Belated Happy Birthday Grandpa Red!!

My maternal grandfather, Ernest John "Red" Senecal, was born on 23 December 1905 in AuSable Forks, Clinton County, New York to John Senecal and Georgiana (Yelle) Senecal.  He died 17 February 1967 in Plattsburgh, Clinton County, New York, a month before I was born.

Here is a picture of a portrait painted when he was 2-3 years old.  The original frame did not survive one of my many moves so the quest is on to find an appropriate new one.

Grandpa Red loved sports and played baseball and basketball in high school.  He also played in the town team baseball leagues in the 1920's.  He played second and third bases and was usually a lead off hitter.  I am going through the Northern New York Historical Newspapers (See Website Wednesday) to find more game summaries.

NOTE: A good reference book for North Country baseball is "The Only Game In Town: A Century of North Country Town-Team Baseball 1860-1960" by Robert M. Garrow (Bloated Toe Publishing, www.bloatedtoe.com, 2009) .

Here's a picture from my GOLDMINE.  I know Grandpa Red is on the last row, second from the left, with the hat by a manager. I wish I knew more about the picture but hopefully one day I will!!

Well, one of my favorite sayings is "Better Late Than Never".  So Grandpa Red, Happy Belated Birthday!! And as I like to say, "GO TEAM"!!

Motivation Monday

Well I am FINALLY getting around to listing my monthly genealogy goals after reading Stephanie's Corn and Cotton: My Family's Story and Terri's Finding Our Ancestors today. I am motivated!! (Or maybe terrified if I actually publicly WRITE my to-do's I might actually have to do them!!)

I also follow a few other bloggers who put it out for the rest of to see and get inspired.  There is Tonia's Tonia's Roots, Tina's Gen Wish List and Dee's Ancestrally Challenged.

Thank you all for inspiring me.  Now to the LIST.  Since this month is busier than normal with holiday functions, I am starting with baby steps!!

1. Blog at least 3 times this month  
2. Sort the pictures in my GOLDMINE
3. Start scanning pictures
4. Entry data into my Legacy program
5. Start plotting out next year's goals :)

Well there it is. December 2011 goals.  Now to actually to start them!!!

Happy Veterans Day To All

The GOLDMINE has struck again!! Not only I have found pictures of my maternal grandfather, Ernest John Senecal, during his World War II Army service BUT found a couple of books about his division. AND his Enlisted Record and Report of Separation Honorable Discharge form signed and recorded in Clinton County, New York.

"Red" served in the Army, 94th Infantry, 301st Field Artillery Battalion, Company C.  He left as a Tech Corporal.  His MOS was Cook.  Mom always he was a better cook than Grandma!!

In my "Goldmine" there were several division history books with pictures, names and addresses of all the men.  I am really looking forward to researching this division.

And here is the card issued by the Office of Clinton County Clerk showing an Honorable Discharge has been recorded.

I grew up in a military family in a military town so I was always aware of service members and what they meant to our country and to families.  It is going to be another journey to investigate this chapter of my grandfather's life that I knew existed but just didn't know much about it.  Can't wait!!!

Website Wednesday

I'm not sure if that's a daily blogging prompt but it is for me today!

I am totally and I do mean TOTALLY in love with today's website.  What is it? It is the "Northern New York Historical Newspapers" at news.nnyln.net  It is part of the Northern New York Library Network (www.nnyln.org).  It has newspapers for the following counties:  Clinton, Essex, Franklin, St Lawrence, Jefferson, Lewis and Oswego.

Tombstone Tuesday

Melinda (Sharrow) Dupray/Duprey 1942

1940 Census Continued

1940 Federal Census

1940 Federal Census Supplementary Questions

1940 US Census Preview

Just a quick note. I went to the Genealogy Club of Montgomery County Historical Society (http://www.montgomeryhistory.org/genealogy-club-montgomery-county-historical-society) last night and heard Constance Potter with the National Archives give a presentation on the 1940 US Census. First, she is a great speaker. If you are in the Metro DC area and have a chance to hear her, I highly recommend it. Second, I am not really looking for to the release of the Census!! The official release is 2 April 2012 at 9:00 am. I say the servers will be down at 9:01 am :)

So in honor of the 1940 Census, I now have a countdown gadget!!

