#wwi — Public Fediverse posts

When the Grey Cup Took a Break: War & Disputes 🚫🏈

Imagine a year without the Grey Cup! From 1916 to 1918, the championship was paused due to the profound impact of World War I. Then, in 1919, a rules dispute caused another cancellation. It's a reminder of how much this game means to Canada, even when history intervened. #Canada #GreyCup #CFLHistory #WWI

https://cfhof.ca/history-of-the-grey-cup/

When the Grey Cup Took a Break: War & Disputes 🚫🏈

Imagine a year without the Grey Cup! From 1916 to 1918, the championship was paused due to the profound impact of World War I. Then, in 1919, a rules dispute caused another cancellation. It's a reminder of how much this game means to Canada, even when history intervened. #Canada #GreyCup #CFLHistory #WWI

https://cfhof.ca/history-of-the-grey-cup/

BFBS Forces News: Thousands of Indian WW1 soldiers to be remembered in perpetuity after historical injustice. “The British Army’s Major Daljinder Singh Virdee, a driving force behind Sikh recognition in defence, expressed how he felt to BFBS Forces News after the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) announced the largest single addition to its casualty records since the Second World War […]

BFBS Forces News: Thousands of Indian WW1 soldiers to be remembered in perpetuity after historical injustice. “The British Army’s Major Daljinder Singh Virdee, a driving force behind Sikh recognition in defence, expressed how he felt to BFBS Forces News after the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) announced the largest single addition to its casualty records since the Second World War […]

Canada Enters WWI: A Nation Forged in Fire! 🇨🇦

On August 4, 1914, Canada joined World War I alongside Great Britain. Over 600,000 Canadians served with distinction, making significant contributions to the Allied effort. The war profoundly impacted Canada, accelerating industrial growth, strengthening national identity, and leading to greater independence. 🎗️ 🇨🇦 #Canada #WWI #CanadianHistory

https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/first-world-war-wwi

Canada Enters WWI: A Nation Forged in Fire! 🇨🇦

On August 4, 1914, Canada joined World War I alongside Great Britain. Over 600,000 Canadians served with distinction, making significant contributions to the Allied effort. The war profoundly impacted Canada, accelerating industrial growth, strengthening national identity, and leading to greater independence. 🎗️ 🇨🇦 #Canada #WWI #CanadianHistory

https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/first-world-war-wwi

"Folklore, ballet, and a Russia on the brink of losing everything."

🩰✨ Today's spotlight shines on THE FERN FLOWER by ELLE MOTT! This atmospheric work of historical fiction weaves Russian folklore and the elegance of ballet into the turbulence of a nation on the edge, as WWI threatens to shatter everything. 🌿💫

Head over to the blog to read the full spotlight!

#HistoricalFiction #Ballet #WWI
https://archaeolibrarian.wixsite.com/website/post/the-fern-flower-by-kathleen-shoop

"Folklore, ballet, and a Russia on the brink of losing everything."

🩰✨ Today's spotlight shines on THE FERN FLOWER by ELLE MOTT! This atmospheric work of historical fiction weaves Russian folklore and the elegance of ballet into the turbulence of a nation on the edge, as WWI threatens to shatter everything. 🌿💫

Head over to the blog to read the full spotlight!

#HistoricalFiction #Ballet #WWI
https://archaeolibrarian.wixsite.com/website/post/the-fern-flower-by-kathleen-shoop

On this day in 1914, German forces invaded Belgium, having already declared war on the Russian Empire and France. Later that day, the United Kingdom declared war on the German Empire, which meant the entire British Empire was now at war. #History #WWI

On this day in 1914, German forces invaded Belgium, having already declared war on the Russian Empire and France. Later that day, the United Kingdom declared war on the German Empire, which meant the entire British Empire was now at war. #History #WWI

Actually, @TCatInReality, anyone who understands European history should see that #WWI is a deadly dangerous reminder of how military allliances threaten the security of everyone.

