This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: PHogge Surnames: LANGSTRAND Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.newyork.counties.rockland/3622/mb.ashx Message Board Post: For too many years, the only thing I knew about my Uncle Lawrence "Larry" Langstrand, was that he had been institutionalized at a very young age, somewhere in New York. In reviewing the latest US 1940 New York Census, I discovered the first official document that listed my Uncle's name. I learned that Uncle Larry was listed as a Resident/Inmate/Patient at "Letchworth Village" Institution, which was established to care for the "feeble-minded" among others. Let me say, that I am so glad that society's view of human imperfections has changed through the years. When I discovered where my Uncle Lawrence Langstrand had been, for so many years, I posted a Ancestry.com Forum query for more information on him. I learned, from a Fellow Family Tree Researcher & Genealogist, that my Uncle Larry passed away at this same Letchworth Institution, & is buried somewhere in "The Old Letchworth Village Cemetery". After investigating this cemetery, I can only conclude that he rests among 910 oth! er souls, whose grave is represented by a T-Shaped Metal Marker, stamped with a Number for Identification. I learned that Uncle Larry's name has been etched upon the "Old Letchworth Village Cemetery Monument" that has been erected, to honor those souls who had only been memorialized with only a T-Shaped Marker, stamped with a number. I've looked up, on the Internet, everything that I can find about the research that has come about, by good citizens, who concluded that these forgotten folks needed to be remembered by name, for the human-beings that they were. My major problem with these long-distance Internet searches, is that I cannot see a CLOSE-UP of my Uncle Lawrence "Larry" Langstrand's name & the date of his death...&...I cannot find any official documented details of his life or death. I would also like to find out what T-Shaped Metal Marker & Number marks my Uncle Larry's grave. I also have not been able to find any documented list/trascriptions of the 910 names & de! ath dates of "The Old Letchworth Village Cemetery Monument" Residents/ Patients/Inmates, iscribed upon this monument. I live out west, so I must do my Family Research long distance, within a budget. I'm hoping that there might be a Fellow Genealogist, who resides in the local area of Rockland County, New York, who might be willing to transcribe those 910 names along with their associated death-dates...to share with those of us who continue to search for evidence of our loved ones & missing family members. Perhaps a close-up photographic series could be taken of each column/list that is etched on this Memorial, in order of their sequential death dates. This is a public monument, open & obvious for review to any & all who views it. By reading Forum comments under the topic of Letchworth Villiage, I see that I am not alone in my search for names & dates of Letchworth Residents. Please know that I am so grateful to those Family Tree Researchers & Genealogists who volunteer & dedicate themselves to answers, documents, photographs, sources, & resourc! es...to those of us who are limited by time, access, & distance...in our search for facts & family. Most sincerely, Patricia in Bremerton, WA P.S. Because I believe that "a name is just a name, until you add a face to it"; I am adding this 1944 vintage photo of my Uncle Lawrence "Larry" Langstrand. Uncle Larry was only 7 years old, when he was listed in the US 1940 New York Cenus as an Inmate/Resident/Patient at "Letchworth Village". According to a Fellow Family Tree Researcher, my Uncle Larry died on 10 March 1967, & lays at rest in "The Old Letchworth Village Cemetery" on Call Hollow Road. He probably was one of the last residents buried here, since this cemetery closed for further interments, sometime in 1967, which is the same year my Uncle died. Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.