Backyard Astronomy And Other

Early 50′ photo: Credit Tommy Greene

Visiting the bakery:

Debbie and I thought it would be good to document some history concerning the building, and information about W.J. Cash

Excerpts and photo as following from Wikipedia: The information was very lengthy, so I tried to take out as much as possible, but leaving what I thought was the most important.

Wilbur Joseph “Jack” Cash (May 2, 1900 – July 1, 1941) was an American journalist known for writing The Mind of the South

Early life and education:

Cash, known as “Jack” throughout his life, was born as “Joseph Wilbur Cash” – he later reversed the order of his given names, and normally used only the initials – and grew up in the mill village of Gaffney, South Carolina. He had three brothers and a sister, of whom he was the eldest.

He was educated at the local public school until he was 12…when his family moved to Boiling Springs, North Carolina, 14 miles away across the state border – his mother’s home town – so that his father could become a partner with Cash’s maternal grandfather in a general store there.

…..In 1918 and 1919, at his father’s wish, Cash attended Wofford College, a Methodist school, but left because he objected to the school’s narrow provincialism. He then enrolled in Valparaiso University, a Lutheran college in Valparaiso, Indiana, dropping out around Christmas 1919. In 1920, again at his father’s urging, he entered the Baptist school Wake Forest College, despite it being what he considered to be a “preacher college.”

In the summer, he worked at the hosiery mill at which his father was then the superintendent. Cash graduated in 1922 with an A.B., and then attended law school there for a year, before deciding not to pursue a legal career.^[2] Cash later declared that he left law school because it “required too much mendacity.”

…..Cash taught English at Georgetown College in Georgetown, Kentucky, and at a high school in North Carolina, before experiencing a nervous collapse. Throughout his life, Cash suffered from manic depression or affective disorder, which manifested itself in breakdowns, periods of depression, fear of sexual impotency, and physical ailments such as not being able to swallow or choking when he spoke. He also suffered from a hyperthyroid condition, occasional alcoholism and excessive smoking. Cash usually referred to his condition as “neurasthenia.”

From 1926 to 1928, Cash held several newspaper jobs: a year in Chicago writing for the now-defunct Chicago Evening Post; several months with The Charlotte News during which he wrote a wistful philosophical column titled “The Moving Row”; and a four-month stint during the fall of 1928 as the chief editor of a small semi-weekly newspaper, the Cleveland (County) Press, in Shelby, North Carolina.

…..Afterwards, Cash moved back into his parents’ house in Boiling Springs – where he lived with his extended family, including his two brothers and their pregnant wives. He contributed to H. L. Mencken‘s The American Mercury magazine, and received encouragement from Mencken. From 1929 to 1935, Cash wrote eight articles about various aspects of the South, including one in October 1929 called “The Mind of the South”, which would become the basis for the later book.

During the period of primary writing on The Mind of the South (1929 to 1937), Cash continued to live with his parents in Boiling Springs.  When his contributions to The American Mercury ended, Cash supported himself with freelance weekly book reviews to The Charlotte News from 1935 to 1939, for each of which he received a payment of $3, equivalent to about $60-$65 in 2023.

Cash’s seminal article, “The Mind of the South”, was published in The American Mercury in October

In 1932, however, he began to write seriously again, using the unheated back room of the Boiling Springs Post Office, where his aunt was the postmistress.

After Cash had some success at The Charlotte News, he finally had the personal and professional confidence he had previously lacked, and his work there helped him to develop his unique style of writing. He also met and fell in love with Mary Bagley Ross Northrup (later known as Mary Maury), a divorced woman who also wrote for the paper, and who helped him to complete the book through his periods of depression, and his continued focus on events in Europe. During this period, Cash would listen to the news on the radio about the Anschluss with Austria, the invasion of Poland, or the fall of France and would pace around the room, biting his nails, hands, and wrists, leaving marks. He would become so upset that he would leave the house and walk the streets at night.

Finally, on July 27, 1940, the last pages of the manuscript were finished and sent to New York. Five months later, on Christmas Eve, Cash and Northrup were married by a justice of the peace in York, South Carolina.

