Fast Fading Fall

This post is short on words and shows off the fall colors viewed on recent walks in Mine Falls Park, a 325-acre park in Nashua, NH, that's close to the mill apartments. It is bordered on the North by the Nashua River and the south by the Mill Pond canal system. These images were taken on both canal and river sides of our walk. (None are AI generated.)

Photos were taken 2+ weeks ago, when there was still fall color in the park. Due to some recent windy days, most of the leaves are on the paths now.

Even when a tree is bare, it's still a beautiful sight attested to by poet Alfred Joyce Kilmer, like ourselves, a NJ native. Kilmer (1886-1918), the fourth and youngest child in his family, was named after two priests at Christ Church in New Brunswick, NJ: the curate, Alfred R. Taylor, and the rector, the Rev. Dr. Elisha Brooks  Kilmer's father, Dr. Frederick Barnett Kilmer, a physician and analytical chemist, who worked for the NJ-based Johnson and Johnson Company, is credited as inventing the company's famous baby powder.) 

Joyce Kilmer (1908)

Joyce Kilmer was a journalist, literary critic, lecturer, and editor, who also taught Latin in Morristown, NJ, defined words for the Funk and Wagnalls dictionary and later wrote for The New York Times. In 12917, shortly after the U.S. entered WW I in 1917, Kilmer enlisted in the New York National Guard. At the time of his deployment to Europe, he was considered the leading American Catholic poet and lecturer of his generation. He was deployed to France with the 69th Infantry Regiment (the famous Fighting 69th). Tragically, he died at the age of 31, killed by a sniper's bullet at the Second Battle of the Marne in 1918 leaving behind a widow and several children. He is famously remembered for a 1913 short poem, Trees, first published in the August 1913 issue of Poetry: A Magazine of Verse.

I think that I shall never see

A poem lovely as a tree.

A tree whose hungry mouth is prest

Against the earth’s sweet flowing breast;

A tree that looks at God all day,

And lifts her leafy arms to pray;

A tree that may in Summer wear

A nest of robins in her hair;

Upon whose bosom snow has lain;

Who intimately lives with rain.

Poems are made by fools like me,

But only God can make a tree.

Time to Reset

It's that time  ⏰ — Clocks fall back this weekend in most U.S. states.

In 2024, daylight saving time (DST) ends at 2 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 3, returning most states to standard time.

Many devices, such as phones and computers, will automatically change, but non-smart devices, including microwaves, ovens, coffee makers, wall clocks with hands and some car clocks will need to be changed manually. 

We will be manually resetting at least 12 clocks in our apartment, some are wall clocks, others on appliances. It does become a chore, a few are reset in advance. Like so many others, we would be happy if there was no twice-yearly resetting.

The end of DST means that while will be more light in the morning, it will get dark earlier in the evening. The only states not changing time this weekend are Arizona and Hawaii. Also, the territories of American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands do not observe DST.

Another clock to be reset is this one at the mill apartments, it's one of two that will be manually reset this weekend by maintenance staff.

Enjoy Your Weekend, Everyone

We're sleeping in this weekend 😴

Who is Lady Colyton?

Why is this name included in the Addams Family films we watched this week?

That's what I wanted to know; after reading this post, you will too.

In keeping with our usual tradition, we've been watching movies associated with this time of year. The above question is connected to a couple of popular films.

What have we watched?

Thanks for asking, here's what we will have finished watching by the end of this week. 

Films are listed in order of their release with the type included.

• It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (1966 animation)
• Death Becomes Her (1982 comedy/fantasy
• Ghostbusters (1984 comedy/supernatural)
• The Witches of Eastwick (1987 comedy/horror)
• Beetlejuice (1988 comedy/horror)
• Ghostbusters II (1989 comedy/supernatural
• The Addams Family (1991 comedy)
• The Addams Family Values (1993 comedy)
• Hocus Pocus (1993 comedy)
• Practical Magic (1998 comedy/fantasy)

We're not fans of horror films and these types are not on our viewing list. The two films listed above as comedy/horror had somewhat more comedy than horror. 

