Historical Society

I’m excited to be spending some time today at the local historical society here in Middletown. They have a wealth of information in their archive collection. I know many of us spend time with our “genealogy society” but are you also a member with your local historical society. For those of you who haven’t ventured into that area you might be surprised to see what information you’re missing out on. 

Wordless Wednesday

Tombstone Tuesday - Laura Eugenia Willits Naudain

This is one of the many photographs taken while walking through Old Saint Anne’s Church Cemetery here in Delaware.    

LAURA EUGENIA

WIFE OF

MERRITT N. WILLITS,

AND DAUGHTER OF ELIAS S. & SARAH A. NAUDAIN

DIED FEB. 9 1875, AGED 31 YEARS.

ONLY GONE BEFORE.

Happy Thanksgiving

I thought I would take a little turn from the normal blog posting that I’ve shared in the past. I wanted to wish all of you a “Happy Thanksgiving.” This is that time of year that we gather at a loved one’s home and give thanks to those around us.  We also take time to remember the wonderful things that have happened this past year, years past and we must remember to be thankful for what’s to come.  So remember in our busy lives to stop look around and remember to be thankful for what you have and thank those around you.

                                          HAPPY THANKSGIVING

Wordless Wednesday

Cleveland Family Gathering

Oops there was one article I forgot to include that came from the genealogybank.com site. This is the last one on family gatherings. Many names from the Cleveland, OH area their friends and family that traveled miles to enjoy the holiday are listed in this article.   

Plain Dealer from Cleveland, OH

November 30, 1922

Family Gatherings to Mark Thanksgiving Day

BY CORNELIA CURTISS

Today the time honored occasion for Thanksgiving will be marked throughout the city with family gatherings. Immediate kin will spend the day together, with a dinner party usually as the focus of the celebration. For the young folk there is the Case-Reserve game for morning diversion.

This evening the concert of the Cleveland orchestra with Josef Hoffman, soloist, will offer a pleasing manner in which to conclude the holiday. At Mrs. George A. Garretson’s home will be a family party, including Mr. and Mrs. George Ely Garretson, Mr. and Mrs. Henry A. Raymond, Mr. and Mrs. Hiram Carretson, Mrs. J.J. Traney will have her sons and daughters and their families at her home.

In the group which Mr. and Mrs. Louis E. Myers will entertain will be Mr. and Mrs. Frank A. Arter, Mr. and Mrs. Charles B. Arter, Mrs. Frederick Taft and their families.

Many Family Parties.

The Tewksbury family will dine with Mr. and Mrs. Russell B. Tewksbury. Members of the Lawrence family are to be guests of Miss Maude Lawrence at the family home near Dover Bay, the party including Mr. and Mrs. Fred P. Fuller, Mrs. Frank W. Brown, Mr. and Mrs. William O. Mathews, Mr. and Mrs. Walter J. James and their families.

Mrs. Francis M. Osborne following her usual custom has taken her sons and her daughters and their husbands to New York to spend the day. In this party are Mr. and Mrs. Edward Bruch, Mr. and Mrs. Karl F Bruch, Mr. and Mrs. Walter Robison, Mr. and Mrs. Francis Charlton Mills, jr. James and David Osborne, who are at Dartmouth, will join the party.

Mr. and Mrs. Charles Leland of Asheville are out-of-town relatives to be joining Mr. and Mrs. Bededict Crowell’s guests who will include the Cobb family connections.

Mr. and Mrs. Sterling Beckwith Hubbard are having a group of their immediate relatives as dinner guests.

And the Country

?? country homes and surroundings form the ideal background for family dinners on Thanksgiving. Mr. and Mrs. John Thomas Bell will entertain at their home at Gates Mill. Among their guests will be the members of the Bell family and Mr. and Mrs. Henry S. Curtiss, brother-in-law and sister of Mrs. Bell.

The members of the Mather family will spend the day with Mr. and Mrs. Phillip R. Mather, with the exception of Mr. S. Livingston Mather, who is in the east. Mrs. Mather, who has been there with him, returned this morning.

 Included in a large dinner party to be given at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Charles C. Bolton and Mr. and Mrs. D. Z. Norton, and Mr. and Mrs. Fredrick Rollin White, and their family.

Mr. and Mrs. Morley Hitchcock, who have just returned from the east, will be entertained at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Charles s. Britton, Mr. and Mr. Charles H. Prescott will have as their guest all the members of the Prescott family.

In Other Homes.

Mr. and Mrs. Perry Buell Burry and Mrs. Christopher Grover will be among the relatives attending the small dinner which Mr. and Mrs. John W. Bury will give. The Garfield family will gather at the home of Mr. and Mrs. James R. Garfield, Hollycraft, at West Mentor.

Another small party at Mentor will be at Mr. and Mrs. Harry W. King’s home, where Mr. and Mrs. Quay H. Findley and Mr. and Mrs. Leon A. Jenneret and their children will join the Kings.

Mr. David Wesley Russel comes home this morning form the University of Pennsylvania to spend the week-end with his parents, Mr. and Mr. Anson E. Russell, who will be with Mrs. Anna E. Russell and members of her immediate family for the day.

Mr. and Mrs. E. S. Burke, jr. and Mrs. Bruce Chisholm will be guest of Mrs. Wilson b. Chisholm, who is having a dinner for her immediate family.

Mrs. Harold G. Alexander will be hostess at a family dinner of twelve while Mr. and Mrs. William Patterson Foster will celebrate the holiday at the home of Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Foster.

Mr. and Mrs. Arthur A. Stearns and Mr. and Mrs. Frank L. Hornickel will spend the day with Mr. and Mrs. E. S. Stearns.

Opera Offered, Too.

A very delightful prelude to Thanksgiving Day was the premiere of the U. S. Grand Opera Co., which opened its season in Masonic temple last evening with a presentation of Wagner’s “Valkyries.”

Boxholders for the occasion were Mrs. Stevenson Burke, Mr. and Mrs. George P. Comey, Dr. and Mrs. William T. Corlett, Mr. and Mrs. Robert D. Beatty, Mr. and Mrs. Abram Garfield, Mr. and Mrs. George W. Hale, Mr. and Mrs. John A. Penton, Mr. and Mrs. Harriosn W. Ewing, Mr. and Mrs. W. G. Wilson, Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Fritsche, Mr. and Mrs. Charles A. Dolan, Mr. and Mrs. Phillip Miner, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Coughlin, Mr. Francis J. Sadlier, Mr. P. II. Barker, Mrs. Charles S. Thomas of Youngstown, Mr. Herbert Harroun of Oberlin. 

