Hi, Is there any known reason why the Historical Society or Genealogy Society in Grainger County couldn't see about renting a building? If they could, why couldn't the records be donated to them for safekeeping? Just a little something to think about~ You all are doing publications now, and it seems that would be a great way to pay the rent for a building, and there is also the possibility of creating a Non-profit entity, whereby grants would perhaps be available from the government or philanthophists somewhere. Betty At 02:41 PM 11-09-1999 EST, you wrote: >Yesterday (Monday) I had the opportunity to talk to Grainger Co. Executive >Mickey Hammer. He wasn't in the office when I was at the courthouse but his >secretary took my cell phone number and had him call me. He was very >interested in my concerns for the old records. He hasn't been in the old >school in a while but I did inform him that part of the ceiling had fell. He >understood that the records needed to be preserved but the county didn't have >the funding to hire someone to sort the records nor did the county have a >place to store them once they were sorted. I ask him about the house that the >city of Rutledge had been given and he said he hopes that they could at least >have a room for the records but will have to wait until it is restored to >see. The county is planning a new justice center so there will be room in the >present courthouse to store the records. At this point it's just wait and >see. I ask him about myself and my (friend) helper getting started on sorting >the records. He said there was no funds available. I told him we would do >this at no cost to the county. He was very appreciative and ask what the >county could do to help. I told him all I needed was permission to get to the >records and the permission to take the records to a place where I could work. >He said anything I needed such as file folders and boxes the county would >furnish. The thrift store you have to go through is closed on Mondays so I >couldn't get in yesterday but I made another trip to Rutledge this morning. >We collected 4 large boxes of wills and we will start working on them >immediately. I took pictures of the building on the outside and pictures of >the auditorium where the records are stored. You can tell people have went >through boxes because there were records just laying on top of other boxes. I >ask Mr. Hammer (if at all possible) not to let just anyone into the boxes >that we get in order. I know alot of genealogist wants to look at wills and >marriage records but alot of them don't take the time to put them back where >they belong. I feel that once we get these 4 boxes sorted and filed in order >they will not go back to the auditorium. I will take them to Mr. Hammer and >request that they be put in a safe place. He was very nice and understanding >so I have faith at these will be put in a safe place. When we get these in >order I will type up an index if anyone is interested they will be able to >purchase a copy. This will help fund our work in Grainger Co. If anyone has >any questions please contact me privately so it will not upset anyone on the >list who doesn't want to hear any more about the records. > > >