It's very sad to watch how some people either dint know that basic historical lesson, or don't give a damn.

@ChrisMayLA6

Actually, @TCatInReality, anyone who understands European history should see that #WWI is a deadly dangerous reminder of how military allliances threaten the security of everyone.

It's very sad to watch how some people either dint know that basic historical lesson, or don't give a damn.

@ChrisMayLA6

#WWI #WW1 Help please. Which are the best books from France?
I'm a casual reader around society and politics, so I particularly liked that British Army doctor's book. [edit needed obvs] What's available in translation into English that gives a sense of individuals and/or their families going through military service?
Also, I've also only read one German WW1 book. That one. So recommendations are equally welcome for Germany or anywhere that might fit the spec.
#France #histodons

#WWI #WW1 Help please. Which are the best books from France?
I'm a casual reader around society and politics, so I particularly liked that British Army doctor's book. [edit needed obvs] What's available in translation into English that gives a sense of individuals and/or their families going through military service?
Also, I've also only read one German WW1 book. That one. So recommendations are equally welcome for Germany or anywhere that might fit the spec.
#France #histodons

This week on Deep Cuts in a Lovecraftian Vein we continue to look at the Lost Weird Tales of Arthur J. Burks with "The Sniper" (1926):

https://deepcuts.blog/2026/07/25/lost-tale-the-sniper-1926-by-arthur-j-burks/

#weirdtales #weirdfiction #military #historicalfiction #ww1 #wwi

This week on Deep Cuts in a Lovecraftian Vein we continue to look at the Lost Weird Tales of Arthur J. Burks with "The Sniper" (1926):

https://deepcuts.blog/2026/07/25/lost-tale-the-sniper-1926-by-arthur-j-burks/

#weirdtales #weirdfiction #military #historicalfiction #ww1 #wwi

Good Morning #Canada
Around this time over 100 years ago the then Minister of Finance announced that #IncomeTax would be implemented. It was 1917 and #WWI had created a huge deficit in government coffers. Income Tax contributions went from zero in 1917 to over 51% of federal revenue today. Taxes are simultaneously unloved and under appreciated, but they do provide a reason for the Fraser Institute to exist.

#CanadaIsAwesome #CanPoli
https://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/income-tax

Good Morning #Canada
Around this time over 100 years ago the then Minister of Finance announced that #IncomeTax would be implemented. It was 1917 and #WWI had created a huge deficit in government coffers. Income Tax contributions went from zero in 1917 to over 51% of federal revenue today. Taxes are simultaneously unloved and under appreciated, but they do provide a reason for the Fraser Institute to exist.

#CanadaIsAwesome #CanPoli
https://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/income-tax

#Film #Movies #Classics #Aviation #Aircraft #GreatWar #Fiction #HellsAngels #WWI #YouTube #HowardHughes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8NfPkLI8aQ

#Film #Movies #Classics #Aviation #Aircraft #GreatWar #Fiction #HellsAngels #WWI #YouTube #HowardHughes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8NfPkLI8aQ

Where Was the Garden of Eden? 5 Possible Real-World Locations https://www.allforgardening.com/1885495/where-was-the-garden-of-eden-5-possible-real-world-locations/ #AmericanHistory #AncientHistory #AncientHistoryBlog #AncientPhilosophy #ArtBlog #ArtistsBlog #ContemporaryArt #EuropeanHistory #garden #gardener #gardening #HistoryBlog #HistoryOfPolitics #HistoryOfReligion #LatinAndSouthAmericanHistory #MedievalHistory #MilitaryHistory #ModernArt #ModernPhilosophy #philosophy #PhilosophyBlog #RenaissanceHistory #TravelAndCulture #WorldHistory #WWI #wwii