Amanuensis Monday - Mr. & Mrs. Paul L Moore

I know that many of you were following my “Amanuensis Monday” and the letters between Pvt. Paul Moore and Elaine Cummings. Through those letters we have been able to take a peek into their lives from the first meeting to the birth of their little girl. We even able to meet her father, F. L. Cummings and see the love he had for his daughter and granddaughter. I wanted to share the last few cards that were written between all of those important in their lives. I hope you have enjoyed these letters and I have few more collections similar to this that I will share at some point. 

 Dec 10, 1947

Hi!

Bet the kids are sure excited about Christmas, I sure am. I’m wondering what Terry will do when he sees our tree. We are going to have present next June too, should be about the 13^th. Sure hope it’s a girl. Terry will be 15 months old, so it won’t be too bad. Hope that takes some of the meanness out of him, he sure has a lot of it, at 9 months too. Wonder what he will be like in a couple of years?

Have a nice Christmas

Love to all

Betty, Arlow, Terry

NOTE: This was a hand written note/letter on a Christmas card mailed to Mr. & Mrs. Paul Moore & family 321 Union St. Apt C Newark, Ohio on Dec 17 1947. ***The names singed on the card are Arlow, Betty & Terry True***

Sun. Dec 14

Dear Paul, Elaine and Girls:

  Hope to see you all Christmas, but in the meantime, wanted to say “hello”. I know I owe you a letter but it is so easy to not write. Anyway, we think of you all, and speak of you often and would like very much to see you. Iva, earl and Dorothy were here for the week-end, just left this evening. We all went to Paden City this forenoon to see the folks. We had not been there for a long time. We don’t get around much since we sold the car.

Love and Best Wishes

Mary

NOTE: This was a handwritten note included with a Christmas card addressed to Mr. and Mrs. Paul L. Moore and Daughters, 321 Union Apt. C, Newark, Ohio. Mailed out of Middlebourne, W.VA Dec 15 1947. ****The names on the card are Doll and Mary

Dear Elaine, Paul and Children

  I often think o you and wonder how you all are I imagine the girls are really growing up. Sure would like to see you, I suppose you will be coming back to Omaha for a visit one of these. Hope you are well & happy and that you have a very nice Xmas & prosperous New Year.

Love

 Aunt Emma

NOTE: This was a note written on a Christmas card addressed to Mr. & Mrs. Paul Moore & Girls, 321 Union St. Apt. C, Newark, Ohio. The return address is Mrs. A.G. Larsen, 2452 Ave E, Council Bluffs, Iowa postmarked Dec 16 1947.

***The names on the Emma & Arvin****

Dear Paul & Elaine:

Seems I never get you letters answered when we should. Yes we’ve talked of a trip to see you several times and one of these days we’ll make it. But I can’t promise when.

Lenny went squirrel and deer hunting too but had no luck.

How are the girls? Ours have had bad colds this month.

I spent last month in the hospital so seems everything had been so far behind including my Christmas mailing.

Tell Paul I try to get Lenny to write but all he’d do was sign the cards for me. At least that’s a help. We talk so much of you folks & wish we’d get together. If you have an opportunity do come down – or if your near here let us know & well drive over.

Love Margaret, Lenny & girls

NOTES: This was a letter mailed with a Christmas card. The card is signed with Margaret, Lenny, Lucky, Pattchs Edmond. The envelope is mailed to Mr.  & Mrs. Paul L. Moore, 321 Union Ave., Newark, Ohio on Dec. 18 1947. The return address on the back reads Mr.  & Mrs. Jas. L. Edmond, Box 233, Maxie, W. Va.

Blizzard on Thanksgiving

Okay I’ve shared some articles from genealogybank.com on politicians and families gathering for the Thanksgiving holiday. I thought the next interesting and easy articles for most of us to relate to is the weather during the holiday. We never know from one year to the next if we will face temperatures in the 60’s or rain, sleet and the dreaded snow or worse yet a “blizzard.” Some things might have changed over the years in how we celebrate the holiday but one thing is consistent and that’s the concern of the weather and travel. 

Worchester Daily Spy from Worcester, MA

November 28, 1889

A STORMY THANKSGIVING

THE WEATHER MAN PREDICTS

A BIG BLIZZARD.

THE APPEARANCE OF THE WEATHER MAP LIKE THAT OF A YEAR AGO LAST MARCH – LOSS OF LIFE ON THE LAKES. 

WASHINGTON, Nov. 27 – The following special bulletin has been issued by the signal office:

A general storm now prevails over the country east of the Mississippi, with gales on the Lakes and a cold wave advancing form the northwest, which will cover the Ohio valley tonight and Thursday.  The rain will turn to snow in western New York, western Pennsylvania, Ohio and Indiana tonight and Thursday, with decided prospects of interruption to telegraphic communication in these sectional and interference with railway travel. These conditions will probably move east ward Thursday, with possible increasing severity.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 27 – Midnight – The storm has remained nearly stationary, but has increased greatly in intensity, and the danger from the gales on the lakes will be much enhanced by the asvere character of the cold wave. Heavy gales will also prevail on the New England and Middle Atlantic coasts. The rain has already turned to snow in Indiana, and the change will progress much farther to the eastward during tonight and Thursday.

Lieut. Thompson, the indications officer at the signal service bureau, said tonight that the weather map resembles the conditions more closely than he has ever known before, that existing on the night preceding that great blizzard last March, a year ago. Out in Dakota the thermometer is already down 14* below zero, and he says that it will go away down, possibly 25* or more tonight. The rainstorm in the locality will stop the cold wave for a time, but after wards the people will have to look out. He things that will be little snow south as far as Washington, and that there may be heavy frost in the north and west.

 MINNEAPOLIS, Nov. 27. – A light fall of snow has been in progress during the day and still continues tonight. The weather is otherwise mild. A dispatch from Litchfield, Minn., says that a genuine blizzard set in there this morning. The snow has fallen to the depth of three inches, and is drifting badly. The weather is quite cold and disagreeable. Buffalo, Minn., reports a heavy storm this morning, which at 8 o’clock had reached a depth of six inches, when it changed into rain and sleet.

TORONTO, Nov. 27 – The gale form the southeast that has raged all day is creating sad havoc to shipping on the lake and along the water front. A very heavy sea is rolling and the breakers are the highest ever known to the oldest lake mariners. A dispatch received here tonight form Port Credit says the schooner. Attandal is ashore near there and that several lives have been lost.

CANAJOHARIE, N.Y., Nov. 27. – The Mohawk valley is several inches under snow tonight with prospects of a fair sleighing for Thanksgiving. 

