Our doctors have done far more Immigration medicals certificates than anyone else in Wellington.
How long do the medicals take?
If you do not need an XRay, the appointment takes between 1 and 1.5 hours.
If you do need an XRay, it normally takes between 1.5 and 2 hours- that is, from your appointment time, till you have finished your Xray.
What happens in the medical?
We complete the eMedical with you- this includes a health questionnaire, a declaration (which is a legal statement you need to sign), some "biometrics" measurements by the nurse or doctor (such as a vision test, height and weight and blood pressure), and a physical exam by the doctor.
*If you need an XRay, we will have arranged it for you to be done straight after your medical.
Our services are designed to give you the best possible service- and save you time and money.
we complete and submit the eMedical and advise you of the results.
You do not miss the first appointment time you make with us.
Discounts are at our discretion.
What about help with my visa application?
We provide medical assessments. We do know the basic rules that apply to visa applications, but we are not part of the Immigration Department, and it is important that you speak with Immigration New Zealand so you are sure about what checks you need, and when you need them.
If your situation is complicated, you may prefer to speak to an independent Immigration Agent. We have a list of some agents on our website.
Can I get an urgent Medical?
We can usually arrange a medical certificate and results within 1-2 working days - an extra charge applies.
Please ring us as soon as you can if you have to cancel or change your appointment.
If you do not show up for your appointment, or you give us less than 1 working days notice that you need to change or cancel your appointment, then you will be charged a re-booking fee of $100, and you will need to pay an advance deposit of $100 on your next appointment, and you will not be entitled to any discount that may be offered at the time.
What do I have to bring for the medical?
Your passport (you will not be able to do your medical or XRay if you do not show your passport).
Medical information (such as specialist letters and results) if you have had serious health problems in the past.
Glasses or contact lenses if you use them.
An interpreter (translator) if your English is poor.
What about eating and drinking before the blood tests?
You should eat and drink normally on the day of your test. You need to drink fluids beforehand because you will need to do a urine test, and the blood tests are "non-fasting" blood tests these days.
Having a cold does not normally affect the medical or the blood test or XRay, but if think you have influenza, please call us, because we do not want you to spread this infection to us or others.
Can women have the medical during their period?
You can call us to change your appointment so that you come in after your period finishes.
What clothes should I wear for the doctor check?
The doctor has to make sure you are healthy, so when the doctor examines you, you will need to take most of your clothes off, but you leave your underwear on. That is, men leave their underpants on, women leave their bra and underpants/knickers on. So when you come for your appointment, please make sure you wear underwear under your normal clothes. You may leave head coverings on for the examination as long as the doctor is still able to check your eyes, and ears, as well as the skin on your head if the doctor needs to.
What does the doctor's examination include?
if you have had certain health problems in the past, the doctor may need to check other things such as lymph glands in your groin (if this is necessary, the doctor will explain why).
Can women have someone with them during the doctor check?
Yes. If you are examined by a male doctor, you may have a female staff member with you during the examination (called a "chaperone") if you would like it.
We are trying to help you get approval from Immigration as quickly as possible, so about 90% of the time we will complete the medical and send it to Immigration on-line within 2-3 working days.
A few people have problems with the medical examination or the results, and if this is not sorted out, this can delay the process within Immigration, so we will help you so that we provide them with any extra information as quickly as possible. This might involve old specialist reports, or another blood or urine test. Sometimes this involves extra cost to you. We will advise you about this.
How do I find out about my results?
Our doctor will email you as soon as they have checked all your results, and will be happy to send you copies of your results. If the results of the medical examination or results are not normal, we will email or ring you and advise you the best way to proceed. You can choose to come in for an extra consultation if you need extra time to discuss results, but mostly this is not necessary.
How do I know if I need extra tests?
More than 90% of people do not need extra tests.
But if there is something wrong with your standard blood tests, then Immigration NZ usually requires a test to be repeated. We will only suggest an extra test if we are sure that it will be required by Immigration.
And if you have a chronic health problem, our doctor may ask you to supply more information (for example, from previous specialists), or may suggest an extra blood or urine test. We do this to help get your application through Immigration more quickly.
When will there be extra charges?
We recommend you do extra tests to make it quicker for Immigration to consider your application, and you agree to have the extra tests.
Immigration tells you to get more tests done.
You need long phone or face-to-face discussions with the doctor after the medical has been done.
Can we come back to you as a gp (general practitioner) after the medical?
No, we are not set up to provide gp services, but we can advise you about good doctors near where you live or work.
Dear Life Clinic, Thank you for all of your help in this immigration process. I just want to say that your staff has not only been extremely professional and organized but also warm and welcoming. These things certainly make a difference when dealing with the sometimes stressful situations of immigration visas and health check-ups. I will certainly recommend your clinic to anyone else who may need a medical exam in the future. Thank you again.
Thank you so much and i really enjoy your service.. More power to your team.
The team at Life Clinic is committed to providing the highest standards of care. Our clinical director provides oversight and advice to our nursing and medical team. Our clinical team members are all registered with their relevant professional bodies and maintain the ongoing educational requirements for registration with these boards.
I started Immigration Express in 2007 after working for many years as a gp (family doctor). I wanted to give people coming to New Zealand/ Aotearoa the very best service possible and I still love the job. I also love travelling, languages, tramping, golf (and almost any other sport!), and gardening.
Working at Life Clinic is great because the people we see here are generally well and making big changes in their lives, either a permanent move of country or visiting to work. I get to meet individuals and families from a wide range of backgrounds and it is lovely to be reminded of how diverse our world is.
I am an experienced nurse and I have worked at the Life Clinic for the past 7 years. I have a special interest in Wellness and Occupational health and recently completed a Post Graduate Certificate in Wellness from Melbourne's RMIT. I love travelling, meeting people, and have recently started cycling which I also love!
Jo has worked at Immigration Express since 2014, and also works at a medical centre in Wellington. Jo loves family and exercise (especially mountain biking).
Sheryal has worked at Immigration Express since 2017, and loves gardening, walking.
I am Judi and I just love my job here with the Life Clinic team. I get to meet new and interesting people from all over the world. I also love Wellington because the beach is my favourite place. I enjoy the city life and the huge range of amazing cafe's and restaurants. Come fly with me!
I am Bonnie, I was born in Shandong , China. I have been in New Zealnd for 14 years. I love Yoga, swimming and running. I graduated from Massey University. I have been working for Life Clinic since 2015. I love my job and I love to communicate with people from different cutlure backgrounds.
I am Jo. I work here at Life Clinic. It's a wonderful place to work as you get to meet so many interesting and lovely people from around the world! When not at work I am a mum of two teenage daughters and I am an avid reader of news and books.
The clinic will be closed on Friday the 19th and Monday 22nd of April due to Easter public holidays.
You can still make an appointment online via the forms in our website.
Best Wishes from Immigration Express / LifeClinic team!


Woodcliff Lake, NJ – May 19, 2016 – Catalogic Software, a leading provider of in-place copy data management, today announced that Tectrade has joined the Catalogic partner program to bring Catalogic's ECX copy data management platform to its customers in the United Kingdom. Tectrade is a leading MSP providing data protection, storage solutions, big data and cloud managed services.
Catalogic's ECX platform delivers "in-place" copy data management, allowing the IT team to make optimal use of its existing infrastructure and data in a manner that is efficient, automated, scalable and easy to use. Catalogic enables IT to deliver the data access required for its internal and external customers to meet mission critical operations including data protection, disaster recovery, test and development and others. With automation, orchestration and self-service functionality, ECX allows the IT team to modernize their operations using existing storage and virtualization infrastructure without disruption.
The Catalogic solution is a natural fit for Tectrade. With over 25 years of experience at the cutting edge of data management, Tectrade delivers proven, enterprise-class solutions, and has a customer list that spans industries and continents. The company's expertise and experience ensure its data solutions are supported by proven, enterprise-class technologies, including IBM Tivoli StorageManager, IBM Enterprise Storage, IBM Optim, IBM Guardium, IBM Enterprise Storage, IBM PureData and IBM Pureflex. As an IBM Premier Business Partner, Tectrade was recognized with two 2015 Centre for Technical Excellence (CoTE) awards.


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Nollywood actress, Omotola Jalade's first son, Captain E has been signed as an ambassador for Hucho Foundations.
The excited mother took to her Instagram page to celebrate her son for signing the new deal.
Congratulations. We announce the official signing of @iamcaptaine of @redhotconcepts Ambassador of Huncho Foundation. Captain E also known as Mathew Ekeinde is a multi-talented Music producer and Artist and a youth with good energy.


