Exciting find in Westport Kentucky and the Gaines Family

Originally Posted March 4, 2010 Still one of my most exciting finds

I have been participating in the 52 Weeks to Better Genealogy challenges. The challenge for week 4 was to use the inter-library loan system at our local library. The book I requested through ILL was History & Families Oldham County, Kentucky: the first century, 1824-1924. I had a photo of a house with Westport, KY written on it and simply took a stab in the dark by requesting a book for that area.

The first photo, to the left, was a photo I had, the second photo was IN THE BOOK!! I started thumbing through the book as soon as I picked it up. I saw the house and said "wait a minute I've seen this house before". To say I was surprised and excited would be putting it mildly! The caption below the photo says at the time the photo was taken the house was owned by Clyde Gaines. I also have photos identified as Clyde Gaines, Jr., Connie Gaines and J.S. Gaines. Gaines is not one of my direct surnames, however, my Grandfather's sister was named Ora Gaines Allen and she lived in Clark County, Kentucky. Clark County and Oldham County are not adjoining counties. I have called the Oldham County 
 Historical Society in hopes of finding out if the house is still standing and any information on the Gaines family. The book states the house is called Hurricane Hall and was built on a bluff above the Ohio River one mile north of Westport. I hope to hear something back tomorrow.

I spoke with the Oldham County Kentucky Historical Society...this house burned to the ground in the 1930's. I asked for additional information as to the location of the house. I was told, in no uncertain terms, that is private property and I would be trespassing if I went there. Seemed odd to me how adamant the Historical Society person was about that. Makes me wonder if the same family still owns the property and maybe she knows the family? I assured her I was only trying to locate the house on Google Earth which didn't seem to appease her all that much. 

But I Don't Know Who They Are

I have a private family group on Facebook for my siblings and nieces and nephews. We use this group to post family related information and photos that the rest of the world doesn't need to know about. I, of course, use the group to post family history information as well.

I recently posted two pedigree charts, one for my father and one for my mother. The comments contained the obligatory "cool", "thanks", "good work" etc. However, one of my nieces commented "but I don't know who they are." My first thought was that I had never sent her a pedigree chart, that I had somehow missed her. Then I realized that was not what her comment meant. She didn't "know" those people past a name and a date on a page.

I enjoy the research portion of genealogy more than the story writing and obviously this shows as my niece saw only the names and not the people. I'm going to be honest with myself though (and you), I will not be busting out a family history book anytime soon...if ever. Hopefully, there is a budding writer in my family that will want to tackle that project.

I realized I need to find a better way of telling our ancestors stories so they will be more interesting and meaningful to others. I can use photographs, heirloom items, yearbooks, and newspaper clippings to illustrate the stories. I have all of those items (boy do I have all those items!) but I haven't shared those often as I didn't think they provided any context without the charts. I was building the framework and waiting to fill it in after everyone understood the base. I've been doing this backwards, thinking the charts will lead to an interest in our family history. I should have been using the visual and tangible items to lead back to the charts.

While going through my family photos and heirloom items I realized two things, one I have no idea what I really do have and two some of these items need to be restored and preserved properly. Lucky for me, I have a friend that knows a little something about restoring damaged photos. Joe, from Photofixerjoe.com restored the photograph you see above. Isn't it beautiful? This is Ora Gaines Allen Cummings and her son William Cummings. The photo was taken in 1921 in Winchester Kentucky.

After posting the before and after photos of Ora and Billy in my family group on Facebook, the comments were much more engaging and interesting. Does anyone else see a Ferris Wheel in this photo? Me neither, but one of my sisters thinks that's what the tree behind Ora looks like. :)

Photos and heirlooms will become my focus in 2013. I'm looking forward to sharing all that I have with my family and blog readers. Be sure to visit Joe's website to see more restoration projects as well as his Facebook page.

This is the Face of Genealogy

This is the face of my genealogy and they are beautiful!

Anna Pearl Scott born 1878 in Kentucky
Ora Gaines Allen born 1897 in Kentucky
Charles Scott Allen born 1900 in Kentucky

This post is in response to the very offensive image posted in the LA Weekly with an article regarding the upcoming SCGS Jamboree. You can read about the article here.

Whether the author or the editor selected the photo matters little, it was published. The photo depicts a very uneducated and outdated stereotype of genealogy. Boring! Come up with something new and original, then you can call yourself a journalist.

p.s.  If you've ever wondered how large the genealogy market is, call the LA Weekly tomorrow they should have the figures for you!

Surname Saturday - GAINES - Kentucky

Who are you Gaines people and why are you in my Grandfather Allen's photo album? What is the relationship connection???

The bottom photo says "Sister and J.S. Gaines". The sister is Ora Gaines Allen, Allen is her maiden name and Gaines is her middle name. I have been unable to find any connection between the Allen's and Gaines or the Scott's (Ora's mother's maiden name) and the Gaines.

What am I missing?

UPDATE!!! It's 3 hours later and I may have my answer. I found the death certificate for Clyde Gaines. His mother's maiden name is Scott, same as Ora's mother. Are these Gaines first cousins to my Allens?? It's looking that way!

UPDATE UPDATE! You can see in the comments section below where I got some great help, found more information and was able to put a few pieces together. However, I now have another question...why would a mother give their child a middle name that was their sister's husbands last name?

Anna Pearl named her daughter Ora Gaines, Gaines is her middle name. Gaines is the last name of the man that Anna's sister Cassie married. Seems just a little odd to me. More than odd, that is downright strange.

Inter-library Loan Magic!

I have been participating in the 52 Weeks to Better Genealogy challenges. The challenge for week 4 was to use the inter-library loan system at our local library. The book I requested through ILL was History & Families Oldham County, Kentucky: the first century, 1824-1924. I had a photo of a house with Westport, KY written on it and simply took a stab in the dark by requesting a book for that area.

The first photo, to the left, was a photo I had, the second photo was IN THE BOOK!! I started thumbing through the book as soon as I picked it up. I saw the house and said "wait a minute I've seen this house before". To say I was surprised and excited would be putting it mildly! The caption below the photo says at the time the photo was taken the house was owned by Clyde Gaines. I also have photos identified as Clyde Gaines, Jr., Connie Gaines and J.S. Gaines. Gaines is not one of my direct surnames, however, my Grandfather's sister was named Ora Gaines Allen and she lived in Clark County, Kentucky. Clark County and Oldham County are not adjoining counties. I have called the Oldham County Historical Society in hopes of finding out if the house is still standing and any information on the Gaines family. The book states the house is called Hurricane Hall and was built on a bluff above the Ohio River one mile north of Westport. I hope to hear something back tomorrow.

I will keep you posted!

UPDATE!
I spoke with the Oldham County Kentucky Historical Society...this house burned to the ground in the 1930's. :(

Wordless Wednesday - Allan Family

Anna Pearl Scott Allan
Ora Gaines Allan
Charles Scott Allan