Saturday, May 03, 2008

Carnival of Genealogy, 47th Edition


Welcome to the May 4th edition of the Carnival of Genealogy. The topic for this edition is : A Place Called Home. We're taking a look at the towns and villages, cities and counties, where our ancestors lived. Come along on a trip across two continents as we explore the fields and streams, mountains and valleys, where our families' roots were planted. I think you'll be amazed at the diversity of culture and lifestyle among our ancestors in their home towns. Let's begin then with the North American continent...

NORTH AMERICA

MASSACHUSETTS
Randy Seaver presents Leominster, Massachusetts posted at Genea-Musings. Come visit the city where the plastics industry was born (who knew?) and the downtown area has been preserved over the years. Walk the streets and think of Randy whose family lived there for 4 generations. Thanks for sharing, Randy!

Bill West presents BRIDGEWATER posted at West in New England. They're makin' brick in Nunkatateset... sounds like a song refrain doesn't it? (Maybe the melody to "Do You Know the Way to San Hose?") Stop on by and see what the heck I'm talking about in Bill's article about his ancestors' home town of Bridgewater. Thanks for sharing, Bill!

NEW YORK
Lidian presents The Virtual Dime Museum: A Place Called Home: Woodhaven, Queens posted at The Virtual Dime Museum. If your turn of the century ancestors spent time in the kitchen (and who didn't back then ;-) they likely made use of the wares from Woodhaven. Head on over and learn for yourself what that's all about. Thanks for sharing, Lidian!

Robert Lord presents Lord and Lady: A Place Called Home just a One Stop Light Village posted at Lord and Lady. As a child, Bob used to play in a building built back in the early to mid 1700s. What a history his little town has! Stop on by and you'll leave with a good old fashioned feel-good feeling. Thank for sharing your wonderful little town with us Bob!

Thomas MacEntee presents Home to Lowville posted at Destination: Austin Family. At first glance this article seems to be an overview of the home towns of a number of Thomas' ancestors. But near the end Thomas has a link to his previous articles on Lowville and that is where you'll find a real gem. One of his previously written articles has wonderful information and pictures from a pamphlet on Lowville written in 1895! It's precious! Thanks for sharing Lowville with us Thomas!

ONTARIO
Janet Iles presents A Place Called Home posted at Janet the researcher. Here's a story of a town that is no more. No wonder Google Maps came up blank when I did a search for Markham Township, Ontario! If I'd read the article before I started searching it would have saved me some time ;-) But head on over and see what has become of Markham today! Thanks for sharing Markham Township with us Janet!

SOUTH CAROLINA
Denise Olson presents Charleston Connections posted at Moultrie Creek. Charleston had a more structured society than the laid back ways of Florida. So says Denise in her look back at the Charleston connections in her family. Visit Denise's blog and read more about them! Thanks for sharing, Denise!

OHIO
Amanda Erickson presents Fred Seibert and Kenmore, Ohio posted at Random Ramblings. Amanda shares with us a fascinating story with wonderful pictures. Kenmore, Ohio is more than just the home of Fred Seibert (union organizer and outspoken member of the Communist Party), it's Amanda's home as well. Do visit Amanda's blog and learn more about her town. Thanks for sharing Kemore with us Amanda!

Wendy Littrell presents The Town on the River - Carnival of Genealogy Post posted at All My Branches Genealogy. Please welcome Wendy, a first time contributor to the COG! Wendy tells us of a town named for the Indian term "black bear town". Stop by and see a photo of her grandfather's old cobbler shop and learn about this "town on the river" and how her ancestor first got there. Thanks for sharing Roscoe Village with us Wendy!

Sandusky Library presents Sandusky History: Prout's Station posted at Sandusky History, saying " Frank Prout was married to a distant cousin of mine. Dorene Paul, Reference Assistant Sandusky Library". A proud line of Prouts can claim a connection to the original A. W. Prout who first settled the town that was named for him. Stop on by for nice little visit and learn more about Prout's Station. Thanks for sharing this town with us Dorene!

TENNESSEE
Elizabeth presents It’s Greener in Greeneville posted at Little Bytes of Life. Prepare for green overload! Wow! This town is really green. One look at the photos and you'll know what I mean. Elizabeth treats us to a description of her visit to the town her ancestors were from. Great story! Stop on by for visit. Thanks for sharing Greenville with us Elizabeth!

MICHIGAN
Jessica Oswalt presents Saint Joseph County, Michigan: My Thoughts and Reflections posted at Jessica's Genejournal. Jessica describes for us the lush countryside that is Saint Joseph County. Head on over and learn about this land of her ancestors. Thanks for sharing Saint Joseph County with us Jessica!

