text:
A History of Quarry Heights
The Former Panama Canal Zone
Republic of Panama
The United States and The Republic of Panama:
Our Shared Cultural Heritage
This publication, a Legacy Resource Management Program
demonstration project, was prepared for United States Army South
(USARSO) through the Directorate of Engineering and Housing
(DEH), United States Army Garrison-Panama, and by Graves + Klein
Architects, Engineers of Pensacola, Florida. The purpose of this
project is to document the available records and to provide a
brief history of Quarry Heights Military Reservation prior to its
transfer to the Republic of Panama., Other brochures documenting
the histories of other Department of Defense installations in
Panama are available from the DEH.
Researched and Compiled by:
Suzanne P. Johnson,
Cultural Resources Specialist
Consultant to Graves + Klein
Richard M. Houle
Chief, Engineering Division,
Directorate of Engineering and Housing,
United States Army South
Chief, Plans and Property Branch,
Directorate of Engineering and Housing,
United States Army South
Dr. John Pitts
Historian, United States Southern Command
Don Carlos, Architect
Graves + Klein Architects, Engineers
Any additional information or sources of documentation would be
greatly appreciated and may be forwarded to:
HQ, U.S. Army Garrison - Panama
Unit 7151 Box 51
ATTN: SOCO-EH-E (Legacy)
APO AA 34004-5000
Historical Overview----------------------------------- 4
Ancon Hill-------------------------------------------- 9
The Rock Quarry--------------------------------------- 18
The Marines------------------------------------------- 20
Quarry Heights Military
The Buildings----------------------------------------- 29
The United States
Southern Command-------------------------------------- 62
Commanding Officers----------------------------------- 69
Photo Credits----------------------------------------- 73
Quarry Heights has been the nerve center for U.S. Military forces
in Panama since 1920 and for all U.S. Forces deployed in the
Southern Theater since 1947. Transferred to the Army by the
Panama Canal Commission in 1914, Quarry Heights served as a troop
encampment, military police post, and senior officer housing area
for six years. During this time, the Army upgraded the post to
make it suitable for use as the headquarters of the ranking
military commander in Panama. Subsequently, Quarry Heights was
the headquarters location for the Commander, U.S. Army Panama
Canal Department (I 920-194 1); Commander, U.S. Army Caribbean
Defense Command (I 941-1947); Commander in Chief, U.S. Caribbean
Command (1947-1963); and Commander in Chief, U.S. Southern
Command (I 963-present). Quarry Heights' role as a military
command center will end in 1998, when proprietorship of the
reservation will be passed to the Republic of Panama.
Quarry Heights is situated on two man-mad terraces created by
quarrying on the slope of Ancon Hill. The Hill, which rises 654
feet from the bay at its foot, has been a key geographical
reference point in Panama for nearly 400 years. This is due to
its proximity to Panama City and its commanding 360-degree view
encompassing the Pacific Ocean approach to the Isthmus of Panama
and the Panamanian hinterland seven to ten miles to the west,
east, and north.
Quarry Heights had its beginning in February, 1909, when the
Isthmian Canal Commission began quarrying rock for construction
of the Miraflores and Pedro Miquel locks. Locals soon dubbed the
area Quarry Heights. The Commission closed the quarry after five
years, having removed more than 3.2 million cubic yards of rock.
Canal officials transferred the quarry shelves to the U.S. Army
in 1914 for use as a Canal Zone Army command post. For nearly
six years, however, Quarry Heights served other purposes: troop
encampment, military police barracks, and senior officer housing.
The Commander of U.S. Forces selected the site for his
headquarters in 1915, but the small area of the shelves hindered
necessary development. Pending acquisition of additional land
and construction of buildings, the Commander operated from Canal
Commission offices in nearby Ancon.
Meanwhile, the Army expedited construction required for other
uses. Engineers erected administrative offices and barracks for
the military police post, using immediately available materials.
The major construction, however, involved erection of quarters
for senior officers. By recycling frame quarters originally
built as 'run of the job' housing for senior officials at
temporary construction camps, the Army erected 24 quarters, along
with other buildings, between 1915 and 1919. Quarters #1, the
Commander in Chief s quarters erected at its present location in
mid- 1 91 5, was the first permanent quarters erected in Quarry
Heights. The first 'office' building, Building #84, began as a
motion picture hall. It now houses the Post Office and a
World War I brought to light the strategic importance of the
Panama Canal and the U.S. Military presence in the Zone and
spurred development of Quarry Heights for use as the headquarters
for the Army's new Panama Canal Department. At President
Wilson's behest, the Commission transferred an additional 100
acres to Quarry Heights Military Reservation, and the Army
expedited construction of necessary buildings.
In April, 1920, the Commander of the Panama Canal Department
formally established his headquarters in Quarry Heights and
unwittingly set the future direction of the former rock quarry.
Quarry Heights was destined to remain the headquarters for the
ranking command in Panama for more than three-quarters of a
Since Columbus' 'discovery' of the New World, it was inevitable
that the history of the area that is now called the Republic of
Panama would be tied with that of other nations. The Isthmus, at
places barely fifty miles wide, links the Western Hemisphere and
separates the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. The result of this
natural phenomenon of nature is that the history and culture of
the people of the Republic of Panama has been integral with that
of other nations, including the United States of America.
One of the first to recognize the commercial potential of a canal
across the isthmus was the Spanish explorer Vasco Nunez de
Balboa, the 'discoverer' of the Pacific Ocean. After serious
consideration, Spain's King Charles I rejected a Canal proposal,
concluding that "if God wanted the oceans to meet He would have
built the canal Himself."'
In the early 1880's, La Compagnie Universelle du Canal
Interoceanique, a French company headed by Count Ferdinand de
Lesseps, arrived on the Isthmus to begin construction of a canal
that would connect the oceans. Seemingly insurmountable health
problems due to the tropical climate resulted in an overwhelming
number of deaths. This, combined with the economic failure of
the Company, led to the early capitulation of the French Canal
construction effort. The French sold the rights to construct a
canal to the United States in 1903.
The United States, and in particular the U.S. Army Medical Corps
and the Corps of Engineers, eventually conquered and tamed the
diseases which had destroyed so many lives and was able to
complete an engineering feat which has yet to be rivaled.
Following the completion of the canal, a large number of U.S.
Citizens remained on the Isthmus to operate, maintain and defend
While much has been written about the Panama Canal itself, very
little has been written about the Department of Defense
installations and properties constructed to support the U.S.
Military mission of defending the Canal. There is a great need
to document these installations, the majority of which are of
historical and architectural significance and which represent a
very unique era in the social history of both the United States
By noon, December 31, 1999, full and final proprietorship of the
Panama Canal and its support and defense systems will be passed
to the Republic of Panama, and a unique American experience will
have come to an end. The physical legacy to the people of
Panama, which includes the Quarry Heights Military Reservation,
will remain as part of the United States' rich contribution to
the cultural heritage of Panama.
One of the first tracts of land to be officially set aside for
the uses of a military reservation was the Quarry Heights
Military Reservation. Located on Ancon Hill, Quarry Heights has,
at different times, been used as a rock quarry, a Marine Corps
camp, headquarters for the U.S. Army Forces, and headquarters of
the United States Southern Command.
Quarry Heights Military Reservation is a picturesque historic
district composed of buildings which date back to the Canal
Construction Era. These buildings, primarily family housing
units, reflect an architectural style unique to the Panama Canal
area -- a style which incorporated both French and American
design elements for living in a hot and humid tropical climate.
Since the arrival of the French on the Isthmus of Panama in 1879,
Ancon Hill played a major role in plans for the construction of
the Panama Canal. The hill, which overlooks the city of Panama
from a height of 636 feet, takes its name from the Spanish word
Ancon, which means 'anchorage.'
The French Canal Company located its main hospital near the top
of Ancon Hill. L'Hospital Notre Dame du Canal included nearly
seventy buildings and a "full-time staff of doctors and nurses,
the Filles de la Charite."2 Doctor Louis Companyo, who had
served as chief of the sanitary division of the Suez Canal, was
appointed physician-in-charge. The facility was appraised by Dr.
William C. Gorgas as "a very much better institution than any in
the United States... at the same period carried on by a firm or
Unfortunately, despite being "a very much better institution,"
the hospital became a virtual death trap to those who sought
health. "In the lovely gardens, surrounding the hospital,
thousands of ring-shaped pottery dishes filled with water to
protect plants and flowers from [the destructive 'leaf cutter']
ants provided perfect breeding places for mosquitoes. Even in
the sick wards themselves the legs of the beds were placed in
shallow basins of water, again to keep the ants away, and there
were no screens in any of the windows or doors. Patients were
placed in the wards according to nationality, rather than by
disease, with the results that every ward had its malaria and
yellow-fever cases. As Dr. Gorgas was to write, had the French
been consciously trying to propagate malaria and yellow fever,
they could not have provided conditions better suited for the
On November 18,1903, the Hay-Bunau-Varilla Treaty gave the U.S.
the right "in perpetuity" to construct, maintain and defend an
interoceanic waterway across the Isthmus. The U.S. would
exercise rights, powers and authority "as if it were Sovereign of
the territory". On May 19, 1904, the United States of America,
represented by the Governor of the Panama Canal Zone, officially
proclaimed 'Acquisition Day,' thus starting the occupation of the
Isthmus of Panama.
In 1905, the name of the hospital was changed by gubernatorial
decree to Ancon Hospital. In 1914, a committee was appointed to
submit recommendations to the Governor of the Panama Canal Zone
for replacing the old French buildings with a new, permanent
hospital complex. The new, state-of-the-art hospital complex was
completed by 1919.
The name of the medical facility remained Ancon Hospital until
1928 when, by a Joint Resolution of Congress, it was renamed in
memory of Major General William Crawford Gorgas, the first Chief
Sanitary Officer of the Panama Canal Zone, "for his work in
ridding the Isthmus of the 'edes aegypti mosquito, the vector of
the dread yellow fever which had taken such a terrible toll in
human suffering and death during the early Canal construction
In accordance with the provisions of the Panama Canal Treaty of
1977, jurisdiction over the Gorgas Hospital complex was
transferred to the United States Department of Defense on October
One of the earliest residences constructed by the French on Ancon
Hill was for General Director Jules Isidore Dingler, Chief
Engineer of the French Canal Company from 1883 to 1885. A
large, wood-framed chateau, or villa, was constructed for the
Dingler family, who arrived on the Isthmus on March 1, 1883.
Included in the entourage were Mrs. Dingler, a son and daughter,
and the daughter's fiance.
While awaiting the completion of Casa Dingler on Ancon Hill, the
family set up housekeeping in Panama City, in "a large,
comfortable house on the Avenida Central, just off Cathedral
Plaza."6 Within a short period of time, however, yellow fever
left its mark on the family -- first the daughter, then the son,
and finally the fianc , died. Following the death of Mrs.
Dingler on January 2, 1885, the General Director left the
country. The Dingler family never lived in the house on Ancon
The Isthmian Canal Commission (ICQ subsequently used the house as
a smallpox isolation house and as a quarantine detention station
until 191 0, when the building was demolished in order to
accommodate the extension of the Ancon rock quarry.