Where Was the Garden of Eden? 5 Possible Real-World Locations https://www.allforgardening.com/1885495/where-was-the-garden-of-eden-5-possible-real-world-locations/ #AmericanHistory #AncientHistory #AncientHistoryBlog #AncientPhilosophy #ArtBlog #ArtistsBlog #ContemporaryArt #EuropeanHistory #garden #gardener #gardening #HistoryBlog #HistoryOfPolitics #HistoryOfReligion #LatinAndSouthAmericanHistory #MedievalHistory #MilitaryHistory #ModernArt #ModernPhilosophy #philosophy #PhilosophyBlog #RenaissanceHistory #TravelAndCulture #WorldHistory #WWI #wwii

Good Morning #Canada
#Manitoba is on an upward trajectory in the past year, except for very recent heat waves and wildfires. The province may be returning to a similar positive period in early 1900 when Winnipeg was booming and 1 of the most beautiful legislature buildings in Canada was built. It's story has many twists and turns, and overcame #WWI, the end of Winnipeg's boom, general strikes, and corruption.

#CanadaIsAwesome #History #Architecture
https://youtu.be/XZQGQwll7mw

Good Morning #Canada
#Manitoba is on an upward trajectory in the past year, except for very recent heat waves and wildfires. The province may be returning to a similar positive period in early 1900 when Winnipeg was booming and 1 of the most beautiful legislature buildings in Canada was built. It's story has many twists and turns, and overcame #WWI, the end of Winnipeg's boom, general strikes, and corruption.

#CanadaIsAwesome #History #Architecture
https://youtu.be/XZQGQwll7mw

🎥 22H EN ENFER - Le jour le plus meurtrier de l'armée australienne - LA BATAILLE DE FROMELLES

Par Histoire Appliquée

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FsItApcov8k

#vulgarisation #histoire #WWI #australie #Hycarius #HistoireAppliquée

🎥 22H EN ENFER - Le jour le plus meurtrier de l'armée australienne - LA BATAILLE DE FROMELLES

Par Histoire Appliquée

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FsItApcov8k

#vulgarisation #histoire #WWI #australie #Hycarius #HistoireAppliquée

Maurice Ravel drove a supply truck through the mud and horror of WWI—and years later, that experience found its way into one of the most hypnotic pieces of music ever written: Boléro.

Pvt. Ravel's Boléro—now available!

A 28-minute antiwar documentary & filmic poem on Maurice Ravel's WWI service and the making of Boléro.

A unique experience. Festival-recognized.
https://lgnproductions.vhx.tv/packages/pvt-ravel-s-bolero-new/videos/pvt-ravels-bolero-trailer-2026
#Ravel #Boléro #WWI #ClassicalMusic #Experimental #IndieFilm

Maurice Ravel drove a supply truck through the mud and horror of WWI—and years later, that experience found its way into one of the most hypnotic pieces of music ever written: Boléro.

Pvt. Ravel's Boléro—now available!

A 28-minute antiwar documentary & filmic poem on Maurice Ravel's WWI service and the making of Boléro.

A unique experience. Festival-recognized.
https://lgnproductions.vhx.tv/packages/pvt-ravel-s-bolero-new/videos/pvt-ravels-bolero-trailer-2026
#Ravel #Boléro #WWI #ClassicalMusic #Experimental #IndieFilm

In 100 years, what will people remember of our time?

Think back, what stands out

#WWI. #GreatDepression. Of course there's other stories. These stand out

In 100 years, people will not immediately think #COVID. Or #Trump

They will think #Ukraine

Recognize the most stirring story of our time

Ukraine faced down formidable mass murdering ethnofascist madness

And won

"It’s the new reality. There is no major #oilRefinery left in #Russia that has not been struck by Ukraine"

#UkraineWar

In 100 years, what will people remember of our time?

