Please follow Carol's suggestion on keeping copies of papers outside the home. A 30-year family history researcher that uses my local Family History Center had is house burn down in a wind driven fire event this summer. Fortunately, with help from a neighbor he was able to save most, but not all of his research. He didn't have copies outside of the home. If he hadn't been home, all would have been lost. When I saw him for the first time a couple months after the event, he was still in a bit of shock over the whole thing. One other suggestion, send copies to family and friends in separate areas of the country. There have been occasions when my house in Washington State and my sister's house in Southern California have been threatened by fire at the same time. Sue Richart Stevens County, Washington On Wed, Dec 10, 2008 at 11:49 AM, Carol Botteron < wrote: >>From: "Barbara Shepard Smith" <t> >> >>Hi Betty, with regard to all the precious information. I have scanned over >>100 years of photos, papers, and backed up genealogy programs to discs, and >>put them all in a safety deposit box at the bank, I think it cost me $40 a >>year for rent. Well worth it, > > Articles and radio reports on emergency planning talk about important > papers, including not only your key genealogical papers but also the > deed to your house, proof of insurance, etc. > > They suggest having copies of important information outside your > home -- in a safe deposit box, your office, a relative's home, etc. > > For important papers you keep at home, they suggest keeping them > together, preferably in a box marked "Emergency Papers" that you > can easily grab if you have to leave because of fire or flood. > > Carol B. >

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: jeanmayo1053 Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.massachusetts.unknown/6876/mb.ashx Message Board Post: I am in need of census records for the surname of McHoul for the years: 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920, and 1930. There should just be a handful of families who are all related to each other. It is believed that they originally came from Scotland, and I would also be searching for immigration records for this family connected to immigration years in the census records. Then my next move would be to try to locate them in the Scotland census, but I'm getting ahead of myself here. First things first. Can anyone help? Jean Mayo Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.

Hi Betty, with regard to all the precious information. I have scanned over 100 years of photos, papers, and backed up genealogy programs to discs, and put them all in a safety deposit box at the bank, I think it cost me $40 a year for rent. Well worth it, Barbara ( Middleboro, MASS) ----- Original Message ----- From: "Betty" <bbffrrpp@comcast.net> To: <can-usa-migration@rootsweb.com>; <genMassachusetts-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wednesday, December 10, 2008 6:34 AM Subject: [GENMASSACHUSETTS] Where to Store Important Papers > Hello, > > I think it was over the weekend I saw a news story on TV which talked > about > a small suitcase which was found either floating or at the bottom of the > ocean - off the coast of Texas. Officials think it might have gone > into > the ocean because of one of the bad hurricanes which happened in Texas. > The small suitcase (or small box) had family-pictures, family-wedding > information, family-reports, etc. And, some names were available. > They'd like to return the suitcase to its owner. > > Unfortunately, I just searched on-line, and can't find the news story. > I > don't know whether I heard the news on my local (Boston) TV news shows, or > the TODAY show, etc. > > Also, while I was searching on-line for the story, I found another story > about finding a suitcase with family information in it. This happened > in > Colorado. > > http://www.greeleytribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20040922/NEWS/109220070/0/FRONTPAGE > > ... I thought I would take this opportunity to remind people of a > "holiday > gift" which might be appreciated. While Christmas shopping for my > grandchildren in a dept. store yesterday, I walked by a selection of > "fire-proof boxes" for sale. The kind you put your "important papers" > in. > I was pleased to see that these boxes are now also "water-proof." > Floods, both major and small, can happen at any time, in any place, for > any > reason. The boxes I saw yesterday were not expensive. > > Unfortunately, for genealogists, we would need to buy 100 of them - to > put > all our papers in. :o) But, you could put a few, genealogy > documents > and CD's in it. Just a reminder to put your name and contact > information > inside the box. > > Betty (near Lowell, MA, USA) > > > > > > > > Note: > While searching for the news article about that suitcase, I found at > least > 10 sites which offered news stories about "bodies" found in suitcases. > :o( Some stories were in the US and some in the UK and in other > countries. I didn't know this was such a common "thing to do." > > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > GENMASSACHUSETTS-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without > the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

Hello, There is another interesting story in the daily "Mass Moments" e-mails this morning: http://www.massmoments.org:80/moment.cfm?mid=354 It's a story about Paul CUFFE and his brother "of Westport" in 1815. And it's about his "Back to Africa" effort. Betty (near Lowell, MA) P.S. I wonder if there is a List which is about "African-Americans" / "black-Americans" in the Colonies. I used the "Find a List" feature and found: http://lists.rootsweb.ancestry.com/index/other/Ethnic-African/AFRICANAMER-GEN.html http://lists.rootsweb.ancestry.com/index/other/Ethnic-African/MA-FREEDMEN.html Just a reminder that there are many Lists with many Subjects, and some are unusual - and you can find them using the "Index" feature. And don't forget to check out all the "Other" and "Miscellaneous" categories. http://lists.rootsweb.ancestry.com/index/index.html