Like the French Canal Company, the ICC found Ancon Hill to be a
choice piece of property. After rehabilitating the old French
hospital buildings, a cemetery was established on the slope of
one of the hills. Among those buried at Ancon Cemetery were
approximately 40 sailors and marines who were originally buried
at the Flamenco Island cemetery between 1850 and 1890.
In 1914, the entire cemetery was moved to the newly established
Corozal Cemetery in order to make room for permanent construction
on the site.
While making changes in the water system near Ridge Road in
Balboa Heights, a headstone was discovered at the site of the
former Ancon Cemetery. The headstone had marked the grave of
Thomas Collins, a young private in the United States Marines who
died of typhoid fever on March 11, 1863, while on duty aboard the
US. St. Mary stationed in the Pacific Ocean. The body had been
exhumed from Flamenco Island and re-interred at Ancon Cemetery,
but the headstone was overlooked during the grave relocation
process in 1914.
As the facilities on Ancon Hill grew, plans for the Ancon area
were expanded. These plans included the erection of a number of
buildings on the lower slopes of the hill between the hospital
and the city of Panama. The sites selected for this construction
were not included in the Panama Canal Treaty of 1903, so a joint
commission was appointed in January of 1905 to assess the value
of the property.
In order to provide additional fire protection to Ancon, Panama
City, and La Boca, a million gallon water reservoir was
constructed on the south side of Ancon Hill in 1909.
In August of 1905, construction was begun on a large hotel on the
El Tivoli property. Completed in October 1906, the Tivoli Hotel,
which was constructed of wood siding and brick, accommodated a
number of famous guests, one of the first of whom was President
During a three-day inspection tour of Canal Construction in
November, 1906, President Roosevelt, accompanied by Mrs.
Roosevelt and a small party, stayed at the Tivoli. This marked
"the first time any American President had left the United States
while President."7 Sadly, the Tivoli Hotel was demolished in
1982, and the site is now used as the headquarters of the
Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute.
The Isthmian Canal Commission had established its construction
headquarters at the Culebra Cut. On August 2, 1905, by
resolution of the executive committee of the ICC, authorization
was granted for the construction at Ancon Hill of "an
administration building containing 70 rooms suitable for
offices."8 Among the offices located in this building were the
ICC police and sanitation department as well as the headquarters
of the Canal Zone government.
Ancon Hill was also chosen as the site for the permanent
residence of the Governor of the Panama Canal Zone, and
construction of the building was begun in 1906. The three-story
concrete block structure "was to have had 15 bedrooms, each with
its own bath, a roof garden, and a 55 by 48 foot drawing room.
Between 12 and 15 servants would have been necessary to keep it
Chief Engineer Stevens redesignated the structure for
administrative purposes. Within ten years, the building became
the Panama Canal Zone's U.S. District Court building.
In 1909, several of the offices on the second floor of this
building were made available to the Panama Canal Department to be
used as headquarters for the United States troops in the Canal
Zone. U.S. Army administrative headquarters remained in this
building until moving permanently to Quarry Heights Military
Reservation in April of 1920.
On May 24, 1912, the committee appointed to consider a site for
the permanent Panama Canal Administration Building reported its
recommendations. The site selected was "on the knoll, west of
Ancon quarry, and directly east of the main track leading to the
quarry."10 Construction began in 1914 on the Italiante style
administrative headquarters building.
Designed by architect Austin W. Lord of the New York City
architectural firm Lord, Hewlett, and Tallant, the building was
ready for occupancy on July 15, 1914. It was the first of the
permanent ICC buildings to be completed.
In 1914, following the first interoceanic transit through the
Panama Canal, the residence of Chief Engineer Goethals in Culebra
was dismantled, moved by rail, and re-erected on the site of the
former tuberculosis ward of the old French hospital in Balboa
This building remained the official residence of the Governor of
the Panama Canal Zone until that agency was abolished in 1979, in
compliance with the Panama Canal Treaty of 1977. The building is
currently the official residence of the Administrator of the
Panama Canal Commission.
The Rock Quarry
Large quantities of building materials, including stone and
concrete, were required in the construction of the three sets of
canal locks. A quarry located at Porto Bello on the Caribbean
coast provided stone and concrete for, the Gatun Locks. After
considering several locations on the Pacific coast, including
Cocoli Hill, Sosa Hill and "the hills north of Corozal,"11 an
area on the western side of Ancon Hill was selected as the site
for the Pacific side rock quarry.
The Ancon Quarry began operation on February 10, 1909. Part of
the quarry operation involved the on-site crushing of stone for
use in making concrete. Dynamite and steam shovels were used to
loosen and remove large blocks of stone from the rock faces. The
stone was then loaded by steam shovel onto conveyor cars and
transported to the crusher plant. There the stone was broken
into pieces approximately five inches in diameter before falling
onto a conveyor belt. From the conveyor belt, the material was
dumped into bins and transported to the construction site.
Accidents were rare at the rock quarry, but they did occur. Two
such accidents involved premature dynamite explosions. The
first, which occurred on August 30, 1910, resulted in the death
of four laborers; the second occurred on July 19, 191 1, in which
four men were killed and two others were seriously injured.
Evidence of the concrete foundation of the quarry and rock
crusher operations are still visible at Quarry Heights in the
jungle in front of and between Quarters #18 and Quarters #20.
Since 1855, the United States Marine Corps has been represented
on the Isthmus of Panama. The first marine troops were stationed
on the Isthmus to protect the Western Hemisphere's first
Construction of the Panama Railroad was initiated in 1847.
Between 1855 and'1866 nearly 400,000 people -- many of whom were
would-be goldminers on their way to California -- crossed the
Isthmus of Panama. "Marine landing forces were obliged to
intervene several times"12 in order to expedite the heavy
traffic and to protect travelers and government property.
This intervention on the part of U.S. Military troops was
authorized by the Bidlack Treaty of 1846 between the United
States and the Republic of Colombia. At that time, the Isthmus
of Panama was under Colombian dominance, and the treaty
guaranteed "the neutrality of the Isthmus and the maintenance of
free transit there."13
The Panama Railroad was sold to the French Canal Company in June
of 1881, and was subsequently acquired by the U.S. Government in
In November of 1903, during the period when Panama was asserting
its independence from the Republic of Colombia, a force of nearly
1,400 additional Marines arrived on the Isthmus. These troops
were originally stationed at Mount Hope on the Caribbean side of
the Isthmus and at Diablo on the Pacific side, and were "detailed
to keep the Panama Railroad open to traffic and to protect U.S.
Throughout the Canal construction period, Marines were stationed
at Camp Elliott, "on a hill near Bas Obispo,"15 and at Camp Otis
"on the western edge of the Culebra Cut."16
The Marine Drum and Bugle Corps frequently entertained at social
and patriotic events, such as the Isthmian Canal Commission's
annual Fourth of July celebration.
During the Canal construction era, "the Marine Brigade concerned
itself largely with becoming familiar with the country. Numerous
scouting parties went out with the object of studying the
surrounding area and gathering data for topographical maps. They
thoroughly reconnoitered and mapped all of the trails in the
vicinity and located the principal terrain features. They
devoted considerable time to making reconnaissance and studies
for the defense of the Canal."17
Immediately prior to the completion of the Canal, a large
reservation was "set apart for the permanent quarters of a
detachment of marines."18 The site chosen for the reservation
was on Ancon Hill, at the former Ancon Rock Quarry, and on March
4, 1913, funds for construction were appropriated by Congress.
Plans for the Marine camp included several 150-man barracks,
officers' quarters, administration buildings, and a parade
ground. The design of the buildings was to be determined by
naval authorities in Washington.
The plans for the Marine camp on the quarry site were abandoned
on January 21, 1914, when the Marines were "withdrawn and
transferred to duty with the Marine Expeditionary Brigade at Vera
Cruz, Mexico"," where they faced the forces of Pancho Villa.
Quarry Heights Military Reservation
The United States Army, represented by the 10th Infantry, arrived
for duty on the Isthmus on October 4, 1911. After the departure
of the Marines in 1914, the Army troops assumed full
responsibility for the defense of the Panama Canal. During the
final three years of Canal construction, these troops were
stationed at temporary sites near Culebra and Colon.
Following the completion of the Canal, the Army garrison sought a
new location for its headquarters near the new Panama Canal
Administration headquarters building on Ancon Hill. The
temporary Marine camp at the former rock quarry was selected.
Besides being geographically close to the new headquarters
building of The Panama Canal, Quarry Heights provided "unexcelled
visibility over the immediate surrounding population areas as
well as South over the sea approaches to the Canal."20
By the end of 1914, with "the holocaust [of World War I] then
raging in Europ"21 plans for the "creation of comprehensive
security of this key link in our 'two ocean Navy' grand
strategy"22 were accelerated. Military forces on the Isthmus
were redesignated as the United States Army Forces in the Canal
Zone, "with an Army General Officer exercising overall command"23
At the same time, the role of the military troops Gasoline
Station & Fire Station, 1923 changed "from what was primarily a
duty of maintenance of law and order within the Canal
construction forces to that of protection of the Canal waterway
against threat of attack from other nations of the world."24
By 1916, the population of Quarry Heights totaled 225, including
16 officers, 190 enlisted men, 10 women, and 9 children. During
that year, a number of 'anti-mosquito' construction projects,
including the laying of sidewalks, roads and concrete drains,
were undertaken at the installation.
The 134.4-acre Quarry Heights Reservation was officially "set
apart for military purposes"25 and named by General Order dated
December 22, 1919. Although the reservation was subsequently
enlarged by the addition of several acres, Quarry Heights was
considered "too small for the planned 'supreme' [Army]
Headquarters,"26 and the site was considered temporary.
In April of 1920, the commander-in-chief of all Army troops
stationed on the Isthmus was designated Commanding General,
Panama Canal Department, with headquarters at Quarry Heights.
Under his command fell the Panama Canal Division and the Coast
Artillery Command, which incorporated all Infantry and Coast
Artillery troops on the Isthmus of Panama.
The Coast Artillery guarded the entrances to the Canal from Forts
Sherman and Randolph on the Atlantic side of the Isthmus, and
from Forts Amador and Grant on the Pacific side. Infantry troops
were responsible for defending and protecting the locks
themselves. By 1925, Infantry troops were stationed at five
installations, including Fort Davis and Camp Gatun (at the Gatun
Locks), Camps Elliott and Gaillard (near the Pedro Miguel Locks)
and Fort Clayton (at the Miraflores Locks).
In addition to the Commanding General and his Staff, a number of
units were stationed at the Quarry Heights Military Reservation
during its early years. These included Company A, Military
Police Company, which furnished the guard at the installation; a
Touring Car Detachment, "consisting of one officer and forty-four
enlisted men under the administrative direction of the Department
Motor Officer;27 " Company E, 33rd Infantry; Motor Company #29,
the Quartermaster Corps; and Motorcycle Company #10,
The earliest Provost Marshal troops assigned to Quarry Heights
included Company F, 33rd Infantry.
Because of the immediate need for housing at the Quarry Heights
Army headquarters, it was decided that temporary facilities would
be erected until such time as funding and time were made
available for the construction of permanent structures. The
history of these temporary facilities, many of which are still in
use at Quarry Heights, originated with the French and early U.S.
canal construction eras.
