Hello. My Name Is James...and I Am A Philaddict.

Or is that stamp-a-holic? Perf-ert?
I've recently realized that there is no time of the day I am not thinking about stamps. I dreamed I was at an auction last night, and couldn't remember my number!
Recently I was cruising ebay (that in itself sounds perverse) and just HAD to buy something. The problem was I had very little cash in my paypal account. (My wife and I have an agreement. I only buy stamps online with funds from paypal. This saves me from myself and protects our credit card.)
I had only $1.59 in the account (as part of my coming clean, I don't mind sharing my financials with you) and was desperate to spend it on something.
So eventually I clapped eyes on this beautiful ugly cover.



It's yellowed (so is the stamp) and nibbled by bugs. The stamp, a US 1c blue Franklin from the 1890-93 small bureau series, is certainly no rarity. But, IT WAS CHEAP!
My meager funds would cover the base bid and shipping. So I clicked. I raised my paddle. My palms were sweaty, my knees trembled. Much to my surprise, a couple of days later, no one else had bid! Go figure.
And now it's mine. A symbol of my addiction.
Is it possible for something this unattractive and worthless to become a jewel in my collection?
Why not, I say!

Goes to show you. An addict like me can find beauty in even the tawdriest places.

I do find the address interesting. Wood's Station Lodge No. 233 F.H.M., Rock Springs Georgia. Anyone know what F.H.M. stands for?

Now on to my next fix...

James,

I am afraid that if cure is what you are looking for, you came to the wrong place....

I could not describe the addiction better.

I think that is actually F. A. M. (see the A on the 1st line), and usually shows up as F & A.M. (Free & Accepted Masons).

Boy did I get all mixed up searching for this so far. Fun.

GHM = Georgia Historical Marker so I thought maybe something to do with Forestry Marker (at Wood's Station?, maybe a wood cutting station?).

Then I thought, maybe Wood's Station was an Air Station, or Military in some way?.

Then there are different Rock Springs (large and small, old and new) in Georgia, and references to them.

Haven't even started to look for any names, probably should have started there.

Ach, the Masons, ach. Never thought, didn't know. Fascinating.

James in plain street terms Your a STAMP HEAD!

james just cannot lick the habit!

A Polish gentleman once saw me with my stamps and since he had worked in Italy for years before coming to Canada, he used Italian while staring into the air above my head and pronouncing the verdict: Filatelista!

James I would be proud to be your supplier !!

Ah, Phil. It's people like you who are part of the problem, rather than the solution. Thankfully!

Good golly James you've gone and done it again haven't you! I like it. It's...quaint. It's also a stamp I need but a single & off paper- I wonder if it has any siblings?

Interestingly (or is that the addiction talking?) while the envelope says Rock Springs Ga, Catoosa County, a modern map will find Rock Spring (no 's') in neighbouring Walker County. Wonder if the county line was moved, or if it's a different Rock Spring(s).
...wonder if I should spend more time with my family?

Ok, I'm starting to scare myself. I've been picking at this on the web off and on today, and this is what I've come up with.
W. A. Weaver Sicty (what I thought it said) is actually W. A. Weaver Secty (Secretary)
I've further found out that his full name was William Anderson Weaver and he was born in Rock Springs Monroe County, Tennessee, USA on Aug. 15, 1839


Here is his Civil War record:

Residence: Walker County, Georgia
Enlisted: Company K Ga 39th Infantry as Pvt. on 03/04/62.

Promotion: Jr. 2nd Lieutenant 01/31/62 (Likely 1863)

Promotion: 1st Lieutenant 05/15/1864

Died: Walker County, Ga. in 1917. (Roster of Confederate Soldiers of Georgia 1861-1865 )

He's buried in Rock Springs United Methodist Church, Lafayette Ga.

...if I start speaking in tongues, in a Georgia accent, somebody shoot me!

Here's more about the guy, including his head stone.

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/f...id=16778639&

Somebody stop me!

jamesw,

You are so funny!
I loved reading your first post!
Just wanted to let you know, you crack me up!


SueStamps

Thanks Sue. We can crack up together.