For a very long time this has been on my mind. And it could be that at some time or other a hint of the idea has actually occurred on this list. For years after the sale, I would truck down into LBL with my uncle who knew the place like the back of his hand. He would point to tell me this place or that place that a homeplace had stood, who lived there, and some of the stories about the people there. He spent endless hours cleaning cemeteries in that area, many that he did not even have folks buried in. He seemed to consider it his life's work to be sure that the neighbors and kindred and friends left buried there were not forgotten, and that all those who could pass on the stories were told of them if they had ears to hear. He is gone now, as are so many others, who knew the communities intimately. With him went many of his memories, his stories. And the day is coming when there will be none left with this sort of memory. I go now to LBL and I know where some of those homeplaces were and of the people in them, but not all. My imagination and memory can return me to the times of thriving communities, and with my heart I can "see" as it was years ago. I take my children and point and they see nothing but wilderness. It is not real to them. I take them to our family cemetery lost in the wilderness and that is all they see. I point to the place I pumped water from a cistern, and scoured a front porch, the place where my grandparents raised a family and the family used to gather, but my children see wilderness. I point to where a little white country church house stood and they see wilderness. I point to where my folks walked up the road to school, and they see wilderness. Here is my challenge. For a very long time I have thought it would be meaningful if sprinkled throughout that wildeness were little signs to mark where homeplaces were and of what family, to mark where churches and schools stood and which they were. Such small markers would not mess up the wilderness, they would not disturb the hunters or the fishermen, they would not hurt anyone....but they would help the descendents "return home" in a manner of speaking, and it would make the hearts of those of us who search family history sing. Who will take up the challenge???? Who lives in the area and can get this idea moving??? Those of us who don't and share the vision will help with the expense. Who is on site and can assume the leadership of such a challenge? Pass this message on where ever you think there might be someone who will hear and remember, wish to honor the past and give the gift of that past to the future. jan

Jan I would help in any way possible. I was upset myself while there a couple of weeks ago that there was no markers for Jethro and Mary and Norfleet BASS if they knew that the cemetery was across form the remains of the Iron Furnace. The cemetery is marked on the map but there are no markers. I would love to get involved in the process of marking our ancestors homes and documenting more of their lives. I can drive up on weekends. Leslie ----- Original Message ----- From: "j" <unicorn@sun-spot.com> To: <DanvilleCrossing-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Saturday, November 10, 2001 10:16 AM Subject: CHALLENGE For a very long time this has been on my mind. And it could be that at some time or other a hint of the idea has actually occurred on this list. For years after the sale, I would truck down into LBL with my uncle who knew the place like the back of his hand. He would point to tell me this place or that place that a homeplace had stood, who lived there, and some of the stories about the people there. He spent endless hours cleaning cemeteries in that area, many that he did not even have folks buried in. He seemed to consider it his life's work to be sure that the neighbors and kindred and friends left buried there were not forgotten, and that all those who could pass on the stories were told of them if they had ears to hear. He is gone now, as are so many others, who knew the communities intimately. With him went many of his memories, his stories. And the day is coming when there will be none left with this sort of memory. I go now to LBL and I know where some of those homeplaces were and of the people in them, but not all. My imagination and memory can return me to the times of thriving communities, and with my heart I can "see" as it was years ago. I take my children and point and they see nothing but wilderness. It is not real to them. I take them to our family cemetery lost in the wilderness and that is all they see. I point to the place I pumped water from a cistern, and scoured a front porch, the place where my grandparents raised a family and the family used to gather, but my children see wilderness. I point to where a little white country church house stood and they see wilderness. I point to where my folks walked up the road to school, and they see wilderness. Here is my challenge. For a very long time I have thought it would be meaningful if sprinkled throughout that wildeness were little signs to mark where homeplaces were and of what family, to mark where churches and schools stood and which they were. Such small markers would not mess up the wilderness, they would not disturb the hunters or the fishermen, they would not hurt anyone....but they would help the descendents "return home" in a manner of speaking, and it would make the hearts of those of us who search family history sing. Who will take up the challenge???? Who lives in the area and can get this idea moving??? Those of us who don't and share the vision will help with the expense. Who is on site and can assume the leadership of such a challenge? Pass this message on where ever you think there might be someone who will hear and remember, wish to honor the past and give the gift of that past to the future. jan ==== DanvilleCrossing Mailing List ==== My genealogy software won't accept "spaceship" as a "Place of Birth"..... Now What ????