Bundled Up For Winter

-- vallecito Webshots -- Yep! Here in this photo on the left we are bundled up for Winter. BUT... last Sunday when the blowing snow hit the southwest valley of southwestern Colorado, it was a different story. As you can see in the photo on the right.

That's me (the Duchess) standing behind my sister Sadie on the front stoop of our our adobe south of Bayfield, Colorado. We had just stepped outside to go help check the horses when NW Okie took this picture. Old Man Winter made an early showing this week and just in time. NW Okie had just put up a little christmas tree outside on the patio for the wildlife. AND... it was needing some snow to decorate it. That is what you might call, "An answer to our prayers!"

The first part of this last week saw almost an inch of snow falling in the valley south of Bayfield, Colorado with more snow falling in the higher elevations. Everyone, including the horses are doing fine and keeping warm. If you click on the snow blizzard at the Adobe (on the right) you can see the rest of the pictures from that day.
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HURT Family Immigration

by Kathleen Gregory

"Immigration lists for John, Anton, Frank. John Hurt - 14 March 1876, Weser Port of New York; Anton Hurt - 21 July 1877, Braunschweig Port of Baltimore; Frank Hurt - 5 June 1880, Berlin Port of Baltimore.

Frank came to the US with Wenzel/Vaclav age 20, Maria age 24, Barbara age 14 and Rosena age 3/4. They are in Colfax Co., NE on the 15 June 1880 for the census. This is where I lose Frank. He was 60 yrs of age. Wenzel/Vaclav/James (listed in the index as Jarvis) is married to Anna Barbara age 18 b. Bohemia in the Howard Co., NE census in 1885. No children. In 1900, James and Barbara Hurt in Kelso Precinct, Howard Co., NE have Louis, Jenny, Hellen, Annie, James, Jagislaw, Frank and Caroline. They have been married 16 years and all 8 of their children are living.

Anton Hurt came with Aloiza, Frank, Clara, Jaraslau, Antonia and Anna Vollmann age 15. I finally found Anna in the immigration lists! I still can't find a marriage record for Anna and Joseph Hurt. Of course, you already have John and Mary Mrckvicka Hurt immigration information. Joseph Hurt is still eluding me. I found a Joseph Hurt immigrating to New York in 1874 age 18, occupation student. Have you anything that would support this?

On the marriage records from the NE courthouse. All of the names on the marriage records from Nebraska have phonetic spellings! This includes the names of the birth places. Anton Hurt and Cealia Przybyszewski (Shebeski) is a good example. He was born in Ujezdec, Bohemia. She is still not certain even though it looks to be Hornne, Polano. I am still trying to figure this one out. I tried to find Frank and Mary Przybyszewski in the immigration lists, but have been unsuccessful. Through the census records, their year of immigration varies from 1879-1884. They are not in the 1885 census in Nebraska. On the marriage record of Frank Hurt and Maggie Sckudlarek, Frank was born in Češov, Bohemia (pronounced Chesawf). I borrowed the book, "Nebraska, Kansas Czech Settlers" and copied the pages for Howard County. In them Vaclav Hurt is shown to be from Dubina, Bohemia. I went to www.mapy.cz and put in the name Ujezdec and then plotted the trip to Češov. I was amazed how close they are. I then did the same for a trip from Češov to Dubina. The line goes right through Ujezdec! CZECH MAP

Now that we know the area this family was located in Bohemia, we can consider doing research in the Czech Republic. Aida Kraus informs me that the best way to do it is by hiring a researcher at the daily rate, $100. It is cheaper in the long run over paying by the document and you get more information. Do you suppose we could get donations from our cousins?

I did find another descendant of Anton and Cealia Hurt. Her name is Laura - Email: gray101@aol.com She is the Registrar for her DAR Chapter and will send me some information after Christmas. I hope to learn a lot about our Hurt line. I sent an email to Marianna Iverson to see if she or her brother, Vernon (I think), has some documents to share.

I wrote to the courthouse in St. Paul for land records and naturalization records. Hopefully, these will be back this week. I am still going through census records to make sure I am keeping the lines straight. I don't want to misinform anyone.