If you plan to watch The Witches of Eastwick one day, be forewarned that it's a dark film, some and some scenes especially at the film's  end were horror-ible in the horrifying sense. 

This was one of our least favorite films, the other was Hocus Pocus, in which the Sanderson sister witches were just plain mean-spirited.  Our annual favorites include The Addams Family, Beetlejuice and Charlie Brown. 

But, I digress, which is nothing new. 

What about the post title?

I don't know about any of you, but I always read the film credits and sometimes there is an interesting bit. For example, in both of the Addams family films, there is a credit line in the opening and closing credits that reads: Thank you to Lady Colyton. (While I never watched the TV shows, I read that they do not mention the name there.)

Curious about this person, I did some online research. Read on for the rest of the story to learn more about who created these pop culture characters.

That would be American cartoonist Charles Addams, who became known for these darkly humorous and macabre characters known as the Addams Family. (Addams was born and raised in our home state of NJ in Westfield, where I attended school. Who knew?) 

If you've never seen them in illustrations, movies or on TV, the Addams family are an eccentric old-money clan who delight in the macabre, unconcerned that others find them odd. Family members were unnamed until the 1960s. That changed in 1962, when matriarch Morticia and daughter Wednesday were named after a licensed doll collection was released; patriarch Gomez and son Pugsley were named when the 1964 television series debuted. The Addams Family consists of Gomez and Morticia Addams, Wednesday and Pugsley, family members Uncle Fester and Grandmama and their butler Lurch. Pubert Addams, an infant brother, was introduced in the 1993 film.

Charles Addams and one of his illustrations

Addams drawings ran in The New Yorker magazine starting in 1938 and ran regularly until his death in 1988. Addams did not work at magazine's offices. He was a freelancer who went there to drop off his illustrations. The “Addams family” characters originally did not have names, and sometimes the cartoons did not even have captions.

Charles Addams & second wife

The Lady Colyton (her title came later) was the second wife of Charles Addams. 

In 1943, Addams married his first wife Barbara Jean Day. They divorced 8 years later; she wanted children, he did not. In 1954, he wed Estelle B. Barb (who ironically went by the name Barbara). The marriage was tumultuous by many accounts  with the couple arguing over money and the legacy of Addams' creations. The pair were married for two years and divorced in 1956.

A practicing lawyer, the second Mrs. Addams was reported to combined Morticia-like looks with diabolical legal scheming. She secured the rights to the Addams Family TV and film franchises and persuaded her husband to give away other legal rights in their divorce settlement. When the TV show became a hit in 1964, she received 10 percent of Addams’ royalties. 

At one point, she persuaded him to take out a $100,000 insurance policy.She was not the inspiration for Morticia Addams as she married the cartoonist years after the then unnamed goth icon made her first appearances in The New Yorker. 

Her royal name came later

Shortly after she and Addams divorced, the former Mrs Addams didn't waste time. She remarried the same year her divorce was finalized, this time to Henry Hopkinson, a British diplomat and 1st Baron Colyton, known as Lord Colyton. 

Lady Colyton benefitted from her short union with Addams. A practicing lawyer, she had continued to serve as his attorney and agent after their divorce and then later would receive royalties from the extremely lucrative Addams franchise.

Unfortunately, Charles Addams didn't live to see the massive popularity that his works became with the release of the 1991 and 1993 films. He died on 1988 in NYC at the age of 76 after suffering a heart attack in his car. His native state honored him when Addams was inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame in 2020.

Lady Colyton was widowed when Lord Colyton died in 1996. She outlived both husbands and died in 2004.

Since 2017, Westfield, NJ, Addams home town, has hosted AddamsFest. This town-wide event is held throughout October, with family-friendly events, lectures, exhibits and more. ​Maybe, one future Halloween season we'll make a return trip to NJ for the celebrations.