Upon arriving on the Isthmus in 1904, the Isthmian Canal
Commission found that, on the whole, "a very great deal of the
work of organization, sanitation, and preparation to build the
canal had been done"28 by the French Canal companies. In
addition to leaving the Americans their maps, surveys and
equipment, the French left approximately 2,000 wooden structures
"of various types, sizes, and styles of construction."29 The
majority of these buildings were immediately rehabilitated to a
livable standard. Perhaps more importantly, the design of the
buildings provided the ICC architects a basis for the design of
their own new facilities.
The majority of the excavation work undertaken by the French had
occurred in the area of the Culebra Cut. Here the ICC found
several towns which they would further develop as temporary
construction camps for laborers and administrative personnel.
THE FIRST BUILDINGS
Following the completion of the Canal, dozens of these Isthmian
Canal Commission communities and labor camps were deemed
unnecessary. The Culebra Headquarters Building of the Canal
Commission was abandoned, and a new Headquarters Building was
constructed in Balboa, the newly created Capitol of the Panama
Canal Zone. Many of the temporary labor camps and towns were
flooded by the creation of Gatun Lake; others were abandoned to
the jungle, and in several cases complete towns were turned over
to the military. Two of the ICC towns turned over to the Army to
be used as installations were Empire and Culebra.
The town of Empire, called Emperador by the local population, was
taken over by the Army on November 25, 1914. Empire had been
founded by the Panama Railroad Company in the early 1850's during
the construction of the railroad. In 1904, the population of the
town was 2,000. The Isthmian Canal Commission set about re-
building the community, which at its peak included houses, a
jail, office buildings, a mess hall, an ice platform,
storehouses, an emergency hospital, a commissary, a clubhouse, a
machine shop, a boiler shop, a blacksmith shop, a car repair
shop, a lavatory building, a hospital waiting shed, and a stable.
The town of Culebra (from the Spanish word meaning 'snake') was
taken over by the Army on March 25, 1915. The majority of the
town was converted into a military camp, named Camp Gaillard by
order of the Adjutant General, in honor of Lieutenant Colonel
David DuBois Gaillard who died on December 5, 1913. Lieutenant
Colonel Gaillard was further memorialized when the Culebra Cut
was named in his honor by Executive Order on April 27, 1915.
As Chief of the Central Division, LTC Gaillard was the individual
responsible for the excavation of the cut at the continental
Camp Gaillard was abandoned as an Army post on October 8, 1927.
Today all that remains are macadamized streets, concrete
sidewalks, and stairs covered by jungle growth.
A number of buildings from the towns of Empire and Culebra,
including more than a dozen ICC Type-20 houses, were disassembled
piece by piece, "each section carefully numbered,30 " transported
by railroad and truck to Quarry Heights, and re-erected at the
military reservation. This reduced the cost of new construction
by about one-third and helped to preserve this rich architectural
heritage. These buildings, which included "all types and
classes,"" were re-erected "in either their original design or
under modified plans.32 "
Between 1915 and 1920, quarters were re-erected at Quarry Heights
"as the need for them arose. "33 In 1915, the Building Division
of The Panama Canal re-erected five Type-8 houses, one Type-21
house, one Type-20 house, and several staff officers' quarters.
Much of the architectural design and planning at Culebra and
Empire (as well as other ICC communities) can be credited to Mr.
P.O. Wright, Jr., an architect who understood the appropriateness
of the original French buildings for the tropical Isthmian
Mr. Wright and his team of draftsmen developed nearly twenty
separate designs for residences (for both married and single
employees), all of which met the requirements of "the Isthmian
climate, the material available, the character of the building
sites, with the necessary restrictions imposed by the sanitary
department, and the official status of the employees."34 The
housing designs included "plenty of openings for ventilation; and
every opening, including verandas, [was] provided with fine
copper screening in order to, just as far as practicable, exclude
The walls and ceilings of the wood frame buildings were usually
devoid of either plastering or wall paper, with simple board-and-
beading interior walls. These interior walls were usually
painted or stained, resulting in "very pleasant effects.... with
the cheapest wood at a minimum of cost."36
All of the ICC 'type' housing contained "a great deal of veranda
space, some of them being entirely surrounded thereby."37 These
verandas provided ventilation and a fresh breeze to the
inhabitants during the days before air conditioning. Roofs were
typically made of corrugated, galvanized iron, which was found
"to be the most practicable one for use on the Isthmus on account
of the cheapness and quickness with which it can be built, and
the least liability to leaks. All corrugated iron roofs [were]
provided with large ventilators, and it [had] been found that the
heat from the roof [was] not noticeable in the rooms below if a
space [were] left between the ceiling and the roof."38
While all ICC housing was provided with sanitary plumbing and
electric lighting, only the better classes of houses were
provided with a 'dry room,' or 'dry closet' These small rooms,
in which a lamp or electric light bulb was kept burning, held the
family's clothes, belts, books, and other natural-fiber articles.
When closed tight, the room dried the articles placed there, and
protected them from mold and mildew.
Although the temporary wooden structures erected during the Canal
Construction Era were intended only to "withstand the effects of
the climate for ten or twelve years,"39 more than a dozen
Isthmian Canal Commission houses remain at Quarry Heights -- a
testament to the Canal Construction Era. Along with the official
residence of the Administrator of the Panama Canal Commission,
the original wood structures at Quarry Heights are the only
surviving examples of this period and style of architecture.
Other wood structures that where moved to Balboa and Ancon for
housing employees of The Panama Canal were replaced with concrete
structures in the late 1920's and early 1930's.
The most destructive enemy of these historic quarters, "next to
the rotting effects of the damp climate, [was for many years] the
isthmus ant, almost infinite in variety, illimitable in numbers,
and untiring and really diabolical in activity."40 Today, we
recognize the 'isthmus ant' as the termite.
Throughout the life of these wood frame buildings, a variety of
methods aimed at preventing termite infestation have been
undertaken. One such early method was the 'termite guards' -
metal plates smeared with creosote and attached to and
surrounding the foundations, raising the structure off the
ground. Usually successful, "the activity of these pests is
illustrated by their having used a strand of a spider's web as
support for a tunnel to advance over the edge of [the] metal
plate whence they proceeded upward to the wood."41
More recently, chemicals have been used to treat the termite-
infested buildings. After sealing the structure with a gas-tight
tarpaulin, methyl bromide is introduced into the infested lumber,
killing dry-wood termite colonies. For treating subterranean
termites, holes must be drilled into the ground and chemicals
Following completion of Canal construction, the Army consolidated
all of its military forces under the command of the senior line
officers on duty in the Panama Canal Zone and upgraded his rank
to Brigadier General. This made the Army Commander senior to all
other military officers in the Canal Zone, including the
governor. It also required a set of quarters commensurate to the
status of a Brigadier General.
Quarters #1, the first set of quarters to be erected in Quarry
Heights, has been the official residence of the highest ranking
military officer in Panama since its reconstruction on July 15,
1915. The quarters originated as one of many 'run of the job'
houses constructed in temporary communities and later dismantled
and moved to other locations after the Canal period. The
structure was very likely the residence of the Military Governor
in the town of Culebra, headquarters for Canal construction.
Brigadier General Clarence E. Edwards was the first Army
commander to reside at Quarters #1, although he did not move into
the house until mid- 1916. The one-year delay in occupancy was
due to the time required for improvements to make the quarters
UNITED STATES SOUTHERN COMMAND
Today, Quarters #1 is basically the same structure it was in
1916. Improvements, such as the installation of central air
conditioning and routine maintenance, have been made throughout
the decades since its construction. In October, 1947, the
concrete birdbath and fish pool were added as part of the
During the eighty years since its erection on Quarry Heights,
Quarters #1 has had 37 official residents, from the Commander
(one-star), U.S. Troops in Panama, to the Commander-in-Chief
(four-star), U.S. Southern Command. The current residents are
General and Mrs. Barry McCaffrey.
QUARRY HEIGHTS RECONSTRUCTED
Nine other units of family housing were moved to Quarry Heights
during 1915. Quarters #2 through #7, which were originally
designated housing for Staff Officers, were re-erected on
December 4, 1915.
Despite several proposals to demolish the Isthmian Canal
Commission wood houses at Quarry Heights - which were considered
oversized, substandard, and inadequate - and replace them with
modem family housing, none of the proposals were accepted or
acted upon. Perhaps this is because the personnel assigned to
the quarters preferred living in the historically significant
homes, indulging themselves in the simple qualities and harmony
of a different, bygone era.
Although the wood frame buildings have been repainted, reroofed,
and repaired on a regular basis during the years they have stood
at Quarry Heights, they are "to all intents and purposes, the
same buildings that overlooked the raw excavations of the Culebra
Cut and provided that 'castle' for the bone-weary construction
foreman or overseer at the end of a hellish day at the
bottom of the Canal diggings."42
Following the conclusion of World War I, new construction at the
Quarry Heights Military Reservation was planned, and a number of
new buildings were constructed, including Building # 153, a
Motion Picture Service Building.
In addition to the construction of these buildings, recreational
facilities were erected. Tennis was popular on the Isthmus, and
nearly every installation and civilian community had at least one
set of tennis courts.
By 1930, there were 39,469 U.S. citizens residing within the
Panama Canal Zone. Of those, 10,470 were associated with the
Army. The population of Quarry Heights at that time was 421,
including 286 white males, 115 white females, 2 black males and
18 black females.
Building #84 was erected at Quarry Heights in June of 1919 as the
Post Library and Motion Picture Hall. Although the origin of
this structure is unknown, its era of construction and its design
and function indicate that it might have been moved from one of
the Canal Construction Era communities where it had served as
either a theater or a church.
As a result of the growing popularity and use of automobiles in
the Canal Zone, a number of garages were constructed at military
reservations, including Quarry Heights.
In 1994, this building was renovated for use as the U.S. Southern
Command Conference Center. Following the renovation, the
facility was renamed the Perez Conference Center, in honor of a
young soldier killed in 1989 by hostile fire during Operation
Medical care in this tropical climate was a always major concern.
In addition to the medical services available at Gorgas Hospital,
most installations had a medical station for emergencies and
minor illnesses. In June of 1936, a clinic was constructed at
WORLD WAR II CONSTRUCTION ERA
Immediately prior to the United States' involvement in World War
II, defense facilities were constructed at nearly all
installations on the Isthmus. In June of 1939, Congress
appropriated nearly $50,000,000 in funding for construction of
several new installations, as well as new construction at
established posts in the Panama Canal Zone.
Due to frequent labor shortages, construction activities often
required the use of troop labor. "While a part of the garrison
was on alert duty, a number of battalions and other units were
assigned to clearing the heavy jungle growth from sites where it
was proposed to locate new posts, and additions to established
posts. As another contribution to rushing actual construction at
the earliest possible moment, troop labor was employed in putting
in footings and preparing specific sites in the cleared areas so
that contractors would not find it necessary to waste valuable
time visiting Panama to inspect and survey ground conditions
before bidding. The advantage gained by this preliminary work
was apparent in July 1940 when the first contractors arrived and
almost at once some above-ground construction was observable."43
New installations constructed prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor
included "nine airbases and airdromes, ten ground forces posts,
thirty aircraft warning stations, and 634 searchlights,
antiaircraft gun positions and miscellaneous tactical and
logistical installations. The Panama Canal Department was the
base of operations in this vast area because the Canal was the
target to be defended. This meant that construction connected
with the existing [installations] in the Canal Zone had to be
On March 27, 1940, Lieutenant General Daniel van Voorhis,
Commanding General, Panama Canal Department, directed the
construction of a bombproof shelter at Quarry Heights.