More to follow..........soon........I promise!!

http://www.montgomeryhistory.org/genealogy-club-montgomery-county-historical-society

Happy 236th Birthday Navy!!

On the Navy's 236th Birthday, here are some pictures I found in my "GOLDMINE" of my father, Thomas Raymond Coughlin from his early years in the Navy:

Genealogy GOLDMINE....I Hope!!

Look what I found in storage!!

From first glance it looks like photos and clippings from various family members. Some information from my maternal grandfather's time in the Army during World War 2. Recipes books (funny since I'm the domestically challenged Coughlin sister!!!).....can't wait for the holiday weekend!!

Happy Birthday 100th Birthday Grandma Senecal!

Today, 6 October 2011, would have been my maternal grandmother's 100th birthday. Eulalia Mary (Duprey) Senecal was born in Swastiaka/Black Brook, Clinton County, New York. the youngest of 6 children born to Eugene Duprey and Melinda (Sharrow) Duprey. She died on August 1, 1979 in Plattsburgh, Clinton County, New York.

I didn't know Grandma Senecal that well as we lived in Charleston, South Carolina and she was in Plattsburgh, New York. Before the Internet Age, the ways to communicate with loved ones not living near included the weekly Sunday phone call and letters. Of course the birthday and Christmas cards ALWAYS had money :)

Family lore has it that she was born "Lily Marie" but when her birth was registered it became "Eulalia Mary". In some correspondence I recently found of her sister, Mamie (Duprey) Willis, my grandmother was referred to as "Lily" or "Lola".

I know this family liked to celebrate any and all occasions, so in that vain I say "Happy Birthday Grandma" and don't worry this granddaughter will lift one for you today!!!

Better Late Than Never - Reflections of NGS 2011

As many folks I follow on social media are getting ready for the FGS Conference in Springfield, IL, I am FINALLY getting to my NGS Conference materials and pictures. I had good intentions of posting everyday while I was at the NGS Conference in Charleston, SC, my hometown. Well, we all know where good intentions can let us :)

For me the Conference was a chance to go home and spend time with my family and friends as well as get to hear some great genealogy speakers. I wish there had been more hours in the day so I could have participated in some of the activities offered. I attended sessions, had lunches with my best friend who had just lost her mother and dinner with family and friends. It was a great time! (And I got to celebrate my nephew's 1st birthday!!)

My only problem was that I was unable to capitalize on the momentum from the Conference and really attack my genealogy. WORK and LIFE got in the way. Now both are settling down and I hope to be able to focus on getting a clearer picture of what I REALLY need to be doing.

Here are some photos I was able to take while at the Conference:

Sweet Grass Basket Weavers:

Plantation Singers (http://www.plantationsingers.com)

Wedding Wednesday

Found these photos of my parents, Thomas Raymond Coughlin and Sharyn Ann Senecal, on their wedding day, 18 April 1966 at Holy Name Church, AuSable Forks, Clinton County, New York.

And this great photo of my parents, maternal and paternal grandparents!!

Left to Right:
David Francis Coughlin (1909-1984),
Helen (Torrance) Coughlin (1910-1995),
Thomas Raymond Coughlin (1944-1998),
Sharyn Ann (Senecal) Coughlin (1945-1992),
Eulalia Mary (Duprey) Senecal (1911-1979),
Ernest John Senecal (1905-1967)

Tombstone Tuesday

Paternal great grandparents, Daniel and Agnes (Williams) Coughlin. Pic from 1992 trip to the North Country of New York! Holy Name Cemetery, AuSable Forks, Clinton County, New York.

