Here's some addresses for you: Governor George W. Bush P. O. Box 12428 Austin, Texas 78711 512-463-2000 www.governor.state.tx.us Vice President Al Gore The White House Washigton DC 10501 202-456-2326 President Bill Clinton The White House Washington DC 20500 202-456-1414 We still need someone in Grainger County to give us some local names and addresses. Thank you, Louise Murphy, for your Grainger County Historical Society address. Also, someone in Grainger County might contact a Boy Scout Leader to see if he has a Scout trying to earn an Eagle badge. Those kids take on some mighty big projects. (I know they do in Texas.) Betty Roach Braune Kyle, Texas P.S. When writing to an official or service organization in a state where you do not reside, it is good to mention that there are thousands of genealogist who spend many thousands of dollars each year in their state - motel, food, gasoline, incidental expenses, etc. >From: froach598@juno.com >Reply-To: TNGRAING-L@rootsweb.com >To: TNGRAING-L@rootsweb.com >Subject: Re: [TNGRAING-L] Letter to Gov. Officials (records) >Date: Mon, 8 Nov 1999 14:26:43 -0800 > >give me address's I'll write, If that will help........Thanks, Sharon > > >On Mon, 8 Nov 1999 11:35:07 -0800 "Mary Tuley" <marya@texoma.net> writes: > > Well, it is election time again, MAYBE, this is the right time to > > contact > > Vice President, AL Gore. Or maybe Gov. George W. Bush!!! > > > ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com

Dear Group, There is a Historical Society in Grainger County. The name is Grainger County Historical Society, the address P. O. Box 215, Rutledge, TN 37861. The Grainger County Heritage Book Committee who wrote the book, "Grainger County, Tenn. and Its People 1796-1998", received very little help from the society. Kenneth Hodges e-mail explains it appropriately. We made a little money on our book, and bought a microfilm reader and printer for the Rutledge Library which has alot of the records on microfilm. The Library is open Monday, Wednesday, and Fridays. We still have some money that is to go for preservation of the records in the high school building whenever space is available. Louise Murphy

Wait a min, on top of the ridge they have a large monument for Veterans. Maybe the VFW may have room there. They usually own a large building and use twice a month and rent out. I'll ask our President at our next meeting this Friday night and maybe he could call someone. Jean

That poem is definitely a keeper. Thanks for sharing! Mary Carol

I like the idea of the high school kids helping. People in Rutledge are the nicest people on earth but most just don't understand why this is so important. I'll ask my sister-in-law about the kids getting involved. As vice-principle and former history teacher, she may have some good ideas. As for a local gen. or history society, I doubt there is one. If we could get a bank account started we might be able to rent one of the new storage buildings (I think there are some there). But when Mickey says there is no where to store all of this stuff, she's right. Buildings in that area are either being used or are in such a sad state as to be worthless for this. My mother-in-law may have some ideas as to where we can put this. I'll add that to the list of questions! Thanks, Mary Carol

We are new to our ancester search, and were unaware of the situation concerning the old records. Thank you all for discussing the matter, and count us in wherever we are needed. Both my maternal and paternal grandparents are from Grainger County and like many others have just "assumed" the records would be there when I needed them. Thanks to everyone who has tried to get something done and continue to work toward a solution. Keep us all informed as to what we can do to help. Wayne and Carolyn in GA Looking for Cameron, Roach, and Heath

Thanks to Ken Hodge in Orlando for posting all his efforts to the mailing list. Susan

I'm sorry - for those that feel we are beating a dead horse here - that "enough is enough" - Enough Is Not Enough. This matter concerns every one of us on this list who have ancestors from that area and who feel part of our history needs to be preserved. To Mickey and Mary Carol Roach, wouldn't it be better to contact the local Historical or Genealogical Society to get them behind this? The DAR, SAR, etc., may be too far afield, at the this point. Local high school kids could use this as a history project. There are ways to get this done, and I don't understand why the local citizens haven't helped at least find housing for the material. Why didn't the State Archives follow through? It seems the ones with the loudest bark is going to get this feat accomplished. Sorry, people, enough is not enough. I may not be able to do anything about my ancestor's gravesites being turned into cornfields, but I can do something to protect records that would say they came that way. Anita L. Hinson

Mickey, did my money arrive yet for the set of your books? Can't wait to rec em. The only way I can help from here in CA is send money to help. Have you thought of setting up a bank account where we can send donations to help with this? Jean

