Baldwin IV was born in 1161, son of King Amalric I of Jerusalem and Agnes of Courtenay. The Crusader Kingdom sat precariously between powerful Muslim states and was riven by rival barons, clergy, and foreign knights. His tutor William of Tyre reports the first sign of trouble in childhood play: Baldwin did not flinch when hurt. Initially seen as curious, William realized the numbness signaled leprosy. Contrary to the usual tale of isolation, Baldwin’s life diverged. When Amalric died in 1174, th

Bantam Lake Was the Center of Connecticut’s Ice Industry #bantamct #ice #history In 1908, Bantam Lake became home to the largest ice-harvesting operation in Connecticut. Workers carved 300-pound slabs, moved them by conveyor into a 700-foot-long ice house, and shipped them by rail. Ice reached homes through wagons and early trucks, cooling metal-lined iceboxes. Today, the Ice House Ruins Trail marks the site, while the Connecticut Ice Yacht Club’s iceboats race across the lake when it freezes. |

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