Today is Halloween, so in keeping with the date, here's a sampling of decorations outside the apartments of residents in the mill apartments. Children who live in the building will trick or treat only knocking at doors which display a hang tag indicating the resident's participation. 

As for ourselves, we will not home on Halloween. We're spending an overnight in VT after a shopping excursion to the Vermont Teddy Bear Factory (photos in a future post).

We hope your Halloween doesn't have unexpected tricks or surprises

Your turn — do you have any Halloween traditions or planned events for today ? 

A Ride Up High

View of Montecatini Alto from Montecatini Terme

Many fellow bloggers commented that they liked this image in a previous post. It shows a vintage carousel in the Tuscan spa town Montecatini Terme with the hilltop town of Montecatini Alto in the background.

Montecatini Alto, which translates to Montecatini high, dates to medieval times, even before the existence of Montecatini Terme. This little town was a fortress due to its strategic position, the land below was marshland which made it difficult to invade.

Funicolare di Montecatini

The most enjoyable way to reach the medieval village of Montecatini Alto is by taking a round trip ride on the Montecatini Funicular, known in Italian as the Funicolare di Montecatini. A one-way trip is just under 9 minutes riding on two distinctive red trains, Gigio and Gigia, once called Number 1 and Number 2.

Gigia and Gigio trains

These are now the oldest cable railway funicular cars in operation throughout Italy. The red cars run throughout the day ascending and descending the steep hill to Montecatini Alto every half hour from 9:30 am to 12 pm with a break between 1 and 2:30 pm. A round trip ticket is the equivalent of $7.50 in U.S. dollars.

A funicular is a type of cable railway system that connects points along a railway track laid on a steep slope. The cable car runs on the cog and wheel principal. This system is characterized by two counterbalanced carriages permanently attached to opposite ends of a haulage cable, which is looped over a pulley at the upper end of the track.

Passengers wave to those on the opposite car when passing

Work on the funicular that connects the towns of Montecatini Terme and Montecatini Alto began in March 1897 and was completed the following year. Its inauguration in June 1898 was attended by the Italian composer Giuseppe Verdi. It has been modernized over the years, but the cars have not been modified. Riding up on either of the red cars, the atmosphere is much the same as years ago with wooden benches and external balconies with space to stand and enjoy wonderful panoramic views which we did.

View of the track from the top station

In 1921, the original steam system was replaced with an electrically driven winch, the rest of the original equipment remains receiving maintenance adjustments. The two red trains travel a distance of 1077 meter (0.669 mile) reaching a maximum slope of 38.5% (an average slope is 20.5%). 

Originally, the funicular used a large steam boiler located downstream replaced by an electric motor drive in 1921. Over the years, there have been some interruptions to service. It ran safely until September 1944, when retreating soldiers set off explosives damaging parts of the tracks halting service until 1949. In 1977, technical adjustments were needed and it closed until 1982. Due to the intervention of regional government, cars were restored and the latest equipment was installed.

Ticket office for the 1898 Funicolare

Riding on the funicalare isn't the only way to reach Montecatini Alto. There's a pedestrian walking path, known as the Corta, a 30-45 minute walk depending on the pace with some steep areas. There's also a bus and motorist route.

Part of original wall around Montecatini Alto (Internet source)

At one time, Montecatini Alto had a protective wall with 25 portas or doors. The doors were actually towers, some still remain. Like Montecatini Terme, the town has connections with the powerful Florentine Medici. In 1554, Cosimo dei Medici almost destroyed it, burning down its archives and eliminating its earliest history.

The landscape is dominated by the Tower of Ugolino, dedicated to Ugolino della Gherardesca, Count of Donoratico, an Italian nobleman, politician and naval commander. 

Torre dell’Orologio (clock tower), Montecatini Alto

The tower, known as the Torre dell’Orologio (clock tower), remains from the ancient fortification. The clock dates to the 1500s and was modernized in the 1700s with clock hands. The roman dial and numerals followed in 1844. You might wonder why the clock has 6 Roman numerals not 12. This is an example of an Italian clock in which time was divided into 6 hours repeated 4 times. This system, devised by the church in the 13th century, remained in effect until the Napoleonic era. Not many clocks of this type remain; there are 25 in Tuscany.