Wordless Wednesday

Maternal grandparents, Ernest and Eulalia (Duprey) Senecal. Printed on a postcard. They lived in AuSable Forks, Clinton County, New York so a trip to Niagara Falls, New York would be a trip back then but doable.

Sidenote: Amazing what you find when you FINALLY start organizing :)

Tombstone Tuesday

These are my paternal grandparents, David Francis Coughlin and Constance Ann (Hall) Coughlin. They are buried at Holy Name Cemetery, AuSable Forks, Clinton County, New York. Another photo from my 1992 trip....ah, to know then what I know now!!!

Happy Book Lover's Day!!

I just saw where today is Book Lover's Day. As family researchers, I think we all know a thing or two about books!! As a history major, I read a great number of books. Even today all those many years later, still reading and loving it!!

So Happy Book Lover's Day ya'll!!!

Tombstone Tuesday

 

My maternal grandparents, Ernest John and Eulalia Mary (Duprey) Senecal, taken in 1992 at Holy Name Cemetery, AuSable Forks, Clinton County, New York. This was taken on a trip before I really got into genealogy. Would love to go back someday!

Natural Disasters - 52 Weeks of Personal Genealogy & History

Natural Disasters. I grew up on the South Carolina coast so we always had tropical storms and hurricanes to deal with during "the season". Even after being gone for many years, every June 1st I feel the need to stock up on batteries and bottle water!! I won a trivia contest (at a bar) for knowing that hurricane season goes from June 1st to November 30th.

After dodging all the big storms and dealing with the minor hurricanes, Charleston's luck ran out in 1989. Hurricane Hugo hit 21-22 September 1989 as a Category 4 storm. He hit at night. For years I couldn't sleep at night when it rained. We lucked out in that we had minor damage. Got a new roof. For weeks we were without power. That I learned to accept. Being without water for ONE WEEK was killer. You'd go to wash your hands after cleaning up debris and nothing!! We had a rain storm a few days after the storm hit. My sister and I went to the backyard and let Mother Nature be our shower!! Washed the hair, cleaned the body, felt good!!

I guess that's why seeing the whole mess with Hurricane Katrina got to me. That could have been Charleston, Savannah or any city on the East Coast. A hurricane that hits at high tide is the worst. New Orleans had double whammies with being at or below sea level and the levies.

But hurricanes are a fact of life on any coast and have been for years. The photo below was taken less than a month after Hurricane Hugo hit in front of the Slave Market. I think that sums up not only Hugo but all hurricanes!!

Toys - 52 Weeks of Genealogy and Personal History

My all time favorite toy growing up was the Mrs. Beasley doll. I loved that doll more than I loved my baby sister!! After several years of my sister tearing Mrs. Beasley's arms off and my poor Mother repairing them as long as she could. One day, Mrs. Beasley wasn't there. The only thing that remained was her apron (which I still have today). My Mother's response to my questions of where the doll was "she's on vacation and we'll see her soon".......and I bought it. So naive :)

Cars - 52 Weeks of Personal Genealogy & History

When I saw the posting about CARS, I had to smile. My late father's "hobby" was CARS!! Specifically, old cars. So no big surprise that my first car was a 1966 Plymouth Barracuda. Dad borrowed a battery to get it home and work on it (purchased for $100.00). So for my junior & senior years of high school, I drove a tri-color car to school and loved it!! For graduation, my car was painted...and again I loved it!! Saddest day was when I "upgraded" to air conditioning after college.

Fixup Time:

High School Years:

College Years:

I am STILL in the process of finding and organizing my photos so in the future I will post pictures of some of the great (didn't always think so at the time) cars we had.

Finally, An Intro

Decided to go ahead and take the plunge and start a blog!! My goal is post weekly (if not more when inspired).

A little about me. I've been on and off this great journey for more years than I really want to admit :) Both my parents have roots in Clinton & Essex Counties, New York. Two rural counties. Two counties that seem to always be left off EVERYTHING I find. But just means I have to improvise and hope the genealogy fairies are on my side!!!