Three old college buddies met for lunch at Panini's in Westlake on Tuesday, November 9th. Al Bird, Wally King, and John Earley were college dormitory neighbors at Reid Hall, Miami University (Oxford, Ohio) in 1958. Al and Wally were graduates of Orange High School in Pepper Pike, Ohio. John was from Middletown HS, Middletown, Ohio. The common bond that formed the friendship with Al and John was country music. They became guitar playing song writer/singers during the college years and had aspirations to go to Nashville and become famous. Wally didn't share the same interests, but remained fast friends with Al and John over the years.

Payne and Earley Families

 

The Samuel D. Isaly Library of the Ohio Genealogical Society officially opened on Friday, July 23, 2010. For a genealogist it felt like they died and went to family history heaven. The facility is outstanding!! New shelving, new furniture, new computers, new HVAC, new building, new interior, new EVERYTHING!! Same old books, but they look so much better in their new surroundings. The events for the grand opening included an invocation that included the reading of scripture from the book of Genesis in the Bible about the lineage of Abraham. The reading drew laughter from the audience of 200 plus. Although the outdoor weather conditions were hot and humid at 10 A.M., most did not complain. The day was sunny, bright and glorious for the grand opening. A southern breeze unfurled the US and Ohio flags in a most appropriate display of colors during the flag raising. Spirits were high throughout the day as long time supporters and inquisitive newcomers enjoyed the hospitality of the new facility. Our ancestors are smiling also!!

The Hoodlett Sisters of Newark, Ohio

The four surviving daughters of seven born to Isaac Porter Hoodlet(t) and Emma Mae Artz were (from left to right); Grace, Leone, Beatrice and Kathryn. Grace married Donald Helmkee and moved to Akron, Ohio. Leone married Alexander Dowie and stayed in Newark. Beatrice married William Guy Tracy and lived in Newark and Columbus, Ohio. Kathryn married Harry McCann and also stayed in Newark, Ohio. Marie, Madge and Minta died in infancy. This photo was taken about 1959.

The Samuel D. Isaly Library of OGS

The new Library is open, although the official grand opening is July 23, 2010. We have been moving in and moving things around since the first of June. Computers are now working, although wireless connections aren't working yet.

My Brick on the Wall

 

 

Pictured here are yours truly with Joan Wyatt at the OGS Library groundbreaking in the spring of 2009. Joan and I both volunteer at the library desk on Thursdays.

 
I have been volunteering at the Ohio Genealogical Society Library in Mansfield, Ohio for the past eight plus years. The Library is moving soon to a new building built 2009-2010 for OGS. It is on State Route 97 in Belleville, Ohio, just south of Mansfield. The move will take place the first two weeks of June, and official opening is schedule for late July.

The William J. Bourne Family

 
This photo was taken circa 1930-1940. The photographer was probably Bruce Bourne, since he is the only one missing from the photo.

Here's a photo of the William J. Bourne family, with everyone except Bruce Bourne, who was probably the photographer. Left to right standing: Lena, Ada, Bill, Lettie, Mary, Beatrice, Gertrude. Seated: Pearl, William J. Bourne. I didn't know Lettie and met Ada only once in 1965 so am assuming the order of those two.

Earley,Tracy, Bourne, Hoodlett, Smithrim, Richardson, McQueen, Baughman

This is a new blog created 26 Apr 2010 following the Ohio Genealogical Society conference in Toledo [ 22-24 Apr 2010 ]. One of the educational presentations that I attended was "Using a Blog As Your Online Research Log" by Drew Smith, which covered the Google owned and operated Blogger (www.blogspot.com). I'm starting with my primary families, surnames listed in the title. Any contributions to any of these surnames are welcome.