Teatro dei Risorti, Montecatino Alto

One of the most unique buildings here is the Teatro dei Risorti, an extension of a 14th-century building (Loggia del Parlascio) where assemblies and markets were held. During the 1950s, it became a cinema, replacing the backdrop with a screen painted white. It is one of the oldest theatre spaces in the Italian region of Tuscany.

Piazza Giusti, Montecatino Alto

The small town square is filled with restaurants. In the center is Piazza Giusti dedicated to Giuseppe Giusti, a northern Italian poet and satirist, who lived there for years. Restaurants and bars overlook this area, still covered with stone paving.

Dining outdoors in Montecatini Alto

After a short exploration in the town, ourselves and travel companions (Judy and Sandy) enjoyed a wonderful lunch on the main square. (To answer David G's question about lunch, Patrick had wild boar ravioli; my dish was spinach and ricotta in freshly made cannelloni pasta. Our friends enjoyed a homemade pasta dish as well.)

We enjoyed some final views in Montecatini Alto before heading back to the funicalore for our return trip.

A view of Montecatini Terme from Montecatini Alto.

If you are ever in this area, do treat yourself to a ride on these trains and a visit to this hilltop town. The views alone were worth the ride. The small town was wonderful to explore in the short time we had before lunch. 

Friday Funnies

Sometimes, it seems that parking lines are merely a suggestion to some drivers. This driver almost got it right.

This driver almost got it right.

After our travels, we're spent the past couple of weeks close to home catching up and mostly recuperating from colds. We're both recovered and have a couple of weekend events planned. The weather in Nashua, NH, has been more Indian summer than fall-like with unseasonably warm days in the mid-70s part of the week and in the 60s other days. 

There's still colorful foliage here. This week we enjoyed a walk in nearby Mine Falls Park. Here's a look at some of the colors still remaining, hopefully for a longer and another walk.

Enjoy Your Weekend, Everyone

We're seeing Jersey Boys in Manchester, NH, this weekend

Where We Started . . .

Our Tuscany tour was based in Montecatini Terme, known years ago as one the most glamorous destinations in Italy, it was a favorite of the rich and famous. With its Belle Époque architecture, curative spas, grand hotels and celebrity history, the town was Italy’s best-known spa town. It remains a destination for many travelers.

Our Fellow Tuscany Travelers

The travel group consisted of about 40, all from the U.S. including 8 from NH. We stayed in the centrally located Grand Francia & Quirnale Hotel for the entire tour. Staying in a single hotel and making day trips was very convenient. We only had to unpack once, unlike our 2023 UK trip when we moved to a different hotel every 1-2 nights in Ireland.

Grand Francia & Quirnale Hotel

This hotel dates to the early 1900s when a French family of hoteliers built the Hotel de France in the center of Montecatini. In 1920, the hotel was acquired by the Giusfredi family still managing the hotel after four generations. Even though it has a small number of rooms (112), the hotel is called a grand hotel on its website.

"Grand" precedes the names of many Montecatini Terme hotels derived from "grandeur" in style and not grand in size. Started in Europe, the term described a hotel with some form of traditional architectural style. In the mid-19th century, the term "grand hotel" described a place to stay and dine, enjoy social activities, and which offered personal services like laundry and cleaning. Horses were stabled and later cars were parked. European grand hotels differ from a U.S. grand hotel, more often described by the number of rooms, which often can lack "grandeur." 

Collette Tours provided a comfortable motor couch for daily excursions

This tour bus was the transport used on our travels. As with the previous UK tour with RI-based Collette tours there was a single driver, Pasquale, as well as a tour director, Simone, for the entire trip . Both men were knowledgeable, professional and helpful, particularly when one group member became ill.

What's Special About Montecatini Terme?

