September 2021 Article by Peter Lichtgarn

 

1763 Proclamation Flag at Demarcation Point in Pennsylvania

 

The 1763 Proclamation flag was first hoisted along the original line as defined by King George III.  This Royal Proclamation was issued on October 7, 1763 during the George Greenville administration of Original Congress (Parliament).   Among several things, it became the border for several English Colonies from West Florida to Quebec.  During this time Canada, Quebec, and the 13+ North American Colonies were united under one government.  

The 1763 Proclamation used water sheds to set the western border of the several colonies, as well as the northern borders for the lost colonies of East and West Florida and southern borders of Quebec.  Basically the Eastern Mississippi Valley and Great Lakes were supposed to become an Indian Reserve/Reservation.  Before the American Revolution these borders would move, but as a heritage trail, the original 1763 borders is demarcated and honored with this flag.  

The 1763 Proclamation Flag uses the old UK flag pattern of Scotland and England, without St. Patrick's Cross since it was not included until 1801, after 'Ireland' became a part of the UK.  Likewise there is a red border with white broken edges to represent a fence.  

This is a cultural heritage flag, that does not have any irredential connotation.  It can be used to underscore this moment in history to educate Americans, Canadians, and the British about their common heritage.   It is an educational-geographic flag that can be flown anywhere in Canada and the United States that made up this border in 1763. 

Broadkill Beach Flag, Delaware

 

Broadkill Beach is a beach with, as of 2021, problematic name by some.  Imagine if there was a Dudekill Beach or Teenkill Beach?  No so matter, the flag of Broadkill Beach features a red crab with on a yellow background. 

Broadkill Beach is a tiny sliver of beach, that is free.  The hard part is finding parking.  There is a small lot next to the beach entrance.  Many people park on Bay Avenue, but it is kinda' illegal.  If you ever visit you see what I mean.  

There is a small bike and shore eatery right next to the place.  You can rent bikes.  It is tiny town with a rather infamous name.  

Machias Seal Island - The Binational Flag

 

On July 29, 2021 the Binational Flag of Machias Seal Island was hoisted upon an isle that belongs to both Canada and the United States—Machias Seal Island.  

This is not the first time where both nations had 'joint' custody over an area of North America.   Shortly after the War of 1812, the UK (Hudson Bay Company) and the US jointly occupied Oregon-Columbia Territory from 1818 until 1846.  This time frame was ruled under James Monroe until James Polk, or rather from Robert Jenkinson until Robert Peel.  

However, Machias Seal Island has been under control of both governments since 1776, or rather since 1867.  One could claim Canadian, American Citizenship, or both if born here. 

Note that the fictional Wolverine was not born in Canada de jure.  Reason being in 1845, where we see the opening scene of his origins in The Wolverine 2013, Canada was not yet federated.  Canada was federated officially in 1867.  Further, Wolverine's bone claws are first shown to come into existence in the North West Territories 1845.  Wolverine may have been born in British Columbia when this area was jointly occupied by the US and UK in its entirety during the 1820s to1830s.  Rumor has it that Wolverine's half-brother, Victor Creed, was born south of the 49th that became Washington State while Jeremiah Logan was born north of the 49th which would become British Columbia.  Or was it the other way around?  

The Binational Machias Seal Island flag is dedicated to inspiring and talented Canadian-Americans like: Dan Aykroyd, Pamela Anderson, Justin Bieber, Jim Carrey, Michael J. Fox, Wayne Gretsky, Alanis Morissette, Elon Musk, and "Superman."   And posthumously to Peter Jennings and Alex Trabek.

—May You All Have Peace and Prosper

Le 29 Juillet 2021, le drapeau binational de l'île Machias Seal a été hissé sur une île appartenant à la fois au Canada et aux États-Unis, l'île Machias Seal.

Ce n'est pas la première fois que les deux nations ont la garde « conjointe » d'une région de l'Amérique du Nord. Peu de temps après la guerre de 1812, le Royaume-Uni (Compagnie de la Baie d'Hudson) et les États-Unis ont occupé conjointement le territoire de l'Oregon et de la Colombie de 1818 à 1846. Cette période était sous James Monroe jusqu'à James Polk, ou plutôt de Robert Perceval à Robert Peel.

Cependant, Machias Seal Island est sous le contrôle des deux gouvernements depuis 1776, ou plutôt depuis 1867. On pourrait revendiquer la citoyenneté Canadienne, Américaine, ou les deux si né ici.