Think back, what stands out

#WWI. #GreatDepression. Of course there's other stories. These stand out

In 100 years, people will not immediately think #COVID. Or #Trump

They will think #Ukraine

Recognize the most stirring story of our time

Ukraine faced down formidable mass murdering ethnofascist madness

And won

"It’s the new reality. There is no major #oilRefinery left in #Russia that has not been struck by Ukraine"

#UkraineWar

🕹️ Title: Enlisted
🦊️ Idea: A free (freemium) FPS / MMO on the WW2 theme
🏡️ https://enlisted.net/
🐣️ -
🔖 #LinuxGaming #MOBA #FPS #WWI #Aircraft #Tank
📦️ #Freemium
📕️ https://lebottinlinux.vps.a-lec.org/LO.html

🥁️ Update: 0.7.5.103
⚗️ Signific. vers. 🦍️
📌️ Changes: https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/2051620
🦣️ From: https://mastodon.social/@holarse/116862154686414754

🏝️ https://www.youtube.com/embed/34TB7NnfI9I
🐹️ https://www.youtube.com/embed/NzVdrUgK60Q
🐹️ https://www.youtube.com/embed/pZg4g0fbQDc
🕵️ https://www.youtube.com/embed/6wv4HnP_Yf8
🎲️ https://www.youtube.com/embed/e5xwrUNdXtk
🎲️ https://www.youtube.com/embed/8lM0FKZpV3o

🕹️ Title: Enlisted
🦊️ Idea: A free (freemium) FPS / MMO on the WW2 theme
🏡️ https://enlisted.net/
🐣️ -
🔖 #LinuxGaming #MOBA #FPS #WWI #Aircraft #Tank
📦️ #Freemium
📕️ https://lebottinlinux.vps.a-lec.org/LO.html

🥁️ Update: 0.7.5.103
⚗️ Signific. vers. 🦍️
📌️ Changes: https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/2051620
🦣️ From: https://mastodon.social/@holarse/116862154686414754

🏝️ https://www.youtube.com/embed/34TB7NnfI9I
🐹️ https://www.youtube.com/embed/NzVdrUgK60Q
🐹️ https://www.youtube.com/embed/pZg4g0fbQDc
🕵️ https://www.youtube.com/embed/6wv4HnP_Yf8
🎲️ https://www.youtube.com/embed/e5xwrUNdXtk
🎲️ https://www.youtube.com/embed/8lM0FKZpV3o

François Valentin: "In comes... Jacques Bainville, a respected French historian who thinks Keynes is totally missing the bigger picture Politics trump economics, especially with Versailles To make that very clear, he calls his pamphlet the *Political* Consequences of Peace" | nitter
https://nitter.net/Valen10Francois/status/1652630810971762689#m

"For Bainville Versailles is "a peace that is too soft for its hardness, and too hard for its softness." It does humiliate Germany, but crucially it doesn't seriously weaken it."

#WWI #WWII

François Valentin: "In comes... Jacques Bainville, a respected French historian who thinks Keynes is totally missing the bigger picture Politics trump economics, especially with Versailles To make that very clear, he calls his pamphlet the *Political* Consequences of Peace" | nitter
https://nitter.net/Valen10Francois/status/1652630810971762689#m

"For Bainville Versailles is "a peace that is too soft for its hardness, and too hard for its softness." It does humiliate Germany, but crucially it doesn't seriously weaken it."

#WWI #WWII

Canada Enters WWI: A Nation Forged in Fire! 🇨🇦

On August 4, 1914, Canada joined World War I alongside Great Britain. Over 600,000 Canadians served with distinction, making significant contributions to the Allied effort. The war profoundly impacted Canada, accelerating industrial growth, strengthening national identity, and leading to greater independence. 🎗️ 🇨🇦 #Canada #WWI #CanadianHistory

https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/first-world-war-wwi

Canada Enters WWI: A Nation Forged in Fire! 🇨🇦

On August 4, 1914, Canada joined World War I alongside Great Britain. Over 600,000 Canadians served with distinction, making significant contributions to the Allied effort. The war profoundly impacted Canada, accelerating industrial growth, strengthening national identity, and leading to greater independence. 🎗️ 🇨🇦 #Canada #WWI #CanadianHistory

https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/first-world-war-wwi

Scale. Do you use scale in your writing? Something we're used to thinking of as a certain size, make it way bigger, or much smaller. Extend this to social concepts and mannerisms. It's very important to tip your hat to someone. What do you mean you don't have a hat?
.
Always fun.

