Duchess Snowy Domain

The view on the left is what you could expect to see up at the Vallecito Res., in Southwest Colorado, in the San Juan mountains, north of Bayfield. Saturday, Sunday and Monday was a different picture, though.

Snow and rain showers moved in Saturday, Sunday and continues with a snow/mixture in the mountains and valley for Monday through Wednesday as it tapers off before another front comes through. To view that same photo in black and white, CLICK HERE

The temperatures North of Bayfield, Colorado have been hanging around 34 degrees the last few days, but last week we did get up to the mid-40's.

SW San Juan Mountain Wildlife

Robert L. Wagner took this photo of the Albert Squirrel, Sterling Jays and other small birds feeding behind their own little secluded feeding area, hidden by mounds of piled snow from the road crews.

That Albert Squirrel can be quite interesting to watch as he hogs the feeder. The Albert squirrel I have down at my place, closer to Bayfield, Colorado likes to sit in the feeder while a dozen or more big black crows, standing around on the ground nearby, squawking at Mr. Albert (squirrel) while he munches away. Nothing scares him off, except my friend Sadie and me (Duchess) when NW Okie lets us out the back patio door.

Have you ever observed the Albert Squirrel at feeding time?

As Edward R. Murrow would say, "Good Night and Good Luck!"
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1931 - 32nd Annual Commencement & Baccalaureate (NSTC)

Have I shared this 1931, 32nd annual Commencement Sermon and Baccalaureate Exercises of Northwestern State Teachers' College, in Alva, Oklahoma, held at Herod Hall, May 17 and 20, 1931 with you before?

The commencement Sermon of Northwestern State Teachers' College, at Herod Hall was held Sunday, May 17, 1931, 11:00 a.m. The Baccalaureate Exercises for NSTC was held at Herod Hall, Wednesday, May 20, 1931, 10:00 a.m.

Class of 1931 and Class Officers included the following:

Class Officers:
J. Allan Murry, President
Sadie Chew, Vice-President
Edith Derksen, Secretary
Milford Rice, Treasurer

Candidates for Degrees:
Glenn Marshal Baker
Fred Roosevelt Balentine
Richard Harold Belcher
Afton Branson
Arthur Ray Bruner
Carl Davis Byrd
Dolly Clara Carlson
Sadie Chew
Glenn Hurbert Cocnhran
violet Ruth Collins
Bill W. Cotton
Joe Anna Crosslin
Mary Edith Derksen
Raleigh Estle
Louis Oliver Ewbank
Eloise Ferguson
Wilbur Lee findly
Donald Galbraith
Russel Joseph Hadwiger
Ella Ruth Haight
Ernest William Hamburg
Josephh Hamilton, Jr.
Howard Emmanuel Harmon
Robert Floyd Harrington
Monnie May Haworth
William Earl Hendricks
Mary Martha Hill
Floyd Eugene Hoefer
Vida Leon Holland
Thelma Irene Hopkins
Eleanor Margaret Houts
Emril Jay Johnson
Orville Leroy Korn
Cecil Jackson Malloy
James Henry Manning
Elbert Everett Marlatt
Marion Guy McCoy
Ellen Marion McHugh
Glenn Moore
Jesse Allan Murry
Fern Neagle
James Ray Oxley
Florence Raney
Edward Martin Rauh
Bertha Louise Read
Emery Milford Rice
Ernest Ladell Rowan
Paul Eve SHelley
Earl E. Shelly
Howard A. Shryock
Joseph Slack
Philip D. Smith
Ola parker Snuggs
Sylvia Pearl Sonderup
Maggie Elizabeth Slemmer
Letha Lynn Sutton
Wilbur Henry Tanner
Charles Lewis Tucker
Emma Jane Tuller
Reva Jean Van Buskirk
Juanita Alice Walker
Gully Stephen Walters
Clifford Leroy Weathers
Elvest Leopold Webb
Murlin E. Wilkinson
Harry S. Williams
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1942 NSC Alumni Banquet

The Northwestern State College (NSC) Alumni Banquet held May 23, 1942 was dedicated to the Class of 1917 by the Northwestern Alumni Association. Officers of the 1942 Alumni Association were: Bill Gruber, President; Harry Foster, Vice-President; and Essie Nall, Secretary.

We have scanned the little red 1942 NSC Alumni Banquet booklet into a PDF file for those interested parties that would like to view the Seniors of 1942.

If you click on the following link, you can view the entire (1942 NSC Alumni Banquet).

