This week’s 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks is easy. The theme is Favorite Place to Research and I know exactly where that would be. This is a very specific location. It is where my Portuguese research began: E. 25th Street in Oakland, Alameda County, California. What makes this street so special? Why am I drawn…
Category: California Genealogy
52 Ancestors Week 37: My Grandpa Worked For Westinghouse Electric
One of my family treasures is an old rolled photograph. It’s crumbling a bit after being held flat in a book for several decades. I’ve made copies of it so as not to loose it completely. The photo was taken in 1938. All the employees of Westinghouse Electric Manufacturing Company’s Porcelain Division are gathered in…
Thomas Coyne’s Will Settles It
In the ongoing drama over who is related to my 3rd great uncle, Patrick Dolan, I have a new puzzle piece. You may remember from my previous posts that Patrick’s will was filed in 1906, but lost in the San Francisco earthquake. It was refiled after the dust settled. I originally thought that because of…
Grandma’s Mandolin: She Never Played For Us
Growing up, I was intrigued by the musical instrument that sat on a shelf in our hall closet. It had a short neck, a round body, and beautiful wood patterns. I was told it was a mandolin. But, where did it come from? I imagined it was one of those things my dad acquired. He…
52 Ancestors, Week 28: 24 Miles was a Journey
[This is my entry for 52 Ancestors Week 28: Road Trips] Today, a trip from Oakland, California to Centerville and Fremont, California is but a hop, skip, and a jump. If traffic isn’t bad, you can drive there in less than 30 minutes. This view of Fremont Central Park gives an idea of what the…