30 September 2013

Historic Battle Creek Firehouses

The last day of every month I try to write a Last Day Local post about my current hometown, Battle Creek, Michigan.  Battle Creek is filled with history and I am trying to capture some of that history in writing and pictures.  The first permanent Battle Creek settlements were in 1831.

This month I will share with you three of the historic firehouses that are in Battle Creek, all built in the early 1900's.  My husband and I were tourists for an afternoon and drove around to various historic sites in our hometown and took pictures.  Here are Battle Creek's historic firehouses, two of the three are still in use.

 Fire Station Number 2
Fire Station Number 2:  It was built in 1903 and is still in use today.  It is located on Washington Ave.  in Battle Creek.

Fire Station Number 4:  This fire station was closed in 1983.  It is located on S. Kendall St.  It was the last station to use horse drawn equipment.  This building is listed as a Michigan Historical Site.

Fire Station Number 3

Fire Station Number 3:  This stone sided fire station is located at the corner of Cliff St. and Grenville in Battle Creek.  It was built in 1902 and is still in operation today.

25 September 2013

Workday Wednesday: Farming: Hard, Hot Work in the 1920's

My great grandfather, Valentine Graf, was a farmer all of his life.  He farmed during a time when he and his horses did all the work. This summer I was visiting cousins and saw some photo's of Valentine and his sons farming.  I had my trusty flip pal scanner with me and I went to work scanning.  I am still in the process of identifying and dating the pictures.  The pictures are taken on Valentine's farm in Brethren, Michigan before 1933, the date of his death.  I do not know anything about farming so I won't attempt to give the names of the machines.  I think you can see from the pictures what a hard worker Valentine would have had to be during this time.

 Unidentified farm hands, not sure what they are doing

 Valentine Graf and his horses.

 Steam engine on the farm
 Unidentified farm workers

Transporting hay to the barn


Hard, hot work


22 September 2013

Church Record Sunday: Wilhelmine Fredrich Birth Register

This record is for Wilhelmine Fredrich, daughter of Christoph Fredrich and Susanna Koenig.  She was baptized 30 September 1832.  I received this record from one of Wilhelmine's descendants, Michael.  Michael lives in Germany and we have written back and forth a few times and shared information.  I wrote about our connection here and here.

Michael and I share a common ancestor, Susanna Koenig, mentioned above.  My great grandfather, J. August Fredrich, and Wilhelmine Fredrich were brother and sister, making Wilhelmine my great grandaunt.

I posted the above record at the German Genealogy Facebook page and asked for help transcribing it.  The information I received was that it is an excerpt from the birth registers of the Protestant Parish of Schubin.  Parents were Christoph Fredrich of Baerenbruch and Susanna born Koenig. Wilhelmine's birthplace was listed as Baerenbruch, Kreis Schubin.  The date the excerpt was made was 5 February 1938. I wish I could read German.  I would love a full translation of it.

Wilhelmine was born 18 September 1832 and my great grandfather, J. August was born 8 January 1845.  Since I don't have the place of birth for my great grandfather, I wonder what the chances are that he was born or baptised at the same place as his sister.  Does anyone have any thoughts on that? This is on my to-do list to research.

J. August Fredrich immigrated to Manistee County, Michigan, but his sister, Wilhelmine stayed in Germany.  She was one of the few family members who didn't emigrate.  Her mother, Susanna, and three of her sisters, Henriette, Amalia, and Ottilie came to Manistee County after J. August did. There were two other siblings, Auguste and Wilhelm, that I believe stayed in Germany.  More research is needed on them.

One never knows what kind of information an ancestor's sibling's record will give you.  This one gave me clues to my research and I look forward to finding out more.

Updated January 2014:  A very generous person, Rafael, sent me the below translation for the above record.  I appreciate it so much.  Thank you Rafael.

