73
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Visiting Wexford Heights United Church, Toronto, Ontario: A Strong Statement in Gothic Style, Dating From 1876
What eventually became Toronto, Ontario's Wexford Heights United Church had its origins in 1842, among Primitive Methodists, who met in a delightfully named building called Twaddle's Chapel.
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Visiting Notre-Dame-De-L'Annonciation, L'Ancienne-Lorette, Quebec: Twin Towered Skyline Dominance Dating From 1907-1910
Notre-Dame-de-l'Annonciation is among the most visibly prominent buildings within the municipality of L'Ancienne-Lorette, Quebec, in the Capitale-Nationale region. Its most striking features are its twin, 71-metre towers.
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Visiting Downtown Vancouver, British Columbia: The Dominion Building, Completed 1910, Now Overlooked by The Lookout
Overlooked by Vancouver's 1977 Lookout, the 1910 Dominion Building was once the British Empire's tallest commercial building. Its hidden history may reveal something of local fears and anxieties more than a century ago, whether paranoid in nature or well founded.
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Visiting Holy Name Church, Danforth Avenue, Toronto, Ontario: By Arthur W. Holmes, Built 1913 - 1926
At the intersection of Danforth and Pape Avenues, Toronto, Ontario, stands the Holy Name Church, modelled generally by its architect Arthur W. Holmes (1863-1944) on the Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major, Rome.
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Visiting Place De La Nation Huronne-Wendat, Vieux-Wendake, Quebec City, Quebec: Near a Striking, Spired Church Building
Place de la nation huronne-wendat, Vieux-Wendake is a First Nations enclave within Quebec City, Quebec; it is overlooked by a church building dating from 1722, rebuilt in 1865.
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Visiting the Former Mount Pleasant Presbyterian Church, Vancouver, British Columbia: Neo-Romanesque Style From 1909
This striking, Neo-Romanesque structure dating from 1909 formerly housed Mount Pleasant Presbyterian Church. Its conical tower and Syrian arching are among its striking features.
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Visiting Eastminster United — Formerly Danforth Methodist — Church, Toronto, Ontario: Solid, Gothic Monumentality
A strongly Gothic style is evident at this monumental structure on Danforth Avenue, in the East End of Toronto, Ontario. Formerly Danforth Methodist Church, it has long been known as Eastminster United Church.
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Visiting le Pavillon Saint-Louis, Loretteville, Quebec City, Quebec: A Centre of Learning in an Elegant Stone Building
Dating from 1911, this solid, stone building, formerly a convent, houses an educational institution known as le Centre Saint-Louis. With evident Neoclassical, stylistic influences, conspicuous features include a prominent broken pediment and a bell tower.
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Visiting Calgary, Alberta: A Panoramic City Overlooked by Nose Hill Park
Nose Hill Park, Calgary, Alberta extends over 11 square kilometres; and is popular for hiking. Magnificent views of Calgary's Downtown area may be obtained from the Park, founded in 1980; the area is noted for the presence of grassland, aspen, deer and coyote among other flora and fauna.
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Visiting Fairbank United — Formerly Methodist — Church, York, Toronto, Ontario: Executed in Strongly Gothic Style, 1889
Features of this church building include a prominent tower and many pointed window arches and flying buttresses, testifying to the influence of Gothic styling. Formerly known as Fairbank Methodist Church — now Fairbank United Church —, the building dates from 1889: Fairbank's oldest surviving one.
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Visiting the Pont Arthur-Sauvé: A Modern Bridge at an Historically Redolent Crossing Near Saint-Eustache, Quebec
Named for a prominent member of the local Sauvé political family, this bridge, which crosses the Mille-Îles River, is situated at a location which is historically and geographically significant to Quebec.
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Visiting the Galt Museum and Archives, Lethbridge, Alberta: Housed in the Former Galt Hospital, Completed 1910
Begun in 1908 and completed in 1910, the former Sir Alexander Galt Hospital now houses the Galt Museum and Archives, in Lethbridge, Alberta. Its Neoclassical features are rather striking.
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Visiting St. Timothy's Anglican Church, Agincourt, Toronto, Ontario: A Stongly Gothic, Early 20th Century Building
St. Timothy's Anglican Church, Agincourt, Toronto, Ontario exhibits simplified, but strong, Gothic features.
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Visiting Portage-du-Fort, Quebec: A Stone Structure, & Interesting Settlement and Municipal History Before & Since 1855
The building dates from the time of the first municipal meeting in 1855; but human settlement has been driven for centuries by the nearby Rivière des Outaouais / Ottawa River.
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Visiting 2-8 East Main Street, North East, Pennsylvania: A Triangular Lot in Italianate Styling in an Historic District
In the Historic District of North East, Pennsylvania is situated an Italianate building on a triangular lot, which exhibits a striking, ornate cornice.
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Visiting Falconer Hall, Toronto, Ontario, With Many Associations: Women's Student Centre; York University; Law Faculty
Dating from 1903, and originally the property of the prominent Wood family, Falconer Hall (originally Wymilwood) has distinguished associations with women's university education, the beginnings of York University and with the University of Toronto's Law Faculty.
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Visiting Petite Île Limerick, Near Portage-du-Fort, Quebec: Curious Island in the Rivière des Outaouais / Ottawa River
This uninhabited island is in a curious position in the middle of Rivière des Outaouais / Ottawa River. Wholly within Quebec's Municipalité régionale de comté de Pontiac / Pontiac Regional County Municipality, it is situated close to Portage-du-Fort. The wider region has many fishing opportunities.
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Visiting Rouses Point, New York: Location of a Georgian Revival US Border Inspection Station Building, Dating From 1931
The U.S. Border Station at St. John's Highway, Rouses Point, New York, which is included in the U.S. National Register of Historic Places, is a building in Georgian Revival style, dating from 1931. Its landscaping is significantly attributed to Lady Bird Johnson's highway beautification support.
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Visiting New Liskeard, Ontario: Remembering the 'Meteor' and Area History by Mural
New Liskeard, in Northern Ontario, on Lake Temiskaming, has a prominent mural, with memories of the steamboat 'Meteor' and the logging industry; the mural dates from 1999.
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Visiting the Mairie, at Saint-Eustache, Quebec: Sedate Town Hall in an Historic Location
What is now the Mairie — Town Hall — of Saint-Eustache, Quebec, was formerly a convent. Its styling was influenced by the French Second Empire; the site has strong, historical associations with the Patriotes and the Battle of Saint-Eustache, 1837.
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Visiting Gildredge Manor, Eastbourne, East Sussex, England: Georgian Building Dating from 1776
Gildredge Manor, a Georgian building set in parkland in Eastbourne, East Sussex, England, has been known by a variety of names; typically English, it was visited by Queen Mary.
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Visiting Buffalo, New York: A Downtown Overlooked by A. C. Bossom's Neoclassical Liberty Building, Dating From 1925
Executed with brick facing, the Liberty Building, Buffalo, New York, dates from 1925 and was the responsibility of architect Alfred C. Bossom, later Lord Bossom of Maidstone, England. The design includes two statues of Liberty at roof level.
