasant Street, follow it for a mile and a half, fire station is on the right.

References: Thomas Edison's Brockton Power Station

            The Battle Between Edison and DW Field

            City of Brockton Homepage

            DW Field Park.com

In My Footsteps: Trip 31: Gloucester, Mass.

In My Footsteps

Christopher Setterlund

Trip 31: Gloucester, Mass.

March 6, 2010

            What the Witch Trials are to Salem that is what fishing is to Gloucester.  It is what defines this incredible North Shore village.  America’s oldest seaport, Gloucester houses many beautiful landscapes along its shore and some memorable statues and of course lighthouses.  Only a forty mile drive north of Boston, this popular tourist destination at times can seem like the perfect painting of what a fishing village should be.

            Following Rt. 127 North from Manchester there is a perfect place to start any journey around Gloucester.  The amazing Stage Fort Park(left) has a Visitor’s Center open during the warmer months and is home to one of the best views in the North Shore area.  The site of the first settlers to the Gloucester area from Dorchester, England, Stage Fort Park has a nearly fifty foot tall boulder containing a gigantic plaque commemorating this fact.  The view from the top of the boulder is breathtaking as you can see all across the wide open park to the east, historic downtown Gloucester to the north, and Ten Pound Island and lighthouse to the west.  This island received its name either from the amount of money paid to the local Indians, or for the number of sheep pens, known as ‘pounds,’ located on the island.

There are two beaches at Stage Fort Park, Cressy’s Beach, a normal, rocky beach and Half Moon Beach which is very small and secluded amongst the rocks, a sort of lagoon.  This is traditionally accepted as the spot where the first settlers made landfall.

            Before heading into the historic downtown area of Gloucester there is a much unexpected site to see, especially for a well known fishing village.  Backtracking a little from Stage Fort Park you will find the Hammond Castle Museum(right).  It is a medieval castle in the middle of the North Shore.  Built by John Hays Hammond Jr. between 1926 and 1929, this authentic castle was created to serve as his home and to house his collection of Roman, medieval, and Renaissance artifacts.  Hammond was also a prolific inventor, second only to Thomas Edison as far as patents.  He is known as the ‘Father of Remote Control’ thanks to his works with remote control via radio waves. 

            The castle itself is brilliant.  It sits on a rocky cliff with the waves battering the shore loudly; from there you can see Eastern Point Lighthouse sitting across the harbor.  Walking through the courtyard of the castle one feels like they have been transported back a thousand years.  There are several gargoyle statues perched precariously overhead, along with stone lions guarding a drawbridge as well as the actual grave of Mr. Hammond.  The castle is opened on weekends starting in May but even on this day when it was closed Hammond Castle is a truly impressive site and needs to be seen.  

            From Hammond Castle the next stop is the historic downtown area of Gloucester.  Rt. 127 is also known as Western Avenue as it crosses over the mouth of the Annisquam River.  Here there are several beautiful statues and sculptures, none as famous as The Man At The Wheel(right).  This beautiful eight-foot tall bronze statue on a granite base of a fisherman at the wheel of a ship faces out over the harbor.  It is symbolic of Gloucester’s connection with fishing and the sea itself.  The statue overlooks the Gloucester Fisherman’s Memorial.  On these plaques are listed the names of all of those lost at sea over the past 300 years.  Included among these names are the crew of the Andrea Gail(below, right) who lost their lives during the so-called ‘Perfect Storm’ of October 1991. 

            A great place to stop for lunch on Western Avenue is Roma Pizza & Subs.  It is a small place big on quality.  There may not be room for more than a dozen or so people to sit inside but it is hard to sit inside when facing beautiful Gloucester Harbor.  People must be in and out nonstop during the warmer months picking up hot and cold subs, pizza, and fries before heading back out to watch the fishing boats coming and going.  The food and the views go hand in hand to add to the allure of this North Shore destination.

            On the other side of the harbor, visible from Hammond Castle, is Eastern Point Lighthouse(left).  Located far out at the end of Eastern Point the current lighthouse sits on private property behind a chain link fence, although the fence does not obscure the view at all.  Built in 1890, the lighthouse is on the grounds of a Coast Guard station and still is in use.  Jutting out into the harbor is 2,250 foot long breakwater called Dog Bar Breakwater.  At the end of this breakwater sits Dog Bar Breakwater Light.  It was built as added protection for incoming vessels and can be visited at anytime.  However, with the normal rough seas of the area it is wise to be careful when walking out on the long breakwater as at times rogue waves have been known to come barreling in and hit the rocks, shooting water sometimes ten feet into the air over the breakwater.  I witnessed this myself and thought twice about making a journey all the way out to see Dog Bar Breakwater Light.

            Gloucester, America’s oldest seaport, lives up to its reputation as a beautiful getaway for those in Boston.  It is also well worth the trip from anywhere in the state or New England.  It is so rare to find a place that has held onto its roots as a fishing village.  At times it felt as though I had one foot in the present and one foot in the past.  Lighthouses, medieval castles, spacious parks, great food, historic memorials, Gloucester has everything you could want in a vacation or a day trip.  I suggest taking more than just a day to discover it all though, or you will find you have missed so much.  Have fun and happy traveling!

Check out a short video slideshow of my photos from Gloucester on YouTube here: In My Footsteps - Gloucester, Mass.


Directions: Hammond Castle Museum: From I-95 N take Exit 47A, turn right onto Maple St., continue on to Poplar St.  Slight right at Elliot St., merge onto Rt. 128.  Take Exit 15, follow School St. to Rt. 127.  Follow Rt. 127 5 miles, turn right at Hesperus St., castle is .7 mi on left.

Stage Fort Park: From I-95 N take Exit 47A, turn right onto Maple St., continue on to Poplar St.  Slight right at Elliot St., merge onto Rt. 128.  Take Exit 15, follow School St. to Rt. 127.  Follow Rt. 127 6.5 miles, turn left onto Hough Avenue.

Man At the Wheel Memorial: From I-95 N take Exit 47A, turn right onto Maple St., continue on to Poplar St.  Slight right at Elliot St., merge onto Rt. 128.  Take Exit 15, follow School St. to Rt. 127.  Follow Rt. 127 approx. 7 mi., statue and memorial is on the right.

Eastern Point Light: Follow Western Ave., turn right onto Angle St., left at Rogers St.  Continue onto Main St., slight right at E. Main St.  Follow 1.1 mi. continue onto Eastern Point Rd.  Slight right at Eastern Point Blvd. W., lighthouse will be on left.

 To view video of my North Shore trip visit YouTube.com - North Shore Trip

References:  Hammond Castle Museum

            Gloucester, Ma.com

            Eastern Point Lighthouse

            Roma Pizza & Subs

            Cape Ann Historical Museum        

Gloucester on Dwellable