Nearby State Parks

Cool news - I added counties to Buchanan's Birthpalce and Caledonia without realizing it just now. I have been adding the sentence "The following state parks are within 30 miles (48 km) of X State Park:". I also have been making the links for counties consistent (link only first appearance of county in list, except for home county which is not linked at all). Glad to be your first post here after archiving. Take care, Ruhrfisch 02:11, 24 March 2007 (UTC)

  • I am not done yet, only got as far as Fort Washington tonight, but will keep working on them until done. I thought putting the sentence about distance in would help avoid people removing or adding parks that didn't meet the criterion. Ruhrfisch 04:27, 24 March 2007 (UTC)
    • Hillman and Laurel Ridge appear to be done but are missing the done comment - Hillman also had a self referential 38 mile comment, not sure to what (that might be my fault, I started in SW PA on distances). Could you please check them? Thanks, Ruhrfisch 13:16, 24 March 2007 (UTC)
      • If I find more I will let you know. Over half done with the distance statement and cleanup links in Nearby State Parks. Ruhrfisch 01:19, 25 March 2007 (UTC)
        • Pymatuning SP (PA) has no nearby SP section. I can put some in, but wanted to let you know. Do you want me to put making a MD locator map on my list of things to do? Glad I'm not the only nerd. When will the list be featured? Ruhrfisch 02:04, 25 March 2007 (UTC)
          • Congrats - just saw the edit summary that you are done with Nearby State Parks. I added myself to the List for {{maintained}}. Figured you might want to too. Did you see now I have been asked to make a clickable IL SP map? Ruhrfisch 03:17, 26 March 2007 (UTC)
            • Thanks, I eventually want to get a photo of every municipality in that county. Some will be two trees and a rock. I added you to maintained on the List (had to make a directory in your user space for it, hope that was OK, was a bit surprised it let me make it). My next state park project is to sort by counties in the list, then use that to and add maps and townships one county at a time. Take care, Ruhrfisch 20:42, 27 March 2007 (UTC)

I have a few more pix to add here - Dunkard Church, Eagle Grange #1, a few creek shots - but I would love ideas / suggestions on more. I made the Illinois locator map and put it in Argyle Lake State Park with the infobox - let me know how it looks. IL is so tall, the box looks a bit odd. Have a good one, Ruhrfisch 04:00, 28 March 2007 (UTC)

  • The infobox makes the map 288 pixels wide, and since Illinois is skinny, to get it that wide it is even taller. The NC and IL maps are the same scale (before the infobox squeezes the NC map a bit to get it to 288 px). I think I left a map link on Zanter's talk page - NC road map but parks were listed / shown (very big PDF though - might want to download it and keep it on your computer and open it there each time instead of via the net each time). I think I can get a DYK for Eagle Grange #1, found a good osurce and the picture is very nice too. You might be able to adjust the dot size - I made the List map dots smaller than the Infobox map dots (5 px vs 7 px). Take care, Ruhrfisch 04:11, 28 March 2007 (UTC)

Featured!

CONGRATULATIONS! Did you see the list is now featured? They don't leave a talk page message, just put the star on the list and the FL notice on the talk page. Anyway, Thanks for writing / expanding all the park articles and all your hard work on the list and asking about Featured List status in the first place. I will leave thank yous for Peer Review and FLC feedback folks (unless you want to - I have an idea for the template similar to what I did for LC and WDHC thanks). Congrats again! Ruhrfisch 17:00, 25 March 2007 (UTC)


  <font=3> Thanks again for your contributions, support, and comments - List of Pennsylvania state parks made featured list!
Take care, Ruhrfisch 17:15, 25 March 2007 (UTC)
 

The star shows up for me. Did you try WP:BYC? Ruhrfisch 17:49, 25 March 2007 (UTC)

Project?

There are only 26 24 List of Indiana state parks and I just made an Image:Indiana Locator Map.PNG. The parks all have articles but no infoboxes. Hmmm. Ruhrfisch 03:52, 2 April 2007 (UTC)

Actually the 24 parks all have homemade tables with most of the info needed for the infobox - I may convert them over. Ruhrfisch 04:01, 2 April 2007 (UTC)
Nothing's ever easy, is it? I found this [1] which seems to say it is a state park but under a different system of administration than all the rest, which are under the Indiana DNR. So I vote to include it in the list. I added the infobox to Brown County State Park but still need to clean it up more (convert templates, refs using cite web, dab it as there is also a Brown County State Park in Kansas (thanks Topozone). Found a nice locator map ref here. Take care, Ruhrfisch 16:11, 2 April 2007 (UTC)
Indiana has visitation stats for all IN DNR parks here (for the infobox). Brown County is done. Thanks again, Ruhrfisch 17:52, 2 April 2007 (UTC)
And if you get bored with our neighbor of Indiana, we would appreciate any help for Illinois. If not, I am not worried.--Kranar drogin 02:37, 3 April 2007 (UTC)