Here are just a few of the the seniors of 1942:
Allen Arthur Aaron, Quinlan, OK
Anna Beth Harth Aaron, Quinlan, OK
Opal Achemire, Avard, OK
Edith Catlin Alexander, Adams, OK
Ruth Alyson Alkire, Knowles, OK
Milton Andrew, Amorita, OK
Dolores Maxine Arrington, Drummond, OK
Clara Irene Baker, Waukomis, OK
Louis Alfred Baker, Carmen, OK
Alvina Beisel, Fargo, OK
Victor Beisel, Fargo, OK
Clarice Alberta Benefiel, Waynoka, OK
Martin Paul Benson, Teagarden, OK
Alvarez Bodie, Byron, OK
Dorothy Ann Bonine, Wakita, OK
Frances Lorene Boucher, Oakwood, OK
Robert Monroe Burket, Alva, OK
Sadie Burns, Vici, OK
Dorothy Aline Buss, Vici, OK
Ethel Marie Buss, Vici, OK
James Patsy Butler, Braman, OK
Darrel Francis Byrd, Carmen, OK
Ben Cable, Jr., Freedom, OK
Edna Lanman Cann, Higgins, TX
Clarice Blanche Carpenter, Selman, OK
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Class of 1950 - Alva High

Alva High School's 34th Annual Commencement Exercises, of 1950 (May 14th and 17th) had the following Class of 1950 officers, sponsors, class flower, class colors, class motto and Class Roll:

Class Officers:
Bob Simon, President; Connie Burdick, Vice-President; Betty Zahorsky, Secretary; and Mollie Weaver, Treasurer.

Class Sponsors were Joe Smith, Martha Frizzell and Margery Clyne.

The Class Flower was the Red Rose; Class colors were Blue and White; and Class Motto was "Not the End, but he Beginning."

Class Roll:
Jackie Carol Anderson
William Nix Anderson
Ruby Anita Barker
John Kenneth Beadles
Charles Lee Bindrum
Bertha Mina Baham
Ronald Edward Boswell
Phyllis Marie Brewer
Mary Elaine Brown
Connie Joe Burdick
Betty Jane Burket
Joy Ann Cameron
Virgil Dale Chance
Glen Eugene Cline
Joe Allen Cox
Elmer Willis Ealey
Willena Margaret Eckels
Nelda June Elmore
Donald Ralph Failes
Edward Allen Faulkner
Paul Lee Fettke
Jack Frieze
Ralph Kimbrough Gill
Jackie Lee Ging
J. Bruce Graves
Mildred Maxine Hada
Harold Richard Harrison
Harland Lee Hintergardt
Jimmy Lee Jackson
Willis Donald Jackson
James Harry Kerns
Dorothy Lee King
Richard Glenn Koppitz
Juanita Ledesma
Donald Lee Lieswald
Georgia Marie Lenz
Vernon Lea Lieurance
Elizabeth Waynell Mallory
Marvin Jay Marsh
Ruth Alice Morefield
Robert Cleo Murrow
Sadie Verlene Osburn
Verna Mae Oshel
Katie Ellen Paul
Darrel Lynn Pearson
Nelda Lou Quast
Lowell Leroy Redfern
Iva Jean Rose
Darrel Dean Servis
Robert Bowman Simon
Norris K. Smith
Norma Jean Shoemaker
Katherine Anne Sterba
Harold Wesley Stites
Mary Laverna Stites
Chas. W. Throckmorton
Nettie Jo Vandruff
Harry Lee Venosdel
Philip Greenwood Walters
Mollie Marie Weaver
Eldon Harry Wiersig
Verna Lee Wilson
Kenneth Wayne Woods
Claride Woodward
Betty Roas Lee Zahorsky
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Mystical Shiprock Photo

Bill B. says, "Linda, thanks so much for these pictures. I am a big fan of the late Tony Hillerman and often wondered what the Shiprock looked like, now I know. I traveled through that area four times on an AT&SF passenger train during WWII visiting my grandmother in California.

I see you got the same feeling I did. It's a mystical place. Thanks for all you do to keep us informed. I recently turned my first grade girlfriend (from the 1937 class of Washington School in Alva, who contacted me on Facebook) to your Ezine. She said she spent three and one half hours going through your archives and only stopped because she fell aslep. Keep up the good work."
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1831 Pensioners of Revolutionary Soldiers In Kentucky

The following Revolutionary Soldiers in Kentucky were listed as Pensioners Under the Act of June 7, 1832. All pensions under this Act began March 4, 1831.

