myrtle

formerly a German ship, seized when the US entered WWI www.history.navy.mil/photos/sh-usn/usnsh-n/ak3.htm ODENWALD was built at Flensburg, Germany, in 1904 as the Danish freighter St. Jan. The German Hamburg-Amerika line bought her in 1907 and renamed her Odenwald.

good shot!

In mid-March 1915, the German steamer Odenwald, carrying coal (which was probably intended to refuel German destroyers sinking enemy and neutral ships at that time) was detained in San Juan harbor by American officials and fired upon when she attempted to leave without papers. This is probably a photo of Odenwald being kept under guard at that time. It was questionable whether the neutral U.S. had the legal right to take this action. The brief diplomatic exchange that ensued (available online at www.jstor.org/stable/2212255 ) between Secretary of State Williams Jennings Bryan and the German ambassador is a marvel of diplomat-speak, with neither party discussing, or even acknowledging, the heart of the matter. The other ship in the photo is the U.S. Lighthouse Service tender, Myrtle (1872) www.uscg.mil/history/webcutters/Myrtle_1872.pdf

Thank you, Kilted Cowboy and artolog, for filling in the context for this image and pointing to further sources on the incident. We'll add some information when we update the description.

Crape myrtles are chiefly known for their colorful and long-lasting flowers, which occur in summer. Most species of Lagerstroemia have sinewy, fluted stems and branches with a mottled appearance that arises from having bark that sheds throughout the year. Flowers are borne in summer and autumn in panicles of crinkled flowers with a crêpe-like texture. Colors vary from deep purple to red to white, with almost every shade in between. Although no blue-flowered varieties exist, the flowers trend toward the blue end of the spectrum with no orange or yellow except in stamens and pistils. The fruit is a capsule, green and succulent at first, then ripening to dark brown or black dryness. It splits along six or seven lines, producing teeth much like those of the calyx, and releases numerous, small, winged seeds. Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lagerstroemia

There are some friends of mine from the USA on "Retreat" in Ireland this week, sampling some Irish hospitality and visiting some of our classic designers. I know they look in here from time to time. Welcome and have a great visit.

Streetview 25" OSI Cottage orné

NIAH record DIA

The Heritage Ireland page mentions that: "The wallpaper in the Salon manufactured by the Dufour factory is one of the first commercially produced Parisian wallpapers."

O Mac Owen, the streetview is almost the same.