May I suggest calling Kings County Court Clerk office

I am a new member here yet have subscribed to the Brooklyn, Queens, and Dutchess Cntys rootsweb lists for some time. I am searching for court records referenced in the Sep 11, 1894 Brooklyn Eagle. The court was in Ewen Street Police Court and the case was criminal. The case involves my g.gf, John Dillman and g.gm, Maria Dillman (nee Dackerman) as well as his second wife, Jennie Hunt. The article is chocked full of potential tid bits but nothing to bit into and interesting reading. I was pointed to http://www.nyc.gov/html/records/html/collections/collections_courtrecords.shtml of which their page states "Kings County Criminal Court indictment records 1894 - 1965 (with gaps): ... The Municipal Archives created a database of General Sessions indictment files 1879 - 1893; it can be searched by name or crime. The New York County District Attorney Record of Cases, 1895 - 1966 (where is 1894 records?) is an alphabetical list of defendants that can be used to locate court records for that period...The Municipal Archives has microfilmed most of the eighteenth and nineteenth century criminal! court records." I called 25 Beaver Street at 212-428-2810 and was told records are held for only 1987 - 2005 and suggested I call the State Archives in Albany at 518-485-7675 - and their suggestion was to contact the county and or the arresting authority. I immediately called Beaver Street again and spoke with the same person who then provided me with the Program Director for NYC Criminal Justice office private telephone number. I called three times yet left a voice mail on my first call and haven't been able to ask him where the 1894 criminal court records may be. Would anyone be able to shed any light on locating these records? A kind lady on LI has offered to pick up the records for me if I can find their location. Thank you for all of your help. Frank in Alabama Frank Dillman at http://frankdillman.com Dillman Surname DNA project http://frankdillman.com/dnaindexa.html

According to today's (Monday, November 14) NEWSDAY, "During the Revolutionary War, Gen. George Washington took a keen interest in the tiniest details of how his spies operated, right down to the formula for invisible ink." NEWSDAY continues, "The letter was written in 1779 by Washington to his chief of intelligence, Gen. Benjamin Tallmadge, and focuses -- without naming him -- on the man who historians have called the Revolution's most important spy, Robert Townsend of (the Hamlet of) Oyster Bay (in the Town of Oyster Bay, then Queens County and now Nassau County). His code name was Culper Jr., and Washington, at his own request, never learned his true identity." This historically important letter being auctioned in Manhattan tomorrow by Christie's. To read the complete NEWSDAY article, "Washington's letter goes on auction block", please go to: <http://www.newsday.com/news/local/longisland/ny-lispy134512321nov14,0,2676788 .story> I hope this information is useful or, at least, interesting. Regards, Walter Greenspan

On 11/13/05 (12:25:32 PM MST), in a posting to NYBROOKLYN-L@rootsweb.com, Ken Leib (LazerKen@aol.com) wrote, "For those interested in Salt Lake City for pleasure or gene search, today's NYT, Travel section has an excellent article on the city." Thanks for the head's up on this, Ken. Here's the URL for that New York Times Travel section article on Salt Lake City: http://travel2.nytimes.com/2005/11/13/travel/13going.html You may have to register (it's free) with the New York Times to access this article. I hope this information is useful or, at least, interesting. Regards, Walter Greenspan

Hi Gang, Its been a long time since I have posted here but wanted to remind those oldies and newbies that I still do FREE research here at Andersonville for the asking. I'm a part time historian and Volunteer at Andersonville and I have the newest revision of the historic site database here at my home and at my fingertips. If anyone needs any lookups, please just drop me an email. Kevin Frye Butler Georgia Andersonville Historic Site Historian / NPS Volunteer www.angelfire.com/ga2/Andersonvilleprison/index.html