#WWI #biplane #airplane #writing #AmWriting #WritingCommunity

Scale. Do you use scale in your writing? Something we're used to thinking of as a certain size, make it way bigger, or much smaller. Extend this to social concepts and mannerisms. It's very important to tip your hat to someone. What do you mean you don't have a hat?
.
Always fun.

#WWI #biplane #airplane #writing #AmWriting #WritingCommunity

Spanning a River, a Century, and Two Lives Given for Us

Most of us don’t contemplate time in relation to everyday structures unless there is something unique or historic about it. We drive a highway, enter a building, walk a trail, cross a bridge, or climb a staircase without any thought of its existence beyond its utilitarian purpose.

Now and then an otherwise obscure structure will garner our attention merely by a fortuitous glance. That happened to this blog author and wife recently while we were traveling through southeast Kansas.

Just east of Independence, Kansas, while crossing the rain swollen Verdigris River on U.S. 160, I just happened to look to the right and saw an impressive four-span concrete through-arch bridge upriver from where we were. For the heck of it, we decided to circle back and take a closer look. Boy, are we ever glad we did.

The first thing noticed beyond the bridge’s handsome architecture was its birthdate engraved into the mortar…“1926.” Well now, we have ourselves a centenarian. This grand old bridge has survived the Depression; countless severe storms and tornadoes; snow, salt, wind, and ice; reckless divers; snowplows; heavy trucks and farm machinery, being bypassed by a strapping steel span, budget cuts, deferred maintenance, and who knows what else. Yet, the Old Route 160 Bridge (technically Montgomery County Bridge #628) across the Verdigris River has withstood all of these challenges and the test of time.

As noted earlier, Montgomery County Bridge #628 consists of four spans. It is a Rainbow (or Marsh) through-arch. The bridge has a total length of 434 feet with a main span of 122 feet and a width of 20 feet. It was built by the Fifield Construction Company of Waterloo, Iowa and Marsh Engineering Company of Des Moines. These two firms also combined forces to construct a similar, though shorter bridge in nearby Coffeyville that same year (1926).

– Source for the information in the previous paragraph: historic bridges.org

Montgomery County Bridge #628 was added to the National Register of History Places in 1983. It is the longest remaining Rainbow (or Marsh) Arch bridge in Kansas. James B. Marsh, founder of Marsh Engineering received a patent for this type of bridge design in 1911 (see image above). Two notable aspects of the bridge’s history from the register application include:

“It was not until the introduction of the “rainbow arch” by Marsh, that Kansas made widespread use of reinforced concrete spans for major stream crossings. Marsh canvassed the midwest, selling his arches in direct competition with the steel trusses at that time.”

“The Verdigris River bridge east of Independence, Kansas retains its integrity of
location, design, setting, materials, feeling, and association. It is associated with the life of James B. Marsh, pioneer in steel and concrete bridge construction. It embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type and method of construction that is no longer used, and, as such, may yield information important to the history of engineering.”

– Source: npgallery.nps.gov

But there is more to this handsome river span than first meets the eye. Set near ground level on either end of the concrete bridge walls are four old plaques. Two list the usual details like the year built and platitudes for those who oversaw its design and construction.

On another plaque (see above) was a solemn dedication. The bridge we had just stumbled upon by chance is dedicated to the memory of O. “Otis” Glenn Dewlen, a nearly 22 year-old man who was killed during the Argonne Forest Campaign in France on September 26, 1918. His death occurred barely eight weeks before the signing of the November 11th Armistice, which brought an end to World War I. 