Extract
from the Birth Register of the Protestant Congregation of _Schubin_
Year 1832, Number 101
Given name and surname:
Wilhelmine Fredrich, Protestant1
Name, Profession and Place of Residence of Father:
Christoph Fredrich, _____2, Baerenbruch, Protestant1
Of Mother:
Susanna née Koenig, Protestant1
Year, Month and Day of Birth
1832 (Eighteen Hundred Thirty-Two
(in letters and numbers):
The 18th Eighteenth of September
Place of Birth:
Baerenbruch, Schubin District3
Date of Christening:
The 30th of September 1832
The accuracy of the above extract is certified by a stamp bearing the church seal.
Schubin, the 5th of February, 1938
Parish Office of the Protestant Church
[Illegible signature]
[Text of inked stamp on either side of document, in Polish: “Board of the Protestant Church in Szubin”]

[Text of revenue stamp, bottom right, in Polish: “1 Złoty Revenue Stamp”]

1. I’m 90% certain that the handwritten abbreviation that comes at the end of each family member’s entry is evang., which means ‘Protestant’ and makes perfect sense in context.
2. The handwritten entry for the father’s profession is unclear. The first half of the word may well be ‘Firms-’ (meaning ‘company,’ in the sense of a commercial enterprise or business), so the father could have been involved with a business of some kind.

3. I’ve translated the German word Kreis as ‘district’ here, but it can also be translated as ‘county,’ since either word can signify an administrative subdivision of a province or state. 

21 September 2013

Sports Center Saturday: MHSCA Hall of Fame



My father, Bruce Glover, was inducted into the Michigan High School Coaches Association (MHSCA) Hall of Fame ten years ago, today.  The MHSCA was founded at Central Michigan University, Mt. Pleasant, Michigan in 1954.  My father was a charter member of the MHSCA. This organization was founded to represent and support Michigan coaches.

The first induction into the MHSCA Hall of Fame took place in 1957.  The original Hall of Fame room was at Win Schuler's Restaurant in Marshall, Michigan.  Eventually, it was moved to the Student Services Building of Central Michigan University (CMU). Currently, it is housed in the Student Activities Center next to the Dan Rose Arena at CMU.  Over 500 coaches have been awarded this honor.

Qualifications for induction into the MHSCA Hall of Fame are: one must have served a minimum of twenty-five years in high school coaching and/or athletic administration, have exemplified service to his/her community, state and affiliated organizations.

My dad's qualifications include:

  • 36 years as a basketball coach
  • 7 Conference and 8 Michigan High School Athletic Association District titles
  • 18 years as a golf coach with 2 league, 1 regional and 1 runner-up titles
  • Class C Regional Boys Coach of the Year in Golf, in 1995
  • Class C State Boys Coach of the Year in Golf, in 1995
  • 3 years as a baseball coach
  • 33 years as a football coach
  • 17 years as a track coach
  • 26 years as an athletic director
  • Charter Member of the Michigan High School Coaches Association.
As you can see my father was well deserving of this award.  My father was a coach in Michigan and Texas throughout his career.  The schools my father coached or was an athletic director at included:
  • Brethren High School, Brethren, Michigan
  • Kingsley High School, Kingsley, Michigan
  • Deckerville Community Schools, Deckerville, Michigan
  • Harbor Beach Community Schools, Harbor Beach, Michigan
  • Strickland Middle School, Denton, Texas
  • Hackett Catholic Central High School, Kalamazoo, Michigan
The family celebrating Dad's induction.

The Hall of Fame induction was a wonderful opportunity for our family to celebrate all of my father's accomplishments.  My two sisters, brother and I were all in attendance for this award, given at the Terrace Room in the Student Services Center at Central Michigan University on 21 September 2003.  In addition, a number of my father's former athletes attended.  It was a wonderful experience and one I am sure my dad won't forget.


My dad in front of the picture of his high school coach, Coach Grba.  Coach Grba is the one standing by the fence.

After the induction ceremony we visited the Hall of Fame room.  It is a room filled with plaques of the MHSCA recipients.  One recipient was my father's high school coach, Mr. Grba.  It was a beautiful fall day and one that will be treasured in our family history.

