Hi, all - I wrote this release for our local Johnston paper ... Beth Hurd, Johnston, RI >JOHNSTON HISTORICAL SOCIETY WEBSITE GETS REVAMPED >New site went "live" on April 1. > >By Beth Hurd > >The Johnston Historical Society's website, in its new and improved state, >"went live" on April 1, and is a testament to years of continued research >conducted by its members. > >Updated by computer guru and Society member Christopher Martin, the site, >formally one page, it now features five main pages and over 20 linked >pages of information and is constantly growing. Martin is also co-editor >of the Society's newsletter. > >The Society has been in existence for over twenty years. Over the years, >its members have conducted exhaustive research on the town's historic >houses, its over 100 historic cemeteries, and even the historic trees of >the town. This research will be put on line, a valuable tool to >researchers worldwide. > >New to the site, are current and back issues of the society's newsletter, >the older issues, predating computers, are currently being transcribed by >volunteers. Transcriptions of out-of-copyright historical articles are >also being added, as they are transcribed. > >"We hope to keep it updated as much as possible," said Martin, adding, >"there's an online guest book for people to sign or ask queries. We >encourage people to contact us with genealogical questions." > >Among the pages to be constantly updated is a list of Society >events. Upcoming events include an ice-cream social on June 25, and a >walking tour of the village of Graniteville, on June 28. > >The society meets on the fourth Wednesday of each month, from September >through June. The next general meeting will be held on May 31, and will >feature a talk on Rhode Island railroads, by Society member Rolf >Johnston. Meetings are held in the "barn", aka the Johnston Historical >Museum, located behind the historical home owned by the Society, the >Elijah Angell house, at 101 Putnam Pike, and start at 7 p.m. > >Looking ahead, the group is just starting to plan for the town of >Johnston's 250th anniversary, which will occur in 2009. "It's not to soon >to start planning," said society president Louis McGowan, at a recent >meeting, looking to form a committee. The town almost missed the 200th >anniversary, when is occurred in 1959. > >Society meetings are open to the public, and new members are always welcome. > >The newly revamped site can be accessed at <www.johnstonhistorical.org>