Below is an image of the newspaper account of his death as written by his Sergeant in a letter to his mother…

– Source: newspapers.com

Apparently, we missed the second memorial plaque dedicated to another local young man (Harry F. Spohnhauer) who died on November 2, 1918, a mere nine days before the Armistice. As a result the honorary, non-technical name for the bridge is the Dewlen-Spohnhauer Memorial Bridge. Unfortunately, readily available information on PFC Spohnhauer was not found online, other than he appears to have lived just outside of Independence near the community of Cherryvale.

Such an occurrence is not unusual. It seems no matter how many times we traverse the heartland of the United States on our way to and fro, there is always something new to see, observe, attend, or happen upon. Sometimes it’s a scenic vista, while other times it’s a lonely bridge in Kansas that commemorates two brave young men. 

Mostly, it’s the unexpected and unplanned surprises that are vividly etched into the lasting memories of our psyche. Montgomery County Bridge #628 is just such a place. We will forever be grateful for the opportunity afforded us to visit this remarkable old bridge and honor these two stalwart young men who sacrificed their lives for the greater good.

“Something for all of us to ponder as we rapidly approach the nation’s 250th birthday during a time of ongoing threats to our cherished civil liberties — these two young privates from a small Kansas community, so aptly named Independence, gave their lives to protect those same freedoms that most Americans plan to celebrate during the upcoming week. We all owe them a debt of gratitude.”

– Panethos.wordpress.com

Peace!

Postscript:

Given the historical, engineering, and commemorative importance of Montgomery County Bridge #628, it seems that routine maintenance should be an ongoing priority. As some of the photos taken last week clearly show, the bridge appears to need prompt service and care to assure it retains its integrity and survives yet another century to honor its unique engineering design and especially in remembrance of two young men from Independence, Kansas.

SOURCES:

• Onsite plaques
• https://npgallery.nps.gov/GetAsset/09df7aea-3f23-4ba9-9700-44f6394315e6
• https://historicbridges.org/b_a_list.php?ct=&c=&ptype=county&pname=Montgomery+County,+Kansas
• https://npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail/NRIS/83000436
• https://npgallery.nps.gov/GetAsset/09df7aea-3f23-4ba9-9700-44f6394315e6
• https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=61437
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Register_of_Historic_Places_listings_in_Montgomery_County,_Kansas
• https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-evening-star-otis-glenn-dewlen-kill/4106636/
• https://www.ksgenweb.org/archives/statewide/military/wwI/casualty/s1p22-27.html

Spanning a River, a Century, and Two Lives Given for Us

Most of us don’t contemplate time in relation to everyday structures unless there is something unique or historic about it. We drive a highway, enter a building, walk a trail, cross a bridge, or climb a staircase without any thought of its existence beyond its utilitarian purpose.

Now and then an otherwise obscure structure will garner our attention merely by a fortuitous glance. That happened to this blog author and wife recently while we were traveling through southeast Kansas.

Just east of Independence, Kansas, while crossing the rain swollen Verdigris River on U.S. 160, I just happened to look to the right and saw an impressive four-span concrete through-arch bridge upriver from where we were. For the heck of it, we decided to circle back and take a closer look. Boy, are we ever glad we did.

The first thing noticed beyond the bridge’s handsome architecture was its birthdate engraved into the mortar…“1926.” Well now, we have ourselves a centenarian. This grand old bridge has survived the Depression; countless severe storms and tornadoes; snow, salt, wind, and ice; reckless divers; snowplows; heavy trucks and farm machinery, being bypassed by a strapping steel span, budget cuts, deferred maintenance, and who knows what else. Yet, the Old Route 160 Bridge (technically Montgomery County Bridge #628) across the Verdigris River has withstood all of these challenges and the test of time.