If you eat, sleep, and breathe soccer like we do then everything you do becomes a chance to train and hone your craft. Your running doesn't stop after the 90th minute. At cheap superfly we hand-picked the best running and off-field soccer training shoes that will allow you to push past old barriers and become the best player you can be. Whether it is a pair of running shoes to get you through a five mile run, or soccer trainer shoes that offer the support and stability you need on the squat rack - cheap superfly has you covered. We offer players some of the lowest prices online and no hassle returns that make it easy to find exactly what you're looking for. Shop now and kick your soccer and fitness goals into high gear!


4 posts categorized "Oral history"
Do you know of any collections that are currently at risk and need preserving? The Endangered Archives Programme is now accepting grant applications for the next annual funding round – the deadline for submission of preliminary applications is 4 November 2016 and full details of the application procedures and documentation are available on the EAP website. This year we will also be accepting online applications.
EAP843: Part of the Archibishopric's Archive, Sandiago de Cuba. A pilot project undertaken in 2015 with a major project about to begin.
The Endangered Archives Programme has been running at the British Library since 2004 through funding by Arcadia, with the aim of preserving rare vulnerable archival material around the world. This aim is achieved through the award of grants to relocate the material to a safe local archival home where possible, to digitise the material, and to deposit copies with local archival partners and with the British Library. These digital collections are then available for researchers to access freely through the British Library website or by visiting the local archives. The digital collections from 165 projects are currently available online, consisting of over 5 million images and several thousand sound recordings.
This year we have started making our sound recordings available for online streaming and one of our most popular archives is the Syliphone Label.
The Programme has helped to preserve manuscripts, rare printed books, newspapers and periodicals, audio and audio-visual materials, photographs and temple murals. Since 2004 approximately 300 projects have been funded. Last year awards were given for projects based in Argentina, Bulgaria, Cuba, Ghana, India, Ivory Coast, Madagascar, Malawi, Mexico, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Russia, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan and Turks and Caicos Islands.
The following images give a sense of the type of material that went online over the past year.
EAP692/1/1/2 Alagar kovil Kallalagar Inner Mandapa Ceiling East [17th Century]. Part of the pilot project to digitise temple murals in Tamil Nadu. The team have now started a major grant.
EAP755/1/1/86 Mendoza. Photographs taken by Annemarie Heinrich, Argentina. The team working on this project have also been awarded a major grant.
EAP856/1/6 Journal du Premier Ministre Rainilaiarivony (Tome III) [May 1881 - Sep 1881]. 19th century archives written by Prime Minister Rainilaiarivony (written in Malagasy. Another project is also underway on Madagascar.
Just a quick post to draw your attention to the fact that today is the UNESCO World Day for Audiovisual Heritage, established to raise awareness of the value of audiovisual material , and the challenges we face in ensuring its preservation for current and future generations. The UNESCO web pages have more information about the day, including details of a programme of short films to be screened in Paris this evening in celebration.
EAP projects have digitised a range of audiovisual materials, documenting such varied performances and events as Chinese Dongjing performances, initiation rites for the Dagara Bagr cult of Northern Ghana and Southern Burkina Faso, records created by the East Timor Commission on Return, Truth and Reconciliation from 2002-2004, and recordings of North Indian Classical Music.
Over the past week I have started to catalogue project EAP012 Salvage and preservation of Dongjing archives in Yunnan, China: transcript, score, ritual and performance.
Dongjing refers to a body of Daoist and Confucian texts and traditional music scores. The songs can be performed unaccompanied or with instruments. As a practice it is thought to date back to the 15th century. Social, political and cultural factors have endangered the practice which is now mostly performed by communities in Yunnan province.
The collections copied by the EAP012 project contain a wealth of material including ritual texts, music scores and audio-visual recordings of Dongjing performances as well as oral history interviews. The following images are taken from Sanguan donging juan zhong, a sutra used during Dongjing activities, inscribed in 1911.
The recent G20 summit meeting in London got me thinking about our interconnected world. The current economic troubles are shared on a global scale. With this meeting the G20 countries acknowledge joint responsibility for the solution, and for the future. This in turn led me to think about our interconnected past and our shared histories.
The idea of shared histories is used to reconcile the memories different individuals or groups have of a shared experience. For example, a more complete picture of slavery is given if it includes the memories of both black and white families living on plantations; a fuller picture of Empire is found by examining the stories from both indigenous peoples and colonial settlers. The idea of shared histories also enlarges the scope of a subject, event or period by allowing all participants a voice. For example, our understanding of the history of warfare has been expanded by adding the diaries, letters and other records of mothers, sisters, wives and sweethearts to those of soldiers and government units.
In this way shared histories are used to create a common memory of the past. Material copied by EAP projects has the potential to pay an important part in this process. The projects actively find and preserve historical records from local areas and countries. They also preserve the records of religious and political movements that span countries and centuries.
The records copied by EAP006 First Yap State Constitutional Convention audio tapes conversion project are of immense importance to the history of Yap Sate in Micronesia. These records also form part of the history of constitutional government in Oceania, and in the world. This project digitised audio recordings from the First Yap State Consitituional Convention held in 1982 to develop a constitutional framework by which they intended to be self-governing. A referendum followed with the majority of the citizens accepting the Constitution.
The records copied by EAP071 Archiving texts in the Sylhet Nagri script are important to the history of north-eastern Bengal because of their subject matter and because they represent a corpus of material written in a unique script. They are also significant for the history of writing and the history of printing in India. The script became a vehicle for popular culture and religion. The texts cover religious themes, social issues and popular stories.
Here is a page from Haribamsa, from the Khaunis Cakrabarti Collection. This text narrates the love story of Krisna and Radha, Hindu divinities.
By choosing to preserve and value a wide set of historical records the stock pile from which fuller histories can be written grows. The EAP allows items from the historical record to be found and examined by those whose local history and identity they record. It also makes these available to a wider audience thereby allowing more people to share in a wider understanding of history. And by sharing this history, perhaps to make it their own.


We answer your dog eye questions with a canine opthamologist. Plus, meet one of the largest dogs in the world. Krue is an English Mastiff weighing well over 200 pounds!
Today we talk about PAAS Rescue Organization with Kay Stout. Susan Owens visits the set to talk about a new project that viewers can enter too. Plus, the trainers forum is back to answer your questions.
Today we are talking about fosters. Central Oklahoma Humane Society brings two foster families to the set to talk about the importance of their volunteerism. Also, we visit with the owner and designer of K9 Couture Collars. Plus, how you can capture the moment with your pet through 'Imagine Photos' with Pam Meyers.


can give the owner, Ruth Baker, an accurate head count.
Afterwards, we'll walk 1 1/2 blocks to downtown Suffolk's Main Street for the monthly Suffolk's Premier Arts, Retail and Cultural (SPARC) Initiative event (sparcva.com), a retail sales gallery featuring local artists and creatives that showcase a variety of handmade, original artwork, gifts, jewelry, and home decor.
There are several new restaurants in downtown Suffolk, if you want to stay afterwards for an early dinner.