I am really enjoying myself! I have a subscription to Ancestry.com which is how I have been doing all of my research. I wish they could get records from the Czech archives. It is my understanding that even the LDS are not able to film those records. If you have any suggestions, I gladly welcome them!" -- Kathleen - Email: gregory@giantcomm.net
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The Wizard of OZ

Do you remember the story of "The Wizard of Oz" and finding, identifying with characters in the story? Is... "The Wizard of Oz" a story of our search for our own identities as we follow that yellow brick road through our childhood to adulthood?

In an article that a friend sent me recently it mentioned, “The psychologist Carl Jung said that we relate to stories because we identify with themes and characters,” Dr Bunch explains. “And that those characters are all pieces inside our own soul. So the Lion is the warrior, the Scarecrow is the sage, and the Tin Man is the lover. And Dorothy’s heroic quest is to gather these parts within herself, so it’s actually a journey of psychological integration.”

The article went on to state, "The Wizard of Oz works because it tells the most complex, the most simple and the most universal story all at the same time. It’s about growing up and becoming whole. It’s about putting aside childish things (Kansas) and entering a world of danger and emotional responsibility (Oz). It is, says Salman Rushdie in his BFI The Wizard of Oz handbook, a film about “how the weakness of grown-ups forces children to take control of their own destinies, and so, ironically, grow up themselves”."

So... Dorothy found her "Will" to fight for what is right from the Lion; She found her knowledge through the Sage of the Scarescrow; and her heart & love of humanity through the heart of the Tin Man. Oz is/was for us all... growing up, entering the adult world of "danger & resonsibility" -- finding ourselves -- taking control of our own destinies -- leaving childhood, growing up and becoming whole.

Where and Who did you find your Sage, Warrior & Heart? Was it fostered in your own Home, Community & The World?
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HURT Family Signatures

"Linda, below is Aida's advice inre: the signatures of Jana Hurtova and Johann Hurt from your Hurt Legacy web page. She is really adamant about removing the signature of Jana Hurtova since this is a female name and therefore not John Hurt's. Also, Johann Hurt is a German name the English version of which is John Hurt. Please, make the corrections. I have more information that I am entering in Family Tree Maker. I will get this sent to you soon." -- Kathleen Gregory
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AHS Goldbug Inquiry - Class of '66

"I was playing around with the comp. today and typed in my name ... WOW! Everyone was there. Were we ever that YOUNG? What a BLAST FROM THE PAST!! Was good to see you all. Does anyone know where Alicea Evans is? What a voice, her singing was so beautiful. Thank-you." -- Joyce Darlene Morland - E-mail: joyce.d.m@sbcglobal.net
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Keith Smith's Memorial

Another Great Oklahoman, Keith Smith, will be missed. Keith died November 20, 2006 -- Here are some links to the pictures of the "Red Beer & Cigarette Wake" in honor of Keith Smith that were posted by Gov. Walters. If you look at the picture of the group at Champs (in Alva, OK). We didn't realize that Verda (Keith's mother) was married to Rod Murrow's dad." -- NOTE: In Memory of... Keith B. Smith is a Reality!
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Pine Valley Memories

"Loved reading about Pine Valley (Oklahoma) Memories. I am 50 yrs old, grew up in Talihina but have lived away most my adult life, but I had never heard about Pine Valley until today, and decided to search the internet about it. I am so glad you wrote your memories down to share with others. Thank you." -- renee bailey - Email: baileyrenee1@yahoo.com
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Remember This At Christmas Time

"According to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, while both male and female reindeer grow antlers in the summer each year, male reindeer drop their antlers at the beginning of winter, usually late November to mid-December. Female reindeer retain their antlers till after they give birth in the spring. Therefore, according to EVERY historical rendition depicting Santa's reindeer, EVERY single one of them, from Rudolph to Blitzen, had to be a girl. We should've known... ONLY women would be able to drag a fat-ass man in a red velvet suit all around the world in one night and not get lost." -- Steve N.
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Looking For Amorita (OK) Memories

"Another great issue of Okie Legacy, as per usual. You are the best of the best to publish your ezine so regularly and filled with such great history of Oklahoma.

This past week I drove through Amorita (Oklahoma), the first time since Virgil Frey died and I attended his auction several years ago. I am thankful I visited him often to savor the memories. The Balmer Fund purchased the electric refrigerated candy case that he told me had came from the Palace of Sweets in Harper (Kansas). It wasn't cheap--$800. Ouch! We also have the original wood booths (but no tables) from the drugstore.