Outside the Student Activities Center, Central Michigan University, Mt. Pleasant, Michigan

19 September 2013

Those Places Thursday: My First Home as a Married Women



I remember how excited I was after Kirk and I got married to be able to set up our home together. We rented a small, two bedroom apartment on Main Street above Ballentine Drug Store in Deckerville, Michigan. There were steps from main street and the alley leading up to our apartment.  Our apartment overlooked the alley. We parked in the back and used the alley stairs.

These stairs led to an entrance way and the hallway.  Our apartment was the first one on the right. You entered the apartment and were immediately in the kitchen. It was a nice size kitchen for the two of us.  It was carpeted, which I wasn't a fan of.  A window overlooked the entry way.

Straight ahead of the kitchen was the living room.  It had two windows that let lots of light in.  It was a southwest exposure getting lots of late in the day light.  The view wasn't the greatest nor was the insulation.  In the winter we would put plastic over the windows and blankets over that to keep the drafts to a minimum.

To the left of the kitchen was an area that led to the two bedrooms.  This area had a nice pantry cupboard and a closet.  We used the first bedroom as an office area and later a nursery.  This room had another door to the hallway that we never used.

Adjoining this room was another smaller bedroom.  Kirk and I used this as our bedroom.  It was an odd shaped room and we ended up curtaining off an area for storage.  The only bathroom was connected to this room.  The only downside to this arrangement was that if visitors were over they had to go through both bedrooms to get to the bathroom.

This is the first home that Kirk and I created together.  We came home from our honeymoon here. We grew together as a young married couple.  We entertained family and friends.  I would love to have home cooked Chinese dinners for guests.  Sunday morning breakfast was another favorite meal for us.

Other memories of living here included relaxing and reading in bed on Saturday mornings.  We liked to watch the Smurfs, Remington Steele and Hill Street Blues on television. I would cross stitch while we watched football games.  Kirk and I would clean house together.  I think it took half an hour.  We had to go to the laundromat to wash our clothes.  We shared that duty.

Perhaps, the most memorable experience was when I found out that we were expecting our first child.  I remember doing the home pregnancy test.  It wasn't an instant read, so we had to wait for the results to show up.  I was teaching thirty miles away and had to get going or I would be late. Finally, the results gave a positive reading.  I was so excited.  I stopped on my way home from work that day and bought a stuffed animal for our new baby.

 All ready for our first child.
Early days in our new home with our first child, Kirsten.

This is where we brought our newborn daughter home to.  We set up a nursery in the first bedroom. There was a fish tank, rocking chair, changing table, and crib in our nursery.  We decorated it with a gnome theme.  I had cross stitched gnome wall hangings.  It was during the time when you didn't know the sex of the child until you gave birth.

Our new family of three only lived here for four months, then we bought a house.  Coincidentally, we could see our house from the living room window of our apartment.  I will always remember this home as the place where I grew from a young women into a wife and mother.

 

17 September 2013

I Have a Michigan Governor in My Family Tree

It took me awhile to figure out my connection to the 19th Governor of Michigan, Josiah Begole, but I think I calculated the relationship right.  He is my first cousin, five times removed.  I bet you are impressed.  I don't usually blog about such a distant relative, but since he was the Governor of Michigan, I am going to.

Josiah Begole was born 20 January 1815 in Groveland, New York to William Begole.  He migrated to Michigan in its' early years settling in Genesee county. He worked in a variety of occupations prior to his election as governor. Early political jobs included Flint, Michigan councilman and Michigan Senator.

Josiah Begole began his political career as a Republican.  He was a Greenback and Democrat at the time of his election for Governor.  He was anti slavery and an early supporter for women's rights.

Josiah Begole was Governor of Michigan from 1 January 1883 to 1 January 1885. He ran for re-election but was defeated and only served one term as Governor. Governor Begole returned to his home near Flint, Michigan and lived there until his death on 5 June 1896 at the age of 81.   

