Helen Keller Simulator

[mike_s]

Questions added in bold above your answers.

Originally Posted by bennerman

I am watching the episode right now... I will update as it goes along

1.) Where was Helen Keller born?
1. East... "something... they talked way too fast", Alabama

Tuscumbia, Alabama. (although I wouldn't be surprised if it had a slightly different name in the 1800's as many communities did before they merged together.

2.) What was her home called?

Ivy Green

3.) What was her teachers name?
3. Anne Sullivan

Correct.

4.) What was the first word she learned to 'sign' ?
4. Water

Correct.

5.) Where did she learn the word in the above
5. At a water pump, if that is what you mean

Correct. Anne Sullivan held her hand under the water pump, pumped the water while signing (in her hand) " W - A - T - E -R" over and over again until she learned it.

6.) What US Treasury currency is she on?

I doubt you'll see this one answered in the special, unless it's been done in the last 5 years. (or edited in as information or dialog ) HINT: Someone already answered it in the thread if you want to see it.




even though the original post was somewhat funny and "wrong" at the same time, I find it interesting that this thread has generated interest where some folks are learning a little about her that would have likely never have learned who she was. interesting huh?

[emt]

Since I lived in the area for many years, I thought I would look it up to see if my word origins were correct from the locals passed to me...

From Encyclopedia Britannica: It is situated in the Muscle Shoals area on the Tennessee River, about 65 miles (105 km) west of Huntsville, and forms with Florence, Sheffield, and the city of Muscle Shoals a four-city metropolitan area. Founded in 1817 as Ococoposa (from a Chickasaw-Choctaw word meaning “cold [COLOR=#009900 ! important][FONT=Arial,'Arial Unicode MS',Helvetica,sans-serif][COLOR=#009900 ! important][FONT=Arial,'Arial Unicode MS',Helvetica,sans-serif]water[/font][/font][/color][/color],” referring to a local creek), it was renamed Tuscumbia (1822) for Tashka Ambi, a Cherokee chief.

The creek it's referring to is definitely Spring Creek and the head of the creek emerges from under the ground at this point of the park: spring creek park Tuscumbia, Al - Google Maps (also the water is always cold emerging from under ground)
rotate the image to see one of the two big hills I used to bike down when 7 to 9 years old from main street Tuscumbia, al. also rotate the image to see the head of the spring (it's to the left of the fountain)

[emt]

Seperating the tri-cites (Sheffield, tuscumbia, & Muscle shoals) with Florence is the Oneal Bridge. It was a 2 to 3 second jump from the cliffs to the water and a blast as a kid we would jump at a place I think was called whiporwill hollow that was downsteam from Wilson Dam and the Oneal Bridge.

The entire 4 cities used to be called either the quad cities or the Muscle shoals area. (The Wilson dam was originally build on a shoal area with a lot of fresh water muscles).

By starting this thread you have me thinking about old good times and a lot of old memories....

It was illegal to buy alcohol (many bootleggers stocked it locally) in North Alabama in the early 70's. so I know it was about 20 miles from the Oneal bridge to the Tenessee state line where the night clubs were back then.
Today it's legal as far as I know in all of Alabama.

Here's a view From Wilson Dam upstream of Oneal Bridge:Sheffield, al - Google Maps
It once had the world's largest single lift for boats moving from one level of water to the other and if you look in a circle you will see the huge difference in water levels above and below the Dam. Yep, used to catch stiped bass on the muscle shoals side right below the dam against the wall. The turbines are located beginning at the Muscle shoals side and the spillways more toward Florence and finally the single lift a few yards from the Florence side of the dam.
I remember fishing one day and wading on the rocks next to the dam wall when the alarm went off, signaling that more water was coming out of the turbine area rapidly and I kept fishing a little too long and was raised about 4 foot in 30 seconds and started heading downstream. I kicked a few times with my feet while holding my garcia Mitchell 300 spinning reel and made it back no problem. All in all a lot of fun.

[bennerman]

Originally Posted by mike_s

Questions added in bold above your answers.

Tuscumbia, Alabama. (although I wouldn't be surprised if it had a slightly different name in the 1800's as many communities did before they merged together.

Ivy Green

Correct.

Correct.

Correct. Anne Sullivan held her hand under the water pump, pumped the water while signing (in her hand) " W - A - T - E -R" over and over again until she learned it.

I doubt you'll see this one answered in the special, unless it's been done in the last 5 years. (or edited in as information or dialog ) HINT: Someone already answered it in the thread if you want to see it.




even though the original post was somewhat funny and "wrong" at the same time, I find it interesting that this thread has generated interest where some folks are learning a little about her that would have likely never have learned who she was. interesting huh?

I know its the quarter, but I didn't want to answer the questions based that I didn't actually see on the show, cause that would have been stealing everyone elses :P

[mike_s]

Originally Posted by emt

..

It was illegal to buy alcohol (many bootleggers stocked it locally) in North Alabama in the early 70's. so I know it was about 20 miles from the Oneal bridge to the Tenessee state line where the night clubs were back then.
Today it's legal as far as I know in all of Alabama.

.

The Oneal bridge is still a focal point of alcohol. it's the seperation between Florence and Sheffield.

I dont think you can buy alcohol in Florence after midnight, and you could in Sheffield. so people would go across the bridge to buy it late at night. Making it a target rich environment for cops to look for people drinking.

Also most of the clubs located in Sheffield for this same reason, once again making the Oneal Bridge a target rich environment for cops.

(at least this was the way it was 20 years ago. I'm sure not much has changed).

as far as I know you still can't buy beer there on Sunday. So folks make the run to Tennessee if they need to quelch their thirst on a sunday and haven't stocked up in advance.

[scubajane]

Originally Posted by FishFood

Helen Keller Simulator

We have a local cavern called Laurel Caverns. they have a post card that is completely black and the caption is, 'Laurel Cavern at night" I just love it!!

[mike_s]

This in the news today

Helen Keller statue unveiled at Capitol - CNN.com

[KRhat]

I may use that picture as my new screen saver. Kevin

[Vercingetorix]

Actually, if you wait 10 seconds, the web-page refreshes to display real content.

Originally Posted by K9Pig

Ann Frank

Originally Posted by TRiggER2117

wow. no helen keller was the blind and deaf girl.

Anne Frank was the jewish girl that wrote the diary

Wow...sooooo gullible. I got this bridge in Brooklyn I'll make you a great deal on.