First Capital of the U.S.

Q. I just visited York, Pennsylvania. The town claims to be the first capital of the US. Is this correct?

A. It is true, but seldom mentioned in most history books. The Revolutionary War was still raging and the government was in the process of being created by the founding fathers, so the argument might be made that as of yet there was no United States of America.

In 1777 The Continental Congress fled Philadelphia to York as the British Army approached. They made York the national capital (September 30, 1777 - June 27, 1778). While there the Congress passed the Articles of Confederation.

Source: The NewEncyclopedia Britannica Volume 12, 1997

Submitted by Kate Carroll, Reference Assistant

Monkeytown, Rhode Island

Q: I heard that Knightsville, a village in Cranston, was once called Monkeytown. What was the reason for it being called Monkeytown?

A: Most sources that we checked say that the reason for the name is not known. We did find one source that said, “One legend has it that a local lad joined a seafaring voyage, and when he returned he brought back a most unusual creature with him – a monkey in a cage. People traveled from all over to see the animal.”

Source: Cranston by Lydia L. Rapoza and Bette Miller

Click here to request this book from our library catalog.

Submitted by Kate Carroll, Reference Assistant

Q: How many states in the United States are commonwealths?

A: There are four states that are designated as commonwealths: Massachusetts, Virginia, Kentucky and Pennsylvania. Puerto Rico and the Mariana Islands are U.S. territories that are also considered to be commonwealths.

Source: World Book Encyclopedia 2006

Submitted by Maureen Delovio, Ref. Librarian

Ocean State Libraries

Q. I noticed that CLAN libraries are now called OCEAN STATE LIBRARIES connecting Rhode Island. Do I need to get a new Library Card?

A. You can still use your present library card. The new cards will be issued to new library patrons and as replacement cards to current card holders. OSL includes 70 public libraries and offers numerous services. Click here to visit the OSL website.

Submitted by Reference Librarian.

Hollywood bed

Q. I saw an excellent local production of Chorus Line by the Academy Players in Rhode Island this past weekend. (By the way, the costumes were fabulous!) One of the characters mentioned that she "was born on a Hollywood bed." I was wondering what exactly is a Hollywood bed?

A. A Hollywood bed is "a bed consisting of a metal frame, box spring, mattress, and headboard, but lacking a footboard" according to the Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary. The American Heritage Dictionary defines it a little differently, "A mattress on a box spring supported by a metal frame or attached low legs, often with an upholstered headboard."

Source: Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary and The American Heritage Dictionary

Medical conditions

Q. As a reference librarian, what is your best, most current resource on medical conditions?

A. Two concise books on a wide range of medical issues are the Complete Guide to Symptoms, Illness & Surgery by H. Winter Griffith and Professional Guide to Diseases. These are user friendly, straight forward guides for the health care provider and consumer. The library does have more in-depth medical encyclopedias such as The Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine and Human Diseases and Conditions.

Also readily available are a number of health databases which can be accessed through our website, wwlibrary.org, with a library card number: Alt Health Watch focuses on the holistic and complementary approaches to health care; Health Source covers topics from general health, to nutrition, child care and sports medicine; Clinical Pharmacology deals with U.S. prescription drugs, herbal medication and nutritional supplements. These are just some of many good health resources in the West Warwick Public Library.

Forever Stamp

Q. What is the Forever Stamp?

A. The USPS announced in a news release on March 26, 2007 that "The FOREVER stamp is a consumer innovation guaranteed to deliver unprecedented convenience and value to our customers. It's good forever."

The cost of first class stamps will rise to $.41 on May 14th. To ease the transition, the new FOREVER stamp will eliminate the need to purchase 2 cent stamps. The new stamp has an image of the Liberty Bell and the word 'forever'. They will be available to purchase in booklets of 20 beginning April 14th.

Sources: Click here to go to the United States Postal Service website.

It's a cakewalk

Q. What is the origin of the word cakewalk?

A. The word cakewalk can be used as either a noun or a verb meaning something very easy, something done without effort, or money obtained without effort. It can also refer to the dance from which the word is derived. The cakewalk originated among American black slaves who used the dance as a subtle satire on the elegance of white ballroom dances. Stepping high with backs arched backwards contestants would promenade around a cake placed in the center of the dance floor. The couple who performed the fanciest steps would 'take the cake'.

Sources: The Cassell Dictionary of Slang, Whistlin' Dixie: a Dictionary of Southern Expressions, 2007 Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc.

