When the first family arrived at Plain Dealing it was a wilderness over a large area and without development. Before settlers began the move into the area, the federal government pushed the Caddo Tribe off their lands which were at present-day Plain Dealing. In 1839, the federal government looked to profit off these lands (as they had done with seized lands elsewhere) and sold them to families. Many of whom didn't know the story of the area or how the lands were acquired by the federal government. One of the first families to arrive in the area were the Gilmers. It was George Oglethorpe Gilmer and his oldest son, James Blair Gilmer, that purchase the lands from the government. They bought thousands of acres of land along both sides of the Red River. George had also bought an additional 5,000 acres a few miles from their Red River lands.   After settling in, the Gilmers began to develop the Plain Dealing Plantation. It was named after the plantation that they owned in Virgin...

The Tonawanda Reservation is located in Genesee County in Western New York and not far from the towns of Batavia, Elba, Oakfield, and Alabama. When I was younger, my father would sometimes take us on Sunday drives through the area and stop off at The Rez Smoke Shop  to fill up the gas tank and buy stuff from the store. It's been a long time since I'd been there and their gas station has definitely been upgraded since then. If I remember correctly, they weren't a self-serve the last time we were through there, around 1998. It's strange, thinking back, how even these little experiences have formed who I am. Anyways, back on subject, the Tonawanda Reservation is settled by the Tonawanda Band of Seneca. Being federally recognized, they live by their traditional ways of governing. The treaty, which made them federally recognized, was the "Treaty with the Tonawanda Senecas." It was signed on November 5th, 1857, Ratified on June 4th, 1858, and Proclaimed on Marc...

Elba, New York , a town best known for its mucklands, onion-growing, and farms, was developed by an act of NYS to divide Batavia. The act was passed on March 14th, 1820 and Elba became a town comprised of 38,000 acres. Back then, and before the second division on April 11th, 1842, Elba included what is now Oakfield. and today the town is 22,631 acres in size. Old Photos of Elba, NY On April 14th, 1820, a town meeting was held at Nehemiah Ingersoll's tavern on Oak Orchard Road. Elected as the town's government were: Lemuel Foster - Supervisor Mason Turner - Town Clerk and Collector Isaac Benedict, Erastus Wolcott - Overseers of the Poor George Will, Charles Woodworth, John Underhill - Assessors Dudley Sawyer, Mark Turner, Jeremiah Wilford - Commissioners of Highways Lemuel Foster, Isaac Higley, Jeremiah Wilford - Commissioners of Schools Eleazur D. Davis, Samuel White, Martin Wilson - School Inspectors Nehemiah Ingersoll - Poundmaster (caretaker of seized or lost...

A lesser known natural sight in  Central Pennsylvania , with an interesting history, is Tytoona Cave in Sinking Valley. It's one of the newer nature preserves in the region. It is officially known as the Tytoona Cave Nature Preserve and is owned by the  Huntingdon County  chapter of the National Speleological Society after being bought on December 23,  1997 from the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy. The cave sits in a limestone-rich valley where water has carved dramatic geological features over millennia. Sinking Valley is home to not just Tytoona Cave, but also Arch Spring, which is Pennsylvania's eighth largest spring. These two features are connected underground through a stream system, a relationship confirmed through dye tracing experiments. The spring's massive limestone arch serves as the cave's natural exit point nearly a mile downstream from the entrance. Size: Approximately 7-acre nature preserve Tytoona Cave, Pennsylvania - Source: joseph20059 Ownership: ...

The  Pine Creek Rail Trail , one of Pennsylvania’s best trails, offers visitors a chance to explore the natural beauty of the Pine Creek Gorge—often referred to as the “Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania.” Spanning 62 miles through Tioga and Lycoming Counties, this well-maintained trail is ideal for hiking, cycling, and wildlife observation, making it a must-visit for nature enthusiasts. Trail Overview and Features Beginning just north of Wellsboro and ending in Jersey Shore, the Pine Creek Rail Trail follows the floor of Pine Creek Gorge. The trail’s crushed limestone surface and gentle grade make it accessible for all skill levels. Along the route, visitors encounter campgrounds, comfort stations, and small towns that provide convenient rest stops. The trail hugs Pine Creek for much of its length, offering stunning views of dramatic rock formations, moderate waterfalls, and forested landscapes. Popular activities include fishing for trout, kayaking, canoeing during spring runoff, and...

George Warren By Unknown, published by S.J. Clarke Publishing Company  [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons George Warren was born in 1835 in Massachusetts. When he was young, his mother died and he lived with his aunt until he turned ten years old. He was then sent off to New Mexico to live with his father. Tragically, he would lose his father when he and his father were attacked by Apaches. George only had non-fatal wounds but his father was killed. After the attack, the Apache took George with them and held him captive for nearly two years. He was let free when some local prospectors saw George and he was released for a trade of sugar. These prospectors would end up being the ones that taught George Warren his trade. A few photos exist of George Warren since the photographer Camillus Sydney Fly would visit Bisbee and take photos of the miners as they collected their pay. The man on The Great Seal of the State of Arizona is based on one of Fly's photos of George Warren...

The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman is a film, adapted from a book of the same name, telling the story of a black woman that was born to parents who were slaves. The film tells of her life as a slave herself from her childhood, into adulthood, and into her elderly years where she became more involved in the civil rights movement. The film sets a tone that makes it seem almost like a documentary in parts. Especially when they show the elderly Jane Pittman. Which had me believing that she was a real person and actually around 110 years old. Cicely's excellent acting and performance in the film is deeply convincing. By CBS Television (eBay itemphoto frontphoto back) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons The book itself, that the movie is based on, was written by the African-American author Ernest J. Gaines. Although slavery ended long before he was born, he grew up in a poor family, who were sharecroppers. They lived in a former slave house, on a plantation, in Pointe Coupe...

Catalpa speciosa  flowers, leaf, and bark (Public Domain) Catalpa trees will grow quickly and can reach heights of up to 80 feet. The average and expected height of most Catalpas will be around fifty feet. This tree grows the quickest during its first ten years, reaching about twenty feet tall before it slows down. The Catalpa is a deciduous tree whose varieties can grow nearly everywhere in the United States. Northern and Southern Catalpa varieties available for purchase as either seeds or saplings Visually, and feature-wise, you'll notice its blooming white flowers in the spring. Creating a unique look not seen on many trees. Especially not on trees that can grow as large as the Catalpa. Also, later in the season, you'll see the development of its seed pods. When autumn comes, the leaves of the tree will turn brown and fall off once the first heavy frost occurs. Along with its seed pods. Some consider the Catalpa tree, with its flowers, to be an ornamental t...