An American Songline

Journeys in Vintage Music with Cecelia Otto

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The American Songline Book is Coming! Here’s a Preview…

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Thanks to all of you who have bought the CD so far! I hope you have been enjoying the music. While I was happy and proud of the the album being out, I went full tilt to work on the book and it’s almost done! The American Songline book will not only chronicle the 30 concerts I gave in 2013, I also share some personal parts of the journey as well. I sang songs about love and loss along the Lincoln Highway, and those songs became the inspiration for chapters of the same name.

Up first, I wanted to share an excerpt of the “Loss” chapter. Today marks the 5th anniversary of my father’s passing – I can’t believe he’s been gone for five years. The American Songline project was just a vague idea in my mind when he died, and I had no idea if it would be successful or not. Before I started my tour, I knew my Dad would play a part in his own way, and he did. Read more in this passage from the upcoming book:

***

I was a bit worried about staying overnight in Gettysburg. The rumors of the town and hotel being haunted stuck with me, and while I’m not afraid of ghosts, I have had enough encounters with the paranormal that I cannot explain away. I was curious to see if the rumors were true, but I wasn’t actively looking to find out.

There was a plastic candle in my window that lit up when the sun went down. I saw it and wondered if the candle was for the living or for the dead that may walk the streets. When I asked the front desk the following morning why it was there, the hotel clerk said, “It’s a tradition in this area to leave a light on in a window sill for those traveling at night, so they know they have a place to stay.”

I kept a low profile that night, eating dinner and working on my regular jobs. When I finally fell asleep that night, something strange happened.

No Civil War soldiers appeared, but I had a vivid dream that changed my outlook on the rest of the tour. I dreamt I was in an old house that had been converted into a bookshop. I walked into various rooms and combed through the stacks. At some point, I turned the corner into the next room, and there he was.

My father died unexpectedly from a massive heart attack at the age of 61 in 2010, about three months before Dan and I were to be married. While I had some major issues with my father during his life, his death was extremely devastating to my family and me. The one person who you thought would be the last to go was the first. To also lose him so close to my wedding (a supposed happy time) was, and still is, an extremely painful thing for me. After his death, he would appear periodically in my dreams, and tonight in Gettysburg he did just that.

 He was not young this time; he was older with his grey bread, glasses, and wearing his favorite blue and white flannel shirt. We talked as we wandered the stacks, and then when we got the comic book section of the bookstore he stopped.

            “Hey Cec, do you want a comic book? I’ll buy.”

 I remember my jaw dropping, mainly because neither of us really liked comic books. “No Dad, I really don’t like comic books. Why would you want to buy me one?”

            “Oh, I just want you to have some fun, that’s all.”

            What he said sounded so odd to me that I woke up immediately. For a few seconds, I did not know where I was. The candle was still aglow on my windowsill, and there was nothing and no one there. I eventually fell back asleep, but it took a while.  

***

I love and miss him, but what I miss more sometimes are the opportunities I wish I could have had with him – I’d give anything to have one more day with Dad again. If you didn’t do this over Mother’s Day this past weekend, please tell your loved ones how much they mean to you. You never know what can happen, and the secret to living a great life is to live a life with no regrets. Thank you for letting me share this story with you, and if you have any comments, please share them below.

Driving the Lincoln Highway in Western Pennsylvania: A review of sights from Stoystown to Ohio

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To all my faithful readers out there, I apologize for the delay in posting this. Between server troubles and a lack of internet access, this post has been re-written over 5 times. Argh! But I won’t let that get me down.

The fun continues in the Keystone State for this post! I was in this section of Pennsylvania for about ten days and did two shows, and I have to say I loved my time in this part of the state too. What also made this part of the journey so wonderful for me was all of the great support that I got from local Lincoln Highway enthusiasts. After my short time there, I feel I can now call them good friends, which is the best gift anyone can have.

One of these people is author and local history buff Jennifer Sopko, who not only wrote a wonderful article about me for the Latrobe bulletin but she also talked about our day out and about in Westmoreland County on her website. Click here to read that post. I won’t replicate all of what she wrote, but I will definitely include a few pictures of our adventure below. She mentions Louise with Westmoreland Heritage, who is another valuable resource for the area. Do check out her website if you plan to explore this part of state.