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Visiting the Neoclassical Church of Saint-Eustache, Quebec: The Poignant Heartbeat of a Republican Ideal From 1837
Memories of the Patriotes converge on Saint-Eustache, notably at the Neoclassical façade of the Church of Saint-Eustache, where a battle was played out on December 14, 1837.
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Visiting Mont Des Cats, Godewaersvelde, France, Near the Belgian Border: Evocative of Thoughts Hard to Put Into Words
Mont des Cats (Dutch: Katsberg) is an intriguing — even disturbing? — hill in northern France, situated close to the Belgian border.
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Visiting Buffalo, New York: A Skyline Marked by the Gothic Revival Old Post Office, Once the City's Tallest Building
This tall building in Gothic Revival style was the tallest in Buffalo, New York between the years 1901 and 1912. Its dimensions still mark the Buffalo skyline today; its ornateness also remains striking.
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Visiting Saint-Lin-Laurentides, Quebec: The Complexities of Commemorating the Birthplace of Prime Minister Laurier
At Saint-Lin-Laurentides, Quebec, a house dating from 1870, on land which belonged to the family of Prime Minister Sir Wilfrid Laurier, is a National Historic Site of Canada / Lieu historique national du Canada. Commemoration of this Canadian historical figure is in some ways surprisingly complex.
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Visiting Green River, Pickering, Ontario: Settled by Europeans in the 1840s, Its Former General Store Now a Bookstore
Formerly "Smithville", the hamlet of Green River, dating from the 1840s, situated within the boundaries of the City of Pickering, Ontario, has a bookstore housed in the former General Stores dating from 1878.
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Visiting 101-119 South Street, Eastbourne, East Sussex, England: Ornate Row of Properties Dating From Circa 1900
This range of properties in Eastbourne, East Sussex, dating from the late Victorian / Edwardian era, effuses a quiet elegance at what has seemingly become a sought after address.
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Visiting Place des Nations-Unies, Liège, Belgium: Residential Square on the Former Plaine Des Vennes
Place des Nations-Unies, Liège, Belgium lies on what was known as the Plaine de Vennes, first developed for the Universal Exhibition of 1905, Liège.
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Visiting 'Community', Sculpture by Kirk Newman, at 200 Bloor Street East, Toronto, Ontario: Stillness Amidst Movement
Kirk Newman's sculpture 'Community' is a now familiar feature of Bloor Street East, Toronto, Ontario, which exudes senses of movement and variety, seemingly captured as a snapshot, frozen in time.
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Visiting Treboeth, Swansea, Wales: Overlooked by Morris Castle
Morris Castle is a Scheduled Ancient Monument recalling the history of the development of Swansea, Wales. It was built by Sir John Morris between 1768 and 1775.
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Visiting Trinity Lutheran Church, Toronto, Ontario: Gothic Structure, by Werner E. Noffke, Dating From 1952
Gothic features of this structure include pointed window arching and flying buttresses. Designed by Werner E. Noffke, the building dates from 1952; a focus of the church has long been German congregants.
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Visiting Rue Foyatier and Place Suzanne-Valadon, Paris, France: Verticality and Artistic Memories
These steep Paris streets in the shadow of Sacré-Cœur Basilica recall various artistic personalities.
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Visiting the National Solidarity Monument, Luxembourg: Focal Point of Commemorations Dating From 1971
When one examines some of the influences and professed ideological positions of those who made up the Luxembourg Resistance to Nazi German rule in the period 1940-1944/5 — commemorated by the National Solidarity Monument in Luxembourg City — things on close examination may not be what they seem.
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Visiting The Broadview Hotel, Toronto, Ontario: Restored 1893 Richardson Romanesque Building at 106 Broadview Avenue
At the intersection of Queen Street East and Broadview Avenue is a recently renovated structure displaying an historic expression of Richardson Romanesque, dating from 1893.
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Visiting Crumbles Pond, Princes Park, Eastbourne, England: A Visit by the Prince of Wales; & When Is a Pond Not a Lake?
Crumbles Pond — arguably a small lake — is contained within Princes Park. It has an interesting history.
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Visiting Gibson Park, North-East, Pennsylvania: Peace and Activity at the Herbaceous Centre of Town
The land on which Gibson Park, North-East, stands was donated to the people of the locality in the 19th century by a real estate investor. The Park features a war memorial dating from 1911. Gibson Park hosts many local activities, including craft exhibitions.
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Visiting the Dineen Building, Toronto, Ontario: Renaissance Revival Structure By F. H. Herbert, Dating From 1897
Built in 1897, this restored heritage property, known as the Dineen Building, exhibits Renaissance Revival style, and was designed by F. H. Herbert.
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Visiting the Former Wimbledon Town Hall, Merton, London: Neoclassicism Executed in Portland Stone, Dating From 1931
Bradshaw, Gass and Hope completed this fine, former civic building in Wimbledon in 1931, featuring Neoclassical styling, with mansard roofing and large, Doric pilasters. The former Town Hall is now a retail complex.
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Visiting the Allées Jean-Jaurès, Toulouse, France: Two Centuries of Tree-Lined Continuity and Régime Change
Toulouse's Allées Jean-Jaurès have undergone many name changes, but for the past century they have commemorated an assassinated leader whose name has come to be synonymous with the cause of the French Republic itself.
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Visiting Bonar-Parkdale Presbyterian Church, Toronto, Ontario: 1888 Gothic Revival, Recalling the Bonar Family
A fine Gothic structure by Gordon and Helliwell remains a landmark close to Toronto's Queen Street West; its name recalls the Bonar brothers, who were highly active Free Church of Scotland preachers, one of whom influenced the naming of a British Prime Minister.
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Visiting The Sackville Street Building, Manchester, England: 1895-1902 French Renaissance Structure in Terracotta
The Sackville Street Building, sometimes known as the former UMIST main building, is a fine structure dating from 1895-1902, which befits a distinguished institution of learning.
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Visiting Calgary, Alberta: Viewing Beaulieu Gardens, Calm Oasis in Alberta's Furious, Dynamic and Fastest Growing City
Living up to its "beau lieu" name, this City of Calgary park is terraced, with many species of flowers and plants. This most peaceful place is located in the Beltline neighbourhood of Alberta's furious, dynamic and fastest growing city.
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Visiting Central School, Woodstock, Ontario: Ornate, Monumental Structure Dating from 1880
Pediments and Syrian arches combine eclectically at the imposing, ornate and monumental Central School, in Oxford County's City of Woodstock, Ontario.
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Visiting the Basbellain Area: An Explosion of Linguistic and Refracted Historical Perspectives in Northern Luxembourg
What's in a name? The answer: A lot, especially in trilingual Luxembourg, where layers of meaning and historical allusion — hidden to the casual visitor — are exposed upon deeper scrutiny. Basbellain and its municipality of Troisvierges are toponymically — and phenomenologically — surprising.
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Visiting Montana: Entering the State at Point of Piegan & Joining US Route 89 Destined for the Grand Canyon, AZ
The historic and extensive north-south US Route 89 begins at Point of Piegan, Montana, an ideal entry for travelling from Canada to to among the most outstanding visitor attractions in the State of Montana.