As noted earlier, Montgomery County Bridge #628 consists of four spans. It is a Rainbow (or Marsh) through-arch. The bridge has a total length of 434 feet with a main span of 122 feet and a width of 20 feet. It was built by the Fifield Construction Company of Waterloo, Iowa and Marsh Engineering Company of Des Moines. These two firms also combined forces to construct a similar, though shorter bridge in nearby Coffeyville that same year (1926).

– Source for the information in the previous paragraph: historic bridges.org

Montgomery County Bridge #628 was added to the National Register of History Places in 1983. It is the longest remaining Rainbow (or Marsh) Arch bridge in Kansas. James B. Marsh, founder of Marsh Engineering received a patent for this type of bridge design in 1911 (see image above). Two notable aspects of the bridge’s history from the register application include:

“It was not until the introduction of the “rainbow arch” by Marsh, that Kansas made widespread use of reinforced concrete spans for major stream crossings. Marsh canvassed the midwest, selling his arches in direct competition with the steel trusses at that time.”

“The Verdigris River bridge east of Independence, Kansas retains its integrity of
location, design, setting, materials, feeling, and association. It is associated with the life of James B. Marsh, pioneer in steel and concrete bridge construction. It embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type and method of construction that is no longer used, and, as such, may yield information important to the history of engineering.”

– Source: npgallery.nps.gov

But there is more to this handsome river span than first meets the eye. Set near ground level on either end of the concrete bridge walls are four old plaques. Two list the usual details like the year built and platitudes for those who oversaw its design and construction.

On another plaque (see above) was a solemn dedication. The bridge we had just stumbled upon by chance is dedicated to the memory of O. “Otis” Glenn Dewlen, a nearly 22 year-old man who was killed during the Argonne Forest Campaign in France on September 26, 1918. His death occurred barely eight weeks before the signing of the November 11th Armistice, which brought an end to World War I. 

Below is an image of the newspaper account of his death as written by his Sergeant in a letter to his mother…

– Source: newspapers.com

Apparently, we missed the second memorial plaque dedicated to another local young man (Harry F. Spohnhauer) who died on November 2, 1918, a mere nine days before the Armistice. As a result the honorary, non-technical name for the bridge is the Dewlen-Spohnhauer Memorial Bridge. Unfortunately, readily available information on PFC Spohnhauer was not found online, other than he appears to have lived just outside of Independence near the community of Cherryvale.

Such an occurrence is not unusual. It seems no matter how many times we traverse the heartland of the United States on our way to and fro, there is always something new to see, observe, attend, or happen upon. Sometimes it’s a scenic vista, while other times it’s a lonely bridge in Kansas that commemorates two brave young men. 

Mostly, it’s the unexpected and unplanned surprises that are vividly etched into the lasting memories of our psyche. Montgomery County Bridge #628 is just such a place. We will forever be grateful for the opportunity afforded us to visit this remarkable old bridge and honor these two stalwart young men who sacrificed their lives for the greater good.

“Something for all of us to ponder as we rapidly approach the nation’s 250th birthday during a time of ongoing threats to our cherished civil liberties — these two young privates from a small Kansas community, so aptly named Independence, gave their lives to protect those same freedoms that many Americans plan to celebrate during the upcoming week. We all owe them a debt of gratitude.”

– Panethos.wordpress.com

Peace!

Postscript:

Given the historical, engineering, and commemorative importance of Montgomery County Bridge #628, it seems that routine maintenance should be an ongoing priority. As some of the photos taken last week clearly show, the bridge appears to need prompt service and care to assure it retains its integrity and survives yet another century to honor its unique engineering design and especially in remembrance of two young men from Independence, Kansas.

