); Arriving in New York Sept. 23, they had to keep quarantine officers company for 16 days. Photo courtesy Boston Public Library, Leslie Jones Collection. z-index: 1000; position: relative I can see this made into a movie one day. In the eastern part of the state, a fire started in Newport among fallen timber from the 1938 hurricane around Tonomy [], [] This story was updated in 2019. War, recession and lousy farmland created other ghost [], [] would ever be picked and that no ax ever be used. This book stays in my library for later rereading. On board the ship were some unique passengers: two Giraffes. Westerly, a bastion of quiet old wealth, never quite regained its prestige after the Great 1938 Hurricane. To view this image, visit the Archives Research Room on the 4th floor at the Society Headquarters building in Madison, WI. [] years earlier, The New England Hurricane of 1938, one of the worst natural disasters in U.S. history, had struck without warning and killed more []. 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." Her fictional account follows the giraffe truck across the Lee Highway and illustrates the scenes of America in 1938. . The 1938 hurricane was the worst natural disaster in American history a gale that wreaked more death and havoc than either the great Chicago fire or the San Francisco earthquake. Sweet memories. [] department store employees could be fiercely loyal. San Diego, CA: Zoological Society of San Diego. } text-decoration: none; display: inline; Giraffes have a small hump on their back and have a spotted pattern similar to that of a leopard. Check out our new community for fans and supporters! Lofty and Patches lived at the San Diego Zoo for nearly 30 years. My Mother remembers a tree falling through their roof in North Conway, NH. On the other side of the pond, Hitler was invading Eastern Europe, so the combined stress of world events and personal troubles were briefly assuaged by the sight of the traveling giraffes. No one recalls exact conversations, the gap teeth of a service station attendant, the color of vehicles along the road after 80 years. Images in the Public Domain are carefully selected and provide illustration. Reporters in the cities and towns theywent through wrote amusing anecdotes about seeing them on the road, the giraffes peering out of their tall windows at the scenery and cars around them. Above, the steamship Monhegansits at a pier in Providence after sinking during the hurricane. Photo courtesy Boston Public Library, Leslie Jones Collection. 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. For instance, there were amazing oral histories just about the 1938 hurricane that the giraffes were caught in before landing in New York was the worst until Hurricane Sandy in 2012. As very few images of the actual event are available in the Public Domain, images of similar objects and events are used for illustration. Not a favorite. body.custom-background { background-color: #505050; } Erosion from the Great 1938 hurricane. Finally, the waves overwhelmed their own house, lifting it off its foundation. The Great New England Hurricane - HISTORY It then took two years for the 50 CCC camps and 15,000 WPA workers in the region to finish the job. Our giraffe habitat lets you get amazingly close to these tremendously tall creatures. Instead of running away from the crazed primate, she stretched out her arms and caught it in mid-air and carried it back to its pen. [], [] Sailing master Joseph Kemp compared the Portland Gale to the Great Hurricane of 1938. box-shadow: none; When the 1938 hurricane washed the house away, she dug the family silver out of the sand and rebuilt it. The hurricane also tossed the lighthouse tender Tulip, pictured above, ashore. Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it. Smith, who was quick to express his affection for Lofty--the giraffe that didnt kick him--directed that his crate be the first to be unloaded by the whirring, grinding, chug-chugging crane. President Franklin Roosevelt ordered theCivilian Conservation Corpsand theWorks Progress Administrationto clean up the mess. For commercial or non-profit use, please contact Image Sales. The giraffes, probably only a few years old, were met at the Brooklyn dock by the San Diego Zoos head keeper Charley Smith (Riley Jones and Old Man in the novel) and city truck driver Ed Seuss (Earl). They were finally able to leave quarantine on October 10, 1938. The user is responsible for all issues of copyright. 'jetpack-lazy-images-js-enabled' The Great New England Hurricane of 1938 - National Weather Service About 700 people died 75 years ago when the storm known variously as the Great New England Hurricane of 1938 or the Long Island Express began plowing up the Northeast coastline at 2:45 p.m. on. San Diego Zoo. 2016. https://www.sandiegozoo100.org/100-animals/lofty-and-patches. To see newsreel footage of the Great 1938 Hurricane, click here. Local Woman Names Newly Arrived Giraffes. Escondido (CA) Times-Advocate (October 28, 1938): 6. float: left; A treasure for sure. All Wildlife. Subscribe for more forgotten history: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4sEmXUuWIFlxRIFBRV6VXQ?sub_confirmation=1. Who was the editor on this one? 670 views, 48 likes, 3 loves, 2 comments, 12 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from The History Guy: In 1938, the merchant steamer SS Robin Goodfellow was caught in the Great New England Hurricane. i guess this is supposed to build up suspense and have the reader on the edge of their seat, waiting with bated breath for the secret to be revealed. 1938 New England hurricane - Wikipedia Footage of two giraffes transported on the highway before - YouTube Train travel did not allow that freedom. In 1938, it was lifted from its foundation by flooding caused by the Great New England Hurricane and moved to a new []. The trials and hardships of an old man, a young man, and a dreamy eyed girl are laid out for all to breath in through the action, imagery, and emotion of life during the hardest of times. 1997. The book was wonderful and reading this was the icing on the cake! 1938 hurricane giraffes . If youd like to read about a wild ride one family took during the storm, click here. February 27, 2023 alexandra bonefas scott No Comments . San Diego, CA: Zoological Society of San Diego. 