Josiah Begole is the only prominent politician in my family tree, that I know of.  I guess if you only have one, it might as well be one who was Governor of Michigan.  How cool is that?

Josiah Begole is the first cousin to my third great grandmother, Eleanor Begole.  Eleanor is the daughter of Thomas Begole and Ann Matelda Nancy Bowles.  Thomas Begole and Josiah's father, William were brothers.


Photo credit:  This image is a photograph from the Brady-Handy Collection, which was purchased by the United States Library of Congress in 1954. Mathew P. Brady died in 1896 - making his images in the public domain worldwide; Levin C. Handy died in 1932. While, in theory, some of Handy's photographs could have been taken after 1922 and thus have qualified for copyright, according to the library, all images that make up the collection are considered to be in the public domain.

15 September 2013

Sunday's Obituary: William B. Dyer

Transcription:

WILLIAM B. DYER DEAD
Expired suddenly Thursday After-
noon at Seeley Street Home

   William B. Dyer, aged 69 years,
died of heart failure at 5:30 o'clock
Thursday afternoon at his home,
130 Seeley street. Mr. Dyer has
not been well for a few days but
had not been confined to his bed
and his death came unexpectedly.
   Mr. Dyer moved to this city from
Adrian township where he was a 
farmer for many years.  He came
to Lenawee County from New York
state when he was a young man
and had spent most of his life here.
The last eight years of his life had
been spent in Adrian.
   He is survivied by his widow, two
daughters, Mrs. Allen Bruce of Po-
catello, Idaho, Miss Jessie Dyer of
Kingston, N.Y., two sons, Edward 
of Toronto, Canada and Howard
Dyer, who lives at home, and a
step-son, Harold Dyer, also of Ad-
rian.
   Funeral services will be held at 
3:30 o'clock Sunday afternoon at
the home with the burial in Oak-
wood cemetery.

End of transcription.

William B. Dyer was the son of my third great grandparents, William G. Dyer and Mary Ann Dyer, nee Swallow.  The above obituary was found in the Adrian Daily Telegram, Adrian, Michigan, March 17, 1922 edition.  Microfilm available at the Library of Michigan, Lansing, Michigan.

12 September 2013

Where in the World is Valentine Graf?

Where in the World is Valentine Graf?


One of the first place family historians search for their ancestors is in the United States Census records.  I am compiling my census information in a table format.  Each month, I share a Where in the World post.  This month I am sharing my great grandfather, Valentine Graf. 

FACT
DATE
PLACE OF RESIDENCE
ENUMERATION DISTRICT/PAGE ID./DWELLING
Birth
14 Dec 1865
Amboy, Miami, Indiana, United States

Census
1870
Harrison, Miami, Indiana, United States
/16/114
Census
1880
Harrison, Miami, Indiana, United States
125/8/62
Census
1900
Liberty Township, Howard, Indiana, United States
68/3A/49
Census
1910
Dickson Township, Manistee, Michigan, United States
52/3B/64
Census
1920
Dickson Township, Manistee, Michigan, United States
61/2A/27
Census
1930
Dickson Township, Manistee, Michigan, United States
51-7/2B/41
Death
13 Jan 1933
Dickson Township, Manistee, Michigan, United States


11 September 2013

Workday Wednesday: All Aboard for Researching Your Railroad Worker

Patricia Walls Stamm, CG, CGL presented Railroad Records Across America at the recent Federation of Genealogical Conference in Fort Wayne, Indiana.  I knew when I saw this option that I would for sure be going to it.  I have a few ancestors that worked in the railroad industry:

