Dear Folks, This afternoon three of us converged on Alice Clark's house to interview her regarding her memories of her life in Youngstown. The three of us were Dan Schisler (dedicated historical video photographer), Janet Jachlewski, Village of Youngstown Historian, and me. Alice is 93 years old and she was prepared for the video nterview. In fact she knocked our socks off with how prepared she was. It soon became obvious that none of us needed to "interview" her whatsoever. She told us about her husband Herman C. Clark and the part he played as ground's keeper inside Old Fort Niagara and about their 38 years living INSIDE Old Fort Niagara in an apartment and raising their two boys there. She also told us about her own personal life during that long time period that included her working at an outlet of Carrigan's Dairy of Niagara Falls on Williams St. in Youngstown for about a year. I certainly remember Carrigan's Dairy because when I lived on Chilton Avenue in the 1940s it was on the corner of Chilton Ave. and Portage Road in Niagara Falls and that's where all of us would go for ice cream cones and such. Alice had a special memory about working there in Youngstown at Carrigan's store in the 1940s. She told us that one hot humid summer evening a well-dressed man came into the store to buy a quart of milk. When Alice took the glass bottle of milk out of the refrigerator it was soon covered with slippery condensation. Therefore, she asked him if he wanted her to put the milk into a paper bag. His response was "No, leave it in the bottle." Now I don't if you are laughing as hard as Dan and Janet and I were when she told us that story but then maybe you would have had to been there. Alice went on and on and delighted all of us with more delightful stories. She may be 93 years old but she has stories that I swear won't quit. She was an absolute delight! vee

Dear Folks, Just this minute I heard the very old song "Pop Goes the Weasel." I'm certain that most of you remember the words All around the mulberry bush The monkey chased the weasel. The monkey thought 'twas all in fun. Pop! goes the weasel. A penney for a spool of thread, A penney for a needle. That's the way the money goes. Pop! goes the weasel. Up and down the City Road, In and out of the Eagle, That's the way the money goes. Pop! goes the weasel. Half a pound of tuppenney rice,, Half a pound of treacle, Mix it up and make it nice, Pop! goes the weasel. Well, frankly it brought back a faded memory of mine to where I found the meaning of a "weasel." back in the 1700s. No, I wasn't living in the 1700s, what I meant was that the weasel was used back then. The Internet confirmed my memory. This is what I found regarding the rotary wooden contraption called a weasel. There is some controversy in academic circles about the correct name for this device. The popular story is that this [is] the weasel of "Pop Goes the Weasel" fame. Whatever its correct name, it was a measuring device. If someone did not have access to a loom, he or she would take the spun yarn to a weaver to have it turned into fabric. The yarn was tied to one of the spokes of the weasel, and the wheel was turned. Inside was a gear with a ratchet that "clicked" with every full circuit (2 yards) of the wheel. After a certain number of circuits you would hear a loud POP! which would be the signal that the correct length of yarn had been measured out. Some years ago I wrote an imaginary story about the reading of my ancestor's will (Casper Schnerr, will of 1790). My story focused on what Casper's widow Magdalena might have been thinking at the time of the reading of the will. When his will mentioned leaving spinning wheels to his daughters, Magdalena "said" this to herself. "My goodness, how the girls prize those spinning wheels of theirs! Casper bought them for the girls from the wheelwright who made them and went traveling all over on horseback selling them. Many a day the four girls and I would spend the entire day sittin' at our wheels and spinning the fiber into thread. When our bobbins were filled we would wind the thread off on the clock reel that counted the number of strands in a knot and then ticked when forty strands had been wound. And then we would combine twenty of the knots to make a skein. Some days, between the five of us, we would spin ten skeins of linen thread. The girls were such hard workers. Casper always said it gave him pleasure to listen to the buzz of the footwheel and see the bunches of flaxen yarn hanging in the kitchen and hear the snapping of the clock reel as the girls and I would be singing a pretty little tune as we worked together." Now maybe Magdalena and her daughters didn't have a real weasel to measure off the skeins of yarn that they were spinning but somehow I feel that their clock reel was actually a weasel and the "pretty little tune" they had been singing was "Pop, Goes the Weasel." Just a thought. vee

