"Tracing Our Roots" Newsletter Archive (A monthly genealogy newsletter written by the late Brenda Kellow, dec'd, for the Plano Star Courier newspaper. We've included all the ones we could recover.)
We tell the stories of our forefathers without reservation, feeling fortunate to have listened and lucky to have a story to tell. A reader in Washington State wrote to tell me of her story that was similar to one I have published in a past column. Carol Wilkinson was reading my old articles archived on the website at http://www.virtualtexan.com/writers/kellow/index.htm and came across the one on the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). Here is what she said in her note.
“I wanted to tell you that I was reading your article tonight about your uncle who was in the Civilian Conservation Corps (“Tracing Our Roots,” Oct. 1. 1997). My dad was in the "Three C's" when he was 21. He and another fellow left the small mill town of Bordeaux, Washington and took a small-engined boat they had all the way up Puget Sound, through the Inside Passage in Canadian waters, and on to Alaska. I won't go into a long story, but I think this trip for him was a "coming of age" one. My dad was kind of the rebel in the family, and being the oldest he wanted to try his wings. Or sails, in this case. The guy who accompanied him on this adventure decided not to return and left my dad high and dry with the boat (I think he abandoned it too) and went to work in the fish factory. My dad didn't know what to do, so he went to Petersburg and joined the local CCC camp. They were building a road and I think my dad was driving the dump trucks from the beach to where they were making the road. He was only in the CCC for about 3 months, long enough to get his boat fare home and some clothes. His father was "ashamed" of him when he got back because he had worked for the CCC, something viewed by some as taking charity. I see things a little differently, and I think my dad was always glad that he went on that trip. His one great adventure!
“I do have some pictures he took while he was in the CCC camp, but there aren't many of them. Thanks for the information on you web page about the National Archives having pictures too. I would love to know the history of that particular camp he joined so long ago. By the way, although I can't find the file at the moment, I did transcribe what my dad told me about his CCC experience, which goes into more detail than what I sent to you. I thought his descendants would want to read it someday.”
Yes, Carol. His descendants will want to read it and I thank you for sharing your father’s adventure with us. You are fortunate indeed to have listened and recorded this information. We all wish we had paid attention and recorded it for the future generations.
TEXAS KEEPS RECORDS OFFLINE: The decision is final. Texas took the birth and death records offline permanently because of privacy concerns, exacerbated by the September 11th events. The records will remain available on microfiche. RootsWeb.com recently took both Texas and California vital records offline.
Ohio Marriages, 1803-1900: Wayne County Ohio Marriages and Tax Lists are online at www.ancestry.com/rd/prodredir.asp?sourceid=1644&key=D5194 and www.ancestry.com/rd/prodredir.asp?sourceid=1644&key=D3944 respectively.
WORLD CONNECT: This site is again running online on the RootsWeb site sponsored by Ancestry.com. There may be a few problems accessing the 180 million plus names but Ancestry does ask for your patience. http://worldconnect.rootsweb.com/.
British Ancestors has offer: Current subscribers to Ancestry.com can access British Ancestors during the month of January and take advantage of their No-Find No-Fee offer. The search covers England and Scotland for birth, marriage, death, census records and church records during the period 1800-1950. Go to http://www.britishancestors.com/.
Brenda Kellow, dec'd, Certified Genealogist and Certified Genealogical Instructor, had a Bachelor’s Degree in history and taught genealogy courses at the local Community College and computer genealogy at the University.