On February 10, 1941, The Mind of the South was published by Knopf. The book, an intuitive socio-historical exploration of Southern culture, received wide critical acclaim at the time and garnered for Cash praise from such sources as Time, The New York Times, The Saturday Review of Literature, and most Southern newspapers of note, although criticism came from the Agrarian group out of Vanderbilt University in Nashville. Cash also received the thanks of Walter White, the director of the NAACP, for the book’s liberalism in regard to race and its exposure of the bigotry of the South. Time said of The Mind of the South “Anything written about the South henceforth must start where [Cash] leaves off.”

Cash and his wife chose Mexico to spend their year on the Fellowship because it was cheap to live there, and they would have to watch every penny; they embarked on their trip to Mexico City on May 30 1941. Cash had been invited by University of Texas to provide the main commencement address to the 1941 graduating class on June 2 in Austin, Texas.

While in Mexico City, Cash came under an apparent psychotic delusion. On June 30, he told his wife that he heard Nazi assassins whispering in the next room, plotting to kill him. The next day, when he was calmer, she went to get help. On her return with a correspondent they had met earlier, Cash was not in the room.

Hours later, he was located in another hotel, the Hotel Reforma, where he had hanged himself with his tie from the bathroom door.^[17][d] An autopsy failed to find evidence of a brain tumor. Cash’s remains were cremated, and a funeral service was held in the First Baptist Church in Shelby. The ashes were later envaulted in Sunset Cemetery in Shelby.

On a winter day in 2025, we visited the Sunset Cemetery to locate Cash’s grave.

1971 class reunion: October 11th 2025: And a great time was had by all! It was a breezy (windy) and really cool Saturday afternoon.

The 2023 event follows 2025….just keeping scanning down.

I missed getting a “face-on” picture of Debbie. How was that possible? So, I thought I’d just share a photo of Debbie and Sophie from May 2025.

Photos of the 2023 Burns High School class reunion are as following: Much appreciation to Charlotte Sinclaire for taking the lead in organizing this fabulous event. Everything was perfect! A memorable class reunion for sure.

In the following photo…Five guys began 1st grade at Polkville in August 1959, and graduated together at Burns. We were the first class at the new school, and went all four years.

However, after the 5th grade, some of us parted ways for three years, some went to Casar and some went to Piedmont…but back together again at the new Burns High School in the fall of 1967.

Left to right: Charles Melton, Roger Ivester, Rob Pendleton, Bill Ledford and Don Bridges.

Depending on the device you are using, it may be necessary to slide the chart to the right to see in its entirety.

Number Code

Map Color Code

Label

Sky Mag.

Naked Eye Limit Mag.

320mm Limit Mag.

M33 visible?

M31 visible?

Central Galaxy visible?

Zodiacal light visible?

Light Pollution

Clouds

Ground Objects

1

excellent dark sky

22.00–21.99

≥ 7.5

> 17

obvious

.

casts shadows

striking

airglow apparent

.

visible only as silhouettes

2

average dark sky

21.99–21.89

7.0–7.49

16.5

easy with direct vision

.

appears highly structured

bright, faint yellow color

airglow faint

dark everywhere

large near objects vague

3

rural sky

21.89–21.69

6.5–6.99

16.0

easy with averted vision

.

complex structure

obvious

LP on horizon

dark overhead

large distant objects vague

4

rural/suburban transition

21.69–20.49

6.0–6.49

15.5

difficult with averted vision

obvious

only large structures

halfway to zenith

low LP

lit in distance

distant large objects distinct

5

suburban

20.49–19.50

5.5–5.99

14.5–15.0

.

easy with direct vision

washed out

faint

encircling LP

brighter than sky

6

bright suburban

19.50–18.94

5.0–5.49

14.0–14.5

.

easy with averted vision

visible only near zenith

.

LP to 35°

fairly bright

small close objects distinct

7

suburban/urban transition

18.94–18.38

4.5–4.99

14.0

.

difficult with averted vision

invisible

.

LP to zenith

brilliantly lit

.

8

city sky

< 18.38

4.0–4.49

13

.

.

.

.

bright to 35°

.

headlines legible

9

inner city sky

.

≤ 4.0

.

.

.

.

bright at zenith

.

.

My view to the east (last night @ 9:15 PM, November 18, 2023 from my back deck) showing the light pollution at about 15º above the treetops.

