Monday, September 26, 2016

TRAVEL RESEARCH

I would love to be able to travel!  That, of course, was going to be one of those things I was going to do when I retired.  Now that I am here I can't afford it or is that an excuse because I don't want to travel alone?

What ever the excuse....I am not traveling.  So, I have decided to do my traveling via the internet.  I am in hopes you will find some interest in traveling along with me!

I have a fascination with covered bridges...hmmm!  I wonder if that stems from a time when my family was living way out in the country and we had to cross an uncovered wooden bridge across a creek to get to town.  One fine winter day when the bridge was extremely slippery the car lost its footing and went slippery sliding to the side of the bridge.  Half way over the edge that car up and changed it's mind and just teetered there...half on and half off the bridge.  My parents, brother and I all managed to get out of the car without rocking it over the edge.  Then we had the pleasure of listening to my father convince that car that it was the much safer on the bridge.

Back to my exploratory adventure with "covered' bridges.

Did you know that at one time there were 600 covered bridges in the state of Oregon?  The majority of them were built between 1905 and 1925.  By 1977 there were only 56 and currently only 51.  There are very few covered bridges left that are open to automobile travel.  Most are open for pedestrian and bike travel only.  

For today's journey, come along with me just a short jog up the road to the Gallon House bridge,  The Gallon House bridge was constructed in 1916 to cross  Abiqua Creek.  It is the last functioning covered bridge in Marion County. 

The Gallon House bridge was constructed during the days of prohibition so it not only served as a  means of crossing the creek to get from Silverton to Mt Angel.  It seems that Silverton was a 'dry' community and Mt Angel was 'wet'.  Mt Angel was basically a Catholic community with German heritage who brought with them to this country their love and know how of making fine brew.  Thus the bridge was named "Gallon House" for the gallons of brew that was bought and sold.

Mt Angel still keeps that German/Catholic heritage going strong.  On your next trip to see me we can take a trip to visit the Gallon House and other interesting historical sites in the area.  Without the brew!

Till then,  Happy Traveling!  

L&H's    

Monday, September 19, 2016

Genealogy blog 9/19/16

I haven’t figured out how to write my log on different pages as yet. When I get it figured out it will probably hit me right square between the eyes. Ugh!

I have spent several hours today trying to get the Leeper line back beyond the 1800’s. The last I have is Hugh and Mary with no maiden name for Mary. Hugh would have been born in or around 1790. The only child I show is George who was born in Tennessee in 1815. This is the George that I show came to Oregon in 1850. I have found a Georgia A. Leeper who is a sister of Alva C. born in Oregon. This was a new find so now I have some research to do!

Also found a Lillith A. Leeper who was the wife of George W Leeper. Both born in Oregon. They are both on the 1920 Oregon Census. It is recorded that they have a 3-year-old daughter named Dorothy. They are on the 1910 census with both in their 30’s born in Oregon. In the 1920 census they are in their 40’s and showing just the 3-year-old daughter. Can’t help but think there is more to that story! Opportunity for more research!

Plus, I found a household in Grants Pass, Oregon with sisters as the head of household and a 42-year-old brother-in-law named George M. Leeper and two nieces named Helen C. and Daisy A.
Daisy A. is on the 1930 census as the 19-year-old daughter of George M. and S. Emma Leeper. However, on the 1930 census they are living in Riverside, California. Questions, questions, questions. More research!

Hopefully I will have more to report next month!

FOR THE HERE AND NOW!!! For those of you trying to keep track of recent birthday’s….here is September.
September 12th Luke (19??)
September 20th Gail (1936)
Llwyn (1960)
September 26th Lindsay (1994–2013) Oh how I miss that sweet girl)

L & H’s

Friday, September 2, 2016

Hello!

Hello! 

My Grandma Hall always reminded me that the road to H**** was paved with good intentions!
Hmmm!  Guess I know where that leaves me.

I used the **** because I don't appreciate the four letter words....I was taught that it was a lack of education when we couldn't come up with better language to express ourselves.....I am not really well educated but I don't choose to show just how uneducated I am!!  With that said; I will use **** and you can insert whatever explanatory word fits your vocabulary.

Now that I have that off of my chest...

It has been such a thrilling, beautiful, hot, lovely, hot, contemplative, hot (did I mention hot?) summer.  

I have thrilled to the addition of 4 new great grandbabies this year.  I only wish they were closer so I could do some rocking and cuddling.   I do LOVE babies!  That makes 17 greats and number 18 on the way!  The family tree just keeps sprouting new branches and leaves.  It is so marvelous!

Lonnie and Lori came and spent a week with me....we spent the time trying to decide if it was time for me to move closer to family.  (Silverton is about 15 miles from Salem and/or Aumsville)  The final decision was 'not quite yet'.  I have really felt that for now, here is where I need to be.  Just hope my dependence on Loel and Melanie doesn't wear too thin.  It seems my 'get up and go' is rapidly changing to 'got up and went'. 

My western-country thrill over the past few months is finding the itty bitty frogs in my flowers and garden.  I need to do some research and write a story about them.  I have asked Laine to come up with a name for my story book frog.  He hasn't sent me a prospect yet.  Do any of you have a suggestion?  Google the song "Froggy Went A'Courtin".  Listen to the rendition by Burl Ives and see what you can come up with.  Any and all suggestions will be carefully considered.

I am running out of thoughts, but want to make sure you know I love the Lord, the Gospel of Jesus Christ is true.  I love each and every one of you so very much.  L&H's

Grandma Gail