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Visiting Old Woodstock Town Hall, Woodstock, Ontario, Dating From 1853: Now A National Historic Site of Canada
Prior to 1968, this Italianate building in Woodstock, Ontario, housed the City Hall (Town Hall at its inception). Dating from 1853, it was designed by Peter Craib, and is a National HIstoric Site of Canada.
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Visiting's Calgary's Glenmore Reservoir: Home to Canada's Largest Sailing School in Landlocked Alberta
Within the City of Calgary's boundaries is the 3.84 square kilometre Glenmore Reservoir, dating from 1932, the focus of sailing, rowing and canoeing and fishing activities; redolent of healthy exercise and pure air, near to the foothills of the Rockies.
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Visiting the Blue Water Bridge, Port Huron, Michigan: Work of Polish-American Civil Engineer Ralph Modjeski (1861-1940)
"America's greatest bridge-builder" Ralph Modjeski (1861-1940) was the major civil engineer behind the Blue Water Bridge which links Port Huron, Michigan, with the Sarnia district, Ontario. The first span dates from 1938, and the second from 1997.
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Visiting Pattullo's Fountain, Woodstock, Ontario: Remembering Andrew Pattullo (1850-1903), Editor and Parliamentarian
The Pattullo Fountain in Woodstock, in Ontario's Oxford County, commemorates a member of the prominent Pattullo family, Andrew Pattullo (1850-1903).
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Visiting Rock Creek Park and Forest Glen, Kensington, Maryland: Spectacular Views and Illuminations at Rock Creek Hills
Views of Rock Creek Hills, Kensington, Maryland, are striking from nearby Rock Creek Park, which extends into Maryland from the District of Columbia, and Forest Glen; the spires of the cathedral-like LDS Temple are prominent on the skyline.
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Visiting Carway, Alberta: A 'Vanishing' Hamlet With Fine Views of the Rockies and A Gateway to Montana
Is Carway, Alberta, with its wide open spaces and fine views of the Rockies, to be regarded 'as name without a place'?
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Visiting the Public Library, Woodstock, Ontario: Classical Revival Structure by Chadwick and Beckett, Dating From 1909
This gracious structure, long designated historic by the local authorities in Woodstock, Ontario, was funded by the Carnegie Foundation, and dates from 1909.
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Visiting Downtown Watertown, New York: Overlooked by the 1891 Romanesque First Baptist Church's Monumental Clock Tower
Romanesque stylistic features are exhibited in abundance at this building overlooking this prominently towered building in Watertown, New York.
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Visiting the Medieval Château at Jaulny, France: Where "Joan of Arc" Is Supposed to Have Lived After Her "Death"
A local legend centred on the Château de Jaulny, in eastern France, suggests that Joan of Arc lived there after being burnt at the stake in Rouen in 1431. Even if one dismisses such legends, Joan of Arc's later political and religious reputations seemingly developed somewhat legendary overtones.
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Visiting Sarnia, Ontario: With an Airport Named For Canadian Astronaut Chris Hadfield, Born in Sarnia
Sarnia's vibrant airport is named for Sarnia-born astronaut Christ Hadfield. The facility was developed in the late 1950s, when scheduled air services began.
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Visiting St. Mary, Montana: An Extremely Quiet Downtown Overlooked by Divide Mountain, 2641 m / 8665 ft
Geographically and for its quiet pace of life, St. Mary, Montana is truly amazing! — not the least of the features of its area is that it drains into three Oceans.
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Visiting Cap-d'Aïl, France: A Rocky Promontory Similar to Nearby Monaco's, But With a Different Course of History
Cap-d'Aïl, France and neighbouring Monaco have similar, rocky promontories which extend into the Mediterranean, although the history of these two localities has diverged considerably.
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Visiting the Former County Jail, Woodstock, Ontario: Octagonally Towered Italianate Building by Clark and Murray, 1854
The Romanesque solidity and permanence of this building in Woodstock, Ontario has a lot to do with the fact that it once served as the Oxford County Jail, now transformed in to the offices of the Oxford County Board of Health.
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Visiting Lower Grosvenor Gardens, London: A Statue of Marshal Foch, Commander-in-Chief of the Allied Armies, WW1
An equestrian statue of Marshal Foch, who in World War One held a similar position among the Allied armies as did General Eisenhower in World War Two, stands in Lower Grosvenor Gardens, London. Sculpted by Georges Malissard, it was unveiled in 1930 by the Prince of Wales.
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Visiting Sherburne Lake, Montana: Photogenic Artificiality Suggestive of Artistic Abstraction?
Sherburne Lake — an artificial one in Montana created between 1914 and 1921 — is maybe reminiscent of abstract art when light and shade fall upon it in at certain times.
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Visiting the Old Registry Office, Woodstock, Ontario: Italianate Structure Dating From 1876
Woodstock's Old Registry Building dates from 1876; it replaced a previous building from 1847.
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Visiting Mont Cassel, Northern France: Prominent, Historic Hill Overlooking the Plain of Flanders
Mont Cassel is a very visible vantage point overlooking the Plain of Flanders in northern France. In World War One, Marshal Foch established his headquarters there. In war or peace, advantageous, fine views are to be obtained at Mont Cassel.
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Visiting Rouses Point, New York: With Its Marina Facilities on Lake Champlain
Formerly of military significance, the waters around Rouses Point, New York, on Lake Champlain, close to the border with Quebec, Canada, continue to define this village, with marina facilities, and a bridge linking Rouses Point to Alburgh, Vermont.
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Visiting Oxford County Court House, Woodstock, Ontario: Late Victorian, Neo-Romanesque Solidity Dating from 1892
By Cuthbertson and Fowler, the Oxford County Court House, completed in 1892, is a strong representation of Romanesque style, in Woodstock, Ontario.
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Visiting the Many Glacier Hotel at Swiftcurrent Lake, Montana: The Brainchild of Louis W. Hill (1872-1948)
Spectacular Swiftcurrent Lake is the location for Many Glacier Hotel, the creation of Louis W. Hill (1872-1948)
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Visting Zoufftgen Forest, Moselle, France: Trees, Invisible Lines and Painful Memories
At Zoufftgen Forest, close to the Franco-Luxembourg border, overlapping memories and lines of mental demarcation seem to come together.
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Visiting the Dow Academy Building, Franconia, New Hampshire: Neoclassical Styling Dating from 1903
Dating from 1903, the Dow Academy Building is located in Franconia, New Hampshire; the White Mountains form a backdrop to its elegant styling.
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Visiting the Old Armoury Building, Woodstock, Ontario: Remembering the Oxford Rifles and the Fateful Dieppe Raid, 1942
The solid, 1904 Old Armoury Building in Woodstock, Ontario, with poignant, historical associations, is the former home of the Oxford Rifles.
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Visiting Shaw's 1895 General Store, Stowe, Vermont: The Shaws, Transforming a Ghost Town, Dreaming of the US Senate
Several generations of the same family have served in this late 19th century general store, in Downtown Stowe, Vermont
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Visiting an Octagonal Church Building in Dover, England: Dating from 1820
Executed in yellow brick, this prominent, octagonal church building is located in Dover, Kent, England; and evidences a mixture of architectural styles.