Hello, I tried another search for information on-line about the workers on the Panama Canal (at a different part of the day/night), and I did find something new. This is the first part of a newspaper article on the subject: http://www.highbeam.com/library/doc0.asp?DOCID=1G1:55993515&num=8 As a child in the 1920s, Walter Muller played baseball, followed railroad tracks to his grade school and enjoyed watching U.S. infantry practice military maneuvers. But instead of growing up on apple pie or selling newspapers on New York streets, the plucky youngster ate plantains and sold parakeets and fish to sailors traveling through the steamy, tropical Isthmus of Panama. Such was the life of children whose parents migrated to Central America during construction of a historic interoceanic passage, the Panama Canal. The passageway, completed in 1914, didn't just ... ... Unfortunately, as with other "newspapers," you must "pay" to receive the entire articles from an Archives ! "Knight-Ridder Tribune, 1999, author: Diane SMITH: And, the title of the article was: "Families have Deep Roots in the Panama Canal Zone." Here is another web site mentioning the "deaths by disease:" http://www.june29.com/Tyler/nonfiction/pan2.html Before any work could begin, the most deadly of the problems on the isthmus had to be overcome - disease. The government wasn't going to allow mortality rates like had been seen during the French reign - somewhere between ten and twenty thousand were estimated to have died at the canal zone between 1882 and 1888. For this purpose, American doctor William Gorgas was called to examine the area. The most troublesome diseases were the mosquito-carried malaria and yellow fever - the same diseases that had kept Napoleon Bonaparte from putting down the uprising in Hati in 1801 - but almost all diseases known to man were endemic. Tuberculosis, cholera, diphtheria, smallpox, bubonic plague - all were cases on file at Panama hospitals in 1904. Here's other interesting articles: http://www.smplanet.com/imperialism/joining.html http://www.ralphmag.org/panama.html http://www.canalmuseum.com/photos/panamacanalphoto050.htm This web site offers resources recommended by the Library of Congress: http://www.loc.gov/rr/international/hispanic/canal/resources/canal-general.html Just found this: http://www.pancanalsociety.org/index.html Just found out that NARA has a new URL, and they have some Panama Canal records: http://www.archives.gov/research/guide-fed-records/groups/185.html That's all for now ! Enjoy your weekend ! Betty (near Lowell, MA, USA)

My great grandfather worked on the Canal. He left his family in MA to work in Panama. I'm still trying to piece together the details of that event in my family's history.

Hello, I have decided to learn more about all the people who decided to go help build the Panama Canal ! I have tried looking for books on the subject, and have found many were published. But, most are books with lots of maps and photos; many are written about the technical end of building a canal. But, I have not yet come across a book about .. the people who worked on it ! I just did another "search" and found this web page. It is one list of people who died in 1851, of Cholera, and it appears that the men came from "many" U.S. states: http://www.pt5dome.com/PanDeaths1851.htm Here is another web page which offers more on some deaths in 1851: http://www.maritimeheritage.org/PassLists/gg022652.html Here is one more web site about the Canal, and a paragraph from it: It took ten years, the labor of more than 75,000 men and women, and almost $400 million to complete the job. The builders of the Canal faced unprecedented problems: tropical disease; the unusual geology of the Isthmus that made land slides a constant hazard; the enormous size of the locks and volume of the excavation needed; and the need to establish whole new communities, to import every last nail, and to organize work on a scale never before seen. Most of the names of the men and women who worked on the Canal are forgotten today, but their legacy lives on. http://www.panamatravel.com/pcmuseum/history.html Hope this "subject matter" is of interest to people ! Betty (near Lowell, MA)

Hi Shirley, I checked back to one of the web sites I found about "Panama Canal history," and found the one about the Canal Museum. Unfortunately, it doesn't mention -- the people ! But, it did have a "books" section, which offered information on a book, "Path Between the Seas." I checked and my local library has the book, and I have requested it. (also available on many on-line book-finding sites). But, the library has lots of books on the subject of either the Panama Canal or the country of Panama ! But, very few of them look like they discuss - the people who worked on the Canal ! It sounds like it would be a great topic for a book author to consider ! Who were the people who went there to work - and who lived and who died - and did the ones who lived return to their homes and family ! Betty ----- Original Message ----- From: "Shirley Farone" <twigs@bright.net> To: <GEN-NYS-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Tuesday, November 08, 2005 3:16 PM Subject: Panama Canal Topic > The original question about the Panama Canal was a good one for presenting > to a genealogy list. I looked forward to a worthwhile exchange -- > genealogy-wise. > > But it sure looks like this thread is going to become very political!!!! > > As I have understood it, maybe incorrectly, the Chinese own each end of > the Canal now -- so why wouldn't the United States want to make all the > improvements now so that the Chinese won't have to do a thing when they > take complete control of this vital zone!!!!! Tongue in check, of > course. > > If you have a comment, please direct it to me personally. I need to be > educated, but not at the expense of this List. > > Shirley > My website: > http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~twigs2000 > > > > > > > -- > No virus found in this outgoing message. > Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. > Version: 7.1.362 / Virus Database: 267.12.8/162 - Release Date: 11/5/2005 > > ______________________________

