Memorial Day 2016 - Pine Barrens Store & SoJourn

My experience of Memorial Day took a few routes.  To Commemorate the sacrifice of veterans such as my father, who was a sailor in World War II, or my brother, a marine in Vietnam, or even, through family history, my Civil War Great-Grandfathers, I watched war movies and thought of them and offered silent thanks.  My favorite was Battle of the Bulge, a Cinemascope, technicolor epic on Turner Classic Movie channel.  My father and I watched that movie many times together before he died.  He loved history also, in particular World War II and the history of all wars of American history, to one degree or another.  

He was a wonderful father and a heroic man in many ways.  I will miss him every day until I die.  I should mention my mother, a loving, generous, kind and civic minded woman who worked at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard while my father served in the navy.  After their years of service, my parents both participated in the local chapters of the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.  My brother, after his service in Vietnam and up till very recently also participated in VFW events and blew his bugle at honor guard burial ceremonies to honor the veterans who had served their country's call.

Today, Sunday, May 29th, I drove out to Shamong and met up with a hiking friend, Barbara Solem, for a walk around Pakim Pond with my dog Trixie.  Barbara is the author of three books on the Pine Barrens, 1.The Forks, 2.Ghosttowns and Other Quirky Places in the Pine Barrens, and most recently 3.Batsto Village, Jewel of the Pine Barrens, first printing 2014 by Plexus Publishing.  We have been hiking together for a good many years.  We met early on after publication of her first book The Forks.  It was on a hike led by an S. J. Outdoor Club hiking icon Joe Trujillo, now deceased.  There is a man worthy of a blog essay all on his own.  Some other time, perhaps.  Anyhow, we have been fast friends ever since.

Barb has had a long relationship with Manny's Shamong Diner where many book launches have been hosted as well as author events.  Most recently one was held at the May 28th Grand Opening of the Pine Barrens Store, nine authors were present to discuss their books, on sale in the store.  The store is at 7A Willow Grove Rd. (on Route 206) Shamong, NJ right behind (or beside, depending on how you look at it) the Shamong Diner.  Phone 609-257-1427 hours 7:30 a.m. to 9:pm daily, according to the full page color ad in the Shamong Sun, a local newspaper.

At the store, I bought a copy of SoJourn, A Journal devoted to the history, culture, and geography of South Jersey, a publication of the South Jersey Culture & History Center at Stockton University.  Supervising chief editor is Tom Kinsella.  It was a fascinating read and I decided to go back some time in the future for more copies to give as Christmas gifts this winter.  The next issue will be in the fall of 2016, and submissions will be accepted up to September 1st.  To give you an idea of the contents there are essays on Nash's Cabin, the Bicycle Railway of Smithville, Mary Elizabeth Tillotson (an early proponent of rational clothing for women) among others.  I enjoyed it very much and recommend it highly to South Jersey history fans.  Get it at the store, or contact the SJCHC at Stockton College.

Pakim Pond was cool and beautiful as always and I was  happy to see young people and families breaking free from the grip of the seashore migration and enjoying the uncrowded and lovely pine woods instead.  

Does anyone remember South Jersey History Magazine?  It went out of print about 1985.  I used to buy old copies at Murphy's Book Loft, Mullica Hill.  Murphy's is sadly also gone now and I can't find my stash of magazines.  Anyhow, I am glad someone is taking up the flag and keeping the history flowing into the future!  

Remember all those who sacrificed to keep our country free for all of its citizens tomorrow on Memorial Day!  
Happy Trails, Jo Ann

Info on Genetics and Genealogy Lecture

As mentioned in a previous blog, I was fortunate in having attended a lecture by Judy G. Russell, JD., CG, CGL at Burlington County Historical Society.

For my birthday a couple of years ago, I had my dna tested through a special sale offered at the Ancestry.com convention in Philadelphia.  They offered a reduced rate of either $69 or $89, I can't remember which, but it was usually $100, so I stood in the long long line and bought it.

the Ancestry test required a cheek swab.  Some require deposit of saliva into a tube.  All of these are noninvasive.  My results were puzzling to me as I had done quite a bit of work on my own by then and I KNEW for a fact that my mother was half Irish - the McQuiston family (Scots Irish to be precise) and English (Garwood).  My father was half German (the Sandman family andd the Jung family) and half English (presumably - Wright).  I had traced the Wrights back to 1810 on the Indiana border with the Ohio River, and I had traced the German contingent back to 1820.  The McQuiston's appeared in Pennsylvania in the late 1700's.  I was astonished when my results gave me 17% Scandinavian and 27% Eastern European.  My final conclusion was the one of the German greats had come from Jutland, the peninsula that connects Germany with Denmark.  It had changed hands many times, and I had found a Danish Great great grandmother. 

Friends who had taken the test also had surprising percentages and we were all wondering what this was about.

Ms. Russell clearly explained to us the difference between the 3 main types of dna tests used for genealogy, Ydna, MitochondrialDna and autosomal.  Amazon does autosomal.  I can convey to you all she taught us, it was a 2 hour workshop.  But I can tell you that amazon.com does autosomal and they link you with family trees and other people who have taken the test and match with you.  Family Tree DNA, which she recommended because they promise to hold your dna test for 25 years, is the other most well known representative in this field, and the third has just come back after a tussel with the federal government over releasing medical information to customers.  That one is 23 and Me.  They cost the most.  