Dear Folks, I just started to read another Pennsylvania Dutch murder mystery book by Tamar Myers, "Gruel and Unusual Punishment" and by page 3 she had me laughing out loud. The heroine is a woman by the name of Magdalena Yoder who is a Mennonite who runs a bed and breakfast inn, PennDutch Inn in Hernia, PA, near Bedford. The chief of police Melvin is a dimwit who happens to be her brother-in-law in addition to being one of her many cousins in the Amish-Mennonite vicinity. Regarding her relationship to him she says, "Oh what a tangled web they weave, when Amish-Mennonites conceive. Both Melvin and I are Mennonites of Amish derivation, which puts us squarely in that category. My blood lines are so tangled that I'm, in fact, my own cousin. All I need is a sandwich in order to qualify as a family picnic." Now if that didn't make you laugh, you must have had a REALLY bad day! :-) vee

Dear Bob, ----- Original Message ----- From: <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, November 09, 2003 7:59 PM Subject: [FOLKS] Re: NYNIAGAR-FOLKS-D Digest V03 #204 >> We attended this church until we left Niagara Falls in 1944. Often wonder if > any of my childhood friends are still with the congregation. Been a long time. > Thanks for the posting. > > Bob AZ WOW, what a surprise! We moved to 3009 Macklem Ave. in 1942. It was/is on what be called the corner of Macklem Ave. and Seymour Ave. Every day I walked past St. Teresa's on my way to school at Maple Ave. School. I was in the sixth grade then (born 1931). Not only that but there's the probability that the brick house on the corner of McKoon and College Ave. across from the church (3908 McKoon Ave.) was still there when you lived there. It was the house we moved into back in 1936 when we first moved to Niagara Falls from Pennsylvania. We paid our rent to Father Ryan of the church. So tell me, tell me, where did you live, how old were you at the time and did you ever go to any of the dances at St. Teresa's for the young teenagers??? Wouldn't it be something if we actually knew each other back then??? (tee hee!) vee

Vee BAZAAR: The Women's Guild of St. Teresa-of-the-Infant Jesus Roman Catholic Church, 3840 Macklem Ave. [DeVeaux section of Niagara Falls], will host their annual bazaar from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Nov.. 15. A continental breakfast will be served from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., and lunch also will be served. Crafts, attic treasures, baked goods and more will be featured. We attended this church until we left Niagara Falls in 1944. Often wonder if any of my childhood friends are still with the congregation. Been a long time. Thanks for the posting. Bob AZ

Dear Folks, Although many of us around these parts are still talking about the awesome eclipse of the moon this evening, I have an idea that only those of us who subscribe the Niagara Gazette know what warm special events are coming up. Maybe the following might give you an idea of how down-home we tend to still be here around Niagara Falls. I read it in the Niagara Gazette this morning. RUMMAGE SALE: Pierce Avenue Presbyterian Church, 1815 Pierce Ave. [Niagara Falls], will hold a rummage sale from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. today. Lunch will be served, and there will be a bag sale from noon to 1 p.m. PORK DINNER: St. Peter's Lutheran Church, North Ridge [Town of Cambria] will hold an "all-you-can-eat" family style pork roast dinner from noon to 2 p.m. Sunday. Potatoes, dressing, gravy, green beans, coleslaw, homemade applesauce, rolls and butter and pies will also be served. Cost is $7.50 for adults; $3.50 for children ages 6 to 12. Children under 5 are free. A chairlift is available. ANNIVERSARY OBSERVANCE: BERGHOLZ--Holy Ghost Lutheran Church, 6637 Luther St. [Town of Niagara], will celebrate its 160th anniversary at 10:30 a.m. Nov. 16. The Rev. John Brunner, President of the Eastern district of the Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod, will be guest speaker. The Bergholz Blaskaspelle, the Holy Ghost singers, Handbell Choir and the Brass and Woodwind ensembles, under the direction of David Werth, will perform. Call 731-5877 for more information. AUCTION/DINNER: Bacon Memorial Presbyterian Church, 59th St. [LaSalle], will hold a turkey dinner and basket auction Nov. 15. The doors will open at 1 p.m., with a turkey dinner served from 5 to 7 p.m. There will be a basket auction and drawing. Cost is $6 for adults; $3 for children under 10. For reservations call 283-5744 BAZAAR: The Women's Guild of St. Teresa-of-the-Infant Jesus Roman Catholic Church, 3840 Macklem Ave. [DeVeaux section of Niagara Falls], will host their annual bazaar from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Nov.. 15. A continental breakfast will be served from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., and lunch also will be served. Crafts, attic treasures, baked goods and more will be featured. It warms my heart that the local churches around here still focus on the simple pleasures in life. vee