Anaconda Standard from Anaconda, MT

November 14, 1901

FOR THANKSGIVING DAY

CITIZENS ARE PREPARING ALL MANNER OF AMUSEMENTS

PLENTY OF SNOW WANTED

School Children Will Have Their Regular ?? – Athletes Arranging for a Football Game – Other Things.

Thanksgiving day is rapidly approaching and already preparations are being made for its observance. No matter what other important events claim their attention, citizens always find time to plan amusements for the day. The boys and girls are anticipating some of the pleasures in store for them while their older brothers and sisters are equally enthused at the prospects of Thanksgiving football games and dances. There is one feature of an Anaconda Thanksgiving that causes some exaltation in preparing for the various amusements. No one can be sure as to the kind of weather that will prevail. Cold, gray, skies, and just enough snow to make it feel wintery is the ideal weather prescribed for the day, and while such conditions have been known to exist on Thanksgiving day hereabouts it is just as likely to be warm as cold.

According to modern custom no Thanksgiving is complete without a football game. This custom has been followed in Aanaconda, the weather permitting, though one year, when winter refused to make its appearance until the time scheduled for spring, a game of baseball was substituted.

The school children will not have a vacation on the day following Thanksgiving as former years. The school board decided that question some time ago In order to compensate the pupils for the loss of the extra day, most of the teachers in the public schools are preparing programs for the afternoon preceding Thanksgiving day. Naturally the story of the Pilgrims, their trials and tribulations will form the principal features of the programmers. In the High school an entertainment of some length will be given. What the exact nature of it will be has not been announced, but those who are preparing it promise to present something out of the ordinary. The athletes are hoping that the day will be cold enough to warrant a football game, while the bowlers are of the opinion that several excellent contests can ?? Market men are also preparing and orders for hundreds of turkeys have already been sent in. There will be no lack of dancing parties and the like and the young folks need have no fear that the day will be an uninteresting one. The charity organizations are making arraignments to distribute turkeys so that no person in the city will have to abstain from that dish on the 28^th. 

Political Figures During Thanksgiving

Politics and our political figures as sometimes discussed at family gatherings, have you ever thought about how they spend their Thanksgiving holiday. I pull a couple articles that were on the genealogybank.com website and thought you might find them interesting. 

New York Herald from New York, NY

November 27, 1884

MR. CLEVLAND’S THANKSGIVING

THE PRESIDENT ELECT TO DINE AT HOME WITH

HIS FAMILY FRIENDS.

[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD]

ALBANY, Nov. 26, 1884. – President-elect Cleveland will dine quietly tomorrow at the Executive Mansion with his relatives, Mr. and Mrs. Hoyt, Miss R. E. Cleveland and Rev. William N. Cleveland and wife. Mr. and Mrs. L.G. Yeomans, of Wairath, will also be present. It is anticipated that the President elect will be entirely free from the intrusion of visitors during the day, so that he can fully enjoy the Thanksgiving festival surrounded by those who are nearest and dearest to him in a family sense. The Governor’s friends are evidently somewhat annoyed at the ridiculous stories sent out by sensational writers as to political conferences and bargains, for which there is not the slightest foundation. The Governor himself pays no attention to these matters. It is thoroughly understood that he will have as little “fuss and parade” as possible over his inauguration. He has not engaged rooms at any hotel, either in Washington or Buffalo.  Such stories may have been circulated by some of the proprietors of those establishments for advertising purposes.

Among the visitors to the Executive Chamber today were Mr. William C. Waitney and ex-Congressman Lockwood, of Buffalo, and Assemblymen Haggerty and Roesch, of New York.

Patriot from Harrisburg, PA

November 25, 1892

A QUIET THANKSGIVING

DAY AT THE WHITE HOUSE

Reunion of the Harriosn Family With a Vacant Seat at the Dinner Table

THE PRESIDENT ATTENDS CHURCH

HOW MEMBERS OF THE CABINET SPENT THE DAY.

Postmaster General Wanamaker and His Family at the Country Residence Near Philadelphia – Reunion of the Family of Secretary of State Foster – The Departments Closed.

By Exclusive Wires to THE PATRIOT

WASHINGTON, Nov. 24 – The day set apart by presidential proclamation for national thanksgiving was bright, clear and cold in Washington. All of the government departments were closed and while some of the business houses were open at least for a part of the day, on the whole there was a holiday spirit noticeable everywhere. The day was quietly observed at the White House by a reunion of the president’s family. There was a vacant seat at the dinner table, which gave an unusual sadness to the occasion. There were present, the president, Mrs. McKee, Mr. and Mrs. Russell Harrison, Mrs. Dimmick, Lieutenant and Mrs. Parker, Rev. Dr. Scott and the president’s three grandchildren.

The principal dish was a fine large turkey, the special gift of the Rhode Island farmer, who makes it a practice to send the chief executive each Thanksgiving day, the largest and best turkey he can procure in New England. The president accompanied by Mrs. McKee and Mrs. Dimmick attended divine service at the Church of the Covenant in the morning.

Vice President Morton spent the day quietly at his beautiful home on Rhode Island avenue, surrounded by his immediate family. Secretary of State Foster went to church in the morning and had a family reunion in the afternoon.  

Secretary and Mrs. Elkins ate Thanksgiving dinner at their home in Elkins, W. Va. Secretary and Mrs. Noble, together with the Misses Halstead, sat down to a quiet Thanksgiving dinner at their residence on K street. Attorney General Miller and Mrs. Miller observed the occasion in a general homelike way. Miss Miller and Miss Jessie Miller were home from boarding school and Samuel Miller and his young wife were also present.

Secretary Tracey with Mr. and Mrs. Wilmerding and his son, Frank Tracey, spent the day quietly at the family residence on K street. Postmaster General and Mrs. Wanamaker and their family passed the day at their family passed the day at their country residence near Philadelphia. Secretary and Mrs. Rusk spent their fourth Thanksgiving at their residence on Massachusetts avenue. 

Dallas Morning News from Dallas, TX

November 26, 1976

Ford family meets for Thanksgiving

CAMP DAVID, Md. (AP) – President Ford gathered with his family for a turkey dinner Thursday, watched pro football games on television and went swimming in the heated outdoor pool at snow-flecked Camp David.

Aids said the President brought along “a lot of paperwork” and planned lengthy budget meetings Friday and Saturday with seven of his key advisers during a 4-day stay here.

But, he spent a relaxed Thanksgiving Day with 15 members of his family, relatives and friends at this presidential retreat in Maryland’s Catoctin Mountains.

The Ford family turkey dinner with eggnog pie for dessert was scheduled for 5:30 p.m. to allow for watching the afternoon football games on television.

Sleeping later than usual, the President got in his exercise laps in the heated outdoor pool before breakfast, despite temperatures hovering near freezing.