Sandy, we would have to raise a truck load of money to hire it cleaned, dried and boxed up. It's the size of a auditorium (hope I spelt that right). Mary wrote she was going to ask her people living there in Rutlidge to step in, let's give her a chance to on that. Sandy, I was joking with you about steeping in, I know you care as much about those records as the rest of us. Didn't I send you copies of what I made on our families? Sandy, do you have any connection with the DAR? I know we have Mallicoat stuff in one of their museums in VA. Jean

The enclosed letter is a copy of of one that I sent to the Governor of Tn., Sundquist, and to V.P. Al Gore in 1994 and after they had both agreed to the "Preservation of Records" act which as I understand, granted money to the states and counties for the preservation of the type of records we are discussing. I received no response from this just as I received no response to the letters that I mailed to the representatives of Grainger County. I suppose they noticed that I was not a registered voter in Tn.. I had a good response from the following Director at the Archives but their hands are tied without cooperation from the county: They had sent many inquiries to the county offering their help but were refused by a non-response. Charles A. Sherrill Tennessee State Library & Archives 403 7th Ave. North Nashville, TN 37243-0312 phone 615-741-2764 >csherril@mail.state.tn.us< About three years ago there was a "Expose" on the problem conducted and aired by a TV station in Knoxville. As far as I know there was no followup even though I talked personally with the reporter who indicated there would be. Channel 8 News WVLT 6516 Paper Mill Rd. Knoxville, Tn. 37919 www.8intouch.com (Reporter) Alan Williams 423-450-8880 Much effort was expended by Billie McNamara over many years with no visible successes. Billie R. McNamara, POB 6764, Knoxville, TN 37914-0764 USA >TNGenWeb http://www.usit.net/tngenweb/ I also contacted the local newspaper in Rutledge who informed me that there was "no problem" with the records. Don't think that I'd want to depend on them for "news". Don't let my experiences dissuade you from your own actions, I'm really not a pessimist by nature but I became a realist dealing with the bureaucracy. [ Copy of letter follows ] As the House Republican Caucus leads the Great State of Tennessee into the next millennium, let's not forget the founders who more than two hundred years ago laid the foundation for this great state. The records of these pioneers are an important part of who we are and how and why the state exists today. They contain land Deeds and Grants from the late 1700's, Marriage and Court Records, Wills, etc.. They are the records that the counties were suppose to protect and make accessible to the public. In Rutledge, Grainger County, Tennessee, these records are being systematically destroyed by the local officials by their lack of a historic desire to protect them. In Grainger, those records are stored in garbage bags and old cardboard boxes in an auditorium of a wrecked and abandoned High School. The building is missing windows and is environmentally open to the elements. My fear is that if something is not done quickly, the silverfish and humidity will completely destroy a large part of our Tennessee history. We will never again have this opportunity to rescue those records! Please advise me if there is another path to pursue. Time is of the essence and I would rather work parallel than serially. Would you please forward this letter to the correct Representatives for the Grainger District and copy me on the name and E-Mail address of those individuals. My ancestor, Ambrose Hodge was one of the original founders of the Great State of Tennessee and a signer of the Watauga Petition in 1776. He was at the Battle of King's Mountain in 1780 as a member of the "Over Mountain Men" and then moved to the area of Grainger County, Tennessee. At this point I lose any record of him because of the attitude of the local county government and the deplorable conditions of the records in that county. The County Officials of Grainger are intentionally destroying the early historical records by allowing them to rot in an abandoned building. I appeal to you for help after receiving no response from the Grainger County Officials. Their attitude on the records is that "they are too old and no one wants them". These are not only Genealogy records but historical in value in that these were the people that built Tennessee. I believe that the records of our ancestors are very important and once lost, can never be reclaimed. I am asking that you intervene and insist that these records be preserved for the future generations. Ken

