My friends - I want to take this opportunity to wish all of you a pleasurable and safe Thanksgiving holiday. It was just about this time seven years ago when I established the KYJacksonPurchase-L List. We have a subscribership of roughly 750(it varies from about 730 to 810), and have established a network of folks who are always ready to assist others with their research needs in the Jackson Purchase region. Unfortunately, this year has been one of great time constraints for me, which has limited my postings considerably. However, there is light beginning to show at the end of the tunnel, and I expect my 2006 postings to increase substantially. While perusing some freemasonary material recently, I came across the following: "Temple Hill Lodge, Number 276, Shiloh, Calloway County, Ky. Received a Dispensation prior to August, 1854, Chartered August 18, 1854, Thomas Dodd being first Master. Reports 20 members in 1858." I am going to make an attempt, first through the Grand Lodge of Kentucky, to see if the names of those 20 1858 members can be located. The records of the smaller lodges are often fragmentary at the Grand Lodge, but that is the appropriate place to start, and I will keep you posted. As one whose father, grandfather, great-grandfather and gg-gf were Masons(including one 33rd degree Mason), I have always been interested in this area, and I know that we have a number of Masons on this List. Beyond that, knowing that an early family member was a Mason adds a bit of historical background and helps to flush out some of the more personal aspects that we all like to have, and it also tells us where that early family member resided when no other extant records might do so. Again, best Thanksgiving wishes to you all - and be safe in your travels - we need your expertise as we continue to peer through the mists of time in our ongoing efforts to track those who went before, and who made our Thanksgiving possible. -B =====================================================================