I actually did two performances in this area, one in Ligonier at the Town Hall (an amazing place to perform), and the other was for the Lincoln Highway Festival in Latrobe which were both fantastic performances. The new Lincoln Highway Experience museum is a must see for any Lincoln Highway fan, so plan to make a stop if you are driving in the area.

After staying in Greensburg, I then went to Pittsburgh for several days to get caught up on all of the wonderful things I had seen so far on this journey. I had the honor of not only having lunch with Jennifer but also with two great Lincoln Highway giants: Brian Butko (one of the foremost experts on the road) and Rick Sebak (Producer of the show “A Ride Along the Lincoln Highway“). I did some more Lincoln Highway exploring and all in all took stock on this great part of the trip.

Now, without further ado, here’s some photos from this part of the tour. Enjoy the pictures, and I’ll be posting about my time in Ohio very soon!

 

Take a Step Back in Time at the Lincoln Motor Court

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If you’re out near Bedford, PA and taking a trip along the Lincoln Highway, the Lincoln Motor Court is a place that will instantly transport you to how it truly felt to travel by car all of those years ago.

This place is NOT a chain hotel, so leave your modern conceptions of what a hotel should be like at the door.  It is the one of the oldest if not the oldest motor court in the country. The owners Bob and Debbie have put their heart and souls into making this place be what it is for 30 years. The sinks date from the 1940s, but Bob told me that people have been staying in that area of Bedford way before that time. He explains, “Cars overheated easily by the time they got to the top of this hill we’re standing on. The building that’s across from us used to be a hotel/gas station/restaurant (formerly known as the Lincoln Hotel). When the spot couldn’t keep up with the demand, they built this motor court so the additional traffic would have a place to stay. We’ve had couples who have told us they spent their honeymoon here in the mid 1930s, so we think they must have updated the sinks to keep up with the times.”

Here’s a couple photos of the Lincoln Hotel (Bob and Debbie say this property has been abandoned for years):

The Lincoln Motor Court has 12 cottages in total – you can pull your car right up to your door! All cottages have the feel of the past (both interior and exterior), but they do have some modern conveniences to keep you happy (Cable TV, Wifi, Fridge, some have Microwaves). There are two acres of land that you can roam, plus an area where you can build a fire.  Each cabin I saw had both a full or queen sized bed plus a twin bed, so you can sleep multiple people comfortably (It IS bigger on the inside than it looks on the outside-a reference for all you Doctor Who fans out there). For those who are exploring this part of Pennsylvania, the Lincoln Motor Court is a great mid-point for you to explore and check out all of the places I talked about in my previous post.

Now without further ado, here’s some pictures of what one of the cabins look like, restored back to its glory:

There are so many things that make this place special to me, but what makes it the most special are the owners Bob and Debbie themselves. They made feel like I was family from the moment I drove up, and I’ll never forget their hospitality and warmth, and I look forward to staying with them again when I’m in the area.

If you are traveling in the area, please try to stop and stay with them if you can-it should not be missed. For more information about the Lincoln Motor Court and/or to make a reservation, head over to their website.

*Note: I was not compensated for my stay for this post, and all of the opinions are completely my own. Thanks!

Driving the Lincoln in Central Pennsylvania: A review of sights from Malvern to Stoystown

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As I’ve noted before, I’ve not ever been to this part of the country before. With no relatives in Pennsylvania, there’s never been a reason to come out here. My week I spent in this area was wonderful. I felt like I was living in a mix of both Colorado and Ireland again. The mountain lifestyle combined with the stone buildings made it easy for me to feel “at home”.

I stayed at two different places along this part of the highway, including the famous Lincoln Motor Court (more on my stay there in a future post), and The Gettysburg Hotel. But what made the drive so memorable besides the scenery are the unique murals, artwork installations, and memorable shops that make the Lincoln Highway worth the drive [thanks in part to the great effort of the Lincoln Highway Heritage Corridor (LHHC)]. You feel like you’re discovering a local secret, which has still been untapped after all of these years.

I have hundreds of photos that can’t even come close to encapsulating how awesome and beautiful this part of the road is, but I’ll try. Here’s some of the highlights from this leg of the tour:

Up next, I’ll be writing about my stay at the Lincoln Motor Court, which is truly a wonderful step back in time. Until then, happy travels wherever you may go!

 

The General Warren Inne: A Hidden Treasure

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My stay and performance at the General Warren Inne was an amazing stop on my journey on so many levels. I first heard about the General Warren through my friend Jamie over at My Lincoln Highway, and when I contacted the Inne about my project, the proprietor contacted me back immediately and the rest is now history.

