What follows is a twelve-day road trip in a custom truck to deliver Southern California's first giraffes to the San Diego Zoo. she was such a sweet grandmotherly type. In 1938, there was a terrible hurricane that caused massive destruction to New York. . Yes, yes Mr. Ostrich, that is of course exactly what it means. Benchley also once caught a rattlesnake by grabbing it by the back of the head. Rutledge, Lynda. The crates holding giraffes Lofty and Patches are loaded onto the truck from the ship in New York, 1938. . The Great 1938 Hurricane washed homes off their foundations. The storm forced the Connecticut River over its banks, inundating cities and towns with floodwater. Copyright 2023 The History Guy. Photo courtesy Boston Public Library, Leslie Jones Collection. Advice from the sidelines urged him to try ham and eggs. Nothing worked until, after a couple of hours, he tried an onion. But Charley Smith couldnt start the journey to San Diego just yet. The History Guy: History Deserves to Be Remembered is the place to find short snippets of forgotten history from five to fifteen minutes long. [], [] This story was updated in 2018. Looking Up | San Diego Zoo 100 All the kids screaming,its the end of the world.. Now get that head back in its hole, ignore those know nothing scientists, and relax. In 1938, it was lifted from its foundation by flooding caused by the Great New England Hurricane and moved to a new []. 2021. Charlestown, R.I., lost a bit more: 160 out of 200 homes were annihilated. 100 Years of the San Diego Zoo. Kraft, Joy W. 2010. The accident happened when a giraffe crossed over the road and was hit by a mini bus taxi carrying 13 people when the 18-foot tall giraffe which weighed about 1,650 lbs completely crushed the front of the bus before then smashing in the roof and front of the Swiss family's Ford Ranger camper. . Red was an aspiring photojournalist trying to sell her giraffe story to Life magazine. San Diego, CA: Zoological Society of San Diego. Sweet memories. Photo courtesy NOAA/NWS. The story begins with a centenarian named Woodrow Wilson Woody Nickel sitting in his nursing home watching a TV documentary on the near extinction of giraffes and other endangered species in Africa. Prior to becoming head keeper at the San Diego Zoo, he had been with the circus since he was eleven years old, including sixteen-year gig as the lead keeper of the Ringling Bros. circus. The events of the twelve-day cross-country drive are difficult to decipher outside of what Smith revealed to journalists and The Boss Lady. He did not keep a journal, so Lynda Rutledge takes creative license to fill in the blanks for us. .fun to weave the book with your stellar research! I certainly recommend it as a book club read. Hurricane Giraffes: San Diego's First Giraffes - YouTube The San Diego Zoo: The First Century. It's 1938. As they neared the eastern coast of the U.S., the ship was thrashed about in a hurricane, tumbling their crates and washing all their food overboard! Thank you for sharing it the magic of googling. All events are portrayed in historical context and for educational purposes. With the necessary funds, zoo director Belle Benchley, the first female zoo director in the world, paid for two young Ugandan giraffes and one rhinoceros to be shipped from Africa in 1938. a 30-foot bank of what looked like fog rolled in toward Long Island. Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), his wish for giraffes at the National Zoo, https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/ship/3298.html, https://library.sandiegozoo.org/sdzg-history-timeline/#1930, http://timeline.sandiegozoo100.org/1930/1930-3/, https://www.sandiegozoo100.org/100-animals/lofty-and-patches, https://www.sandiegozoowildlifealliance.org/timeline/1938/1938/, https://issuu.com/sdzglobal/docs/march_zn. . Sept. 21, 1938, was supposed to be a breezy fall day in New England. When the storm finally abated they tried to get her out of what was left of her crate, but they were not successful. Local Woman Names Newly Arrived Giraffes. Escondido (CA) Times-Advocate (October 28, 1938): 6. Smith spent a few days easing her into the crate while attempting not to spook her, and getting kicked in return. Rhode Island got the worst of it. To view this image, visit the Archives Research Room on the 4th floor at the Society Headquarters building in