Rhode Island Tax Forms

Q. Why have I not received my Rhode Island tax form in the mail this year?

A. I posed the question to an administrator at the Rhode Island Division of Taxation. He replied that it is an issue of "budgetary constraints". Literally thousands of dollars of tax payer dollars were being wasted on the printing and mailing of tax forms that were never used, either because so many individuals have their taxes filed by a preparer or because they file electronically. Tax forms have been mailed out, but only to the individuals who mailed in their returns last year on an official state form with the anchor logo. Also postcard reminders have been mailed to taxpayers who had their tax returns filed by a preparer last year. Forms can be printed from the internet. To have forms mailed to you, please call 401-222-1111.

Shakepearean birds

Q. I heard that a man who loved Shakespeare introduced the House Sparrow (English Sparrow) and the European Starling into the USA. Is that true?

A. It is partially true. In 1890 and again in 1891 Eugene Schieffelin released European Starlings into Central Park in NYC. His ambition was to introduce every bird mentioned in Shakespeare's writings into the U.S. He also attempted to introduce the bullfinch, chaffinch and nightingale, but was unsuccessful. The English Sparrow had already been introduced into this country in the1850's in a well-meaning but misguided attempt to control insect pests.

Sources: www.nycgovparks.org/, http://en.wikipedia.org/wik/Eugene Schieffelin, http://www.birds.edu/BOW/HOUSPA/

Daylight Savings Time

Q. What are the new dates for daylight savings time in 2007 and why are we doing it?

A. Between 1986 and 2006, Daylight Savings time began in the first Sunday in April and ended the last Sunday in October. Next year it will begin the second Sunday in March and run until the first Sunday in November, adding about a month to daylight savings. The main reason for the change is to save energy. 25% of electricity used for lighting and small appliances is mainly used in the evenings when families are home. Studies conducted in the 1970's show that we can save 1% of our energy use each day with Daylight Savings Time. During the spring and summer we have longer days and spend more time outdoors, using less energy indoors.

Source: Gattings, John and Brunner, Borgna. 2006. "Daylight Saving Time: A trip around the world reveals that time isn't a synchronized science." Information Please: http://www.infoplease.com/spot/daylight1.html

Saccanosset coal mine

Q. Was there a coal mine in Garden City?

A. There was a coal mine off Reservoir Avenue and Saccanosset Hill as early as 1839. (American Indian translation for Saccanosset is "black earth place".) The Seekonk Facing Company mined graphite in 1875 and by 1885 the New York Carbon Company was extracting 30 tons of coal a day. Various companies attempted to mine the area until 1913. After that, it was owned by the Graphite Mines Corporation until a fire in 1922. Garden City's retail and residential building, which had begun in 1948, flourished in the 1950's as the coal mine slowly shut down. The mine finally closed in 1959 when the first and last fatal accident occurred and closed it for good. The old mine shaft was located where the current Newport Creamery now stands.

May be an image of the Saccanosset coal mine.
Described as "Coal mine in Cranston" Date: unknown.
Image # 2691.
From the Images of Rhode Island - Providence Public Library Historical Collection: http://www.quickpix.com/cgi-win/IICGI.exe/sixmonths

Sources: Rhode Island Historical Preservation Commission. September 1980. Cranston, Rhode Island: Statewide Historical Preservation Report P-C-1. Polichetti, Barbara. July, 26, 1999. "For young veterans' families, the new suburbia personified the essential American Dream". Providence Journal. pg. C. 01. and American Indian Place Names in Rhode Island: Present & Past. http://www.rootsweb.com/~rigenweb/IndianPlaceNames8.html

The First Christmas Tree

Q. When did the first Christmas tree appear?

A. There is no record of when the first Christmas tree came into existence. The first historical references of a Christmas tree appeared in the early 16^th century in Latvia and Estonia. The first decorated Christmas tree in America was in the German Moravian church in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania in 1747. However, the “tree” was not an evergreen but the “European style of wooden pyramids covered with evergreen boughs (p. 25)”. Accounts of the use of a real evergreen Christmas tree began to show up around 1820. And the mostly widespread reference of a Christmas tree was published in 1832 in Boston mentioning the use of the top of a young fir tree.

Source: Snyder, Phillip. V., (1976). The Christmas Tree Book; The History of the Christmas Tee & Antique Christmas tree Ornaments.

The Ocean State

Q. Why is Rhode Island called the Ocean State?

A. Ocean State became Rhode Island's Official License Plate Nickname when it was adopted on July 8, 1971. It began to appear on non-commercial license plates in 1972, replacing the former nickname "Discover". The term was created to help promote tourism. The 400 plus miles of coastline includes inland extensions of the Narragansett Bay; all Rhode Islanders live within a 30 minute drive of the Atlantic Ocean or Narragansett Bay.

Source: Rhode Island Office of the Secretary of State. "Know Rhode Island History And Facts About The Ocean State", www.sec.state.ri.us/library/riinfo/riinfo/knowrhode and Rhode Island Government Online. "Facts & History", http://www.ri.gov/facts/history.php

Pultizer Prize

Q. I recently learned that March by Geraldine Brooks won the 2006 Pulitzer Prize for fiction. What are the criteria for being nominated and winning?