Asst. Press Secretary Margaret Earl reported that the President put in a Thanksgiving morning telephone call to convey holiday greeting to members of his high school football team in Grand Rapids, Mich., who hold an annual reunion on Thanksgiving Day.

During his first year in office in 1974, Ford held a Thanksgiving Day brunch at the White House for members of the “30-30” Club,” the Grand Rapids high school team he led as captain to an unbeaten season and the state championship in 1930.

This time, he called team member Arthur G. Brown in Grand Rapids to wish all his old buddies a happy Thanksgiving.

Mrs. Ford had recovered from a slight fever and what was described Tuesday as a 24-hour virus, in time to be hostess for the family gathering. 

Thanksgiving from Mount Vernon to Vermont

Yesterday I shared some articles of prisoners that celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday and the extent that some take to spend time with family. These articles today were also found on the genealogybank.com website. What’s so nice about articles like these, they list many of the families who celebrated the Thanksgiving holiday and those who attended.  

Bellingham Herald from Bellingham, WA

November 29, 1917

SKAGIT PEOPLE ENJOY TURKEY DINNERS

Hoover Menu Combined With Celebration of

Thanksgiving Day – Many Family Reunion Parties at Mount Vernon. 

(Special to The Herald)

MOUNT VERNON, Nov. 29 – Wile adhering strictly to a “Hoover” menu, dinners in celebration of Thanksgiving in Mount Vernon will be as numerous today as on this day a year ago. Family reunion house parties are also enjoying annual turkey festival is every portion of the city.

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas K Chambers will be hosts of a 2 o’clock Thanksgiving dinner at which the following will be guests: Mrs. M. S. Frizelle and her sister, Mrs. C. H. Mason, of Leathenworth, Wash; Mr. and Mrs. John Meehan and the Chambers children. Plates will be laid for sixteen at a dinner given today by Mr. and Mrs. J. E. Shrauger, in their home on South Third street.

Another Third street dinner, of which Dr. and Mrs. Henry D. Brown will be the hosts, will have the following as guests: Mrs. E. C. Van Houten and Miss Greta Banes, of Seattle; Madame John Woodcock, of Chicago, mother of Mrs. C.P. Woodcock; Mr. and Mrs. C. P. Woodcodk, Master William Woodcock, Miss Jane Freedlander, Mr. and Mrs. H. S. Ruley and Mrs. Ruley’s mother, Mrs. Parker.

Mr. and Mrs. Harry Hammer and children and Mr. and Mrs. Hiram Hammer, of Sedro-Woolley, were the dinner guest of Mr. and Mrs. N. J. Moldated at dinner today.

The following families gathered at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Guy Clark for an elaborate 2 o’clock dinner; Mr. and Mrs. Leedam, Mr. and Mrs. E.S. Hayes, Mr. and Mrs. C. J. Henderson, little Katherine Kenderson, Mr. and Mrs. Clark, Miss Ruth Bell, Dr. Sweet and little Grayce Clark. After dinner the company enjoyed an hour or so at bridge then motored to Clear Lake for the dancing party in the evening.

Mr. and Mrs. N. McCullough, of Seattle, arrived here yesterday to spend Thanksgiving with Mr. and Mrs. William Esary at their county home near Samish, Mrs. McCullough is Mrs. Esary’s mother.

Mr. and Mrs. Frank Hall’s dinner guests for turkey dinner were: Mr. and Mrs. Arden Hall Sr. and children, Mrs. J. P. Bush, of Seattle; Miss Hazel Hall, John Hall, of Avon, and little Virginia Hall.

Mrs. Mary Gill and Mrs. Opal Johnson gave a Thanksgiving dinner in honor of Mrs. Gill’s parents from Roseburg, Ore., at which plates were laid for sixteen.

Mr. and Mrs. William Rafter left this morning for Seattle, where they will spend Thanksgiving  day with relatives and friends.

Miss Katherine Ornes, Fredrick Ornes and Madame Ornes were the house guests of the Currier family, at LaConner, for over Thanksgiving day.

Mr. and Mrs. G. B. Pace presided at a family reunion dinner at which Mr. and Mrs. J. K. Hannay, of Edison; John Hannay, of the same city, and Mr. and Mrs. N. B. Hannay were guests.

One of the more elaborate dinners give in in this community today was one of which Mr. and Mrs. Rodney Vashaw were the hosts in their home just south of town. A great turkey graced the table at which there were twelve guests.

Dr. and Mrs. Edward Howley has as guests Dr. Howley’s mother, Mr. Barbara Howley, and Miss Genevieve Carr, both of Seattle.

Mr. and Mrs. Mariln Running’s home also was the scene of a large family reunion gathering including Mr. and Mrs. Arthur erriott, of Seattle, and Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Running.

Mr. and Mrs. James Hulbert, Jr., left last evening for Seattle, where they will spend the day as the guest of Mr. and Mrs. A. E. Drake, of that city.

Interest of many in this city is centered in the wedding at LaConner today of Miss Evelyn Packard, formerly of this city, to Dr. Ernest Morgan Jones, of Edmonds. Dr. Jones will begin practicing dentistry in Mount Vernon within a few weeks, Miss Packard is the talented daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W. S. Packard, of LaConner, and the wedding took place in the home of the bride’s parents. Only immediate relatives of the two families were present at the ceremony, which was performed by the groom’s father, Rev. Mr. Jones.

Mrs. Minerva Brickey, of Seattle, mother of Mr. W. J. Brickey, and Rev. Noftsinger and his family were the dinner guests today of Mr. and Mrs. W. L. Brickey.

Mr. and Mrs. A. Gunderson has as dinner guests today at a Thanksgiving dinner Miss Nellie Lee and Peter Lee, of Cedardale; Mr. and Mrs. A. Lillemann, Henry Lillemann and the children of the late Ole Gunderson.

Mr. and Mrs. Albert Polson, of Stanwood, came up for a day’s visit with Mr. Polson’s mother, Mrs.  Nela Polson.

Mrs. M. P. Hard gave an informal Thanksgiving dinner in her home on Vernon Heights, at which Mr. Albert Luth, of Kennewick, Wash., was an out-of-town guest.

Sheriff and Mrs. Charles Stevenson entertained the following as dinner guests today; Mr. and Mrs.  A.  ? Sears. Miss Irene Sears, Miss Nelle Pickering and Mrs. Pickering.

In the country home of Mr. and Mrs. E. E. Burns the following enjoyed a sumptuous dinner; Mrs. Hadfield, Mrs. Gilbert Hadfield, Misses Carrie and Belle Hadfield, Mr. and Mrs. Peter Meeks, Mr. and Mrs. Gust Pope, Peter Downey and Arthur Downey.