Grange

I have a photo of the marker too (it is on Commons already). Here is a great ref on it - I think it has DYK potential. Enjoy! Ruhrfisch 04:33, 3 April 2007 (UTC)

Here's the marker photo Image:Eagle Grange Historical Marker.JPG too. Good night, Ruhrfisch 04:36, 3 April 2007 (UTC)
Eagle Grange looks good - I like your suggested DYK but would avoid repeating "Pennsylvania", i.e.: DYK ...that Eagle Grange # 1 in Clinton Township, Lycoming County was the first grange to be established in Pennsylvania? I am surprised it is not on the National Register of Historic Places. I think the photo of the building has a good chance of being used - let me see if I can edit out the powerlines. Thanks! Ruhrfisch 19:18, 3 April 2007 (UTC)
They are gone - could also just crop the top off - there's room to do that, but let me know what you think first (may have to refresh the page or purge the cache to see the new version). Ruhrfisch 19:32, 3 April 2007 (UTC)
Hi Dinch, the preferred place for pictures that are free (not fair use) is Wikimedia Commons (there are people who move free images from en Wikipedia to Commons). The idea is that at Commons, any Wikimedia project can use the image (or any other file there), but if it is just on the en Wikipedia (say) then another language Wikipedia can't use it (easily). There is a picture peer review and it may be worth nominating the image there first to see what people think. Featured picture is very hard to get - I tried my favorite image at Peer Review and they pointed out its flaws Image:White Deer Hole Creek near 4th Gap.JPG. So if they like it at peer review, I will try for WP:FP. Thanks, Ruhrfisch 04:36, 4 April 2007 (UTC)

Regarding the Eagle Grange #1, it seems that the title is illegal because of the # (see Wikipedia:Naming conventions (technical restrictions)), and so the article is titled simply "Eagle Grange." It seems from the article that that isn't really right, perhaps it should be moved to Eagle Grange No. 1 or something like that. It seems to me that that would be a more accurate title than the current one (it is used on the historical marker, I see). Rigadoun (talk) 18:41, 6 April 2007 (UTC)

Picture Peer Review

Thanks again for suggesting this - I have nominated it here: Wikipedia:Picture peer review/Larrys Creek Covered Bridge. Now we'll see what others think, Ruhrfisch 01:33, 5 April 2007 (UTC)

  • Thanks again Dinch, now it is nominated for featured picture here: Wikipedia:Featured picture candidates/Larrys Creek Covered Bridge. I quoted your kind words about it in the nomination. Ruhrfisch 14:12, 7 April 2007 (UTC)
    • I wanted to get a picture that showed the creek and the covered bridge and how they interact and are related to each other. I like the arch, but it really wasn't my intention to get it originally. I have some pictures inside the bridge to show the arch better, but they are not as good (too much contrast bewteen very light outside and very dark inside). I am afraid my digital camera just isn't good enough for the level of detail they seem to want for FP, but we will see. Ruhrfisch 14:24, 7 April 2007 (UTC)
      • They want the picture to be of something, so I said it was of the bridge - in that case they don't want anything obscuring the main object, so the trees are a negative. If I had said it was of the creek, then there would have been complaints that not enough of the image was of the creek itself. I think getting a featured picture is the hardest thing here (at least for me). Wikimedia Commons also has quality picture (not as perfect but quite good) so I may nominate it there (sort of like Good Article vs. Featured article here). Ruhrfisch 15:57, 9 April 2007 (UTC)

Thanks for your nice (relayed) message

and congratulations again for your deservedly-rewarded efforts on the Pennsylvania state parks. Unfortunately, I am in an indentured servitude phase of grad school right now, so have very little time to edit for the next few months. I started looking into the history of ironmaking at Cornwall, and got sidetracked onto the Grubb family. Peter Grubb discovered the ore deposits at Cornwall (which are probably worth an article to themselves someday). His sons, Curtis and Peter Jr., got into a dispute late in life, which resulted in Curtis' son, Peter III, selling out of the iron business to Robert Coleman except for the right for enough ore from the ore banks to run one furnace, which he sold to Robesonia Furnace before leaving ironmaking history. As a result of the feud between Curtis and Peter Jr., Peter Jr. committed suicide in 1786. With the subsequent death of Curtis and the minority of the remaining heirs, Coleman was able to buy out most of the Grubb holdings except for a moiety of the rights to the Cornwall ore banks. Peter Jr.'s son Henry Bates married into the Brooke-Buckley ironmaking clan (various members of which once controlled Hopewell Furnace, Hibernia Forge, and the E&G Brooke ironworks at Birdsboro), and his sons Edward Burd Grubb (Sr.; father of Edward Burd Grubb. Jr.) and Clement Brooke Grubb went on to own a number of iron furnaces in Lancaster and Dauphin counties, as well as various ore deposits in Lancaster County.

The Brookes, as you might guess, have a long history of their own, and intermarried with other ironmaking clans as well. John Rutter Brooke was the son of William Brooke and Martha Rutter, of the Potts-Rutter-Nutt Schuylkill ironmaking family (although both William and his father-in-law seem to have been farmers rather than ironmasters), and Hiester Clymer, of a Berks County ironmaking family, was brother-in-law to Edward and George, the E & G of E & G Brooke Iron Co., Birdsboro.