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Visiting First Congregational Church, Littleton, New Hampshire: Providing a Spired Skyline to a New England Town
Close to New Hampshire's White Mountains, Littleton's Gothic-style First Congregational Church is conspicuous for its twin spires, which date from 1874.
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Visiting Gros-Cap, in Prince Township, Named for an Erstwhile Crown Gangster With Blood on His Hands: In Scenic Ontario
A disreputable but nevertheless — or even consequently — highly popular figure, John Prince (1796-1870) was the individual for whom the scenic Prince Township, in Ontario's Algoma District, was named.`
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Visiting the Town Hall, Stowe, Vermont: Also Known as the Akeley Memorial Building, Dating From 1902
The Neo-Colonial Town Hall in Stowe, Vermont, is very much an attraction in its own right in this Green Mountains ski resort.
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Visiting Bangor, Northern Ireland: A Skyline Dominated by the Gothic Church of St. Comgall, Dating From 1891-1899
W H Lynn's 1891-1899 St. Comgall Parish Church, Bangor, Northern Ireland constitutes a massive statement in stonework.
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Visiting the Haverhill-Bath Covered Bridge, Woodsville, New Hampshire: Over the Ammonoosuc River, by Ithiel Town, 1829
This Covered Bridge at Woodsville, New Hampshire, which crosses the Ammonoosuc River, was designed by architect and civil engineer Ithiel Town (1784-1844).
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Visiting the Statue of General Dwight D. Eisenhower, London, W1, England: A Victorious General with an Impossible Task
This statue of General of the Army Dwight D. Eisenhower in Grosvenor Square, London, England, by Robert Dean, seems suggestive of modesty and strength at the centre of the storm that was World War Two in Europe.
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Visiting the Spired Community Church, Stowe, Vermont: The Resonance of Quintessential New England Neoclacissism
At 175 feet / 53.3 metres, the spire of Stowe Community Church is the tallest in Vermont; the building, in a village chartered in 1763 which lies in the shadow of Mount Mansfield — also Vermont's highest — dates from 1863.
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Visiting 'Parque José Enrique Rodó', Montevideo, Uruguay: Remembering the Relevance of 'Ariel' — and E. Howard Hunt
José Enrique Rodó (1871-1917) — author of 'Ariel' and commemorated in the name of a park in Montevideo, Uruguay — and E. Howard Hunt (1919-2007) — ex-CIA Watergate burglar — are not names which often go together. But they are linked by Uruguay and by polemics about US economic-driven intervention.
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Visiting the Octagonally Towered Oddfellows' Hall, Toronto, Ontario: Ornate, Eclectic Styling Dating from 1891/92
Dating from 1891/92, the ornate, redbrick building at the intersection of Toronto's Yonge and College Streets is known as Oddfellows' Hall, and was designed by architects Norman B. Dick and Frank W. Wickson.
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Visiting Northern New Hampshire: Fine Vistas of the Moore Reservoir, From Interstate 93, Exit 44 Rest Area
The Moore Reservoir extends over 3,181 acres / 12.87 square kilometres; fine views are available from the rest area close to the intersection of Interstate 93 (Exit 44) and St. Johnsbury Road, New Hampshire.
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Visiting the American (Whitefield Memorial) Church, London, England: History at 79A Tottenham Court Road
The American (Whitefield Memorial) Church in London, England recalls the Anglo-American ministry of the 18th century Methodist preacher George Whitefield; together with the US Embassy in London, it sponsors the annual American Thanksgiving Day Service at St. Paul's Cathedral.
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Visiting the Worthington State Forest, Warren County, New Jersey: Remembering Charles C. Worthington (1854-1944)
The name of New Jersey's Worthington State Forest recalls a tycoon who preferred the Great Outdoors.
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Visiting the Cité Fontainas, Saint-Gilles, Brussels: Remembering a 19th century Mayor of Brussels
The name of a Neoclassical building in Brussels, Belgium, which dates from 1867, recalls a Brussels mayor named André-Napoléon Fontainas. The building was designed by Antoine Trappeniers and Henri Beyaert.
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Visiting 441-443 Queen Street West, Toronto, Ontario: Italianate Grace Dating from 1886, by H. Langley and E. Burke
At the intersection of Queen Street West and Spadina Avenue in Downtown Toronto stands a gracious, Italianate building by Henry Langley and Edmund Burke, dating from 1886
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Visiting Georgetown, South Carolina: Curious Stillness at a Downtown Overlooked by the 1842 Old Market Building
The Old Market Building is a major landmark in Georgetown, South Carolina, now part of the Rice Museum. It stands on the site of a previous building which served a rather different purpose.
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Visiting Doncaster Station, Doncaster, England: How to (or How Not to) Remember 1938 & the World's Fastest Stream Train
Doncaster's elegant Station frontage masks the fact that the famous 'Mallard' steam locomotive — the world's fastest — was built in Doncaster, the design of Sir Nigel Gresley.
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Visiting the Intriguing Oneida Lake, New York: An Absorbing History & Remembering Alexis de Tocqueville's Visit, 1831
Oneida Lake, in central New York State, has interesting avenues of history which coalesce around its waters; in 1831, future French foreign minister and historian Alexis de Tocqueville was a noted visitor.
- 2
Visiting Beaumont, Belgium: Curiosities Against Historical Trends at the Eglise Saint-Servais
This repeatedly burned church building in Beaumont, Belgium, has in some ways bucked historical trends.
- 2
Visiting The Frost Place, Franconia, New Hampshire: Remembering Robert Frost and the Power of Words
The power of words remembered at The Frost Place, Franconia, New Hamphire.
- 4
Visiting Ville-Marie, Quebec: Scenic Promise on a West Coast for Quebec?
As a place in Quebec that should be better-known, Ville-Marie could be rightly described as a West Coast destination indeed!
- 2
Visiting the Market House, Armagh City, Northern Ireland: Georgian Landmark Dating from 1815
A fine, limestone building in Georgian style has been a landmark in Armagh City since 1815. Known as the Market House, it originally had two storeys; a third storey was added in the early 20th century.
- 4
Visiting Columbia, New Jersey: Crossings Over the Delaware River and Remembering Hurricane Diane
The rugged, historic West Jersey area, to which the Delaware River acts as a natural boundary, provokes remembrances of many, competing forces which have served to forge the present.
- 2
Visiting the Prince-Bishops' Palace, Liège, Belgium: Remembering a Rather Different Form of Government
In the Palace of the Prince-Bishops lies a lot of Liège's history; and even in recent history the building's precise identity has been a matter of debate.
- 2
Visiting the City Hall, Woodstock, Ontario: Romanesque Revival Solidity Dating from 1901
A fine, Romanesque Revival structure is to be seen at Woodstock's City Hall — but it did not always serve this municipal purpose.
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Visiting Port Huron, Michigan, and the Black River: Serving a Former Commercial Facility Become a Marina
Port Huron is a city defined by water in many aspects. Perhaps better known for its situation on the St. Clair River, bordering Sarnia, Canada, Port Huron has a harbour, based on the Black River, which has developed into marina.