Madison, WI. Sold! Woody Nickel is 105 years old when he hears the news that giraffes may be going extinct. West with Giraffes - Zoo Walks Through History even Maggie the orangutan. Glover/Barton VT to be precise. What we called highways were barely tolerable for transporting people much less chauffeuring giraffes. Book Review: West with Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge Old World. Nominee for Best Historical Fiction (2021). https://thehistoryguyguild.locals.com/This is original content based on research by The History Guy. 1938 hurricane giraffes - 740alvarado.com Good book! box-shadow: none; "As the country teeters between a depression and Europe's looming war, a pair of giraffes, survivors of a hurricane at sea, left a wake of much-needed cheer while driven cross-country to the San Di. By clicking "BUY" you agree to our Terms of Use. After 12 days, before it could reach the Bahamas, it turned northward, skimming the East. lofty and patches giraffes 1938 - stmatthewsbc.org .printfriendly { The keepers and other staff members would visit her daily; [s]ometimes as many as eight would come during the same day or evening, she recalled. Thanks to amazon first reads and @lakeunion for the e-Arc . . The country had endured a Great Depression, filling the landscape with Hoovervilles and shantytowns, WPA and CCC projects, and migrants searching for a better life. Non censuram. The user is responsible for all issues of copyright. Swiss Dr Dies In Giraffe Crash On Safari - ananova.news Oct. 25, 2022 4:50 AM PT In October 1938 the first breeding pair of giraffes arrived at the San Diego Zoo from east Africa. This is original content based on research by The History Guy. Looks like a granny, dresses like a schoolmarm, swears like a sailor, and still charms snooty zoo galoots with their fancy educations. Rutledge even includes reference to Benchleys encounter with an escaped baboon. A giraffe's heart is 2 feet (0.6 meters) long and weighs about 25 pounds (11 kilograms), and its lungs can hold 12 gallons (55 liters) of air! Woodrow Wilson Nickel, aka Woody Nickel, almost 18, happens to be on a New York dock in 1938 when the hurricane-battered SS Robin Goodfellow limps into the harbor. Please send suggestions for future episodes: Suggestions@TheHistoryGuy.net. display: flex; align-items: center; Giraffes have a small hump on their back and have a spotted pattern similar to that of a leopard. West with Giraffes, a novel by Lynda Rutledge, gripped my attention from beginning to end. This improbable, but fact-based, story of two giraffes transported cross country in what was basically an over-balanced flatbed truck made me laugh, cry. Even up there the damage was great. The storm, which originated near the Cape Verde Islands and had previously intensified to a Category 5 hurricane near the Bahamas, pummeled Southern New England with sustained hurricane-force winds and caused . San Diego Zoo. When they finally were in their new house, a picturesque building that resembles a fairy-tale illustration, every connected with the job was ready to fall apart except Mr. and Mrs. A treasure for sure. lofty and patches giraffes 1938. lofty and patches giraffes 1938. In 1938, the merchant steamer SS Robin Goodfellow was caught in the Great New England Hurricane. Apparently they subsisted on pancakes that the cook made for them for three days until they got to shore. Join my Locals community for exclusive content at. This is a good book for the whole family to read. (At over 100 years old, our elderly narrator is compelled to tell his story before it is too late.). Our giraffe habitat lets you get amazingly close to these tremendously tall creatures. 1947. . 1923 campaign for safe and sane driving in San Diego urged citizen vigilance in reporting traffic violations. 