As part of our ongoing series on the 50 states, this POST will cover the state of Rhode Island, which was the 13th state to formally ratify the United States constitution, following North Carolina and just ahead of Vermont.

On May 4, 1776, the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations was the first of the Thirteen Colonies to renounce its allegiance to the British Crown, and it was the fourth state to ratify the Articles of Confederation, doing so on February 9, 1778. The state boycotted the 1787 convention, which drew up the United States Constitution and initially refused to ratify it; it was the last of the original 13 states to do so, on May 29, 1790, becoming the 13th state to officially ratify the constitution.

From its infancy during the Revolutionary War to its present day technology, the United States Navy has been a part of Narragansett Bay. Until the last two decades of the 19th century, a sailor learned most of his trade on the job. In the 1880s, a new concept of shore-based training for officers and enlisted personnel was developed, and the Navy turned to Narragansett Bay.

Newport is the Navy’s premier site for training officers, officer candidates, senior enlisted personnel and midshipman candidates, as well as conducting advanced undersea warfare and development systems. Having spent time being stationed there, I can attest to the amazing history and scenic beauty of the state, not the Naval base !! As the saying goes, I spent a year there, one month ! Awaiting orders for my next duty station.

Rhode Island is nicknamed the Ocean State and has a number of oceanfront beaches. It is mostly flat with no real mountains, and the state’s highest natural point is Jerimoth Hill, 812 feet above sea level.

Rhode Island is also home to many tourist attractions, including the former “Summer Homes” aka: Mansions of the industrial age tycoons, including the Breakers, owned by the Vanderbilt family.

Facts about Rhode Island.

• Rhode Island has the longest official name of any state, the “State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations.”
• It is said that “the cradle of American industry began at the place of rushing water”. This happened in 1793 when Samuel Slater built a …
• Rhode Island is the smallest state in the nation while Alaska is the largest. It could be fitted into Alaska 425 times.
• Rhode Island is nicknamed the “Ocean State” because one can get to the ocean from anywhere in the state in less than an hour’s drive – the state is only 37 miles wide and 48 miles long
• The American straw hat industry was launched by a 12-year-old Betsey Metcalf in 1798 when she started making inexpensive straw hats

• Portsmouth, RI is the first town in America to be established by a woman: – Anne Hutchinson.
• The first NFL game at night was hosted in Rhode Island
• With more than 1,000 manufacturers, Rhode Island is a leading jewelry producer. Rhode Island is also the 46th biggest exporter overall in the country.
• America’s first Jazz festival was held in Newport in 1954.
• Founded in 1922, WJAR was the state’s first radio station.

• With twelve colleges and universities, higher education is one of the state’s major industries.
• One of those universities, Johnson and Wales, boasts a world renowned culinary arts curriculum

That’s it for now…..we hope you enjoy reading about some our 50 States, and their fun facts. Please feel free to place a “Comment” under this POST, should you have any of your own experiences, having either visited or heard about the little state of Rhode Island.

73 Kevin N1KL

As part of our ongoing series on the 50 states, this POST will cover the state of North Carolina, which was the 12th state to formally ratify the United States constitution, following New York and just ahead of Rhode Island.

North Carolina was established as a royal colony in 1729 and is one of the original Thirteen Colonies. North Carolina is named in honor of King Charles I of England who first formed the English colony, Carolus being Latin for “Charles”.

North Carolina is bordered by South Carolina on the south, Georgia on the southwest, Tennessee on the west, Virginia on the north, and the Atlantic Ocean on the east. So many ships have been lost off Cape Hatteras that the area is known as the “Graveyard of the Atlantic”; more than a thousand ships have sunk in these waters since records began in 1526. The most famous of these is the Queen Anne’s Revenge (flagship of the pirate Blackbeard), which went aground in Beaufort Inlet in 1718

A drugstore clerk named Caleb Bradham from the city of New Bern invented a syrupy drink in the year 1893 that he claimed helped with digestion. He called it Brad’s Drink. He changed the name of the drink to “Pepsi-Cola” in 1898. In 1903, Bradham became wholly invested in the business and sold 7,968 gallons of Pepsi-Cola in the same year.

Cape Hatteras, at 210-feet-tall, is the tallest brick lighthouse in the United States and the second tallest in the world. It was reconstructed in 1870 and is a popular tourist attraction today.

The University of North Carolina was founded in 1789 and today has a student population of about 30,000. The university first held its classes in 1795. The University of North Carolina, North Carolina State University, and Duke University now form what is popularly known as the Research Triangle

The first commercial winery — Medoc Vineyard — was established in 1835. Today, the state has over 400 vineyards and 200 commercial wineries. Nestled in the foothill of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the Yadkin Valley is a famous wine destination that attracts thousands of tourists each year.

Vernon Rudolph and his uncle bought the recipe for Krispy Kreme donuts from a French chef named Joe LeBeau in the year 1937. Rudolph saw potential in the recipe and decided to start his donut shop. In the summer of 1937, Rudolph moved to the present-day Winston-Salem and started his donut shop. The first Krispy Kreme Donuts were made on July 13, 1937.