- 2
Visiting the Principality of Monaco at Avenue-Princesse-Grace: Remembering a Princess Who Lived 1929-1982
Entering Monaco on one of the land routes from France is Avenue-Princesse-Grace.
- 2
Visiting the Rubens Hotel, London, England: Close to Buckingham Palace; & Memories of General Sikorski Death Mystery
A venerable London hotel close to Buckingham Palace is known for its 'living wall'; and among its historical associations is the former presence of the HQ of exiled Polish Prime Minister General Sikorsky, killed mysteriously in 1943.
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Visiting Sparwood, British Columbia: Isolation — If Not Isolationism — Evoking an Even More Isolated Past
Getting away from 'it' all, par excellence: where everywhere else seems remote from the town of Sparwood, British Columbia
- 2
Visiting the Vermont State House, Montpelier, Vermont: Monumental Capitol Dominating A Tiny City
The work of Architect Thomas Silloway (1828-1910), the Greek Revival State House dominates the very small city of Montpelier, Vermont state capital.
- 2
Visiting Bray-Dunes, France: Abstract Emotions of Tides, Sand, Dunes, Sea, Sky, and a Troubled Past Exploding
Wind, sand, tides, sky, history, shifting borders: so many elements seem to be in competition here at Bray-Dunes, like combinations of elements of abstract art exploding onto the temporal landscape.
- 2
Visting Le Promenade des Voyageurs / Voyageurs Pathway, Gatineau, Québec / Quebec: Fine Vistas Across the River
The Downtown area of Gatineau, Québec / Quebec — Le Promenade des Voyageurs / Voyageurs Pathway — is truly a vantage point for some spectacular views.
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Visiting the Opera Building, Woodsville, New Hampshire: A Romanesque Revival Psychological Crossroads Dating From 1890
This building in Woodsville, New Hampshire, executed in Romanesque Revival style, stands at a significant angle at the intersection of two important streets.
- 2
Visiting Germany's Cologne-Bonn Konrad Adenauer Airport: A Legacy That Runs Deep for "the Greatest German of All Time"
Within sight of Cologne's deeply memorable Cathedral, Cologne/Bonn's Airport, named for long-serving, former Chancellor Dr. Konrad Adenauer, by its naming, stirs profound footfalls in the collective memory of Germans: this is for reasons which even 50 years after his death may be hard to articulate.
- 2
Visiting the Westersingel, Rotterdam, The Netherlands: A Green, Downtown Lung in a Bustling City
The Westersingel is a surviving and revitalized moat and boulevard from the 19th century, in Downtown Rotterdam. W. N. Rose (1801-1877) is usually credited with the main responsibility for its creation.
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Visiting the Walper Hotel, Kitchener, Ontario: Designed by Abel Walper, Dating From 1893
Recently refurbished, the Walper Hotel at the intersection of Kitchener's King and Queen Streets has various historic features and associations.
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Visiting St. Andrew's Church, Gorleston-on-Sea, Norfolk, England: Remarkable, Partly 14th Century Stone Structure
The Medieval origin Church of St. Andrew in Norfolk's Gorleston-on-Sea has a 27.4 metre flint tower which has in the past been used as a lookout over the North Sea.
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Visiting Iveagh House, Dublin: Neoclassicism from 1736, Seat of the Foreign Affairs Ministry of the Republic of Ireland
This sedate Neoclassical structure in Dublin, Ireland, known as Iveagh House / Teach Uíbh Eachach, is the seat of the Republic of Ireland's Department of Foreign Affairs. It was designed by Richard Cassels (1690-1751).
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Visiting the Var Valley, France, Overlooked by the Amazing Village of Bonson
Inaccessible and isolated are words which readily come to mind when considering the village of Bonson in the Var Valley in the South of France.
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Visiting Old St. Paul's Church, Woodstock, Ontario: Striking Eclecticism at a Venerable 1834 Structure
With a prominent tower topped by an octagonal cupola, Old St. Paul's Church, Woodstock, which dates from 1834, combines a number of interesting stylistic features.
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Visiting the Remonstrantse Kerk, Rotterdam, the Netherlands: Neo-Romanesque Monumentality Dating From 1897
Distinguished architect Henri Evers designed the Remonstrantse Kerk, in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. Interestingly, his father-in-law was the minister of its congregation. Remonstrants have a long history in The Netherlands.
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Visiting Liège, Belgium: Remembering Medieval Prince-Bishop Albert de Cuyck
There is some living Medieval history in the Liège street named for a former Prince-Bishop.
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Visiting Halluin, France: Skyline Dominance and Ideological Polarities at a Border Town
The spire and tower of Saint-Hilaire church, dating from 1857, dominate the skyline of the northern French town of Halluin, but other, very different ideas have been historically dominant locally.
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Visiting Brampton Armoury, Brampton, Ontario: Dating from 1912, Home of a Scottish-Canadian Regiment
The Armoury in Brampton, Ontario, the home of a regiment of which HRH The Duke of Kent is Colonel-in-Chief, has historic associations, but among these the horrors on the Somme in World War One cannot be overlooked.
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Visiting 58 Grafton Way, London, W1, England: Remembering — or Forgetting — Francisco de Miranda and Simón Bolívar
This historic London property has associations with Francisco de Miranda and Simón Bolívar, personalities deeply linked with the independence movements of Latin American republics. These associations remained relevant to those who engaged in whatever kind of business with Latin America.
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Visiting Liège, Belgium: Remembering the Hôtel Rigo
A building in Liège, Belgium, over a century old and known as the Hôtel Rigo, in Neo-Mosan style, has been demolished despite a public outcry.
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Visiting Aéroport Montréal Saint-Hubert Longueuil / Montreal Saint-Hubert Longueuil Airport, Quebec: Historic Facility
From the R-100 airship to Errol Boyd - the 'Lindbergh of Canada' - Aéroport Montréal Saint-Hubert Longueuil / Montreal Saint-Hubert Longueuil Airport has many historic associations.
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Visiting Chippewa Falls, Ontario: an Explosion of Waters, Granite and Basalt
Waters, granite and basalt come together at a locality linked to the far past
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Visiting Eastbourne War Memorial, England, by British/Swiss Sculptor Henry Charles Fehr (1867-1940)
Henry Fehr was a British/Swiss sculptor who was responsible for the Eastbourne War Memorial, unveiled in 1920.
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Visiting the Jacques Cartier Bridge / Pont Jacques-Cartier: Historic Structure Linking Montreal and Longueuil, Quebec
Stretching nearly three kilometres, the historic Jacques Cartier Bridge / Pont Jacques-Cartier opened in 1930 and is once of the historic crossings of the Saint-Lawrence / Saint-Laurent.
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Visiting Boyle House, Brampton, Ontario: Dating from circa 1860 in Second Empire Style
This Second Empire style, two storey building in Brampton, Ontario, dates from circa 1860; a stucco exterior was added in the 20th century.
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Visiting Kortrijk-Wevelgem International Airport, Belgium: An Aviation Facility With A Complex Multilingual History
Dutch, French, German and English — whether horizontally or vertically — are or have been in at times explosive concoction near this Belgian aviation facility.
