TIP #271 - CHRISTMAS MEMORIES IN KENTUCKY I am sitting here at the computer in Glasgow, Kentucky, watching the forecast for possible snow flurries and the wind is exerting itself strongly. As is my custom, I like to post around Christmas time on something that would be like a gift to you, all of my faithful readers - yet one of some genealogical value. Today my thoughts are of the coming millenium and all that has happened in the world. But, that would be a too far-reaching topic so let's narrow it down from 1792 to the present when Kentucky became the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Now I'm not going to list all the wars, county divisions, and statistical information. I'm thinking of people; those known and hidden ancestors of ours who called Kentucky their home during the past almost 207 years. What would happen if all these family tree members of ours could spend one day here again? What if those brave pioneers born in the 1700's could be "beamed dowm" for a 24 hour period to where they used to live here in Kentucky? And, what if you and I were appointed to gather our family together and try to explain what all these strange sites were? Let's see - what HAS changed in 207 years? You're welcome to eavesdrop on the conversation. Ah yes, we explain, the day of the old horse and wagons are long gone. Those horses in the pasture? Oh, they're just used for pleasure riding or for racing in the Kentucky Derby. Can they pull a plow? Well, no, but some of them can pull a surrey and some look awfully fancy in all their finery in the horse shows. Where are the steam boats? Well, you don't many of them anymore unless it's in a special 4th of July celebration when the Belle of Louisville races once again. No, there's not too many ferries left either - there is one over there on the Green River outside Mammoth Cave. What's that? Oh, that's just a jet plane going over flying someone from across the continent to land at the Louisville Airport? And that strange looking contraption? That's a helicopter. Police and hospitals used them a lot. And that's a 2000 model Honda LX coming down the road. No, it's made in Japan and goes about 65 miles an hour in speed zones. No, can't rightly say I've seen a carriage for a long time ... except maybe in the 1992 bicentennial festivities. Well, there are few cabins left in the county I think. Oh, that's a condominium, and over there is an apartment building. The thing sticking up in the ground. That's a satellite dish so we can see television from all over the world. Television? We'll talk about that later! Do you want to come inside? Oh, this is where your cabin used to be? How neat! That's ok, come right on in. We call this the living room; no, not too many houses have parlors or sitting rooms anymore. Ah, ah ... that's the bathroom .... you know ... the replacement for the .... privy? And that's called the bathtub. No, we don't have to heat water anymore and put it in a tub. Oh yes, it's well used, people take baths or showers every day pretty much anymore! Here's the kitchen; no, it's in the house now. Over there is a microwave oven. Well, that's something that cooks food really quickly, just takes a few minutes. There's the refrigerator. No, that's what keeps the food cold now, that top part there is called a freezer and you can freeze enough meat or tv dinners to last for a long time. Oh, that television contraption? Here, let me turn it on for you. Don't be scared! That's CNN, we can see news as it happens all over the world now. This station comes from Louisville - yes, they're talking right now as we hear them. Oh, here's the weather channel. We can now tell what the weather is going to be all over the world for up to a week ahead of time. Let's head into the bedroom - this is called the master bedroom. Go ahead and sit down on the bed. Don't worry, it's meant to do that, it's a water bed! That's a radio, it's sort of like a television without a picture. That? That's a clock, tells us what time it is. No, not too many people have sundials any more. Yes, we have plenty of churches. Well, here's one thing that hasn't changed too much over the years has it? It has? What's different? Oh, it's cool in here because the air conditioning in on. That's a device that blows cool air everywhere; when it gets a little colder the central heat will kick on. No, there's no fireplaces anymore or old wood stoves. Hmmm... you like the padded pews huh? No, they didn't have to chop any wood to carve out the pews, machines make them now. Up there? That's a wide screen television so people in the back can see the preacher if the church is packed. What? That's the baptismal, we don't take people to the mill pond much anymore. Sure is fancy isn't it? The preachers don't have to shout too much any more, they have microphones to broadcast their voice all over. One thing hasn't changed though ..the old time Gospel preaching churches are still preaching the same message! I don't know when Crutcher's General Store was torn town. Now a lot of the stores are all inside what's known as a mall. This is our big mall here in town, has over 100 stores. It does look kinda strange to see trees growing inside doesn't it? Why you can buy almost anything you need in one place now. No, there's no pickle barrels around and haven't seen a spitoon since I was a boy. Yes, everyone seems to be in a hurry don't they, not much time for chatting anymore. I've shown you about everything that I can think of - those are telephone lines so we can call everyone all over the world. Those are power lines - all of our homes are electrified now at the flip of a switch. We keep those old kerosene lanterns though in case of power losses. Candles are still around; we use them for decorations. Oh, I forgot! Here's a computer. A computer? That's awfully hard to explain. You turn it on and you can get messages from people clear across the country in a matter of seconds. You can read magazines and newspapers, get medical advice .... about everything you can think of. Is there anything else you would like to see? Oh, yes; I should have thought of that. Let's get in my car and I'll take you there. It's still there although a lot are gone now. It's such a shame too, plowed under, cattle grazing through them ... but yours is still there. Someone in the family goes there as much as they can and keeps it all cleaned up. Here we are - see we even have a sign with your name on it. If you like, I'll just let you walk around by yourself if you'd like to be alone. Ok, I'll walk with you if you like. Tell me about the people buried here. Were they your friends? What happened to them? I promise that I won't forget what you tell me; I'll write it down and save it for your great grandchildren of coming generations. It is time to go now and as suddenly as our visitors appeared they are gone. What changes they have witnessed; many they would never be able to understand. You didn't have time to tell them that we've walked on the moon, sent probes to Mars, have telescopes out in space. I chose not to tell them about the wars, of children killing children in school, or political matters. But, we have the chance to remember them and preserve their memories. Every time we work on our family tree, take a photograph of their old home, meet a distant cousin - we keep their names alive into the 21st century. Merry Christmas to all. Sandi (c) Copyright 16 December 1999, Sandra K. Gorin, All Rights Reserved. sgorin@glasgow-ky.com Colonel Sandi Gorin 205 Clements,Glasgow, KY 42141 (270) 651-9114 or E-fax (707)222-1210 Member Glasgow-Barren County Chamber of Commerce Gorin Genealogical Publishing: http://members.delphi.com/gorin1/index.html TIPS: http://cgi.rootsweb.com/~genbbs/genbbs.cgi/USA/Ky/Tips KYBIOS: http://cgi.rootsweb.com/~genbbs/genbbs.cgi/USA/Ky/Bios ARCHIVES: http://searches.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/listsearch.pl GORIN FAMILY WEBSITE: http://www.myfamily.com/home/home.asp