But I digress, as is my wont. Returning to Cornwall, I think I may pick up the Pennsylvania "Trail of History" book on the furnace; parts of it are on Google Books, misfiled [2] and it looks like it will provide a good substratum of reference to expand the article, and fill in some of the details, e.g., what was the basis of the lawsuits that destroyed Robert H. Coleman. I'm particularly interested in the one by the Pennsylvania Trust Company, the president of which was...George Brooke. What rivalry or dispute underlay this?

Oh yes, and those rights sold to Robesonia Furnace? As the capacity of furnaces to process ore expanded, they became an increasing liability to the owners of the ore banks. When Bethlehem Steel bought the ore banks from the Coleman and Grubb heirs in the 1920s, they bought and demolished the furnace to be rid of the claim. [3] The formation of the ore deposits is apparently rather interesting, too — the 343-page (!) definitive work on the subject is probably beyond my comprehension, but I daresay between the geology, history, and legal wrangles, there's probably enough material for an article on the Cornwall Ore Banks someday, and I don't doubt it could make a DYK :)

Anyway, hope I've given a taste of the vast potential for obscure articles lurking in Pennsylvania ironmaking history. As a side note, I must say that Google Books is turning into a tremendous resource; there's all sorts of wonderful 19th-century stuff washed up there that's wonderful for sourcing these articles. All the best, and happy Easter. Choess 06:17, 7 April 2007 (UTC)

Eagle Grange No. 1

  On 9 April, 2007, Did you know? was updated with a fact from the article Eagle Grange No. 1, which you created or substantially expanded. If you know of another interesting fact from a recently created article, then please suggest it on the "Did you know?" talk page.

--howcheng {chat} 06:11, 9 April 2007 (UTC)

  • Congrats and thanks for getting another of my photos on the main page! Ruhrfisch 15:21, 9 April 2007 (UTC)

Lumber River

Hi Dinch, the USGS GNIS has source and confluence coordinates (latitude and longitude) and a list of counties and states for the Lumber (Lumbee) River, aka Drowning Creek, all here. Ruhrfisch 00:21, 12 April 2007 (UTC)

Oh well, I didn't think to check the Nature Conservancy - wonder what they have for PA? Hope it helps anyway, Ruhrfisch 00:22, 12 April 2007 (UTC)
Thanks very much for the link - did you see the new Geobox River in Larrys Creek and White Deer Hole Creek? It was some work to convert to the new boxes, but I like them. Ruhrfisch 00:33, 12 April 2007 (UTC)
It is a very flexible box - I want to add it to all the West Branch creeks eventually. I think Caroig is working on a Protected Areas geobox too. Ruhrfisch 01:06, 12 April 2007 (UTC)

Lycoming Creek

Hi Dinch, Lycoming Creek's source is a bit disputed (one reason I am slow on the article). Everyone agrees it starts in the area where Lycoming, Tioga and Bradford counties meet. The definitive ref is the USGS GNIS, which puts the source in Bradford County (see here). However the Susquehanna River Basin Commission maps (see here) and Chesapeake Bay Watershed Program figures (see here) don't show or give any part of the watershed in Bradford County. I was going to explain both, Ruhrfisch 01:31, 15 April 2007 (UTC)

I am OK with adding that to the Larrys Creek watershed map caption. I would probably write it as "Map of the West Branch Susquehanna River (dark blue) and Major Streams in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania. Larrys Creek (orange) is the second major creek entering the river in the county, between the Pine Creek (including Little Pine Creek) (red) and Lycoming Creek (yellow) watersheds."

Did you see the Featured Picture nomination failed? Ruhrfisch 01:57, 15 April 2007 (UTC)

Shikellamy

I will take a detailed look at Shikellamy - looks good so far. I was making some minor copyedits and lost the window and my edits, so I will try again. My guess is there is a DYK in there somewhere, but I need to reread it and thinks about it. Take care, Ruhrfisch 02:28, 17 April 2007 (UTC)

I did some cleanup and added an infobox - someone moved it to just Shikellamy (thought it was you until I read the edit history). Still thinking about a DYK... Ruhrfisch 04:05, 17 April 2007 (UTC)
Maybe we are making it too hard - the basic facts of his life are pretty interesting. How about Did you know ...that Shikellamy, an Oneida chief, was an emissary between the Iroquois and colonial government of Pennsylvania for nearly twenty years and helped negotiate several treaties?
Sorry, I have never done anything with a portal (although Steamtown was featured in the Trains portal after I updated it, I only found that out after the fact). If you added an article there before, I would just add these too (be BOLD). Ruhrfisch 21:09, 17 April 2007 (UTC)
I know about spinning plates - I am trying to add / standardize infoboxes to all Ohio Counties (24 to go), plus trying to add locator dots to the IL parks, and IN parks, plus creeks, plus dealing with vandalism (not to mention real life). I think I need to focus more - having said that, do you want me to make a clickable map for the NC parks (I really would be glad to, just slow at it ;-) ). Take care, Ruhrfisch 02:31, 18 April 2007 (UTC)
I think we could make a Featured List of Municipalities in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania. Have not found much new on the IN parks, was just going to add / convert to Protected Area Infoboxes (almost all the info is there already). Let me know and I will work on an NC map when you want it. Ruhrfisch 03:21, 18 April 2007 (UTC)