The Inne started operating in 1745, and has been either a tavern, hotel or both for most of its 268 year existence. Not only has it been a pivotal place for three wars (including the Paoli Massacre), it also served as an important part on the Conestoga Wagon Trail in the 1800s long before the Lincoln Highway ever existed. The 1913 route went right past the hotel under some railroad tracks until it was rerouted in the 1930’s. Patrick Byrne, the hotel’s proprietor (and part-time historian for the hotel) hopes that it this part of the Lincoln can be reopened as a walking trail. You can see in these pictures where the route used to be on both sides of the railroad underpass (look closely through the trees and brush):

From the time I walked into the door, I was made to feel at home – period. I saw this same customer service with both hotel guests and tavern patrons (see the smile on my face below). It is clear that people at the GWI enjoy what they do, and who wouldn’t want to be a part of that in some way? Each of the eight suites have their own theme, and are decorated beautifully. You can see pictures of all of the suites here, and here’s a couple pictures of my suite I stayed in, the General Wayne Suite:

View from my window. Love the original panes of glass!
My room had a separate TV/Couch/Office area from the bedroom/bathroom area. I loved the flow, and slept really well here.
Here’s me with the Lamb Porterhouse-yum! For those of you who have dietary restrictions, their kitchens will definitely accommodate you. I never got sick once!

The night of my performance in the tavern was unique in that I was able to perform all 20 songs that night, so people who stuck around for the first two sets got to hear everything. It was a great crowd, and it was lovely to meet all of them. Here’s a few shots of the tavern:

Happy to be part of this list!
My set up for the show.
Here’s the fireplace in the Tavern.
View of the Dining Room, just off the Tavern.

Again, whether if you are a local looking for a new spot, or a person not from the area, you should definitely visit this place! Visit their website: http://www.generalwarren.com/

*Note: While I did perform at the tavern, I was not compensated for any part of this review. These opinions are completely my own.

Summary of Eastern Pennsylvania (Philadelphia and Surroundings)

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Hi all!

I apologize for the delay in posting. I was in an area of Pennsylvania where internet access was hard to come by for most of the week. Combine that with hearing about the loss of a dear old friend/American Songline supporter and two performances this past weekend, I now have the time to update you on my travels.  Expect a lot of posts over the next few days, and then I’ll go back to a more weekly schedule on here.

I was in the Philadelphia area for about a week, and I loved my time there. It was my first time in the area, and I have to say I was pleasantly surprised. The neighborhoods in Philly and the surrounding areas are quirky, fun, and there’s plenty to see and do. I look forward to performing there in the future, and I have to give a big thanks to my hosts Dot and Zosia for making my stay an unforgettable one. I can’t wait to come back!

I’ll write a separate post about The General Warren Inne (where I performed) in my next post, but in the interim here’s some photo highlights from my time in Philadelphia:

Inaccessible part of the Lincoln Highway near Langhorne, PA
The Poquessing Creek Bridge was built in the 1805 and was used in the original 1913 LH route until the bypass was created in the early 1920s. Note the mix of brick and old concrete with the stone bridge.
Side of the Poquessing Creek Bridge.
The Divine Loraine Hotel has a fascinating past. Built between 1892-1894, this building on the Lincoln Highway housed some of Philadelphia’s Wealthy in the early years, and then became the first hotel in the city to be racially integrated. Today it is not in use.
One of my many headstones found in Valley Forge Cemetery. While not directly on the Lincoln Highway, Valley Forge National Park should not be missed. It is truly a beautiful place to see our country’s history.
These stained glass windows tell the story of George Washington’s life at Washington Memorial Chapel (Valley Forge). It is biggest non-religious dedication in this medium.
The tour guide told me his favorite artwork in the Washington Memorial Chapel was the hand made iron gate in front of the chapel. Here’s a close up of that gate.
My view of the Liberty Bell (only a couple blocks off the LH route in downtown Philly). While it is free to get in, you have to wait a long time to see it.
This is the site where an old Lincoln Highway concrete marker was in Malvern, PA. As you can see by the fresh dirt, this change happened recently. The yellow marker notes a gas pipeline is now going through here.
Mural on Fairmont Street in the Arts District in Philadelphia.

Thanks again for all of your support over the last few weeks and I hope things are going well on your path, wherever it may be.