At a dinner given in the headquarters of camp of the English Logging Company today 125 single men were seated at an elaborate turkey feast. Sixty turkeys were given to the married men of the two camps south of town.

St. Albans Daily Messenger from St. Albans, VT

December 1, 1900

MARVIN FAMILY REUNION

Seventeenth Annual Meeting Thanksgiving Day – Twenty-nine Present.

Mr. and Mrs. Lorenzo D. Marvin respectively 80 and 78 years of age, held their seventeenth annual reunion and Thanksgiving at the residence of Mr. and Mrs. O. W. Campbell, No 13 England St., Thursday. In 1883, when the first family reunion was held the immediate family consisted of only 21 members now it numbers 47. Of this number only 29 were able to be present. A most elaborate Thanksgiving dinner was served, which was thoroughly enjoyed by all. 

As this family enjoys the characteristic of being musical to a member no small part of the day was given up to music. A light supper was served at 6 o’clock and several flashlight photographs were taken of the part while seated at one long table.

During these 17 years since the first reunion this family has been called upon to mourn the death of but a single member, that of George W. Beeman, of Swanton. 

Thanksgivings Past

Last month I found myself going through the many newspapers on geneagloybank.com searching for articles of the past relating to the Halloween holiday.  I was curious about the type of articles that were written for Thanksgiving and I was pleasantly surprised. I know Thanksgiving is only days away and I thought you might enjoy reading some of these articles about Thanksgiving past. There is a wide range of articles that I found, including the importance of family, tradition and how far a family member will go for warm and love.

These first few articles you might find a little on the strange side for Thanksgiving. But even those who are in prison think of the holiday’s they realize things continue even without them.   The one about the mother who wants only warmth for her family during the holidays, she was willing to steal it.  

Patriot from Harrisburg, PA

December 1, 1902

Forger Broke Jail to Spend Thanksgiving

With Parents Brought Back by Father

By Associated Press to The Patriot. 

LOCKPORT, N. Y., Nov. 30 – C. Braithewaite, sentenced to the county jail for forgery under the name of John Daley, who broke jail Thanksgiving night, by sawing out a bar and sliding down a rope made of blankets, surprised the prison officials by returning late last night. When Jailer Foley asked: “Who’s there,” a familiar voice replied: “Daley, I’ve come back to stay with you my allotted time. Will you let me in?” Young Braithewaite, who was accompanied by his father, said he could not resist the longing to go to his family in Toronto on Thanksgiving evening. He says his father persuaded him to return and serve out his time to avoid having two crimes hanging over him all his life. Father and son bade each other an affectionate farewell. 

New York Herald from New York, NY

December 11, 1895

THANKSGIVING PRISON RELEASE

[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD

VICTORIA, B.C., Dec 10, 1895 – Advices from Honolulu this morning, per steamer Warimoo, dated December 2, state that on Thanksgiving Day that government released seven political prisoners, five natives and two whites, Walker and Rickard. Those remaining in prison are Gulick, Seward, Bowler, Bob Wilcox, Bipekane and John Wise. Public sentiment appears to favor an early release of all. Thanksgiving morning witnessed the largest and best drilled military display ever seen in Honolulu. Over 500 volunteers paraded.  

Jackson Citizen Patriot from Jackson, MI

November 25, 1898

Thanksgiving at the Prison.

The convicts at the prison were given a holiday and were given the freedom of the wings in the main building from 8 o’clock a.m. until 10 a.m., and the halls presented a busy scene during those hours. Men were hurrying here and there in search of friends or acquaintances, on pleasure of business bent. Gathered about in little groups were men earnestly engaged in the discussion on many topics, not least among them being the contract labor question; here some fellow, with a little group gathered around him, was relating some tale of past adventure; here one of the dusky sons of Africa was amusing his auditors by singing some popular ditty or showing them a new and fancy step in dancing. The men engaged in the manufacture of pearl and onyx jewelry and of many other toys were busy showing their goods and selling to who they could gifts for friends at the coming holiday season, and were seemingly good-natured, cheerful crowd, with a smile and cheery word, no matter how the heart might ache beneath that coat of gray, as thoughts of other days, home and loved ones come crowding o’er them. At 10:30 a.m. a service was held in the chapel, the Rev. Dr. Master preaching the sermon. Taking for his subject, The hand of God in all things and gave a clear, logical argument for his belief in a direct providence. The music was furnished by the prison choir. At the conclusion of the chapel exercises the men repaired to the dining room where a dinner consisting of mashed potatoes, green peas, roast chicken, bread, cakes, mince pie and coffee was awaiting them, and to which all done ample justice; then back to the cells, and stillness once more settled down over the big prison, broken only by the footsteps of the officers on duty. Thanksgiving day, 1898, has gone into the past, and the inmates of Jackson prison are grateful for the privileges enjoyed.

X.

New York Herald from New York, NY

November 30, 1893

SHE WANTED A THANKSGIVING FIRE.

Her Family Had No Turkey so She Stole a Bushel of Coal.

Victoria Pallianno, sixty years old of 150^th street and Morris ave, was held in $100 bail for trial yesterday in the Morrisania Police Court on the charge of stealing a bushel of coal form Grocery-man George F. Mervin, of 158^th street and Vanderbilt avenues. She was arrested while carrying the coal away.

She told Justice Taintor that the family was without coal and had no money to buy it and she wanted to have a fire Thanksgiving day, even though she couldn’t have turkey for dinner.

A visit to Odessa, Delaware

Wow, what can I say except I’ve been a little on the busy side with the passing holiday, yes I do consider Halloween a holiday, plus we had a great visit with my parents. Now I’m looking ahead to the coming holidays of Thanksgiving and Christmas. As I’m sure most of you are thinking about the great smell of pumpkin pies, turkey, stuffing and I must not forget the traditional green been casserole. But hold on I need to back up some, back up to the visit with my parents.

After they completed a surprise make over for my daughter’s bedroom, which I might add we LOVE. We were trying to figure out what to do the next day. We haven’t been here long enough to know the “neat” places to go, except the mall. After driving them around and showing them the schools, some shops downtown and yes I did point out a cemetery. Then a light bulb went off, I remembered a brief drive that my husband and I took to a really interesting town, Odessa. So I decided to head that way and experience some of the sites with my parents. I’m so glad that we went, there was so much to see, hear and learn, plus I must mention the food at the local tavern was wonderful.

Cantwell’s Tavern is located in the Historic Brick Hotel, on the end of Main Street just before you cross the Appoquinimink Creek. Such a wonderful piece of history this tavern holds for those in Odessa. Of course I had so many questions that had to be answered, just like a kid in a candy store. The staff is very well educated on the some of the history of the town and the tavern itself. It was built in 1822 by William Polk who knew the location of the hotel and tavern would welcome many visitors that traveled by water or land.  