  • David Watt, paternal great grandfather, was an engineer for Duluth, South Shore and Atlantic railroad.
  • Frank H. Glover, paternal great grandfather, was a brakeman for a yet to be identified railroad.
  • Claude Glover, paternal great uncle, was an engineer for Lake Superior and Ishpeming Railroad.
Patricia Walls Stamm did an excellent job with helping those who would like to research the railroad industry.  It was mentioned that locating railroad records is a challenge.  There is no one repository for the information.  She presented her lecture in three parts:
  1. In the Roundhouse-Introduction:  She took us through the history of railroads and how they changed names or dissolved.  She suggested we check "Railroad Names: a Directory of Common Carrier Railroads Operating in the United States 1826-1997" for more information.
  2. In the Depot-Repositories:  This section provided one with information about where to look for information.  Ms. Walls Stamm suggested checking libraries for manuscripts, using a search engine for the railroad or area one is researching, and using railroad maps for the time period one is researching.
  3. Getting Down the Tracks-Records:  Information on accidents, company records, publications, and retirement records was covered.
I came away with a wealth of information on how to get started with my railroad research.  I look forward to digging deeper and finding out more about the work that my ancestor's did.

Here are a few online railroad resources to get you started, courtesy of Ms. Walls Stamm,

Library of Congress.  Railroad Maps 1828-1900.

Poor's Manual of the Railroads of the United States.  Various years available at google books.


Union Pacific.  Railroad Job Descriptions  




10 September 2013

A Trilogy of Journey Blogs

Courtesy of Microsoft Clip Art

I am participating in Julie Goucher's Blog Prompt, "The Book of Me, Written By You".  I wrote the first week's prompt here at Journey to the Past.  I got thinking about what a nice memoir this project would be and decided to start a third blog, Journey to My Past.  I will be posting my Book of Me prompts at that blog from now on.

I am now the author of three Journey blogs:

  1. Journey to the Past-my genealogical journey blog as I research my ancestry.
  2. Journey to His Past-my genealogical journey blog as I research my husband's ancestry.
  3. Journey to My Past-my journey as I write about my personal history.
I just hope I can keep them all straight.  If you see my personal history on Journey to His Past, you will know I goofed up.  I hope you enjoy the trilogy of Journey blogs.

Tombstone Tuesday: Joseph, Alma and Robert Prantle

PRANTLE
ALMA                JOSEPH
1893-1932           1887-1980 
ROBERT E.                          
AGE 7 DAYS                         

Alma Prantle, nee Fredrick, her husband, Joseph Prantle and newborn son, Robert E. are buried in Fairplains Cemetery, Grand Rapids, Kent, Michigan in Block X, Lot T9_C, Space 6.

Alma is the daughter of J. August Fredrick and Louise Zastrow Fredrick.  She is my great aunt.

07 September 2013

My Purchases at FGS 2013

I am still following up on everything I did in Fort Wayne, Indiana at the FGS conference.  I researched, attended sessions and visited the exhibit hall to name a few things I did.  I am still processing the research I did at Allen County Public Library.  I have facts and sources to enter into my genealogy software and new leads to follow.  This year, I used a tablet to take notes right on the pdf. copy of the syllabus.  I have reviewed the notes and filed the pdf. for future use.

I loved visiting the exhibit hall.  I think I made three trips to it.  The first was just to get a feel for where everything was.  Then, I spent one session taking my time going through it.  I purchased a few things while I was there.  I thought I would share my books with you.

1.  They Came in Ships by John P. Colletta, PhD.-I have looked at this book many times in the past.  I have read parts of it at the library, but never bought it.  I wasn't sure if I needed it.  The author, John P. Colletta, was a presenter at the conference.  I thought he was an excellent speaker.  I should have attended more of his sessions.  It was only after hearing him speak about immigration records that I went and purchased the book.  I was lucky, I got the last copy at the exhibit hall. This easy to read, short book is packed with information.  Dr. Colletta covers what passenger lists tell you about your ancestors, what you need to know and where to find it, passenger information before 1820, passenger lists after 1820, Ellis Island myths and reality, and pages of bibliographic sources.  I am enjoying this book very much.

