Raise your hand if you know what a “plank road” was?
“In days past, heavy rain could literally stop traffic in its tracks. The plank road was a tremendous improvement over unreliable, rutted and muddy dirt roads. Wooden planks were laid wide enough to accommodate a large wagon or rig but when two met going in opposite directions, it was up to them to resolve the problem of who had to make way for whom. Meaning, who had to go off into the mud! A plank road was usually a toll road. The cost for a 1-horse cart was 25 cents; a two horse cart was 40 cents. A horse and rider were 13 cents.”
BIG thanks to my friend, Paul Hoefling of Seattle, for these marvelous funnies………. I admire and identify with his sense of humor.
According to a report recently on the front page of our newspaper (The Spokesman Review), “Washington drivers logged more than 60 billion miles on public roadways in 2016. If that sounds like a lot, that’s because it is.” Reporter Nicholas Deshais continued that “Washington drivers drove more than 4 1/2 times the total distance that the Voyager 1 spacecraft has traveled since 1977… which is only 13 billion miles.”
How many of those miles did YOU contribute?? And where were we all going and so often?? Ah, that’s the mystery.
Looking to begin your genealogical journey and live near Shelton? Sue Sheldon, president of the Mason County Genealogical Society, will be leading a workshop to help you get started tracing your family history. Wednesday, Feb. 7, 5:00 – 7:00 at the Shelton Library. Experienced researchers are also invited! For more information, visit the Shelton Timberland Library page.
Since 2003, the Washington State Genealogical Society has recognized over 500 outstanding volunteers and teams, nominated by their local society or genealogical organization for their service and dedication. These volunteers are the backbone of their local society, giving their time and expertise, to the organization and the field of genealogy. In the coming months, you will be introduced to each of the 2017 award recipients and learn why they received the 2017 WSGS Outstanding Volunteer and Team Award.
Catherine “Cathy” Cook
Today we’re introducing Catherine Crabtree Cook of Hoquiam, Washington, who was nominated by the Grays Harbor Genealogical Society (GHGS). She was recognized for her dedication and commitment to preserving records related to Grays Harbor County.
Cathy has worked diligently for many years to preserve obituaries and death notices for individuals with Grays Harbor County ties. When she began this project, she organized small work parties at her home to tape obituaries to index cards that she had carefully trimmed and dated from the local newspaper. Today, Cathy oversees an obituary collection that is scanned, indexed, archived and available on the Grays Harbor Genealogical Society’s website. To date, the index includes more than 80,000 individuals.
Cathy’s efforts to make the collection as complete and accurate as possible have allowed researchers from all over the world the ability to request a copy of their ancestor’s obituary. For her commitment and dedication to this project and the Grays Harbor Genealogical Society, she richly deserved being a recipient of a 2017 WSGS Outstanding Volunteer Award.
For more information on the WSGS Outstanding Volunteer Award program, visit the Recognition page of the WSGS website or contact Roxanne Lowe, Interim Recognition Chair, at Roxanne@thekeeffes.com.
PRESERVATION OF DOCUMENTS
To learn the proper way to preserve records you have located during genealogy research, you will want to join us for the February meeting. The presentation will be by TRACY REBSTOCK, Southwest Regional Archivist from the Washington State Archives.
LOWER COLUMBIA GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~walcolgs/
SOMERSET RETIREMENT APARTMENTS
2025 TIBBETTS DRIVE, LONGVIEW
DINING ROOM 7:00 PM
Feb 8, 2018
VISITORS ARE WELCOME AND ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND.
Ever heard of the Heritage Network here in Washington? Think it’s something you, and your genealogical society, might ought to look into?? Any organization dedicated to preserving and promoting historical resources is an organization you might want to support.
Click to TheHeritageNetwork for more information.