Hello! Julia got to go on a second adventure to Monticello, Thomas Jefferson's home.
Jefferson certainly had a wonderful view of the mountains from his home.
We had a wonderful tour guide who shared a mountain of information of the inside of the house.
I'm using pictures from google to show you the inside. I found it pretty funny that a big theme in the Hamilton musical is time. Hamilton is running out of time in so many of the songs, and it culminates in the final song which weaves time and stories together. But Thomas Jefferson seemed to be much more of a keeper of time than Alexander was. Literally. He had a clock in almost every room of his house, and usually very fascinating clocks too. The most elaborate was his outside – inside calendar clock.
The outside clock only showed the hour. He thought that would be sufficient enough for outside laborers to use.
But the inside clock not only had hours and minutes, but even seconds too! The clock would chime every hour by hitting a Chinese gong that could be heard 3 miles away! According to our tour guide it still works, but they don't have it ring because the neighbors would complain.
Jefferson also had a way of knowing what day it was. The ball weights you see would tick past what day it was and would have to be wound back up again on Sunday. The funny thing was, the wall of this hall was too short for all 7 days of the week, so Jefferson cut a hole in the floor for the weights to drop to the basement floor on Saturday!
And of course, just like Hamilton, Jefferson loved books. His library stood readily portable at all times.
The shelves which look like book shelves were actually book cases stacked on top of each other. They could be covered and carted to any place Jefferson needed to go. And every single one of his books really did get packed up when they were sold to the Library of Congress after the Capitol had burned down in 1814. Jefferson's only condition was for Congress to take every single one of his books which became the foundation for the Library of Congress.
When Jefferson's wife died, he went through such a depression that many of his friends thought it would be good for him to leave the country. So he became ambassador to France. When he came back, he re-designed his bedroom to have a very unique Jefferson-French style. He raised the ceiling and put in a skylight. What is most unique to not just this room, but others in Jefferson's house, is the alcove bed. He wanted to save space and put the bed inside the wall. The space above the bed became a closet! No wasted space for Jefferson. And notice what the first thing Jefferson saw when he woke up….
Yes, that's a clock at the foot of his bed.
Jefferson's dining room was bright and cheery and yellow for a reason. It faced north and got little sunlight, so Jefferson compensated for that by making his own 'sunlight' on the walls and ceiling. He also put in double window panes to keep the heat in.
Poor sickly Madison lived in Monticello for long periods of time and Jefferson gave him a room facing north with no double window panes! No wonder he was so sick all the time! But his bed was also an alcove bed.
Those were the rooms on the main floor of the house. They offered another tour to see the upper floors but we ended up getting to Monticello late and took the last tour just before they closed and that was all we saw. So fun though! And I'm so glad I went!
Welcome to Biltmore House in North Carolina. I am Julia Carpatina here to take you on a tour.
It only took six years to build and construct this house. It has 250 rooms, 35 bedrooms, 43 bathrooms, 65 fireplaces, and three kitchens.
35 servants served the Biltmore family of three!
It is the largest privately owned house in the United States.
I visited the Biltmore house on a cloudy misty day. If you take a close look on the left in the picture a above, it looks like a shaggy little roof is attached to the big mansion like a little hairy lean-to.
The first room we entered was the dining hall. I think it was the brightest and most beautiful room in the whole house. Tapestries cover the wall along the table, and at the far end of the table there is a huge pipe organ!
The table was arranged so beautifully with flowers and food and fancy forks and silverware of gold. A stone inscription above the dining room doors read, 'God's peace in our time' in Latin.
Imagine having a room used solely for breakfast! This room is the breakfast room. There are little reading couches that line the windows for people to relax on before or after eating.
Almost all of the rooms had the most unique ceilings and the salon was extravagant with a scalloped fabric of a ceiling.
The music room was bright and beautiful too, but not all that many instruments. There was only a harpsichord and a pianoforte.
Outside of the music room and around the corner I went out to the porch balcony to see a wonderful view of the mountains.
I wanted to stay there all day! It was so pretty even though everything was still brown. The trees looked so old and ancient.
There were little reading alcoves with cushy chairs all along the balcony too.
There are flowers everywhere at Biltmore house in all seasons. There is a team of 17 designer florists who create all the arrangements inside and outside the house.
The tapestry room contained a set of tapestries called the Triumph of the Seven Virtues. The one you see behind me is the Triumph of Faith. There are depictions of biblical stories and symbols. The woman in the center with the cross represents the Latin inscription at the top: 'Holy faith trusts in the divine work and devotes herself wholly to God with dutiful reverence.
The library reminded me of a miniature version of the library from Beauty and Beast.
There were books on every wall going all the way up to the ceiling.
There was even a special portable ladder/staircase to get to the hard to reach books.
The ladder isn't quite tall enough to get you up to the ceiling, but the ceiling is certainly worth paying attention to. It is a painting of the Chariots of Aurora by Pellegrini.
The stairway of Biltmore had a neat architectural design. The circular chandeliers and staircases made a neat effect.
Every floor of this house has a living room. This is the second floor living hall. This family portrait is unique because it's a portrait inside a portrait in it. The modern family in the fore-front are sitting together in this same living room, in front of an older Vanderbilt family portrait that used to hang in the same place. You can see it hanging on the wall behind them.
The wall just opens into a closet!
The Oak Room with its intricately plaster carved ceiling was heavily used by the Vanderbilt family. It was a private space that connected Mr. and Mrs. Vanderbilt's bedrooms.
Mrs. Vanderbilt's bedroom is brighter than her husband's and I felt right at home visiting it because the bedspread matched the pattern of my dress, and the gold walls matched the color.
Speaking of matching, all the bedrooms we visited, especially the Louis X bedroom like you see here, are perfectly color coordinated. We would see the curtains matching the bedspread, or the fireplace matching the upholstery of the chairs. It was quite remarkable and sometimes over the top.
The lower floor of Biltmore was where the fun was. It contained a bowling alley, a gymnasium, and a pool complete with bathrooms and dressing rooms.
The swimming pool was only used in the winter and would only be filled when they were going to swim because there are no fliters and the water would just sit stagnant in the humid environment. And even in the winter it wasn't used much.
Most people didn't even know how to swim which is what the ropes along the wall were for – something to hold on to because the pool was deep, 10 feet deep at the end.
Also on the lower level were the servants quarters and kitchens.
The kitchens were bright and cheery and smelled of wonderful spices.
Biltmore is a huge estate. We had to drive to places like the gardens because it was too far to walk.
The green house was a perfect place to be to get out of the rain and it was very bright and beautiful.
I tried to find all the yellow flowers that would match my dress!
But there were some intricate and interesting flowers that weren't yellow too.
Stay tuned for more adventures from South Carolina and Virginia.
"What do you mean? There's another story too!?!?" Camille looked at Katelynne.
"Haha! Yeah, you're not the only one who had an adventure! The Who dolls did too! And it all revolved around that card….
"Hark what mean those holy voices….." It sounded like some kind of Christmas carol. Over and over again in her head. This lasted for days. Twenty four days to be exact, because she always put her Christmas decorations up December 1st. It was now Christmas Eve.
Rose checked her phone. A text: 'Wear blue. Outside.' -The Doctor. The Doctor! She hadn't had any contact from him in quite a while. She couldn't help smiling and feeling a crazy thrill fill her body. Wear blue. Why? But that didn't matter. She only had one blue outfit and that would be the one she'd have to wear. She threw it on as fast as she could, her hands trembling a bit at the thought of meeting the Doctor again and going through time and space unknown to save the world. She ran down the stairs and stepped outside her door.
"Hi!!!" she cried, throwing her arms around him.
He tensed a little, surprised, as if he hadn't been around people for a long time, but then relaxed.
She looked at him expectantly, not sure if she should start a conversation or wait for him to say something. He looked out into the air and narrowed his eyes. Was he seeing stuff already?
"You're hearing a Christmas carol you've never heard before inside your head," the Doctor summarized, he continued his deducting speech but Rose had stopped listening. She had heard the same phrase, "Hark what mean those holy voices….voices/voices/voices" echoing in her head so loudly she wanted to close her ears. She shook her head and stepped back, but she stepped back too far, and found herself falling two floors down, landing in the bushes!
She shrieked as she fell and watched as a fuzzy sort of bush opened up its branches like a mouth as though to swallow her whole. Just out of the corner of her eye she noticed the Doctor had fallen with her. She blinked and found herself surrounded by little white lights.
And the lights were singing! They were singing her song! The song that had been in her head for weeks!
That flash of blue streaked through the corner of her eye into the center of her vision.
Not wanting it to get away this time, she grabbed it – and disappeared.
The Doctor stood up, looked over at the bush Rose had fallen in and narrowed his eyes when he saw she was gone. He got out of the bush and walked back to the Tardis.
She didn't even know why she spent as much time in her garden as she did tending them. Her husband Mickey, thought she was completely nuts and would laugh and tease her about them. But there was something about them, something good, that reminded her of someone she used to care and still cared very deeply for. So she tended them in his memory. She was trying to get them to spread onto her evergreen tree so that at Christmas time Mickey wouldn't have to get the ladder and string Christmas lights on it himself. But anytime she guided and pointed the lights toward it, they turned in on themselves and went backwards. She had no idea why. Her lights had become a tower of stringed lights because of her futile effort.
"Are you giving yourself a little 'light music?'" a voice behind her asked.
"Where did you get these?" he asked.
Martha stopped mid-sentence. A blue flash caught her eye. A message, maybe? She reached out while at the same time the Doctor dove for her and caught the bow on her dress. They both disappeared.