* Aarons, Abraham, private, Virginia Line, April 12, 1833;$40. Age 75.
* Atkinson, Joshua, private, Virginia line, June 7, 1833; $30. Age 79.
* Armstrong, Henry, private, Virginia line, November 12, 1833; $30, Age 80.
* Bailey, Elisha, private, Virginia line, September 23, 1833; $26.66, Age 70.
* Busby, Robert, private, Virginia line, April 2, 1834, $80, Age 75.
* Bettsworth, Charles, corporal, not stated, August 22, 1833; $58.33, Age 76.
* Cooper, John, private, North Carolina line, November 6, 1832; $80, Age 100.
* Conover, Levi, private, New Jersey line, October 12, 1833; $80, Age 77.
* Elliott, Alexander, midshipman, Virginia navy, October,1833; $144, Age 71.
* Greider, Sr., John private Virginia line, July 15, 1833; $88, Age 72.
* Holladay, Zacharias, drummer, Virginia line, January 28, 1834; $80. Age 70.
* Hopkins, William, private, Virginia line, March 21, 1834; $50, Age 77.
* Hurt, William, private, Virginia line, March 21, 1834; $50, age 77.
* Ingram, Jeremiah, private Virginia line, February 28, 1833; $80, Age 75.
* Irvine, James, private, North Carolina line, August 17, 1833; $46.66, age 78.
* James, Wiliam, private, North Caroline line, August 17, 1833; $40, age 76.
* Miller, Sr., Joseph, private, Virginia line, December 28, 1832; $73.33, age Sr.
* McKinney, William, private, Virginia line, February 2, 1833; $80, age 76.
* Moore, Charles, private, North Caroline line, February 7, 1834; $60, age 79.
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Oklahoma Weather & Gas Prices

Roy in Perry says, "Tornado's are dancing around western Oklahoma again (Butler/Sunset/Thomas area).

Here in Perry, we have had 72/100s of an inch of rain today and gas prices jumped up again. Conoco's price for regular jumped from $2.549 to $2.719 (that's 17-cents increase today)! I presume that the others were raised about the same amount (my guess is $2.65 or so for the independents)."
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Early German Emigrants of Augusta, VA

I found this history book about the Early Western Augusta Pioneers of Virginia over at Ancestry.com. Here is some of the information concerning "The German Families of Augusta" for those genealogy and family tree researchers with some German ancestors that landed in the Augusta county, Virginia area.

It begins, "One might ask what caused the German families of Augusta to leave their native Vaterland and undertake such a hazardous adventure as a trip across the ocean to American in the early 1700's. The answer lies in the culminating factors of almost constant recurring warfare, the constant drain of taxation imposed by their royal rulers to keep up with the grandeur of the court of Louis XIV in France, the incessant struggle of the Catholic element against the protestants, and not the least, that the entire valleys of the Rhine, the Neckar,a nod the Main Rivers had been set aflame by the fiery speeches of William Penn preaching the new religion of brotherly love, and the glories and the abundance of freedom in the New World."

It also states, "… There was nothing but praise for settling in Pennsylvania, while there was nothing but condemnation against settling in New York. The way that England had practiced the boldest deception and intrigues upon the early emigrants who were landed on Governor's Island and later transferred to Livingston Manor was soon broadcast throughout the entire Palatinate. As a result the German emigration to New York State soon came to a halt."

The section of Germany known as the Palatinate lies along the Rhine, the Nekcar, and the Main Rivers. In 1700 its principal cities were Pforsheim, Heidelberg, Mannheim, Frankenthal, Worms, Spire, Alzey, Baccarach, Bretten, Lauteren, Masbach Newstadt, Oppenheim, Simmeran, STromberg, and Ladenberg.

The Rhine was the highway along which the refugees fled the Palatinate, and it became clogged with every type of vessel that could boast a mast and a sail. The exodus down the Rhine lasted for the six moths from May through October each year. The trip down the Rhine to Rotterdam in the Netherlands lasted from three to six weeks. They had to pass some twenty to thirty customhouses on their way down and each one exacted its fee. The resources of many were exhausted by the time Rotterdam was reached.They were sometimes held in the Netherlands for one to two months. From Dutch ports they were transferred to some English port, where they usually experienced another delay sometimes lasting several months, while waiting to be passed by the customhouse or waiting for suitable winds.

The ships that brought over these people were small sailing vessels from 63 feet to less than one hundred feet long. Their tonnage was from one hundred to three hundred tons. The voyage to America took up to three months or longer to reach Philadelphia. Upon arrival in Philadelphia there was usually another long delay before they took the Oath of Allegiance to the Crown of England before the city council.

The great majority of these Germans first settled int he counties of Lancaster, Lebanon, Barks, York, and those immediately surrounding Philadelphia. The Germans in the Valley of Virginia came across the Potomac above Harper's Ferry from Maryland and Pennsylvania. The Shenandoah Valley lay next beyond through the narrow neck of western Maryland. There were a few who came from New Jersey and New York. A few came from the east Virginia counties of Spotsylvania, Orange, and Madison; and also a few, doubtless, from the German settlements in North Carolina.

The fact is emphasized that the Germans of the Valley of Virginia are descended almost entirely from the emigrants of the early eighteenth century; people who left the Fatherland, not for economic reasons alone, but largely because of religious persecution, political oppression, or military outrages. Such forces always move the best classes - people who at such times are seeking most of all liberty of conscience, health of the stet, and safety for the morals of home and family. The German pioneers of the Valley, like their neighbors the Scotch-Irish, were such a people.

This research also has a list of names of "Soldiers of the VArious Early Wars (colonial, Indian and Frontier Wars), starting on page 401.
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