INDIANA
Becky Wiseman presents Whitley County - A Place Some Ancestors Called Home posted at kinexxions. Becky tells us of Whitley County, an area of rolling hills and rich farm land in her native Hooiser State. Becky's written about her family in this area before and includes links to those articles here. Thanks for sharing Whitley County with us Becky!

MISSISSIPPI
Bob Franks presents The Homecoming posted at Itawamba History Review: The Itawamba Historical Society. Bob has a way of painting vivid images with his words. This article on Itawamba County is a fine example of that. Take few moments to visit his blog and see for yourself. Thanks for sharing Itawamba County with us Bob!

Terry Thornton presents A Place Called Home: Weaver's Creek Bottom posted at Hill Country of Monroe County, Mississippi, saying "The notion that "home" to me is a place I've never lived may be difficult for some of your readers --- but "home" to any aging adult is just a set of memories. And those memories enable me to select when and how to visit a placed called home. So although I never lived at Weaver's Creek Bottom, my soul is centered there because my memories all bounce and dance around that small locale where once my great-grandparents, grandparents, parents and a host of aunts and uncles and cousins lived. I can drive through those hills now completely empty of houses and barns and people and known I'm home. Thanks for letting me share my attempt to write about the place I call home." Couldn't have said it better Terry! Thanks for sharing Weaver's Creek Bottom with us!

ILLINOIS
Lori Thornton presents Home: The Late 19th Century Version posted at Smoky Mountain Family Historian. Lori has some wonderful photos of her ancestor's home town of Oak Grove which became Carlock. It's a small town with the usual small town charm. Head on over and a look-see! Thanks for sharing Oak Grove and Carlock with us Lori!

MINNESOTA
Chery Kinnick presents A Gem That Sparkles Still posted at Nordic Blue. You've probably never heard of Leonard, Minnesota. I certainly hadn't before I read Chery's wonderful article about this small town in rural Minnesota. It's a charming story of a charming town that wants you to visit! Mozy on over and read all about the town of Leonard and Chery's ancestors who called it home. Thanks for sharing, Chery!

Sue Edminster presents Bemidji Minnesota, Mom?s Home Town posted at Echo Hill Ancestors Weblog. The COG is pleased to extend a very warm welcome to first time participant, Sue Edminster, who's family comes from a town that knows what cold is all about! Here's a great article with some wonderful photographs. You won't want to miss this one. Stop by now and find out what else Bemidji is known for besides being cold! Thanks for sharing Bemidji with us Sue!

TEXAS
Ken Spangler presents A Home Called Blackjack! posted at Beyond Fiction. Blackjack is a fitting name for a town in Texas, don't ya think? It just so happens to be the town where Ken's family hails from. It's one of those small towns where everyone knows everyone. Stop on by for a visit and learn about what life was like way back when in Blackjack, Texas. Thanks for sharing with us, Ken!

MONTANA
Susan Kitchens presents Billings, Montana—History by Mystery presented at Family Oral History Using Digital Tools saying, "How a collection of letters in the attic (dating from 1916 on) compel a meandering exploration of the history of Billings, Montana. The research informs the letter reading. And I learn more about boom times, boosterism, drought, and bust. And maybe find a hint in the larger history to explain a smaller family mystery. Bonus: fetching pictures of a woman standing on her horse! And the best in 10-gallon hat fashions." I will only add that this is a terrific article! Go read it now! Thanks for sharing Billings with us, Susan!

Now we'll hop "over the pond" to Europe and visit the places our European ancestors called home!

EUROPE

LITHUANIA and UKRAINE
Sharon Klein presents Genealogy: Towns in the Old Country posted at Genealogy. Sharon has written a number of posts about the home towns of her ancestors in Lithuania and Ukraine. Each one has a uniqueness and yet they all share an Eastern European similarity. This article link will take you to them all. Thanks for sharing them with us Sharon!

POLAND
Jasia presents A Place Called Home, Bobrowa, Poland posted at Creative Gene. Stop on by and read about a town named for the beavers who made this area their home back in the 1300s. It's typical rural village living in Poland.

Stephen J. Danko presents History of the Village and Parish of Dylągowa posted at Steve's Genealogy Blog. The village of Dylągowa has a long history beginning back in the 1400s. At one time though, it ceased to exist and was completely rebuilt. Stop on by Steve's blog and find out more about why and how this happened. Thanks for sharing Dylągowa with us Steve!