After enjoying a perfectly timed lunch at the tavern we took a home tour with the Historic Odessa Society. They were in the process of setting up the displays and decorating the homes for the upcoming “Christmas in Odessa” that will be taking place on the 6^th of December so we got a quick peek at some decorations.  We started out at The Bank of Odessa it was built as the First National Bank of Odessa in 1855 and now serves as the visitor’s center for the Historic Odessa Foundation.  

The first home we were shown was one with character, history and even some mystery. The Collins-Sharp House is one home that has traveled from one location to another. A log home that dates back to 1700’s and is one of Delaware’s oldest residences. After an informative tour it was time to step back out in to that chilly breeze and visit the Corbit-Sharp house. This home is located on Main Street across from the Cantwell’s Tavern. The home currently serves as a museum and is owned by the Historic Houses of Odessa. Built in 1774 by William Corbit, he was a very well-known and established citizen in the community. It was later taken over by the Sharp family in the late 1930’s.

Unfortunately our tour had to stop short of visiting the Wilson-Warner House, but no worries I plan on making another visit to the Odessa community and picking up where we left off. It never ceases to amaze me the amount of history that can be found when you venture out into some of these towns. I believe I have also found a new interest in my work of genealogy and research. The homes and business you enter have a unique kind of history themselves. If the walls could talk, the stories they could tell you about the family’s that lived there and all of their history.

I know the descriptions of these homes might seem brief and that’s for a good reason. I hope to share more information along with photographs, about these homes, the families who lived in the homes and hopefully some additional homes in the Odessa area. 

Wordless Wednesday

Ghost Detector from Society for Physical Research

As many of you know “ghost hunters,” “spirit investigators” and “spook hunters” have been around for many years. Little did I know that there was a society out of London focused heading most of these investigations. This article was found on GenealgoyBank.com and was from the Trenton Evening Times paper out of Trenton, New Jersey and appeared in November of 1906. There are many names mentioned in this article and some might surprise you. 

“SPOOK” HUNTERS

WELL PAID WORKERS

They Verify Ghost Stories and

 Run Down Visitors from

Spiritland

Chicago, Ill. Nov. 23. –Surely one of the most unusual businesses is that of a ghost detector. There are hundreds of them scattered thoughtout the world. There are a few in Chicago and all of them, both in this country and abroad, work under the direction and for the power and glory of an association in England that is backed by some of the most conservative and best known scientists and thinkers in the United Kingdom.

A ghost detector is an investigator for the Society for Physical Research, which was founded in London in 1882. The society, which already has published twenty-on  octavo volumes of proceedings, in addition to bales and bales of records of investigations made by the ghost detectors, has had as its presidents men like the Rt. Hon. O.J. Balfour, late Prime Minister of England; Professor William James, the noted psychologist of Harvard University, and brother of the mystical Henry James; Sir William Crookes, of Crookes tube fame and Professor Henry Sidgwick, a philosopher, whose book, “The Method of Ethics,” is a standard.

Now, these men are not to be fooled by the ordinary or garden variety of ghost story. A ghost story has to be well ballasted and well buttressed to receive credence at their hands, and it is to sift the wheat from the chaff, to throw the bad ghost stories into the discard and place the real, genuine ones in the best possible light that there is in existence a class of workers whose work deals not with men of flesh and blood and has little to do with material tangible things.

LARGE SUMS EXPENDED

It is the business of these investigators to run down every case of apparition,  ghost walking, presentiment, materialization, ghost photographs, telepathy and the like that they hear of. Expenses is no object. Each investigation costs money, but influenced by a sincere desire to get to the bottom of every story of the other world and it knows that such inquiries cost money.  One of the men who has contributed liberally to the work of the society is Andrew Lang, the champion two-handed author of the world who writes as much in England as the Rev. Cyrus Townsend Brady does in this country.

Every time that the officials of the Society for Physical Research hear of any extraordinary ghost story or other story that has to do with the supernatural they dispatch an investigator –a ghost detector – to the scene. It is difficult to deceive this personage. He has read about all there is to read of ghost lore. He enjoys the personal acquaintance of many persons who have seen ghosts or who have thought that they have seen them. He knows mediums, trance artists, materialists, hypnotists and other artists in spiritualism and its kindred pursuits, and what he doesn’t know about the inhabitants of the spirit would isn’t worth knowing.

He investigates. It doesn’t make any difference how long it takes him. Neither time nor money is considered when the cause of truth is at stake. He stays on the ground until he has gathered every bit of available evidence, until he has interviewed everybody who by any chance might know anything about the case.

Then he prepares a long written report full of signed statements and circumstantial detail, and this he mails back to London. It is gone over by other experts and if there is anything in it worthy of preservation in the archives of the society it is filed away along with the reports made by the hundreds of other investigators.

Spirit Warns of Attack

Another article found while searching on GenealogyBank.com that appeared in the Patriot out of Harrisburg, PA on the 3^rd of August in 1917. We have all heard of the evil behind the Ouija boards but it seems these ladies have a different story about a message they received. Mrs. Martha Place and her daughter, who lived in Evansville, Indiana, received a warning about some neighbors, the Moxley’s. 

Get a Ghost as Body Guard;

Spirit Warns of Attack

Evansville, Ind. Aug 2 – HIRE A GHOST TO WARN YOU OF DANGER AND GUARD YOU FROM INJUAY!

  A spirit protector, speaking through the Ouija board, warned two Evansville women against a man’s attack. The intruder lay three feet away, under their bed, and listened to the alarm message he was powerless to prevent.

  THE EVANSVILLE GHOST EXPECTS TO PROVE HIS EXISTENCE IN COURT OF LAW.  He will not remain a creature of hearsay, to be believed in or scoffed at according skeptical about the reality of the spirit world.

  And all Evansville asked this:

“What kind of a witness will a ghost make when the Ouija board puts in its first recorded appearance in court?”

  Mrs. Martha Place and her daughter Margaret, 811 John street, lonely took up their Ouija board – to find they were not as much alone as they had thought.

“Look out for Nat and Barb” spelled the board.

  A breeze blew back the curtains of the bedroom where the women sat. “It’s a little cooler,” said Mrs. Place to her daughter.

The curtains, as they billowed in, touched the bed beneath which lay the man. He held him break as he heard the ghost messenger warn the two women against him.

  “Is this Henry? Mrs. Place asked the board.

  “Yes!” Look out for Nat and Barb!” repeated the board.

  Henry is a son of Mrs. Place, electrocuted 10 years ago.