Lycoming County

I think the list could be Name, Type (i.e. City, Borough or Twp), Area (sq mi and sq km), Population (2000 census), Date established (founded?), maybe "Made From" (i.e. what it used to be), and Remarks. Make it a sortable list of course. Anything else you can think of? Remarks could include history (like when Wmspt became a borough). Is it worth including a thumbmail picture of each in the table? We could also have a list of former parts of Lycoming County (a dozen or so PA counties were once part of LC). Seven columns, or eight with the pictures.

I had thought of splitting out The Big Runaway. It could be expanded. I think there is a possible free picture of Rachel Silverthorn in an eastern Lycoming County Post Office (Hughesville or Muncy?). It was a WPA mural so it would be US Govt PD, I think. I'll see what I can do. Ruhrfisch 02:01, 19 April 2007 (UTC)

  • It is in Muncy - see here and here. I will see if I can get a photo myself when I am up that way next (the mural is PD but the brochure photos are likely copyrighted). Ruhrfisch 03:11, 19 April 2007 (UTC)
    • Did you see the comment on Madame Montour? I agree that the article still needs work, but am not sure how to proceed. I am going to expand The Big Runaway next. Ruhrfisch 00:58, 22 April 2007 (UTC)

Shikellamy

  On 21 April, 2007, Did you know? was updated with a fact from the article Shikellamy, which you created or substantially expanded. If you know of another interesting fact from a recently created article, then please suggest it on the "Did you know?" talk page.

--howcheng {chat} 06:51, 21 April 2007 (UTC)

  • Congrats Dinch- wow, 20 DYK!!! Ruhrfisch 12:49, 21 April 2007 (UTC)
  Did you know? was updated. On April 23, 2007, a fact from the article The Big Runaway, which you recently nominated, has been featured in that section on the Main Page. If you know of another interesting fact from a recently created article, then please suggest it on the "Did you know?" talk page.

Thanks again Dincher, kindly nominated by Ruhrfisch, Blnguyen (bananabucket) 05:18, 23 April 2007 (UTC)

Thanks for your work on this! Ruhrfisch 22:52, 23 April 2007 (UTC)

Runaways

I can try to make a map - I think I may have a picture of the Plum Tree Massacre memorial stone too. It is Buffalo Creek in Union County - thanks for catching that. I need to distill more of Meginness into the article. Ruhrfisch 21:05, 22 April 2007 (UTC)

It is the lead article in the next update of DYK. I can't make a map that fast (but I will try to make one eventually)! I can try to flesh it out a little more before it is on the Main Page, Ruhrfisch 02:07, 23 April 2007 (UTC)
Hi Dinch, I reverted your edit to White Deer Hole Creek - I double checked in a print copy of Meginness and that is the capitalization used. Thanks anyway, Ruhrfisch 21:21, 24 April 2007 (UTC)
Agreed, Meginness can be goofy - the online version is full of optical character recognition errors (Fort Reed in Lock Haven is Fort Rood half the time) plus the Lycoming borders quote is from 1795 when it was anything goes for caps. I found Meginness' Otzinachson on GoogleBooks as a scan (not html) so that is very nice to read (or is it reed?). Ruhrfisch 21:31, 24 April 2007 (UTC)
Hi Dinch, I like Fort Antes and will do a copyedit in the next day. How about DYK ...that Fort Antes in what is now Nippenose Township, Pennsylvania was one of just two frontier forts in 1778 to survive a British scorched earth attack, despite having been abandoned by its defenders? I like the source you found very much - I think Fort Freeland could use an article (what with the massacre and all) and the rest could probably be an expanded section in The Big Runaway or perhaps a "Forts on the West Branch Susquehanna River in the American Revolutionary War" article? I am working on a map, will add forts to it. Ruhrfisch 03:21, 25 April 2007 (UTC)
I think Big Runaway could be made a Good Article at least. It seems a logical place to include the forts. I have not done much here today - too much in real life. Ruhrfisch 03:11, 26 April 2007 (UTC)

Is the French camp the Cannon Hole on Canfield Island? If so, I have pictures of the island from last summer, I think. Ruhrfisch 03:36, 26 April 2007 (UTC)

Canfield Island was a peninsula (part of the mainland) until the mid 1800s, when they cut a channel making it an island for the lumber / saw mill there. Now it is a Loyalsock Twp park. Also has some archeological sites (they put signs up explaining it). Ruhrfisch 03:50, 26 April 2007 (UTC)
OK, the Cannon Hole is in the river (West Branch) east of Canfield Island (closer to the airport). There is a sign about it (the Cannon Hole) on the Canfield Island trail (see here at the bottom) so I thought the French camped there too. Thanks for clearing it up! Ruhrfisch 02:09, 27 April 2007 (UTC)