Dear Folks, This probably isn't important to any of you this evening but I have a confession I need to make nonetheless. I had mentioned that I had enjoyed seeing the movie "Heidi" starring Shirley Temple in ca 1936. Well after checking Google, it appears that the movie came out in 1937 after we moved up here from Bridgeville. But there is one movie I REALLY remember and I dare anyone to refute it. I don't remember the name of it but I was about four or five years old and my mother gave me the few cents to see the movie. I walked up the hill all by myself and settled down in the theater looking forward to the comedy that starred the comedian Joe E. Brown. But when it came to the scary part where their car was careening around the dangerous curves of the mountain side while hauling a house trailer behind them with people in the trailer, I couldn't see anything funny about it and in fact it was just too scary for me to watch any more of the movie. I just got up an walked out in spite of the precious money that my mother had spent to allow me to watch the movie. I have a feeling that during the many years since then I continued to have that discretion when I felt too uncomfortable with things that tend to be broadcasted on TV. I now have a remote control and I click it with freedom. If anything is too scary or violent or too sexual in content, I also know there the "off" button is. Back in the 1930s I guess I knew somehow how to deal with things I felt uncomfortable with. I can only hope that the children of today can separate the wheat from the chaff regarding what they tend to watch on TV. HOPEFULLY! (sigh) vee

Dear Folks, I'm sending this message to both of my lists because I believe both of them will appreciate it. As both lists know, I told all of you that I finally managed to copy my local history book onto a CD and I offered it for sale to anyone who would fork over $1.50 for the CD including a jewel case. When I picked up my newspaper and my mail this morning I noticed that one of the envelopes had a real stamp on it and that it was hand addressed to me. That certainly looked encouraging. However, when I saw that it had a return address of BRIDGEVILLE, PA, I almost stopped in my tracks. BRIDGEVILLE? That's where our family lived from ca 1933-1936! I still remember the small town very well even though I was only five years old when we moved from there to Niagara Falls. I remembered that it was known as the Town of Many Bridges. When I read the note I thoroughly expected it to be from someone on our PA Dutch list inasmuch as she lives in Pennsylvania. But no, this is what Carol said (Carol I hope you don't mind my sharing your note with everyone): "Dear Vee, I'm rather new to the "Folks mailing list but really enjoy your newsy notes. The [Niagara County] area is special to me since my newly-discovered half-sister lives in Lockport. Thanks for the CD! I'm sure I'll enjoy it." Well, that really blew my mind! Here she is, living in Bridgeville right now and is interested in Niagara County genealogy and history whereas many times I continue to recall living in Bridgeville as a little kid during the Depression. Carol, our family lived on Dewey Avenue in Bridgeville and I recall many times walking down the little hill to where Dewey Avenue turned left onto what I recall as being Railroad Street but what might be known now as Station Street. And if you walked up Station Street after passing the railroad station you might have found an old motion picture theater on the right where my father used to be the motion picture projectionist. At the top of the hill of Station Street there was the main street of Bridgeville. Turn left and you would have seen THE motion picture theater that my mother gave me a few pennies to pay for my ticket to see THE ultimate picture "Heidi" with Shirley Temple! Carol, I checked out MapQuest to see just where you live on Washington Pike and compared it to where we lived on Dewey Avenue. I figure it would take you five or ten minutes to drive up to the door of our yellow brick house on the corner of Dewey Avenue and the street that led up the hill to the high school. Across the street was where Edna Wagner lived who was the friend of my sister Norma. And with the help of my sister's memory this evening, on the other corner across the alley was where poor Paddy Halloran lived. Paddy was my age and we used to play "Fish" and "Old Maid" together. Carol, my birth certificate states that I was born in Collier Township but I believe at the time we lived in Kerwin Heights. If any of the above sounds familiar to you, let me know. I know that I'm talking about things that happened over 60 years ago but you never know. vee

