Piper celebrates Memorial Day

A steamboat sounded its horn as it departed the pier to collect passengers from New York City. Standing upon an outdoor stage beneath a giant seashell canopy, Sam Gumpertz was greeted by cheers, whistles, clapping hands, clapping feet, and even the clapping flippers of the Seal Woman.

Sam extended his hand to the three distinctive landmarks that ascended high into Coney Island’s unblemished blue sky: The Wonder Wheel, the Thunderbolt, and the hundred-foot bejeweled structure that towered above a new roller coaster called the Bobs.

“Welcome to another summer at Dreamland. Or at least what’s left of it,” Sam announced, bowing to the small crowd. Continue reading

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When Black History Month Was Only a Week

In 1926, Carter G. Woodson and the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History pioneered the celebration of “Negro History Week.” The precursor to Black History Month, Negro History Week fell during the second week of February because it coincided with the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln on the 12th and Frederick Douglass on the 14th. Continue reading

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