Here's Jo Ann, Charlie's Mom, for those of you who did not get to meet her when she went to STC with Charlie, or who would like to have said good-bye to Charlie, with her, at his visitation or funeral.



The photo album of their trip to Scotland, was on display at the visitation funeral home, and again next day, at the church funeral.

Well, what can we make out of this photo?

I love a puzzle. But my effort on a recent one contained an error. Ren was there to save me from eternal blunderhood. Whose gonna save me on this one? What I know about archeology, can probably be outweighed by that sagging string left of the ladder.

The only other archeologist I know off hand, is Jud. And she might be rather far afield to help much on this. But I bet she knows some interesting stuff.

Nevertheless, if Tracy and Anita can move mountains, as described earlier in this thread, I should at least have the courage, to pay proper attention, when Charlie moves a dirt pile.

Charlie looks pretty young here. Not unlike his graduation photo posted earlier.

In fact, this picture has more clues than first meets the eye.

Look at that row of dark objects, behind the ladder. Until I used the shadow/highlight tool, that area was almost indistinguishable in the original photo posted earlier (see above).

Could've been a dark pile of dirt, a curtain, some rumpled cardboard, corrugated rusted steel or plastic, a myriad destination of things, to paraphrase Simon and Garfunkel, who are also buried earlier in this thread.

But after digging with the proper Photoshop tool, voila', something appears in a new light, which is now possible to understand. Ah SO! That's what archeology is! Jud, youve been holding out on me!



Now I see the light! Now I "get it".

There is some interesting info I can share now. But I have to go catch my daily hour of independent news. Liberals and Conservatives may wring their hands, worrying about the unvarnished data yet to be revealed.

Now take a look again at this photo.



What do we see behind the aluminum step ladder?

Is that not what I told you about earlier in this thread?

You say: "Why sure, Bob! So it is! it's a wall of vertical logs, used to protect a fort during the pioneer days and frontier days of the US, during the 1700's and 1800's. That protective wall is called a 'screen'."

Somewhere I read that Charlie was sorting out the exact location of the log wall, or protecting 'screen' of Fort Michilmackinac.



For some reason, he was digging out the bottom of the screen. Something about the location of the old screen being below the new screen, and one extending out beyond the other.

I was digging thru my remaining sample of pics from Charlie's visitations and funeral.

I did not know at the time, what this picture was about. It's just that Jo Ann and Jackie had put it out. They know what's important about Charlie's pre-Shania Twain days. So this looked like it might have some potential.



Now I see, as I continue my archaeological discoveries, from Charlie's archaeological photos, that this picture has lots of info, related to the previous color photo of Charlie doing a screen of the 'screen'. It's also related to the pic of the book about the fur trade that Ren helpfully asked me about.

I feel like the national security agency here, reconnecting the dots. But I don't know who the conspirators were.

Are they:

A) the Indians who tried to attack these forts, including the michilimackinac?

B) the US pioneers and settlers, who insurged and drove the indigenous tribes from their lands?

C) the natural deposits of sediment or human trash, that covered up the history?

D) Cory, who didn't answer my question about whether Charlie was in South Carolina before, or after he graduated from Alma College?

E) Bianca, (Holland2010) the bright eyed Dutchie who knows more than she's telling us?

F) Luc, who fails to prevent us from changing the subject, and going on tangents?

G) John (Finnfreak), who gives us the short, accurate answer, but encrypted in humor and allegory?

H) Betsy, (Shaniahead) who's been egging me on, but only in private, because she doesn't want the egg on my face, to splash onto hers, in public?

I) some of the above?

J) none of the above?

K) somebody else?

Good thing I've been researching and writing a book for over 3 yrs, about my uncle in Secret Intelligence during WW II. My contacts with people in charge of secret records at National Archives near Washington DC, has prepared me for this job on who's been withholding information related to Charlie's photos.

Okay, so we don't all have the same focus on connecting the dots. After all, Charlie had his retinal detachments, and I have my cataracts. So like Avis in the former car rental commercial, we're accustomed to trying harder, to see beyond the surface.

Let's make it easier by putting the pictures right next to each other.

Charlie screening the 'screen'.


