Let’s Talk About: Manresa Castle

by Donna Phillips


Port Townsend, Jefferson County, Washington has a castle! Did you know? Have you been there?
Manresa Castle, as it’s commonly called, sits high on a hill overlooking Port Townsend and was completed  in 1892 as the home of Charles and Kate Eisenbeis. He was a prominent member of the community and in 1878 had been elected the first mayor.


First referred to as the “Eisenbeis Castle,” the residence consisted of 30 rooms (and only three bathrooms) and was reminiscent of the Eisenbeis’ native Prussia. The walls were 12 inches thick and the roof was slate. Tiled fireplaces and finely crafted woodwork were installed by German artisans.  
Charles died in 1902 and Kate remarried a few years later; the Castle was left empty for almost 20 years except for a caretaker. 


By 1928, the Jesuits had purchased the Castle for use as a training college. They added a large wing housing a chapel and sleeping rooms and also installed an elevator. They named the complex “Manresa Hall” after the town in Spain where Ignatius Loyola founded their order. 
The Jesuits left in 1968 and the building was converted into a hotel. The elements “Manresa” and “Castle” were taken from the two previous owners to create the current name. 


You may vacation-stay at Manresa Castle for just under $300 per night. Ghosts perhaps included. 

Let’s Talk About: 1913 Traffic Rules

by Donna Phillips

The Digest of Traffic Ordinance, City of Spokane (1913)

LAW OF THE ROAD

Keep to the right, near the right hand curb.

In meeting other vehicles, pass to the right. (sic)

In overtaking other vehicles, pass to the left. 

Before starting on street, give an audible signal.

On turning to the left into another street pass to the right of and beyond the center of the street intersecting before turning.

In turning to the right into another street turn the corner as near the curb as practicable.

In crossing from one side of street to the other, turn to the left so as to head in the same direction as the traffic on that side.

Do not stop with the left side to the curb.

RIGHT OF WAY

All vehicles going in a northerly or southerly direction have the right of way over any vehicle going in an easterly or westerly direction. 

In slowing up or stopping with other following, signal by raising the hand vertically.

A signal or request from a person riding or driving a restive horse or driving domestic animals requires that the automobile should be stopped or remain stationary until animals have passed.

In moving slowly keep close to the right hand curb to as to allow faster moving vehicles to pass on the left. 

In 1913, Spokane published the “Automobile Guide and Directory.” This booklet listed by license number each business or person owning a car or truck and the brand owned. A few representative pages were reproduced in The Pacific Northwesterner, Vol. 43, Issue 2, October 1999. Just glancing through the list, I noticed these makes of cars: Packard, Rambler, Buick, Ford, Winton, Franklin, Lozier, Reo, Chalmers, Brush, Cadillac, Mitchell, Elmore, Overland, Midland, Indian, Pierce-Arrow, Baker Electric, Maytag, Flanders and many more. Very few of those names are recognizable today! 

We’ve Reached 80% of our Pioneer Goal

by Roxanne Lowe

We’re getting closer to our goal of 5,000 Washington State pioneers listed in our Pioneer Pursuit Index by November 11, 2024. Our reviewers just approved our 4,005th pioneer, so we need 995 more to meet our ambitious, but doable, target.

If you’re wondering whether you can participate, YES, YOU CAN! A few things to consider:

  • You don’t have to be related to a pioneer. Just pick someone in your county or neighborhood and start researching. Here’s a great list of places to start.
  • You don’t have to be a member of WSGS to participate.
  • We’ve made it easy to submit Pioneer Pursuit genealogies. There are examples, forms and an FAQ under the Pioneer Pursuit tab of the WSGS website.

Help us identify every man, woman and child who lived in Washington Territory on or before November 11, 1889 when we became the 42nd state. If you have questions, please email us at Info@wasgs.org.

Nominations Sought for Vice President & Treasurer

by Roxanne Lowe

Are you interested in being part of the WSGS Board of Directors? The positions of vice president and treasurer are up for election and we are seeking nominations. The nomination period will close on 15 Nov 2024.

