hi my name is kim brooks pickett. i'm looking for a researcher to help me trace my family tree. i have some info on my family line but i need help. please e-mail me at kimnwhs88@msn.com

Thank you! For that person searching, if you go to http://www.hcplc.org/hcplc/ig/genealogy.html and click on TRAILS, then enter Tomaini, you'll get several listings for Aurelio "Al" (The Giant) Tomaini. The first few are his obituary and funeral notices, but there are several earlier articles written by the Tribune's historian in the Bay Life section, featuring him and I'm sure this will give you some insight into the life patterns of the circus people who made their winter home in the Gibsonton area. Good luck. Sue >According to a book I have, Al's last name is spelled: > >Tomaini > > >============================== >To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, >go to: >http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237

The Gainesville Sun of Gainesville, Florida and The Times Union of Jacksonville, Florida. Ted ----- Original Message ----- From: "Peggy Mcswain" <PMcSwain@peoplepc.com> To: <FLHILLSB-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wednesday, October 30, 2002 10:46 AM Subject: Re: [FLHILLSB] Carnival City USA > Thank you- would any one happen to know the names of any of the local news > papers for that area-? for about the year of 1964- or so- > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Ted H Pettigrew" <tpettig@earthlink.net> > To: <FLHILLSB-L@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Wednesday, October 30, 2002 1:47 AM > Subject: Re: [FLHILLSB] Carnival City USA > > > > Melrose is in Putnam county, Florida in north central part. State road 21 > > and 26 cross thru center of Melrose. > > > > Ted > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: "Peggy Mcswain" <PMcSwain@peoplepc.com> > > To: <FLHILLSB-L@rootsweb.com> > > Sent: Wednesday, October 30, 2002 12:24 AM > > Subject: Re: [FLHILLSB] Carnival City USA > > > > > > > Would someone on this list maybe know where a place called Melrose is or > > > was- ? Thanks > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > > From: "Thomas Parker" <twparker@sprynet.com> > > > To: <FLHILLSB-L@rootsweb.com> > > > Sent: Tuesday, October 29, 2002 10:28 AM > > > Subject: RE: [FLHILLSB] Carnival City USA > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Subject: [FLHILLSB] Carnival City USA > > > > > > > > The location near Tampa is Gibsonton, > > > > > > > > I can not answer the Jacksonville part of the question. > > > > > > > > Tom Parker > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ============================== > > > > To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy > > records, > > > go to: > > > > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237 > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ============================== > > > To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy > records, > > go to: > > > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237 > > > > > > > > > > > > ============================== > > To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, > go to: > > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237 > > > > > > > > ============================== > To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, go to: > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237 >

According to a book I have, Al's last name is spelled: Tomaini

No, sorry. Were these their real names? Might recognize the carnival names though. Went to http://www.thpl.org/ but can't get Al's last name correct. It was Al Tomeni, Tomelli, something like that. (That was his real name; stage name The Giant; owned Giant's Fish Camp, Gibsonton, FL). His wife was the lady with no legs who got around on a little wagon type scooter, using her hands, wore leather gloves to help. Very nice lady. Saw her all the time in Sears at Hillsboro & 22d Street. Thought an article would help jog something. Anyone else know? Sue At 06:12 PM 10/30/02 +0000, you wrote: >Hi Sue, >Any memories of the Huffine's ? Edna Rea (husbands Aunt) and Shorty >Austine Huffine? Just fishin'. Laura Patterson > >I have very fond memories of all of dad's carnival and circus friends. >Good luck in your search. >Sue in Tampa >> > > >_________________________________________________________________ >Get a speedy connection with MSN Broadband. Join now! >http://resourcecenter.msn.com/access/plans/freeactivation.asp > > >============================== >To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, >go to: >http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237

You might find this site interesting (just found it!) Royal American Shows http://web.tampabay.rr.com/lemay/royal.htm >> >From : DmcElwain@aol.com To : FLHILLSB-L@rootsweb.com Subject : Re: [FLHILLSB] From list mom & Royal American Shows Date : Mon, 28 Oct 2002 07:23:07 EST I had an aunt Mary Wilkins who worked with the Royal American Shows. Thanks D>>> _________________________________________________________________ Protect your PC - get McAfee.com VirusScan Online http://clinic.mcafee.com/clinic/ibuy/campaign.asp?cid=3963

Hi Sue, Any memories of the Huffine's ? Edna Rea (husbands Aunt) and Shorty Austine Huffine? Just fishin'. Laura Patterson > I have very fond memories of all of dad's carnival and circus friends. Good luck in your search. Sue in Tampa >> _________________________________________________________________ Get a speedy connection with MSN Broadband.  Join now! http://resourcecenter.msn.com/access/plans/freeactivation.asp

Thanks again - Tom- ----- Original Message ----- From: "Thomas Parker" <twparker@sprynet.com> To: <FLHILLSB-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wednesday, October 30, 2002 5:53 AM Subject: [FLHILLSB] Newspapers of Florida > > You can go here and view past and present newspapers and where there are > archive holdings. > > http://web.uflib.ufl.edu./fnp/ > > Tom Parker > > > > ============================== > To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, go to: > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237 > > >

You can go here and view past and present newspapers and where there are archive holdings. http://web.uflib.ufl.edu./fnp/ Tom Parker

It is near Gainesville, FL.