Justification for the $400,000 construction project was that
"such a structure was necessary for use in case of emergency and
vital to the security of important data."45
This reinforced concrete facility, commonly referred to as The
Tunnel, was cut into the solid rock face of the old Ancon Quarry.
Completed on January 20, 1942, it is currently used as a secure
center for the U.S. Southern Command.
Building #119, the Quarry Heights Officers' Club and Bachelor
Officers' Quarters, was also built during this period.
Originally constructed as Bachelor Officers' Quarters, the
facility has expanded over the years to become the present
Officers' Club and Guest House.
In 1968 the Parade Field at Quarry Heights was renamed and
dedicated in memory of Colonel John D. Webber, U.S. Army, who had
served at Quarry Heights as USSOUTHCOM Deputy Director of
Logistics from June 1964 until October 1966. Colonel Webber was
assassinated in Guatemala City on January 16, 1968, while serving
as the commander of the U.S. Military Group in Guatemala. The
memorial plaque is "mounted on a monument of native stone hewn
from the old quarry."46
CONTEMPORARY CONSTRUCTION ERA
(1946 - PRESENT)
Morgan Avenue, which was "required for siting additional military
housing,"47 was added to the Quarry Heights Military Reservation
by Canal Zone Order Number 65, dated June 10, 1963. Morgan
Avenue was officially named on March 31, 1920, in honor of
Alabama Senator John T. Morgan who was, interestingly enough, a
proponent of the Nicaragua Canal.
Additional housing was constructed on Morgan Avenue in the late
1960's and early 1970's.
Montague Hall, Building #88, was completed and officially
dedicated on April 3, 1958. The facility was named in honor of
Lieutenant General Robert M. Montague who died on February 20,
1958, while serving as Commander in Chief of the Caribbean
The mural on the wall in the Operations Division (J-3
Directorate, Hq., U.S. Southern Command) of Montague Hall was
painted by Sp5 Moharned Benarnar Bufrahi, an illustrator in that
office, in 1969.
Andrews Hall, Building #83, was completed in August of 1964. It
was named in honor of Lieutenant General Frank M. Andrews who
served as Commanding General of the Caribbean Defense Command
from September 9, 1941, to November 8, 1942.
Originally designated as one-family Company Officer's Housing,
Quarters # 1 9 was converted to administrative use in 1965.
The building was demolished in December of 1976, and was replaced
by a concrete and metal General Purpose/Administrative Building.
The United States Southern Command
During the final years of Canal construction, officials debated
the question of whether or not the Panama Canal would Guns
Guarding the Pacific be fortified. Colonel George Goethals,
Chief Engineer during the construction of the Canal, and other
military experts argued that the Canal was "primarily a military
work - that the Canal Zone exists only because of and for the
Canal,"48 and, therefore, it should be "so governed as to protect
the dams and locks from any treacherous assualt."49 Those
opposed to fortifying the Canal could not raise convincing
arguments against fortification, so a plan to guard and defend
the Canal was implemented.
The concept for Canal defense, as explained by the Secretary of
War in November, 1912, was "a seacoast armament with submarine
mines at the termini of the Canal, for protection against a sea
attack and to secure a safe exit for our fleet in the face of a
hostile fleet, [and of] field works and mobile force[s] of troops
to protect the locks and assure important utilities against an
attack by land."50
Besides its significance in terms of world commerce and traffic,
"it remains a fact that the Panama Canal was designed and built
as an agency to the defense of United States... When completed,
the Canal was vital to National Defense."51
Initially, all Army and Army Air Corps troops fell under the
jurisdiction of the United States Troops, Panama Canal Zone
(under the command of the Eastern Department), with headquarters
at the Quarry Heights Military Reservation. The first commanding
general of the United States Troops was Brigadier General
Clarence R. Edwards, who assumed the position on January 6, 1915.
General Edwards and the Chief of Staff of the Eastern Department,
Major General Leonard Wood, both agreed that control of the
Panama Canal Zone (including, but not limited to, military
installations) should fall under the jurisdiction of the
Commanding General, "in both peace and war."" It was General
Edwards' opinion that "it is impossible to avoid the conclusion
that every feature and function of the Canal combine to form a
single problem, and that a single mind must be held responsible
finally for its solution... The problem is admittedly wholly
military in war; but the truth is that it is essentially military
at all times."53
In the final arrangement, Army control was limited to wartime,
and required authorization by the President of the United States
or the Secretary of War. During peacetime, the Governor of the
Panama Canal Zone, an Army Corps of Engineers senior officer, had
jurisdiction over Canal Zone activities.
In April 1917, after the United States' entry into World War I,
Brigadier General Edwards received charge of the Panama Canal and
Canal Zone, in addition to his command of the United States
Troops on the Isthmus. Three months later, the Army separated
the Canal Zone from the Eastern Department and placed it under
the newly designated Panama Canal Department. This action led
local military authorities to request that "areas under their
control be specifically set aside as military reservations in
which the military commander could exercise authority comparable
with that of post commanders of continental military
reservations."54 A series of Executive Orders satisfied their
requests by setting aside military reservations, including
Quarry Heights, on both sides of the Isthmus.
The climate, with both dry and wet seasons, determined the
training of Infantry Troops during the early years. In the dry
season, when the temperature is cooler and the air is breezier,
"the camping life [was] much enjoyed."55 During this time of
year, from mid-December to mid-April, troops were often "out on
maneuvers and [trying] out their plans for the protection of the
Canal against an imaginary or represented enemy. All drills and
instruction [had] the sole objective of protecting the Canal."56
A major from the 42nd Infantry described these dry season field
maneuvers as follows: "The first jungle trip, especially, has
considerable romantic interest, and the tyro [the new recruit] is
inclined to carry with him an arsenal of weapons with which to
meet the dangers which he has been led by geographers to expect.
Some tyros also carry veritable medicine chests, to counteract
the deadly diseases with which a tropical jungle must abound."57
During the rainy season, when troop field activities became more
limited, training decreased, and commanders placed an emphasis on
activities which taught "the individual soldier how to use his
weapon, i.e., his rifle, bayonet, pistol, automatic rifle,
machine gun, trench mortar, one-pounder, etc. In other words,
that period was used to teach technique and plans."58
The Army initiated jungle warfare training in the mid-1920s,
focusing it on "the reconnaissance of trails and training in
trail fighting."59 Jungle warfare training continues through the
U.S. Army Jungle Operations Training Battalion at Fort Sherman.
The school "provides cyclical unit-level instruction in the
techniques of jungle survival and operations for battalions from
the Continental United States."60
United States military officials reevaluated Canal defense in the
early 1930s and determined that "(1) seacoast armament was
becoming obsolescent, (2) improvement of the surfaces of existing
landing fields was needed to permit operation in all weather, (3)
at least one extensive landing field on firm ground should be
built, [and] (4) existing radio installations, telegraph and
telephone lines were not adequate for peacetime needs."61
In order to meet "the extremely complex theater organization and
command problems,"62 the War Department established the Caribbean
Defense Command on February 10, 1941. The Command's mission was
to improve coordination between Army and Navy forces protecting
Caribbean sea lanes and the Panama Canal, and to promote joint
services training. The Commanding General, Panama Canal
Department, had dual responsibility as the commander of the
Caribbean Defense Command, with an authorized grade of lieutenant
One month after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, the Panama
Canal Department was placed "virtually on a wartime status with a
directive to 'put in effect at once, but unostentatiously, every
protective measure against naval, air, or sabotage action which,
by surprise, could prevent operation of the canal.'"63
Although the Panama Canal was never an active theater of combat,
the area "remained throughout [the war years] an area of constant
During World War II, the Panama Canal served as a transit
corridor for "millions of tons of war material and thousands of
servicemen. 1161 Following Germany's surrender, troops training
in Panama returned to the United States for reassignment to
combat units in the Pacific arena. The War Department designated
May 12, 1945, as Redeployment Day, when all available personnel
and resources were redirected toward ending the war with Japan.
To the Panama Canal Department, this meant "full use of the
interoceanic waterway for the transitting of transports and
supply ships, and the quick redeploying of available men and
material for a full victory."66 Hundreds of thousands of troops
from the European Theater of Operations passed through the Panama
Canal on their way to the Pacific Theater. "Transports were
hurriedly dispatched from European ports and upon arrival here
[in Panama] required resupplying, and the troops were in dire
need of recreation. Through 'Operation Transit', the Panama
Canal Department provided this exceptional service with
efficiency, understanding and dispatch."67
After Japan's surrender in September of 1945, the number of
personnel assigned to the Panama Canal area was again decreased,
and "antiaircraft gun sites and landing fields throughout Panama
and other Latin American countries were abandoned. Minefields at
the Canal entrances were cleared, barrage balloon and chemical
smoke defenses removed, and the large coast defense guns
dismantled and scrapped."68 Plans for the postwar defense of the
Panama Canal included the "new and more powerful weapons that had
been developed during the war years, and the need for national
and international cooperation for hemisphere defense."69
In 1947, the new Department of Defense established regional joint
commands. One, the U.S. Caribbean Command, incorporated the
Caribbean Defense Command as its headquarters. Established as a
three-star command on November 1, 1947, CARIBCOM had operational
control of Army, Navy, and Air Forces responsible for the
Caribbean and the Panama Canal.
The Army reorganized its Canal Zone command, inactivating the
Panama Canal Department and activating the United States Army
Caribbean (USARCARIB). Activated on November 15, 1947,
USARCARIB had its headquarters at Fort Amador.
In order to support the "growing concept of hemispheric
solidarity,"70 the primary missions of USARCARIB were expanded to
provide not only for the defense of the Panama Canal, but for the
implementation of policies and international agreements
pertaining to military assistance groups in Latin America.