The Wright Brothers may have been born in Ohio and Indiana, but they chose North Carolina to test their first flight. The brothers chose the beach town of Kitty Hawk as it gave them the privacy and steady winds needed to test the flight. The siblings tested their first flight on December 17, 1903. The flight flew 20 feet above the ground, lasted 12 seconds, and covered a distance of 120 feet.

Additional Fun Facts about the state of North Carolina:

• Babe Ruth had his first professional home run in Fayetteville on March 7th, 1914.
• This state has the largest state-maintained highway system in the US. North Carolina’s highway system has 77,400 miles of roads.
• James K Polk was born in Mecklenburg, North Carolina. He was also the 11th president of the US.
• The nation’s seventh president Andrew Jackson was born in the Waxsaws area on the border of North and South Carolina.
• The first miniature golf course was built in Fayetteville North Carolina.
• North Carolina is nicknamed ‘Tar Heel State.’ While no one is sure where this name came from, the story goes that back when North Carolina was the leading producer of tar, someone noticed footprints in the tar and that’s how the name came about.
• On average, North Carolina is hit by a hurricane almost every 4 years. (Every 3.44 years to be exact.)
• NASCAR was born in North Carolina, and all because of moonshine. During prohibition the state was known as the “Moonshine Capital of the World.” The repeal of Prohibition in 1933 didn’t stop them and in fact, they knew they needed to get faster. Hence, stock car racing and eventually NASCAR.
• Today, 100,000 Native Americans still live in North Carolina. It’s the eighth largest in the US and you won’t find any state east of the Mississippi River with a larger population.

I am very sorry to report that Chuck Ralph W3CR G#1923 D#226 became a silent key on February 18, 2021.

Chuck was also a very active mobiler and county hunter for many years and earned the CQ Magazine USA-CA Award #955 on September 15, 1998.

News of Chuck’s passing may be viewed here:

https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/qconline/name/charles-ralph-obituary?n=charles-ralph&pid=197809158&fhid=19019

73 Barry K2MF G#325 D#739

As part of our ongoing series on the 50 states, this POST will cover the state of New York, which was the 11th state to formally ratify the United States constitution, following Virginia and just ahead of North Carolina.

New York is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Great Lakes region of the Northeastern United States. It was one of the original thirteen colonies forming the United States. With a total area of 54,555 square miles. New York is the 27th largest state. Its population of more than 19 million as of 2019 makes it the fourth most populous. Sometimes referred to as New York State, it is the home of New York City.

The “Statue of Liberty” is in New York. The statue is a symbol of the United States and its ideals of opportunity, democracy, and freedom. Did you know that the “Statue of Liberty” was a gift to the United States from France ? Did you know that the seven spikes on the crown of the Statue of Liberty represent the seven oceans and the seven continents of the world, indicating the universal concept of liberty? In 1886, it was the tallest iron structure ever built.

New York had been inhabited by tribes of Algonquian and Iroquoian-speaking Native Americans for several hundred years by the time the earliest Europeans came to New York. French colonists and Jesuit missionaries arrived southward from Montreal for trade and proselytizing. In 1609, the region was visited by Henry Hudson sailing for the Dutch East India Company.

Niagara Falls, one of the most famous waterfalls in the world is located on the border of Ontario, Canada, and New York, United States.

The New York Stock Exchange and NASDAQ both call the city their home. And mind you, these are the world’s two largest stock exchanges by total market capitalization of their listed companies. Big Board is a nickname for the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE).

Some additional FUN FACTS about the state of New York:

• Toilet paper was invented by Joseph Gayetty of New York City.
• The first American chess tournament was held in New York in 1843.
• The New York State Canal System consists of four canals – the Erie Canal, the Oswego Canal, the Cayuga–Seneca Canal, and the Champlain Canal. The system which is 525 miles long is located in 17 counties in upstate New York (excluding New York City). The system sees very less commercial vessels and is primarily used for recreational and flood control purposes.
• There is a secret train station (known as Track 61) below the Waldorf Astoria, which is the most famous historic hotel in New York City. During the 1930s the train station was built for the secret entrance of former US president Franklin Roosevelt to the hotel
• New York City also houses the world’s largest railway station – the Grand Central Terminal. Its construction was completed in 1913. The station has 44 platforms, situated on two underground levels. The station covers 48 acres of land.
• The Metropolitan Museum of Art is the largest art museum in the United States and also one of the most visited art museums in the world.
• Did you know that the Hudson River flows two ways? Because of the low and hide tides, which the river usually experiences twice every 24 hours, the direction of its flow reverses. A rising tide causes the river to flow towards Troy (northwards) and a falling tide causes the river to flow seaward (southwards).
• New York is the only state that borders both the Atlantic Ocean and the Great Lakes.

Feel free to add any comments you have about New York, especially any personal stories you have about New York, or any additional Fun Facts.

Regards, Kevin N1KL

From: AA0ZP – Frank; GERATOL Secretary

As required by the club by-laws, a meeting of the GERATOL Board of Directors was called to order by the Chairman W0FP, at 0100 UTC on 12 Feb 2021. 

