Hello all, Wanted to update you on what's happening on the web site, etc. I am doing work behind he scenes, correcting errors, changing some formats to make them easier to read and adding photos, etc. Look for this to happen almost continuously - again, behind the scenes. The site is so large that maintaining what is there could be a full time job if I had that much time to devote to it. On a personal note, as many of you know, I live in Berkeley County, WV, which is about 45 minutes north of Strasburg. I am active in researching in Berkeley County as well and have written a book which was published by the Berkeley County Historical Society as Berkeley Journal issue 33, "A History of Inwood, West Virginia." Inwood, WV is the place I have called home for most of my life and no one had ever researched its history, let alone written about it. The book is $10 plus shipping at http://www.bchs.org Two things I'd like to accomplish with this email - first - does anyone else have family that, during the 1920s, moved from Shenandoah County north into Eastern West Virginia? My maternal grandmother and paternal grandparents did - around the year 1925 (there are also Racey and Bly families that appear to have done the same). During the 1920s this part of WV had a flourishing apple industry as well as a number of textile mills. Second, I'd like to start a thread, since we're heading into the Christmas holiday - of family holiday traditions. Here is the Silvius family holiday tradition started by my grandparents (at least) who were both from Shenandoah County. As long as I can remember, Christmas Eve has been a time when "extended" family got together for a big meal and visitation. What once was held in someone's house and had 20-25 people in attendance is now held in a church social hall with as many as 75-100 people in attendance. This holiday tradition draws more people than the family reunion does. Of course, when my grandparents were living, this was usually followed up by a return visit to their house on Christmas Day. What our kids will remember about Christmas is that we always burn cedar in the fireplace on Christmas Eve (after the big dinner) and Christmas Day is always a long and busy day, rising early, opening gifts, going to first one, then another family dinner and arriving home late that night exhausted. >From my recent research (which took place over a period of more than three years) I can tell you that if you don't record verbal history, what you're going to find is very bland. Newspapers, vital records, etc., leave out all the "characters." Names and dates are facts, personal memories are stories. Facts are critical, but personal recollections are fun. Who wants to read a family history (or any history) that details "John married Jane and they had Jim, Mary and Susie" over and over again. You'd rather read that John was a blacksmith, but he was also a bear hunter and a very successful one, and known only by certain people, he also could make some mean moonshine! Don't forget the pictures! Pictures of the people, where they lived, where they worked, where they're buried, things they saw every day. This is, of course, my opinion - all our methods are different - all our stories are different - but put them all together and it is history - and our genealogy is our personal history. Don Don Silvius coordinator Shenandoah County GenWeb Project http://www.rootsweb.com/~vashenan/vashenan.html

Don I enjoyed reading about personalizing your family tree. I am trying to do that with my husbands Parrett family which came to Shenandoah Valley early 1700s and they moved on to Ohio. This is a work in progress and I have not done much this summer or fall but plan on returning to the project after Christmas. It is a slideshow of the first 43 pages not in perfect order If you need to see close up just click on pic and choose view large size. Some pages are cut off at the bottom in the slideshow. I don't have this technique figured out yet. If anyone is working on this family I would love to get in contact with you. You might help find the errors I have here and I am willing to share my sources with you. > http://www.esnips.com//web/PARRETTChapter1FirstGeneration? > action=showSlideShow#files Marcia [email protected] http://www.digiscrapmemories.com/index.htm >

My Grandmother was our last Virginia born relatives. Naturally, both of her parents came from this area of Virginia; so the 'traditions' migrated to Texas and Oklahoma with them. Our Christmas sounds a lot like Don's. When our Grandparents were younger, we always met on their farm. We would feast on food brought by all the Aunts and the joyful sounds filled the heart. We called ourselves 'Inlaws' & 'Outlaws'. The Outlaws were the children & the extended families, which were always welcome. Often, we children would present a spontaneous program .. which only loving parents could endure. Thanksgiving was a prelude to Christmas at the Grandparents. After this became too much of a burden, one of the Uncles became a farmer and moved onto the old farm. Thanksgiving was a huge event which our Uncle & Aunt continued. Christmas changed, for we had become more scattered. The echos of the Uncles' laughter as they recalled their younger exploits, bring so many memories. A little more than a year ago, I visited this area of Virginia for the first time. Sitting among my contemporaries, once again, I heard the wonderful peales of laughter and chatter! What a wonderful gathering! Thanks, Don, for bringing this to mind for us. I'll bet many of us remember similar events & traditions. Shirley S