Map question

Glad you like the map - the forts on it are the ones in both Buckalew and Meginness. B is the only one to mention Fort Menninger (White Deer Creek) by name, M is the only one to mention the stockade near Lycoming Creek. Meginness in Chapter VI describes it as "Several brave parties, among them William King, Robert Covenhoven, and James Armstrong, had commenced the erection of a stockade near Lycoming, creek for the protection of refugees. It consisted of logs eight or ten feet long, planted in the ground side by side, with the tops leaning outward, so that the works could not be scaled. It covered, perhaps, half an acre, and was located near what is now known as Fourth and Stevens streets, Williamsport. It was at this place where the women and children alluded to by Colonel Hunter were assembled. The work was not completed, owing to the evacuation of the valley, which soon followed, but that it served as a temporary place of resort is not doubted." The location is just east of Bowman Field. In Chapter VII he describes the forts and writes "Then came the places of refuge at Lycoming creek and Antes Fort, already described."

I am not sure what to call it though. "Temporary stockade"? "Stockade started"? Just "Stockade"? "Fortified refuge"? It should be short as there is not a lot of room on the map there. Maybe just "Stockade" is best? What do you think?

I ran out of room on the map for marking the rides of Covenhoven and Silverthorn. Silverthorn is mentioned once by Meginness, in Chapter 38 "As far as known David Aspen, was the first settler within the limits of Wolf (Twp). The exact time is, unknown, but it must have, been as early as 1777, as on the 8th of August 1778, Rachel Silverthorn was despatched to warn him of the approach of the Indians." The problem is that the month is wrong - everyone ran away in July.

There are a few other things about the map I was unsure of - spelling of Fort Reed or Fort Reid? To include Fort Swartz (in B)? I did not since B only mentions it after 1780. Also M seems to mention a Fort Boone (fortified house?) near Fort Freeland, but without any other details I did not add it to the map.

I plan to expand the forts to their own section of Big Runaway and have a few sentences on each. Sound good? Ruhrfisch 01:40, 28 April 2007 (UTC)

I made it "Stockade started" and added Boone's and Swartz to the map. I reread Buckalew and he says of Swartz "It was built after the destruction of the forts above it on the river." If you look at a map of Northumberland County, Swartz and Boone's were both on the West Branch north of Milton (not too far from Milton State Park). I think Swartz was a replacement for Boone's (near it, but not same site) and was not built until after the Big and Little Runaways. If it is post Little Runaway, I can leave it off the map. What do you think? Ruhrfisch 03:36, 28 April 2007 (UTC) PS I added the forts map to Fair Play Men.
I took Fort Swartz off the map. I have not added ride markers yet - there are other sources on Covenhoven and Silverthorn I want to look at (Then & Now, Lyco Co Hist Soc Journal) and I found a third rider, William Ellis here (search for Rachel Silverthorn). Thanks, Ruhrfisch 15:53, 28 April 2007 (UTC)

Balls Mills

As long as you can find a ref for it (and I think there are some on the web) then the Naval Academy is fine to include. My guess is not a lot of people have that township on their watchlist (you, me, VerruckteDan, maybe a few others). I will see if I can get a photo next time I am in the area. Ruhrfisch 00:31, 29 April 2007 (UTC)

There are two refs in here - one a radio guy making commercials for it, the other a mention in the Hepburn Twp Fire Dept. I think it has been mentioned in the Sun-Gazette, but the JV Brown library search did not turn anything up. Ruhrfisch 02:14, 29 April 2007 (UTC)
There are other tricks on Google - look at Advanced serach sometime, you can search in just one web site (that's how I found the only mention of Rachel Silverthorn in Meginness). I'm calling it a night, take care, Ruhrfisch 04:31, 29 April 2007 (UTC)
Thanks for starting the forts - I have to think of where to put the section (I think it should go before the last section, but I think there should be a "Little Runaway" section too). Ruhrfisch 01:49, 30 April 2007 (UTC)

Fort Antes

  On 29 April, 2007, Did you know? was updated with a fact from the article Fort Antes, which you created or substantially expanded. If you know of another interesting fact from a recently created article, then please suggest it on the "Did you know?" talk page.