Notez que le Wolverine fictif n'est pas né au Canada de jure. La raison étant en 1845, où l'on voit la scène d'ouverture de ses origines dans The Wolverine 2013, le Canada n'était pas encore fédéré. Le Canada a été officiellement fédéré en 1867. De plus, les griffes osseuses de Wolverine sont apparues pour la première fois dans les Territoires du Nord-Ouest en 1845. Wolverine est peut-être né en Colombie-Britannique lorsque cette région a été occupée conjointement par les États-Unis et le Royaume-Uni dans son intégralité au cours des années 1820. aux années 1830. La rumeur veut que le demi-frère de Wolverine, Victor Creed, soit né au sud du 49e qui est devenu l'État de Washington tandis que Jeremiah Logan est né au nord du 49e qui deviendra la Colombie-Britannique. Ou bien était-ce l'inverse?

Le drapeau binational Machias Seal Island est dédié aux Canadiens-Américains inspirants et talentueux tels que : Dan Aykroyd, Pamela Anderson, Justin Bieber, Jim Carrey, Michael J. Fox, Wayne Gretsky, Alanis Morissette, Elon Musk et "Superman". Et à titre posthume à Peter Jennings et Alex Trabek.

— Puissiez-vous tous avoir la paix et la prospérité

 

Happy 4th of July, 2021

Honest Mistakes Reveal the Firmament of Wisdom

 

Making mistakes happens all the time.  Usually mistakes are unwanted but some reveal a certain kind of hidden wisdom.  Remember not to makes mistakes because you don't care or have given up.  

In the end...making mistakes even after you tried you hardest...shows that...

Honest Mistakes Reveal the Firmament of Wisdom 

The Dixon & Mason Survey Line Flag

 

To be a Sheldon Cooper, the Mason-Dixon line is not a line, but is rather a series of lines.  You can even argue that they should not be called lines since they are really arcs, due to the curvature of the Earth.  So how does The Mason-Dixon Arcs sound?   Well we wont go that deep but...

The most famous Mason-Dixon line is a line of Latitude: 39°43' north.  The least known Mason-Dixon line is the "North Line" and it is a line of longitude that falls along the 75° West.  Finally the Tangent line that is the main division between Maryland and Delaware does not dived the North and South, but rather divided East and West.  

The Mason-Dixon Line or rather the Chuck-Jerry Line is a cultural phenomenon in the USA.  Originally is was a border commission by King George III to settle a dispute between two slave holding colonies: Pennsylvania and Maryland.  Nonetheless, the Mason-Dixon Line has transformed into an iconic divide between the North and South.  

Some historians just use the upper line of latitude at 39° 43' North as the Mason-Dixon Line.  Others extend it as the divide between free and slave territories, such that the northern borders of Kentucky and Missouri are the 'Mason-Dixon Line.' Finally some just follow the actual three survey lines charted by Charles and Jeremiah. Who is right?  Well in today's understanding of a multilateral view of history and things, they are all right depending on your point of view, sorta' like a quantum string theory view of things. 

 Based upon these various interpretations, two flags have already been created.  One for the line at latitude at 39° 43' North, which you can read about it here.  Another that follows the divide between slave and free soil as it was in 1861. And finally here is flag that follows the official survey line from 1763 to 1767 that divides Maryland and Delaware by East-to-West as well as Pennsylvania and Maryland by North-to-South. 

 The design of the flag is based upon the County Flags of the surveyors who spelled out the Mason-Dixon Line. Mr. Mason was born in southern England, Gloucestershire County, on April 1728.  Mr. Dixon was born in northern England, Durham County, in July 27, 1733.   Gloucestershire County's flag has a centered blue cross, outlined with light beige, and green filling up the outer quarters.  Durham County's flag is horizontal bicolour of yellow on top and blue underneath with a counter coloured cross in the center.  

The Dixon & Mason Survey Flag is based upon the pattern of the Maryland Flag and modified versions of the Gloucestershire and Durham County flags.  A new colour added is white to the Survey Line Flag of Dixon & Mason for the outline of Gloucestershire's component and for Durham the central circle in the cross has a white disc.  

This flag directly honors Charles and Jerry for setting up the Mason-Dixon Line.   It should only be flown along the lines where the stones are marked off between Maryland with Pennsylvania/Delaware, where the famous M-P Milestones can be found.  Thus this flag can only be flown across the Tangent Line, North Line and along 39°43' until the last marker in western Pennsylvania/West Virginia.

As for the other two Mason-Dixon Flags:  The 39°43' north Flag should only be flown at that latitude across the US; the Penn-Calvert flag follows the divide between free and slave soil as it was in 1861 from Marcus Hook, Pennsylvania to Poston, Arizona.  But note that all three flags overlap Pennsylvania-Maryland border. 

 

 

 

 

It was quite a project when these two mathematically educated surveyors arrived in Philadelphia on Novermber 15, 1763.  They finished their survey in 1767.