Folks, Here's the editorial. · Niagara County News, Youngstown, NY, November 25, 1881 Are you tired of hearing about a railroad to Youngstown? If you are, there is another subject, of just as vital importance, because it affects not only our business interests, but what is of far greater moment, the well-being of our families. We are in great need of a new school building; and a more efficient school organization. (We dare not say graded schools for fear some of our good friends that would read this article, might stop just there.) Let us look at some of the objections that are brought up against expending money for a new school building. First, If we have a new one, it will soon be cut up and marred, and look as badly as the old now does. Second, I have educated my children there, and I think it is good enough for other people's. Third, We don't want our taxes any heavier than they are, there's enough to pay now! (The last is probably the reason.) First, Do your children cut and mar and destroy your furniture at home? If they do, what kind of training are you giving them? If they do not, is it not easy to teach them to be neat and careful at school? Second, If the school house is good enough for the children now, why does not the same rule apply to our own houses? Our fathers and mothers had very few of the comforts and conveniences that we enjoy. Why should we not be satisfied if we have as comfortable and convenient homes as theirs were? Third, There is no doubt such an expenditure would materially increase taxes for a time, but we would be fully remunerated, even financially, in the end. No person who has the best interest of his child at heart-and what parent has not-but that desires to see that child fitting himself for usefulness in life. What opportunities are we giving our children for an education? In this age no one can deny that education is essential to success in life, and the boys and girls who are now growing up in this village are as capable of fitting themselves for places of trust and honor, as those of any other community. Understand us, we have no fault to find with the teachers in our schools; they labor faithfully amid many discouragements, but unless we as parents are ready to help them, their work can not be very effective. Could we have a first-class graded school here, we would see a decided improvement in our village in less than a year. People who are now obliged to send their children away to school to educate them would gladly keep them at home, and hundreds-I might say thousands of dollars-that are every year sent out of the town might be retained at home. Setting aside the money benefit to be derived from a well-organized school, what an influence for good such a school exerts upon a place. I call to mind our sister town of Wilson, with far less natural advantages than we enjoy, built up, and for years largely sustained by her excellent Academy. Any place might well be proud of her long list of honored names that have been enrolled as scholars there. Joshua Gaskill, so long Surrogate of Niagara County, J. H. Babcock, a worthy member of our State Legislature, the Brazee brothers, eminent in their profession at the West, and scores of others now filling places of trust in the work, look back with pride to their school days in the old Academy at Wilson. When the prosperity of that school began to dim, the business interests of the village suffered with it; and so you will find it, in every community. Let us not then be so short-sighted as to deny to our children, for the sake of a few dollars, the good which they may derive from a first-class Graded School. vee

Dear Folks, Last night I told you about the conversation I had with Cora, our former historian, about the 1881 newspaper article regarding the concerns of a citizen/parent on the need for our village of Youngstown to upgrade our school system. Well this evening I at least transcribed the editorial in its entirety. I'll follow this message with the editorial of 1881 and hope you can relate to it well over 100 years later. Although I don't really know the meaning of a "graded school," I have a feeling that the editorial was a plea for the village to give up the concept of a one-room school house and build a proper school house with class rooms for each grade. From what I know about the history of our red brick school house built in 1892 and still standing, I believe that it eventually became a "graded school." Let me know what you think about the subject. vee