Hi Shirley, When I posted to the MA and NY Lists, I also was hoping for some genealogy-related postings, but they did not happen ! And, the Panama Canal List only has a few postings on it, with one question about whether there is a data base of people who died while working on the Canal - going un-answered ! If 30,000 men died, there must have been hundreds of thousands of men who went down there to work -- and it just doesn't seem logical that people on the Mailing Lists don't have some sort of connection to those men ! I wonder where most of the men who went down there - originally lived ! Betty ----- Original Message ----- From: "Shirley Farone" <twigs@bright.net> To: <GEN-NYS-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Tuesday, November 08, 2005 3:16 PM Subject: Panama Canal Topic > The original question about the Panama Canal was a good one for presenting > to a genealogy list. I looked forward to a worthwhile exchange -- > genealogy-wise. > > But it sure looks like this thread is going to become very political!!!! > > As I have understood it, maybe incorrectly, the Chinese own each end of > the Canal now -- so why wouldn't the United States want to make all the > improvements now so that the Chinese won't have to do a thing when they > take complete control of this vital zone!!!!! Tongue in check, of > course. > > If you have a comment, please direct it to me personally. I need to be > educated, but not at the expense of this List. > > Shirley > My website: > http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~twigs2000 > > > > > > > -- > No virus found in this outgoing message. > Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. > Version: 7.1.362 / Virus Database: 267.12.8/162 - Release Date: 11/5/2005 > > ______________________________