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Visiting Vallauris, France: Between the Mountains and the Mediterranean, in Alpes-Maritimes Department
Juxtaposed between the Alps and the Mediterranean, Vallauris can boast of a highly scenic location to its many visitors.
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Visiting St Paul's Church, Sketty, Swansea, Wales: Landmark by Henry Woodyer, dating from 1849-50
With its prominent spire, St Paul's Church, Sketty, Swansea, and close to a busy crossroads, is one of the district's most prominent landmarks.
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Visiting Williamsport Station, Maryland: Remembering the Retreat From Gettysburg and the Flooding of the Potomac
Close to where the I-81 crosses the Potomac at Williamsport Station is where a famous Civil War standoff and series of skirmishes occurred, sometimes referred to as the Battle of Williamsport; it harbours an intriguing and little known fact of history going back to George Washington.
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Visting Christ Church, Reading, Berkshire, Reading, England: A Conspicuous and Memorable Spire
50 metres of spire crown this Gothic building, prominent in the Reading slyline since the 1860s. Named Christ Church - as is also its Diocesan Cathedral - its architect was Henry Woodyer (1816-1896).
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Visiting the Hôtel Alfa, Luxembourg City: Art Deco Monumentality by Léon Bouvart (1883-1933)
An Art Deco monument in Luxembourg City, which saw the dark years of Nazi German Occupation, its interesting historical associations include visits from US Generals Eisenhower, Patton and Bradley.
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Visiting the Church of the Nativity, Malvern, Scarborough, Ontario: Strong 21st Century Statement in Gothic
Gothic is often thought to be traditional, but this 21st Century building at Malvern, Scarborough is executed in a strong expression of this time-honoured style.
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Visiting Coteau-du-Lac, Quebec: Transecting the Delisle River Which Rises in Ontario
The Delisle Riever is not long, and neither is it an exclusively Quebec river; but, rising in Ontario, its course runs through predominantly Francophone territory, emptying into the Saint-Lawrence.
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Visiting First Presbyterian Church, North East, Pennsylvania: Imposing Gothic Revival Structure, Dating From 1885
The First Presbyterian Church of North East, Pennsylvania evidences strongly Gothic Revival features; the current building dates from 1885, while the congregation itself claims its origins in 1801.
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Visiting Wycliffe Baptist Church, Reading, Berkshire, England: Italianate Structure Dating From 1881
Named for a prominent Medieval Lollard preacher, Wycliffe Baptist Church exhibits a combination of architectural styles.
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Visiting Heer-Agimont, Belgium: Bridging the Meuse, Bordering France, & 20th Century Hosting of Some Unusual Foreigners
Heer-Agimont is a border village in Belgium, adjacent to the French town of Givet. It combines a scenic location on the Meuse with some intriguing historical associations.
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Visiting Coteau-du-Lac National Historic Site of Canada, Quebec: Formerly Main Import Gateway to Lower Canada
Among the oldest of canal workings in North America, Coteau-du-Lac was once of great military and subsequently commercial significance, situated as it is on the Saint-Lawrence River.
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Visting the East Beach — Formerly Weyanoke — Hotel, Eastbourne, England: Redolent of Victorian Times
There are balconies galore at this hotel in Eastbourne, East Sussex, England, which are redolent not only of the Victorian era but also of typical scenes in Australia or New Zealand.
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Visiting the Former First National Bank Building in North East, Pennsylvania: Greek Revival Style, Dating From 1893
A conspicuous Greek Revival frontage is present at the former First National Bank building in Lake Street, in Pennsylvania's North East, which a local tourist trail includes in its route.
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Visiting Salem Baptist Chapel, Hay-on-Wye, Wales: Established 1649, Rebuilt 1878
A baptist chapel with Gothic arching and an hexagonal window — in a building rebuilt in the 19th century — dates from the 17th century, linked with John Miles, later serving in Swansea, Massachusetts
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Visiting the Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge, Swanton, Vermont: With Views of Mount Mansfield, Green Mountains
The Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge and Mount Mansfield, in Vermont's Green Mountains, are both special places: the Missisquoi flows into Lake Champlain; the Green Mountains are a state leitmotif.
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Visiting St. Martin's Church, Kensal Green, London, England: Gothic Solidity by J.E.K. & J.P. Cutts, Dating From 1899
Prolific designers of London churches were responsible for this Gothic building, dating from 1899, executed in red brick and effusing a strong sense of solidity.
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Visiting Orchard Beach, in the So-Called Chimney or Tab of Pennsylvania: Recalling Ellicott & the Erie Triangle
In an area which was the subject of careful study and rival claims in the 18th century, Orchard Beach is known for its bracing winds; carefully controlled fishing opportunities exist in the locality.
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Visiting the Town Hall, Givet, France: Ornate, Louis XIII Style by Charles Goutant, Dating From 1903
Charles Goutant — a French Senator and architect — designed this opulent Town Hall at Givet in Louis XIII style: a work of art as much as an office building, it was opened by the Minister of Culture.
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Visiting the Former Primitive Methodist Chapel, Hay-on-Wye, Wales: With Neo-Gothic Elements, Dating From c. 1865
This chapel in the Welsh town of Hay-on-Wye continues to thrive; historically, its congregation at its inception was associated with Primitive Methodists with a reputation for vibrancy.
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Visiting the Mazzoni Museum, Maldonado, Uruguay: Colonial Artifacts and Memories of Garibaldi
This fascinating Museum, housed in an 18th century house in Maldonado, Uruguay, has memories of the historical figure Garibaldi, who lived for a number of years in Uruguay.
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Visiting Le Bizet, Belgium: Surrealism at the Border, With Some Excruciating History
An officially bilingual village in Belgium, situated on the outskirts of Armentières, France, features in the painful history of the anti-Nazi resistance in World War Two.
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Visting the McCord Memorial Library, at North East, Pennsylvania: Neoclassical and Prairie Style Elements From 1916
Elegant and precise lines in Neoclassical and Prairie style are to be found at North East's McCord Memorial Library, in Pennsylvania's Erie County. The building dates from 1916, the Library from 1899.
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Visting the Old Library, Willesden Green, London, England: Dating from 1894; Disaster Averted in the 21st Century
An 1894 Victorian library building was saved from the bulldozer after strong opposition from residents of Willesden Green, London.
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Visiting a Church Building That Is Taller Than It Is Long: Saint-Martin Church at Bousbecque, France
The architect of Tourcoing's Hôtel de ville, Charles Maillard, worked in the 1870s on the tower and spire of Bousbecque's Saint-Martin church building; he produced a very conspicuous landmark.
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Visiting St. Peter's Episcopal Church, Niagara Falls, New York: Gothic Solidity by Henry C. Dudley, Completed 1880
This late 19th century Gothic structure effuses permanence and solidity at a locality which seems strongly to symbolize natural movement and human transience.
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Visiting Orsbach, Near Aachen, Germany: Peaceful Nature, With Subterranean Tensions?
