Professor Lowe was a balloonist and much more. He was an individual of insight with an eye for the future. On the morning of April 20, 1861, seven days after the surrender of Fort Sumter, Thaddeus Lowe was preparing his balloon the Enterprise for an experimental flight. This flight would prove that although the winds were blowing to the West he could rise above them and use the upper air currents to maneuver his balloon to the East. In proving this experiment he would be able to raise funds and support for a Trans-Atlantic flight.

more...

Pancho did stunt flying in Dawn Patrol

From time to time, the human race produces unique, one-of-a-kind characters who become our heroes, mentors, celebrities, and geniuses. Pancho Barnes played all the roles with her own brand of conformity. She possessed an extraordinary zest for life, an unquenchable thirst for adventure, and a profound curiosity of the unknown. Although she involved herself in a diverse mixture of careers and interests, she gained the most notoriety for her accomplishments and exploits in aviation – the avocation to which she dedicated her life. It was there among the flyers, that she found a family.

Born in 1901 in Pasadena, California, Pancho inherited wealth, status, and privilege. Her paternal grandfather was Professor Thaddeus Lowe who volunteered the use of his air balloons to President Lincoln during the Civil War.

more...

Bird watching is a popular activity for many reasons. We are attracted to the creatures of the sky because of their beauty, their diversity of song, and their unique characteristics.

Wandering out into the Angeles National Forest to identify birds is a real adventure and sometimes a detective hunt. Rarely does the bird come to you and sit idly by while you attempt to identify it by thumbing through the pages of your field manual.

Maybe you only hear the song, or perhaps you've found a feather or a nest. The bird detective uses all these clues, including location and season, to determine which birds are in the area.

Many common birds are easily spotted since we already know them from our urban areas around parks and in backyards.

Mockingbirds, house sparrows, blue jays, crows, black birds, and pigeons are ubiquitous and are frequently regarded as pests, not friends. Pigeons have been dubbed "rats with wings" due to their pervasiveness and likelihood of spreading disease.

Collector's Corner

In this issue we’ve delved into Thaddeus Lowe's Civil War ballooning exploits, which in many parts of the country is his only known claim to fame. The Civil War is a fascinating part of our American History and Lowe played an amazing part in it.

For a Lowe collector this is an area that often produces items out of the average person’s pocket range of affordability. There are however items that are affordable and will add nicely to your collection.

There are three books that I know of you can purchase at rare bookstores, ABE internet service, and some times at railroad shows.