It was September, 1868 when Genoa’s Masonic lodge was granted its official charter, becoming “Douglas County Lodge No. 12.” Serving as first Worshipful Master for the Lodge was Robert W. Bollen, who would be elected the Sheriff of Douglas County that same year (and later became Grand Master for the state of Nevada). […]
Five Things I Learned Doing My Family History
I recently finished my own family history, a six-month project that only took me, oh, about thirty years to complete. That’s right. I’ve helped dozens and dozens of other people write their memoirs or family histories. I’ve written a whole book about how to do what I did for others. But it’s taken me […]
A 160-Year-Old Hope Valley Mystery
You gotta love the excitement of unraveling a 160-year-old mystery! Here’s how it all began: In late 1860, journalist J. Ross Browne shared his silver-boom travels in a series called “A Peep at Washoe.” But it wasn’t just the Comstock he visited; Browne also journeyed through Alpine’s famous Hope Valley. […]
Getting Your Memoir Printed
Most of my posts gave focused on getting your memoir written. This time I wanted to jump ahead and talk about getting your manuscript printed once you finish writing! First, the bad news: chances of a big publisher sweeping up your beloved work with a mega-contract are (generally-speaking) somewhere between slim and none, unless you’re close kin to […]
A Scandalous 1886 Elopement
A Runaway Marriage: The year was 1886, and Mary Cosser and William John Swail knew what they wanted – each other. But the would-be bride’s parent were apparently less than excited about the match. The fact that Mary was just 16 while her sweetheart was eight years older might have had something […]
Words to Live By
WORDS TO LIVE BY: One common theme in the memoirs I’ve worked on is a Words to Live By chapter. It could go anywhere, of course; but typically it’s the last chapter of the book — an effective way to leave your reader with positive and helpful thoughts. […]
Share the Hidden History in your Family Stories
I’m deep in the middle of compiling our family stories. It’s struck me how much hidden history there is in these simple tales. Things we never learned about in school. Aspects of history that never drew the limelight. Telling details or images that add depth or perspective to a larger historical picture. […]
Widows In The Civil War
When Life Gives You Lemons: Widows In the Civil War Love stories come with all kinds of surprising twists and turns. Handed down through my own family is the fascinating story of a Civil War widow – with a quirky happy ending. As the tale goes, Sarah Jane Dukes […]
When Memoirs Bring Up Feelings
Watch out for the “Memoir Blues”! Working on a Memoir – your own tale, or the story of your family – can tap surprising, long-buried feelings. Memories and emotions you thought you’d worked out long ago. And definitely not just the happy ones. I know. Because it’s been happening […]
Carson City’s Oldest Home
The Foreman-Roberts House . . . . You may have spotted this cheerful yellow gem as you drive through Carson City. Dubbed the “Foreman-Roberts” home, it’s said to be the oldest surviving house in town! That’s bragging rights enough. But it’s also one of the few Gothic Revival-style structures in all of Nevada. Surprisingly, the home wasn’t built […]
A Gardnerville Classic
The Backstory to the Cheshire Antiques Building! As we saw in the last story, Arendt Jensen built what’s now the arched-window portion of Cheshire Antiques. Ground was broken in August 1906, and Jensen hired Reno builders to erect what was initially described as a “warehouse” some 50 x 100 feet in size. […]
Can Old Magazines Help Inspire Your Memoir?
Looking for a little visual inspiration for your memoir? Old magazines can prompt a flood of memories to write about! Check out these images, for example (from Family Circle magazine of September, 1954 and Good Housekeeping of August 1959). How much things have changed in over 60 years – Family […]