As the second COVID year, 2021, ends, so is this blog. Having reached the advanced age of 86 and, more important, run out of appropriate topics about which to write, I am concluding any further contributions to this website.
The site was initiated in April 2009 when I was introduced to and fascinated by the Internet possibilities. Christened “Bottles, Booze, and Back Stories,” the blog initially was aimed primarily at collectors of antique ceramics, glass and other antiquarian artifacts, although a wide range of subjects was explored. Several years ago the name was changed to “Memories and Miscellany” to reflect a growing emphasis on personal memories and family history.
Over the dozen years of its existence the site has featured 335 posts and as of today attracted 586,889 look-in “hits” from all around the world. It has also received 327 comments, most of them gratifying or helpful. My number of followers has been low, as expected given the eclectic subject matter. Only nine signed up and the majority of them were relatives.
From what I am told, the blog will continue to be available on the internet for an extended period of time, allowing the interested to access it through topic “labels.” I will continue to post on my other website, devoted to the stories of individuals involved in the American liquor industry prior to National Prohibition in 1920. Called “Pre-Prohibition Whiskey Men,” the site has been popular, attracting 1.2 milllion “hits” and 346 followers during its ten years of existence.
Looking back on my experience with the blog now concluding, it primarily seems to have been a convenient vehicle to express a wide range of interests in a way that would attract others of similar interests, as well as a means to preserve other writings not previously available online. For anyone looking in during coming days, my hope is that you will find the material worth your time. Jack Sullivan
Thanks for your efforts!
ReplyDeleteI just discovered your blog site and it's wonderful!! Sorry to get here so late!! I especially like your writing about Coventry flasks!! Take care, stay safe, be healthy!!! And thank you so much for leaving this behind!!!
ReplyDeleteI, too, have come to your blog too late. I was following up on a tip about your piece on Jeremiah Vail, but I quickly was caught up in the political and diplomatic stories from your career. Thanks for your government service ... and for your delightful anecdotes! God speed, indeed.
ReplyDeleteSome of us are (very) late to your party…but still found it enjoyable! Best wishes, and thanks.
ReplyDeleteHi, Jack!
ReplyDeleteI stumbled across your blog when looking into the history of American Prohibition for a presentation on early 1920's cocktails. Loved the pieces on Uncle Sam's association with alcohol advertising. Hope you and yours are safe and well, thank you for your blog :)
Jack, Fantastic job with all your posts and articles over the years that I have loved reading. You are a true professional and historian! Cheers to you!
ReplyDeleteTo all who responded to my farewell post. Be sure that I appreciate more than you can know your approval of this blog.
ReplyDeleteMr. Jack Sullivan
ReplyDeleteLong time missing your articles, especially those that dealt with our interest in pre-pro collectables. Nothing but praise from all of us for your years of tremendous research on getting the history documented in a platform we enjoy reading. I am still collecting the advertising jugs of all sizes from VA down to Fla, always on the hunt to upgrade or add something new to the shelf.
I want to express my gratitude for your diligence to our hobby - a Big Thank You! Wish you and your family the best. Most sincerely, Bill Wrenn ncjugs@gmail.com
Very sorry you, like me be stepping down from writing. Only your work is far better than what I have done.
ReplyDeleteWhen you wrote about Jacob Schmidlapp: "Washington Terrace, Walnut Hills, a development of more than 400 homes he built to house working class African-Americans, “in whose welfare he was deeply interested.” Said an observer: “His model homes form the most outstanding effort along this line in the country.” Jacob also was a trustee and contributor to Cincinnati’s McCall Colored Industrial School." who suffered from exceptional personal tragedy but rose to be one of the most influential, I believe you may have even been a bit short in ;the praise he deserves for actually creating and financing Washington Terrace. I started researching a tobaco pipe several years ago and am in process of trying to add additional information about this exceptional man and the legacy he left us. From what I can determine, his efforts toward racial equality from a time of great racial division may be unparalleled. I created a web page at https://statlerpiqua.wordpress.com/home/schmidlapp-pipe/ and hope you might find it interesting. The images on the pipe which was a gift of his brother were of his mother and father. Being the current caretaker of this unusual artifact, I hope to make sure that it is fully documented for future caretakers. My contact information can be found on my web site. Again thanks for a great article as there is much information I had not found when I was last revising in 2019.