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Jefferson Davis, Fort Davis, Jeff Davis County... A Common Thread

Melissa Dowdy asks:

I found the link to your blog on Julia's page.  I have what I think is an interesting question and hope it is within the scope of the questions you answer on your blog. 

Yesterday I was driving in Kentucky and saw the Jefferson Davis Monument.  I have seen it many times but it never fails to amaze me that in the middle of the tobacco, corn and soybean fields that this giant monument to the president of the CSA just pops up.  It is in the middle of extremely rural western Kentucky (lots of Amish people still travel by horse and buggy in the area).

So... can you tell me how it compares in size to the Washington Monument?  Any random bits of trivia (about JD, his monument or the Washington Monument) would also be appreciated.

When I read your question, I initially wondered if Melissa knew something about my hometown, Fort Davis, Tx., because there are some interesting coincidences here.  The Jefferson Davis Monument is located in southern Kentucky near the town of Fairview and near the birthplace of Jefferson Davis.  Construction on this impressive obelisk was begun in 1917.  Work was halted in 1917 because of a shortage of construction materials during World War I.  Work resumed in 1922 and the monument was completed in 1924.  

Who was Jefferson Davis, and why would someone build a monument to honor him?  Good question, Steve.  Jefferson Davis was born in what is now Todd County, Kentucky in 1808.  He graduated from West Point, served valiantly under Zachery Taylor in the Mexican-American War, married Taylor's daughter, Sally Knox Taylor (who died of malaria three month's after their marriage), and was appointed Secretary of War by President Franklin Pierce.  And I'm just getting started here.  This guy's biography reads like a Tom Clancy novel.  Davis served in the United States Congress both as a representative and a senator.  In 1861, he resigned his seat as senator and was named President of the Confederate States of America.  It is this post for which he is most well known.  And it is probably also the post which he least desired.  I believe he was very conflicted about his role in the Civil War.

Nevertheless, regarding the monument's dimensions:

1)  The monument is the tallest un-reinforced concrete structure in the world. No steel was used to reinforce the concrete. As one pour was completed, large chunks of limestone were left projecting up to connect it to the next pour above.

2)  The monument is the tallest concrete obelisk in the world. (All of the taller obelisks are constructed with blocks of stone.)

3)  It is the third tallest obelisk in the world (behind the San Jacinto Monument and the Washington Monument). (Because its cross section is octagonal and doesn't have a pyramidal top, the San Jacinto Monument could be considered a column instead of an obelisk.)

4)  It is the fifth tallest monument in the United States (behind the Gateway Arch, San Jacinto Monument, Washington Monument, and Perry's Victory and International Peace Memorial). (The Crazy Horse Memoriall, with a planned height of 563 feet (172 m), will become the second tallest monument upon completion.)

The information above comes from Wikipedia.com.

And to top it all off, I live in Jeff Davis County Texas, in a small town called Fort Davis.  The town of Fort Davis is named after the pre Civil War era cavalry fort of the same name (founded in 1854) located about 400 yards from my home.  The fort and county were named after, guess who, the then Secretary of War, Jefferson Davis.  Like I said, interesting coincidences.

 

Q&A: Cooking Up the History of Fireworks

Julia Jayes asks:

"Did the Chinese really invent fireworks?  If so, what was their original purpose and why are the associated with celebrations in this day and age?"

According to Fireworks.com fireworks were indeed invented, or more accurately discovered, in China.

"Fireworks originated in China some 2,000 years ago. The most prevalent legend has it that fireworks were discovered or invented by accident by a Chinese cook working in a field kitchen who happened to mix charcoal, sulphur and saltpeter (all commonly found in the kitchen in those days). The mixture burned and when compressed in an enclosure (a bamboo tube), the mixture exploded. 

A Chinese monk named Li Tian, who lived near the city of Liu Yang in Hunan Province, is credited with the invention of firecrackers about 1,000 years ago. The Chinese people celebrate the invention of the firecracker every April 18 by offering sacrifices to Li Tian. During the Song Dynasty, the local people established a temple to worship Li Tian.

The firecrackers, both then and now, are thought to have the power to fend off evil spirits and ghosts that are frightened by the loud bangs of the firecrackers. Firecrackers are used for such purposes today at most events such as births, deaths and birthdays. Chinese New Year is a particularly popular event that is celebrated with firecrackers to usher in the new year free of the evil spirits."

Whatever their origin, fireworks contribute greatly to celebrations around the world.  Unfortunately, fireworks led to the development of the cannon when Marco Polo brought black powder, the active ingredient in fireworks, back to Europe in the 13th century.   

Q&A Where is Charlie Wilson now?

Dogmeat asks:

"Where is Charlie Wilson (of Charlie Wilson's War) now?"

Wikipedia reports the following:

Wilson retired from Congress in 1997 to live in Lufkin, Texas. In February 1999, Wilson married Barbara Alberstadt, a ballerina he met at a party in Washington in 1980.

In September 2007, after two months on an organ transplantation waiting list, Wilson received the heart of a 35-year-old donor. Years of heavy drinking had put a strain on his heart; in 1985, he had been told by a doctor that he only had 18 months to live.

I just received a copy of the movie from NetFlix, so I'll be a real expert soon.