The vice president position provides support to the president. In the case that the president is unable to preside over a meeting or event, the vice president would be required to step in and take his/her place. The vice president also acts as a liaison between the societies and the WSGS president and board, helping to facilitate communications between the board and the societies.

The treasurer manages WSGS financial matters under the direction of the president, executive committee and board of directors.

The two-year terms are from 01 Jan 2025 through 31 Dec 2026. More information on the positions’ duties and responsibilities is available here.

Being a member of the WSGS Board is an excellent opportunity to involve yourself in a statewide organization designed to support local societies and individuals interested in the educational and historical value of genealogical research. And besides that — it’s fun and interesting!

If you’re interested in this opportunity or have questions, please contact WSGS President Kathy Sizer.

Italian Interest Group of the Eastside Genealogical Society Alien Immigration Files

by Charles Hansen

A (Alien) & Immigration Files
A (Alien)-Files are a valuable resource for genealogical research as they provide detailed records of an individual’s immigration history, naturalization process, and any law enforcement actions involving the alien.

Genealogy immigration files are historical records that document the immigration and naturalization processes of individuals who came to the United States.
                          ZOOM Meeting When:           16-Nov-2024, Saturday
Time:            1:30 PM – 3:30 PM (PDT) Presenter:   Givonna & Elaine
If you aren’t an active member, please request a Zoom meeting invitation.
Meeting Request
COUNTDOWN TO THE MEETING:
Days Hours Minutes Seconds
Eastside Genealogical Society
– Italian Interest Group
P.O. Box 374
Bellevue, WA 98009-0374

Stillaquamish Valley Genealogical Society FamilySearch’s Full Text Search

by Charles Hansen

Stillaquamish Valley Genealogical Society

Monthly Meeting & Presentation – FamilySearch’s Full Text Search: A Free AI Tool You Should Definitely Be Using

Tuesday, November 12th

1:00 pm

SVGS Library

6111 188 PL NE, Arlington, WA

You are invited to this free presentation at the SVGS library.

Everyone is welcome! 

Sue McNeil, an active member at SVGS, will be giving an in person only presentation at our library. Our business meeting will follow the presentation.

Sue’s Presentation: FamilySearch’s Full Text Search: A Free AI Tool You Should Definitely Be Using

Come learn how to use FamilySearch’s full-text searching. This new beta tool makes it easier to find your ancestors in unindexed records, in unexpected locations or timeframes, and in roles that were previously unindexed (i.e., witness, heirs, bondsman, adjoining landowner, etc.). Starting with U.S. land and probate, this new AI tool is rapidly expanding to include other record types, locations and timeframes.

There will be a short break with refreshments. The monthly meeting will follow.

New England Interest Group – November 5th

The SVGS New England Interest Group (includes New York and Pennsylvania) meets at the SVGS Library on the first Tuesday of the month at 10am. This is a hybrid group. You may attend in person at our library or join via Zoom.

If you have not joined us yet and would like to receive emails in the future for this group or wish to attend via Zoom, please send an email to info@stillygen.org and request to be added to the New England Interest Group email list and receive monthly

Zoom invitations.

DIG – DNA Special Interest Group – November 21st

Also join us at the SVGS library from 1-3pm on the 3rd Thursday of the month for the DNA Special Interest Group (DIG). This group works together to develop a better understanding of DNA techniques and strategies for finding relatives, discuss and review new DNA developments and tools and help members with their research problems.

All DNA skill levels are welcome to attend.

If you have a specific DNA topic you would like to discuss or have any other suggestions for this group, please send an email info@stillygen.org

Also, if you have not joined us yet and would like to receive emails in the future for the DIG group, please send an email to info@stillygen.org and request to be added to the DIG email list.

For more information visit www.stillygen.org

Tacoma Pierce County Genealogical Society Legacy Family Tree SIG Meeting

by Charles Hansen

Tacoma-Pierce County Genealogical Society Legacy Family Tree SIG Meeting
Tuesday, November 5, 2024, from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm virtual via Zoom

This month we will finish reviewing the free Legacy Family Tree software video “Legacy 9 Unlocked (part 1): Your First Few Tips”. We watched the first part on Oct 1 so this month on Nov 5 we will watch the second half. Even though Legacy 10 was just released in Jun 2024, almost all the features shown in this video are still in the current program.  If you are thinking about trying Legacy or are currently using it, this video can teach or remind you how to properly use the software and be successful with your research. If you have any suggestions for future topics, please send them in.

