Applause, Applause to Helen. Last year I traveled the US starting from California - took us ten months and I hit every courthouse, and some times several, in each of the 38 states we visited. Jackson Courthouse was one of the worst in attempting to obtain any info. In fact, I got none and the family had been in the area since 1850 and are still there. Hopefully someone in the local area will get on the soap box to their mayors, legislatures and congressmen to get the courthouse into this century of technology. Sharon Kisor [email protected] wrote: Hi Karen Davis, PS. I'll be through the area April 26. Thanks for help in cemeteries. Gallia Co has also given it's OLDEST wills/estate records to the Genealogical Society in Galliapolis. Unfortunately, the records are falling apart and I'm not sure IF they were microfilmed before they were donated to them. So this could result in them being unreadable very soon. Space could become a problem for a Genealogical society if they accept records. Gallia Co courthouse was writing a GRANT request in about 2001 to get some help on costs to microfilm. I'm not sure how that turned out. Why doesn't Jackson county look for OUTSIDE help? They never let their records be microfilmed by WPA or the Mormans. Surely Jackson Co could qualify for some funding. I even proposed this to the governor in 2003 when the cost of documents was being raised to $15.00 with no uncertified copies available because of the disportionate need of Jackson, Gallia, and Vinton County (# of requests vs. tax base ratio in those counties). (I know you're just the messenger, but I hope you can convey this info to the NEW MAYOR of Jackson Co. I don't think they realize how much travel (including gas/meals and possibly lodging) that folks do from out of town to do research in Jackson and it's one of the most "difficult" places to do research. Yes, they recently added a little room for folks at the courthouse at about the time the state raised the rates to $15.00 for b/d certificates. The Register of Deeds here where I moved, gives $5M BACK to the county just based on USER FEES alone, above their costs, to run their department. Counties like Jackson, Gallia (and possibly Washington County--the oldest in OHIO?) get a disportionate amount of requests since they are the OLDEST and instead of understanding the issue and going with the FLOW to make it work, they have dragged their heels, in the past, refusing modern but also cost effective ways to deal with the issue and turn it into a "plus" for visitors to come to Jackson. No statistics are kept at Jackson County on number of requests. Also, because they don't have a policy in the courthouse, nor understand the genealogy "process", they have ill-equipped the young ladies in the department to know what is a "REASONABLE" request and which requires a referral for "UNREASONABLE" requests to "paid researchers." The ladies are not required to "GIVE ME ALL YOU HAVE ON A SURNAME" or my "Aunt Jennie married sometime between 1800-1850. Find her." Because there is lack of understanding the young ladies in the department deam it a "chore" to respond. It is NOT the main focus of their job which is to serve the citizens of the community who are the current tax payers and to the attorneys who practice through this courthouse. BUT other counties have solved this problem, Jackson County needs a strategy, and a method to get funding to make it happen to enable them to reap economic benefits while serving the community. They have an untapped economic benefit in their genealogical records. They could host one more event (besides Apples Days, etc) for "Old Settlers Day." A day to encourage, FAMILY reunions by SURNAMES in the area, to open up the historical places (Buckeye, Welch Museum), to have the genealogical societies host "programs"--for small fees and to sell cemetery books, etc. to have someone present "talking history" of Fairmount Cemetery or "Ridgewood Cemetery". Their records could be a big PLUS. But again,i! t is one of the worst counties for gaining access to records and I have been doing this for over 25 years in over 7 states and too many counties to mention and so speak from experience of comparison. If you now someone in government, please pass this along. There are people out here that would volunteer their TIME if they could solve their "vision" of what they think should happen to government records that they are ENTRUSTED to perserve. Helen > > From: "Kathy Hines" > Date: 2004/04/10 Sat AM 08:58:57 EDT > To: [email protected] > Subject: Re: [OHJACKSO-L] Courthouse records issue > > Karen, > > Depending upon how active your genealogy society is, perhaps they could act > as the storage site. Here in Hardin County, once the records are > microfilmed, the court has given us many of the original probate volumes. > We have an entire room dedicated to court records begining with the chancery > courts and including many probate documents. The probate court has also > given us permission to copy all delayed birth records from the beginning of > Hardin Co. recording them. In fact we have so many records that we are now > in the process of refurbushing another room to hold the additional volumes > that are being given to us. I invite anyone with Hardin County roots to > visit the Hardin Co. Genealogy Society, you will be absolutely amazed at the > amount of material we have. We are easy to find, if anyone is interested in > finding us let me know. > > Kathy Hines > >