I always try to observe deep-sky objects at least one hour or two from the meridian.

It is difficult to see the Pleiades “visually” at this low altitude. I was using an iPhone 14 “handheld” to make a photo for illustrative purposes.

The Pleiades was my first deep-sky object when I was 12 years old. I remember so well, walking out in my front yard in about mid-November and seeing this cluster rising above the treetops.

At that time, I had no clue as to what this group of stars were.

A year or so later I found out it was the Pleiades, M45 and my interest in amateur astronomy began, which continues to this day. Interesting to note: This was Leslie Peltier’s first deep-sky object also, as probably so many others.

The following photo:

Andromeda is difficult for me visually, and requires averted vision. At the meridian, it can be fairly easy, but averted vision still works best.

The following photo using my phone, presents the galaxy quite a bit brighter than naked-eye.

So, I estimate the Bortle Scale from my backyard to be ~6.5. I think we can all agree, the Bortle scale is not a definitive number, but using this criteria can describe an observing site pretty accurately. I’d say John Bortle developed an excellent, simple and objective measurement system for judging different observing sites, and for comparison with others.

I still ride to this day, although I doubt I’ll ever reach 200,000 miles. My rides in recent years, and these days, tend to be much shorter and slower. So far, I’ve logged about 135,000 miles to-date, and just happy to be able to continue riding.

I’ve made a lot of friendships over the past 47 years of riding. We had group rides rides from the Shelby court square on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. Most rides would average about 25-30 miles.

Over the years, I’ve ridden many miles with Mike Keeley, Mike Ribadeneyra, Todd Anderson, John Paksoy, Mark Cardell, Jimmy Ivester, Chuck Lampley, Fred Sisk, Mark Brackett, Gary and Tammy Edelman, Bryan Hensley, Vic Branton, Don and Kat Bridges, Bill Parker, Chris Rossi, Kenny Hoyle, Doug Noblet, Joe Champion, Harvey Whisnant, and Charlie Rhoden, who sadly passed away a few years ago. I could list many more that I’ve ridden with over the past 47 years, but the list would be too long!

Charlie was instrumental in promoting challenging group rides that pushed us all to our limits. Most of us were simply doing our best to hang on and not get dropped!

A pharmacist by profession, Charlie owned and operated Suttle’s Drug in Shelby. Beyond his career in pharmacy, he made a lasting contribution to the local cycling community by organizing the Lattimore time trials. Throughout all the years we held these events, Charlie finished second only once—a testament to his remarkable cycling abilities and competitive spirit.

For more than 15 years, we held the 10-mile time trials on New House Road, on a fairly regular basis. Riders set off at 30-second intervals, each determined to cover the 10 miles as quickly as possible, chase down the cyclist ahead, and hopefully set a new personal best. But there was one other thing to keep in mind—you definitely didn’t want the rider starting 30 seconds behind to catch you!

The Assault on Mount Mitchell:

At one time, nearly every serious cyclist in “the local area and far beyond” aspired to ride the annual Assault on Mount Mitchell. This was a legendary event that began in Spartanburg, SC and covered roughly 103 miles before finishing atop Mount Mitchell, the highest peak east of the Mississippi River. I feel fortunate to have been able to complete the ride eight times, but never with a record time. I just never had time for the high-level training and number of miles required for a completion of the 103 mile ride in the five-hour range.

A stranger drives up just in nick of time:

I also have an interesting story about developing a migraine headache during one of my “Assault on Mount Mitchell” rides shortly after reaching the Parkway. I had pulled over at one of the scenic overlooks and decided I was done. My plan was to wait for the next support van to come along and take me off the mountain. But then something very unusual happened.

A white, unmarked van pulled up. It had none of the familiar “Assault on Mount Mitchell” logos, which for many years were associated with the event’s Anheuser-Busch sponsorship. A man got out of the van and asked if I was okay. I explained that I had a terrible headache and didn’t think I could continue.

The man looked at me and said, “You’re too close to the top to quit now. If you do, you’ll regret it for years to come.” Then he added, “I have something that will help you.”

He walked back to the unmarked van, opened the rear doors, and returned with something in his hands. To my surprise, he was carrying a can of Anheuser-Busch beer. He opened the beer, then handed me A Goody headache powder and instructed me to take the powder and drink the beer.