Fort Michilimackinac.


Charlie with view of Fort Michilimackinac, inside palisade (aka log wall, aka screen).


These 3 photos are all of the same place.

Charlie is in two of them.

The last photo has a caption that says Charlie Rinehart is a recipient of Masters Degree from University of South Carolina. That fills in a missing gap for me. We knew he'd graduated from Alma College in Michigan in 1985. So he had to be in South Carolina AFTER that, to get his graduate degree. And that answers the 2nd question I posted earlier, to Cory.

The last photo and newspaper article talks about related matters. One is the name Heldman, who is quoted multiple times, and seems to be the authority on the subject. In order to get close enough for you to see the picture, and read some of the article text, the picture could not include all of the article or text. That was impossible, because the text was probably on more than one page anyway.

However, Jo Ann had told me a story, which I dutifully posted earlier in this thread, and which you the reader, have dutifully forgotten.

She said the head of archeology, was a huge Shania Twain fan, similar to Charlie. But neither he nor Charlie knew of the other's interest/hobby/fandom. The name of the head archeology guy that Jo Ann told me, was Heldman, named in this article. I had only been able to approximate the sound and spelling of the name til I saw it here in black and white.

An' dat's da trupth!

Lo and behold! Circling back several pages earlier in this thread, we dig up some other buried archaeological remains.



Connecting the dots between Jo Ann's story, Ren's question, Jud's not yet officially interpreted photo of Charlie's 'screen', and the newspaper photo and article; we now know that Heldman, is Donald P Heldman. He is, among other things, the editor of the book about the Fur Trade. That book was a collection of papers, presented in person, by their authors, at the Fur Trade Convention, held every 10 yrs. Charlie's paper was an update on his masters thesis, which he got while visiting Cory in South Carolina. And Charlie made his presentation of that paper in the Grand Hotel on Mackinaw Island. The Grand Hotel is a high security area, often reserved for meetings of state governors, heads of state, heads of politics and industry.

Well there's lots more, on which I could zoom the focus in or out, or go around some more corners, into archaeological info related to Charlie. I don't know anything about archaeology. But those who do, aren't talking.

And I have to go see a man about a house.

I'm moving to a newer residence soon. So I may need to stop playing around here, especially so near the surface.

For those of you who prefer more spontaneity, than you get from examining photographs for archaeological possibilities, there is a more "hands on" alternative.

The online game below, appears to be an archaeology simulation.

http://www.wowguideonline.com/wow-profe ... guide.html


So if you have an unrequited love for "Indiana Jones",

I think Charlie would not mind, if you played the game.

But he's probably more invested, in the photos.

(I think Indiana Jones' partner, Calista is easier on the eyes. I think Charlie might too. Jo Ann and Jacki also noticed Charlie's unabashed admiration for attractive ladies.)


http://static1.purepeople.com/articles/ ... 37x0-3.jpg

I wonder if he's ever got around to shaking her hand.

It's interesting to learn how unusually well liked Charlie was, seemingly in all the communities in which he lived, in multiple states east of the Mississippi.

Charlie has been adopted by persons from many communities, ranging from little Hayley, who called him "Uncle Charlie", to Jackie, who called him her "Big Brother".

Tracy posted the link on page 3 of this thread, to the Lansing State Journal online obituary for Charlie.

42 interesting, personal, informative and endearing messages are posted there from friends and associates.

http://www.legacy.com/guestbook/lsj/gue ... 942&sort=1

The first one was by our own Eric German, from Dubai, UAE.

Others include:

a fellow high school graduate, from Clare, Michigan

a 16 yr co-worker, from Richmond Virginia

an employee of Charlie's on many projects, Hampstead, New Hampshire

friend and colleague at Louis Berger (Archaeology company), New Jersey

colleague on multiple projects, Massachusetts

an employee, Dover, Tennessee

a family member

a Professor Emerita, American University

Jackie, for whom Charile was her "Big Brother", Wixom, Michigan

fellow graduate, Masters Degree, Univ S Carolina, now in Syracuse, New York

employee on Louis Berger projects, Chilhowie, Virginia

friend, Albany, New York

archaeology associate, Williamsburg, Virginia

associate from SCIAA site

co-worker, archaeology, Ames, iowa

fellow Mason, Michigan High School grad, now in Glen Arbor, Michigan

an employee, Richmond, Virginia

fraternity brother from DGT, Dearborn, Michigan

co-worker, archaeology, Guttenberg, Iowa

an admirer of Charlie's smile while driving his Mustang convertible, New York

25 yr friend, Lexington, Kentucky

associate from University of S Carolina, and excavation of Middleburg Plantation

grad student in archaeology, Lansing, Mich; now in Minneapolis, Minnesota

fraternity brother at Alma College, now in East Jordan, Michigan

a friend, Oakwood Hillsq, Illinois

friend, Livonia, Michigan

co-worker at Louis Berger Group, Anamosa, Iowa

THE co-worker at Louis Berger, whose daughter Hayley, loved Charlie and always called him "Uncle Charlie". That's where, in my opinion, the best photo came from, to show Charlie's effect on people. It is posted on 5 of this STC thread. Marion, Iowa

school mate, who noted Charlie as varsity softball statistician, Mason, Michigan

the lady who Charlie escorted to their high school senior prom, now in Jenison, Michigan

couple who knew Charlie as a young boy at church with his mom. Mason, Michigan

a fellow who will miss trash talking with Charlie, about Big Ten college sports and Mich State Univ basketball. He has a famous pro basketball player name, who was a major star on MSU team. Columbia, South Carolina

a neighbor, when Charlie was a kid on Lawton St in Mason, Michigan

fellow archaeology student at Univ of S Carolina, who with Charlie, drove the backroads around Columbia; now in Lake Hopatcong, New Jersey

long remembrance by Cory, who has also posted on this STC thread. She first met Charlie when she was tending bar at Monterrey Jack's at Univ S. Carolina, and last met Charlie a week before he died. Her photo from that last meeting, is the same as the last one she posted in this STC thread. Columbia, S Carolina

associate from Louis Berger Group, in New York, New York, who said he'd be following Charlie's advice in future proposals to Michigan Department of Transportation

elementary school pal in Mason, Michigan, now in Fort Lauderdale, FL

The messages from Charlie's friends and associates say a lot about who he was.

They tell me, he was far more than the person I knew him to be.

I saw that he was intelligent, interesting, comfortable and enjoyable to be with, and funny. But I did not see or know him as most others did.

I've been working since age 7, in the family business. I grew up more with dairy cows, nature, and machinery, than with people. So I've not developed some of the spontaneity and social awareness that average people possess. My background and personality have given me the ability to analyze and sense many things that average people don't. Yet I have a blind spot for the obvious.

Charlie's life, and the observations about it, from others, fills my blind spot, and teaches a valuable lesson.

I read a passage in Dr Zhivago tonight, that said, failure to love is almost like murder.

Charlie and I have similarities in academic level, religious training and some other things. But we are different in our approach.

Charlie reached out to people not just intellectually, but also emotionally. He found ways to nurture them, love them and enrich their lives.

You can see it in the eyes of the little girl Hayley, who renamed him "Uncle Charley". You could hear it in the eulogies of long time friends, neighbors and relatives at his visitation and funeral. You could see it in the article by his comrades in the Alma College journal. You could see it in the reactions of Tracy and Richard and many others at the Shania Twain Centre events. You could read it in the long, heartfelt post by Cory on this message board. And you can see it in the 40+ messages on the Lansing State Journal website.

No wonder people are sad, even angry that his life was cut short, at age 48.

They know and can feel, what life is capable of, in the right hands, with the right motivation.

Charlie showed them.

I have really enjoyed reading all of your posts Bob.

I can't put into words how much I miss Charlie. I really wish I could have been at the service to allow my self some closure....He will live on forever in our memories.

Tracy

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Reading your posts gives me time and space to stand still and think about Charlie, Bob. It gives bigger perspective on his life.. wonderful and thanks for sharing if with us..

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"Music is what feelings sound like.."

I agree. And I know what you mean, Tracy. I feel his absence. It sounds strange because we're a billion miles away from anybody, but it's true. I feel his absence.

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Believe.... we do.