Borderlands Made in Germany are not what English-speaking readers familiar with the Cold War are led to expect. Orsbach - within Aachen's city limits - has features mirrored in adjoining Dutch Limburg
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Visiting Don Mills United Church, Toronto, Ontario: A 1950 Gothic Building With Primitive Methodist Roots From 1822
For nearly 2 centuries a congregation has been based at what is now the intersection of O'Connor Drive and Pape Avenue, East York. The present building's features are strongly Gothic.
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Visiting Bray-Dunes, France: North Sea Wind and the Furies of Submerged Territorial Psychologies
The history of Bray-Dunes, with its wind and sand dunes, seems to be underlain by tense, psychological forces that humanity has forced on the local topography.
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Visiting the Dragones Barracks, Maldonado, Uruguay: Poignant Associations With General Artigas in 1797
The founder of Uruguayan nationality is commemorated at the historic Dragones barracks in Maldonado; José Gervasio Artigas's legacy inspires Uruguayans to this day.
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Visiting the Old England Building, Brussels, Belgium: Fine 1899 Example of Art Nouveau by Paul Saintenoy
This ornate, former department store in Brussels, Belgium, dating from 1899, now houses a museum of musical instruments.
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Visiting Ramsgate Station, Ramsgate, Kent, England: Recalling the Close of a Neoclassical Era in Station Buildings
Before the Modernist movement swept through the design of public buildings, istructures such as large stations typically reflected traditional styles; at Ramsgate, Kent, the Neoclassical predominates.
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Visiting Givet, France: Overlooked by Fort de Charlemont, Recalling Emperor Charles V, and a Complicated Past
Dating from the 16th century, and decommissioned from military use only in recent years, Givet's Fort de Charlemont, overlooking the Meuse, is associated with some larger than life historical figures.
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Visiting the Waters off of Little Zavikon Island, in or Close to New York's Thousand Islands: An Intriguing Boundary
Part of the former home and backyard of a U.S. Congressman, Little Zavikon Island, situated extremely close to the US-Canada border in the St Lawrence River, is in the Thousand Islands archipelago.
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Visiting Vianden Castle, Luxembourg: Remembering a 1944 Battle, and Hidden Clues to Post-War Developments
The Battle of Vianden raged on November 19, 1944, while nebulous relations between Luxembourg socialists and trade unionists and the OSS seemingly underlay events prior to the Battle of the Bulge.
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Visiting the Templo Metodista, Montevideo, Uruguay: Fine, Gothic Structure Dating From 1913
Methodists were already active in Uruguay in the 19th century; this imposing Methodist church building in Gothic style dates from 1913.
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Visiting the Marschallbrücke, Berlin, Germany: Northern Entry to Dorotheenstadt, Honouring Field Marshall Blücher
The Marschallbrücke, in Downtown Berlin, Germany, the original of which dates from 1882, is named for a Prussian military figure whose fortuitous lifetime left him unconnected with militarism.
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Visiting the Old Federal Building, Sault-Ste-Marie, Michigan: After a Design by James Knox Taylor, Built 1909/10
Built in an era when functionalist design was less widespread, Sault-Ste-Marie's Old Federal Building is situated on the site of Old Fort Brady.
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Visiting the Lightship 'Fehmarnbelt', Lübeck, Germany: Historic, Maritime Variable Geometries and Constants
A museum lightship moored in Lübeck, Germany is a reminder of a wholesome, German maritime humanitarian tradition. Remembering also a friendship between writer Siegfried Lenz and former Federal Chancellor Helmut Schmidt.
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Visiting Laguna del Sauce: An Uruguayan 70 Square Km Reflecting Pool of Multidimensional Refractions
An inland lagoon in Uruguay reflects light, hills and history. Nearby Punta del Este - whose airport is named for Laguna del Sauce - served as an ideological crucible pitting JFK against Che Guevara.
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Visiting Lougheed House, Calgary, Alberta: A National Historic Site of Canada, This Sandstone Mansion Dates From 1891
Lougheed House, Calgary, has been a real witness to the history of Alberta. Associated with a dynasty of Provincial leaders, its 19th century sandstone walls have harboured many distinguished visitors
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Visiting the House of Dr. Luis Alberto de Herrera, Montevideo, Uruguay: Remembering Issues of Historic Sovereignty
Forget the Cold War: understand how Dr. Luis Alberto de Herrera, as a conservative nationalist, could be both a supporter of the Sandinistas and a defender of the historic sovereignty of Latin America
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Visiting the Grand Hotel, Eastbourne, England: Victorian Opulence and a Strong Musical Tradition
Claude Debussy and Frank Bridge are just some of the noteworthy musical figures associated with this hotel, completed 1877, & known as the White Palace, by architect Robert Knott Blessley (1833-1923).
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Visiting an Unusual Church Building on St. Clair Avenue, Toronto, Ontario: Memorializing a Business Figure
Timothy Eaton Memorial Church stands monumentally in the Toronto suburb of Forest Hill, on St. Clair Avenue. Not dedicated to any religious figure, its name instead recalls a business personality.
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Visiting Le Parc Michel-Jasmin / Michel Jasmin Park: Close to a Large Airport, the Greening of Dorval, Québec / Quebec
An aerial gateway city is planning more than to double its human population by the number of trees it plants over the next decade.
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Visiting 179, Promenade du Portage, Gatineau, Québec / Quebec: Remembering a Defender of the French Language
Dr. Louis Duhamel was known as a promoter of the French language; he owned this property at 179, Promenade du Portage, Gatineau, which, in its refurbished form, demonstrates interesting features.
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Visiting Lac Leamy / Leamy Lake, Gatineau, Québec / Quebec: An Urban Lake Reminiscent of Geneva?
Gatineau's urban lake is an unexpected feature of a city which deserves to be much better known.
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Visiting the Municipal Gardens, Ventimiglia, Italy: a Mediterranean urban forest by Ludovico Winter, dating from 1906
These Gardens were originally the creation of landscape architect Ludovico Winter, and have for many decades served as a source of shade and tranquility to citizens of Ventimiglia.
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Visiting the Our River at Ouren, Belgium: Border Psychologies, the Stuff of Legends
In a German-speaking area, this is Belgium, but only just, and the scenic Our River marks the boundary between Belgium and Germany. With memories of a wet Medieval knight.
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Visiting Punta Colorada, Uruguay: People, Whales, Fish, and Sea Currents Constantly Ebbing and Flowing
Warm, cool, bracing, mild, lonely, highly frequented: a small Uruguayan resort harbours more complexities than may at first be apparent.
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Visting the Hotel Colón, Piriápolis, Uruguay: Dating From 1910, Neo-Renaissance Style in a Flourishing Republic
Fine style and historical allusion come together at this building in a leading Uruguayan resort city in Maldonado department.
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Visiting Elisabeth Park, Brussels: Lush Verdure and Authentically Belgian Spelling Complexities and Referents
The Belgian authorities took care: to avoid air pollution, create a distance between King Leopold II and his private life, and use spellings acknowledging both of Belgium's main language communities.
