Replica Ships and Cuyahoga County Fair

[lady_branwyn]

Two weeks ago, Lord Branwyn and I drove out to the Black River Landing in Lorain to see replicas of two of Columbus' ships then went to the Cuyahoga County Fair in Berea.

Comments

[curiouswombat]

How fascinating to see the replicas of Nina and Pinta - I can't say I have ever envied the sailors of that era.

Ad I am fascinated by your pictures of the agricultural show because it is so very familiar - all those exhibits could just come here and compete in the classes at ours!

Out of curiosity, why is what we call bottling or preserving fruit and vegetables called canning in America when you don't actually put the stuff in cans?

[lady_branwyn]

All 88 counties in my state still have at least one agricultural fair. I also have photos to post from the much larger Lorain County Fair that is running this week.

The usage over here is that preserving is the more general term for several different means of "putting food by" and canning refers to one specific process. It is possible that people in the US were exposed to commercially canned food (which actually was in canisters) before home canning in glass jars became popular or feasible, though I don't know. My mother (who did a lot of canning when we lived out in the country) did use the term bottling for liquids--tomato juice or grape juice were bottled and not canned. And Coca Cola refers to its soda manufacturing facilities as bottling plants.

[curiouswombat]

Our term of bottling is almost as odd, as the fruit or vegetables are put into glass jars, not bottles, now I think of it.

Actually whenever I hear of Coca Cola bottling plants I only imagine them putting it into bottles - it had never really occurred to me that they put it into cans in the same place :) I can be a bit dense at times!

[cairistiona7]

Out of curiosity, why is what we call bottling or preserving fruit and vegetables called canning in America when you don't actually put the stuff in cans?

If I may... prevailing theory as far as I can research online is that our usage of "canning" for preserving food even in glass jars may have its roots in the old English canne, which refers to a "cup or container" but not necessarily the material from which it's constructed. I think that theory holds water (no pun intended!) considering how many Old and Middle English words are still fairly common, regionally, in the US, thanks to English, Scots and Irish settlers (especially in Appalachia, but also beyond, thanks to movement of settlers and, nowadays, television and radio).

Language is such a fluid thing... always fascinating to me to trace a word back to where it might have originated.

[shirebound]

Awww, that "Little Free Library" is so sweet! What a great idea.

I would LOVE to see those replica ships. I used to build ships like that from model kits when I was a child. I loved looking at all the details and imagining them on the open sea.

[lady_branwyn]

Apparently, those library boxes are all over the country, but that was the first time I've seen one.

I would have loved to see the ships arrive. They had to lift the drawbridge to let them through.

[cairistiona7]

I love those replicas... it always astounds me just how small those ships were in reality. Early mariners of all kinds had to be such hardy souls.

We haven't been to our local fair in ages... this year we would have, but I came down with bronchitis, and last year it was 100F+ every day. Maybe next year!

[lady_branwyn]

It is hard to imagine being so isolated. I feel uneasy if I accidentally drive off without my cellphone in the car.

I hadn't gone to the fair in years, but then I was shocked to discover that Lord Branwyn had never been to one. When I was little, my family lived in very rural counties where the fair was a big event. So we have started attending some of the local fairs. There are several within an easy drive. Cheaper than a movie (until you reach the midway and start buying weird food and tickets for the rides).

[wizard42745]

Loved the pictures of the fair. It has been a number of years since I've was at the fair.

The Euclid Beach Frozen custard-so yummy! Euclid Beach Park is where my hubby and I went on our first date.

May I have your permission to post your picture of the frozen custard stand on Facebook? I am an administrator of a group for Euclid Beach amusement park.

This is the link, should you wish to check it out: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Euclid-Beach-Park-a-look-back/505013512914025

[lady_branwyn]

I didn't move into the area until the mid 80s, long after Euclid Beach Park had closed, but there are so many people who remember it fondly. You are welcome to repost the frozen custard photo. I don't know if you have Heinen's grocery stores near you, but they sometimes carry Euclid Beach taffy and popcorn balls made by the Humphrey Company. Nom, nom, nom....

[lady_branwyn]

Oh, I love the old photos on the Euclid Beach Park Facebook page! I will have to show Lord Branwyn who was born and bred in Cleveland.

[wizard42745]

Enjoy the pictures! Would love to have you join and post your pic.