I know you haven't heard from me for a long time - I apologize but life keeps getting complicated. But something happened today that blew my mind and proved the goodness of people. About 10 yrs ago or so, "Tank" Gorin - one of my gals' cousins came by for a visit and showed me an beautiful picture. He and his brothers (now deceased), his sister-in-law Eleanor (my "2nd mom") had been on their way for a 2 week vacation up in northern WI to a lodge they own up there. They had stopped at a little town in north central IL to rest and gone into a museum. While stretching their legs, Tank's eye was caught by a beautiful wedding gown in a glass case and it had the name of the bride - a Gorin. He snapped a picture of it because of the name and later asked me if I knew who it was. At the time, I did; I knew it was one of the daughters of Sanford Pell Gorin, s/o Henry and Sarah Pell Gorin, and knew why it was in that area. Years passed, I forgot to ask Tank for a copy of the picture and now it's not to be found. I got to thinking about it yesterday when I had a phone call from Eleanor. My dau was on her way up there and they were taking off for a week's vacation at the lodge, both needing some time away from the world. They would be stopping at Rockford IL for the night. I asked Eleanor if she remembered the picture, no, but she remembered their stopping. She said she would call a friend of theirs who was with them that trip because she knew it was his birthplace; she thought it was in IN. She called me back shortly afterwards and said it was at the old historic courthouse in Metamora IL (Woodford Co) where one of the famous Lincoln-Douglas debates had been held. It had been restored and was now a museum. I went on line last night and finally found a write-up on the courthouse but couldn't find the hours they were open. I put out a query on the Woodford Co IL list and a fellow answered and said that the courthouse had been closed for years, but had just re-opened and if no one came to my aid, he would drive 20-25 miles and go over there and take pictures. This morning in checking with the vacationeers, they had figured that they might be able to go off course and run over to the courthouse if I could find out if it was open. They would be coming in late however, likely after it was closed. I got on the web again and found a phone #, called the museum and it was answered by a very nice gentleman, the curator. He said they would be open until 5 and seemed amazed that someone in Glasgow KY would be interested in their museum! He gave me his home telephone # and said to have them come on, even if it was closed - call him and he'd come back and open up the museum for them. After almost not making it due to the length of the trip, Shelley called me around 6 pm, at the courthouse. The gentleman had opened it for them and then they had a puzzle. In restoring the museum, the name tags had fallen out of the display and there were TWO wedding dresses, one brown and one light green. One had the groom's outfit in the same case; the other had the 2nd day or next day dress (honeymoney dress) - which was which? Duh ... I had no idea and asked Shelley to take pictures of both for now. By this time, I couldn't even rememer which of Sanford Pell Gorin's daughters would have married there. I went into my gedcom files and bingo, there she is, Virginia Catherine Gorin. She was the only one of his several daughters to marry in Woodford County ... in 1846!! All the other children married in Washington, Tazewell Co IL. Talk about an old wedding dress! At the curator's request, I sent him what information I had on Virginia (her parents, grandparents) and her husband Marshall Davidson. They had married in 1846; she died in 1857, only 11 years into the marriage (I don't know when she was born yet but am looking) ... he remarried. I don't know if they had any children or who donated the gown. The curator has been looking thru all the donor books to see if he could find any information. The final irony? Marshall Davidson was the son of Caleb and Martha Davidson and was born in ..... Glasgow, KY. I know the family well. Needless to say I am most anxious to see those pictures! Everyone was so helpful and went out of their way to chase down a wedding dress that is 158 years old! Just had to share. And Shelley, when you read this ... thanks sweetie, I owe you big time! Sandi