Donna Noble was bored. She was bored with her entire life. She had just missed her wedding, lost her job, and became a widow on the same day. Not to mention helping to defeat the Empress of Racnoss and saving the Doctor's life. And she had walked away from it. The Doctor terrified her, there was a dark side to him that made her uneasy. But she found she couldn't resume her old life. She was bored out of her mind doing day to day tasks. She found herself watching, always on the lookout for paranormal activity, or unexplained events.
And she found them, or maybe, they found her. She had just come from a dinner dance and was walking through the park when she saw strange lights igniting the trees.
They were so strange. Moving, darting lights like they were alive.
She walked closer to them.
She found it hard to tell whether the trees were being lit up, or if the trees were lighting themselves up.
and no wonder, because the water they drank wasn't water at all.
Lancing lightdrops that whizzed to the ground like shooting stars!
They made no noise but they changed colors and it seemed the trees were drinking them greedily because they were alight themselves.
They shimmered and changed so much it was as if they were moving.
Dancing! But in a very exotically wild way.
A chill ran down Donna's spine. She wasn't sure if these trees were good or bad, or even if they were sentient. But they seemed to be.
They seemed to be enjoying the light. Their branches moved in a hypnotic pattern.
They would touch each other and show a similar color. Like they were talking to each other.
As Donna got closer the trees erupted in light!
A volcanic display of reds, pinks, and oranges!
Donna gasped and shielded her eyes.
And finally blue. Exactly matching her dress. They stayed blue for a long while and then so slowly, Donna almost didn't even notice at first, the trees got darker and darker until they were black. All were black except for two sentinel trees standing guard at the far end of the forest.
They waved their branches and closed in on themselves. In a blink, the trees were gone and in their place were two diamonds made of wood, colored in yellow and purple.
Those look like pods, Donna thought, like an alien is going to come out. She searched wildly for the Doctor but saw no sign of him. She waited for the pods to open up. She waited for a long time and at last they did. Strange colored balls, all lit up burst out of the pods like balloons and float/bounced to the ground.
And changed color in synchronicity.
They quivered and suddenly they burst into song!
And with that verse, the balls glowed gold and started floating up into the sky! Donna tried to think what that verse could possibly have to do with these balls of light. The verse sounded like something she used to sing in church with the Hallelujahs and everything. Donna shook her head. All of this screamed of extraterrestrial outer space, paranormal activity. Trees of light were not found on earth, neither were wooden diamond pods spewing lighted balloons. So where the heck was the Doctor!!!
She found herself walking, certain that her feet would carry her towards the person she'd been looking for for almost a year. But instead they led her to something else bizarre. These weren't trees because they had no branches.
Unlike the trees who swished and swayed in one spot, these sticks moved around on the ground.
Their color changes and movement drew Donna in until she found herself walking toward them. The sticks drew in on themselves, forming a trunk. Hollow trunks, with glowing lights inside.
"I don't need anyone," said the Doctor.
She had tried to bury that fear so deeply because if the Doctor wasn't here….if he hadn't heeded her advice just after she'd left him….She felt herself choking as she realized only too late, how much she wanted him, and how the world was in grave danger without him.
She blinked. She didn't have her arms around sticks anymore. She had her arms around a tree wrapped up in a blanket with a sign that said 'HUG ME'. She found she was hugging it and it felt like she was hugging the Doctor. He was too skinny for words.
She slid the rest of the way down the tree and continued walking through the trees of lights.
Surely, surely the Doctor was nearby! These had to all be clues! Clues even from him maybe! Maybe he was setting all this up just for her!
She sat down by a lit tree, trying to think. The wind had steadily and slowly been getting stronger and now, snowflakes filled the air. She started to get up and walked and shook her head and laughed at what she was seeing.
Of course, these weren't normal snowflakes. They were lighted ones.
A snowflake caught her in her tracks.
A brilliant bright flash streaked from the sky shining like a spot light on her.
It glowed blue and she disappeared.
The spaceship Riversong had been put on, dropped to the ground with a WHOOSH and River stepped out and looked around.
She was headed toward a city of lights, a cold, polar bear place.
And she knew what she was looking for.
She stared out the window as the presents passed her by.
Hasten mortals….she was a mortal now. Not that she had been truly immortal to begin with either, just maybe a little more immortal than most people. But because of the verse, she felt that urgent need to hurry….the other parts of the verse she already did. She already adored him and she was perhaps the one and only person to have already learned the name of the Doctor whom she loved.
According to Madam Kovarian, she was searching for furies, but really, she was looking for the Doctor. That was why she was here.
It's the same tune! she gasped. Could it be part of the same song? How did they know it? How could they even sing it? Weren't they mute swans?
The swan sailed past her making way for a road that led to a house.
And it wasn't just a house, it was a candy cane house. So I'm supposed to find wisdom and understanding in this house? she wondered as she walked in.
An igloo. She went inside.
Again, nothing was there except for a blue card of paper on the floor in the middle of the room.
She pocketed the blue slip and stepped out of the igloo. The Lion and the Root, this person had many names….
"Learn His name to magnify…" The Doctor had only one name…Something seemed to snap inside of her. She gasped as the music seemed to get louder. It wasn't the furies who were singing this song! It have never been the furies singing this song! It was the lights themselves!
She found herself facing yet another house. A white one with the same thing.
Riversong was just starting to get an inkling of who this person really was when she came upon the last house. A gingerbread house.
She didn't even have to go inside this time, as shiny blue slip of paper rested on the bench. She picked it up and disappeared.
When her eyes re-focused, she gasped, because she wasn't in the same room anymore.
She was outside, dangling, holding on to a rope of Christmas tree lights, just like the ones in her bedroom. Something moved out of the corner of her eye.
She screamed! She was caught in a giant spider web and a giant spider was heading straight at her!
She let go, just as the spider leaped after her.
She knew this had to be the Doctor's doing. How he had gotten her here without the use of the Tardis she didn't know, but she was certain he had to be nearby.
She shrieked again, startled by the sound of thunder and lightening.
It's raining lights! she thought, spinning around with a look of wonder on her face. She wasn't even getting wet! The blue raindrops just made her blue dress sparkle even more.
She was still certain the Doctor would show up any minute. There was so much to see that she almost didn't even realize there was music going on too.
All throughout the city, as it changed colors, music played inside of her head, coming from the lights themselves.
And it was always that same tune that had been in her head when she had been in her bedroom.
She stopped suddenly, because she realized she had just walked past the city but had met no one inside of it besides the spider and no Doctor had shown up either.
She turned around and watched the storm clouds and the spider web and the Christmas trees again. Everything seemed to be playing over again. Just like it was the same song, being played over and over again. What kind of place was this?
She didn't want to meet the spider again, so she decided to keep on walking. The world got even stranger….she came face to face with a dragon half submerged in the middle of a pond.
The Newborn King…she thought of the song that was being sung over and over again here. It was a Christmas carol, and what was it about? The whole meaning of Christmas, the birth of Jesus. But wait. She was supposed to gather the light? ALL this light? And bring it to the messengers who must be the angels?
How was she supposed to gather the light? Hmm, maybe it wouldn't be so hard, lights usually came in strings….she went to the lights closest to her, marveling at their beauty. Like little snowflake flowers of light.
She pulled and the lights came right with her. She started pulling some more but then stopped. This was silly, why was she doing this when she had no clue where she was supposed to go or how she was going to go back in time without the Doctor and his Tardis. It was impossible. The dragon had said gather the lights. She still hadn't done that, so maybe if she did that she'd be shown the next step and would just have to have faith for the ultimate goal. Determined again, she pulled once more. A great bang almost made her drop the string of lights as a whole bunch of fireworks exploded directly above her.
She started pulling at the lights some more, and more fireworks exploded in the sky.
They started changing colors and multiplying so that there was so much noise and there were so many of them she couldn't even see the night sky anymore.
The air was electric with all the energy in the sky. She couldn't see it, but she could feel it sort of gather itself up in a ball and descend on her. The energy picked her up, along with all her lights.
It picked her up and carried her into a house! She landed right in front of the Christmas tree, and standing right in front of her was the Doctor! She leaped up to give him a hug, but he stopped her.
He backed up and Amy was able to see who else was in the room. She gasped because she recognized almost all of them. She had seen their faces on the screen in the Tardis.
The Doctor backed up to the Tardis and motioned for Amy and River and all the other companions to stand next to him, "There is a Doctor ever greater than I am. He has done wonders I could never do. The world needs to be told about Him! We will start at the beginning, with the angels and the shepherds. We must light up the sky for the angels so the shepherds can see! So they can go and see this Newborn King!
"He is the Voice of the nova!" Riversong shouted, for now there was a great wind blasting them and blowing the branches of the Christmas tree.
"He is the smile of the Dew!" Martha also shouted.
"He is the Light of lights!" Rose almost had to scream.
Suddenly the house seemed to open up and a whole heavenly host hovered over them in the sky. "Release the lights!" The Doctor cried to them all.
Amy looked up and gasped again. She was back in her bedroom. Had she released the lights? She had no memory of it. She looked up at the lights in her bedroom again as they twinkled and cast a glow on a card on her desk that hadn't been there before. It was one of her favorite paintings of all time, Starry Night, but it was different. It was…Silently Night.
Gloria! Gloria in the highest!
Yes, I kind of ran out of time and lights to try and add Clara and Bill to this story, so I stopped with Amy. Thank you for being so patient waiting for this story to be written! It almost wasn't! I want to thank my Lightbringer, my cousin, Aaron, who without his help, his sense of fun, and the inspiration he gave me, this story would never have been written.