--howcheng {chat} 17:25, 29 April 2007 (UTC)

Congrats!!! Is this your Catch-22 ;-) Ruhrfisch 01:47, 30 April 2007 (UTC)

Hi Dinch, It sounds OK to me - it is served by the Lycoming Valley Railroad, see the map from PADoT here. Ruhrfisch 02:54, 2 May 2007 (UTC)

  • I think there are only two or three editors in the new Wikiproject (but they are very productive). ;-) Ruhrfisch 04:03, 2 May 2007 (UTC)
    • Have you seen this? Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery... Ruhrfisch 15:55, 3 May 2007 (UTC)
      • I like setting up a good model and guess we did that with the list. I will make them a MN locator map for their infoboxes. Did you see Choess fixed the JSS mill location? (I was pretty sure it was in Clinton County but couldn't find a ref) Ruhrfisch 01:53, 4 May 2007 (UTC)

Maps

Hi Dinch, the Minnesota map is up and is in Itasca State Park or here Image:Minnesota Locator Map.PNG Ruhrfisch 18:30, 4 May 2007 (UTC)

I can't stop ;-) I had an Iowa map from the bottom of MN, so here it is (haven't even checked if there are Iowa parks articles). Image:Iowa Locator Map.PNG Ruhrfisch 21:20, 4 May 2007 (UTC)
I can't do all 50 - VerruckteDan already did Delaware (though I cleaned up the colors) ;-) Woodchuck looks good - I will find my comments on the list somewhere - trying to fix the PeerReview backlog and also should do more IL parks dots. Hope the grill was a thrill, Ruhrfisch 01:55, 5 May 2007 (UTC)

Woodchuck

Hi Dinch, I tweaked Woodchuck and was wondering about several things. Would it make sense to add a "Named for" column? How about a small locator map for each (like List of Kentucky counties?) AT some point the list table would be too crowded, so we don't have to add everything. Also, Williampsort was a borough before it was a city, so that info should be somewhere (probably in the remarks). Ruhrfisch 14:18, 8 May 2007 (UTC)

Although I like "Amerikanisches Murmeltier", I checked on the German Wikipedia and they have it listed as . I like having the area in the table - could type be incorporated into the current name column (Township aleady is present in those names, so it would just be adding (borough) seven times or (city) once)? I think I could make a clickable names map (where there would be a blank county map and the names would be over the correct territory and the name would be clickable and linked to the article). I have looked at the clickable county map for Kentucky counties and I think I know how they did it, but it would be a major pain to do here (and had to have been an even bigger pain for them to do as there are more counties in KY than municipalities in LC). Ruhrfisch 19:50, 8 May 2007 (UTC)
Forgot to say that "Wald" means woods or forest in Waldmurmeltier (I've seen a lot of them on grass, but never in a woods). I took the type column out and moved the city and borough into the name columns. Revert if you think it was better before. I will work on the map - may try polygons just to see how it works, but think the linked names would be easier. I think it is parentheses but would have to check it for sure ;-) Take care, Ruhrfisch 03:36, 9 May 2007 (UTC)
I liked the spelling - I have archived my talk page again, so you have to be the traditional first post ;-) Ruhrfisch 04:07, 11 May 2007 (UTC)
No need to be sorry, I just reached 40 plus topics and archived. I am always glad to hear from you and must confess I have no idea who the hermit is. Is your book the 3 volume Van Auken Gazoo books or another one? I have thought of making a user box to show the number of books and maps I have bought / got for Wikipedia. Happy Mother's Day too! ;-) Ruhrfisch 20:38, 11 May 2007 (UTC)
I've seen that book too - sounds good. I might make a subpage with my reference books and maps listed. The hermit sounds interesting - look forward to the article. Busy in real life so not on WP much tonight. Take care, Ruhrfisch 03:34, 12 May 2007 (UTC)

I added all the populations and areas for city and boroughs - areas seems to sort OK so far, but I will have to use the trick to fix populations. Try to stay awake ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ Ruhrfisch 02:23, 13 May 2007 (UTC)

Hermit

Hi Dinch, I read it quickly and think I have a better hook, how about DYK ...that Robert Harrill, despite being known as the "Fort Fisher Hermit", received thousands of visitors every year at his bunker near Fort Fisher Recreation Area and was the second most popular tourist attraction in North Carolina? Contrast the hermit idea and the 100,000 plus visitors. Hope this helps, I was busy today so didn't get to it until now. Ruhrfisch 23:26, 13 May 2007 (UTC)

Sorry about Edith. She'll always be in our hearts. Thanks for catching the missing boroughs in Indiana County. I finally got all the dots for IL state parks and now am going to try different color dots for their other protected areas. I will copyedit the hermit in the next 24 hours. Take care, Ruhrfisch 03:42, 15 May 2007 (UTC)
I will look at the Hermit next. I looked quickly at Ross and Hepburn and didn't see any obvious errors. I know the Lyco history web page (from the authors of the book) had some odd errors, like the destination of Covenhoven's ride (Fort Muncy). I willmlook at the riot too. Take care, Ruhrfisch 01:19, 16 May 2007 (UTC)
I got busy in real life and will finish the copyedit and call it a night too. Ruhrfisch 03:29, 16 May 2007 (UTC)
You are welcome. I am about 3/4 done with a copyedit of the Riot article - still thinking about DYK - I like what you wrote but wanted to add somehow that it was an anti-abolition riot. Another possibility would be to make the hook the 11-1 to conviction to pardoning in the trial. Ruhrfisch ><>°° 19:35, 16 May 2007 (UTC)