Just for general information, the following is a partial index of records in the "old school" in Rutledge. My attempts to gain access to these records dates back prior to 1993, before they were moved and many thrown away. The list was compiled, apparently, by the named person and I found it at the URL mentioned. The following is taken from the "Grainger Co TN" section of my http://www.public.usit.net/billiam Select "grainger co tn" Click on "list" at bottom of page.--Bill AT LEAST 25 YEARS AGO, I MADE A PARTIAL LIST OF MATERIAL I FOUND IN THE GRAINGER CO TN COURT HOUSE WHILE DOING RESEARCH THERE. THE BELOW LIST IS MADE FROM THAT (COPY ERRORS AND ALL): Adminstrators Bonds & Letters 6 Mar 1910 - 14 Sep 1931 Adminstrators Bonds & Letters 29 Sep 1931 - 30 Mar 1960 Adm & Executors Settlement 30 Dec 1859 - 30 Aug 1892 Adm & Exec Settlement 13 Aug 1915 - 20 Mar 1934 Adm & Exec Settlement 5 Mar 1934 - 7 Sep 1954 Adm & Executors Settlement (empty) Adm & Executors Settlement 25 Oct 1954 - 16 Jul 1974 Auto Dealers Board of Equalization 7 Jun 1948 - 6 Jun 1949 Cash Journal Cash Journal Claims Against Estates 7 Sep 1963 - 21 Nov 1969 Claims Against Estate 5 Dec 1969 - 16 Jul 1974 Court of Pleas & Qtr Ses Bk 3 1812 - 1816 Day Book 19 May 1850 - 14 May 1853 Day Book 12 Jan 1858 - 15 May 1858 Day Book Trials etc (loyalty Oath in this book) 5 Aug 1842 - 18 Mar 1854 Execution Docket ca 1921 - Dec 1934 Execution Docket Jan 1935 - 1970 Execution Docket 1970 - Executors Bonds & Letters 3 Jun 1879 - 17 Jul 1972 Executors Bonds & Letters 24 Aug 1972 Guardian Bonds & Letters Record March Term 1929 - 26 Jun 1956 Guardian Bonds & Letters 17 Dec 1956 - 26 Mar 1974 Guardian Settlement 3 Mar 1965 - Guardian Settlements 12 Nov 1937 - 23 Mar 1960 Guardians Settlements 1918-1967 Inventories 6 Jan 1942 - 3 Jun 1974 Marriages (printed books by Kennerly) 1796-1837; 1838-1866 Marriage Bond 11 Jul 1892 - 23 Apr 1896 Marriage Bond 24 Apr 1896 - 7 Jul 1899 Marriage Bond 7 Jul 1899 - 24 Dec 1906 Marriage Bonds 4 Jan 1907 - 4 Jun 1916 Marriage Bonds 18 Jul 1916 - 21 May 1926 Marriage Record 9 Jun 1881 - 25 Mar 1888 Marriage Record 6 Jan 1888 - 8 Jul 1892 Marriage Record 9 Jun 1899 - 30 Aug 1922 Marriage Record 1931 - 1933 Marriage Record 8 Jun 1936 - 2 Jul 1938 Merchant's Bond & Oath 1934 Minute Book 1879 - 1882 Minute Book 9 Aug 1920 - 14 Feb 1974 Minutes & Insanity Record 30 Mar 1919 - 6 Jul 1974 Notary Public Bond Record 6 Sep 1930 - 21 Apr 1950 only Probate Record of Claims 12 Jul 1939 - ends 16 Jun 1941 Real Estate License Record Record Book Adm Letters 22 Jan 1831 - 15 Aug 1834 Rec Bk Adm Lrs [back of same book upside down 10 Oct 1842 - Nov 1st Monday 1854] Record Book 16 Feb 1824 - 18 Nov 1830 Record Book 4 Nov 1833 - 9 Jan 1841 Record Book 27 Mar 1839 - 15 May 1867 Record Book 2 Feb 1852 - 2 Mar 1857 Record Book 17 Mar 1852 - 30 May 1860 Record Book Minutes Docket Aug 1845 - 1851(?) Record of Births 7 Mar 1925 - 18 Nov 1938 Record of Contractors Bonds Record of Contractor License 27 Jun 1973 - Record of Deaths 1925-1938 Record of Executors 20 Nov 1856 - 1st Monday 1878 Record of Fees Records Guardian Settlements & Reports 1847 - 1852 .................Wills.................1848 - 1852 Register of County Warrants Register of Warrants 1944 Revenue Docket Revenue Docket 1958 - Revenue Docket 1970 - Revenue Docket 1971 - Vital Statistic Record 1908 - 1912 Will Book 18 Nov 1856 - 1 Oct 1917 Will Book (probated) 4 Apr 1918 - 30 Nov 1956 Will Book (probated) 24 Apr 1957 - 17 Jul 1974 Wills 1848 -1852; 1856-1917 - --------------------------------------------------------- Ken in Orlando