Training was also expanded to include "the operation of a school
to train selected Latin American Army officers and enlisted men
and support of the U.S. Army Inter American Geodetic Survey."71
On June 6, 1963, the Secretary of Defense redesignated the
Caribbean Command as the United States Southern Command
(USSOUTHCOM). This reflected a shift in Southern Theater
priorities away from the Caribbean, and toward the Central and
South American land mass. Correspondingly, the Army redesignated
the U.S. Army Caribbean as the United States Army Forces Southern
U.S. TROOPS IN PANAMA
Brigadier General Clarence R. Edwards
Brigadier General E.H. Plummer
Brigadier General A. Cronkhite
Colonel G.F. Landers
PANAMA CANAL DEPARTMENT
Major General R.M. Blatchford
Major General Charles W. Kennedy
Brigadier General B.B. Babbitt
Major General S.D. Sturgis
Major General William Lassiter
Major General Charles H. Martin
"As the Army built the canal and made the Canal Zone a healthful
place of abode... it now stands guard over this treasure. The
mission of the [United States' military troops] in
Panama is to provide the insurance for the safety of the Canal
both in peace and in the event of war."72
PANAMA CANAL DEPARTMENT
Major General William S. Graves
Major General Malin Craig
Major General LeR. Erwin
Major General Preston Brown
Major General Harold B. Fiske
Major General Lytle Brown
Major General Henry W. Butner
Brigadier General F.W. Rowell
Major General David L. Stone
Major General Daniel Van Voorhis
CARIBBEAN DEFENSE COMMAND
Lieutenant General Daniel Van Voorhis
Lieutenant General Frank M. Andrews
Lieutenant General George H. Brett
Lieutenant General Willis D. Crittenberger
COMMANDERS IN CHIEF,
U.S. CARIBBEAN COMMAND
Lieutenant General Willis D. Crittenberger
Lieutenant General Mathew B. Ridgway
Lieutenant General Wm. H. Morris
Lieutenant General Horace L. McBride
Lieutenant General Wiilliam K. Harrison
Lieutenant General Robert M. Montague
Lieutenant General Ridgley Gaither
Lieutenant General Robert F. Sink
Lieutenant General Andrew P. O'Meara
COMMANDERS IN CHIEF,
U.S. SOUTHERN COMMAND
General Andrew P. O'Meara
General Robert W. Porter
COMMANDERS IN CHIEF,
U.S. SOUTHERN COMMAND
General George R. Mather
General George V. Underwood
"An oval of 3 1/4 inches by 2 3/4 inches in scarlet with long
axis vertical bearing a portcullis in yellow. The Isthmus was
the gateway through which the wealth of Peru passed to Spain, and
the Canal is now the gateway through which passes the commerce of
the Atlantic and Pacific. The portcullis symbolized the gate,
and the red and gold are the old Spanish colors. "73
COMMANDERS IN CHIEF,
U.S. SOUTHERN COMMAND
General William B. Rosson
General Dennis P. M'Cauliffe
General Wallace H. Nutting
General Paul F. Gorman
General John R. Galvin
General Fred F. Woerner
General Maxwell R. Thurman
General George A. Joulwan
General Barry McCaffrey
Photographs supplied by:
[DEH] - Directorate of Engineering & Housing
[DEH/V] - DEH/Venable Photographic Collection
[G+K] - Graves + Klein, Architects, Engineers
[PCC] - Panama Canal Collection, U.S. National Archives
[Abbot] - Abbot, Willis J. Panama and the Canal in Picture and
Prose. New York: Syndicate Publishing Company, 1913.
[Haskin] - Haskin, Frederic J. The Panama Canal. Garden City,
New York: Doubleday, Page & Company, 1913.
[Heald] - Heald, Jean Sadler. Picturesque Panama.
Chicago: Curt Teich & Company, 1928.
[Keller] - Keller, Ulrich. The Building of the Panama
Canal in Historic Photographs. New York: Dover
Publications, Inc., 1983.
[WSJ] - William S. Johnson
Quarry Heights with Quarters #1 in Foreground, 1915 [DEH]
Map of The Republic of Panama [G+K]
MP Company, Quarry Heights [DEH/V]
Quarry Heights Aerial [PCC]
Guard House, 1995 [G+K]
View of the Bay of Panama from Quarry Heights, 1995 [G+K]
Reclaiming Land at the Pacific Entrance [PCC]
Crossing the Isthmus in the Olden Time [PCC]
General View of Ancon Quarry, June 30, 1910 [PCC]
Quarry Heights Housing, 1995 [G+K]
Side View of a Family Housing Unit, 1995 [G+K]
Map of the Pacific Entrance to the Panama Canal [G+K]
The Ancon (French) Hospital Grounds [Abbot]
The Ancon (French) Hospital Grounds [Abbot]
Gorgas Hospital [DEH]
'La Folie Dingler' [Abbot]
Ancon Cemetery [Abbot]
Ancon Hill [Abbot]
Panama Bay from Ancon Hill with the Ancon Reservoir in Forefront
The Tivoli Hotel, 1912 [Haskin]
Entrance to the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Ancon
Temporary ICC Administrative Headquarters Building [Abbot]
Former U.S. District Court Building, 1995 [WSJ]
U.S. District Court Building, circa 1923 [Core]
The Panama Canal Administration Building - "Goethals'Monument" in
Colonel Goethals' House at Culebra [Abbot]
Official Residence, Panama Canal Commission Administrator, 1995
The Sliced-off Hill at Ancon [Abbot]
The Ancon Quarry Stone Crusher [PCC]
The Remnants of the Stone Crusher are now Overtaken by Junge
Map of the Panama Canal Zone (Inset of the Republic of Panama)
U.S. Marine Drum and Bugle Corps [Laval]
The Panama Railroad [PCC]
U.S. Marines Compete, July 4, 1912 [Keller]
Camp Elliott Marine Post [Abbot]
Colonel Goethals Reviewing the Marines at Camp Elliott [Abbot]
Map of Quarry Heights, circa 1932 [G+K]
Quarry Heights from Hydrographer's Tower, circa 1915 [DEH]
Gasoline Station & Fire Station, 1923 [DEH]
Troops at Quarry Heights [DEHN]
Day Pigeon Loft (100 pigeons), 1917 [DEH]
Quarry Heights, circa 1923 [Core]
Captain Hite, General's Aide, Quarters #9, Quarry Heights [DEHN]
MPs at Leisure, 1923 [DEHN]
Headquarters Detachment Barracks (I 00-man), June 30, 1919 [DEH]
Military Police Barracks, 1921 [DEHN]
Military Police Company Barracks (95-man), November 1, 1921
(No Caption) - Main Entrance to Quarry Heights, circa 1952 [DEH]
Four-family N.C.O. Quarters [DEH]
Empire Dispursing Office and Quarters [Abbot]
Culebra Residence of Colonel and Mrs. David D. Gaillard [PCC]
Tea-Time at Col. and Mrs. D.D. Gaillard's Residence [Keller]
Disassembled Buildings Loaded on Flatcars [PCC]
The Former Community of Culebra [DEH]
Two-family ICC Type-4 Housing [Keller]
Four-family ICC Type Housing [Bishop]
One-family ICC Type Housing [Bishop]
Typical Bedroom of ICC Family Housing [PCC]
Canal Official's Residence at Ancon [Bishop]
Map of Quarry Heights, circa 1990 [G+K]
Building #8, Termite Guard [G+K]
(No Caption) Salute Guns [G+K]
Residence of the Commanding Officer, Quarters # 1, June 1916
Residence of the Commander-in-Chief, Quarters #1, 1995 [G+K]
Concrete Birdbath and Fish Pool [DEH]
Concrete Bench Next to the Fish Pool [DEH]
Quarters #2, circa 1935 [DEH]
Quarters #3, circa 1935 [DEH]
Quarters #5, 1995 [G+K]
Quarters #4, 1995 [G+K]
Quarters #7, circa 1935 [DEH]
Quarters #4, #5, and #6, 1995 [G+K]
Quarters #2 1, circa 193 5 [DEH]
Quarters #9, circa 1935 [DEH]
Quarters #9, 1995 [G+K]
Quarters #8, #10, and #12, 1995 - Graves Drive, 1995 [G+K]
Quarters #10, 1995 [G+K]
Quarters #10, circa 1935 [DEH]
Quarters #I 1, circa 193 5 [DEH]
Quarters #12, circa 1935 [DEH]
Quarters #12, 1995 [G+K]
Quarters #13, circa 1935 [DEH]
Quarters #14, circa 1935 [DEH]
Quarters # 1 5, 1995 [G+K]
Quarters #15, circa 1935 [DEH]
Quarters #16, #17, and #18, 1995 [G+K]
Quarters #16, circa 1935 [DEH]
Quarters #17, circa 1935 [DEH]
Quarters #18, 1995 [G+K]
Early Quarry Heights Quarters - Photos of Modem Interiors [DEH]
Quarters #22, circa 1935 [DEH]
Typical Wood Houses at Quarry Heights, 1995 [DEH]
Quarters #23, 1995 [G+K]
Quarters #23, circa 1935 [DEH]
Building #153, 1995 [G+K]
Building #153, Motion Picture Service Building [DEH]
Building #84, Post Library and Motion Picture Hall, circa 1935
Building #84, Floor Plan and Elevation [DEH]
N.C.O. Garage, circa 1935 [DEH]
Building #84, the Perez Conference Center, 1995 [G+K]
Medical Station, circa 1935 [DEH]
(No Caption) - Sectional View of the Tunnel [DEH]
Building #119, Officers' Club and BOQ, 1995 [G+K]
Bohio at Quarry Heights Officers' Club, circa 1975 [DEH]
Quarters #311, 1995 [G+K]
Housing on Morgan Avenue, 1995 [G+K]
Two-Family Housing - Morgan Avenue, 1995 [G+K]
Two-Family Housing - Morgan Avenue, 1995 [G+K]
Two-Family Housing - Morgan Avenue, 1995 [G+K]
Building #88 - Montague Hall, 1995 [G+K]
Building #83 - Andrews Hall, circa 1974 [DEH]
Quarters #19, circa 1935 [DEH]
Building #19, 1995 [G+K]
Guns Guarding the Pacific [Abbot]
1st Lt. W.B. Palmer (Post HQ Adjutant) and Staff Sgt. (Sgt.
Major) Henry Kinzler, 1923 [DEHN]
Col. Goethals Presenting Medals, 1913 [Abbot]
MP Mess Christmas 1924 [DEH/V]
Captain Hite by Officers' BOQ, 1923 [DEH/V]
MP First Sgt. and Operations Sgt., 1924 [DEH/V]
Battleship HMS Hood, 1923 [DEH/V]
Battleship HMS Hood, 1923 [DEH/V]
Major General Charles. H. Martin [Heald]
Major General William S. Graves [Heald]
Shoulder Patch Insignia of the Panama Canal Division [Infantry
Journal - 1; p. 373]
Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Southern Command, General Barry
Command Sargeant Major Franklin Delano Thomas (USSOUTHCOM, CSM)
and his wife, Patricia Cooper-Thomas [DEH]
The Ancon Quarry Stone Crusher [Abbot]
Many individuals and agencies provided assistance in producing
this brochure, including Lieutenant Colonel Patrick L. Staffieri,
Director of Engineering and Housing - Panama; Dolores De Mena,
Historian, United States Army South; Dr. John Pitts, Historian,
United States Southern Command; Maria Y. de Vasquez, Chief,
Architect-Engineer Design Section, Engineering Division, DEH;
Carlos D. Baquero, Mechanical Engineer, Engineering Division,
DEH; the 106th Signal Brigade Printing Plant; and the Panama
Canal Commission Technical Resources Center.
Special thanks are extended to Command Sergeant Major Franklin
Delano Thomas (USSOUTHCOM, CSM) and his wife, Patricia Cooper-
Thomas, for opening their home, Quarters #21, Quarry Heights.
1. LaFeber, Walter. The Panama Canal: The Crisis in Historical
Perspective. New York: Oxford University Press, 1978, p. 5.