I found this in the archives of the Panama Canal site, hope it helps. Sandy Panama Canal Messages posted to this board also appear in the "PANAMA-CANAL-L@rootsweb.com" mailing list. Forgotten Detail - Re:List of Deaths in Panama: Nov 1909 - Mar 1916 US Consulate Records Author: David Date: 9 Jun 2004 5:02 AM GMT Classification: Query In Reply to: List of Deaths in Panama: Nov 1909 - Mar 1916 US Consulate Records by: David Percey Post Reply | Mark Unread Report Abuse Print Message I probably should explain more about the info I posted earlier. The dates listed here do not refer to the date of death. The info serves as a finding aid to diplomatic correspondence regarding the death of Americans in Panama. Dates listed refer to the date of communications or despatches to or from diplomatic personnel. If you are looking for an ancestor or know the approximate date of death, look by name. The actual files and correspondence are available at NARA & can potentially contain a wealth of information. Here is the NARA file descriptor: "Death reports were filed in the Decimal File (Inventory 15, Entry 205), arranged by time period, 1910-29, 1930-39, 1940-44, 1945-49, thereunder by file number (3**.113) with ** representing the number for the country of death." The file no. for Panama is 319.113. The Canal Zone is assigned (11f), but I have not looked at this. This is only a partial transcription of the abstracts of diplomatic communications and is available on microfilm M973. DEATHS in PANAMA of AMERICAN CITIZENS Nov 1909 - Mar 1916 SETTLEMENT OF ESTATES [File No. 319.113] Sub DATE NAME : Details of Case or Consul Correspondence 00. 12 Nov 1909 death of unknown american 01. 27 Jan 1912 death of unknown american 02. 30 Apr 1912 estate of unknown american 04. 18 Jul 1913 KELLY, Thomas J.: death of 05. 28 Jul 1913 KELLY, Thomas J.: letter from KELLY, Nellie - inquiry 06. 30 Jul 1913 JENNINGS, John 06. 09 Aug 1913 KELLY, Thomas J.: letter to KELLY, Nellie 07. 12 Sep 1913 HUNICKE, Felix A. 08. 20 Dec 1913 HEINTZ, Catharine 09. 31 Dec 1913 CAMPBELL, John: letter from BURNETT, John L. MC 09. 07 Jan 1914 copy of above for report 10. 01 Jan 1914 GANTER, Charles 11. 30 Jan 1914 WILLIS, Benj. Franklin; CAMPBELL, John Ellis [318.111c 15] 12. 30 Jan 1914 CAMPBELL, John: removal of remains 12. 17 Feb 1914 letter to, BURNETT, J.L. MC, copy of above 13. 15 Jul 1914 HAND, Ellwood Stokes 14. 31 Aug 1914 letter to HAND, Aaron W. 15. 12 Nov 1914 HAND, Ellwood Stokes: reports in settlement of 16. 30 Dec 1914 HAND, Ellwood Stokes: final settlement of estate of 17. 21 Jan 1915 HALL, W.E.: estate of 18. 21 Jan 1915 JENNINGS, John: estate of 19. 21 Jan 1915 RAY, Edward: estate of 20. 21 Jan 1915 KELLY, Thomas J.: estate of 21. 10 Feb 1915 DILLON, Edward 22. 25 Feb 1915 COLE, Hezekiah Seeley; Geo. de JARNETT 23. 08 Mar 1915 SPERLING, Peter 23. 22 Mar 1915 internal 24. 15 Mar 1915 MASON, Jr., James 25. 19 Mar 1915 MASON, Jr., James: inventory of personal property 26. 02 Apr 1915 SPERLING, Peter: letter from RIES, Bertha 27. 03 Apr 1915 MORRIS, Ivan M. 28. 02 Apr 1915 WILSON, George E. 28. 28 Apr 1915 WILSON, George E. 29. 27 Apr 1915 MASON, James Jr.: estate of 30. 03 May 1915 MORRIS, Ivan M.: inventory of effects 30. 06 Apr 1915 SPERLING, Peter: copy of letter from Bertha RIES 30. 26 Mar 1915 SPERLING, Peter: letter to "Bert" 21 Adams Ave Pleasantville, NJ 31. 17 May 1915 SPERLING, Peter: estate of, Span. War Vet 32. 17 May 1915 WILSON, George E.: letter to MANNING, Thompson & Hoover 32. 07 Jun 1915 SPERLING, Peter: letter to RIES, Bertha 32. 12 Jun 1915 WILSON, Geo. E.: letter to MANNING, Thompson & Hoover 33. 19 Jul 1915 GARRISON, Edgar S. 34. 21 Aug 1915 WILLIS, Lamar Casteel 35. 27 Aug 1915 MORRIS, Ivan (Ira): settlement of estate of 36. 06 Oct 1915 MUNDEY, W.A.: letter from MINER, J.R. 36. 07 Oct 1915 MUNDEY: report on above 37. 08 Oct 1915 MUNDEY, W.A.: replies to above 38. 28 Sep 1915 GARY, Lewis 38. 09 Oct 1915 MUNDEY, W.A.: letter to MINER, J.R. 38. 08 Oct 1915 MUNDEY, W.A.: letter to MINER, J.R. 39. 12 Oct 1915 MOORE, William Jessey 40. 24 Nov 1915 LOUE, Ernest Manuel: letter from LOUE, Mme. E. - inquiry on 1885 death 41. 31 Dec 1915 MUNDEY, W.A.: letter from MUNDEY, Mrs. D.E. - secure effects of 41. 11 Jan 1916 MUNDEY, W.A.: letter to MUNDEY, Mrs. D.E. - effects of 41. 12 Jan 1916 LOUE, Ernest Manuel: from Mme. E. LOUE 41. 12 Jan 1916 LOUE: letter to LOUE, Mme. E. 42. 26 Jan 1916 TWOMEY, James 42. 14 Feb 1916 TWOMEY, James 43. 01 Feb 1916 LENTE, Harry Marvin 43. 21 Feb 1916 LENTE, Harry Marvin 44. 28 Feb 1916 LOUE, Ernest Manuel: no death record of 45. 01 Mar 1916 SLIVINSKI, Leo Record Group 59: Records of the Dept of State Purport Lists for the Department of State Decimal File, 1910-1944. Microfilm ID M973 Roll #61 Archives II Research Room Services Branch National Archives and Records Administration 8601 Adelphi Road College Park MD 20740-6001 ----- Original Message ----- From: "Betty" <bbffrrpp@comcast.net> To: <GEN-NYS-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Friday, November 11, 2005 9:41 AM Subject: Re: Panama Canal Topic > Hi Shirley, > > When I posted to the MA and NY Lists, I also was hoping for some > genealogy-related postings, but they did not happen ! And, the Panama > Canal List only has a few postings on it, with one question about whether > there is a data base of people who died while working on the Canal - going > un-answered ! > > If 30,000 men died, there must have been hundreds of thousands of men who > went down there to work -- and it just doesn't seem logical that people on > the Mailing Lists don't have some sort of connection to those men ! > > I wonder where most of the men who went down there - originally lived ! > > Betty > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Shirley Farone" <twigs@bright.net> > To: <GEN-NYS-L@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Tuesday, November 08, 2005 3:16 PM > Subject: Panama Canal Topic > > > > The original question about the Panama Canal was a good one for presenting > > to a genealogy list. I looked forward to a worthwhile exchange -- > > genealogy-wise. > > > > But it sure looks like this thread is going to become very political!!!! > > > > As I have understood it, maybe incorrectly, the Chinese own each end of > > the Canal now -- so why wouldn't the United States want to make all the > > improvements now so that the Chinese won't have to do a thing when they > > take complete control of this vital zone!!!!! Tongue in check, of > > course. > > > > If you have a comment, please direct it to me personally. I need to be > > educated, but not at the expense of this List. > > > > Shirley > > My website: > > http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~twigs2000 > > > > > > > > > > > > > > -- > > No virus found in this outgoing message. > > Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. > > Version: 7.1.362 / Virus Database: 267.12.8/162 - Release Date: 11/5/2005 > > > > ______________________________ > > > > ==== GEN-NYS Mailing List ==== > Visit the GEN-NYS-L web page: > http://www.rootsweb.com/~nozell/GEN-NYS-L/ > >