Kinsman (original poem by Wayne Hand, 1999) Alas, my elusive kinsman You've led me quite a chase I thought I'd found your courthouse But the Yankees burned the place. You always kept your bags packed Although you had no fame, and Just for the fun of it Twice you changed your name. You never owed any man, or At least I found no bills In spite of eleven offspring You never left a will. They say our name's from Europe Came state side on a ship Either they lost the passenger list Or granddad gave them the slip. I'm the only one looking Another searcher I can't find I pray (maybe that's his fathers name) As I go out of my mind. They said you had a headstone In a shady plot I've been there twenty times, and Can't even find the lot. You never wrote a letter Your Bible we can't find It's probably in some attic Out of sight and out of mind. You first married a .....Smith And just to set the tone The other four were Sarahs And everyone a Jones. You cost me two fortunes One of which I did not have My wife, my house and Fido God, how I miss that yellow lab. But somewhere you slipped up, Ole Boy, Somewhere you left a track And if I don't find you this year Well...... Next year I'll be back!

I will when we decide what can be done. Why can't we at least set up some type of fund with someone back there to pay for a clean, dry storage area until these can be separated and metal filling boxes / files can be bought to keep them somewhat preserved. Have enjoyed listing to you Jean and all the others who are trying to think of ways to help save our PAST for US AND OUR KIDS. Sandy in Tucson ----- Original Message ----- From: <JBrand1056@aol.com> To: <TNGRAING-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, November 07, 1999 12:12 PM Subject: Re: [TNGRAING-L] Re: Records in the old school > Hay cuzz Sandy, > > Why aren't you helping us? > > JEan > >

I whole heartedly agree with you. Enough is enough.

Mickey, I WISH YOU ALL THE LUCK IN THE WORLD!!!!! :-) You go girl ! You have my TOTAL support. I live about 3 1/2 hours away if you need a "good strong back" for helping to move or box up those records (ha ha). I have enjoyed everyone's comment's, it seems we are all pulling together for the good, & are united together at solving this problem. Thanks, John Linkes

Hi group, I'm planning to go to Rutledge tomorrow (Monday) unless I get called to work at my children's school or one of them is sick. I'm going to Mr. Hammer's office to talk to him. I will ask his opinion about what I can do then maybe make some suggestions. We didn't move the records to the high school this summer as planned because of construction being done at the school. Even after the records are sorted there is no place to put them except back at the old school. I know the city of Rutledge has a house that they are renovating. I have been told by one source that since the city owns the house the county won't be able to use it as storage for the records but another source said that they were going to be able to at least have one room. I will do my best to find out tomorrow. I'm also going to the old school and make pictures if at all possible. I will let everyone know if I was able to accomplish anything tomorrow. Wish me luck! Mickey

hi grp, this is the right one to get to the pictures, Bill sent it to me.... http://web.utk.edu/~kizzer/grainger/ then click on Grainger Co research help then where it says : click Here for a description & photos of the problem

I've been to the Bryan Co. Heriatage Building in Calera, Ok. The building isn't much (old) the ac didn't work too good, it was hot in the building, but the people in that small town have now got some kind of grant for improvements. Maybe these people would have some suggestions about the situation in Grainger Co. These people did a lot more than has been mentioned here. Mary

Hi grp, I know that some people are trying to do what they can, like Mickey, but I'm thinking at this point that is not quite enough, if the ceiling is falling in, it will soon be a hazard to go in there ,not that it is that safe now, .....there was talk that last summer all the records would be moved to the new school and sorted, and put into a safer place ,they just had to wait for the school to get out, I don't know what happened to that effort, but as far as I have heard Mickey is the one doing her bit to preserve these records ,and if they are not moved it will not be safe for her to do so for very much longer. the URL is http://www.members.tripod.com/vandergrift.grainger.htm this is a good site to explore anyway.... then go to Grainger Co. index of Information then #14 Grainger Co records... then under that box is.............Read about Grainger Co, record Storage problem, click on that I could not get it to work, so don't know if the link is still good or not, the direct URL it showed was http://funnelweb.utcc.utk.edu/~kisser/grainger/grairecs.htm