2. McCullough, David. The Path Between the Seas. New York:
Simon and Schuster, 1977, p. 134.
4. Ibid, p. 144-145.
5. Len-Rios, Janet. "History of C.Z. Hospitals: A Chronology of
Change." The Panama Canal Review. October 1, 1979, p. 23.
6. McCullough, p. 160.
7. Laval, Jerome D. Images of an Age: Panama and the Building of
the Canal. Fresno, California: Graphic Technology Co., 1978, p.
8. Annual Report of the Isthmian Canal Commission for the Fiscal
Year Ended June 30, 1905. Washington, D.C.: Government Printing
Office, p. 53.
9. "Court Comes to Order in the Ballroom." The Panama Canal
Review, October 1, 1979, p. 24.
10. Canal Record, July 3, 1912. Balboa Heights, Canal Zone: The
Panama Canal, p. 359.
11. "History of the Military Post of Quarry Heights." Balboa,
Canal Zone: Isthmian Historical Society, no date, p. 1.
12. Pierce, Philip N., and Frank 0. Hough. The Compact History
of the United States Marine Corps. New York: Hawthorn Books,
Inc., 1964, P. 101.
13. Hedrick, Basil C. and Anne K. Historical Dictionary of
Panama. Metuchen, N.J.: The Scarecrow Press, Inc., 1970, p. 63.
14. USARSO Pam 870- 1. "The Fortifications of the Panama Canal,
Part 1: The Defenses of the Panama Canal." United States Army
South, Republic of Panama, May 1, 1973, p. 15.
15. Laval, p. 80.
17. Metcalf, Clyde H. A History of the United States Marine
Corps. New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1939, p. 295.
18. Senate Document Number 146: Message from the President of
the United States Transmitting a Report by the Comission of Fine
Arts in Relation to the Panama Canal. Washington, D.C.:
Government Printing Office, 1913, p. 14.
19. Metcalf, p. 297.
20. "History of the Military Post of Quarry Heights," p. 3.
21. Ibid p. 2.
25. "Military Reservations: Canal Zone." U.S. War Department,
1942, p. 31.
26. "History of the Military Post of Quarry Heights," p. 4.
27. "Quarry Heights." November 1973. Unpublished research, p.
28. Annual Report of the Isthmian Canal Commission for the
Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 1904. Washington, D.C.: Government
Printing Office, p. 5.
29. Ibid, p. 81.
30. "A Link With the Past." The Panama Canal Review. October 1,
1979, p. 14.
31. Annual Report of the Governor of the Panama Canal for the
Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 1915. Washington, D.C.: Government
Printing Office, p. 32.
33. "Quarry Heights," p. 5.
34. Annual Report of the Isthmian Canal Commission for the
Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 1906, Washington, D.C.: Government
Printing Office, P. 100.
35. Ibid, p. 101.
36. Ibid, p. 96.
37. Annual Report of the Isthmian Canal Commission for the
Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 1908. Washington, D.C.: Government
Printing Office, p. 96.
38. Ibid, p. 96.
39. Bishop, Joseph Bucklin. The Panama Gatemmy. New York:
Charles Scribner's Sons, 1915, p. 390.
41. Annual Reports of the Governor of The Panama Canal for the
Fiscal Year 1933. Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office,
42. "History of the Military Post of Quarry Heights," p. 4.
43. History of the Panama Canal Department (Volume 2:
Preparations for War 1939-1941). U.S. War Department, Panama
Canal Department. Circa May 10, 1949, p. 51.
44. History of the Panama Canal Departmen! (Volume 3: The War
Years 1941-1945). U.S. War Department, Panama Canal Department.
Circa May 10, 1949, p. 192.
45. De Mena, Dolores, compiler. "Historical Information
Concerning Quarry Heights Army Reservation Command Post (Bldg.
81, Quarry Heights, C.Z.)." Office of the USARSO Historian, Fort
Clayton, Republic of Panama. Circa 1975.
46. "Monument Will Be Dedicated Honoring Colonel John Webber."
Southern Command News. June 21, 1968.
47. Regn, Elmer M. "Quarry Heights, Canal Zone: Master Plan
Analysis of Existing Facilities Report." March 1972, p. 1.
48. Abbot, Willis J. Panama and The Canal In Picture and Prose.
New York: Syndicate Publishing Company, 1913, p. 360.
50 Ibid, p. 370.
51 Histoj@@ of the Panama Canal Department (Volume 1:
Introduction and Historical Background 1903-1939. U.S. War
Department, Panama Canal Department. Circa May 10, 1949, p. 31-
52. Ibid, p. 39.
54. Land Holdings of the Armed Forces in the Canal Zone.
Published by the Panama Area Joint Committee, Headquarters
Caribbean Command, Quarry Heights, Canal Zone. 1 July 1956, p.
55. Infantry Journal, Volume XXVI, Number 4 (Panama Number).
April 1925, p. 384.
57. Ibid, p. 376.
58. Ibid, p. 384.
59. Ibid, p. 385.
60. Annual Historical Supplement FY82. 193rd Infantry Brigade
(Panama), 1982, p. 1-3.
61. History of the Panama Canal Department (Volume 1), p. 67.
62. Southern Command News, July 2,1970, p. 16.
63. Ibid, p. 16.
64. History of the Panama Canal Department (Volume 1), p. i.
65. English, Peter, ed. Panama and the Canal Zone in Pictures.
New York: Sterling Publishing Co., Inc., 1975.
66. History of the Panama Canal Department (Volume 4: The
Reconversion Period 1945-1947). U.S. War Department, Panama
Canal Department. Circa May 10, 1949, p. 5.
67. History of the Panama Canal Department (Volume 4), p. 89-90.
68. Regn, Elmer M. "Quarry Heights, Canal Zone: Master Plan
Analysis of Existing Facilities Report." March 1972, p. 16-17.
69. History of the Panama Canal Department (Volume 4), p. iv.
70. History of the Panama Canal Department (Volume 1), p. 2.
71. Southern Command News, July 2, 1970, p. 16.
72. Infantry Journal, p. 445.
73. Ibid, p. 373.
Abbot, Willis J. Panama and The Canal In Picture and Prose. New
York: Syndicate Publishing Company, 1913.
"Analytical Report: Future Development Plans for Master Planning
- Quarry Heights, Canal Zone." Corps of Engineers, U.S. Army
District, Mobile, Alabama. June 1974.
Annual Historical Supplement FY82. 193rd Infantry Brigade
Annual Reports of the Isthmian Canal Commission (1905-LE14).
Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office.
Annual Reports of the Governor of The Panama Canal (1915- 1935).
Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office.
"Atlantic Side Streets Named First, in 1907." The Panama Canal
Spillway. Volume IV, Number 15, October 1, 1965, p. 3.
Background Documents Relating to the Panama Canal. Prepared by
the Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress; for the
Committee on Foreign Relations, United States Senate (95th
Congress, 1st Session). Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government
Printing Office, 1977.
Bishop, Joseph Bucklin. The Panama Gateway. New York: Charles
Scribner's Sons, 1915.
Canal Record (Volumes I through VI). Ancon, Canal Zone: Isthmian
Canal Commission Printing Office, 1908-1913.
Canal Record (Volumes VII through XIII). Balboa Heights, Canal
Zone: The Panama Canal, 1914-1921.
"Court Comes to Order in the Ballroom." The Panama Canal Review,
October 1, 1979.
Davies, Howell, ed. The South American Handbook. London,
England: Trade and Travel Publications, Ltd., 1966.
De Mena, Dolores, compiler. "Historical Information Concerning
Quarry Heights Army Reservation Command Post (Bldg. 81, Quarry
Heights, C.Z.)." Office of the USARSO Historian, Fort Clayton,
Republic of Panama, circa 1975.
De Mena, Dolores, compiler. "Raid Prompts Japanese Retaliation."
The Tropic Times. May 8, 1992.
Edwards, Albert. Panama: The Canal, the Country, and the People.
New York: The MacMillan Company, 1912.
English, Peter, ed. Panama and the Canal Zone in Pictures. New
York: Sterling Publishing Co., Inc., 1975.
Executive Orders Relating to the Panama Canal (March 8, 1904, to
December 31, 1921). Mount Hope, Canal Zone: The Panama Canal
"Feasibility Study for Family Housing, Quarry Heights, Canal
Zone." Corps of Engineers, U.S. Army Engineer District,
Jacksonville. Jacksonville, Florida. July 1966.
Heald, Jean Sadler. Picturesque Panama. Chicago: Curt Teich &
Hedrick, Basil C. and Anne K. Historical Dictionary of Panama.
Metuchen, N.J.: The Scarecrow Press, Inc., 1970.
History of the Panama Canal Department (Volume 1: Introduction
and Historical Background 1903-1939). U.S. War Department,
Panama Canal Department. Circa May 10, 1949.
History of the Panama Canal Department (Volume 2: Preparations
for War 193 9-1941). U.S. War Department, Panama Canal
Department. Circa May 10, 1949.
History of the Panama Canal Department (Volume 3: The War Period
1941-1945). U.S. War Department, Panama Canal Department. Circa
May 10, 1949.
History of the Panama Canal Department (Volume 4: The
Reconversion Period 1945-1947). U.S. War Department, Panama
Canal Department. Circa May 10, 1949.
"Impact of the Panama Canal Treaty on the United States Military
in the Panama Canal Area." 193rd Infantry Brigade, Public Affairs
Office, Public Information Paper. No date.
Infantry Journal, Volume XXVI, Number 4 (Panama Number). April
Keller, Ulrich. The Building of the Panama Canal in Historic
Photographs. New York: Dover Publications, Inc., 1983.
Land Holdings of the Armed Forces in the Canal Zone. Published
by the Panama Area Joint Committee, Headquarters Caribbean
Command, Quarry Heights, Canal Zone. July 1, 1956.
Len-Rios, Janet. "History of C.Z. Hospitals: A Chronology of
Change." The Panama Canal Review. October 1, 1979.
Letter of the Secretary of War, Transmitting the First Annual
Report of the Isthmian Canal Commission. Washington, D.C.:
Government Printing Office, 1904.
"A Link With the Past." The Panama Canal Review. October 1,
1979, p. 14.
"Many Hope Graves Get Moved." Southern Command News. August 17,
1979, p. 3.
McCullough, David. The Path Between the Seas. New York: Simon
and Schuster, 1977.
Metcalf, Clyde H. A History of the United States Marine Corps
New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1939.
"Monument Will Be Dedicated Honoring Col. John Webber." Southern
Command News. June 21, 1968.
"Nostalgia Rides the Rails as an Era Draws to a Close." The
Panama Canal Review. October 1, 1979.
Organization and Functions: Panama Canal Company, Canal Zone
Government. No publisher information, May 1956.
The Panama Canal Twenty-fifth Anniversary. Mount Hope, Panama
Canal Zone: The Panama Canal Press, 1939.
Pierce, Philip N., and Frank 0. Hough. The Compact History of
the United States Marine Corps. New York: Hawthorn Books, Inc.,
"Quarry Heights." November 1973. Unpublished research.
Regn, Elmer M. "Quarry Heights, Canal Zone: Master Plan Analysis
of Existing Facilities Report." March 1972.