1938: Two giraffes, Lofty and Peaches, arrive. She telegraphs WIRE ME TODAY, and you can bet she gets her wire. Knowing that the female giraffe barely survived the hurricane, I can imagine Benchley was quite worried throughout Smiths cross-country trip with the giraffes! Two giraffes miraculously survive a hurricane while crossing the Atlantic and end up in New York. text-decoration: none; If youd like to read about a wild ride one family took during the storm, click. . The hurricane blew the house pictured above onto railroad tracks. . Visual materials in the Archives do not circulate and must be viewed in the Society's Archives Research Room. They prepared to transport the animals across the country to San Diego, in the tall, oddly shaped crates that had been custom built for the purpose. SUBJECTS Animals Clothing and dress Hats Automobile industry and trade Indoor photography Men Zoos Delivery of goods Signs and symbols Automobiles Transportation Trucks How to Purchase a Copy Buy The Image For commercial or non-profit use, please contact Image Sales. So, although he cant speak, falls out of his wheelchair, isnt eating, he commits this story in sprawling detail to the pages of notebooks. Giraffes Will Ride in Truck to California. Miami Herald (September 25, 1938): 4. With Woody behind the wheel, true to the actual events, the giraffe truck stopped regularly at auto camps under appropriate trees with the top of the crates open to let Boy and Girl reach up and browse. Giraffe | San Diego Zoo Animals & Plants Check out our new community for fans and supporters! But was he proud of the two beautiful animals! } . 1938: Giraffes Lofty and Patches arrive (survived a hurricane on the journey to the United States) 1940: Benchley publishes My Life in a Man-Made Jungle; 1941: Dr. Harry Wegeforth dies at the age of 59; zoo plants its own garden to save money during the war I loved this book from the first page to the very last. The giraffe is in a large crate on the bed of the truck which appears to be inside a building. Its moving, thrilling, educational and thought-provoking, and was a welcome break from all my thrillers. Begin or dive deeper into researching your family tree, Learn about the spaces, places, & unique story of your community, The largest North American Heritage collection after the Library of Congress. The Northern Kraft Paper Mill in Howland, Maine. I rode Miss Jim when I little every summer and even in her cage to feed her a carrot. .primary-navigation-wrap{background-color:transparent}.main-navigation-menu a:hover,.main-navigation-menu a:hover:after,.main-navigation-menu a:active,.main-navigation-menu a:active:after{color:#fff !important}.main-navigation-menu li.current-menu-item>a,.main-navigation-menu li.current-menu-item>a:after:hover,.main-navigation-menu ul .menu-item-has-children>a:after:hover,.widget_wpcom_social_media_icons_widget ul li a{color:#fff !important}.widget_tag_cloud div a:link,.footer-widgets .widget_tag_cloud div a:link,.widget_tag_cloud div a:hover,.footer-widgets .widget_tag_cloud div a:hover,.widget_tag_cloud div a:active,.footer-widgets .widget_tag_cloud div a:active,.widget_tag_cloud div a:visited,.footer-widgets .widget_tag_cloud div a:visited,.wp_widget_tag_cloud div a:link,.footer-widgets .wp_widget_tag_cloud div a:link,.wp_widget_tag_cloud div a:hover,.footer-widgets .wp_widget_tag_cloud div 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span:hover,.main-navigation-toggle,.main-navigation-toggle:active,.main-navigation-toggle:focus,.main-navigation-toggle:hover,.main-navigation-menu .submenu-dropdown-toggle:hover,.main-navigation-menu .submenu-dropdown-toggle:active,.post-slider-controls .zeeflex-direction-nav a{background:#b43412}.primary-navigation-wrap,.main-navigation-menu ul,.widget,.type-post,.type-page,.type-attachment,.comments-area,.sticky,.page-header,.main-navigation-menu-wrap{border-color:#b43412}blockquote{border-left-color:#b43412}.rtl blockquote{border-right-color:#b43412} On board the ship were some unique passengers: two Giraffes. What a delightful story! Lofty and Patches, giraffes | San Diego Zoo 100 By this time, the hurricane giraffes had made national headlines. Giraffes at Lion Country Safari remained outdoors and kept their heads down during Hurricane Irma. and actually care about the dangers they were experiencing. Explore Jim Widmer's photographs of the Friday fish fry dinner tradition in Wisconsin. West with Giraffes | Bookstore No.1 Sarasota 1938 Atlantic hurricane season - Wikipedia West with Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge was inspired by the true story of two giraffes in 1938 that "survived a hurricane at sea, then were driven cross-country for 12 days in little more than a tricked-out pickup truck to become the first giraffes in Southern California." @media screen { Ive fibbed a bit over the years and told people I was born during the great 1938 hurricane, the hospital lights were out, and the