Donna Pointkouski presents Żyrardów: Birth of a Modern Town posted at What's Past is Prologue. Weave your way on over to Donna's blog and read all about the town of Żyrardów. It's an unusually modern town for Poland and one with a very interesting history. Thanks for sharing Żyrardów with us Donna!

POMERANIA - GERMANY/POLAND
Terry Snyder presents a three part series beginning with I am a German Girl, then Pomerania - An Introduction and finally, Part II: Pomerania - War and Consequences all posted at Desktop Genealogist. Terry writes a fascinating story of her ancestors' homeland and her own feelings about researching her German roots. Take a few minutes to read what Terry found out about her family's ancestral village and how it has changed hands over the years. It's a good read about a sad chapter in history. Thanks for sharing your family's homeland with us Terry!

Cheryl Schulte presents Places Called Home posted at Two Sides of the Ocean. And here is a story with a happy ending, a wonderful tale of an area long repressed that is enjoying a rebirth of sorts. Cheryl has a terrific slide show of photos she took when visiting the area. Do stop on by and read about the thousand-year-old Oak tree too! Thanks for sharing Cheryl!

BAVARIA - GERMANY
Donna Pointkouski presents A Bavarian Hometown posted at What's Past is Prologue. Another terrific article from Donna! She's really done her homework this time. Head on over and visit her ancestors' Bavarian hometown. Imagine having church records that go back to the 1500s! It's all here, read all about it! Thanks for sharing your little piece of Bavaria with us Donna!

HUNGARY
Lisa presents "Keepers of the absent": the homes of our ancestors posted at 100 Years in America. Lisa shares photos of her ancestral home and a lovely poem to go along with it. Thanks Lisa!

CROATIA
Lisa presents Međimurje: Meeting place of rivers and cultures posted at 100 Years in America. Lisa has a most impressive collection of old and new photos and maps of her ancestors' Croatian homeland. Visit her blog and you'll learn lots of interesting information about this little corner of the world. Thanks for sharing Međimurje with us Lisa!

SCILLY
Kate presents Isles of Scilly - a place my ancestors called home posted at Kate's Family Tree, saying " About the Isles of Scilly, birthplace of my 4 x great grandfather, James Shipley." Welcome to Kate, a first time participant in the COG! Kate shares a great article about her ancestor's rather remote island homeland. I enjoyed learning about the Isles of Scilly and I'll bet you will too. Head on over now and see for yourself! Thanks for sharing, Kate!

WALES
Kathryn Lake Hogan presents A Place Called Home: Sea View Cottage, Hazel Beach posted at LOOKING4ANCESTORS. Kathryn takes us to a charming little town in Wales and expresses her wish to visit it in person someday. Well we all hope your wish comes true Kathryn! Hazel Beach sounds wonderful! Thanks for sharing it with us!

IRELAND
Colleen M. Johnson presents An Irish Farm For A Home posted at cmjoffice.com Blog. Colleen ends our little journey in the fields of the Irish farmlands of her ancestors. And what a lovely spot it is indeed! However, it has not been without it's share of strife. Stop by Colleen's blog and read about the lush green fields she remembers from her own visits as a child. Thanks for sharing County Clare, Ireland with us Colleen!

That concludes this edition of the Carnival of Genealogy. I hope you have enjoyed the trip! Wasn't it fascinating to learn about the remote villages and big cities where our ancestors lived? All the photos of the places our ancestors called home added wonderful visuals of the lands of our fore fathers. All the authors deserve a round of applause for a job very well done!

I would like to make mention of the fact that the BlogCarnival web site database has been down for the past couple of days starting just before the deadline of this edition of the COG. No article submissions were possible via that web site since that time. Fortunately, 3 people did not let that stop them and emailed me with the links to their articles. I don't have any information on when the site will be fully functional again but hopefully it will be soon! Just for future reference, I prefer articles be submitted via the BlogCarnival website (so they can be included in a template that is a big time saver for me) but in the event that it's not working I'm happy to receive the links to them via email.

Now it's time for a Call for Submissions! Mother's Day will be here next week but rather than just writing tributes to Mom as we have in the past I thought we'd take a little different slant this time around. The topic for the next edition of the Carnival of Genealogy is: Mom, how'd you get so smart? We'll examine our mothers' education. What schools did your mom attend? Did she graduate high school or attend the school of hard knocks? Did she attend a one room school house or was she home-schooled? Was she the first in the family to attend college? Maybe your mom took self-study courses or was an avid reader. Tell us all about how a mother figure (mother, grandmother, mother in law, godmother, etc.) in your life became so brilliant! The deadline for submissions is May 15th.

Submit your blog article to the next edition of the Carnival of Genealogy using our carnival submission form. Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.

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