I’ve never been much of a beer drinker, but at that moment, I was willing to try just about anything to get rid of that headache. Within minutes, my headache was gone, and I was back on my bike. Not only did I finish the ride, but I covered the final 10 very difficult miles with surprising ease. It was an experience that has stayed with me over the years. I never knew who the man was, but he showed up at the exact moment when I was ready to give up?

Let it be known: I have never tried this headache remedy again, nor would I ever encourage anyone else to attempt to relieve a headache in this manner.

Alcoholism is a serious and devastating disease that affects countless individuals and families. It has destroyed lives, strained relationships, and left many struggling for years to overcome its grip. It is a battle that, sadly, not everyone wins. If there is one thing I hope others take away from my story, it is this: If you drink, consider quitting. If you don’t drink, don’t start. Some things in life are better left untested, and alcohol is certainly one of them.

Had I decided to abandon the ride that day, I would not have completed all the Assault on Mount Mitchell rides that I can proudly claim today. Looking back, I’m really glad I listened to that mysterious stranger—and grateful that I kept pedaling toward the summit.

Riding with a world class pro-elite cyclist:

Mike Keeley and I had the opportunity to ride with Canadian pro cyclist Eric Wohlberg on quite a few occasions! In fact, there’s a very steep hill in Rutherford County that’s known as the “Wohlberg-Keeley Hill,” named after an unforgettable moment during a Thursday afternoon group ride back in the ’90s. Eric put his hand on Mike’s back and pushed him all the way to the top of the hill—right past the entire group! Now that’s a story that’s still talked about by some local cyclists even today!

Click on the following link to learn more about the Shelby Criterion and bio for pro-elite cyclist Eric Wohlberg:

Sunday morning rides from Boiling Springs:

For years, a group of us would meet at the Boiling Springs Post Office on Sunday mornings and ride to Polkville for coffee. We left many times while it was still dark, with “little more” than flashlights attached to our bikes. During those days, high-intensity cycling lights were just being developed. Most of the time, I’d still make it back in time for Sunday School!

I remember one early Sunday ride in particular: The temperature was below freezing with light-snow, and we rode to McDonalds in Gaffney for pancakes! I can still remember hearing the ice cracking underneath my tires while crossing the I-85 bridge! This was for sure a dangerous day to be riding a bicycle, but in those earlier days, we did things we would not do today.

Valle Crusis to the top of Beech Mountain, which is ~5,500 feet above sea-level.

I have been fortunate to be able to ride “at least” fifteen-times to the top of Beech Mountain, leaving from Mask General Store in Valle Crucis, to Banner Elk and then to the top of the mountain. My last time was with Mike Keeley, quite a few years ago.

Be sure to click on the following link for the Beech Mountain story:

Then there was another mountain to climb!

Click on the following link to read about our 50 mile ride from Shelby to the top of Skyuka Mountain:

October 2026: One of my latest rides and the more important things in life…

April 2025

Date: October 9th 2023:

I’ve went from an 80mm f/5 refractor to this 10-inch Newtonian in just a matter of days. So, I’m proud of the progress I’ve make, from never using a camera with a telescope, to “at least” an image of the moon. And all within a week!

I changed some settings on my camera, something I’d never done before. It had been set on ISO 100, for my everyday snapshots, and changed to ISO 400 this morning for this moon shot. I was amazed how much brighter the moon was when focusing through the camera using this 10-inch versus the 80mm refractor.

For sure a lot easier to focus with the brighter view due to the size of the telescope.

The field using this telescope is really narrow and small as this photo shows. Now I’ve got to figure out how to set the “exposure time” for some small and bright deep-sky objects.

I’m actually amazed that I could do this...and hopefully more and better to come. Debbie

Telescope: 80mm: 400mm Focal Length: f/5

Camera: Nikon D3300

Nikon T-Adaptor

Camera Setting: Manual

Vixen GP Equatorial Mount

The following photo was made after sunrise

Nikon T-Adaptor

I also made a photo as following using a 10-inch f/4.5 EQ telescope. Roger had using this telescope during an early morning 4:00 AM observing session of a galaxy. So, before bringing it back into the house, he suggested I try a moon photo with this telescope. This is my photo.