Dear Folks, I have no business spending the time this evening to compose this message to you because I should be spending the time to at least finding more old newspaper articles to include in the monthly newsletter of our Town of Porter Historical Society that has to go to press by Monday morning, all ten pages of it. Although I haven't rounded up all of the articles I need, I did find one dated in November in 1881 that was a long Letter to the Editor written by a concerned parent or citizen of Youngstown concerning the Youngstown's need for a new school house that I want to use a feature story. But taking my mind back to 1881 and knowing what school houses we had in Youngstown at the time, I realized that as a result of that editorial along with many, many public meetings on the subject of building a new school house after that, the end result is what is now known as our old Red Brick School House, built 11 years later in 1892. But what I needed was the confirmation of the date I had in my mind of 1892. So who did I call up but our Cora Gushee, 100+ years old, my predecessor as Town of Porter Historian. Yes, she confirmed the date right off the top of her head. However, at 8:30 this evening when I called her, she was in the process of preparing for bed. Nonetheless, from 8:30 to 9:30 we had a most exciting conversation about the history of the town. Regarding the earliest schools in Youngstown, she told me things I never knew. The first one was a log cabin on what is now the corner of Main Street and Water Street. It had been decided back around the 1860s or so to replace it by a brick one and the citizens voted in favor of it. I already knew that. However, Cora told me about the year that the students had to wait between the time that the cabin was torn down and the brick school was built. She had read in a newspaper article or somewhere that for that year the temporary school they attended was in a house on what was or what is on the corner of Lockport St. and Third St. After I got my bearings straight I knew what house is standing there now. I asked her if it was eventually the house where Julian Ripson and his wife Emma (Pound) lived. (Note: Julian Ripson, 1853-1925). Yes, that's the one, she confirmed excitedly. She even told me that in the article it mentioned that the school children enjoyed spending their recess period by playing in the woods across the road. What a picture that painted about our old village back then! We went on to more exciting sharing of historical memories. In more recent years she has been telling me that her memory isn't as good as it used to be. Nonetheless, there hasn't been one single time when I've called Cora to ask her about a historical date or a local family that she doesn't know the answer right off the top of her head and can add more than just a few more facts to it. By the same token, there have been times when she has called me and asked me a vague question such as, "Do you know anything about a John McBride and a possible connection with our Youngstown Swain family?" Oh, yes, indeedy doo! And then I tell her the whole nine yards about John and Elizabeth (Swain) McBride and the War of 1812 when John was taken prisoner by the British for a period of time and on and on. So you see, that's what one old historian talks to another younger historian about. It's just like both of us are still living in the 1800s and even back into the 1700s. That's the period where we both feel most comfortable in. She still remembers the history of our town and she has passed on her torch as Town Historian to me and more and more I feel she's comfortable that I was the one to pick up the torch and go forward with it. She appreciates that I am now in the computer age and can use the technology of the Internet to further research our history and get in touch with people who are researching the families from around here by email. Most recently Cora realizes that her health is apparently beginning to fail and even at her age,it's very difficult for her to let go. But I swear if I would ever to be there at her death bed and ask her the date of when the Battle of LaBelle Famille was fought here, she would come up with the date of 1759 with no hesitation at all and pass on peacefully. vee

Vee, what I really mean is: there are plenty of "Niagara Folks" our there who don't know about your book. I wouldn't have known if you hadn't shown it to me. I would love to find such a book about my ancestors in Gasport or in Ann Arbor. So, maybe folks will find out if you just put the word out.......I luvvvvv my copy! Jo ----- Original Message ----- From: "Vee L. Housman" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Monday, November 03, 2003 10:59 PM Subject: Re: [FOLKS] I did it, I really DID it! > Dear Jo, > > Thanks for your encouragement but there's one thing I ain't and that's > someone who has a talent or interest in marketing a product. Regarding > EBay, I don't have a clue how I would go about that. Regarding Fort > Niagara, they used to have my book there for sale years ago but somewhere > along the line they never paid me for the particular number of books that > they sold. Therefore, I haven't offered my books to them since. Regarding > the Niagara County Historical Society in Lockport, my books are still there > and when they run out of my books, Pat just emails me and orders more. > > The only reason that I've put so much effort into putting my book on a CD is > because I just want to share the story with those of you who would like to > read it. It now goes against the grain for me to make a profit out of the > book now that I have more than recouped my expenses on the initial > publication of it. > > The income from my Navy retirement pension and my Social Security suits me > just fine. And right now all that I want is to share my book with my > friends without wanting to make a profit > vee > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Josephine Grieve" <[email protected]> > To: <[email protected]> > Sent: Monday, November 03, 2003 11:26 AM > Subject: Re: [FOLKS] I did it, I really DID it! > > > > > > Congratulations, Vee!!! You did it! Now, dad gummit, market your book > > and CD and go into business!!! (Like at the Fort, and EBay, and Niagara > > Historical Society, to mention a few)... > > > > Jo of Michigan > > > > >