  “I have told you before, Henry”, said Mrs. Place, shaking a reproving finger at the tripod which had spelled out the warning message by darting from one letter of the alphabet to another, “no to talk that way about the Moxleys.” Nathaniel and Barbara Moxley living across the street, were the “Nat and Barb”, of the ghostly warning.

  The board would say nothing further, except repetitions of its ghostly alarm.

  The two women put the board away and went to bed.

  Mrs. Place heard a noise, like a scratching on the matting under the bed. It was the cat, she and her daughter thought.

Again Mrs. Place heard the noise. It was not the cat. She leaped form the bed ran into the kitchen for a match. There was the sound of a body falling.

  “I ran back toward the bedroom,” Mrs. Place told the police later. “A man dashed past me through the kitchen into the garden. I followed. It was Nathaniel Moxley.

  “We found paper on the floor. He must have dropped it crawling from beneath the bed. It was a summons to Nathaniel Moxley to appear in court as witness in a divorce case. We gave it to the police. They arrested him.

  “When everything was quiet we took out the Ouija board again.

  “I told you to look out for Nat and Barb.” Henry spelled. And there the man was under the bed within reach, while we were warned.

  Nathaniel Moxley has been bound over to the grand jury.

  If the Ouija board is asked to be exhibited in the grand jury room a new era in court procedure will be ushered in.

  The cross examination of a ghost is a judicial novelty. 

Pig Knuckles and Ghost Dog

This is the first one that I’m sharing that has a ghost dog mentioned, so still fitting with the season I felt that I must share. This one was found just like the other Halloween related articles that I’ve been sharing this month. This one appeared in the Plain Dealer out of Cleveland, Ohio in March of 1911.

CAN TIED TO TAIL SCARES GHOST DOG

Apparition Comes Back for Pigs Knuckles and is

so Real That Family Cat’s Tail Grows to

Twice its Natural Size.

     It may not be believed generally, but Joseph Henn, who conducts a café at 1746 Payne-ave N.E., says it’s true, and Alvador Leon, a wine salesman for the Swiss Colony Wine Co., says it’s true and John Warner a contractor at 1423 E. 2d-st, says it’s true, that night before last a ghost dog or a dog ghost was seen in Henn’s place between midnight and 1 a.m.

     The dog was recognized by Henn as one he owned for seven years. Three years ago the dog was killed by a Payne-av car and one of the most inexplicable features of the strange case is that the dog ghost or ghost dog appeared on the one day when Henn had pigs knuckles for lunch. The dog in life was fond of pigs knuckles and this may or may not account for the apparitions.

The authorities given are agreed that the dog was seen plainly, distinctly and unmistakably, in the dim light of the saloon, just after Henn had turned out most of the lamps preparatory to closing the place for the morning. They are also agreed that the dog stood still and wagged his tail until Leon suggested that as a tost of the ghost dog’s being that a material can be tied to his ghostly tail. Then the dog just faded into the atmosphere.

     The 15-cent size can that was to have been tied to the tail of the ghostly dog set on the bar for some minutes, when Henn’s cat – a real live cat and not a ghost cat – returned form a visit to a neighbor’s cat and meowed to get in.

     It was admitted and the can was removed for the bar. Then, suddenly, the ghost dog or dog ghost reappeared. The cat must have seen it, too, because the material t tail of the material cat grew materially larger and the cat arched its back and when one very large yowl the cat leaped to the top of the back bar and the ghost dog making no sound stood looking up at it and wagging its ghostly tail. Leon kicked at the ghost dog but his foot went through the space. The authorities, above quoted, say the dog just faded. Henn remonstrated with Leon for kicking his ghost dog.

     The four witnesses to the two appearances of the ghost dog are certain that they saw it and that the above are the facts of the case with the exception of one detail. That detail is that Leon was talking about his mother who has been dead ten years and who always liked dogs. Leon says his mother’s name was Labrada and that she died in Madrid.

     “I recognized the ghost dog, immediately,” said Henn. “It was named Fido in life, but since it has appeared in ghostly form I have changed its name to Banquo. I don’t think that Leon did the right thing trying to kick it and tie a can to its tail. I am going to have pigs knuckles for lunch tomorrow and see if I can coax the ghost back. If the ghost reappears he will be welcome. He will be treated right and will always have a home. He was a good dog in life and was my friend and I believe his appearing is a harbinger of good luck.”

Well fed apparition chasing Brookfiled's youth

A ghost from Brookfield and West Brookfield seems to be popping up out of the ground and scaring many of the citizens, including school age children. This happens to be another article found on the GenealogyBank.com website. It appeared in the Boston Journal out of Boston, MA in May of 1904. 

GHOST FRIGHTENS BROOKFIELD CHASES SCHOOL GIRLS AND BOYS

SHADE APPARENTLY OF FEMININE GENDER

Well fed, Almost fat, Apparition Pops Out of the Ground, 

Says Creepy Things and Fades From View.

BROOKFIELD’S GHOST

Short and rather stout.

Garbed in filmy white.

Utters terrible sounds.

Chases people with outstretched arms.

Appears and disappears as a magic.

Has thrown the citizens into a state of terror.

Is being nightly searched for by the police and citizens.

Brookfield, May 3 – An unearthly looking, blood chilling ghost has been chasing a number of Brookfield and West Brookfield people until  many in this community have been thrown into a state of terror and the citizens, headed by the police, have been out hunting for this ghost several nights.

The ghost appears to be a short, rather stout woman, garbed in filmy white, with unearthly features, who has followed several people along Brookfield streets with outstretched arms, uttering terrible sounds, only to vanish a mysteriously as she or “it” appeared.

Popped Out of the Ground.

Two nights ago a part of girls form this town and West Brookfield meet the ghost at the corner of Central and River streets. They were walking up Central street when the apparition seemed to rise form the ground in front of them and with outstretched arms and hideous face glided swiftly toward them.

With shrieks of terror the girls turned and fled down Central street retracing their tracks. A crowd about the post office heard their terrified cries and ran to meet them. The girls were hysterical and it was several minutes before they could tell their story. They said the ghost glided after them full 100 yards and then at the corner of River street. Disappeared as though swallowed up by the earth. This was about 8:30.

Chased by Woman in White.

Patrolman E.R. Irwin, club in hand headed the band of citizens who went to search for the ghost. The girls were so frightened they had to be taken to their homes. Nearly an hour later, while the citizens were still searching for the ghost, they met Thomas McNamara, a High School student, running down Main street. He was very white and badly frightened. He had not heard of the girls meeting the ghost, but told of being chased by a “woman in white” and his description tallied exactly with that given by the girls.

