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Equality & Nixburg News
Jennifer Williamson
Have you ever thought about the value of your local newspaper? I know many feel it is about big news events and editorials; however, have you thought about what a great tool it is in researching family history? Finding out what your ancestors were up to? Discovering the real truth in those family stories?
Sadly, many do not value their local newspaper nor want to see their name in it since they have a negative view of sharing information.
My story involves my lifelong passion in genealogy and family secrets. My father promised my mother to never talk about his first marriage, and he kept that promise, only mentioning my half-sister twice in my lifetime, tears welling in his eyes, saying, “A parent should never outlive their child.”
I always longed for a sister. I had two older brothers, and two younger brothers, but I had no sister to share my life with.
After my father passed, my mother told me a bit more, but didn’t want to talk about it. Then after my mother passed in 2019 I had only two pieces of information, a picture of my father holding an infant child and a funeral program that listed her name, birth and death dates and where services were held.
For the next six years I tried to dig for more information, but did not have my father’s first wife’s name, so finding further information on my sister that died one day after she turned one year old was very challenging.
But then I started digging into newspapers, and in a local paper there was a small article about her accidentally drowning while her mother was at work and our father was out of town on business. My sister and the truth were discovered, and I was able to build up the story of her short life.
Other information I found was my grandparents’ social and volunteer activities, club memberships and other exciting news. They passed before I was born, so now I feel I know them as the people and community members that they were thanks to the local newspapers.
The new quilting group is meeting every Monday evening from 6 to 8 p.m. at Jenny’s General Store. Several people in the group are working on a log cabin pattern, which is great for every level of experience. Each lady is purchasing their own material; most are buying pre-cut kits to do 12 log cabin squares. Others are working independent projects, using both machines and hand stitching.
Rebel Homesteaders of Elmore/Coosa counties are hosting a canning class; I believe it is water bath canning tomatoes. Class will be held next Friday, November 14, from 10 a.m. to noon, at the Equality Volunteer Fire Department Hall Lodge building on Highway 9 in downtown Equality. Please bring a $10 cash donation for use of the building.
Please continue to support ongoing activities such as by Kendrick Memorial Baptist Church’s yard sale, held most Saturdays starting at 8 a.m. Address is 5152 Alabama Highway 9, in case you haven’t noticed it driving on Highway 9. Elaine Rutledge of Nixburg hosts Rummikub at the Alexander City Senior Center in the Sportplex every first and third Friday starting at 10 a.m.
I depend upon my readers to share with me what is happening within your organizations, churches, neighborhoods, groups, or family to share in next week’s column. Please contact me; leave a voice message or text 256-531-6460 or email at coosacafe@gmail.com.