This town in the province of Pistoia, in the Italian region of Tuscany has been famous for its healing waters since Roman times. Originally, the town was named Bagni di Montecatini, the name of the thermal springs in Montecatini, which translates to "Baths of Montecatini." In 1928, the name was changed to Montecatini Terme. The Italian word "terme" translates to thermal baths, spa or hot springs. 

Montecatini Terme is surrounded by the grand architectural designs of its thermal baths. It features wide tree-lined boulevards lined with historic hotels. The town is known for its Art Nouveau and neo-Gothic architecture, and is officially one of the Great spa towns of Europe recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2021.

Fontana Guidotti in central Piazza del Popolo, Montecatini Terme

Fontana Guidotti is located in the central Piazza del Popolo. Designed by Pistoia sculptor Antonio Guidotti, the fountain was designed and constructed by architect Raffaello Brizzi in 1926 with bronze ornaments designed by Guidotti. It replaced a covered outdoor space (loggia) that had hosted markets and agricultural fairs since 1834. The fountain, made of travertine and bronze, is comprised of a large circular basin topped by putti (figures in art that depict chubby, winged male children) holding four horns from which water jets emerge, feeding the basin.

Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta, Montecatini Terme

The main square, Piazza del Popolo is also dominated by the neoclassical Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta. Built between 1953 and 1958, it replaced a neoclassical church that dated to 1833 and was destroyed. In 1988, Pope John Paul II proclaimed this church a minor basilica. (Basilicas are either major basilicas, of which there are four, all in the Diocese of Rome, or minor basilicas, of which there over 1,800 worldwide.) 

As mentioned earlier, this town became famous for its thermal springs; 11 in the area around the town of which six have been used for therapeutic qualities. The thermal hot springs have made the town a destination for wellness, relaxation, even medical treatment since the early 20th century. Years ago, spas were open year-round, but there's been a slow decline in the fashion for visiting a spa, ones remaining are seasonal. On a walking tour we saw two spas: Terme Excelsior and Terme Tettuccio, only one remains open.

Shuttered Terme Excelsior on Viale Verdi 

The Terme Excelsior thermal baths are housed in a beautiful building from the early 20th century located on Viale Verdi, the promenade which connects the two spas. Constructed in 1906 and designed by architect Giulio Bernardini, it was originally built to house the Excelsior municipal casino and concert café. The building was modified in 1915 as the new Excelsior Spa Treatment; treatments were carried out year-round. About 1970, the upper part of the building was demolished preserving the porch. It's been shuttered and permanently closed for years and only seen from the street.

Terme Tettuccio thermal complex

The grand and palatial Art Nouveau Terme Tettuccio complex is located in the Parco delle Terme (park of the baths). Instead of baths or massages, guests come to drink the mineral waters from four historic springs: Tettuccio, Regina, Leopoldine and Rinfresco. Characterized by sulfate-bicarbonate-sodium, the thermal waters are used for diseases of the digestive system as well as for well-being treatments.

Considered the symbol of the city and its glorious past, the Terme Tettuccio, is the oldest establishment of the baths. The origins of the building date back to 1370, when it consisted only of a canopy (tettuccio) which protected the spring. It's come a long way since. After undergoing several structural changes, it assumed its current form in 1919 when Italian architect Ugo Giovannozzi, inspired by late Renaissance models, began a renovation. The grand pavilion was inspired by the great Roman baths. In addition to being a thermal spa, Tettuccio Terme served as a cultural center and meeting place for many prominent figures in music, art, diplomacy, and politics.

Terme Tettuccio therapeutic drinking waters

Treatments are based on drinking thermal water as a curative drink for various conditions: constipation, high cholesterol, stomach and intestine problems. A prescription is needed as each water has unique therapeutic characteristics. The recommended 12-day drinking cure can be prescribed by a spa doctor. Our tour guide explained that some treatments had a laxative effect, which explained why the complex has hundreds of toilet facilities, over 800 total.

Entering the structure, there are two courtyards. A long portico joins them and connects the entire building, decorated with panels arranged above marble bases.