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. A touch of unrequited romance, a bit of larceny and a droll sense of humor kept me entranced to the end. Little did anyone now that in September 1938, during the final few days of their trip, these animals bound for San Diego would encounter what was then the most devastating hurricane to hit the upper East Coast, killing nearly 700 people. 27 febrero, 2023 . See and touch history at Historic Sites, Museums and special events, Restore your historic home or property, get tax credits, renovation tips. Lofty and Patches lived at the San Diego Zoo for nearly 30 years and had seven offspring, including Raffy, D-Day (born June 6, 1946), Rusty, Patty and Lofty Jr. From The San Diego Union, Wednesday, Oct. 26, 1938: alive and kickingaccent on kicking--the two much-heralded animals that blazed a publicity trail across the continent were unloaded in San Diego zoo yesterday. Horseneck beach was changed forever!!! The storm developed near the Cape Verde Islands on September 9, tracking across the Atlantic and up the Eastern Seaboard. It is history that deserves your help! Animal Trainer Called by Death. Los Angeles Times (July 21, 1941): B16. . But getting Mr. Riley Jones is hired to handle the giraffes and get them across the country. The Great New England Hurricane of 1938 - Smithsonian Magazine [], [] This story was updated in 2018. Homeless refugees crammed into town halls, armories and fire stations. In 1938, the merchant steamer SS Robin Goodfellow was caught in the Great New England Hurricane. This is one of the most unusual and heartwarming road-trip/animal adventure/love stories I have ever read. Giraffe Transport with International D-40 Truck More. It brought down 20,000 miles of power and telephone lines. How San Diego Zoo evolved into a powerhouse - San Diego Union-Tribune The first book I have read by this author and I really enjoyed the topic, the setting and the giraffes!! Told through the memory of an aged veteran, the story is set against the background of the Dust Bowl, the Depression and the advent of a World War. West with Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge | Goodreads 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! West with Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge: book review - Annabel & Grace They were to be the zoos first giraffes, and the city was excited about the impending arrivals. (Side note: these events occurred one year after young Nicky Arundel got his wish for giraffes at the National Zoo.). Benchley recalled, I have never seen anyone so tired and relieved as Charley Smith when he drove the great awkward truck through the zoo gate, half an hour after phoning me from a suburb. West With Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge. West with Giraffes. Kansas City, MO: Andrews McMeel Publishing. Behind the wheel is the young Dust Bowl rowdy Woodrow. The True Story of the 1935 Labor Day Hurricane That Hit the Florida Keys 2 vols. San Diego's Hurricane Giraffes | In 1938, the merchant steamer SS Robin 3rd ed. *Estimated delivery dates - opens in a new window or tab include seller's handling time, origin ZIP Code, destination ZIP Code and time of acceptance and will depend on shipping service selected and receipt of cleared payment. Baby Giraffes from Africa Reach San Diego Zoo. Los Angeles Times (October 27, 1938): 14. The History Guy: History Deserves to Be Remembered is the place to find short snippets of forgotten history from five to fifteen minutes long. One of the 19,000 buildings destroyed by the hurricane. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Lofty and Patches became national figures, From the Archives: In 1893 Jos Gabriel was the first inmate to be executed at San Quentin, From the Archives: 1973 occupation of Wounded Knee galvanized the modern American Indian Movement, From the Archives: The queens 1983 visit to San Diego drew a crowd, From the Archives: Egg poached to save condor 40 years ago. The storm totaled about 26,000 automobiles and blew over 20,000 electrical poles. 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. The 45-mile drive from Brooklyn to the quarantine facility through flooded and debris-ridden streets, avoiding potentially low-rise overpasses, was certainly a true test of how the giraffes might handle a drive across the country, which in fact had never been done before with the towering creatures. The author certainly did her research into American life in 1938 and she wove every bit of what she learned into this novel. San Diego's Hurricane Giraffes - Rumble Clinics then ran out of typhoid vaccine. Im so happy that I found this website to answer my questions about this great book. West with Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge - goodreads.com Life Magazine Digital Archive | The New York Public Library Marianne Williamson begins longshot 2024 challenge to Biden, A SoCal cocaine kingpin will do way less time behind bars than anticipated, Proposed bills could lead to more people being forced into mental health treatment, Column: Padres struggles renew rumors of poltergeists in Peoria, San Diego Sports Curse, Padres notes: Juan Soto to be held out of weekend games; veteran pitcher Julio Teheran makes push, Appreciation: David Lindley, dead at 78, an arresting music great who was nearly arrested on stage in San Diego. That storm spared this building, but strong winds and rising waters demolished countless houses and cottages closer to the shore. Another indication that Benchley was loved by the zoo staff came after she found herself in the hospital for eleven weeks following an auto accident. Getting to see a giraffe in 1938 was a pretty rare occasion. 100 Years of the San Diego Zoo. In 1938, the merchant steamer SS Robin Goodfellow was caught in the Great New England Hurricane. display: none; Upon discovering that two of the passengers were giraffes, a whole new set of stories quickly developed. Now the incident is under review. San Diego's Hurricane Giraffes | In 1938, the merchant steamer SS Robin Goodfellow was caught in the Great New England Hurricane. The blowdowns posed a dilemma: What to do with enough woody debris to nearly fill Rhode Island? September 22, 1938. After three days of being fed pancakes (and the giraffes are indeed fed pancakes at one point in the novel), she mustered up the energy to pull herself up.