Since then several others have shown every sign of fear and insisted that they saw the same ghost. Last night the citizens were out searching for the ghost and they went out again tonight. No one can bring to mind any person lately deceased or deceased with in their memory, who tallies with this description everyone is wondering why this gruesome looking ghost should haunt quiet Brookfield.

The Ghost of Willie Fort

With only a few more days left till the night of fear, Halloween, I thought I would continue to share the rest of the articles. This one and was found on  This one was also on  GenealogyBank.com  it appeared in the Charlotte Observer out of Charlotte, North Carolina in June of 1922. This might be of special interest if you’re researching the surname Haley or Fort from the Forestville area of North Carolina. 

GHOST VISITS HOME OF WAKE COUNTY RESIDENT

Resident of Cemetery Pays

 Night Call to Mr. Haley and

 Relates His Troubles.

RALEIGH, June 3 – Persons living near Forestville, Wake county, 14 miles north of Raleigh are considerably aroused by a ghost who makes nightly visits and tells his troubles at the home of W. H. Haley, a well known farmer of that section, according to a story published here today Mr. Haley declares that spirit has called at his home every night for the past five months, and that he revealed himself as a man who died in that vicinity 14 years ago. More than a score of other persons have talked with the ghost, the newspaper asserts.

Mr. Haley declares the ghost first visited his home on the night of January 14 when he and the other members of his family were awakened by vigorous knocking at the front door. He got up and went to the door, but no one was there. For several nights thereafter, he declares, he was aroused by this strange rapping. Determined to catch the intruder, Mr. Haley secreted himself in the yard and it was there, he declares, that a voice spoke to him. He looked in every direction but could see nothing that looked like a man. The voice followed him into the house and since has been a regular caller.

Several nights ago, Mr. Haley says Willie Fort was invited voice to visit his grave in the Forestville cemetery. A number of young men of the neighborhood are said to have gone to the burying grounds in place of young Fort and the ghost failed to show up. One of the party went to the Haley house and demanded with an oath to speak with the ghost.  Deaf to the pleading of Mr. Haley not to speak thusly of the voice, the young man entered the house. The voice came and the question was asked if he would speak to the young man. The ghost replied very distinctively “Tell him to go to hell.” Mr. Haley declared.

His statement corroborated by members of his family and by others from the community who declare they heard it.   

Mr. Dorrity just wanted peace

No matter what Mr. Dorrity would say to the community members of Shreveport they had to see “it” for themselves. It being the “Little Girl Ghost” that would appear at night. This article appeared in the Times-Picayune out of New Orleans, LA in August of 1915. This is another example of an unexplained ghost that some were able to find a way to make some extra cash.

“LITTLE GIRL GHOST” AT SHREVEPORT

REFUSES TO CEASE APPEARING NIGHTLY

Shreveport, La., Aug. 13. –When is a ghost not a ghost? Mr. Brown M. Dorrity, insurance agent and fraternal order organizer, whose home is at the corner of Allen avenue and Logan street, Shreveport, could intelligently reply to this question, but the thousands of eager and insistent sight-seers who for nearly a week have nightly thronged the street in front of the Dorrity home, to catch a glimpse of the apparition of a young girl that stands on the Dorrity doorstep, have evidently no conception whatever of the meaning of the query.  

The “Dorrity ghost,” as it has come to be called, refuses to yield to any sort of pressure.  All sorts of schemes have been hatched for the laying of this mute noeturnal visitor, but the date all have failed. The ghost, or apparition, or wraith, or whatever it may be is in the form of a little girl, about nine years of age, wearing a “middy” blouse, white skirt, white hose and shoes.

EXPLANATION SIMPLE

Mr. Dorrity’s explanation of the figure is simple but the sightseers will not accept it. Her it is: The light form the street are shining through a window of a house diagonally across the street from the Dorrity home, strikes a mirror, and reflected back, silhouettes the form, of a little girl through some trees and vines outside of the Dorrity home.

The first discovery of the “ghost” was made several nights ago when two automobilists, passing the house, observed it. The auto broke down, and one of its occupants relieved his feelings with a sting of voluble oaths. His companion admonished him not to talk so loud, “as there was a little girl standing on the gallery.”

It was midnight and voluble autoist wondered what the little girl was doing there at that hour. He talked to her gently, but firmly, but the girl not only did not respond, but faded from view when the autoists approached her. Somehow, the auto was fixed in a hurry and the autoists speeded to town and spread the news.

THOUSANDS ATTRACTED

The following night several hundred persons visited the corner and saw the ghost. The next night there were several thousand and the police had to be sent for to keep the crowd within restraints. In spite of the frantic efforts of Mr. Dorrity to stem the tide of humanity that nightly wends its way to the vicinity of his home, it has increased nightly, Thursday night nearly three thousand persons are said to have visited the spot.

Auto parties are organized for the purpose of “seeing the ghost.” Enterprising jitney drivers have advertised apparition in the Shreveport papers, offering to take sightseers to the place at so much per head. One auto liveryman offered, in an advertisement, $20 in gold for the best solution of the “ghost mystery.”

The infection has spread to cities surrounding Shreveport. Out-of –town parties come here for no other purpose than to take a peep at the girl-wraith.

SPECIAL BEING PLANNED

The interest at Texarkana is so strong, that some moneymaking genius is arraigning a special excursion to Shreveport in order that Texarkanians may have an opportunity to see the figure of the girl at reduced rates.

Meanwhile, Mr. Dorrity is literally “pawing the air.” He knows it isn’t a ghost, but the sightseers don’t and while they remain unconvinced, he must suffer.

The strangest part of the story remains to be told. The branches of the trees in front of the Dorrity home were cut; Mr. Dorrity appealed to the Mayor of Shreveport and that functionary ordered the arc light at the corner extinguished; boards were nailed up on the Dorrity gallery to conceal the vision; a wire gallery –but the girl remains. She was seen Thursday night, as plainly as she had ever been. Mr. Dorrity tried turning the garden hose on the most insistent of the spectators, but he hasn’t succeeded in lessening the human tide at that particular corner.

BELIEVED TO BE STRANGER

If it is a ghost, whose is it? A story was circulated that some years ago a little girl touched the electrical apparatus of an inventor at that particular corner and was electrocuted Investigation, however, revealed the fact that if the incident occurred at all, it was in an entirely different part of Shreveport. No little girl ever died on the corner, so if the ghost is a ghost, it is a stranger in those parts.

Shreveport has rarely been shaken as this ghost, or alleged ghost, has shaken it. Nobody, strange to say, is afraid of it, but everybody wants to see it. Perhaps it is the light. Perhaps it isn’t. At any rate, Friday the thirteenth, is a good day for a ghost story.