As Director of REnew Media and Marketing for BC Wood Properties, Mallory manages all aspects of marketing for the company down to the tenant level. Prior to joining BC Wood Properties, Mallory Sikes owned and operated her own marketing company. Her clients ranged from pharmacies to local printing companies. Before starting her company, Mallory was the Communications Director of American Pharmacy Services Corporation. Mallory currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Foster Care Council. She earned her B.S. in Communications from Indiana State University.


I shop in jammies with a click and look forward to boxes arriving in the mail, ready to wrap!
The lists below is what my Colsie who is 15 (16 in January) came up with this year. I thought she did an awesome job and I'm happy to share them with you for great gift ideas for the teen girls in your life!
Are you doing any Christmas Shopping on Amazon this year? If you click-through the above Amazon Prime ad, or on any of the item affiliate links below, I will get a small percentage of anything you spend, no matter what it is, with no cost to you.
Thank you for supporting New Nostalgia in this way!
We have ordered these before and there is a reason they have almost 5 stars on Amazon. They are comfortable, noise cancelling, and are a great price! I don't know about your teens, but my teens tend to lose their ear buds so inexpensive is good! Great stocking stuffer.
This one is quite nostalgic! There is something about having instant photos that you can actually hold in your hand. I could see my girl capturing silly fun at a sleepover or using it to take pics of her babysitting kids, which she could then leave with the kids to show the parents what great fun they had together.
These are gorgeous rose gold brushes. My girl has great taste!
My oldest has a bank account and debit card since earning a paycheck for the first time this past summer as a lifeguard, but no credit cards. Colsie likes this for holding gift cards, reward cards and punch cards from different stores. This would be a fun gift with a gift card tucked inside.
Walking into high school with a travel mug in hand–its a thing! Especially here in the midwest during winter! This would be a great gift with a box of hot chocolate or a coffee shop gift card.
The minty green color my girl chose is a fun one, good for all seasons. Nail polish is great for pre-teens and teens! Stocking stuffer!
We are constantly going through these hair elastics, so they would make a great stocking stuffer in all 3 of my girls' stockings! Can't ever have enough. Stocking stuffer!
This purse is adorable, and this is an example of a gift that we as her parents would work out a deal. If she wants a bag that is this nice and pricey, she would need to go in on it with her own money. We have done this with high-priced gifts that are "wants" and not needs. An example? Ugg Boots or Birkenstocks.
Now we are talking. A nice gift at a nice price point, that smells amazing. My girls like taking these to school and using in the locker room to refresh after gym.
This made me smile all nostalgic. A record player with USB and MP3 playback.
Notice this is just the pillow cover, but WOW you can't beat that price! My teen girls love decorative pillows on their beds but their tastes change so often. This is a great way to change up their room without buying a completely new bedding set.
There it is! Evidence that girl is truly a girl after my own heart. She loves smoothies, hot chocolate, and chai from Starbucks.
I have this palette and my girls always "borrow" it. It is a bit pricey but it lasts FOREVER and the eyeshadow is amazing–stays all day! It makes a nice gift and is Urban Decay is a brand well-known and appreciated by teens.
My girls switch up their iPhone covers almost every year. I'm not surprised this was on her wish list!
My girl put this straightener on her list and it gets pretty good reviews. The straightener I have and have loved for years is this straightener by Remington. We all have natural waves in our hair so we have 3 of these in our house at the moment! I'm not sure why she wants another!
There HAD to be something with a cat on her list. She is obsessed with cats and these crazy socks make me smile. Adorable!
A portable charger is a brilliant gift for any teen, boy or girl. There is nothing worse than running out of battery when you are on the go. This would take care of that problem. Great for road trips! Another great stocking stuffer.
Such a cute slouchy hat. Can't go wrong with black! Adorable.


Direct Messaging on Commonlounge has been one of the most requested features from the very start. We decided to build this after hearing from a lot of you who wanted to continue a discussion in private with someone, but were unable to do so without first adding them on other platforms.
We did not restrict the message composer in any way, and it retains all the goodies including LaTeX, spoilers, code highlighting support etc., making direct messaging here way more powerful than other platforms.