Thank you- would any one happen to know the names of any of the local news papers for that area-? for about the year of 1964- or so- ----- Original Message ----- From: "Ted H Pettigrew" <tpettig@earthlink.net> To: <FLHILLSB-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wednesday, October 30, 2002 1:47 AM Subject: Re: [FLHILLSB] Carnival City USA > Melrose is in Putnam county, Florida in north central part. State road 21 > and 26 cross thru center of Melrose. > > Ted > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Peggy Mcswain" <PMcSwain@peoplepc.com> > To: <FLHILLSB-L@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Wednesday, October 30, 2002 12:24 AM > Subject: Re: [FLHILLSB] Carnival City USA > > > > Would someone on this list maybe know where a place called Melrose is or > > was- ? Thanks > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: "Thomas Parker" <twparker@sprynet.com> > > To: <FLHILLSB-L@rootsweb.com> > > Sent: Tuesday, October 29, 2002 10:28 AM > > Subject: RE: [FLHILLSB] Carnival City USA > > > > > > > > > > > > > Subject: [FLHILLSB] Carnival City USA > > > > > > The location near Tampa is Gibsonton, > > > > > > I can not answer the Jacksonville part of the question. > > > > > > Tom Parker > > > > > > > > > > > > ============================== > > > To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy > records, > > go to: > > > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237 > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ============================== > > To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, > go to: > > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237 > > > > > > > ============================== > To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, go to: > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237 > >

Melrose is in Putnam county, Florida in north central part. State road 21 and 26 cross thru center of Melrose. Ted ----- Original Message ----- From: "Peggy Mcswain" <PMcSwain@peoplepc.com> To: <FLHILLSB-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wednesday, October 30, 2002 12:24 AM Subject: Re: [FLHILLSB] Carnival City USA > Would someone on this list maybe know where a place called Melrose is or > was- ? Thanks > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Thomas Parker" <twparker@sprynet.com> > To: <FLHILLSB-L@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Tuesday, October 29, 2002 10:28 AM > Subject: RE: [FLHILLSB] Carnival City USA > > > > > > > > Subject: [FLHILLSB] Carnival City USA > > > > The location near Tampa is Gibsonton, > > > > I can not answer the Jacksonville part of the question. > > > > Tom Parker > > > > > > > > ============================== > > To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, > go to: > > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237 > > > > > > > > ============================== > To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, go to: > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237 > >

The only Melrose Florida that I know about it near Gainesville in north Florida.

Would someone on this list maybe know where a place called Melrose is or was- ? Thanks ----- Original Message ----- From: "Thomas Parker" <twparker@sprynet.com> To: <FLHILLSB-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Tuesday, October 29, 2002 10:28 AM Subject: RE: [FLHILLSB] Carnival City USA > > > Subject: [FLHILLSB] Carnival City USA > > The location near Tampa is Gibsonton, > > I can not answer the Jacksonville part of the question. > > Tom Parker > > > > ============================== > To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, go to: > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237 > >

Melrose, Florida is East of Gainesville, South of Starks and West of Palatka. Annette ----- Original Message ----- From: "Peggy Mcswain" <PMcSwain@peoplepc.com> To: <FLHILLSB-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Tuesday, October 29, 2002 11:24 PM Subject: Re: [FLHILLSB] Carnival City USA Would someone on this list maybe know where a place called Melrose is or was- ? Thanks ----- Original Message ----- From: "Thomas Parker" <twparker@sprynet.com> To: <FLHILLSB-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Tuesday, October 29, 2002 10:28 AM Subject: RE: [FLHILLSB] Carnival City USA > > > Subject: [FLHILLSB] Carnival City USA > > The location near Tampa is Gibsonton, > > I can not answer the Jacksonville part of the question. > > Tom Parker > > > > ============================== > To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, go to: > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237 > > ============================== To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, go to: http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237

<PRE>Some of the winter in and around Gibsonton.

The Sarasota/Bradenton area, although Al, the Giant, had the "Giant's Fish Camp," on Hwy 301 in Gibsonton, FL (close to the Sarasota/Bradenton area). He and my father were friends and we visited them often. My father worked for a trucking company that repaired and maintained the tractor engines, so one of the first things done when they got south, was to bring the trucks in for servicing. We always had free tickets, had circus people at our Sunday dinner table, and even visited them in their homes on Sunday drives (that all kids hate because you're stuck in the back seat with all your siblings). Jacksonville has great resources for history and genealogy. Give them a holler: library, genealogical & historical societies, newspaper files. Also try Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness for a volunteer to help guide you on who has what. I would imagine Pensacola would be too far north for the carnies, and way too cold. They really enjoyed the Florida sunshine, warmth, beaches, and the comraderie of being a unit. A lot were also familialy related and stayed close, lived close. When shopping in the big city of downtown Tampa, we knew who they were and why they were here and they were accepted as just-folks, which they were/are, not stared at as different. It was a common occurrence. I have very fond memories of all of dad's carnival and circus friends. Good luck in your search. Sue in Tampa At 12:23 PM 10/29/02 -0500, you wrote: >I know that most carnivals winter in FL and it's mostly in one area. Can >anyone tell me where that is? Also, I would like to know what amusement >parks where in Jax FL abt. 1920 - is there a list for them somewhere? Am >hoping that this chain might have had parks in Perry and Pensacola as well >or, maybe played these towns/cities. > >Thanks so much. > > >============================== >To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, >go to: >http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237

Subject: [FLHILLSB] Carnival City USA The location near Tampa is Gibsonton, I can not answer the Jacksonville part of the question. Tom Parker

I know that most carnivals winter in FL and it's mostly in one area. Can anyone tell me where that is? Also, I would like to know what amusement parks where in Jax FL abt. 1920 - is there a list for them somewhere? Am hoping that this chain might have had parks in Perry and Pensacola as well or, maybe played these towns/cities. Thanks so much.

I had an aunt Mary Wilkins who worked with the Royal American Shows. Thanks D