A. The Pulitzer Prize (pronounced PULL-it-sir NOT PEW-lit-sir) for Fiction has been awarded since 1948 for distinguished fiction in book form by an American author, preferably dealing with American life. The Pulitzer Prize for Fiction (established by Columbia University in 1971) replaced the Pulitzer Prize for the Novel which was awarded between 1918 and 1947.

The Pulitzer Prize for Fiction is one of six categories in Letters and Drama. There are a total of 21 Pulitzer categories. In 20 of the categories the winners receive a $10,000 cash award and a certificate. Only the winner in the Public Service category of the Journalism competition is awarded a gold medal.

There are no set criteria for the judging of the Prizes. The definitions of each category are the only guidelines. It is left up to the Nominating Juries and The Pulitzer Prize Board to determine exactly what makes a work "distinguished."

Source: The Pulitzer Prizes, http://www.pulitzer.org

The Washington-Rochambeau Revoultionary Route

Q. I have seen road signs in Middletown and Providence that have a red, white and blue shield, also the letters W3R. Also sometimes the words Washington and Rochambeau. Do you have any idea what they are all about?

A. The signs represent the Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route. 'W' for Washington and the '3R's for the rest.

The Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route commemorates the joint efforts of the French, under the command of General Rochambeau, and the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War. W3R traces the campsites and the pathways traveled during the three-year presence of the French Expeditionary Force, depicting their march south to the climatic battle of Yorktown and then their return north.

As for the signs in our state, the RI Rochambeau Historic Highway Commission is working with RIDOT to place 100 wayfinding road signs along the W3R in RI. The website said that the signs would be in place for the June 16th - 18th 2006 celebration.

Source: The Washington-Rochambeau Revoultionary Route, http://www.w3r-us.org/

Marshmallow Fluff

Q. Where was Marshmallow Fluff invented?

A. Marshmallow Fluff was invented in Sommerville, Massachusetts by Archibald Query around 1915. He made batches of it in his kitchen and sold it door to door until wartime shortages forced him to stop. After the war he sold the recipe to H. Allen Durkee and Fred L. Mower for five hundred dollars. The product started to be manufactured from their factory (Durkee-Mower) in East Lynn in 1929.

Sources: The Oxford Encyclopedia of Food and Drink In America by Andrew F. Smith, 2004. And www.marshmallowfluff.com

Calendars

Q. Do all countries use the same calendar as the United States?

A. The United States uses the Gregorian calendar which measures out a calendar year that is just slightly longer than the solar year (about 25 seconds a year longer). Pope Gregory XII called to reform the Julian calendar in the late 16th century, which was established by Julius Caesar in 62 B.C. It was 11 minutes and 14 seconds longer than the solar year and by 1580 the difference between the calendar and seasons had grown to 10 days and would eventually lead to religious holidays falling in the wrong season. The Gregorian calendar was first adopted by Italy, France, Spain, Portugal, and Luxemburg in 1582, by Great Britain and the colonies in 1873, and took Greece until 1923 to adopt it. Today the calendar is used worldwide for nearly all non-religious purposes.

Source: Holidays and Anniversaries of the World(1998), edited by Beth A. Baker and James Jespersen and "Gregorian calendar." World Book Online Reference Center. 2006. World Book, Inc. 1 Mar. 2006 .

Moldy Food

Q. Is it safe to eat food when it shows the slightest bit of mold?

A. Some molds produce carcinogenic aflatoxins so it is a good policy to follow these basic food safety tips:

1. You do not need to throw out these foods if a small amount of mold appears on them: jam, jelly, hard cheese, firm fruits and vegetables. Use a clean knife or spoon to remove all the mold and a bit more around the area. If the food still has an 'off' taste then throw it out.
2. Toss out these foods even with the slightest appearance of mold: cream, sour cream, yogurt, bread, cake, buns, pastries, corn on the cob, nuts, flour, whole grains, rice, dried peas or beans and peanut butter.

Source: The Safe Shopper's Bible (1995) by David Steinman & Samuel S. Epstein, M.D.

A Limey

Q. Why are the Brits called limey's?

A. The term "limey" originally applied to British Sailors, who for many centuries suffered and often died from scurvy. A Scottish doctor, James Lind, discovered that eating limes and oranges (a good source of vitamin C) greatly reduced the number of scurvy cases on British navy ships. Lime juice was added to the diet of sailors and thus the nickname 'limeys'. American service men broadened the term to all British during the World Wars.

Source: Harper Dictionary of contemporary Usage by William and Mary Morris,1985. p.358.