text:
Produced by Liz Lee.
Douglas County History
The Mormon Advent | Renewal of Attempts at Settlement
First Postal Arrangements | Settlers in 1854 | Tradition of the Name
Omaha Surveyed | Pioneer Events
Political Organization | Selection of Omaha as Capital
An Executive Ball | The First Murder Trial
Religious Awakening | Progress in 1856 | Pioneer Justice
Attempt to Remove the Capital | The Panic of 1857
Claims Troubles | Official Roster | County Buildings
Douglas County Agricultural Society | The Old Settlers' Association
List of Illustrations in Douglas County Chapter
Douglas County History 4
RELIGIOUS AWAKENING.
During the year (1855) the Rev. Mr. Koulmer preached at stated periods in Omaha; also the Revs. Isaac F. Collins, William Leach, Moses F. Shinn and Reuben Gaylord.
The latter was one of the foremost and most influential of the holy men who came into the wilderness and assisted in shaping the religious destiny, not alone of Omaha, but of Nebraska and the West. He was born in the State of Connecticut, where a mother's instruction and prayers directed his opening powers and led to an early consecration to God. Upon his graduation, he passed twenty years in Iowa, laying the foundations of his church in that State, whence he came to Omaha on a prospecting tour. At that time there was no church organization of his denomination, nor house of worship of any other religious association. He immediately entered upon his duties as a minister, and preached in the old Capitol building on Ninth street. On the first Sabbath in May, 1856, he organized a Congregational Church with nine members, holding services in the dining-room of the Douglas House. He soon inaugurated measures for the erection of a church edifice, which was completed and dedicated in 1857, and after a service in the pastures of the Lord for nearly a third of a century, he passed away. He died in 1880, respected as a minister of the gospel for his talents and Christian virtues, not more than for his work as a man in public and private life.
"It is quite possible," writes Dr. Miller in his valuable contributions, " that the story may have been told before, but it will bear repetition if it is made short, which illustrates the sincerity and devotion of Reuben Gaylord, who tried so hard and against great odds and discouragements to plant the influences of God's gospel in this then very worldly place. Indifference to it even in the membership of the church was the worst thing he had to contend with. As the writer was walking near the little church erected through Mr. Gaylord's efforts, one day, he heard a voice within. As he neared the church he recognized it as that of the minister. Softly stepping to the door, which was ajar, he saw Mr. Gaylord, solitary and alone, on his knees in prayer, earnestly invoking the Deity to interpose that a new interest and zeal might be awakened in the Christian cause in this new land. This was in the autumn of 1856, and the scene was one that was calculated to move the hearts of men. If ever man went from earnest and sincere Christian labors for the good of men on earth to receive the rewards of a true soldier of the Cross in heaven, that man was Reuben Gaylord. To pay an occasional tribute to his memory, and to throw now and then a grateful garland upon his grave, is one of the melancholy pleasures that remain to his friends who survive him."
Foremost also among those who came in the same cause during 1855, was the Rev. W. Emmonds, of Council Bluffs, who enjoys the distinction of having been the first Catholic clergyman in the Territory of Nebraska. He came for the purpose of attending to the wants of the Catholics in Omaha, but finding no accommodations for the performance of his sacred duties, he was compelled to return to Council Bluffs, whither at intervals devout Catholics on this side were forced to repair to attend mass and approach the sacraments. During the latter part of the year, it is claimed, that mass was said in the Representative chamber of the old Capitol, while others insist that the services were held at the residence of the Hon. T. B. Cuming, corner of Dodge and Eighteenth streets. Be this as it may, no church was determined upon until June, 1856, when Thomas O'Connor, James Ferry and Vincent Burkley were appointed a committee to solicit subscriptions.
Throughout the county, candor compels the acknowledgement, that less gratifying progress was to be observed. Florence was ceasing to be a rival of Omaha; the residents of that vicinage, prompted by the inexorable logic of events, were beginning to drift in the direction of the latter city, with their tackle, apparel and furniture. The valley country that has since been realized as the garden spot of the county was totally uninhabited. The country contiguous to the Elkhorn was but sparsely settled, and the vicinity of the present village of Millard, was occupied by the Stevens brothers--George F. and Cyrus.
PROGRESS IN 1856.
The year 1856 has been considered as the most prosperous and profitable that shed rays of gladness upon Omaha from the date of the settlement of the county until the years succeeding the war. But it was followed by a period of inactivity, financial pressure and embarrassment. Outside of the villages of Florence and Omaha, the settlements were few and new arrivals were not very frequent, even in the villages. But in the spring of 1856 large immigrations to the Territory began, many of those coming locating at Omaha. As a consequence, the place made rapid advances and began to assume the importance, if it lacked the influence, of a city. Situated, as it then was, on the banks of the great highway of the West, the progress making was only in harmony with the spirit of the age supplemented by rare combinations, some of which have been already cited. The early portion of the season was passed amid bustle and excitement, and summer came and went without any apparent falling off in the tide of immigration or success in business. Another gratifying feature was the class of settlers who came in. They were not, as a rule, composed of the dross of life, but of pure gold--made up of farmers, mechanics, professional men, with a slight sprinkling of adventurers or soldiers of fortune, who came to conquer an adversity that may have been pitiless, without special reference to the means employed in the attainment of their ends. The laws began to be rigidly enforced; instead of non scripta they became in esse, with all that the term implies.
As with accessions to the population, so with improvements, particularly in the city. This year, another town company was organized under the title of "The Omaha Land Company," including upon its roll of membership representatives from the "Ferry Company," together with others. This company secured lands lying contiguous to Omaha, which were laid out as an addition to the city, the survey being known as "Scriptown." Here, too, some informal improvements were projected.
In the early part of the year the first of the number of blocks which to-day line Farnam street, was put up on that thoroughfare. Dr. C. A. Henry, H. H. Visscher, Aaron Root and Gen. J. M. Thayer were the enterprising citizens who put the plan of the "Pioneer Block" into execution, which, upon its completion, was considered the most imposing and architecturally perfect edifice north of St. Louis. It was located on Farnam street, between Eleventh and Twelfth, and was of brick, three stories high. The building was substantially completed during the year in which it was commenced; cost $25,000, and was the scene of much of the history inseparable from the growth of a metropolis from infancy to maturity. Here were political meetings convened; here the third session of the Territorial Legislature assembled; here orators launched rhetorical thunderbolts into the midst of delighted audiences, and eloquent divines propounded theological conundrums, directed to the conversion and redemption of the lost of Israel. "Words, words, words."
The same year, Robert Shields, who, by the way, first came to Omaha in 1856, erected a two-story brick on Farnam street, between Thirteen and Fourteenth, at a cost of $7,500.
The committee appointed by the Catholics to raise subscriptions for church, procured two lots, donated by the Council Bluffs & Nebraska Ferry Co., and ground was broken for the building of the edifice. The first brick was laid July 4, 1856, and in December following the little building was opened for divine service, the first in the city of Omaha. Mass was said by the Rev. F. Scanlan, of St. Joe, Mo., and faith lost sight of earth in the sanctity of this rude frontier temple devoted to the worship of the living God.
It was here that the United States Court held occasional sessions during 1856, and Fenner Ferguson, the Justice presiding, was wont to appear on the bench with a clay pipe between his teeth. Gen. Estabrook still lives who is familiar with this fact.
Vincent Burkley came to Omaha in 1856, and opened the first clothing store in the city. The same year he put up a brick building at No. 1008 Farnam street, which maintained its equilibrium for a number of years, but finally fell of its own weight, burying an actress engaged at Corey's Theatre in the ruins, from which she was rescued without having sustained injuries.
The small brick still standing at the corner of Harney and Fourteenth streets, and now occupied as a blacksmith shop, was built in 1856; also two small bricks on Farnam street, west of the northwest corner of Thirteenth. They were erected by Robert Shields and D. D. Carr, and one is now occupied by the State Bank of Nebraska; also a small one-story brick, sixteen by twenty-four feet, on the southeast corner of Farnam and Twelfth streets, by Hon. A. J. Hanscom, as a law office. It stood until 1866, when it was torn away to make room for King's Block.
Harney street was the leading thoroughfare, the commercial highway and fashionable promenade. It was tolerably closely built up as far west as Fourteenth street with frame buildings--there being no brick structures on the street--and the most populous of any of the city avenues, though houses were scattered about the city site as far north as Cuming street. Residences occupied Harney, Douglas and Farnam streets, but with the exception of Gov. Cuming's residence--still standing at the corner of Eighteenth and Dodge streets--the terraces to the west of the center of city, now so universally appropriated to the sites of mansions, were noted for their absence.
Another important venture of 1856, was the building of the Hamilton House on the south side of Douglas street, between Fifteenth and Sixteenth, and named after Charles W. Hamilton, the banker. The old Douglas House, being incapable of meeting the wants of the throng of enterprising adventurers who flocked to Omaha in the spring of that year, it was deemed expedient to increase the hotel capacities of the town, and build a caravansary that should be an honor to the small but growing city.
The house was leased before it was commenced, to O. C. Burnham and A. M. Judson, a couple of friends of the proprietors; and a lot which C. B. Smith, one of the builders, had purchased for $150 was bought back for $400 as the site. In the month of August, Judson boarded the steamer "Omaha" for St. Louis, where he purchased the necessary outfit, hired the necessary help, consisting of three single and one married man of color, and returned on the same boat. Before the ensuing spring this help was increased by the employment of the first negro born in Omaha; and before the house was ready the boarders began to rush in, notwithstanding the remonstrances of the proprietors. On one occasion, during the winter, the house took fire, and the flames having apparently got the best of the building, the boarders, under the leadership of Clapper Curran and A. S. Morgan, fought the elements and saved the premises. In spite of the fact that the house was deluged with water, a large portion of the furniture ruined and much remaining in the original cases, the proprietors, to the surprise of all, called breakfast on time the next morning. Soon after, a grand ball dedicated the new hotel, and the Hamilton House, destined to play an important part in the early history of Omaha, became a fixed fact.