Need assist locating my gf Frank William COAKLEY who disappeared Jul 1945 when SSA reports he last had earnings while working at the Tip Top Restaurant with add of 38 Main St, Genesee, NY. Help needed to determine which Genesee, NY had an add of 38 Main Street, if it is a business or residential add, or a Tip Top Restaurant in 1940s. Would city directory, pho bk, or other local records show his presence?? Suggestions appreciated. Hal McCawley in Oceanside CA

I just posted a BLOG that will help people looking for old books, either to purchase or read on-line. http://ny-genes.blogspot.com/ While you are at it check out my website for Upstate New York Genealogy. www.ny-genes.com Dick Hillenbrand

According to today's (Tuesday, November 8) NEWSDAY, "In a move that could alter the future of Long Island's East End, a federal judge yesterday described the Shinnecock Indian Nation of Southampton (sic) as a bonafide tribe, potentially paving the way for the group to pursue a casino in Hampton Bays as well as sweeping land claims around their reservation." The article includes a well detailed map (click on the map to see the larger version), showing the land where the Shinnecocks want to build a casino, other lands that they claim (3,600 acres of their ancestral land in the Town of Southampton, including the famed Shinnecock Hills Golf Club, National Golf Links, and Southampton College). The tribe is also seeking monetary damages for the fair market value of the land, plus 150 years in past rent and interest -- possibly billions of dollars. In its legal papers, the tribe stated that their land was illegally taken from them, a large tract of it in the mid-19th century. For the complete NEWSDAY article, "Legal victory for Shinnecocks", please go to: <http://www.newsday.com/news/printedition/longisland/ny-lishin084503591nov08,0 ,4013980.story?coll=ny-linews-print> I hope this information is useful or, at least, interesting. Regards, Walter Greenspan

The original question about the Panama Canal was a good one for presenting to a genealogy list. I looked forward to a worthwhile exchange -- genealogy-wise. But it sure looks like this thread is going to become very political!!!! As I have understood it, maybe incorrectly, the Chinese own each end of the Canal now -- so why wouldn't the United States want to make all the improvements now so that the Chinese won't have to do a thing when they take complete control of this vital zone!!!!! Tongue in check, of course. If you have a comment, please direct it to me personally. I need to be educated, but not at the expense of this List. Shirley My website: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~twigs2000 -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.1.362 / Virus Database: 267.12.8/162 - Release Date: 11/5/2005

They also considered this method for carving out quick harbors in northern Alaska. Of course the greeny boppers would have had a fit.......and I would have supported them. Don Kelly ----- Original Message ----- From: <joe2phil@drizzle.com> To: <GEN-NYS-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Tuesday, November 08, 2005 8:36 AM Subject: Panama Canal >> MORE > Hello group , Betty asked if any plans were made to widen the current > canal , I can say with conviction , YES , But the worlds leaders will > not > do it as it was planned , To many Lawsuits !!, Many many years ago when I > was very young I worked at a place called Mercury Nevada , Blowing up > Atomic > Bombs !, one or more of the tests were to see if it was feasible to did a > big trench across any land mass , As in Nicaragua , somewhat south of > Panama , It was found to be very practical , a series of smaller devises > would in fact > ' dig ' a ditch , Saddly to say , It never happened , Nore will it Now , > Phil > > > ==== GEN-NYS Mailing List ==== > Have you forgotten how to UNSUBSCRIBE? > Visit the GEN-NYS-L Frequently Asked Questions (And Answers!) web page: > http://www.rootsweb.com/~nozell/GEN-NYS-L/FAQ/GEN-NYS-L.txt >