Riot

How about DYK ...that 13 anti-abolitionist rioters convicted for their actions in the Muncy Abolition Riot of 1842 were pardoned by Pennsylvania Governor David R. Porter, leading to his nickname "Previous Pardon Porter"?. Glad you like the fish. Not sure how to make dentures (took me a second to figure that one out, but I like it). Take care, Ruhrfisch ><>°° 04:24, 17 May 2007 (UTC)

Congrats - just saw Hermit got on DYK! Ruhrfisch ><>°° 00:10, 18 May 2007 (UTC)
Hey Dinch, its DYK number 23 skidoo, way to go! Ruhrfisch ><>°° 02:02, 18 May 2007 (UTC)
Thanks for catching the Tunnelhill, Pennsylvania error - I fixed the maps for Blair and Cambria counties. Ruhrfisch ><>°° 00:48, 19 May 2007 (UTC)

Robert Harrill

  On 18 May, 2007, Did you know? was updated with a fact from the article Robert Harrill, which you created or substantially expanded. If you know of another interesting fact from a recently created article, then please suggest it on the Did you know? talk page.

--howcheng {chat} 00:10, 18 May 2007 (UTC)

  On 21 May, 2007, Did you know? was updated with a fact from the article Muncy Abolition Riot of 1842, which you created or substantially expanded. If you know of another interesting fact from a recently created article, then please suggest it on the Did you know? talk page.

Blnguyen (bananabucket) 07:45, 21 May 2007 (UTC)

  The Tireless Contributor Barnstar
For your continuous hard work on Pennsylvania articles over the last year. Blnguyen (bananabucket) 07:45, 21 May 2007 (UTC)
Congrats Dinch! 24 is amazing and the barnstar is well deserved Ruhrfisch ><>°° 12:12, 21 May 2007 (UTC)

Trick

Hi Dinch, the trick is to use the {{nts}} template, so the population data for Williamsport is entered as {{nts|30706}} (no comma). For the area, just use it on the square miles and they will all sort OK (at least that is how it worked in the state parks list). Hope this fixes it - let me know if there is still a problem. Ruhrfisch ><>°° 22:17, 22 May 2007 (UTC)

  • I asked at the talk page for nts (and all sort templates) Template talk:Sort. Hopefully they can fix it. Ruhrfisch ><>°° 00:21, 23 May 2007 (UTC)
    • Hurry up and wait ;-) Once I get the infoboxes for the rivers to where I want them, I am going to ask for feedback (which one to use, what to include and how to indicate tributaries and subtributaries, that sort of thing. Ruhrfisch ><>°° 01:16, 23 May 2007 (UTC)
      • {{nts}} is fixed and I tested the list and it sorts correctly now - not sure you saw the fix on the talk page, so thought I'd let you know. Ruhrfisch ><>°° 02:45, 27 May 2007 (UTC)

Feedback sought on navboxes for the Susquehanna River system

Hi Dinch, I would like to add a navbox to every stream in the Susquehanna River system and have made three different versions of possible navboxes to add, which I would appreciate any and all feedback on. The navboxes and some questions about them are here: User:Ruhrfisch/Frog. Since it is in User space you can add comments right in the page (it is one of my sandboxes, so I don't use the Talk page for it generally). Thanks in advance for any feedback, Ruhrfisch ><>°° 14:46, 23 May 2007 (UTC)

Hi Dinch, thanks again for your comments on Frog. Ruhrfisch ><>°° 03:09, 24 May 2007 (UTC)

  Thanks very much for your feedback. I will be adding the template to all the Susquehanna tribs over the next day or so. Ruhrfisch ><>°° 13:34, 30 May 2007 (UTC)

Hi Dinch, I have added it to all the Lower Susq and am halfway through Juniata, with West Branch next (though I already added it to W Br itself and Larrys and White Deer Hole Creeks). I plan to add it to creeks too small to be in the template eventually, probably with some sort of note saying something like:
"This creek's watershed is less than 100 square km, so it is not listed in the "Susquehanna River system navigation frame, however it is part of the X Creek watershed in the Y subbasin."
Since it does not list cities boroughs and twps directly, I was not going to add it to them. Ruhrfisch ><>°° 20:28, 30 May 2007 (UTC)

Bellevue

Hi, what's your source for adding Bellevue, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania to Category:Settlements established in 1796? I'm just curious because I have never seen reference to that before... and I live there. Thanks. Alekjds talk 04:35, 26 May 2007 (UTC)

Woah, I had no idea. Thank you, and good luck with the project. Alekjds talk 04:47, 28 May 2007 (UTC)

Vandal

Hi Dinch, I reverted some fairly sophomoric vandalism to your userpage (unless you wanted to add the poop userbox to your page and forgot to sign in when you made the edits ;-) ). Take care, Ruhrfisch ><>°° 14:08, 26 May 2007 (UTC)

I like the McGriddle - you may want to add it to the current version of Wikipedia:The original Bad Jokes and Other Deleted Nonsense. Juniata and Lower Susq are done, next is West Branch. Ruhrfisch ><>°° 15:05, 26 May 2007 (UTC)

Herdic

Hi Dinch, I took a quick look at Peter Herdic and wondered about:

DYK... that Peter Herdic, a 19th century Pennsylvania lumber baron, millionaire, and philanthropist, also invented the horse-drawn herdic, an early form of taxicab?

