Congratulations to Teddy Fox and Michelle Brown who have announced their engagement and plan to be married next June. You probably recognize Ted’s face; he’s been well known around town for many years.
Welcome to several newcomers this week: Colleen Shaunnessy and Harrry Ramirez and their friends Matt and Dorothy Larson. Matt and Dorothy are the proud parents of a baby daughter, Lydia. Congratulations.
First United Church of Christ, 1000 Elgin in Forest Park, will be celebrating Summer 2010 with a Community Picnic and Silent Auction. You’ll see many neighbors at this event since First United is a very friendly, welcoming house of worship. It will happen on Sunday, June 27, beginning at 10 a.m. and continue long into the evening. You can make a donation to the silent auction including dinners, trips, hotel weekends, art work. Monetary donations are always also helpful. If you need them to pick up your articles, call Sheryl Marinier at 708-938-5635. They’ll mail you a tax-exempt number. Hope to see you there.
How Rumors Start Dept.: A friend had a rehearsal dinner at Molly Malone’s last Friday. She heard someone saying “the cup” would be on that night. The cup? What cup? The Stanley Cup? And the rumor took flight. A patron figured it out – a World Cup soccer game was on, but by then the rumor had traveled.
Ever wonder how the Stanley Cup got its name? Ask your local Adult Services librarians – they know everything and are eager to share their knowledge. Stanley was the Earl of Darby, 6th Governor General of Canada, from 1888 till 1893. In 1886, he became Baron Stanley of Prince Edward Island and traveled all over western Canada, enchanted by the country’s beauty. His wife, Lady Constance Villiers, described as an “able and witty woman,” founded the Lady Stanley Institute for Trained Nurses, the first such school in Ottawa. She was an enthusiastic fan of hockey and regularly attended games at the Rideau Rink. Their sons became good hockey players and fans.
In 1892 Lord Stanley gave Canada a treasured icon, the Stanley Cup, for best amateur club in the sport. By 1909 the cup went professional In 1945 Lord Stanley was inducted into the Canadian Hockey Hall of Fame. The original size of the cup was 7 inches high. Today’s cup is about 36 inches high and weighs about 35 pounds. A recording of Lord Stanley’s voice was made in 1888 and is probably the oldest recording of the human voice in existence, the one Edison made has faded.
Other honors that went to Lord Stanley are the naming of a mountain, Stanley Park in Vancouver, B.C., where a statue of him stands and the Stanley Theatre. The drinking of champagne by the winning team is a tradition, the names of just about everyone connected with the winning team are engraved on the cup – players, coaches, management, staff. The first presentation of the Stanley Cup was at the Montreal Winter Carnival in 1889. Lord Stanley never saw a championship professional game, nor did he ever present the cup. He died on June 14, 1908.
So it never got to Molly Malone’s, but “the cup” has a fascinating history in spite of that unfounded rumor.
Thanks for asking, but no, I don’t have my real phone number back yet.
Birthdays this last week in June (already?) are Susan Covington, Jennifer Medica, Tyler Leninger, Chuck Brod, Caileigh Pronek, Steve Backman, Adam Kowalski, William Hough, Patty Marino, Rick Leninger, Norm Leinweber, Shirley Christell, Sandy Byrnes, and Tracy Aleksey. Happy anniversary to Marie and John Spence.
Thanks for your time.