It was so depressing to see how the town is now about all gone. Nearly all houses are vacant and deteriorating beyond repair. People simply do not understand, nor perhaps care, regarding the value of keeping a cornerstone business going in order to keep a small town alive. With Amorita, as with countless other small towns, it is now too late. But it is not too late to collect any stories or memories that someone may have of a better time in Amorite, when it still bustled. I'd like to share those memories with our Prairie Connection readers in our next January-February issue. Please submit your Amorita Memories directly to me (Rosalea) at the following EMAIL: iread@prairieconnect.com." -- Rosalea Hostetler, Volunteer Editor, Prairie Connection, Harper, Kansas
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Ken Updike's 1951 Christmas Story

"I couldn't find a B. Bryan in Binger (Oklahoma), but I found that Caddo Electric Cooperative, is the name of the rural electric association in Binger (OK). They would probably love to hear the "1951 Christmas Story' and might be able to provide information about Mr. Bryan. I really enjoyed reading this story." -- SBW
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Alva , OK Memories

"Your ezine has brought back so many good memories for me, I just love getting this every week. I don't always know everything that I read, but there's always some place mentioned that brings back a ton of memories. As my grandparents lived in Alva, I spent many of my summers as a child there. I think my best memories are of on Saturday walks with my Grandpa, Slim Henry, going uptown & ending at the Drug store. Just as grandpa would open that door, excitement would run through me, as I knew the end would be a coke float at the back of the store. But Grandpa, having never met a stranger, we would wait patiently while he visited with anyone & everyone along the way. Anyway, that's just one of the memories that floods through my mind while reading your enzine. Thanks so much for sharing this with sooo many!" -- Christy
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Perry, OK Gas Prices

"I'm not certain I'll have time to give another update this week so I'll just say that our gas prices went up and then back down to $2.11.9 as of yesterday and our weather as been in the 60's and sunny. We may have cold and snow beginning about 12/24 though (for the possibility of a white Christmas)." -- Roy K.
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Amazing Wartime Facts from WWII

Amazing wartime facts: "

OkieLegacy Guestbook

12/13/2006 - Vanessa Pettit - vipettit@aol.com - Comments: "Daughter of Buddy Pettit. I ran across this and was excited. I am the daughter of Buddy Pettit mentioned. I have heard a LOT of stories of Dad (Buddy), Les Jacobs, and Dave Cotton and have enjoyed them greatly!"

12/12/2006 - Annette Beck - acbeck@yahoo.com - Comments: "My Dad, Furman L Roberts, was in the 75th Divison, Company K, 290th Infantry from 3/31/1944 to 4/26/1945. I have been doing some research for our family history and came upon your website. I am interested in seeing what my Dad went through during that time in his life. He was 34 years old then. Unfortunately he passed away in 1994 but was always interested in history."

12/11/2006 - Alan Holt - aholt@unitedseating.com - Comment: "Nice web site. Always like to see stuff from the area. My dad was Jerald Holt. Mom, Opal Ake. Dad is buried at Orion Cemetery. Mom attended Orion School."
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Martha Cook & Featherweight Brigade

Bayou Habitat for Humanity -- "Martha had a one woman quilt show and auction at the Edward Douglas White Historical Site in the Houma/Thibodaux area. Half her quilts sold there. The proceeds went mostly to the Habitat or Humanity organization, the rest to the E.D. White organization. In all, Martha raised around $3500 dollars for the cause. Those that did not sell at E.D. White were then auctioned off on the HFH web site. Every one of the quilts sold, thirteen in all. The silent auction at the White home was accompanied by “The Featherweight Brigade”, demonstrating quilting with their vintage Singer Featherweight sewing machines. The Featherweight Martha uses was purchased by my mother in 1941. Included, from the “Habitat’s” web site, are photos of the quilts they sold on line and scenes from the auction.

The E.D. White home is a raised cypress cottage construction that was built in the late 1700’s or very early 1800’s on historic Bayou Lafourche. Homes were often “raised” on piers to help keep them above the frequent flooding of the Mississippi River and its tributaries, like Bayou Lafourche. It was also thought to be healthier to live up off the ground like that. Sugar Cane was and is still the crop that predominates in the area. Actually, there were two E.D. Whites… father and son. The father was a governor of the state of Louisiana; the son was chief justice of the Federal Court." -- Charlie Cook in Louisiana Bayou Country
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