SOURCES:

• Onsite plaques
• https://npgallery.nps.gov/GetAsset/09df7aea-3f23-4ba9-9700-44f6394315e6
• https://historicbridges.org/b_a_list.php?ct=&c=&ptype=county&pname=Montgomery+County,+Kansas
• https://npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail/NRIS/83000436
• https://npgallery.nps.gov/GetAsset/09df7aea-3f23-4ba9-9700-44f6394315e6
• https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=61437
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Register_of_Historic_Places_listings_in_Montgomery_County,_Kansas
• https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-evening-star-otis-glenn-dewlen-kill/4106636/
• https://www.ksgenweb.org/archives/statewide/military/wwI/casualty/s1p22-27.html

Today marks the 112th anniversary of the assassination of the Archduke of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Franz Ferdinand and his wife, Sophie, Duchess of Hohenberg. They were shot by Gavrilo Princip in Sarajevo, and this event sparked the fire of the First World War. #WWI

🕹️ Title: Enlisted
🦊️ Idea: A free (freemium) FPS / MMO on the WW2 theme
🏡️ https://enlisted.net/
🐣️ -
🔖 #LinuxGaming #MOBA #FPS #WWI #Aircraft #Tank
📦️ #Freemium
📕️ https://lebottinlinux.vps.a-lec.org/LO.html

🥁️ Update: 0.7.5.94
⚗️ Minor vers. 🐁️
📌️ Changes: https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/2051620
🦣️ From: https://mastodon.social/@holarse/116822456620084950

🏝️ https://www.youtube.com/embed/34TB7NnfI9I
🐹️ https://www.youtube.com/embed/NzVdrUgK60Q
🐹️ https://www.youtube.com/embed/pZg4g0fbQDc
🕵️ https://www.youtube.com/embed/6wv4HnP_Yf8
🎲️ https://www.youtube.com/embed/e5xwrUNdXtk
🎲️ https://www.youtube.com/embed/8lM0FKZpV3o

🕹️ Title: Enlisted
🦊️ Idea: A free (freemium) FPS / MMO on the WW2 theme
🏡️ https://enlisted.net/
🐣️ -
🔖 #LinuxGaming #MOBA #FPS #WWI #Aircraft #Tank
📦️ #Freemium
📕️ https://lebottinlinux.vps.a-lec.org/LO.html

🥁️ Update: 0.7.5.94
⚗️ Minor vers. 🐁️
📌️ Changes: https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/2051620
🦣️ From: https://mastodon.social/@holarse/116822456620084950

🏝️ https://www.youtube.com/embed/34TB7NnfI9I
🐹️ https://www.youtube.com/embed/NzVdrUgK60Q
🐹️ https://www.youtube.com/embed/pZg4g0fbQDc
🕵️ https://www.youtube.com/embed/6wv4HnP_Yf8
🎲️ https://www.youtube.com/embed/e5xwrUNdXtk
🎲️ https://www.youtube.com/embed/8lM0FKZpV3o

🕹️ Title: Enlisted
🦊️ Idea: A free (freemium) FPS / MMO on the WW2 theme
🏡️ https://enlisted.net/
🐣️ -
🔖 #LinuxGaming #MOBA #FPS #WWI #Aircraft #Tank
📦️ #Freemium
📕️ https://lebottinlinux.vps.a-lec.org/LO.html

🥁️ Update: 0.7.5.88
🥁️ Update: 20260616
⚗️ Huge vers. 🦬️
📌️ Changes: https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/2051620
🦣️ From: https://mastodon.social/@holarse/116782953264205401

🏝️ https://www.youtube.com/embed/34TB7NnfI9I
🐹️ https://www.youtube.com/embed/NzVdrUgK60Q
🐹️ https://www.youtube.com/embed/pZg4g0fbQDc
🕵️ https://www.youtube.com/embed/6wv4HnP_Yf8
🎲️ https://www.youtube.com/embed/e5xwrUNdXtk
🎲️ https://www.youtube.com/embed/8lM0FKZpV3o

From World War I to the Cold War, MI6 played a key role in shaping history. Jeffery tells the full, raw story.
#WWI #ColdWar #SpyLife #books #bookreviews
https://thisgrandpablogs.com/the-secret-history-of-mi6/