And the Widow Wore White . . .

In a post dated September 22, 2009, I mentioned a magazine I found while digging around in some boxes that were in the basement of a charming little used book store in New York. In a different issue of the same magazine, in a section titled "Mainly About Men And Women" I discovered the following. The issue is dated September, 1912.What I found is a little blurb about Mrs. John Jacob Astor and her announcement that she would wear nothing but pure white for six months.

It reads -

Probably ten years from now black will not be worn at all as a badge of mourning. That is the conclusion of those who have been drawn into a discussion of the subject by the announcement that Mrs. John Jacob Astor will wear nothing but pure white for the next six months. "Personally I have always thought the only important question in regard to mourning apparel concerns not the putting it on, but the taking it off," declares one authority. "The lady who 'goes into colors' after a polite period of gloom seems to symbolize so blatantly the transient nature of her grief. Mourning outght to be worn forever. At least that is my feeling about it." Why not vote on it? Which do you favor? White or black? Or none at all?

Brooke Astor's Son Found Guilty

I have a book on the Astors, and I think there are a number of interesting issues going on with the family members involved (or not, some might argue), and I also plan to follow the appeal, so I'll be posting more on this story.

Vincent Astor, who brought his father's body back to New York and presided over his funeral after the sinking, was married to Brooke at the time of his somewhat (doctors had diagnosed a cardiovascular condition that fluctuated over the five months before his death) unexpected death of a heart attack on February 3, 1959. I can't help but think that he's smiling down over this verdict, and perhaps somewhat relieved. It's my understanding that sentencing will take place on December 8, and I hope the judge sticks it to the lawyer involved.

Article

On a side note, Vincent left his half-brother nothing. I don't think I'll ever be able to watch "the movie" again without being reminded of the fact that the kid with whom Madelaine was pregnant while on the Titanic and, in my opinion unintentionally disinherited, is, ironically, the one responsible (he left a son and grandson when he died in July of 1992) for carrying on the Astor name in the United States. I find it a bit interesting that Vincent left him nothing, as he had to have known that his father would have wanted to provide for him and, although it's my understanding that Vincent didn't like him (his half-brother) much and didn't respect his choices in life, it's interesting that he didn't do the right thing, so to say.

Millvina Dean's Ashes Scattered

Bruno Nordmannis, Millvina's lifelong friend, places floral wreaths in the water after Millvina's ashes were scattered.


Photo Credit: Daily Echo

Millvina Dean's ashes have been scattered in the water where Titanic departed Southampton almost one hundred years ago. Millvina died on May 31, 2009, which was the 98th anniversary of Titanic's launch in Belfast.

Article

Premier Exhibitions, Inc. Regains Compliance With NASDAQ Listing Rules

Article

Fredrick Fleet

Photo Credit: Find A Grave

On this day in the year 1887, Fredrick Fleet was born in Liverpool, England. Fleet was a lookout on the Titanic and was on duty when she struck an iceberg and sank approximately two and one half hours later. Unfortunately, Fredrick Fleet would be among the Titanic survivors who would eventually end their own lives. He committed suicide in 1965 after the death of his wife a couple of weeks earlier. He's buried in Hollybrook Cemetery, located in Southampton.

Love Me Tender

The Nomadic lying in dry dock in Belfast waiting for restoration to begin.
Photo Source: Belfast Telegraph

According to an article in BBC News, police were called in when the Nomadic Preservation Society removed two ornate doors from the historic tender. A spokesperson for the Nomadic Preservation Society said it had purchased the doors in Paris and claimed they possessed proof of ownership. The society now wants an apology from the Nomadic Trust, which is the government-appointed body which called the police and eventually described the event as a misunderstanding.

There is also a dispute between the Nomadic Preservation Society and the Nomadic Trust over a lifeboat that once belonged to the Nomadic, with the Nomadic Preservation Society claiming it bought the lifeboat, and the Nomadic Trust claiming it had been gifted to the Trust.

The two entities are also arguing over the multimillion pound project to restore the Nomadic. Members of the Nomadic Preservation Society are reluctant to hand over the funds they have raised to the Nomadic Trust because it is unclear what the Trust intends to do with the funds. The doors are now in storage and it is unclear when they will be reunited with the tender.

According to an article in the Belefast Telegraph, an expert in restoration projects has offered to step in and act as mediator to help resolve issues between the Nomadic Preservation Society and the Nomadic Trust.

According to another article in the Belefast Telegraph, the restoration of the Nomadic, the tender that ferried first and second-class passengers on board the Titanic from Cherbourg, will begin in the spring of 2010. There had been concerns of a funding shortfall, and it was beginning to look doubtful that the tender would be reopened to the public ahead of the 100th anniversary of her launch. Thanks to a grant from the Northern Ireland Tourist Board, there are now sufficient funds in place for restoration of the Nomadic to begin. (Other funders who have contributed to the project include Belfast City Council, Belfast Harbour, Titanic Quarter Ltd, Ulster Garden Villages, and the Better Belfast project.) Both the Titanic and the Nomadic were launched from Harland and Wolff, located in Belfast, in 1911.

Check the following link for some nice pictures of the Nomadic when she was docked at Le Havre, France, and after coming home to Belfast, Ireland. Notice the photo in which the White Star Line company flag is flying proudly from her stern.

Department for Social Development

A Queen Is Launched

September 26th marked the 75th anniversary of the launch of the R.M.S. Queen Mary in Scotland. Here, courtesy of the National Library of Scotland, you can see a short (about one minute and ten seconds) but amazing video of her launch.

Video