It's Time For A New Couch

When I chose this couch I really loved it. It was comfortable, I liked it's lines, it fit well with the rest of the furnishings. Now I'm a little less in love with the couch and the other furnishings have slowly been changing around it and things look a bit messy. My tastes have changed and times have changed. I've given this couch a good home, it's now ready to be retired.

Along with replacing the couch I have also made a down payment on my own house. While .blogspot.com has served me well, I'm ready to stake my own claim with desperatelyseekingsurnames.com. Being the loyal person that I am, Blogger will remain my official host but I will take over some of the responsibilities for making sure the house is in good shape.

A consequence of replacing the couch and moving to a new house may be a few scratches or missing pieces but nothing that's earth shattering. I allowed G+ comments in my house, which I love. This means that if a person left me a calling card on G+, the calling card made it's way here. Once I move, those previous calling cards will be lost. I'm sad about losing those cards (I appreciate every one of them), but when I weigh the opportunity cost for keeping them I know they have to go.

I am very excited about the new couches I'm looking at. I have always had an image in my mind of what Desperately Seeking Surnames looks like and I'm finally going to get that. You are all invited to the unveiling, see you there soon!

P.S. To put the potential unveiling date into perspective...it took me 6 months to select a logo and a designer for The Genealogists Marketing Sourcebook, so the unveiling may take a while. :) 

P.S.S. Yes, I'm still working on the new couch! I have the concept created, I just need to find the right fabric. :) 

This #Genchat Challenge Is About Maps

I've accepted the challenge!

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.