On 11/8/05 (4:40:43 AM MST), as part of a posting, Betty (bbffrrpp@comcast.net) wrote, By browsing at a few of the web sites offering a history of the Panama Canal, I also noted the comments that the Canal was built to hold the ships built in the 1910 era. And, now that we have much larger ships, built in the 1990 era, the Canal has become too small for them to pass through ! I didn't spend enough time at the web sites to find out if there is any "official," workable plan to either rebuild the Canal or build a new Canal nearby !" A vessel designed to be just small enough to transit the Panama Canal is called a "Panamax" vessel. Ships classified as Panamax are of the maximum dimensions that will fit through the locks of the Panama Canal, each of which is 1000 ft long by 110 ft wide and 85 ft deep. Thus, a Panamax ship will usually have dimension of close to 965 ft long (294m), 106 ft wide (32.3m) and a draft of 39.5 ft (12.04m). This is a tight fit that leaves little margin for piloting error. There are reports that China want to pay to widen the Panama Canal so that they can ship directly to the East Coast. I hope this information is useful or, at least, interesting. Regards, Walter Greenspan

Hello group , Betty asked if any plans were made to widen the current canal , I can say with conviction , YES , But the worlds leaders will not do it as it was planned , To many Lawsuits !!, Many many years ago when I was very young I worked at a place called Mercury Nevada , Blowing up Atomic Bombs !, one or more of the tests were to see if it was feasible to did a big trench across any land mass , As in Nicaragua , somewhat south of Panama , It was found to be very practical , a series of smaller devises would in fact ' dig ' a ditch , Saddly to say , It never happened , Nore will it Now , Phil

Hello, Quite the coincidence, just a few minutes ago, Matt Lauer on the TODAY Show on TV was shown standing "at" .. the Panama Canal ! It is a segment which is part of his "Where in the World is Matt Lauer" series ! (He was at "Easter Island" yesterday !) So, if you would like to see what the Panama Canal looks like today, and learn more about it, for people in the U.S. turn on the TODAY Show (Ch. 7 in Boston, MA) I wonder whether Matt will visit the Cemetery there ! (I saw a posting on the Panama Canal List which mentioned an island near the Canal where some people were buried.) Betty (near Lowell, MA, USA)

Hello, Yesterday, while watching TV, I heard someone discussing the cemetery in Panama (?) where the men who died while building the "Panama Canal" were buried ! (Some 30,000 of them died - both residents of the U.S. and France !) This morning someone on the Mariners List mentioned the country of Panama, and that reminded me that I wanted to look up the history of the Canal and remind myself of what went on - and when ! I was also curious whether there was a List for the "Panama Canal." I went to the Mailing List INDEX and found it under the country of "Panama," and discovered it was just begun this year, and it is a very under-used List. If construction was begun in 1880 and it didn't officially open until 1914, that means a great many men .. traveled down to Panama ! And, I wondered whether anyone on this List has an ancestor or an ancestor's relative who did go down to work on the Canal. http://lists.rootsweb.com/index/intl/PAN/PANAMA-CANAL.html I also did a Google search for "Panama Canal, history," (using quotes) and found many web sites discussing what went on down there. One thing I hadn't remembered is that the "Panama Railway" was built and started before the Canal was built ! That meant more workers were down there ! I also noted that the Panama Canal was officially opened in 1914, and isn't that the year when World War I began ? By browsing at a few of the web sites offering a history of the Panama Canal, I also noted the comments that the Canal was built to hold the ships built in the 1910 era. And, now that we have much larger ships, built in the 1990 era, the Canal has become too small for them to pass through ! I didn't spend enough time at the web sites to find out if there is any "official," workable plan to either rebuild the Canal or build a new Canal nearby ! Hope this helps someone ! Betty (near Lowell, MA, USA) The old expression, "If you don't like the weather in New England, wait a minute," seems to be appropriate this week ! Today: 60 degrees, Sunny ! Tomorrow: 40 degrees, Snowy ! :o)