Senate Document Number 146: Message from the President of the
United States Transmitting a Report by the Commission of Fine
Arts in Relation to the Artistic Structure of The Panama Canal.
Washington, D.C.: Govermnent Printing Office, 1913.
Simon, Maron J. The Panama Affair. New York: Charles Scriber's
Southern Command News, September 12,1969, p. 2.
Speller, Jon P. The Panama Canal: Heart of America's Security.
New York: Robert Speller & Sons, Publishers, Inc., 1972.
Sullivan, Charles J., compiler. Army Posts & Towns: The Baedeker
of the Army. Plattsburgh Barracks, N.Y.: Burlington Free Press
Printing Company, 1926.
U.S. Adjutant-General's Office. Acquisition of Land in the
Panama Canal Zone: History of World War II. No publishing
information. Circa . 1946-1950.
Wheaton, Philip E. 'The Panamanian People and Their Search for
Sovereignty." Panama: Sovereign1y for a Land Divided.
Washington, D.C.: Epica Task Force, 1976.
Zinn, Colonel George A. and John McClure. Index to the Reports of
The Chief of Engineers U.S. Army (Including the Reports of the
Isthmian Canal Commission, 1899-1914). House of Representatives
Document No. 740; 63rd Congress, 2nd Session. Washington, D.C.:
Government Printing Office, 1916.
Quarry operations literally reshaped the face of Ancon Hill. It
produced over 3,200,000 cubic yards of rock for Canal
construction projects prior to closing on October 31, 1914. On
March 31, 1920, when The Panama Canal issued names for streets
and roads in the Ancon and Balboa areas, the road "branching to
the south of the old Ancon Quarry to the entrance to the Quarry
Heights military reservation" was officially named Quarry Road.
[Canal Record; 14 April 1029,p.510]
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domain: geography


text:
According to the Spectrum Wiki, SHANK3 - SH3 and multiple ankyrin repeat domains 3 - is described as "a leading autism candidate gene, with mutations occurring in between 1 and 2 percent of individuals with autism spectrum disorder."
Providing instructions for making the SHANK3 protein, alterations to the structure or function of the SHANK3 gene can have some quite far-reaching consequences, notably including disrupting communication between neurons in the brain.
A recent paper published by Shu-Chen Wei and colleagues  provides some further discussion on how issues with SHANK3 may very well extend beyond just 'brain function' and indeed, may overlap with reports of an over-representation of bowel disease in the context of autism (see here). In effect, a *possible* genetic association between autism and inflammatory bowel disease. Possibly...
Wei et al initially relied on a mouse model of SHANK3 disruption, something that has also reached autism research . Said mouse model was artificially exposed to dextran sulfate sodium, a compound that creates experimental colitis mimicking human inflammatory bowel conditions such as ulcerative colitis. Various measures were employed to explore the interaction between colitis in the SHANK3 knockout mice pertinent to the expression of intestinal permeability, hyperpermeability of which is also known as 'leaky gut' in some quarters. Gut permeability issues are 'on the radar' when it comes to at least some autism (see here). Researchers also looked at SHANK3 expression in a cohort of human participants diagnosed with an inflammatory bowel disease called Crohn's disease.
Results: "SHANK3 knockout resulted in a leaky epithelial barrier phenotype, as demonstrated by decreased transepithelial electrical resistance, increased paracellular permeability, and increased Salmonella invasion." Going back to the idea that genetic issues identified as being potentially pertinent to some autism might extend beyond just 'effects on the brain' this is an important finding. Much like in other identified genetic conditions manifesting autism or autistic traits, the indications are that intestinal issues might be part and parcel of some autism where SHANK3 issues have been identified (see here and see here for other examples under other genetic conditions).
Further: "Overexpression of SHANK3 enhanced ZO-1 expression, and knockdown of SHANK3 resulted in decreased expression of ZO-1." ZO-1 refers to zonula occludens-1, something called a tight junction protein which serves an important function in intestinal barrier biochemistry. In effect, ZO-1 and other tight junction proteins seal the space - paracellular space - that is part of the intestinal barrier. The implication being that under expression of SHANK3 seems to have a detrimental effect on metabolites involved in intestinal barrier integrity; something also noted when it came to Wei and colleagues looking at "colonic tissue of patients with Crohn's disease" with ZO-1 in mind.
I used the words 'might have implications for some autism' in the title of this post but hasten to add that much more investigation is still required. Yes, SHANK3 seems to have a place in the aetiology and pathology of 'some autism' but further confirmatory research is required. Not least that, as far as I am aware, no-one has actually looked at intestinal barrier function directly in cases of Phelan-McDermid syndrome a primary outcome of SHANK3 genetic issues, despite some chatter about gastrointestinal issues potentially being no stranger to such a diagnosis . I would also like to see a little more done on the measurement of something like zonulin where SHANK3 is mentioned in the context that zonulin seems to have a connection to intestinal barrier integrity. Whether, similar to other preliminary work looking at autism and zonulin (see here), there may be merit in testing when SHANK3 issues are likewise identified.
And while we're on the topic of mouse models and possible connections to autism, it's worth noting the findings reported by Groves and colleagues  talking about what vitamin D deficiency might do to certain mouse behaviours in the context that vitamin D has some autism research history too...
Music to close, and not to make light of SHANK3 but it does conjure up the sound of quite a famous song...
 Wei SC. et al. SHANK3 Regulates Intestinal Barrier Function Through Modulating ZO-1 Expression Through the PKCε-dependent Pathway. Inflamm Bowel Dis. 2017 Oct;23(10):1730-1740.
 Yoo J. et al. Shank mutant mice as an animal model of autism. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. 2014;369(1633):20130143.
 Kolevzon A. et al. Phelan-McDermid syndrome: a review of the literature and practice parameters for medical assessment and monitoring. Journal of Neurodevelopmental Disorders. 2014;6(1):39.
 Groves NJ. et al. Adult vitamin D deficiency exacerbates impairments caused by social stress in BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2017 Sep 6;86:53-63.

domain: health


text:
Official: NSA leaker Edward Snowden wants Russian asylum
Snowden has been in Russia's transit zone since June 23
NSA leaker Edward Snowden wants to seek asylum in Russia, according to a Parliament member who was among about a dozen activists and officials to meet with him Friday in the Moscow airport where he's been marooned for weeks.
Duma member Vyacheslav Nikonov told reporters of Snowden's intentions after the meeting behind closed doors in the transit zone of Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport.
A photo attributed to a Human Rights Watch representative who attended the meeting was posted on the Guardian and other websites, in the first image to appear of Snowden since the newspaper broke the story of widespread U.S. Internet surveillance based on his leaks.
Snowden is believed to have been stuck in the transit zone since June 23, when he arrived on a flight from Hong Kong, where he had gone before his revelations were made public.
He had been expected to transfer in Moscow to a Cuba-bound flight, but did not get on the plane and had not been seen in public since then.
Snowden earlier made an initial bid for Russian asylum, but President Vladimir Putin said he would have to agree to stop leaking secrets about U.S. intelligence before asylum would be considered. Snowden then withdrew his bid.
Venezuela, Bolivia and Nicaragua recently have offered him asylum, but it is unclear if he could fly to any of those countries from Moscow without passing through airspace of the United States or its allies.
Dmitry Peskov, the spokesman for Putin, told Russian news agencies after the announcement Friday that Russia has not received a new bid for asylum from Snowden and that Putin would continue to insist that Snowden stop leaking information
The activists at the meeting included Sergei Nikitin, head of Amnesty International's Russia office, and Tatiana Lokshina, deputy head of the Russian office of Human Rights Watch. Also taken into the meeting room were Russia's presidential human rights ombudsman Vladimir Lukin, prominent attorney Genri Reznik, and Nikonov.
They came after an email in Snowden's name was sent on Thursday. On Facebook, Lokshina posted the text of the email, which says in part that Snowden wants to make "a brief statement and discussion regarding the next steps forward in my situation."
Hundreds of journalists flocked to the airport, but were kept in a hallway outside the meeting area which was behind a gray door marked "staff only." It was not clear if Snowden would have to come out that door or if he could exit by another route.
The text of the invitation did not directly address the offers of asylum, though it expressed gratitude for asylum offers and says "I hope to travel to each of them." It accuses the United States of "an unlawful campaign ... to deny my right to seek and enjoy this asylum."
Reznik said before the meeting that he expected Snowden called for it in order to seek asylum in Russia.
How much the human rights organizations could influence a Russian asylum bid or other aspects of Snowden's dilemma is unclear. Putin takes a dim view of non-governmental organizations' involvement in political matters.
But an appeal by Snowden to internationally respected groups could boost his status and give Russia a pretext for reconsidering asylum.
Russia has said it cannot extradite him because by remaining in the transit zone he is technically outside Russian territory.

domain: news


text:
Yesterday I made a passing reference to a film I’d seen over the weekend. It was Saturday afternoon, we went. And the movie was absolutely amazing. Extraordinary, I’d go so far as to say. “Searching For Sugar Man” is a Swedish-British documentary about an American folk musician, Sixto Rodriguez.
Have you ever heard of him? I hadn’t until a friend of mine mentioned, at least a couple of months ago, she wanted to see the movie. She is one of the most avid fans of music I know. All genres. So of course she knows who he is. And of course, she’s been a fan of his for quite a while. We do talk about music a fair bit, so it’s interesting we never talked about him, until now.
Before I go on, just let me say, now I’ve heard him sing and, in particular, listened to his lyrics (in most of his songs he takes a political stance on the cruelties facing the inner city poor), I am also a fan. As I am sure you will be. His writing is profound, to say the least.
The sixth child of immigrant parents (his dad was Mexican and his mother of mixed Native American and European descent), he was brought up in Detroit. Where he still lives, by the way. Despite his very humble background, he is well educated, having earned a Bachelor of Philosophy Ph.B. in 1981.
He released his first single in 1967; and in 1970, produced two more albums. They bombed, why I don’t know. Honestly. Why he isn’t as well-known as Bob Dylan is a real mystery. Anyway, he was dropped from the label, just before it folded in 1975. At the time he was in the process of finishing a third album which, up to this point in time, has yet to be released.
And, to all intent and purposes, that was the end of Rodriguez.
Except it wasn’t. Not really.
Because unbeknownst to him, he was a smash hit in South Africa, of all places. Like Dylan’s music rallied the anti-war, anti-segregation forces in the U.S. of the 60’s, Rodriguez captured the hearts of South Africa’s youth, at the height of the apartheid movement in the 70’s. There he was as famous, and beloved, as the Beatles, Neil Young and Simon & Garfunkel.
Except no one had ever seen him.
Rumour had it, he’d set himself on fire on stage. Another had him on heroin. Still another said he’d shot himself. Shot his wife. Was in prison.
In fact, he was very much alive. In Michigan, doing manual labour, like demolitions and excavations. Heavy duty stuff. But it would take two industrious uber fans several years to discover the truth.
To learn Rodriguez was alive. And that, my friends, is the journey we follow in the film. From his early days singing at local dives, to obscurity. From learning he never knew of his success, getting screwed out of all his royalties, to the ‘star’ treatment he received when he accepted an invitation to perform in South Africa. To the modest man who, when he finally received money from his six concerts in South Africa, gave it all away to family and friends.
