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k5jri radio

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  1. k5jri radio
    Another member discussed commuting to and from work at a military base in Europe via self-powered (internal combustion prime mover connected to an electrical generator traction motors) rail passenger vehicles. He stated these vehicles (in Europe) were significantly larger than the self-powered trolleys in currently operating in Galveston. The self-powered vehicles described appear to be more modern versions of the "Doodlebugs" which were used for similar purposes in the United States in the years prior to World War. The "Doodlebugs" could and did operate on the same track as the ordinary multi-car freight and passenger trains; but it was not stated if the European rail passenger vehicles operated on the same track as ordinary multi-car freight and passenger trains, or they operated on dedicated track. Presumably, there are different expectations regarding noise and vibration for riding a rail vehicle for routine transportation versus riding a rail vehicle for entertainment.
  2. k5jri radio
    Several members have identified the significantly higher costs of residential construction, maintenance, and insurance in areas of Galveston Island beyond the western end for the seawall. The original 3.3 mile segment of the seawall cost almost $1.6 million in 1904 dollars. Given the inflation rate ($1 in 1904 is equivalent to $35.35 in 2024) adding another 3.3 mile segment would cost roughly $56.5 million. This does not include the cost of compensation to property owners displaced by eminent domain, or the construction of the sidewalk, road, and parking areas adjacent to the extended seawall.
  3. k5jri radio
    The City of Galveston population peaked in 1960 at 67,175. Its current population (estimated 2022) is 53,089. This decline of approximately 14,000 has been attributed to various causal factors including, but not limited to, the shift in housing construction/utilization from structures intended to be primary residences to structures intended to be vacation rentals.
  4. k5jri radio
    Houston's average elevation of 50 feet is high enough to resist tropical storm surges (wind driven surface water augmented in height by low barometric pressure), but it's very flat topography causes rainwater during storms to accumulate faster than it can drain off.
  5. k5jri radio
    The recently opened Gordon's Food Service store is a welcome upgrade of what was a long-time blighted area into a modern wholesale grocery which not only serves restaurant and institutional customers, but unlike typical wholesale grocers, is also open to retail customers. Galveston Primetime movie theater (11 screens) is another welcome upgrade of what was a somewhat run-down theater (particularly the seating which had seen better days). Although Gordon's Food Service and Galveston Primetime are upgraded existing locations, Island Bowling is located in a new location, on Seawall Boulevard near the movie theater. The original (before Hurricane Ike) bowling alley building is currently abandoned and derelict.
  6. k5jri radio
    Avoiding destruction of vegetation on Broadway/Avenue J also required the trolley tracks to be installed on the inner lanes of the paved road surfaces adjacent to the median strip. Because the top surface of the track is roughly the same height as the paved road surfaces, ordinary rubber tired cars and trucks can pass over the trolley tracks without damage. The inside track surfaces have a narrow gap between the track and the pavement to allow the trolley wheel flanges to seat properly, yet allow safe passage for rubber tired cars, buses, and trucks over the trolley tracks.
  7. k5jri radio
    The original Galveston trolley system was powered by overhead electric wires. The trolley "trolled" for power by means of trolley poles that made sliding contact with the overhead electric wires (approximately 600 volts DC potential) and completed the circuit through the metal wheels contacting the metal track (0 volts DC potential). When this trolley system was discontinued in 1938, the overhead wires and their supporting structures were removed. When a new trolley system was in its planning stages (circa 1980s) it was decided that because reinstalling overhead trolley wires and their supporting structures would require the destruction of most of the trees and vegetation now present along the median strip of Broadway/Avenue J., a self-contained electric power system was required. Each of the 4 trolley cars now in service has it own, self-contained power source (diesel engine driving an electric generator).
  8. k5jri radio
    As stated in a recent issue of the Galveston Daily News, only the three trolleys that were in working condition when Hurricane Ike made landfall on Galveston Island were eligible for federal disaster relief funding. The fourth trolley, not being in working condition when Hurricane Ike made landfall, was not eligible for federal disaster relief funding. Fortunately, other sources of funding became available to repair and restore the fourth trolley. As of the date of this posting, all four trolleys are currently in working condition.
  9. k5jri radio

    According to the Galveston Daily News (03/21/2024), Gordon Food Service will (within a few days) open a large Restaurant Supply store (Gordon's Restaurant Market) that will also be open to the public. It's located on 2402 45th Street, the site once occupied by the "long gone Gerland's Food Fair."