doctor slapped the wrong end, which was the beginning of all my troubles. How do you mess up a story about two giraffes, an orphaned boy, a hurricane, and a cross country trip? https://thehistoryguyguild.locals.com/. Westward ho! } Photo courtesy Boston Public Library, Leslie Jones Collection. Without warning, a powerful Category 3 hurricane slams into Long Island and southern New England, causing 600 deaths and devastating coastal cities and towns. A total of 4,500 homes were destroyed and 25,000 damaged. In the novel West with Giraffes, Woody Nickel, is a seventeen-year-old dirt-farm rowdy, pure as a cow pie, cunning as a wild hog bound to escape the Texas Panhandle (and any law enforcement that might be looking for him). .pf-button.pf-button-excerpt { Smith lured him with an acacia branch. Fred Ghent and Ray Sheldon were honest men who made a mistake. Giraffe Transport | Photograph | Wisconsin Historical Society Animal Trainer Called by Death. Los Angeles Times (July 21, 1941): B16. I want to confirm my idea that Woody was the father of little Augie, who was the one who received his foot locker after his death with the porcelain gifaffe. View this selection of cartoons by William Donahey. Original giraffe caravan photo from "The New York Sun" 1938 Rutledge had to grasp what it was like to live during the Great Depression and Dust Bowl, with the physical problems and racial situations, to create realistic characters. Born in the wild country of southeast Africa, these babies, less than three years old, set sail from their native shores last summer and were 54 days at sea. Almost 700 people perished as the result of the storm, and 2,000 were injured. Records Provide Reminder of Devastating 1938 Hurricane You'll be supporting this record of the past that helps to inform our present. Those Giraffes, caught in a storm that killed hundreds of people, were en route to San Diego, California, and the storm was only the beginning of their cross-country journey.Show more, Check out our new community for fans and supporters! Images in the Public Domain are carefully selected and provide illustration. On board the ship were some unique passengers: two Giraffes. 2.5 stars, *When reading this, one will develop an strong urge to head to the nearest zoo and see giraffes (maybe even feed them; you can at the Colorado Zoo!)*. could that giraffe have been a descendant of Lofty and Patches? } margin-left: 6px; To see newsreel footage of the Great 1938 Hurricane, click here. While conducting research in the archives of the San Diego Zoo, Rutledge came across a trove of newspaper articles about two giraffes that had survived a hurricane on the deck of a freighter and a cross-country trip, from New York to California, in 1938. Its closest relative is the okapi. HURRICANE GIRAFFES TO QUARANTINE. I had read about the true story of the famous hurricane giraffes when I conducted research for my story on Belle Benchley, but I thank Lynda Rutledge for writing this work of fiction, which left me with the desire to learn more about them. If you liked. My thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for a review e-copy of this one. On board the ship were some unique passengers: two Giraffes. I felt safe when I arrived at my house. San Diego's First Giraffes - The History Guy The Great 1938 Hurricane crossed over the tip of Long Island, slammed into New London and raced up the Connecticut River Valley at 50 miles per hour. train station pub happy hour 1938 hurricane giraffes. Overall, says Magilligan, the Hurricane of 1938 and Irene dumped similar amounts of rain - between 7 and 10 inches in most locations, often within just a few hours. Lofty and Patches became national figures when they made the last lap. 2016. https://www.sandiegozoo100.org/100-animals/lofty-and-patches. My mom was 16 and lived in New Bedford on Acusnet ave.