This is our monthly meeting to share tips & tricks, problems & solutions. Sometimes we will watch videos or share our screens to aid in learning more about using Legacy Family Tree software.

Everyone is welcome to attend and participate in the learning. If you are just thinking about trying Legacy for the first time, you’ve been using it for a year or two or you are an old pro with many years of experience using Legacy this is the group for you.

We look forward to meeting with you, every month on the First Tuesday at 7:00 PM Pacific Time

Please download and import the following iCalendar (.ics) files to your calendar system.

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Join Zoom Meeting:
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Passcode: 715731

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Find your local number:
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Let’s Talk About: The U.S.S. Spokane

by Donna Phillips

The U.S.S. Spokane was named for the city of Spokane and was built in New Jersey; she was classed a light cruiser. The Washington cities of Seattle, Tacoma and Olympia also had Navy ships named for them.

Commissioned after the end of World War II, the Spokane never saw any war-related action.  

Spokane departed New York for training and battle practice near Guantanamo Bay. In 1946, she visited several European ports. In 1947, the Spokane represented the U.S. Navy at the wedding of Her Royal Highness, Princess Elizabeth of England. On Christmas Day, 1947, she was boarded by 100 guests and underprivileged English children as the invited guests of the crew for dinner, party, movies and tour of the ship.

Completing her goodwill tour, Spokane joined a group staging bombardment exercises in the Atlantic. She was decommissioned in 1950 and assigned to the mothball fleet of the New York Group, US Atlantic Reserve Fleet. Struck from the Navy’s list of vessels in 1972, she was purchased in 1973 for scrap. Her final voyage took her to Brownsville, Texas, to be dismantled. 

Naval tradition mandates that the city in whose honor a ship is named give a silver service to its officers. In 1946, the citizen of Spokane purchased a silver service for the newly constructed USS Spokane. The 135-piece included service for twelve officers. This silver set is on display at the Naval Reserve Training Center by the VA Hospital in Spokane. (Could not find an image of Spokane’s silver; this set belonged to the USS Maryland.)

Taken from an article in Vol. 39, No. 3, 1995, of The Pacific Northwesterner.

Let’s Talk About: Germany’s Rules for Death

by Donna Phillips

Quoting from website The German Way, “German Funerals: Death in Deutschland.”  Image for a YouTube video.

“The German way of death is perhaps even more regulated than the German way of life. The German propensity to regulate almost every aspect of daily life carries over into the afterlife, with Germany’s funeral industry among the most regulated in the world.”

“Strict German laws and regulations concerning the burial or cremation of a deceased person reduce competition and increase the costs. The German funeral industry is protected by laws, that, with few exceptions, make burial in a cemetery mandatory even if the deceased has been cremated. There is little free choice for families faced with the death of a loved one.”

A typical German funeral can cost from $5500 to $11,000 or more! Even with cremations, a “certified” coffin is required and a plain  wooden coffin can cost over $700. A typical cremation costs upwards of $8000. 

“Those Germans who choose burial over cremation usually have a limited stay in the cemetery of their choice. Because of space limitation, most German cemeteries allow their “guests” to rest in peace only for a maximum of 10 to 30 years. After that they must relinquish their grave to another deceased soul. Only in some historical German cemeteries will you find the graves of people who died over a century ago.” 

“German restrictions don’t end with the laws that dictate where a corpse has to go. Most German cemeteries have codes and regulations that determine in great detail what may or may not appear on a loved one’s grave marker.” (Thankfully, this “rule” is changing.)

The scattering of cremated remains on land or at sea is generally verboten in Germany. When it is done, it is almost always done illegally. To scatter in a lake is out of the question for thoughts of water being contaminated by cremains. 

As an American, you do not want to pass away in Germany! Getting your body, or even your cremains, shipped home is a total tangled nightmare. 

So we learn from that article on The German Way website.