2.  The German Research Companion by Shirley J. Reimer, Roger P. Minert and Jennifer A. Anderson- I have wanted this book for two years now, ever since I attended a four hour German research workshop and it was recommended as a must have German research book.  I went back to the exhibit hall at the FGS conference in 2011 to buy it and it was sold out.  I was bummed.  I could have bought it online, but I never did.  I didn't even have it on my mind at FGS 2013, but the minute I saw it I picked it up.  Three of my maternal great grandparents emigrated from Germany. I have done a little German research, but felt that I needed a good resource book to help me on my way with German genealogy.  This is the book to have.  The nine section book covers everything from German lands past and present to resources, emigration, German language helps, life in our ancestor's times and more.  I haven't delved into yet, but it is on my desk ready to be read.

3.  German Genealogy Research Online by Leland K. Meitzler-This was an impulse buy.  I was looking over the German Genealogy section at the Family Roots Publishing booth and thought this would be interesting.  The magazine size book has 30 online German research resources.  Plus, helpful tips for finding pictures, translating German websites, using German Gazetteers and Surname Distribution maps and more.  It is a good companion piece to number two, above.





4.  Tracing Your English and Scottish Ancestors by Moorshead Magazines-This is a collection of previously published articles from Discovering Family History, Family Chronicle and Internet Genealogy magazines all in one magazine.  Three of the sessions I attended during the conference were on English and Scottish Genealogy.  I thought this would be an interesting take home piece for me.  






After attending two of Paul Milner's sessions, I decided I wanted to purchase two more books, A Genealogist's Guide to Discovering Your Scottish Ancestors and A Genealogist's Guide to Discovering Your English Ancestors both by Paul Milner and Linda Jonas.  Both of these books are out of print, but available in a pdf. version.  I am all for going paperless in my research, but I still like books.

I went back to my hotel room that night and looked for the pdf version for these books.  Then, I thought, I am going to check online to see if anyone has a used copy of these books.  Barnes and Noble did!  I was able to get a used Scottish book for $7.38, including tax and shipping.  I received the book yesterday and other than a little crease in the corner it is in perfect condition.  The English book hasn't arrived yet, but I paid $12.35 including shipping and tax for that one.  I don't have a lot of books on my research shelf, but the ones I do have I use.  

I look forward to using the above books and hope to further my German, English, and Scottish family lines.  Wish me luck! 

05 September 2013

Summer Genealogy Goals A Bust!



Summer has come and gone.  Schools are back in session.  Labor Day celebrations are done.  It is almost fall.  I had great plans for genealogy this summer.  I wrote a few summer goals down and blogged about it thinking it would motivate me to achieve them.  Well, guess what?  I didn't achieve very many of them.  Here are my goals I wrote in June, the bold one is the goal I achieved:

  • Miami and Howard County Indiana-The Graf and Fredricks side of my mom's family settled here before migrating to Michigan.  I would like to visit the Miami County Courthouse and get Casper Graf's will and visit a few cemeteries and take pictures.  I would like to explore the area.  I may need to plan this as an overnight trip from the looks of what I want to accomplish.
  • Adrian, Michigan- The Dyer side of my dad's family settled here when they came from New York. I want to check out the library and a couple of cemeteries.  
  • Bentley Historical Library, Ann Arbor-There are two civil war era diaries, that mentions my 2nd great grandfather's gunshot wound that he received during the Civil War, that I would like to read.  Plus, the library has Lima Township vital records and Baptist records that I am interested in exploring.
  • Go to Fort Wayne, Indiana-I will be there for the FGS 2013 Conference in August, but I would like to go at least once and do a little research at the library.
  • Last but not least, is to attend the Fredricks Family Reunion.  I didn't go last year, but I am, definitely, going this year.  Shhh! Don't tell anyone but I have a killer white elephant gift to take this year.
Pretty pathetic, if you ask me.  Everyone of these goals could have been accomplished in a day.  I don't even have a good reason for not doing them.  Our summer wasn't crazy busy.  We spent one week on vacation with our son and his girlfriend; and one week at FGS conference in Fort Wayne.  I don't know where the time went.