I will look at the article later for copyedits. The Susquehanna Navframe is done, I think. Any feedback before I paste it in everywhere would be appreciated - thanks for all your help so far. Ruhrfisch ><>°° 03:38, 30 May 2007 (UTC)

Congrats on the DYK and thanks for listing me as an author, you are too kind. Ruhrfisch ><>°° 18:01, 3 June 2007 (UTC)

Boom

The Susquehanna Log Boom has been on my to do list for some time - I have three pictures for it (historical marker on Rte 15 in South Williamsport, view of the crib islands in the river today, and a picture of the boom full of lumber. I would love to coauthor if that is OK with you. Ruhrfisch ><>°° 21:11, 30 May 2007 (UTC)

I have Taber's "Williamsport Lumber Capital" which has one of four chapters devoted to the boom) and Larson, Morris and Piper's "Williamsport: Frontier Village to Regional Center" which has some more info. Ruhrfisch ><>°° 23:16, 2 June 2007 (UTC)

Taber is very detailed and in some places conflicts with what is already in the article (one example is the boom going all the way to Jersey Shore). Also if we want to shoot for GA or even FA, the intro / lead will have to just be a summary of the article with no new material. I may add material first, then go back and try to reconcile conflicts, then work on the lead paragraphs (no use summarizing until the whole article is nearly done). Sound like a plan? Ruhrfisch ><>°° 12:27, 3 June 2007 (UTC)

DYK

  On 3 June, 2007, Did you know? was updated with a fact from the article Peter Herdic, which you created or substantially expanded. If you know of another interesting fact from a recently created article, then please suggest it on the Did you know? talk page.

Sean William @ 15:59, 3 June 2007 (UTC)

Check the coordinates in the infobox; they seem to be too far north and east. Choess 14:17, 4 June 2007 (UTC)

  • Thanks Choess, I fixed it (Dincher usually isn't online at this time of day or for several hours, so I was bold). I think the problem was because Topozone has two listings for the park and one is incorrect (and unfortunately it was the one used). Thanks again, Ruhrfisch ><>°° 14:42, 4 June 2007 (UTC)

Susquehanna Boom

  Did you know? was updated. On 5 June, 2007, a fact from the article Susquehanna Boom, which you recently nominated, has been featured in that section on the Main Page. If you know of another interesting fact from a recently created article, then please suggest it on the Did you know? talk page.

--howcheng {chat} 00:16, 5 June 2007 (UTC)

Thanks again Dinch and congrats on number 27 (when you get to it and 26 this time - whoops)! Ruhrfisch ><>°° 00:37, 5 June 2007 (UTC)

Mistake?

Hi Dinch, would you mind double checking the distance between Williamsport and Philadelphia using the lat-long calculator? I just ran it again and got 131 miles to Philly, not 100. If it is wrong, I have to change the whole as the crow flies blurb (probably just round it to 130 miles). Pittsburgh distance was OK, but probably wouldn't hurt to double check it too. Thanks in advance, Ruhrfisch ><>°° 03:02, 5 June 2007 (UTC)

Thanks Dinch, I will change it in Larrys Creek and White Deer Hole Creek and then start working through the rest of the creeks and Lycoming County municipalities. I've not worked on the Boom since it is on the Main Page now. Ruhrfisch ><>°° 03:13, 5 June 2007 (UTC)
I have fixed the Lycoming County creeks and the county page, on to the city, boroughs and twps. Enjoy the book, Ruhrfisch ><>°° 03:22, 5 June 2007 (UTC)
I am all done with all the municipalities, CDP, county and the creeks - for the twps I did it bordered by first, then the crow flies blurb, then the square miles Census info. I left it all as "Lycoming County is 130 miles from Philadelphia" etc as some Twps that are far away from Williamsport are going to be somewhat off (Brown, McNett, and Jordan for example). Washington Twp had no bordered by info, so I added that. Do the boroughs have bordered by? I will try to check them soon. Anyway, thanks again and sorry for the mistake. Ruhrfisch ><>°° 14:17, 5 June 2007 (UTC) PS Can you think of any place else the "As the crow flies ..." was in to correct?
I added what was across the river from Williamsport and Duboistown and will probably do that for the rest of the river borders. Glad there aren't any others to add the corrected crow to. That wrong statement made it though Peer Review and FAC twice each. Ruhrfisch ><>°° 20:24, 5 June 2007 (UTC)
I am working my way along the river. South Williamsport was missing a surrounded by section, so I added it (must be a place you're not very familiar with ;-) ). Watch out for splinters with all this lumber. Ruhrfisch ><>°° 20:52, 5 June 2007 (UTC)