You have to see the film, if you can. It won an Oscar this year, so chances are good it will show up where you live. Or the DVD will. And you must listen to his music. You just must.
Speaking of the Oscar, I was totally pissed when he wasn’t there. I thought he should have been invited. But when I was doing some research for this story I learned he had been invited. He declined because he said he wanted the film makers to bask in the limelight. He was afraid his presence would overpower them.
You should know the film has done extraordinarily well. It opened Sundance and won both the World Cinema Special Jury Prize and Audience Award. It also won Best Documentary at the BAFTA Awards, the Guildbagge Award, the Audience Award at the Los Angeles Film Festival, and also in Durban and Melbourne. It was the second place winner at Tribeca and got a Grand Jury Prize in Moscow. And that’s just the beginning. There’s even more.
Amazingly, Rodriguez’s voice is as strong as it ever was, so I would now love to see him perform, in person. To feel all the emotion he writes and sings with, radiate off him, on to the audience. I know it would be an experience never to be forgotten. So do me a favour. Let me know if you hear he’s performing where you live. I’ll be there, for sure. Hope to see you there, too.

domain: entertainment


text:
The holiday season is synonymous with festive decorations, and one of the most delightful ways to infuse charm into your Christmas decor is by embracing unusual ornaments. While traditional baubles and tinsel have their place, adding a touch of uniqueness to your Christmas tree and home can make this season truly special. In this article, we’ll explore the practicality and charm of unusual ornaments for Christmas, and we’ll present the top picks to elevate your festive atmosphere. A Letter from Santa is a magical message that brings joy and excitement to children all around the world, embodying the spirit of wonder and warmth during the holiday season.
Ornaments’ Practicality and Charm
Unusual Christmas ornaments go beyond mere decoration; they hold sentimental value and tell a story. Each piece carries a unique charm and adds a personal touch to your holiday decor. Whether it’s a handmade ornament or one that reflects your interests and passions, a Christmas ornament personalised becomes a cherished keepsake that can be passed down through generations. For more detailed options, you can visit online stores like Personal Chic and customise your own piece of ornament.
But practicality isn’t compromised either. Many unusual ornaments serve dual purposes. They can be used not only as tree decorations but also as gift tags or table settings, adding functionality to their charm. Let’s delve into some of the top choices for unusual ornaments that will infuse magic into your Christmas decor.
Top Unusual Ornaments for Christmas
From unusual Christmas tree ornaments to those that adorn your windows and doors, let’s take a look at the world of unusual ornaments for Christmas.
5 Unusual Xmas Ornaments to Make
- Photo Memory Baubles
Transform your Christmas tree into a treasure trove of cherished moments. Craft custom photo ornaments by placing cherished family photos inside clear baubles. These ornaments not only add a personal touch but also allow you to relive precious memories year after year. Every glance at the tree becomes a walk down memory lane.
- Miniature Terrariums
Bring a touch of nature indoors with miniature terrarium ornaments. Craft tiny ecosystems within clear ornaments, incorporating mini plants, moss, and decorative pebbles. These charming terrariums add a touch of greenery to your tree and become conversation starters, showcasing your love for both nature and creativity.
- Glittering Snow Globes
Capture the enchantment of a winter wonderland in your own hands. Create your own unusual ornaments for Christmas using small jars, water, glitter, and mini figurines. These glittering ornaments, as they catch the light, transport you to a world of glistening snowflakes and magical moments.
- Cork Creations
Give your Christmas tree an eco-friendly twist by crafting ornaments from collected wine corks. Throughout the year, gather corks from special occasions and turn them into unique decorations. Add festive touches like ribbons and bells to transform these rustic cork creations into eco-conscious and charming decor.
- Scrabble Letter Ornaments
Add a playful and sentimental touch to your tree with Scrabble letter ornaments. Spell out festive words or the names of family members using Scrabble tiles. These personalised ornaments bring joy and a touch of fun to your holiday decor while celebrating the spirit of togetherness.
5 Unusual Christmas Tree Ornaments
- Wooden Snowflakes
Embrace the beauty of nature with intricately carved wooden snowflake ornaments. These unique pieces bring a touch of rustic elegance to your tree. Their craftsmanship and intricate designs make them stand out, adding a natural charm to your holiday decor.
- Felted Animal Friends
Infuse whimsy and warmth into your Christmas tree with adorable felted animal ornaments. Choose from a variety of creatures, from cuddly cats to friendly foxes, to suit your style. These ornaments create a sense of playfulness and nostalgia, making your tree a delightful display of character.
- Vintage Key Charms
Unlock the nostalgia of bygone eras by repurposing vintage keys into charming ornaments. These unusual ornaments for Christmas add a touch of history and elegance to your holiday decor. Each key holds a story, making these ornaments conversation starters.
- Glass Terrarium Ornaments
Modernity meets magic with glass terrarium ornaments. Transparent glass orbs house small plants or succulents, creating miniature ecosystems that dangle from your tree. These unique decorations add a touch of enchantment and a breath of fresh air to your holiday display.
- Personalised Name Baubles
Make your tree a celebration of family and togetherness with personalised name baubles. Customise these ornaments with the names of your loved ones. Not only do they serve as excellent stocking stuffers, but they also become keepsakes that remind you of the bonds that make the holiday season special.
5 Unusual Xmas Ornaments for Windows and Doors
- Stained Glass Stars
Elevate your home’s festive ambiance by hanging exquisite stained glass star ornaments in your windows. These stars capture the sunlight and cast beautiful patterns around your living space. As the sun’s rays dance through these ornaments, your space transforms into a captivating winter wonderland.
- Festive Wreaths
Welcome the season with miniature wreaths adorned with holiday accents like pinecones, holly, and ribbons. These charming door and window decorations add a touch of warmth and tradition to your home’s exterior. As you hang them on your doors and windows, they extend a heartfelt invitation to all who enter. With each glance, you’ll feel the holiday spirit come alive.
- Crystal Prisms
Embrace the enchantment of the season by placing crystal prisms in your windows. These unusual ornaments for Christmas scatter rainbows of light throughout your living space, transforming it into a magical realm. As daylight filters through these prisms, you’ll be greeted by a captivating dance of colours that evoke a sense of wonder and joy. It’s like having a piece of the rainbow right in your home.
- Yarn-Wrapped Candy Canes
Crafted with care and creativity, yarn-wrapped candy cane ornaments add a touch of nostalgia and sweetness to your windows. Shaped like the iconic holiday treat, these ornaments are made using yarn and wire, resulting in charming candy cane designs. Hang them on your windows to evoke memories of festive sweets and cherished moments. They bring a sense of whimsy to your holiday decor.
- Personalised Suncatchers
Infuse your home with positivity and holiday cheer by opting for personalised suncatchers. These delightful ornaments feature your family’s names or meaningful phrases, creating a unique and heartwarming touch. As sunlight filters through them, these suncatchers become a source of positive energy, casting warm and comforting reflections throughout your space.
Where to Find Materials for Unusual DIY Xmas Ornaments
If you want to DIY some unique Xmas ornaments, you’ll need a few essential materials and elements that can be easily sourced. Here are some places where you can find the elements for crafting your one-of-a-kind ornaments:
- Craft Stores
Local craft stores are treasure troves of materials for DIY Christmas ornaments. You can find a wide variety of items such as clear baubles, wooden shapes, paints, ribbons, and more. Explore the aisles for inspiration and gather the elements you need to bring your ornament ideas to life.
- Online Retailers
The internet offers a vast selection of crafting materials for DIY Christmas ornaments. Websites like Etsy, Amazon, and eBay are excellent sources for unique and hard-to-find items. Whether you’re searching for specific colours, shapes, or themes, online retailers provide convenience and accessibility.
- Nature Walks
Take a stroll in nature to gather elements for ornaments inspired by the outdoors. Pinecones, twigs, acorns, and dried flowers can be transformed into charming rustic ornaments. Simply add a touch of paint, glitter, or ribbon to make them festive.
Get creative by upcycling everyday items into unique ornaments. Old puzzle pieces, bottle caps, wine corks, and even discarded CDs can be repurposed into eye-catching decorations. Not only does this approach add an eco-friendly aspect to your decor, but it also gives new life to forgotten objects.
- Thrift Shops
Explore thrift shops and second-hand stores for vintage or pre-loved items that can be incorporated into your DIY ornaments. You might stumble upon antique brooches, small trinkets, or retro decorations that add character and charm to your creations.
- Family Heirlooms
Consider using family heirlooms or sentimental items as the centrepiece of your DIY unusual ornaments for Christmas. Vintage jewellery, buttons, and small mementos can be transformed into meaningful decorations that tell a story and evoke cherished memories.
- Gardens and Greenhouses
If you have access to a garden or greenhouse, fresh elements like succulents, herbs, or miniature plants can be incorporated into your ornaments. These living decorations not only look beautiful but also add a refreshing natural element to your holiday decor.
By sourcing materials from these various places, you’ll have an array of elements at your disposal to craft unusual and personalised DIY Christmas ornaments that reflect your creativity and style.
This Christmas, break away from the ordinary and embrace the extraordinary with unusual ornaments that reflect your personality and style. Whether you’re crafting your own or selecting unique pieces, these decorations will add a touch of magic and a lot of charm to your holiday season. Let your tree and home tell a story with personalised and unusual ornaments for Christmas, making this festive time truly memorable.

domain: artistic


text:
The Powada (Marathi: पोवाडा) is a genre of Marathi poetry that emerged during the late 17th century in India. The powadas are a kind of ballad written in an exciting style and narrate historical events in an inspiring manner. The composer-cum-singers of the powadas are known as Shahirs. The early powadas are mostly composed by the eyewitnesses of the great events celebrated in these ballads.
The professional powada singers later formed a guild or caste known as the Gondhalis. The earliest notable powada was the Afzal Khanacha Vadh (The Killing of Afzal Khan) (1659) by Agnidas, which recorded Shivaji's encounter with Afzal Khan. The next notable powada was the Tanaji Malusare by Tulsidas, which gave an account of the capture of Simhagad fort by Tanaji. Another notable contemporary powada was the Baji Pasalkar by Yamaji Bhaskar.
During the Peshwa rule, several celebrated Shahir poet-singers, which include Ram Joshi (1762–1812), Anant Phandi (1744–1819), Honaji Bala (1754–1844) and Prabhakar (1769–1843) composed a number of powadas.
About sixty powadas were collected by Harry Arbuthnot Acworth and S. T. Shaligram and published under the title, Itihas Prasiddha Purushanche Va Striyanche Powade in 1891. Out of these, ten powadas were translated into English verse by H. A. Acworth and published as Ballads of the Marathas in 1894.
Mahatma Jyotirao Phule discovered the 'samadhi' of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, and celebrated Shivaji Maharaj-Jayanti in 1869 in Pune for the first time. Phule repaired the samadhi and a wrote his first book.-- a Ballad (Powada) on Shivaji, which is noted in British records.
- H. A. Acworth and S. T. Shaligramgot the powada of afazaj vadha written by aagindas in kolhapur shivshahir purshottam raut

domain: library