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Visiting Historical Sites, Living History Museums, and Folk Parks

Kilaned Cottage at Glencomcille Folk Park represented how my ancestors might have lived in Ireland, circa 1850s. Have you ever visited a heritage park, living history museum, or folk park where your ancestors lived? If not, I recommend you add it to your next genealogy trip to gain some incredible insight into what their lives, homes, occupations, and traditions were like. In the past year, I've visited several of these sites and came away with a much better understanding of where my ancestors lived, what they saw or did in their everyday lives, even what kinds of tools they used or clothing they might have worn. I find it's one thing to read in books about life during the times they lived, but it's quite another to walk through a cottage, sidle up to a sheep, step on a ship, or peek into a hedge school replica to bring that book learning to life.   Western New York & Canada  On my visit last year to Western New York and St. Catharines, Ontario, to research my Schiltz, ...
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So Many Stories to Tell

Young Thomas J. "Tommy" Kozlina and my mom Anna Margaret Kozlina.
Friends,

This past year, I have dedicated much time to my favorite hobby: family history. I have read books, listened to podcasts, attended workshops, and begun again, to research our family lines.

I do so for a variety of reasons, but mainly I am intrigued and excited by the people the research reveals. At first, it was all about the names and dates, and "how far can I get back?" And, while that is still somewhat of a focus (Apparently, we cannot go back to Ireland until I find out where the Casey line is from!), I find more and more that I am just drawn into the stories that emerge, as I find more details of our ancestors' lives.

There's the funny stuff : "Polish Wedding Causes Trouble," is the headline of a newspaper article featuring my great grandmother Margaret McAndrew Gilbride. We'll save that one for another post.

There's everyday life: "So-and-So is visiting their mother this week." The not-so-everyday: "Sleeping Sickness Fatal to Girl."

There are stories which break your heart, and ones that make you nod your head and say, "Oh, so THAT's why..."

There are discoveries of familial likenesses, shared hobbies, tales of travel from abroad, and tales of deeply held American roots. There are railroad men, a hockey player, a prominent blacksmith, several coal miners, a nun and a priest...

Newspaper snippets - the Facebook of the time - recording who visited whom, or who wore what to whose wedding. There are both slices of everyday life and memorable moments in photo. There are bunches of interesting folk, who lived sometimes ordinary, sometimes extraordinary lives.

So many stories to tell. And here in this little space, I hope to share them with you.

Come on along.
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