Greetings listers, Sam Sturgis, one of the NEHGS webmasters, has re-digitized the first hundred or so pages of volume 301 1878 deaths covering Barnstable, Berkshire, and Bristol Counties. The prior images showed Boston entries from volume 300. The images are now on the website, www.newenglandancestors.org . Sue Richart

Hello, I think it was over the weekend I saw a news story on TV which talked about a small suitcase which was found either floating or at the bottom of the ocean - off the coast of Texas. Officials think it might have gone into the ocean because of one of the bad hurricanes which happened in Texas. The small suitcase (or small box) had family-pictures, family-wedding information, family-reports, etc. And, some names were available. They'd like to return the suitcase to its owner. Unfortunately, I just searched on-line, and can't find the news story. I don't know whether I heard the news on my local (Boston) TV news shows, or the TODAY show, etc. Also, while I was searching on-line for the story, I found another story about finding a suitcase with family information in it. This happened in Colorado. http://www.greeleytribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20040922/NEWS/109220070/0/FRONTPAGE ... I thought I would take this opportunity to remind people of a "holiday gift" which might be appreciated. While Christmas shopping for my grandchildren in a dept. store yesterday, I walked by a selection of "fire-proof boxes" for sale. The kind you put your "important papers" in. I was pleased to see that these boxes are now also "water-proof." Floods, both major and small, can happen at any time, in any place, for any reason. The boxes I saw yesterday were not expensive. Unfortunately, for genealogists, we would need to buy 100 of them - to put all our papers in. :o) But, you could put a few, genealogy documents and CD's in it. Just a reminder to put your name and contact information inside the box. Betty (near Lowell, MA, USA) Note: While searching for the news article about that suitcase, I found at least 10 sites which offered news stories about "bodies" found in suitcases. :o( Some stories were in the US and some in the UK and in other countries. I didn't know this was such a common "thing to do."

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: DFantana Surnames: Ide,Fuller,Marsh,Demaray,Hall Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.massachusetts.unknown/6875/mb.ashx Message Board Post: This Samuel Fuller dob was Aug 15,1676 Barnstable,Barnstable Co,Ma his parents were Samuel and Mary Ide Fuller. His sibling were Jabez dob 1663 Ann 1669 Timothy 1670 Abigal 1674. I come through the line of his son Rodolphus and his daughter Lydia, William Marsh,Jane Marsh Demaray, Simon ,Edwin, Ethel Demaray Hall, Elmer Hall. Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.

Looking for descendants of Major John Young of Haverhill MA and later Lisbon NH, believe he married Yonnaca Webb (Jane Webb) however I  have also seen info that says he married 1st to Elizabeth Bayley??   Believe his Rev War records show some dispute as whether he married an Elizabeth or was ever married prior to Yonnaca Webb?   Appreciate hearing from other descendants of this line, Janice    

"Daytona Beach News Journal" (Florida) United States Veteran OUELLETTE, WILFRED R. - A Graveside Service for Wilfred R. Ouellette, 84, Orange City, who died December 6, 2008 at Orange City Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, DeBary, FL, will be 10 a.m. on Wednesday, December 10, 2008 at Hollywood Cemetery, 1031 South Carpenter Avenue, Orange City, FL. Calling hours are from 4-6 p.m. Tuesday, December 9, 2008 at Lankford Funeral Home. Mr. Ouellette was born in Gardner, Massachsetts and moved to this area in 1954 from South Roylaston (sic), Massachusetts. He served in the US Navy during World War II. Mr. Ouellette was a Journey Plumber. He was a member of the United Association of Plumbers & Pipefitters, American Racing Pigeon Union, Inc., International Federation of American Homing Pigeon Fanciers, Race Secretary Orlandp Pigeon Club, President of Gator Club in Cocoa, FL, where he also was Race Secretary, member of the Mid-Florida Combine, Southern Racing Pigeon Association and the Florida State Pigeon Racing Association. Survivors include one son, Raymond G. Ouellette of Frederick, Maryland; two daughters, Lorrie Larson of Hernando, Florida, Charlene Carter of Antioch, Tennessee; six grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. Memorial donations may be made to Hospice of Volusia/Flagler, 3800 Woodbriar Trail, Port Orange, FL 32129. LANKFORD Funeral Homes & Crematory.

My Italian grandparents came over when they were about 10-12. My granddad John Juliano came over late 1890-1900 when he was 12 with his father and brothers. The mom and the sisters stayed in Italy and never came over. John died in 1949 and is buried in the Italian cemetery in Everett My grandmother his wife eventually, came over around that time and around that age. She died in the 1918 flu epidemic. Josephine DeSimone My aunt Maria Luisa Uliano later known as Mary J was born in Aug 1915 and my mother Nov 1916. I believe those are the only 2 children of that marriage. After Josephine died, John remarried an Irishwoman with boys. My aunt and mother left the house as soon as they were old enough and stayed in the Everett area till after I was born. cindy macdonald phillips On Mon, Dec 8, 2008 at 6:31 AM, Betty <bbffrrpp@comcast.net> wrote: > Hello, > > There is a story on "Mass Moments" this morning about a woman who had > arrived in Boston as a child - with her Russian family. And, later she > decided to write about her experiences. > > http://www.massmoments.org:80/moment.cfm?mid=352<http://www.massmoments.org/moment.cfm?mid=352> > > I mentioned last week that my husband's grandmother arrived from the Azores > at Age 12 and alone. She was here to be an indentured-servant for 7 years > for a family on Beacon Hill. (Her sister might have come with her; I > haven't been able to find that out. I also don't know if an aunt or uncle > accompanied her.) > > I was just wondering if others had an ancestor who arrived in MA in the > 1890 > to 1910 timeframe - as a child. > > And, a reminder about the very good book I found out about several years > ago: "Boston's Wayward Children." It's a treatise on all the > "un-cared-for children" in Boston in the 1860 to 1900 timeframe. (In > the > book it states that the "Orphan Train movement" started in Boston. When > NYC officials found out about it, they started their own version of it.) > > It seems the "British Home Children" movement went on for the exact set of > years. That is the Canadian term for the British term, "Child Migrant > movement." (1860 to 1930's). What I haven't found out, yet, is > whether the "thousands" of "un-cared-for children" arriving in Canada - > were discussed in the Boston, MA, newspapers ! > > Stay warm ! > > Betty (near Lowell, MA) > > > > (My LEWIS / CORKILL great-grandparents arrived in Halifax, NS, CAN, in > ~1874 - as "British Home Children." (They were 14. My gr-grandmother's > 4 > younger sibling accompanied her; the youngest were 5 and 3 years old. > All went to different families. Their "Master Mariner" (widower) father > was sailing to Africa when that happened. He was alive and remarried > for > some 20 years after that. I have no way of knowing whether he ever saw > his 6 children again. (Oldest son went to British Columbia.).. ) > > (I don't know if any of you have read the autobiography of "Dr. Ruth." > It's another story of a child "being sent away.") > > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruth_Westheimer > > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > GENMASSACHUSETTS-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without > the quotes in the subject and the body of the message > -- Cindyp http://grammiesbears.com http://teambeachbody.com/cindylu http://OurGV.com/cynthiaphillips http://shaklee.net/naturalngreen

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: MaryMoeller929 Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.massachusetts.unknown/6871.2/mb.ashx Message Board Post: UPDATE: these are the cities i currently have at my site and it would be wise to join the second Massachusetts site set up for ebooks and information also as I shall be adding to it also. http://massachusettshistory.ning.com/ Abington, Acton, Alford, Auburn, Athol, Ashburnham, Andover, Amesbury, Burlington, Becket, Bedford, Bellingham, Billerica, Boxborough, Boxford, Bridgewater, Brewster, Charlemont, Chilmark, Carver, Dalton, Deerfield, East Bridgewater, Gill, Greenfield, Lee, Marlborough, Medway, Medfield, Middlefield, Norton, Northbridge, Palmer, Pelham, Peru, Sturbridge, Sharon, Stow, Shirley, Topsfield, Wrentham, Worthington, Westport, Williamstown, Windsor, West Stockbridge, Weymouth, Wakefield free to join and download Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.

Betty, thank you for the information on Mary Antin's book "The Promised Land" I found 2 links on a google search with the entire book with photos on line. Looks very interesting if one wishes to learn more about the immigrant experience... The links are: http://digital.library.upenn.edu/women/antin/land/land.html and http://books.google.com/books?id=MiffDBGJf9MC&dq=the+promised+land+by+mary+antin&pg=PP1&ots=63Eu9LGOBi&source=bn&sig=PmC8Zy22pQxiaufWBAVy4uTJJ3U&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=4&ct=result#PPP2,M1 Happy Holidays! Louise > From: bbffrrpp@comcast.net > To: genMassachusetts-L@rootsweb.com; BOSTON@rootsweb.com > Date: Mon, 8 Dec 2008 06:31:57 -0500 > Subject: [GENMASSACHUSETTS] Immigrants Who Arrived as Children ? (MassMoments) > > Hello, > > There is a story on "Mass Moments" this morning about a woman who had > arrived in Boston as a child - with her Russian family. And, later she > decided to write about her experiences. > > http://www.massmoments.org:80/moment.cfm?mid=352 > > I mentioned last week that my husband's grandmother arrived from the Azores > at Age 12 and alone. She was here to be an indentured-servant for 7 years > for a family on Beacon Hill. (Her sister might have come with her; I > haven't been able to find that out. I also don't know if an aunt or uncle > accompanied her.) > > I was just wondering if others had an ancestor who arrived in MA in the 1890 > to 1910 timeframe - as a child. > > And, a reminder about the very good book I found out about several years > ago: "Boston's Wayward Children." It's a treatise on all the > "un-cared-for children" in Boston in the 1860 to 1900 timeframe. (In the > book it states that the "Orphan Train movement" started in Boston. When > NYC officials found out about it, they started their own version of it.) > > It seems the "British Home Children" movement went on for the exact set of > years. That is the Canadian term for the British term, "Child Migrant > movement." (1860 to 1930's). What I haven't found out, yet, is > whether the "thousands" of "un-cared-for children" arriving in Canada - > were discussed in the Boston, MA, newspapers ! > > Stay warm ! > > Betty (near Lowell, MA) > > > > (My LEWIS / CORKILL great-grandparents arrived in Halifax, NS, CAN, in > ~1874 - as "British Home Children." (They were 14. My gr-grandmother's 4 > younger sibling accompanied her; the youngest were 5 and 3 years old. > All went to different families. Their "Master Mariner" (widower) father > was sailing to Africa when that happened. He was alive and remarried for > some 20 years after that. I have no way of knowing whether he ever saw > his 6 children again. (Oldest son went to British Columbia.).. ) > > (I don't know if any of you have read the autobiography of "Dr. Ruth." > It's another story of a child "being sent away.") > > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruth_Westheimer > > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to GENMASSACHUSETTS-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

Hello, There is a story on "Mass Moments" this morning about a woman who had arrived in Boston as a child - with her Russian family. And, later she decided to write about her experiences. http://www.massmoments.org:80/moment.cfm?mid=352 I mentioned last week that my husband's grandmother arrived from the Azores at Age 12 and alone. She was here to be an indentured-servant for 7 years for a family on Beacon Hill. (Her sister might have come with her; I haven't been able to find that out. I also don't know if an aunt or uncle accompanied her.) I was just wondering if others had an ancestor who arrived in MA in the 1890 to 1910 timeframe - as a child. And, a reminder about the very good book I found out about several years ago: "Boston's Wayward Children." It's a treatise on all the "un-cared-for children" in Boston in the 1860 to 1900 timeframe. (In the book it states that the "Orphan Train movement" started in Boston. When NYC officials found out about it, they started their own version of it.) It seems the "British Home Children" movement went on for the exact set of years. That is the Canadian term for the British term, "Child Migrant movement." (1860 to 1930's). What I haven't found out, yet, is whether the "thousands" of "un-cared-for children" arriving in Canada - were discussed in the Boston, MA, newspapers ! Stay warm ! Betty (near Lowell, MA) (My LEWIS / CORKILL great-grandparents arrived in Halifax, NS, CAN, in ~1874 - as "British Home Children." (They were 14. My gr-grandmother's 4 younger sibling accompanied her; the youngest were 5 and 3 years old. All went to different families. Their "Master Mariner" (widower) father was sailing to Africa when that happened. He was alive and remarried for some 20 years after that. I have no way of knowing whether he ever saw his 6 children again. (Oldest son went to British Columbia.).. ) (I don't know if any of you have read the autobiography of "Dr. Ruth." It's another story of a child "being sent away.") http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruth_Westheimer

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: wraithp Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.massachusetts.unknown/6871.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Mary, it would be great if the index/links to the various VR would include the county! Some of the towns have not been transcribed and posted to the site below. Knowing which county the town is in would make it easier for those who also use that site. Kathy http://www.ma-vitalrecords.org/index.html Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.

Dear List, We have added the following books to our directory page: http://directory.evendon.com 1940 Oakland California Reverse Address Phone Directory -- This covers Alameda, Berekely, and San Leandro. -- I am rerendering this book to appear larger for better legibility. This will take 1 or 2 days. 1830 Boston Massachusetts We have added the following to our military page: http://military.evendon.com 1744-1756 Pennsylvania Provincial Soldiers -- With this book, we now have very large rosters for PA's soliders for almost all of the final 3rd of the 18th century. We hope you find the material on our site useful and return often. Don akadonnew _@_ verizon.net Eve and Don Krieger Pittsburgh, PA Frontpage: http://www.evendon.com Includes links to all Pages Military Page: http://military.evendon.com Histories and Musters Directory Page: http://directory.evendon.com Directories organized by state and country Census Page: http://census.evendon.com 1790 Federal Census, 1840 Pensioners, others Yearbook Page: http://yearbooks.evendon.com Yearbooks and Alumni Books "SmallBooks": http://www.evendon.net/PGHLookups/SmallBooksM.htm Churches, Clubs, etc. Everything on our site is free and permanent. Loading is very fast. Each page includes a highlighted link which you can copy/paste to reference or cite that page online. Please support EveNDon.com by letting others know about it. --- Sent using Email 2.5.1 http://email.cleancode.org Sent on: Sun, 07 Dec 2008 17:42:48 -0500 On System: CYGWIN_NT-5.1 1.5.25(0.156/4/2) i686

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: MaryMoeller929 Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.massachusetts.unknown/6871/mb.ashx Message Board Post: http://massachusettshistory.ning.com/ Here is an updated list of towns vital records that you can download for free and joining the site is free and I am adding to this... got lots of information. Towns Vital REcords so far: Abington, Burlington, Acton, Alford, Becket, Bedford, Bellingham, Billerica, Boxborough, Boxford, Bridgewater, East Bridgewater, Charlemont, Chilmark, Carver, Dalton, Shirley, Deerfield, Norton, Wrentham, and Worthington (so far) Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: Dale_H_Cook Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.massachusetts.unknown/6870.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Married: February 4, 1891, at Fitchburg. Groom: Edward H. Harrow, white, resident of Fitchburg, age 23, shirt-cutter, born at Barnard, VT, son of Augustus J. and Eliza (Perkins), first marriage. Bride: Mary E. Meehan, white, resident of Fitchburg, age 25, shirt-maker, born in Ireland, daughter of John and Kate (Arthur), first marriage. Married by L. J. Purcell, Clergyman, Fitchburg. Dale H. Cook, Member, NEHGS and MA Society of Mayflower Descendants; Plymouth Co. MA Coordinator for the USGenWeb Project Administrator of http://plymouthcolony.net Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: deweypark Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.massachusetts.unknown/6870/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Can someone give me the details contained in marriage record of Mary E. Meehan married Fitchburg 1891 (Mass. archives vol. 417/pg 382). I appreciate the help. Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.

Hi again, Just found this web site which offers some information about the historical socities in the Nashoba Valley of MA: http://nashobavalleyartsandculture.pbwiki.com/Ashby+Historical+Society http://www.nvcoc.com/ Betty (near Lowell, MA) FYI: IF you are out for a "Sunday drive" this month, don't forget to think about driving up and down Rt. 119 in MA from Littleton to Ashby. Farms still exist there, and other interesting things to look at. And all of the towns along this roadway have a good history: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashby,_Massachusetts http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Townsend_(town),_Massachusetts http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pepperell,_Massachusetts http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Groton,_Massachusetts http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Littleton,_Massachusetts And, just to the right of Townsend is: Mason, NH http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mason,_New_Hampshire And, just to the left of Townsend is: Fitchburg, MA http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fitchburg,_Massachusetts And, continuing north on Rt. 119 you can get to Rindge, NH, where you find other historic towns. (The "Cathedral of the Pines" is there - which has a history of its own.) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rindge,_New_Hampshire http://www.cathedralofthepines.org/ (By the way, I saw a glimpse of the slopes at the Nashoba Valley Ski Area and saw .. snow.) :o)

Hello, In yesterday's "Lowell Sun," there is mention: "Holiday Open House at REED Homestead" "Townsend, MA" - The Townsend Historical Society will host the annual Holiday Open House at the REED Homestead, 72 Main Street, on Sunday, from 1 to 4 pm. Visitors will learn about the REED family and why the circa 1809 Federal style house is still unspoiled by modern renovations. Tours include seeing the hand-painted woodwork, a sink pump, the working hearth and beehive oven, the vast clothing collection, and the remarkable Rufus Porter murals. It is free of charge." How many people have used a "sink pump?" :o) Or, had to "prime" an old "pump" in the yard? I have. Mostly from camping experiences as a child, both "summer camps" and "log cabins" at State Parks. Betty (near Lowell, MA) www.lowellsun.com