Helen, The ideal would be to keep them in the County, but that would be a very labor intensive and expensive proposition and I don't think Belmont County has the extra funds to allocate to such a project; given the fact that they do not have the funds to support their educational system and are currently doing massive layoffs of teachers. You would need a building to house the records and the people and equipment to microfilm or digitalize these records. Given the fact that they have already been sitting and deteriorating for years in attics and basements exposed to the elements and critters, the most cost effective means of preserving these would be to sent them to the designated repositories such as OU or OHS to preserve them, otherwise they are likely to end up in land fills and be gone forever. That is why these repositories and archive libraries were created. At least if they were sent to OU where they have the funds and means to microfilm these records , the records would be preserved for ever and not lost. Locally, they could then be requested and viewed at the Belmont County Campus Library of OU. If you think about it, we have already been paying for copies of our own records. What is it now, $15.00 for a copy of a birth or death certificate that probably costs less then $.10 to reproduce by the staff of Vital records ; whose salaries come from our tax money? ? I think the bottom line is preserving these records before it is too late. I am surprised that The Old age Home hasn't been condemned and when it is, I would bet the records in the attic and basement will go with the building. The electrical wiring is ancient and should that building catch fire as a result of faulty wiring, those records will also go up in smoke. The Genealogy Societies have been aware of these problems for years, but have probably not had the funding to deal with the massive amount of records that currently exist. There are tons of records stacked to the ceiling in these locations. This seems like a cost effective and viable option to me. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Helen Stradford" <[email protected]> To: "Saboley" <[email protected]> Sent: Friday, April 16, 2004 11:15 PM Subject: Re: Preservation of Belmont WHY WHY > Why should OUR records be sent out of the county?? That is silly!!!! The > LDS copied some of our records & our libraries did not even get GIVEN a > copy!!!! WHY should we have to BUY back our own records. That is a > terrible thing to have to do!!!!! Why should we have to go many miles to > see our own records!!!! Stop and think of what you are saying!!!!!!! > [email protected] > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Saboley" <[email protected]> > To: <[email protected]> > Sent: Friday, April 16, 2004 4:06 PM > Subject: Preservation of Belmont County Records > > > > I keep digging and have found the following that may be food for > thought............... > > > > The Ohio University Library in Athens, Ohio is the designated regional > repository for local government records for Belmont County. This is probably > where they should have been sent to begin with. There is a branch of OU > across the road from where many of these records are currently housed. This > could be another potential site for housing these records. OHS in Columbus > would also be another site to consider. > > > > This is the web site for the Ohio University Library in Athens and a > little info. about them: > > > > http://www.library.ohiou.edu/subjects/genealogy/index.htm > > Archives and Special Collections -- 5th Floor > > The Department of Archives and Special Collections is the designated > regional repository for local government records from eighteen southeast > Ohio counties: > > > > Athens > > Belmont > > Gallia, > > Guernsey > > Hocking > > Jackson Lawrence > > Meigs > > Monroe > > Morgan > > Muskingum > > Noble Perry > > Pike > > Ross > > Scioto > > Vinton > > Washington > > > > It has acquired some, but by no means all, records from the above > counties. A good portion of this material has also been microfilmed and is > available in the Microforms and Nonprint Department as well. The Department > of Archives and Special Collections department maintains a guide to this > material: Guide to Local Government Records in the Ohio University Library. > The 1992 edition (with supplements) is available for purchase. The > Department maintains the following Web sites: > > > > >

Hello gang - This is a UNIVERSAL problem. We're encountering the same problems with the records here in Brown Co., IL. Yes, LDS came in and filmed SOME of them. The records were "cut to fit" their cameras, mis-filed, etc. NO copies were EVER sent to the Court House as promised. Some records not copied (and LDS will not be allowed back in) are in the old jail which also is home feathered and four legged friends? Others are literally falling to pieces and there is talk about destroying them. Something needs to be done on a local, state and national level to retain the integrity of these records. Realize with the International and National issues that this is a LOW priority - but someone needs to realize that when the dust settles, the records of our ancestors is GONE! They cannot be replaced regardless of the National Guard nor the tax base. The squeekie wheel gets the grease. Time for us all to start squeeking!! - Donna Perkins Edwards ----- Original Message ----- From: "Saboley" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, April 17, 2004 9:45 AM Subject: [OHBELMON-L] Re: Preservation of Belmont WHY WHY > Helen, The ideal would be to keep them in the County, but that would be a > very labor intensive and expensive proposition and I don't think Belmont > County has the extra funds to allocate to such a project; given the fact > that they do not have the funds to support their educational system and are > currently doing massive layoffs of teachers. > > You would need a building to house the records and the people and equipment > to microfilm or digitalize these records. Given the fact that they have > already been sitting and deteriorating for years in attics and basements > exposed to the elements and critters, the most cost effective means of > preserving these would be to sent them to the designated repositories such > as OU or OHS to preserve them, otherwise