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Visiting Babb, Montana: Complex Remembrance of Secretary Henry Stimson and Blackfoot Climbers at Nearby Chief Mountain
A conspicuous mountain in Blackfoot territory lies near Babb, Montana, on the edge of Glacier-Waterton International Peace Park and close to the Canadian border. It has some interesting associations.
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Reading: Ben Macintyre, a Spy Among Friends: Kim Philby and the Great Betrayal, New York: Random House, 2014
The mid-20th century saw the eruption of controversy around the first alleged, then confessed, spying activities of Kim Philby, affable British diplomat and MI6 operative.
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Visiting Southmoor, Oxfordshire, England: Peaceful Hamlet Disturbed by the Death of a Scientist and Political Antics
A quiet hamlet, near historic villages, was the focus of worldwide attention in 2003; official handling of the death of a famous resident has distasteful parallels with the Lusitania Enquiry of 1915.
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Visiting Harrods, Buenos Aires, Argentina: Nostalgia for the British?
Harrods, Buenos Aires: Formerly a hub of commerce identified with a large Anglophone community; in recent years seeking other rôles. More broadly, recalling a somewhat chequered Argentine-British trading history, which, to Argentinians despite its huge significance is hardly evocative of nostalgia.
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Visiting Calgary International Airport, Calgary, Alberta: World Gateway & Striking Views of the Calgary Tower & Skyline
'Aerotropolis' at Calgary inherits a long tradition of business confidence and functions as an intercontinental crossroads.
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Visiting Sparwood in the Elk Valley, British Columbia: Home to the Titan, the Largest Truck in the World
Have you driven a 169.49 litre V16 vehicle lately? Realistically, you are unlikely to do so, as this huge guzzler is now on permanent display by the visitor centre at Sparwood, British Columbia.
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Visiting the Embassy of Andorra, 10, rue de la Montagne / Bergstraat, Brussels, Belgium: a 1747 rococo frontage
From Brussels 'food mountains' to 'embassy mountains': this Embassy may raise questions of how justified is the maintenance of an expensive embassy for tiny Andorra; but it is a fine building!
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Visiting No. 3, Place Poelaert / Poelaertplein, Brussels, Belgium: Simplified Louis Xv Style, by Ernest Jaspar
Mansard roofing and a pillared frontage are included among features of this fine structure in Downtown Brussels, dating from 1928/1929.
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Visiting Crowsnest Lake, Alberta, Overlooked by Crowsnest Mountain: Majesty in the Heart of the Canadian Rockies
This Lake and Mountain are at the heart of highly impressive scenes. The name 'Crowsnest' is an Anglicized version of First Nations' observation of ravens in the Mountain's vicinity.
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Visiting the Cathedral of Saint-Jérôme, Digne-lès-Bains, France: With a Tower and Metal Campanile Dominating the Town
A Medieval warrior bishop decided that he needed a militarily defensible, second Cathedral. Its distinctive tower is still a major landmark in the city of Digne-lès-Bains.
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Visiting the Flathead Range's Mount Blakiston, Alberta: Remembering the Palliser Expedition of 1857-1860
Somewhat resembling the Matterhorn, Mount Blakiston rises to 2910 metres, its name recalling a 19th century explorer and naturalist.
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Visiting the Swiss Cottage, Singleton Park, Swansea, Wales: Dating From 1826, Designed by Peter F. Robinson
This Alpine-style cottage, once belonging to the prominent, local Vivian family, served in its early years as a dame school. It recently underwent a program of restoration.
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Visiting Red Rock Canyon, Waterton Lake National Park, Alberta: The Intriguing Character of Argillite Rock
These brightly coloured, sedimentary rocks make for a popular destination in the summer months, although somewhat inaccessible during winter.
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Visiting the Benedictine Abbey of Saint-Maurice and Saint-Maur, Clervaux, Luxmbourg: imposing, with an octagonal tower
From the town, if at all, an octagonal tower rises above surrounding trees, which otherwise hide the hilltop Abbey building.
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Visiting the Château De Bailleul, Condé-sur-l'Escaut, France: Changing Ownerships and Sovereignties
Since the Middle Ages, the town was held by Flanders, Spain, and Austria, before France gained possession of it under Louis XIV. The French Republicans confiscated the Château at the Revolution.
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Visiting the Cameron Falls, Waterton Park, Alberta: Named for Donald Roderick Cameron, Soldier and Diplomat
Named for an eccentric, monocle-wearing son-in-law of Canadian Prime Minister Sir Charles Tupper
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Visiting the Crowsnest Road, Crowsnest Pass, British Columbia: Remembering First Nations and Early European Travellers
Long known to First Nations, the Crossnest Pass was first travelled by a European, Michael Phillipps, in 1873, who journeyed West to East, now commemorated by British Columbian Point of Interest signs
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Visiting the Prince of Wales Hotel, Waterton Park, Alberta: Recalling the Heyday of Rail Tourism in Western Canada
A huge Swiss-style chalet in a scenically unique setting: recalling an almost vanished railroad past. Named for Edward, Prince of Wales who, as a local ranch owner, had strong links with Alberta
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Visiting St. Mary, Montana: Outstanding Reasons Why Montana Excels Its Reputation
Clean air and water, breathtaking views and an absence of sales tax combine to make St Mary and Montana highly desirable visitor destinations.
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Visiting the High Level Bridge, Lethbridge, Alberta: Of Its Type the Highest and Longest in the World
High indeed, and long: nowhere in the world is there another of its type as high and as long.
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Visiting Doncaster Minster, Doncaster, England: Perpendicular Architecture by Sir George Gilbert Scott
One of a distinguished architect's great creations, with a 51.5-metre tower that has dominated the Doncaster skyline since the 19th century
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Visiting Whitworth Hall, University of Manchester, England: Neo-Gothic Monumentality by Alfred and Paul Waterhouse
Architectural distinction in sandstone, by members of a family prolific in building designs: the hub of one of England's great universities, linked with many of the distinguished minds of the 20th C.
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Visiting Steenwerck Railroad Station, Steenwerck, France: Multidimensional Geography and History
Ostensibly a communication facility strictly within metropolitan France, Steenwerck Station's proximity to the Dutch-speaking part of Belgium is a reminder of a turbulent, local history.
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Visiting the Glacis Chapel, and its vicinity, Luxembourg City: traditions of history and destruction
Ideological opponents dropping metaphorical and literal bombs? Too troubling to probe the past at the Glacis Chapel? Does a disturbing aspect to its genius loci lurk there as a perennial leitmotif?
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Visiting 45-51 London Street, Norwich, Norfolk, England: Are Banks Supposed to Look Like Church Buildings?
Too much like an ecclesiastical structure? a building which maybe raises too many questions. (But I like it.)
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Visiting Ornamental Ironworking at the Grand Ducal Palace, Luxembourg City: Baroque Counterpoise?
Distance and reserve between rulers and the ruled is an old fashioned notion. But can setting them aside also involve, in some circumstances, erosion of wider perceptions of monarchical impartiality?
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Visiting the Charles de Gaulle Liberty Paths, Cannes, France: sun and shade in profusion
These ancient plane trees in Cannes, France, have been features of the urban landscape for the generations of visitors; after World War Two they were named for General Charles de Gaulle.