Dear Folks, Last night when I posted my glorious announcement to all of you, I was so excited and pleased with myself that I'm certain it was well after 3:00 a.m. before I calmed down enough to go to sleep. And when I got up BEFORE 12:00 noon(!), I was just as excited over my accomplishment. After I read through all of the messages in my Inbox, I couldn't wait to check out my book on the CD once again just to make sure it wasn't all a dream. No sir, it worked just fine. However, COMMA, I eventually found that it didn't work just fine. After I made various quality control checks, I realized that I was back to square one. In other words, close enough but no cigar! What I had done was to originally save the entire book on my "A" drive diskette and then send the book folder to my desktop as a shortcut. Well, when I copied the shortcut onto the CD, that went fine until I then tried out the CD without the "A" drive diskette inserted into my computer. Therefore, nadda! I spent the entire afternoon working my brain to the bone and after hours of agony and biting of fingernails, I really did manage to successfully copy the book onto a CD. This evening as a final quality control check, I was disappointed once again regarding wrong pagination which at that point I just gave up. If you want perfection, you ain't gonna get it. But for $1.50, if yuz want perfection, just copy and paste the book into your word processor program and tidy it up for yourself. But on a brighter note, today I even eventually made up an attractive insert for the jewel case that shows a reduced copy of the front cover of my book. It looks kinda pretty. Not perfect but kinda pretty. So if you're interested, send me a check or cash in the amount of $1.50 to Vee Housman 3642 Creek Rd. Youngstown, NY 14174 vee

Dear Raymond, Thanks so much for those encouraging words. It's obvious that both of us read and re-read our books to eliminate typos, etc. but in the end we knew that we didn't catch all of them (sigh!) Regarding the murder mysteries that I've been reading lately, I REALLY caught several serious typos in one of Lillian Jackson Braun's books (The Cat Who . . . ?) in which I found mention of Niagara that was misspelled "Niagra" and yet in the next paragraph, or page or two it was spelled correctly. Now if such a famous auther as she is as well as her publisher could let such typos get by them, I feel so much better with my piddly little typos that on my CD anyone can correct if they really feel would make them feel more comfortable. vee ----- Original Message ----- From: <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Monday, November 03, 2003 12:59 PM Subject: Re: [FOLKS] I did it, I really DID it! > Vee, > > I had to laugh when I read how appalled you were at the number of typos > in your book. Don't be too hard on yourself. Back in 1995 I > self-published a book of my short stories and song lyrics. It was just a > little book, about 35,000 words total, and I proof-read that thing over > and over and over. After I got the printed copies home I took a quick > look through it...and found seven typos right off the bat. Sigh. I think > as long as people write books, those books will contain typos. > > --- Raymond Scott Woolson > www.raymondscottwoolson.com > >

Dear Jo, Thanks for your encouragement but there's one thing I ain't and that's someone who has a talent or interest in marketing a product. Regarding EBay, I don't have a clue how I would go about that. Regarding Fort Niagara, they used to have my book there for sale years ago but somewhere along the line they never paid me for the particular number of books that they sold. Therefore, I haven't offered my books to them since. Regarding the Niagara County Historical Society in Lockport, my books are still there and when they run out of my books, Pat just emails me and orders more. The only reason that I've put so much effort into putting my book on a CD is because I just want to share the story with those of you who would like to read it. It now goes against the grain for me to make a profit out of the book now that I have more than recouped my expenses on the initial publication of it. The income from my Navy retirement pension and my Social Security suits me just fine. And right now all that I want is to share my book with my friends without wanting to make a profit vee ----- Original Message ----- From: "Josephine Grieve" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Monday, November 03, 2003 11:26 AM Subject: Re: [FOLKS] I did it, I really DID it! > > Congratulations, Vee!!! You did it! Now, dad gummit, market your book > and CD and go into business!!! (Like at the Fort, and EBay, and Niagara > Historical Society, to mention a few)... > > Jo of Michigan >

