Le Mans Cathedral - Crucifix Prior to 1925. And Deadly Tidal Waves in Korea.

            The Postcard

A postally unused carte postale that was photographed and printed by A. Dolbeau of Le Mans. Although the card was not posted, someone has written the following on the divided back:

"An altar piece in Le Mans
Cathedral.
Visited with G & E
Aug. 14. 1925."

Le Mans Cathedral

Le Mans Cathedral is a Catholic church situated in Le Mans, France. The cathedral is dedicated to Saint Julian of Le Mans, the city's first bishop, who established Christianity in the area around the beginning of the 4th. century. 

The cathedral's construction dates from the 6th. through the 15th. century, culminating in 1430. It features many French Gothic elements.

The cathedral, which combines a Romanesque nave and a High Gothic choir, is notable for its rich collection of stained glass and the spectacular bifurcating flying buttresses at its eastern end.

The Hetch Henny Moccasin Powerhouse

So what else happened on Friday the 14th. August 1925?

Well, on that day, in Moccasin, Tuolumne County, California, the original Hetch Henny Moccasin Powerhouse went on line. 

Construction on the original Moccasin Powerhouse, designed by San Francisco architect Henry A. Minton, was started in the Fall of 1921. 

Paul James Ost was the electrical engineer put in charge of power operations and the electrical engineering phases of the Hetch Hetchy project.

 Mary (Molly) Ost recalled in 1950:

"Paul assembled the Moccasin Powerhouse. He went 
back east to gather all the parts from multiple companies 
including Westinghouse and General Electric, and 
personally directed the construction of the electrical 
sections of the powerhouse. 
The powerhouse was at one time called the 'Ost 
Powerhouse'."

The original powerhouse was removed from operation on the 7th. February 1969.

The present-day Moccasin Powerhouse was completed and placed in operation on the 27th. January 1969.

-- The Old Priest Grade

Immediately east of Moccasin, State Route 120 climbs from about 910 feet (280 m) to about 2,450 feet (750 m) over a distance of 4.5 miles (10 km). 

Old Priest Grade, a narrower road and predecessor to the current route, covers the same change in elevation over about 1.8 miles (2.9 km). It is common to see vehicles with smoking brakes descending the old grade. 

During summer, ambient temperatures can be in the 90 - 100 °F range. In these temperatures, many vehicles overheat climbing the old grade. For this reason, bottles of water are available at turnouts along Old Priest Grade to fill overheating vehicles. 

A sign also advises drivers to turn off air conditioning in order to prevent overheating while climbing either grade. Locals tell stories of car accidents in history where the vehicles left the path of Old Priest Grade and tumbled into Grizzly Gulch. 

The hillsides are sturdy chaparral with thick vegetation. The terrain was so difficult that, in a few cases, the cars and bodies were not retrieved, some locals claim.

Deadly Tidal Waves in Korea

Also on the 14th. August 1925, tidal waves in Korea left 400 people dead and 1,000 missing.

There was also extensive damage to houses and property.

Taken on: December 30, 2024

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postcard

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Sets appears in: • Disasters

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