tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48761619742713573.post6350931480656532608..comments2022-12-12T09:48:53.027-05:00Comments on One Island One Book: Last Train to Paradise Readalong: Week 5Nancy Klingenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16325228975944130602noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48761619742713573.post-83497377007637828202022-10-17T00:13:56.142-04:002022-10-17T00:13:56.142-04:00Hi great reading yoour postHi great reading yoour postPasadena TV Repairshttps://www.television-repairs.com/us/television-repair-california/pasadena-tv-repairs.shtmlnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48761619742713573.post-56022280949864129972012-02-25T11:19:12.260-05:002012-02-25T11:19:12.260-05:00What an ending. I agree it was nice to have this ...What an ending. I agree it was nice to have this amazing story end with a recap on Flagler as opposed to the devastating storm that essentially brought his empire to an end. I was also so into the reading that I forgot to take copious notes other than to think “wow,” and “oh my god” often. With such vivid descriptions of the storm and its aftermath I was glad to be reading this book well before hurricane season begins again. <br />I was also surprised that Rockefeller did not attend Flagler’s funeral. But I think by that time Flagler had far surpassed his Standard Oil days. When I hear the name Rockefeller I think of only a rich business man, but when I hear the name Flagler I think of a “railroad” man. I think the description near the end of the book (p. 393 in the large print edition) says it all –Flagler was a “visionary in businessman’s clothing.” And he is more than just the man who built the extension to Key West—he built Florida. Maybe the FLA abbreviation did stand for FLAgler. <br />This is a great book, in my opinion to instill pride in this state. When I first moved here I felt like I lived in Key West but that it was not really a part of Florida. But the rich history in this book makes me want to explore the rest of the state (someday…) and I am slowly accepting that, yes, I do live in Florida.Kristinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02691833399397738481noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48761619742713573.post-75743370988039239132012-02-24T12:33:42.462-05:002012-02-24T12:33:42.462-05:00Last week I talked about my doubts that Flagler ev...Last week I talked about my doubts that Flagler ever did such a cowardly thing as to give carnival tickets away to a group of shantytown squatters so he could burn them out while they were away having fun...but here is an example of Flagler's storied negotiating style that can be documented. Early on, Flagler built a spur from the FEC's main line to the then-burgeoning town of Rockledge near the north central Florida coast. The spur was a great boost to the developing town and things looked bright for a while. But then, city fathers and businessmen decided that Flagler was charging too much for freight traveling back and forth on the spur. They petitioned Flagler for a reduction, but he declined. Finally, the burghers of Rockledge decided to withhold payment of monies due to Flagler until he relented. Flagler issued overdue notices, which were ignored. Then, early one Saturday morning, citizens heard a commotion down by the rail station. A closer look revealed that a service train had come down the spur from the main line and a work crew was busy at work, pulling up track to load on flat cars and backing their way toward the main line. It being a Saturday, no judge could be found to issue an injunction stopping the work. By nightfall, the Rockledge spur was no more, and the once-promising town would eventually wither to near-nothingness. Moral of the story? I will let YOU decide, dear readers.<br /><br />See some of you on Sunday and Monday, I hope. I will bring along a few copies of the new clothbound, centennial illustrated edition of LAST TRAIN TO PARADISE for your inspection. A fabulous artifact it is!<br /><br />--Les StandifordLes Standifordhttp://www.les-standiford.comnoreply@blogger.com