  10. k5jri radio
    addendum to USS Battleship posting: Gulf Shores, Alabama is the nearest (approx 51 miles) full service beach resort to the USS ALABAMA Battleship Memorial Park, Mobile AL. Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina is the nearest (approx 13 miles) full service beach resort to the USS NORTH CAROLINA 1 Battleship Row, Wilmington NC.
  11. k5jri radio
    USS TEXAS Battleship: If all the financial details can be worked out, the USS TEXAS (BB-35) will likely have a new home in Galveston Harbor. Unlike the USS ALABAMA (BB-60) and the USS NORTH CAROLINA (BB-55) which are steam turbine powered, the USS TEXAS (BB-35) is powered by triple-expansion steam reciprocating engines. The USS ALABAMA is on display at USS ALABAMA Battleship Memorial Park, Mobile AL and the USS NORTH CAROLINA is on display at 1 Battleship Road, Wilmington, NC.
  12. k5jri radio
    If my information is correct, the primary residence (first or primary home location) is where the homeowner is eligible for homeowner's exemption of a portion of the assessed property tax, and eligible to vote. The second or secondary residence (second or secondary home location) is where the same homeowner is not eligible for homeowner's exemption of a portion of the assessed property tax, and not eligible to vote.
  13. k5jri radio
    A message, posted in 2004, speculates on the possibility of the City of Galveston, TX reaching a year-round population of 100,000 within 20 years (the year 2024). The year-round population of the City of Galveston peaked at approximately 60,000, but later declined to approximately 50,000. However, Galveston County, TX as a whole has had steady population growth in the areas adjacent to Houston. TX. As a result, League City and other Galveston County cities near or adjacent to metro Houston (Harris County) are examples of that steady population growth. League City is currently the most populous city in Galveston County. As of 2024, Galveston County has a total population of more than 360,000.
  14. k5jri radio
    When walking along the beach area of Galveston, the various rock jetties (aka groins) are readily visible. Their purpose seemed to be the mitigation of the effects of beach erosion. According to a recent article in Galveston Monthly, my conjecture was correct. The rock jetties slow down the wave action, causing the incoming and outgoing waves to lose velocity. Slower incoming wave velocity inhibits the water's ability to carry the sand, causing the sand to drop off at a greater rate. Slower outgoing wave velocity likewise inhibits the water's ability to pick up stationary sand. The net effects of the reduced incoming and outgoing wave velocity results in a lower net rate of beach erosion.
  15. k5jri radio
    A new and/or well-maintained building creates an impression in my mind (and likely those of other potential customers) that the helicopters and ancillary equipment are operated properly by highly qualified pilots and similarly maintained by high quality, A&P (air frame & power plant) certified mechanics.
  16. k5jri radio
    As other HAIF members have stated, The Port Holiday Mall was next to a Holiday Inn Motel. Both were about a mile inland from Stewart Beach. During my visits to this Holiday Inn Motel location, the motel was reasonably priced, clean, quiet, and well-maintained.
  17. k5jri radio
    As previously stated, the South Park Mall in Shreveport, LA benefited from its proximity to the Western Electric and General Motors manufacturing facilities. When these facilities closed, most of their former employees had to move elsewhere to find employment.
  18. k5jri radio
    "The Life and Death of the American Mall" by Matthew Christopher (January 10, 2024) offers insights about the demise of enclosed shopping malls: "The loss of larger anchor stores (and the inability to replace them with comparable stores) created "dead ends, darkened store fronts, and vacant corridors created eerie, lifeless pockets-- and a death spiral. Fewer tenants, fewer shoppers, decreased income, more unkempt areas. Where an outdoor strip mall could simply tear down an under performing area and build something else, (enclosed) malls were static islands surrounded by seas of asphalt.When online shopping grew, it stabbed a victim that was already bleeding out. In the 1980s, there were roughly 2500 malls in the United States. Today, there are approximately 700--a number most analysts expect to continue to decline."
  19. k5jri radio
    As an aside, actress Valerie Bertinelli (Barbara on One Day At A Time sitcom, 1975-1984) met her future husband, rock musician Eddie Van Halen, while visiting her family in Shreveport, Louisiana. At the time, Bertinelli's father was an executive at the aforementioned General Motors assembly plant in Shreveport. Bertinelli and Van Halen were married from 1981 to 2007 and had one son, Wolfgang Van Halen.
  20. k5jri radio
    After The Treaty of Ghent was ratified by Congress and signed by President James Madison, the ratified and signed treaty documents were presented to the British Ambassador on February 17, 1815.
  21. k5jri radio
    The Battle of New Orleans (circa 1815), was the final battle of the War of 1812 between the United States and the United Kingdom (aka the British Empire). Although the United Kingdom Parliament had signed the Treaty of Ghent, the treaty would not take effect until the United States Congress ratified the treaty. One clause in the treaty stated that the border between the respective United States and United Kingdom territory in North America would be based on areas controlled by the each country as of the date of ratification by Congress. This delay provided a "window of opportunity" for the naval and ground forces of the United Kingdom to attack and gain military control of not only New Orleans, but access to the Gulf of Mexico. General Andrew Jackson, who led the United State land forces, was assisted by Jean Lafitte, a privateer who led a group of armed ships and boats. The British attacked but their naval and ground forces were unable to gain military control. As a result, the war ended with New Orleans still under military control when the Treaty of Ghent was ratified by the United States Congress. Jean Lafitte later (circa 1817) relocated his operations to Galveston Island and adjacent areas in coastal Texas. According to online sources, many details of Lafitte's life and deeds tend to be "obscure and contradictory". In 1959, "The Battle of New Orleans", by Johnny Horton, was released and became a major "top-40" hit record. As would be expected, it received frequent play on the New Orleans area "Top-40" radio stations, including WNOE (1060 kHz), at that time, the top-rated (in terms of audience) radio station. According to "urban legend" one of WNOE's disk jockeys had an apparent mental breakdown and began playing "The Battle of New Orleans" over and over and claimed to have a bomb he would set off is anyone tried to interfere. Stories vary regarding whether or not this incident actually happened, particularly regarding the alleged explosive device brought into the radio station. Sadly, Johnny Horton was killed in a traffic accident (November 5, 1960) while traveling from Austin TX to Shreveport LA. He was only 35 years of age.
  22. k5jri radio
    Looks like the new bowling alley adjacent to the movie theater complex at 8902 Seawall Blvd is about 4 miles WSW from the now derelict building at 3424 Seawall Blvd. that once housed the Island Bowl prior to Hurricane Ike. From the intersection of 61st St. and Seawall Blvd. (6100 Seawall Blvd.), its about 2.1 miles WSW.
  23. k5jri radio