they are likely to end up in land > fills and be gone forever. That is why these repositories and archive > libraries were created. > > At least if they were sent to OU where they have the funds and means to > microfilm these records , the records would be preserved for ever and not > lost. Locally, they could then be requested and viewed at the Belmont County > Campus Library of OU. > > If you think about it, we have already been paying for copies of our own > records. What is it now, $15.00 for a copy of a birth or death certificate > that probably costs less then $.10 to reproduce by the staff of Vital > records ; whose salaries come from our tax money? ? > > I think the bottom line is preserving these records before it is too late. > I am surprised that The Old age Home hasn't been condemned and when it is, I > would bet the records in the attic and basement will go with the building. > The electrical wiring is ancient and should that building catch fire as a > result of faulty wiring, those records will also go up in smoke. The > Genealogy Societies have been aware of these problems for years, but have > probably not had the funding to deal with the massive amount of records that > currently exist. There are tons of records stacked to the ceiling in these > locations. This seems like a cost effective and viable option to me. > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Helen Stradford" <[email protected]> > To: "Saboley" <[email protected]> > Sent: Friday, April 16, 2004 11:15 PM > Subject: Re: Preservation of Belmont WHY WHY > > > > Why should OUR records be sent out of the county?? That is silly!!!! > The > > LDS copied some of our records & our libraries did not even get GIVEN a > > copy!!!! WHY should we have to BUY back our own records. That is a > > terrible thing to have to do!!!!! Why should we have to go many miles to > > see our own records!!!! Stop and think of what you are saying!!!!!!! > > [email protected] > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: "Saboley" <[email protected]> > > To: <[email protected]> > > Sent: Friday, April 16, 2004 4:06 PM > > Subject: Preservation of Belmont County Records > > > > > > > I keep digging and have found the following that may be food for > > thought............... > > > > > > The Ohio University Library in Athens, Ohio is the designated regional > > repository for local government records for Belmont County. This is > probably > > where they should have been sent to begin with. There is a branch of OU > > across the road from where many of these records are currently housed. > This > > could be another potential site for housing these records. OHS in > Columbus > > would also be another site to consider. > > > > > > This is the web site for the Ohio University Library in Athens and a > > little info. about them: > > > > > > http://www.library.ohiou.edu/subjects/genealogy/index.htm > > > Archives and Special Collections -- 5th Floor > > > The Department of Archives and Special Collections is the designated > > regional repository for local government records from eighteen southeast > > Ohio counties: > > > > > > Athens > > > Belmont > > > Gallia, > > > Guernsey > > > Hocking > > > Jackson Lawrence > > > Meigs > > > Monroe > > > Morgan > > > Muskingum > > > Noble Perry > > > Pike > > > Ross > > > Scioto > > > Vinton > > > Washington > > > > > > It has acquired some, but by no means all, records from the above > > counties. A good portion of this material has also been microfilmed and is > > available in the Microforms and Nonprint Department as well. The > Department > > of Archives and Special Collections department maintains a guide to this > > material: Guide to Local Government Records in the Ohio University > Library. > > The 1992 edition (with supplements) is available for purchase. The > > Department maintains the following Web sites: > > > > > > > > > >

I can verify that Jefferson County Records (just north of Belmont County) has the same situation. Please be patient and understanding with the LDS filming situation. The couple's that come in and film are volunteering "2 years" of their lives, (how many of you could afford to do that and would be willing to leave your families for two years?) supported by themselves not the LDS church or the Utah Genealogical Society. They are taught the how to's of microfilming and do their best. If a contract was signed by the courthouse offices, they would have surely received a copy. Most courthouses aren't interested, and that's the truth! Many "old" records that are being house elsewhere are never disclosed while the filming is going on and if the records were known and indexed and were Vital records, the filmers would do ALL they could to include them in their initial trip. Chances of LDS coming back to Belmont County to film are pretty small. The records would be need to be easy to access, vital records, and if indexed -even more incentive to come back. Otherwise, it is left up to local historical societies and genealogical societies to "pitch in" and save them! We could use Carroll County as a "role model!" They were given an older home to house all the unwanted vital records from the courthouse (and who knows where else!), the courthouse has the convenience of contacting the Carroll County historical library (ran strictly by volunteers!) for research and look ups. In the long run, it saves the government time and money. It makes sense, but sometimes our government officials need to be "lead by the hand" and show that it works in other counties and explained to in great detail to "sell the idea." A case needs to be presented to each of these counties that will work. MANY local volunteers are needed to gather the records, organize them and then begin the long lengthy process of indexing and abstracting! It can be done and we do have wonderful examples of that in our neighboring counties and states! Let's hope that local genealogists in Belmont County will decide that this is the right time to take on such a project. It's easy to sit back and point fingers, but it is necessary to first - have the local governments support, secondly, a place to house the records, and third- local volunteers to staff such a repository and the list goes on. Most of time in these small locally supported organizations, we can't get