Sandra, I agree with you that the "Worker Bees" in the Court House could care less about these old records. They were most likely glad to get them out of their way so they could work with current records that they needed, especially since space is cramped in the court house. Many that I talked with thought that the folks doing family genealogy and the LDS folks were "a little crazy" and had no understanding of the relevance of these records to the research we all are doing regarding our Family History. If they don't understand the relevance of these old records, there surely would not be any reverence for them. One must also realize that the area lies in a rather depressed economy, so many of the folks didn't go there because they "loved or respected old records" but have worked there for the job security and because they are some of the best jobs around.. I would bet that the "Queen Bees" (Department Heads appointed & responsible as guardian of these records) have NO idea where these records went nor do the Elected County Officials that are ultimately responsible. After just celebrating Ohio's Bicentennial, public airing of there failure to respect and provide proper care of these Historical Documents would likely leave the County Officials feeling more then a little embarrassed. I think letter writing to these officials and letters to the editor of the local Newspaper ( http://www.timesleaderonline.com/custservice/email.asp ) just might make someone sit up and take notice..... start at the top and work down. Like you said "it's the squeaky wheel that gets the grease". I also agree that this has to be organized on a local level. There are 2 Genealogy Societies : the Belmont County Chapter of the OGS and the Cumberland Trail Genealogical Society. It would seem imperative that these two Genealogy Societies need to work together to organize and accomplish this task of preserving these records. Becoming Members of these organizations would be another way of showing our support for these local Genealogy groups. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Sandra Ferguson" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Friday, April 16, 2004 2:42 PM Subject: [OHBELMON-L] local records > Quite frankly, I don't think that the 'powers that be' are the least bit > interested in original documents or their pityful plight......no one at the > courthouse, that I've EVER spoken to, cared one bit....their major concern > was not having to warehouse them. Thus, writing to officials will, I think, > be useless. That's why it is essential that there is a grassroots group or > groups, that make themselves known, and make it apparent that something > MUST be done......remember, it's the squeaky wheel that gets the > grease.....make a big enough noise, and something might be accomplished! At > this point, individual letters to officials will get, I'm sure, filed in the > trash. This whole thing requires some concerted work on the part of local > organizations, willling to take on the work, and with some sort of a PLAN, > that may then be presented to the various heads of different courthouse > departments. THEN is the time, once some sort of a plan is evolved, to > write the courthouse and say "PLease work with so and so to save these > records." Remember, the courthouse is responsible for the disgraceful > treatment of these records, and they aren't going to do anything unless a > fire is lighted under them, or unless local citizens can offer an > alternative place for the records and a plan of what to do with them! > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Saboley" <[email protected]> > To: <[email protected]> > Sent: Friday, April 16, 2004 12:48 PM > Subject: Re: [OHBELMON-L] Re: OHBELMON-D Digest V04 #68 > > > > Here are the addresses (web sites, e-mail and snail) for some of the > Elected > > Officials in Belmont County for those interested in writing some > > letters/e-mails to gather some interest in this Preservation Project. > > Ted Strickland's web site has info. regarding grants. > > I have e-mailed Eric Ayers at the Times Leader to see if I might elicit > some > > interest in doing a story regarding these scattered records. Will keep you > > informed of any response. > > I haven't seen this much activity on this site in ages. It's great to see > > everyone working together for a common cause. You are to be commended!! > > It would be great if some one in the area could get some pictures of these > > records in their current state. This might help in getting some attention > > and support for such a project from the local officials that have the > power > > to do something about it. > > > > Here are the addresses, etc.: > > Belmont County Elected Officials : > > > > http://www.belmontcountyohio.org/ > > > > > > AUDITOR > > Joseph A. Pappano > > 101 West Main Street > > St. Clairsville, OH 43950 > > Telephone: 740.699.2130 > > > > > > CLERK OF COURTS > > Randall L. Marple > > 101 West Main Street > > St. Clairsville, OH 43950 > > Legal Department > > Telephone: 740.699.2169 > > Title Department > > Telephone: 740.699.2139 > > > > > > BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS > > Ryan E. Olexo > > Charles R. Probst, Jr. > > Mark A. Thomas > > 101 West Main Street > > St. Clairsville, OH 43950 > > Telephone: 740.699.2155 > > > > Contacts them at: > > Ryan (Rick) Olexo Phone: 740.699.2155 > > Fax: 740.699.2156 > > email: [email protected] > > > > Charles (Chuck) Probst Phone: 740.699.2155 > > Fax: 740.699.2156 > > email: [email protected] > > > > Mark Thomas Phone: 740.699.2155 > > Fax: 740.699.2156 > > email: [email protected] > > > > > > Clerk: Dar Pempek Phone: 740.699.2155 > > Fax: 740.699.2156 > > email: [email protected] > > > > > > > > > > RECORDER > > Mary C. Nixon > > 101 West Main Street > > St. Clairsville, OH 43950 > > Telephone: 740.699.2140 > > > > > > Grants and Federal Domestic Assistance > > http://capwiz.com/etp/webreturn/?url=http://www.house.gov/strickland > > http://capwiz.com/etp/webreturn/?url=http://www.house.gov/strickland > > Congressman Ted Strickland, Representing Ohio's 6th District > > Washington Office > > 336 Cannon HOB > > Washington, D.C. 20515 > > 202-225-5705 (phone) > > 202-225-5907 (fax) > > > > Martins Ferry Office > > > > 35 South 5th St. > > > > Martins Ferry, OH 43935 > > > > 740-633-2275 (phone) > > > > 740-633-2280 (fax) > > > > Ohio's 18th district represented by The Honorable Robert W. Ney . > > Contact Information: > > > > The Honorable Robert W. Ney > > 2438 Rayburn > > Washington, D.C. 20515 > > (202) 225-6265 > > > > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: "Saboley" <[email protected]> > > To: "Byron Knutsen" <[email protected]>; <[email protected]> > > Sent: Thursday, April 15, 2004 3:43 PM > > Subject: Re: [OHBELMON-L] Re: OHBELMON-D Digest V04 #68 > > > > > > > Go to the Times Leader on-line and under "community" you will find a > list > > of > > > Government Officials for Belmont County & St. Clairsville. (St. > > Clairsville > > > zip code is 43950) > > > > > > http://timesleaderonline.com/ > > > > > > > > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > > From: "Byron Knutsen" <[email protected]> > > > To: "Saboley" <[email protected]>; <[email protected]> > > > Sent: Thursday, April 15, 2004 3:08 PM > > > Subject: Re: [OHBELMON-L] Re: OHBELMON-D Digest V04 #68 > > > > > > > > > > I now live in Idaho but was born in St. Clairsville in 1938. If I had > an > > > > address to send a letter(s) to, I would be glad to help let the > > officials > > > > know that these records are important to many people. > > > > > > > > Byron Knutsen > > > > > > > > Retired and Still Learning > > > > While Having a Great Time > > > > In Southeastern Idaho > > > > > >