    The beach resort cities of Gulfport MS (population approx 72.000) and Biloxi MS (population approx 50,000), 13 miles apart along the Mississippi Gulf of Mexico coast, are the joint county seats of Harrison County MS. On 17 August 1969, Hurricane Camille, a category 5 storm, made landfall with 175 mph sustained winds, causing total destruction of 68 square miles of Harrison County. The total estimated total cost of damage was $1.42 billion in 1969 dollars (approximately $11.65 billion in 2023 dollars). As was the case with Galveston County, casino gambling and associated vice activities along the Gulf coast, although illegal, were common until stricter law enforcement ended them in the 1950s. Although casino gambling is currently illegal in Galveston County TX (and other counties in Texas with the exception of Native American property), Mississippi cities, including Biloxi and Gulfport are home to 26 gambling casinos not on Native American property, plus 3 more gambling casinos on Native American property.

  24. k5jri radio

    Many of the "beach resort" areas along I've visited over the years have been smaller cities or towns adjacent to or otherwise part of the metro area of a larger city. For example: [1] Jacksonville Beach, Neptune Beach, and Atlantic Beach are part of the Jacksonville, FL (Duval County) metro area; [2] Panama City Beach is part of the Panama City, FL (Bay County) metro area; [3] Pensacola Beach is part of the Pensacola, FL (Escambia County) metro area; [4] St. Augustine Beach and Vilano Beach are part of the St. Augustine, FL (St. Johns County) metro area; [5] Wrightsville Beach is part of the Wilmington, NC (New Hanover County) metro area.

    These aforementioned "beach resort" areas developed over the years as a part of a larger city's metro area. Although Galveston now has some characteristics of being a part of the Houston TX (Harris County and portions of surrounding counties) metro area, Galveston has many characteristics of having once being a significant metro area in its own right. For example, it is the county seat (Galveston County), with the Galveston County courthouse, jail, and sheriff's office; as well as the Galveston Division, Southern District of Texas federal building located within its city limits.

       

  25. k5jri radio
    Just finished watching the HOU Explorer video showing sights and sounds one would experience during a ride on the restored Galveston Trolleys. Great video!
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