For more information you can go to Beginners Guide to Gnetic Gneealogy https://goo.gl/LjOsmx or www.legalgenealogist.com.  Or call the Burlington County Historical Society in Burlington City.  

The families I have been researching in New Jersey are Cheesman and Garwood in the Turnersville/Blackwood area.  The Cheesman family, in particular are interesting because they had several mills along the Big Timber Creek and there was even a small hamlet challed Cheesmanville at one time.  William C. Garwood, who married Rachel Cheesman, only daughter of renowned Major Peter T. Cheesman, was postmaster and schoolteacher at Turnersville.  During his school teaching years he boarded with the Cheesman family and met Rachel.  She died young, and her son, William C. Garwood, was raised by his grandfather, of the same name until he went to Philadelphia and joined the Merchant Marines to see the world. I discovered a year or so ago, that the C. stands for Collins, apparently a surname from the female ancestry.

Happy Trails!
Jo Ann

Volunteers for Animals

Today, Saturday, May 20, 2016, my daughter sent me a text photo with her new dog, Louisa Mae from Texas.  Louisa is a "parti-poodle" which means that she had multicolored fur.  Poodle breeders prefer solid white or solid black.  We don't know how poor little Louisa Mae came to be in a kill shelter in Texas but we know how she came to her forever home in Brooklyn, New York.

My daughter who is my electronics mentor, found her little furry soul mate on the internet where rescuers post dogs being ferried (no pun intended) from kill-shelters, mainly down South, to new homes or no-kill shelters in the North.  Louisa Mae's rescuers had her treated for a minor skin ailment and then sent her on her way through a network of truck volunteers.

What brought tears to my eyes (literally) was when my daughter told me that rescuers meet the trucks at truck stops and take the dogs for a walk before they resume their long journey.  God bless this good souls.  These messages from the world of kindness and soulful humanity help to keep hope afloat. 

I was going to do a blog post all about big antique festivals coming up, but I had to send out a thank you to the universe for bringing me this good news about truly heroic people who speak out and act out for those most vulnerable among us, dogs and cats. 

Tomorrow is a big Antiques Fair in Burlington at the Antiques Emporium.  Yesterday I visited the Red Mill Antiques after an excellent lunch at the Blue Plate Cafe in Mullica Hill. I bought an original 1950's Disney Golden Book on Cinderella as I had just read a coffee table book on the Disney artists who were the first illustrators of the new Golden Books, that featured Disney characters.  Later, of course, we all became familiar with Tom and Jerry's Christmas and the many delightful tales told in vivid and charming illustrations in Golden Books very widely available and still enchanting. 

Today, I attended an excellent program on Genetics and Genealogy at the Burlington County Historical Society Library/Museum.  The presenter made a complex and confusing subject ssimple and clear.  She had an excellent speaking voice as well.  It was a day well spent.  I might add I have more often encountered truly excellent speakers at Burlington County H.L. than in almost any other venue.  They are always engaging, anc wonderfully prepared.  More on that on another post.  Have to feed my cats and my dog now.

Happy Tails!
Jo Ann

Mothers' Day in the Pines and an Upcoming Event

My daughter and I went to Whites Bogs to hike on Monday after a delightful Mothers' Day together.  W had lunch at Maritza's in Maple Shade which, I believe, I have reviewed before.  The food is always excellent and the wait staff very polite and helpful, and the prices are suurprisingly reasonable.  Coming from Brooklyn, New York, my daughter was astonished at how much lower things were in New Jersey.  We walked around Knight's Park with Trixie, then went to the movies to see The Meddler, with Susan Sarandon.  If you are a mom of a certain age, dealing with a lot of losses, you would find much to identify with in this movie.  

Next day, we went to Whitesbog, and as I always say "I wish I could stop at the Evergreen Dairy Bar, when I pass it on Rt. 70, this time, we did stop.  We never do because everyone I know is watching her weight, but this being a celebratory weekend, we decided to throw caution to the winds and have milkshakes.  I had a Coffee flavored one and she had a Black and White.  They were DELICIOUS!  The Everygreen has been in operation since 1949 and I am so happy they still are!  The food was very good.

We had also stopped in a the Burlington City Antiques Emporeum where my daughter bought some charming vintage clothing items and I bought a bakelite box brownie camera like one I owned as a child, by mine was metal and newere.  I bought this because it fits with my 1940's kit for Women Journalists of World War Ii, not that I will ever be doing any more presentations, but you never know.  

We had a wonderful time!
At the Antiques Emporium, we were given a flyer and I payss the info on to YOU:

2016 HISTORIC BURLINGTON ANTIQUE GARDEN AND ART SHOW SUNDAY MAY 22 FROM 11a.m. to 5 p.m. 424 High Street, over 85 Dealers indoors and out!
* Evaluations up to 3 items ($5 donation)
*Re-claimed functional art pieces for home and garden
*Flowers and plants
*Complimentary Refreshments
RAIN OR SHINE
{home 609-747-8333 www.antiquesnj.com