Find A Grave Website

I recently became a member of Findagrave.com.  Some of it was because I had pictures of my family families headstones and wanted to share.  I know how difficult it is for us when we are not near ancestors burial grounds.  Sometimes we would like to see where they are buried.  I signed up to take photos at my local cemeteries.  The requests have been pouring in.  The only problem is I signed up at the wrong time.  I live in Central New York and we get several FEET of snow every winter.  We have our first storm come through yesterday and received almost 2 feet.  Many of the cemeteries do not plow or make path ways through the snow for people to visit.  Also if they have a small ground stone or just a little thing it is more than likely buried.  I feel bad as many of these requests will have to wait until the snow melts. 

And this is why we have long metal flags on our fire hydrants.  LOL  I am nice enough to dig the one in my yard out so that it is accessible in case of an emergency.  Not everyone is so nice.  Oh well. 

As much as I appreciate the while Christmas I am always thankful when the it melts and spring arrives.  My children seem to love the snow more though.  Probably because its cold, there are no bugs and you can do more with snow. 

The new year is almost here.  I hope everyone had a great 2012 and will have an even better 2013. 

Old Photos

I have always loved photography.  I love when I am able to get my hands on old family photographs.  I have manged to collect a few over the years.  It is always nice to put a face with an ancestor. 

For example this picture above.  This is my great grandfather, William Henry Thomas, and great grandmother, Ella May (Giddings) Thomas.  There are 4 children in the photo but they are not really in the photo.  If you take a close look at it you will see that the children were suppose to be in another picture.  Maybe even two separate pictures.  If you take a really close look at the child in the middle you will see a boys face through the girl.  You can see the girl on the left end is sitting on something that isn't there and the you can see right through the girl on the right.  Of course I do not have the negative for this photo but I would have to guess either something happened while taking the photos or it was not developed correctly.  But still a facinating photo.  It is labeled with names, including 3 of the 4 kids and it states where is was taken.  At a lake in Brewster NY in either 1918 or 1919.

 

 



This is another one of my favorite photos.  This is my husbands great grandfather Joseph Michael Schneider.  He is taking a ride on his horse drawn fire truck.  See people always watch where the fire truck is going.  This is taken in Sandusky, Ohio.

 

 

So I would love to hear from others.  What do you think of these photos??  Do you have old photos??  What are your favorites??

Civil War Class

So my classes started this week.  I have 2 history classes.  The history of the Civil War and NY State History.  Yes I live in NY which why they offer this class, but apparently this is the first time they have offered this class.  Both classes meet 2 times a week for about an hour and half.  They are taught by the same teacher.  He is extremely passionate and awesome.  If you are interested in history, even a little, he will suck you right in.  I found that both classes are FULL.  This is my 2nd semester and I have not had a single class as full as these.  So that tells you a lot about his teaching.  Most of them he has had before.  The 2nd day of the Civil War class was not as full.  He did explain that if you don't want to work or don't want to learn then get out of the class because he is a Civil War geek. (his words).  He has every book written on the war and he does most of his research on the battle of Gettysburg.  After the 2nd class people were talking about leaving because they were getting grossed out by the discussion of blood, disease, and death.  Well it was a war.  

It is truly amazing experience and makes you wish that history classes were taught like that in high school.