The complex is surrounded by a large park designed to complement the therapeutic landscape of the facility. Terme Tettuccio is open from May to October for treatments Other parts of the year it's a concert venue and, of course, open for tours during which you can sample the mineral waters..

Famous people who have visited the spas in Montecatini Terme include Giuseppe Verdi, Giacomo Puccini, Pietro Mascagni and Gioacchino Rossini., Audrey Hepburn, Grace Kelly, Coco Chanel, Christian Dior and Arnold Schwarzenegger. 

Bronze sculpture of composer Giacomo Puccini

Puccini regarded as the greatest and most successful proponent of Italian opera after Verdi, is represented in this bronze statue shown seated on a bench enjoying his cigar under the shade of the trees.. Montecatini is where Verdi, a frequent visitor to the spa town, reportedly composed part of the famous opera La Boheme. 

Plaques on the Montecatini Terme Walk of Fame; Sofia was Loren's birthname

Hollywood isn't the only place with a Walk of Fame as Montecatini has its own version on Viale Verdi where these round bronze plaques display the names of famous visitors. Film stars from bygone eras, fashion designers, royalty, sports figures and others are just some of over 200 personalities who made Montecatini a very fashionable locale in the 50s and 60s.

Town Hall in Montecatini Terme

The Town Hall built is located to the right of Viale Verdi and was built on the site of the Grand Ducal Stables to provide the town with a civic center appropriate to the size and role it had assumed. 

Inspired by Renaissance palaces, elegant and rich in details, it was designed by Montecatini architect Raffaello Brizzi. Due to WWI, construction took from 1913 to 1919. Galileo Chini, an an Italian decorator, designer, painter and potter had been commissioned to design the skylight above the grand staircase. Unfortunately, the building is under renovation and closed to tours.

Teatro Kursaal in Montecatini Terme now

This façade is all that remains of the Teatro Kursaal a large complex that was once central to Montecatini Terme during its years of prosperity. Opened in 1907, the Kursaal was for decades the heart of the city's social, artistic and cultural life, hosting opera, operetta and highly popular shows. The complex included a cinema, dance hall and huge game room.

Teatro Kursaal in Montecatini Terme, vintage (online source)

Visitors from all over Italy and beyond enjoyed the facilities as it became a symbol of elegance and entertainment. In the 1920s, the building experienced a decline in the post-war period. The Kursaal was a symbol of Montecatini until the 1980s, when it fell into decay and was put up for sale failing a buyer that understood the complex was central to the prosperity of the town. It was abandoned and empty for years. At the start of the 21st century, the site was developed as a commercial center retaining only the front section of the original building.

Shuttered Grand Hotel & La Pace Hotel

The Grand Hotel & La Pace Hotel was founded in 1870 as a way to give “La Pace” (peace) during a time split by profound social and economic changes, culminating in 1866 with the peace between Italy and Austria. The hotel’s success came at the beginning of the 20th century, when the an ambitious renovation project was launched to transform it into a luxury hotel with rooms and halls designed by the Art Nouveau master Galileo Chini. Famous names that passed through included Giacomo Puccini, Pietro Mascagni, Trilussa, Marie Curie, Guglielmo Marconi, Spencer Tracy, Gary Cooper and Katherine Hepburn. In 1957, fashion designer Christian Dior died here (heart failure). The hotel is currently closed.

Vintage carousel in downtown Montecatini Terme

This vintage carousel in Montecatini Terme is a treasured local landmark. It dates back to the late 19th century and is intertwined with the town's history as a spa destination. The carousel was installed to provide a whimsical element to the spa treatments, thermal baths and elegant promenades of the era. It continues to be a favorite attraction for tourists and locals, riding on beautifully carved wooden animals, not just horses, with music and vibrant colors capturing the spirit of a bygone era. 

The hilltop town of Montecatini Alto

Looking beyond the carousel, you can see the hills of Montecatini Alto (one of the most beautiful villages in Italy) in the background. The town can also be reached by traveling on a 19th-century red funicular railway as we did — subject of a future post.