enough support to do small local genealogy projects, let alone something of this magnitude! We are talking one big project that would have to dedicate alot of time and energy away from other obligations. Be patient and remember, we don't always know the big picture of why these records are still sitting in wait! My thoughts and comments for what it is worth! Flora ----- Original Message ----- From: "Herb Edwards" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, April 18, 2004 09:29 AM Subject: Re: [OHBELMON-L] Re: Preservation of Belmont WHY WHY Hello gang - This is a UNIVERSAL problem. We're encountering the same problems with the records here in Brown Co., IL. Yes, LDS came in and filmed SOME of them. The records were "cut to fit" their cameras, mis-filed, etc. NO copies were EVER sent to the Court House as promised. Some records not copied (and LDS will not be allowed back in) are in the old jail which also is home feathered and four legged friends? Others are literally falling to pieces and there is talk about destroying them. Something needs to be done on a local, state and national level to retain the integrity of these records. Realize with the International and National issues that this is a LOW priority - but someone needs to realize that when the dust settles, the records of our ancestors is GONE! They cannot be replaced regardless of the National Guard nor the tax base. The squeekie wheel gets the grease. Time for us all to start squeeking!! - Donna Perkins Edwards ----- Original Message ----- From: "Saboley" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, April 17, 2004 9:45 AM Subject: [OHBELMON-L] Re: Preservation of Belmont WHY WHY > Helen, The ideal would be to keep them in the County, but that would be a > very labor intensive and expensive proposition and I don't think Belmont > County has the extra funds to allocate to such a project; given the fact > that they do not have the funds to support their educational system and are > currently doing massive layoffs of teachers. > > You would need a building to house the records and the people and equipment > to microfilm or digitalize these records. Given the fact that they have > already been sitting and deteriorating for years in attics and basements > exposed to the elements and critters, the most cost effective means of > preserving these would be to sent them to the designated repositories such > as OU or OHS to preserve them, otherwise they are likely to end up in land > fills and be gone forever. That is why these repositories and archive > libraries were created. > > At least if they were sent to OU where they have the funds and means to > microfilm these records , the records would be preserved for ever and not > lost. Locally, they could then be requested and viewed at the Belmont County > Campus Library of OU. > > If you think about it, we have already been paying for copies of our own > records. What is it now, $15.00 for a copy of a birth or death certificate > that probably costs less then $.10 to reproduce by the staff of Vital > records ; whose salaries come from our tax money? ? > > I think the bottom line is preserving these records before it is too late. > I am surprised that The Old age Home hasn't been condemned and when it is, I > would bet the records in the attic and basement will go with the building. > The electrical wiring is ancient and should that building catch fire as a > result of faulty wiring, those records will also go up in smoke. The > Genealogy Societies have been aware of these problems for years, but have > probably not had the funding to deal with the massive amount of records that > currently exist. There are tons of records stacked to the ceiling in these > locations. This seems like a cost effective and viable option to me. > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Helen Stradford" <[email protected]> > To: "Saboley" <[email protected]> > Sent: Friday, April 16, 2004 11:15 PM > Subject: Re: Preservation of Belmont WHY WHY > > > > Why should OUR records be sent out of the county?? That is silly!!!! > The > > LDS copied some of our records & our libraries did not even get GIVEN a > > copy!!!! WHY should we have to BUY back our own records. That is a > > terrible thing to have to do!!!!! Why should we have to go many miles to > > see our own records!!!! Stop and think of what you are saying!!!!!!! > > [email protected] > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: "Saboley" <[email protected]> > > To: <[email protected]> > > Sent: Friday, April 16, 2004 4:06 PM > > Subject: Preservation of Belmont County Records > > > > > > > I keep digging and have found the following that may be food for > > thought............... > > > > > > The Ohio University Library in Athens, Ohio is the designated regional > > repository for local government records for Belmont County. This is > probably > > where they should have been sent to begin with. There is a branch of OU > > across the road from where many of these records are currently housed. > This > > could be another potential site for housing these records. OHS in > Columbus > > would also be another site to consider. > > > > > > This is the web site for the Ohio University Library in Athens and a > > little info. about them: > > > > > > http://www.library.ohiou.edu/subjects/genealogy/index.htm > > > Archives and Special Collections -- 5th Floor > > > The Department of Archives and Special Collections is the designated > > regional repository for local government records from eighteen southeast > > Ohio counties: > > > > > > Athens > > > Belmont > > > Gallia, > > > Guernsey > > > Hocking > > > Jackson Lawrence > > > Meigs > > > Monroe > > > Morgan > > > Muskingum > > > Noble Perry > > > Pike > > > Ross > > > Scioto > > > Vinton > > > Washington > > > > > > It has acquired some, but by no means all, records from the above > > counties. A good portion of this material has also been microfilmed and is > > available in the Microforms and Nonprint Department as well. The > Department > > of Archives and Special Collections department maintains a guide to this > > material: Guide to Local Government Records in the Ohio University > Library. > > The 1992 edition (with supplements) is available for purchase. The > > Department maintains the following Web sites: > > > > > > > > > >