• Present were W0FP, AA0ZP, KJ8V, KJ8W, and N1KL
• There was a quorum present
• There was no business to discuss
• Chairman, W0FP, adjourned the meeting at 0102 UTC
• Respectfully submitted, Frank Taylor, AA0ZP, GERATOL Secretary

To all GERATOLers, there will be a GERATOL Board Meeting this week.

Date: Thursday evening February 11th (Zulu, Feb12)

Time: 8PM Eastern (0100Z), prior to net starting

Where: 3.668 Mhz

I am very sorry to report that the following three Geratolers are being reported by QRZ as Silent Keys:

Peter von Chrustschoff W8US G# 308

John Henderson N4NAB G# 1345

Dan Clevenger WØVD G# 2225 – Dan was also active with the Straight Key Century Club #2515

We will miss them!

73 Barry K2MF G# 325 D# 739

I am very sorry to report that Urb LeJeune W1UL G#253 D#686 became a silent key on January 22, 2021.

Urb was active with the Straight Key Century Club (SKCC #6668) and a regular on the Geratol Net at different times over the years.

News of Urb’s passing may be viewed here:

https://obarc.org/index.cfm

73 Barry K2MF G#325 D#739

As part of our ongoing series on the 50 states, this POST will cover the state of Virginia, which was the 10th state to formally ratify the United States constitution, following New Hampshire and just ahead of New York.

Quite often, as we work the fifty states for awards and/or endorsements, we may not be aware of some of the fun facts associated with those states. This series focuses on some historical, as well as fun facts about our fifty states.

Virginia is one of only four states called a “Commonwealth”. The four US states whose legal names include the term Commonwealth are: Kentucky, Virginia, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania. However, this term does not affect laws or life in these states today, nor did it when they were first created either.

Virginia is home to the largest “office building” in the world, better known as “The Pentagon”. The Pentagon serves as the headquarters of the U.S. Department of Defense including all branches of our military services. The Pentagon, however, has a Washington, D.C. mailing address. The building was designed by American architect George Bergstrom and built by contractor John McShain.

Virginians were instrumental in writing the United States Constitution. James Madison drafted the Virginia Plan in 1787 and the Bill of Rights in 1789. Virginia ratified the Constitution on June 25, 1788.

The Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel, with 17.6 miles span (shore to shore), is the world’s largest bridge-tunnel complex. Its official name is Lucius J. Kellam, Jr. Bridge-Tunnel.

Other Fun Facts about the Commonwealth of Virginia:

• Virginia was named after Queen Elizabeth I, who was called the Virgin Queen.
• Virginia was one of the 13 Colonies in the American Revolution.
• The Virginia General Assembly is the oldest continuous law-making body in the New World. And it prohibits the governors from serving two consecutive terms.
• Naval Station Norfolk, in Norfolk Virginia, is the world’s largest naval base. For those ex-Navy GERATOLers, perhaps you spent some time in Norfolk. I recall the sign posted in the park, which read: “Sailors and Dogs, keep off the grass” I was glad my stay there was temporary (TAD baby) !!
• In some terms, Virginia can also be given the title of the “Home of the Internet.” Loudoun County hosts data centers that are responsible to cater to almost 3 quarters of the web’s traffic. The County has more than 10 million square feet of building space and more than 100 massive data centers. And there is no sign of this growth abating.
• In 1607, Jamestown–the first English colony in what would become the United States–was founded in Virginia. Jamestown was also Virginia’s first capital. The town was established on the bank of the James River.
• Bourbon, also known as American Whiskey, is often considered a Kentucky drink, but bourbon’s roots are actually Virginian; Fayette County was in Southwest Virginia, but in 1792, county lines were redrawn and the area became part of the new state of Kentucky. 
• Both wars fought on American soil, the American Revolution and the Civil War, ended in Virginia; the Civil War at Appomattox Courthouse National Historic Park, where Generals Grant and Lee would meet to sign the surrender, and the American Revolution in Yorktown, where the combined forces of the French and American armies would defeat General Cornwallis for a final victory in the war. 

• Virginia contains 544 miles of the Appalachian Trail, more than any other state. Virginia also boasts the most photographed spot on the AT, the picturesque view from McAfee Knob. 
  

That’s it for now, hope you find some of the facts about Virginia interesting, and thanks to those Ops who put VA on the net each season !

Kevin N1KL Site Administrator

Hello fellow GERATOLers. I know many of you have posted “Comments” to several posts. We have had an issue with some of the security settings, and have discovered the COMMENTS that many of you have made, were ending up in a “pending” folder.

Al and I prefer to err on the side of site safety, and hence, keep your email accounts safe and secure from any SPAMMERS. Now that we know what the issue has been, PLEASE don’t be bashful about placing COMMENTS on any of our POSTS, and we will see to it, they get attached to the POST ASAP.

Sorry for the inconvenience. Keep those “COMMENTS” coming guys…

Kevin N1KL