PIONEER JUSTICE.
In the summer of 1856, the settlers illustrated their appreciation of the legal aphorism, "Fiat justitia ruat coelum," in a manner that impressed witnesses and the public forcibly, if not complacently. At the time mentioned, horse stealing had become epidemic, and it began to dawn upon the people that something must be done to put a stop to these frequent trespasses upon the rights of owners. While these reflections were permeating the body politic, two horses were stolen from residents in the vicinity of Omaha and sold to the Pawnee Indians. The high-mettled racers eluded the vigilance of their putative owners one night and strayed back home in search of the fatted calf, when they were retaken and stabled. Soon after, the Pawnees visited the city in search of their purchases and, being found, demanded they be returned. This caused an investigation of title, during which it was elicited that they had bought the animals from two men, and were told to hold as prisoners any white men offering in the future to sell them horses. Shortly afterward, the same men made their appearance among the Indians and tendered them horses in exchange for shekels. Admonished by the advice given them, they arrested the assumed owners, and escorting them to the city delivered them up to the authorities. There was no jail in the city at that time, and after canvassing the matter, it was decided to shave the heads of the thieves, tie them up and administer thirty-nine lashes on the bare back of each.
Accordingly, Bill Lee, a negro barber, the first in the city, shaved the right side of one of the thieves' heads and the left side of the head of the other, after which they were escorted to the liberty pole, which had been raised in the vacant block bordered by Harney, Farnam, Twelfth and Thirteenth streets and tied up, preparatory to punishment. This, however, no one seemed willing to undertake. One of the Indians began the execution of the contract, but the severity of his blows existed a persuasive influence and he was retired. Finally it was decided that the owners of the stolen horses were the proper parties to inflict the castigation, which decision was concurred in by the parties selected, who discharged the trust with a fidelity that evoked commendation.
The affair was almost generally regretted by citizens, but it was regarded as an unavoidable necessity, and its disagreeable features were endured in the hope that they might work a radical reform and persuade obtuse citizens to a clearer apprehension of the distinction between meum and tuum.
The wretches when released disappeared from Omaha, and were never again identified with criminal acts in this portion of the State, as far as can be learned.
The 4th of July was celebrated this year in the city but informally. There was no order of exercises, no orations, no dinner and but a limited number of celebrants, who evidenced their patriotism by becoming hopelessly inebriated. The most attractive exhibition witnessed was W. P. Snowden attired in the regimentals he had worn through the Mexican war, in which he paraded the streets to the delight of youth and edification of maturer years.
This year business was "booming," to use a Westernism, and what was true of Omaha was true of all portions of the country. Riches seemed to be within the grasp of all who sought their possession. Real estate commanded ready sale at exorbitant prices, and speculation was attended with results that inspired unlimited confidence; corner lots became bonanzas, while patches of ground "far from the madding crowd" were esteemed mines of merchantable wealth. Sales of lands throughout the county were, in consequence large--though no title was conveyed, ownership of the same being guaranteed by claim clubs; nor was title to any purchases made perfected prior to March, 1857, when the Land Office of the Government was prepared to act in that behalf. The outlook as it appeared to citizens and strangers was far from discouraging, and delight at this condition of affairs found frequent expression among men, who are supposed to reason from correct premises, rather than from men who indulge in enthusiastic vaporings. But the fair prospects gave place to dark and gloomy days experienced throughout the country in the panic that occurred during the succeeding year. The bright dreams of wealth gave way to actual want. Over-trading, excessive bank issues and the rage for speculation in Western lands, had brought about their usual results for a season at least; recovery from their effects seemed almost impossible.
Facilities in all the departments of trade had measurably improved at this period, commercially and otherwise. Steamers between Omaha and St. Louis arrived and departed semi-weekly; communication as had with the interior by the primitive and comfortless stage-coach; postal advantages were superior to the times when Postmaster Jones carried the mail in his hat and distributed letters and papers on demand. Two newspapers were in successful operation, and arrangements for railroad building in the near future were in process of completion.
In contradistinction to this delightful picture, it must be admitted that certain types of vice still manifested as ascendency, notably those of drinking and gambling, not to mention others equally repulsive and damaging. During the winter, Jesse Wynn, a brickmason, was shot and killed, near the old California crossing on the Elkhorn River, by a man from Council Bluffs, the result of a quarrel over a claim. The murderer was arrested in Council Bluffs, but extenuating circumstances appeared in a measure to justify the deed, and he was discharged.
Some settlements were made in the county in 1856, namely, that of Dr. Link, near the present village of Millard; the McArdle's, at Elkhorn City, on the old military road, seven miles west of Omaha; and a Mr. Springer, at the ferry; Dr. Fifield, near Elkhorn, and others. But the population outside of the town did not increase greatly, and many who came in the Territory this year returned home or journeyed to Pike's Peak, when the primary effects of the panic of 1857 began to be felt. The winter was the most rigorous and severe ever experienced in Omaha previous to that of 1880-81. Among the sufferers in the early part of the season was a party consisting of O. F. Davis, George McFall, R. M. Brandenburg, Erastus and Jedediah Smith. The first four started out on November 28 for the valley country to take up claims, and had employed the last named to accompany them with his wagon and horses. They reached Elkhorn City the same evening, and stopped at the farm house of Sylvanus Dodge, pursuing their journey the next morning. On the succeeding night their camp was pitched near the "cut-off," a deep and swift-running channel connecting the Platte and Elkhorn Rivers, where they remained over Sunday. The following day it began to snow violently and, growing colder, the sufferings of the party commenced. As the day closed and the night approached, the violence of the storm, as also intensity of the cold, increased in a wonderful degree. The camp was unprovided with comforts or conveniences, and the inmates nearly perished. When the storm subsided, they harnessed up the team and endeavored to return to Dodge's, and during the day made but four miles through the drifts, Brandenburg, Smith and Miles having their feet frozen. On December 4 the party reached a cabin, having abandoned their wagon, north of Elkhorn City, where they were hospitably welcomed, and remained over night. The ensuing day their wagon was recovered, and, while descending the Elkhorn, the ice parted and let the horses into that stream, whence they were rescued with the utmost difficulty, and reached Dodge's on December 5, and Omaha the next evening about 9 o'clock, utterly exhausted, but happy at an escape from death by slow torture, that in view of the hardships with which they were surrounded was somewhat marvelous.
Among the prominent arrivals during 1856 were: Charles Childs, Charles B. Birkett, Henry A. Koster, Thomas Swift, M. Robling, John A. Harbach, Henry Livsey, George Smith, T. H. Latey, J. S. Gibson, Dominus Sherrer, Julius Rudowsky, Dr. J. P. Peck, Dr. J. K. Ish, J. M. Woolworth, J. E. Boyd, Vincent Burkley, A. J. Critchfield, G. W. Homan, Henry Homan, Mr. and Mrs. William Preston, John A. Marsh, W. W. Marsh, M. T. Patrick, A. S. Patrick, Joseph Fox, Dr. G. C. Monell, Lucinda Monell, Robert T. Jenkinson, Henry Pundt, S. A. Barkalow, Mr. and Mrs. George McCoy, Charles McCoy, E. F. Cook, Frederick Kumph, John H. Kellon and others.
ATTEMPT TO REMOVE THE CAPITAL.
At the session of the Legislature in the winter of 1856, a second attempt was made to remove the capital from Omaha to a point known to speculators as Douglas City. The schemers had caused the survey and platting of the town, and were reinforced with scrip and bullion to settle the doubts of members who might otherwise be indifferent to the result sought to be attained. A member from Dakota, named Jones, had been liberally dealt with, but in place of responding to the application of procurers, he unbosomed himself of the facts to Hanscom, by whom he was persuaded to enlighten the Legislature as to the facts and details of the situation. The developments occasioned intense excitement, which was aggravated by the election of Isaac L. Gibbs, who sided with those in favor of removing the capital and endeavored to ride rough-shod over the minority. In this particular, however, he failed, and the fight for supremacy thus begun was carried forward with a boldness that was only equaled by its ultimate failure. Every possible expedient known to parliamentary practice was employed to postpone final action by the majority, and to Jonas Seeley and A. J. Hanscom was due the success that in the end lighted upon the banners of the opposition. About the middle of the session votes enough were secured, but exactly how is not of record, though it is said that one councilman and one representative that Nemaha, as also one councilman from Pawnee County, could explain if called upon--for the defeat of the bill, or rather is passage over the Governor's veto, and the subject was abandoned for the time being.
THE PANIC OF 1857.
The spring of 1857 dawned upon the city and county glorious in a realization of what the experiences of the previous year had influenced the inhabitant to predict. The prices of real estate remained in the ascendant and holders looked forward to an early period when they should revel in profits that would be unlimited. Building was carried forward with energy and, it might be added, with dispatch. The capitol, which stood on the present site of the high school building, was approaching completion, and the Herndon House, since remodeled and rebuilt by the Union Pacific Railway Company, was in progress of construction to be finished that year at a cost of $70,000. Improvements throughout the county were not only generous but general--so general that it came to be remarked that so much building had not been witnessed since the city was surveyed. These incidents were to be observed, it is said, through the spring and until the perfect days of June came to touch all nature with their loveliness that ran wild in the sunshine. But this was the culmination of the "gala-days" of Omaha, the county, the territory, the nation. As the summer advanced and a falling off in the demand for lots and improvements was witnessed, no attention, at least little attention, was paid to the phenomena. The citizens still clung to their faith in the destiny of this section, and no one was able to decipher apprehension in their words or acts. Cowards they may have been, with hearts "as false as stairs of sand," they yet wore "upon their chins the beard of Hercules and frowning Mars." No self-constituted Cassandra was there to predict disaster, and none was anticipated in spite of the threatenings of the storm which impended. Suspensions, if such were made, or the closing out of business by a merchant who thought he foresaw the sequel to existing prosperity, failed to cause special alarm, though it may have been that some in view thereof quietly realized their capital and left the city.
