Hi, I was so impressed by your message, I sent it to our local paper. I hope you don't mind? But you did write such a beautiful message. (Also, it gives "Genealogy" recognition)......... Thank you, Deena -----Original Message----- From: SLD7546@aol.com <SLD7546@aol.com> To: ILMASSAC-L@rootsweb.com <ILMASSAC-L@rootsweb.com> Date: Tuesday, May 23, 2000 1:57 PM Subject: [ILMASSAC] Local research trip >Dear Citizens of Paducah and Metropolis: >My brother and I just returned from a trip to your cities. We came to do >some family tree research. We stayed nearly a week, and visited the >genealogy sections of both libraries. We haunted lots of cemeteries in your >area. We visited Joppa, Round Knob, Brookport, and Lone Oak. We also >traveled to Paris, TN, and Anna, IL. >Special thanks to Linda Dunlop at Henry County, TN, Genealogical Society. We >didn't get to meet her, but she did research for us before our trip. Thanks >to the volunteers there as well. A debt of gratitude also to the security >staff at Choate (formerly Anna State Hospital) who took the time to walk off >the old cemetery to help us locate the burial spots of two of our ancestors. >We were both delighted with the kindness and warmth of those we came in >contact with. So many people went above and beyond the call of duty to help >us and make us feel welcome. This was a subject of discussion several times >in our travels. >We met with several people related to our family lines. We are researching >Holliday/Halliday and related lines in Massac County, IL, and Simmons in >McCracken and Graves Counties, KY. (Not related to Don Simmons' line, we >heard his name several times, but unfortunately didn't get the chance to meet >him.) Ann Laird at Massac County Gen. Society spent hours digging through >the vaults of Massac County Courthouse basement. We thank her profusely. >Vera Rodgers generously shared her information with us, and even trusted us >to copy, and return her information. We met Larry De Journett at the Special >Collections section of the library at Paducah. We have communicated by >e-mail. His wife has a connection to our Simmons line. He brought along >their aunt, Mary Waltman, who remembers some of our ancestors. >We stayed at the Holiday Inn Express in Metropolis, IL. The staff there came >to feel like friends. >Thanks to each and every one of you. The staff at cemeteries, the >waitresses, all the people who made our stay pleasant and memorable. >Donna Holliday Sena, Chico CA >Dennis Holliday, Denver, CO >