Dear Folks, Last night when I posted my glorious announcement to all of you, I was so excited and pleased with myself that I'm certain it was well after 3:00 a.m. before I calmed down enough to go to sleep. And when I got up BEFORE 12:00 noon(!), I was just as excited over my accomplishment. After I read through all of the messages in my Inbox, I couldn't wait to check out my book on the CD once again just to make sure it wasn't all a dream. No sir, it worked just fine. However, COMMA, I eventually found that it didn't work just fine. After I made various quality control checks, I realized that I was back to square one. In other words, close enough but no cigar! What I had done was to originally save the entire book on my "A" drive diskette and then send the book folder to my desktop as a shortcut. Well, when I copied the shortcut onto the CD, that went fine until I then tried out the CD without the "A" drive diskette inserted into my computer. Therefore, nadda! I spent the entire afternoon working my brain to the bone and after hours of agony and biting of fingernails, I really did manage to successfully copy the book onto a CD. This evening as a final quality control check, I was disappointed once again regarding wrong pagination which at that point I just gave up. If you want perfection, you ain't gonna get it. But for $1.50, if yuz want perfection, just copy and paste the book into your word processor program and tidy it up for yourself. But on a brighter note, today I even eventually made up an attractive insert for the jewel case that shows a reduced copy of the front cover of my book. It looks kinda pretty. Not perfect but kinda pretty. So if you're interested, send me a check or cash in the amount of $1.50 to Vee Housman 3642 Creek Rd. Youngstown, NY 14174 vee

Vee, You know very well that when you type a paragraph perfectly, the letters decide to rearrange themselves just to cause a little confusion. You really can't blame yourself for that. It happens to me all the time. Barbara Moll

Vee, I had to laugh when I read how appalled you were at the number of typos in your book. Don't be too hard on yourself. Back in 1995 I self-published a book of my short stories and song lyrics. It was just a little book, about 35,000 words total, and I proof-read that thing over and over and over. After I got the printed copies home I took a quick look through it...and found seven typos right off the bat. Sigh. I think as long as people write books, those books will contain typos. --- Raymond Scott Woolson www.raymondscottwoolson.com

Congratulations, Vee!!! You did it! Now, dad gummit, market your book and CD and go into business!!! (Like at the Fort, and EBay, and Niagara Historical Society, to mention a few)... Jo of Michigan ----- Original Message ----- From: "Vee L. Housman" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Monday, November 03, 2003 2:32 AM Subject: [FOLKS] I did it, I really DID it! > Dear Folks, > > You may think I'm crazy right now and frankly, you might just be right! But I've been working my hiney off these past few days and nights trying to reformat on my computer the book I wrote, "It Happened Just Down the Road," about the history stories of our local Town of Porter. Let's face it, I typed it all into my computer back in November 1993 (10 years ago) and when I brought it up to date with a better font AND actually having the use of Spell Check now, I think I really have a handle on all of it. BTW, I was appalled with the number of typographical errors, misspellings, spacing, etc. that I found. I remember at the time that I had gone through the entire book with a keen eye for details of that sort and frankly, I'm humbled once again. As much as I want to be perfect, I guess I just ain't. > > But this evening I actually finished the reformatting of it after fiddling around with new page numbers, etc., AND, Tah Tah, I actually figured out how to burn it onto a CD in all of its new perfection (like right! :-)) Whoosh! What an accomplishment! > > With that said, if there are any of you who would like a copy of my book on CD (imperfect as it probably still is), just let me know. A number of months ago I got carried away at OfficeMax and bought economy size packages of CD-Rs and jewel cases. Therefore, I figured out the cost of the CDs, the jewel cases plus the envelopes and postage and will send my book on CD to anyone who is willing to fork over a check (or cash) in the amount of $1.50. OK, so I padded the price a few pennies for gas to and from the village post office. So sue me! :-) > > It's only 75 pages long plus book cover, inside title, etc., Table of Contents, Forward, etc., and it's now saved in the latest (or not!) Microsoft Word format. If you would like me to burn off some more CDs of my book and mail them off to you, just let me know. > > But right now I still just can't believe that I did it, I really DID it ten years later!! My book on a CD! > vee > > > > >

Hi Vee - Congratulations! Hey - nothing and nobody are perfect! If we were, we would all be the same.. and who would want that? Then again, whose idea of perfection are we talking here? <G> Ask spellchecker how to spell "there", or "where". The spelling isn't the important thing anyway... it's the fact that you wrote it, and actually wrote it down! Can you imagine how many people there are, with knowledge and stories, that never get around to it? Now, the question is - how do we get you the money, and give you the address to mail them to? Kathy