But the end came at last and those who were unprepared, like the maidens without oil in their lamps, were thrust into outer darkness, metaphorically speaking. To some it came thus unexpectedly, disastrously; but the condition of affairs was not new to the country. Revulsions as sudden and shocks as severe had been experienced, from the days of the Revolution and failure to redeem the continental scrip issued to pay the expenses of the war, to the revulsion occasioned by commercial derangements succeeding the war of 1812, to the panic of 1837, remotely caused as some insist by the distribution of the National Bank deposits among certain State banks; which to avoid financial pressure were authorized to discount largely on the strength of their deposits, making money plenty and credit unlimited. As a result, the country became full of "promises to pay" while the tangible security was appropriated to the payment of duties on imports; when the storm came the whirlwind received the lion's share, and penury usurped the peace of superficial prosperity. Then followed the memorable panic of twenty years later. On the basis of receipts from California and abroad, banks issued paper to an unparalleled extent. Speculation made its appearance in the form of railroads with their stocks, bonds and mortgages, requiring the use of immense capital. These stocks were gambled in, and an unfortunate move entailed bankruptcy upon the operator. The banks became alarmed and refused to discount for customers, and the latter were unable to meet their liabilities, and as the credit system extended through a long line of debtors and creditors, the bill holder finally was "downed" and rushed to the banks for specie on their notes. The banks were unable to pay, confidence was destroyed, and the crash rendered complete.
To be sure, Nebraska, while it did not feel the full force of the calamity--for being upon the border the intense shock which prostrated the center produced only unpleasant vibrations at so great a distance--nevertheless was sufficiently affected to "stunt" her development and the growth of her cities.
Immediately after the Trust Company suspended at the East one continuous train of disaster followed in its wake, ran the gamut of Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and halted only when it reached the confines of civilization on the other side of the Missouri. The "wild cat" concerns which had been grafted upon the confidence of the West, were the first to suspend, and these were followed by others of a previously substantial character. In Omaha, the Western Exchange, Fire and Marine Insurance Bank closed its doors September 23, 1857, carrying with unsparing hand dismay and ruin into the community. Thomas H. Benton, Jr., President of the bank, issued an address to the public, setting forth that by reason of the losses incurred in the East it became obvious that it was impossible for the institution to longer continue the payment of its liabilities. Under these circumstances it was deemed expedient for the interests of all concerned to make an assignment of the assets of the institution for the benefit of its creditors. Enos Lowe, John A. Parker, Sr., and Albert C. Wyman were appointed trustees, and the promise was made to close up the business at the earliest period in the most equitable manner possible. The assets as set forth in the schedule amounted to $288,083.75, most of which consisted of "bills receivable" and "notes discounted." These purported to be "stock certificates' to the amount of $80,000; also $191.03 in specie and $121 in the bills of insolvent banks.
The Western Exchange was the first bank in Nebraska chartered by the Legislature and from its organization it was bolstered up by the Government deposits under the control of the Governor. It was in operation about two years.
The next bank to suspend operations was the Fontenelle Bank which came into existence a year previous, its charter with four others having been signed by Gov. Izard, and its owners being Greene, Weare & Benton. The next bank to suspend was the Bank for Nebraska, Samuel Moffat, cashier, and the effects produced by this repetition were almost paralyzing. These repeated levys upon public confidence occasioned results both natural and irresistible, the utter destruction of faith in the responsibility of all moneyed institutions, further confirmed by the decadence and ultimate fall of the Bank of Florence. Stagnation in business followed, the prices of lots and lands depreciated; property did not change hands readily, and real estate operations generally came to a stand-still. The stringency in the money market became more pronounced, values were estimated by necessity and not in connection with the medium of exchange. In the face of these apparent conclusions, however, it was claimed that not a single improvement had been stopped by the pressure of the times and there was no perceptible diminution of the trade of merchants. But these claims are scarcely borne out by the statements of men who were on the ground and thoroughly familiar with the facts. They say that while no failures occurred among the commercial interests of Omaha, there were many who retired from business and went elsewhere; but this, while it was calculated to express a want of confidence, was compensated for in a measure by the arrivals of produce which from March to November aggregated 13,050 tones.
To add to the calamity the city of Omaha during the summer issued $50,000 in scrip for the purpose of completing the capitol, and $50,000 additional when that amount was exhausted. During its issue this scrip passed current at par and until the building was enclosed and a few rooms made ready for occupancy. After that the medium of exchange thus improvised deprecated until the discount was greater than the sum for which it would pass. Some portions of it was employed in the payment of taxes, but the largest share was never redeemed, and became a total loss.
Among other effects above suggested of this financial panic was that of reducing the number of inhabitants both in cities and country. Men who were able to escape returned whence they came, and the discovery of gold at a point where Denver has since grown into a populous city, attracted the remainder who were not hampered by obligations they were unable to throw off. These discoveries gave a stimulus to trade of a temporary character in Omaha and a substantial benefit was derived by the city until they ceased to be regarded as paying investments, but it was not until during the sixties that any visible improvements in this calamitous state of affairs was witnessed, and the lines of life of residents in this portion of the West were once more cast in pleasant places.
During this period of immigration to Colorado William N. Byers, who surveyed the low ground under the bluffs from Jackson to Pierre streets south, from Seventh street west to Reed's addition and down on the sands in the northeastern part of the city, having procured a printing office, wagon, and teams, left Omaha for Denver, in which latter city he established the Rocky Mountain News, which has since become the leading newspaper in Colorado.
The arrivals this year were in part made up of George I. Gilbert, I. T. Croft, Emma N. McKenzie, Alice J. Aumack, C. F. Alexander, J. A. Alexander, A. S. Alexander, Samuel Durnell, Charles Reddick, Peter Windham, E. Wakely, J. J. McLane, W. R. Bowen, P. W. Hitchcock, John H. Logan, Mrs. J. P. McPherson, H. D. Shull, C. R. Light, Fred B. Lowe, Henry Grebe, W. H. Keene, E. L. Patrick, Mr. and Mrs. Peter Hugus, Frank Klefner, George C. Mericle, Jesse Root, J. M. Winship, Julia Winship, Sarah J. Dunham, Elizabeth Mount, Mrs. Elizabeth Cook, Mr. and Mrs. Levi Kennard, Josiah S. McCormick, and some few others.
In February, 1857, Omaha, with a population variously estimated at from fifteen to eighteen hundred, began to assume in a more defiant manner the airs of a city, and determined to possess herself of rights incident to municipal corporations. This was before the dawn of dark days, before the weight of woes and pains, metaphorically speaking, had touched with the hand of death the prosperity of the place and left its impress upon the surroundings. Application was accordingly made February 3 to the Legislature then in session for a charter of incorporation, which was granted, the question of removing the capital having been first disposed of, and an election for city officers ordered to be holden on the first Monday in March of that year. Preparations were accordingly concluded and the election held resulting in the election of Jesse Lowe for Mayor; L. R. Tuttle, Recorder, J. A. Miller, Marshal, Charles Grant, City Solicitor; Lyman Richardson, Assessor; A. S. Morgan, Engineer; A. Chappel, Health Officer; A. D. Jones, T. G. Goodwill, G. C. Bovey, H. H. Visscher, Thomas Davis, William N. Byers, William W. Wyman, Thomas O'Connor, C. H. Downs, J. H. Kellam and James Creighton, Members of the Board of Aldermen. An organization was perfected March 5, and an ordinance adopted for the prevention of swine running at large, the first to be placed on the calendar of city ordinances. In May following this the city was divided into three wards, the first of which comprehended all of the city lying south of Farnam street; the second that part of the city bounded by the north side of Farnam street and south side of Capitol avenue, while the city north of Capitol avenue was included in the Third Ward.
During the winter of 1857-58 a third attempt was made to remove the capital from Omaha, full particulars of which appear in another portion of this work, and are only referred to incidentally here as a part of the history of Douglas County, which is in fact up to this date, at least, limited to a history of the city of Omaha. In this city the county was founded, its success directed and its calling and election as one of the banner counties of the Territory and the State made sure. In the contest to check the growth of Omaha by removing the capital a third time, the same master spirits who had twice before prevented so direful a consummation came once more to the front and defying the efforts of political marplots, for a third time smote them hip and thigh and put a final quietus upon the proposed measure.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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text:
Q: Click on link to hide all other content divs Example:  (werkwijze is custom, i also have the same code with other names like -contact)
    $(function() {
        $('#activator-werkwijze').click(function(){
            $('#overlay-werkwijze').fadeIn('fast',function(){
                $('#box-werkwijze').animate({'bottom':'0px'},800);
            });
        });
        $('#boxclose-werkwijze').click(function(){
            $('#box-werkwijze').animate({'bottom':'-600px'},800,function(){
                $('#overlay-werkwijze').fadeOut('fast');
            });
        });
    });

activator shows the content, boxclose closes the content.
clicking all activators opens all content while it needs to open only one and close the others..
edit got it fixed:
This is the script which works, (the overlay is useless) jsfiddle.net/8y7Sr/126/

A: You need to provide more information about how you are calling the pop-up script.  If you are using jquery, you can just close all and then open one
$('.className').slideDown(200);
$('#specificItem').slideUp(200);

But again, you should explain how you are doing the calls in more detail for a better answer

A: example, put inside function jQuery
if($('.hide').css('display')=='block'){ $('.hide').slideUp(); }else{ $('.hide').slideDown(); }

A: $(function() {
    $('.activator').each(function(){
        $(this).click(function(){
            showHideAnimation(clickedObj);
        });
    });
}

function showHideAnimation(clickedObj)
{
    $('.activator').each(function(){
        if($(this).id == clickedObj.id) {
            $(this).fadeIn('fast',function(){
                $(this).animate({'bottom':'0px'},800);
            });
        } else {
            $(this).animate({'bottom':'-600px'},800,function(){
                $(this).fadeOut('fast');
            });
        }
    }
}

Please try this if it doesn't work properly then replace $(this) with only this

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange