Serendipity Tuesday for EWGS

Stacy Elliott, from KCGS (Kootenai Co Gen Soc) sends this news flash:  "I would like to announce that a new and revised collection of Mayflower Families Silver has been donated to KCGS and the Hayden Library in Hayden, Idaho. Please advise your members and remind them that the 400th anniversary celebration is coming in 2020 and if you think you are a Mayflower descendant, these books will help get the "proof" started.

FamilyTree Magazine for Jan-Feb 2015, page 60, carried a neat map of the U.S. Its a 1932 map, from the Carnegie Institute of Washington's Atlas of the Historical Geography of the U.S., and is based on 1880 census information. Looking at Washington, it shows that in 1880 there was a foreign-born population of more than 30% in the northwestern counties of the state and the same for what is now Jefferson and Mason counties. Other areas in the state (King Co) was 20-30% foreign-born and Spokane and the central counties were 10-20% so born. Interesting. We are a state (and surely a nation) of immigrants.

Love to find old postcards of Spokane!  Top on is North Central High School, the old school (where I attended!).  Middle is "Bird's Eye View of City Shwoing Lower Falls, Monroe St. Bridge and Court House." Bottom one is "Upper Grand Coulee, Columbia Basin Project."  I think this lower one is of what is now Banks Lake, the man-made lake created to help irrigate the central basin area of Washington.

Ever heard the term "rhythmites?"  The definition of this word is this: "Layers and layers built from gravel or sand with silt and then a clay top....each one representing a separate flooding of the tributary stream." I see this at our camping spot at the north end of Banks Lake:

You have probably seen it too, driving south to Pullman on highway 95 just off I-90..... look to your left next trip down. 

Did you catch this article in our Spokesman on 23 March 2015? "Urn artists look for beauty in death." The article began, "Of all the pieces Julie Moore crafts in her home studio, the most popular is a brightly colored fabric vessel she calls 'the party jar.' But in this case, the guest of honor is inside the jar."  The article goes on to explain that since cremations are up, more people are looking for unusual and beautiful urns for their loved ones' ashes. Do a Google search for "Julie Moore party jars" to read more about this artist and her project. And what do you think about this?

Bet you agree with Paul Turner in his "Slice" advice some weeks ago:  "Life's too short to go around looking for opportunities to be offended."  Remember, Paul is to be honored by EWGS at our June 6th 80th anniversary celebration........ click to www.EWGSI.org for more information.