Author Archives: Charles Hansen

Seattle Genealogical Society News

by Charles Hansen

“SHOW AND TELL” AT THE MEMBERSHIP MEETING

The theme for the SGS Membership Meeting coming up on June 3, is WWI, The Great War.  SGS President Jill Morelli will be giving a presentation on “The Great War and Its Stories: Jacob Schomber, Cpl., Co. I, 8th Artillery”. This will demonstrate step-by-step how she gathered information from online sources and sites for this soldier who lived in Issaquah. Record availability, record location, and building the story will all be covered.

SGS members are welcome to join in the “Show and Tell”. Please bring any WWI artifacts that belonged to your participating soldier to share with the group.

This should be a fun meeting. Hope to see you there, Saturday, June 3, 1:00-2:30 pm.

Remember it’s that time of year again and you can renew your membership or join Seattle Genealogical Society online at:
http://seattlegenealogicalsociety.org/content/join

REMINDER FOR OUR 2017 SGS SPRING SEMINAR!

Late registration is still available for the 2017 Spring Seminar, “Voices from the Past”, featuring Lisa Alzo, International Lecturer and freelance writer. It’s this Saturday, May 20, from 9am-4pm, at Fairview Christian Church, 844 NE 78th St, Seattle, WA 98115

For more information and online registration:
http://seattlegenealogicalsociety.org/2017-spring-seminar

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Puget Sound Genealogical Society May Meeting

by Charles Hansen

Puget Sound Genealogical Society
Saturday, May 27, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
at Kitsap Regional Library 1301 Sylvan Way, Bremerton
GRANPA WORKED FOR THE RAILROAD
with Janice Lovelace. Discover the history of railroad
companies, the types of jobs available and how to access
railroad records, including pensions.
Registration required; call (360) 475-9172
Jackie Horton, Publicity Chairperson

Tuesday Trivia

by Charles Hansen

Do we have tornadoes in Washington? And why so many in the U.S.??

Yes, we (unfortunately) do experience tornadoes in Washington….. KOMO news in Seattle caught the one on the right; one on left is from WSU in Pullman.

The Ask Marilyn column in Sunday’s Parade Magazine posed this question: Do we really have more tornadoes in the U.S. than around the world? The answer is YES. “The U.S. experiences an average of 1000 tornadoes yearly while Canada, which ranks second, gets only about 100. The rest of the world gets a total of about 200.” 

Why is that because? (The phrase I repeated endlessly as a 3-yr-old.) Marilyn didn’t say; do you know why? And do you think our ancestors would have so happily settled in the American Midwest if they really knew about tornadoes???

TriCity Genealogical Society May Meeting

by Charles Hansen

On Thursday, May 18th at 7:00 p.m. at the Richland Public Library, Mayumi Tsutakawa will give a presentation on Executive Order 9066 that sent 120,000 Japanese Americans to concentration camps during World War II. Mayumi will highlight her family’s 100 year old history against the backdrop of this dramatic American story. This event is free and is hosted by the Friends of the Richland Public Library. See the May 2017 edition of The Entertainer (page 8) for more information

Art

Monday’s Mystery

by Charles Hansen

AHA! I stumped you this week! The question was: “Where in Washington can you spot Bigfoot?” I know; I’ve seen him!

If you drive from Spokane to Omak or Okanogan, going through Coulee Dam and up through Nespelem and over Disautel Pass (3552′), and keep your eyes wide open, you will see him walking along a rocky bluff up above the road.  (This is my photo.) 

Certainly, he is not real. He is a Virgil “Smoker” Marchand’s sculpture  and looks to me to be about 12 feet tall. He’s totally awesome and quite visible. It certainly was exciting to me when I spotted him for the first time!

We will try again: Today’s Mystery:  What are hops, what are they used for, and where are they mostly grown in Washington? 

Puget Sound Genealogical Society May Meeting

by Charles Hansen

Puget Sound Genealogical Society
Wednesday, May 24, 1-2 p.m
at Kitsap Regional Library 1301 Sylvan Way, Bremerton
WORLD WAR II HEROES:
Telling Their Stories
with Mary Kircher Roddy. Learn how to find and
access multiple sources to uncover the experiences
of World War II heroes.
Everyone welcome and bring your own Hero’s information
 Mary Roddy
Jackie Horton, Publicity Chairperson

Serendipity Friday

by Charles Hansen

*** Washington State’s Scenic Road Trips

*** World War I Helped Shape Washington

*** Bird’s Eye Panoramic Maps

*** Outhouse Races in Conconully

Washington is blessed to have 29 officially designated National and State Scenic Byways….. perhaps your summer travels should include one of them?  You can request a FREE guide and FREE road map by calling 1-877-260-2731.  Taking a scenic byway won’t add much time to your journey but will add plenty of memories.

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Did you realize that World War I helped shape Washington into the state it is today? According to Lorraine McConaghy, a historian for this topic, said that “expanding shipyards and factories, mobilizing the timber industry, and giving Boeing its start building airplanes for the Navy came as a bonanza for growth in the Evergreen State. Connections to the war can be found in almost every city and town, from statues, stadiums and parks to street named for President Woodrow Wilson. By war’s end, some 1642 Washingtonians lost their lives in World War I.  (Thanks to Jim Camden, Spokesman Review.)

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THE GENEALOGICAL FORUM’s Wednesday Evening E-News

by Charles Hansen

THE GENEALOGICAL FORUM’s Wednesday Evening E-News 10 May 2017

For more information visit www.gfo.org, contact us at info@gfo.org, or call our library at 503-963-1932. We love hearing from you!

Also, if you missed your free copy of our monthly Insider for May 2017, you’re in luck because we saved you a copy HERE. NOTE: The Insider issues are now located under the “Learn” –> “Our Publications” menu at our new website (still gfo.org).

Curious about the status of your GFO Membership?? We’d love to have you as a GFO Member!

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GFO’s May 2017 GenTalk Presents “Vanport” with Zita Podany

Saturday, May 20th, at 2 PM at the GFO!
This is a GenTalk you’re not gonna wanna to miss. Author Zita Podany will be presenting her book Vanport which is part of the Images of America series.

Zita is a longtime Portland resident with a wonderful new perspective on the history of this area that was lost so suddenly to raging flood waters on May 30, 1948.
Remember! All the GFO GenTalks are FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC so bring your history-lovin’ friends and family.

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Clark County Genealogical Society Norwegian Research

by Charles Hansen

GETTING STARTED WITH YOUR NORWEGIAN RESEARCH

Tues, May 16, 10am-12 noon

Clark County Genealogical Society Education Center

 

This class will guide the researcher through the process of searching for key ancestral information in FamilySearch, then locating and interpreting the original Norwegian parish records in Digitalarkivet. While researching her own ancestry, instructor Kathy Solheim has developed disciplines in both search and interpretation of the original Norwegian church parish records.

Classes are $12 for CCGS members and $15 for non-members. Drop-ins welcome on space available basis. To register in advance call the CCGS library, 360-750-5688.