Merry Christmas from 1906

I found the item pictured below in a drawer in my Dad's basement that was loaded with at least 50% random junk that was eventually pitched.

 

My great-grandfather Edward C. Williams worked for the Wales Adding Machine Company ( Wilkes-Barre, PA ) in his early years. Absent anyone to ask or any back-up documentation, and after much discussion, we decided this was a Christmas gift from his employer to be hung/displayed as an ornament. That worked for me, and we've placed it on our tree every year since finding it.

 

 

Merry Christmas

Sharpshooter, Medic, QB....Dad

We're getting down to the last remaining corners of the basement...and little bits of family history keep popping up in spots where they are least expected.

 

This one fell to the floor when I moved a piece of insulation from a shelf.  

 

Below: Sharpshooter, 24th Medical Division, QB...Dad.

 

 

 

Some members of my family initially questioned my need to look through everything before it was pitched.

 

I think that question has been answered many times over.

 

 

Incident at Hollenback Cemetery

To all who visit:

 

You know the basic drift of this blog; documenting the history of my father's side of our heritage, mostly with scanned photos and newspaper clippings, etc.

 

Suffice it to say I'm still trying to wrap my head around an incident that happened yesterday while visiting the Hollenback Cemetery in Wilkes-Barre, PA.

 

 

As I rounded a corner on one of the many roads weaving through one of the back/lower sections of the cemetery, I was damn-near blinded by what you see in the two pics below taken from inside my CRV. They may not fully do justice to how bright that light truly was.

 

 

 

 I can't tell you all the things that were running through my mind as I got closer to the light, which turned out to be sunlight hitting a polished granite grave marker ( Inscription: FATHER ) at the absolute perfect angle to bounce right into my eyes at the exact moment in time I was turning the corner ( in that section ) for the very first time on June 21st, 2014.  

That's my rational explanation, anyway.

  

 

As I got closer, the hair stood up on the back of my neck and I felt my ears tingling when I was finally able to read the tombstone. And it wasn't caused by sunburn from being on the Susquehanna for several hours.

 

 

WILLIAMS

  

And for the record: The photos above were not enhanced/altered in any way.

 

 

  

For those familiar with Hollenback Cemetery, there are thousands of markers there.

 

I simply wonder: Why at that exact time and at that exact place?

 

Go figure...

   

Memorial Day 2014

 

 

 

Sam and his Mom circa ~1910

...or so the caption reads on the back of the picture below.

 

 

 

When I first looked at the front of the picture, I originally thought the boy in the tree was my father. There is a definite resemblance. Then when I looked at the face of Sarah Maude (Stewart) Williams, I realized she was definitely a lot younger than ~50 in the photo.

 

When I turned the picture over...I had my answer.

 

What I'd like to know is how the heck my grandfather climbed up so high?

 

More in a few.

       

Another Piece of the Past

Just when I think I've looked through every box and & opened every envelope...
 

 

 

More to follow, I'm sure.