I will have to keep these goals on the back burner for now as I have so much that I want to do as a follow up to the sessions I attended in Fort Wayne.  Plus, the laundry, grocery shopping, bill paying, house cleaning, painting and gardening beckons.  Maybe, I do know what I did this summer after all!  How did your summer go genealogy wise?  


04 September 2013

School Days! School Days! Good Old Fashioned School Days!

It is that time of the year again when students and teachers are going back to school.  My husband, Kirk, a middle school counselor is back to school (insert smile!) and I am back to a routine of sorts.  I like my routines.

One of the routines I enjoy is blogging.  In honor of back to school week I am sharing my first grade remembrances.

I have a lot of memories from first grade at Deckerville Elementary School.  My teacher, Mrs. Merriman, was one of my favorite teachers.  She recently passed away, but I will always remember her as a very kind and caring teacher.

I remember walking to school and entering the building my classroom was in.  There were only four classrooms in that part of the school, two Kindergarten and two first grade ones.  My room was on the right side of the hallway, overlooking the playground.  We sat in tables of six.  I remember being the last table furthest from the front of the room and then the second table in the middle of the classroom.  I believe there were six tables total.

We kept our books in our space under the table.  I remember that area getting really messy.  We had desk cleaning days!  In the summer before school started, we would go to the gymnasium and buy our books.  I enjoyed reading, spelling and geography.  I wasn't a fan of math.

One day, I copied some math answers from the girl next to me, Sandra.  Mrs. Merriman called her up to the teacher's desk and asked her what she was doing. Sandra said she shared her answers with me.  Next thing I knew Sandra was getting her hand slapped with a paddle, it was one of those that you used to hit a small rubber ball with.  I felt terrible!  I apologized to Sandra when she came back to the table.  I remember her being really nice about it.  Next, I got up from the table and went to Mrs. Merriman and told her I was the one who copied the answers.  She said it was Sandra's fault for letting me do it.  To this day, I don't agree with that, I should have had my hand slapped too.  I think that experience was always in my mind and shaped who I was as a teacher, never blaming one student over another.

We spent a lot of time at those tables.  I remember eating lunch at our tables.  I don't remember if they had a cafeteria or not.  If they did it was not in our building. We would have to walk outside and to the next building for gym and art class. Eventually, they connected the buildings.

Another memory I have is sitting in class and seeing these red spots all over my arms.  I told the teacher about it and she said it was okay, not to worry about it. The spots had spread by the time I got home.  I had the measles.  It seems like I missed a few days of school during first grade.  I know I had the measles and mumps that year.

My first grade year was the year that President Kennedy was shot.  I don't remember being aware of anything at school, but we did get the day of his funeral off.  I remember my parents watching it on TV and I wasn't allowed to watch it.  Of course, that made me curious and I would catch glimpses of it as I walked by the living room.  Weekly Reader covered President Kennedy's death and I remember reading about it later.

I find it interesting the things I remember about first grade.  I don't remember much about recess, or music, or even who my friends were in my class.  I have very clear memories of a few events. How about you?  Do you remember first grade?

 

02 September 2013

The Book of Me: Who are You?

The Book of Me, Written by You is a new blog prompt series created by Julie Goucher at Anglers Rest blog.  Geneabloggers is adding support and encouragement to this 15 month blogging activity.  I write freely about the stories that bring my ancestors to life and look forward to exploring my life through writing.  I hope you will join me as I journey to my past.

This week's prompt is Who Are You?  Ask yourself 20 times "Who are you?"  Each time you should give yourself a different answer, and if you can easily go beyond 20 entries then that is fine too. This prompt is about how YOU see YOU.

I am

a mother
a wife
an empathetic person
a reader
a gardener
a cancer survivor
a college graduate
a gardener
a perfectionist
a neat freak
a confidant
a blogger
a family historian
a cookbook collector
a good listener
a good cook
a news junkie
an organizer
a lover of food
the best person I can be!