by Brandy Heineman | Feb 21, 2018 | Blog, Family History
I can’t always explain why one old postcard grabs me, and another doesn’t. The photo I shared last month of the “5 headaches” with its many oddities, for example, was an easy yes. By contrast, I’m not sure what compelled me to pick up...
by Brandy Heineman | Jan 17, 2018 | Blog, Family History
One day I found a strange old photo. I found it because I was looking for it, or something mysterious and wonderful anyway, and I wasn’t disappointed. Loose among the jumble of antiques–a photograph tucked away in a forgotten corner of the consignment...
by Brandy Heineman | Apr 28, 2017 | Blog, Family History
Welcome, Shelia Stovall! Today we have a special treat. My friend Shelia is here to share about one of her family legends. Shelia and I met at the ACFW conference in 2014, and I’m so glad to have her here today! Shelia Stovall is a Southern, small-town librarian...
by Brandy Heineman | Mar 30, 2017 | Blog, Family History
The case of Bessie Belle Bartoo is a sad and strange puzzle—sad because a child’s death always is, and strange because of the very few details we have about her, almost all are in conflict. Folklore or Fact? I first found Bessie Belle mentioned in a source my Mom and...
by Brandy Heineman | Dec 24, 2016 | Blog, Family History
Christmas Sugar Cookie Memories One of my fondest childhood memories of Christmastime is sugar cookie baking with my Mom and sisters. Every year, she would roll out the dough and we would take turns using the cookie cutters to produce stars, bells, snowmen and...
by Brandy Heineman | Dec 5, 2016 | Blog, Family History
Background on the Witter Deed I was so delighted to find the Joshua Witter deed at the Cattaraugus County courthouse in Little Valley several years ago. Then I started trying to transcribe it. Nonetheless, this 1854 document is an important piece of my Witter family...