(not sure of the spelling) with her mom and dad. For the in-depth story, see The San Diego Zoo: The Founding Era, 1916-1953 Three giraffe subspecies are housed at the San Diego Zoo and San Diego Zoo Safari Park (as of July 2016; Amanda Lussier, personal communication): Copyright 2023 Rumble. I headed to San Diego and their new zoo, where Id heard that the animals get treated better than the people. display: none; Visit our other Wisconsin Historical Society websites! i loved the idea of the story, a road trip from new york to california with two young giraffes, the only part of the book that is non-fiction. So preciousIt reminded me of my days at the St Louis Zoo and Bill Ross the elephant man. Around 60 people died on Long Island - 29 of them at or near Westhampton Beach. Smith stayed with the giraffes during their time in quarantine, sleeping beside their stalls, nursing the females injury, and getting to know these towering creatures of Gods pure Eden. After their quarantine was complete, it was time to load the giraffes into their custom-made, heavily padded 12 8 crates, which were large enough for the giraffes to lie down on piles of peat moss and straw. As soon as Smith had apprised Belle Benchley of the giraffes poor condition, Benchley contacted Dr. Charles Schroeder from the Bronx Zoo to assess her condition. } They are inside a large wooden crate on the back of the truck which is in a building. Thank you so much for the feedback! I refuse to give out any spoilers about the novel, but I encourage you to pick it up. LIFE Magazine October 10, 1938 border: none; How I got into. The crate containing the female giraffe rolled and rolled until it shattered to pieces. Vol. You may also want to read about the Great New England storm of 1938 here. Realizing that punching all the TVs in the world wouldnt save the giraffes, he set out to document his story of how two giraffes changed his life forever. In 1938, the merchant steamer SS Robin Goodfellow was caught in the Great New England Hurricane. Imagine waves so severe that a rhino is tossed overboard. Awesome The History Guy merchandise is available at:https://teespring.com/stores/the-history-guy, The History Guy: History Deserves to be Remembered, Enjoyed this video? Westerly, a bastion of quiet old wealth, never quite regained its prestige after the Great 1938 Hurricane. Check out our new community for fans and supporters! They never have kept house together before, and just o make sure they do not kick the daylights out of each otherand make the Zoos $7500 investment worth no more than the current quotation on dead giraffesthe animals were shown to separate apartments for the time being. West with Giraffes is an endearing, and also heart-rending piece of historical fiction. They also turned a profit for the first time in the zoos 22-year history. Based on true events, this adventurous historical novel is the story of 17 year old Woody, the giraffes known as "Boy" and "Girl", the "Old Man" and a host of other characters met on their travels. No one thought of padding their stalls, and they learned bout mal de mer during the last days of the voyage when the big September storm swept the Atlantic coast. By extension, might I assume that global warming began in 38? Hitler is threatening Europe, and world-weary Americans long for wonder. The story is set around a truly extraordinary real life occurrence that took place in 1938. The "Teenie Weenies" cartoons enchanted readers of all ages for more than 50 years. San Diego, CA: Zoological Society of San Diego. One of the aspects of the novel I enjoyed the most was the depiction of Belle Benchleysweet but tough, and highly respected. A Cherry & Webb employee drowned during the Hurricane of 1938 while trying to rescue the stores furs in the Providence stores [], [] waves in the hopes ofreaching the Pendleton, an oil tanker that had snapped in two during the fierce storm. It destroyed cemeteries, slammed boats into shore, uprooted entire orchards and smashed structures into splinters. He has often bragged, When the Missus gets tired of waiting for me to write she just burns up the wires. West With Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge. Theories of Everything with Curt Jaimungal, https://www.thetiebar.com/?utm_campaign=BowtieLove&utm_medium=YouTube&utm_source=LanceGeiger, https://www.facebook.com/TheHistoryGuyYT/, https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4sEmXUuWIFlxRIFBRV6VXQ?sub_confirmation=1, https://teespring.com/stores/the-history-guy. While hiding out at the barn in Athenia, Woody does his own acquainting with the giraffessneaking into the paddock to feed them apples and onions, and checking on the injured girl. The first part of their journey involved sailingaboard a ship from Africa. West with Giraffes: A Novel 9781542023344 | eBay Giraffe | San Diego Zoo Hurricane of 1938 | The Wind That Shook the World