Mom Picking Grapes at Rose Valley Winery

As a follow-up to my recent blog post about Fame as part of my 52 Weeks of Personal Genealogy & History series, I present the latest addition to the collection of published family members.

My mom, Diane Kane, was featured in an article in the Ogemaw County Voice in Ogemaw County, Michigan.  This is from the October 22-November 11, 2011 issue which is Volume 1, Issue 16, Page 11.  She is shown picking grapes at the winery she is employed with in Rose City.

Fruit of the vine

Workers harvested red, green, and Delaware grapes at Rose Valley Winery’s vineyard on a recent beautiful fall weekend.  Celebrate the harvest at the 1st Annual Fall Wine Festival to be held Oct. 22 and Oct. 29, put on by Rose Valley Winery and Valley Mist vineyards, both of Rose City.  Free hayrides will run between the two wineries on these dates from noon until 5 p.m.

Top, right, Diane Kane, of Mio, has been picking grapes for the winery for the last few years; she also helps bottle the finished products at the winery; Above, Hunt and Kane help Blake Harrison, of Lupton, load bins of grapes to take back to the winery; Middle, The harvesting team moves on to another area of the vineyard; At right, “This work here only lasts a few weeks,” said Lee Hunt of Lupton, who directs the workers.  Hunt is a good friend of owner Adam Kolodziejski.  “Our season for harvesting is done when Adam says so.”

– Photos by Patti Brehler

How fun is that? What a treasure!

Pine Grove Township, Van Buren County, Michigan, 1912

This is a plat map of Pine Grove Township in Van Buren County, Michigan in the year 1912. It can be found on FHL Film # 2022153C Item #3, Standard atlas of Van Buren County, Michigan, page 45.

This map is a treasure to me because it shows the 2nd great grandfather of my husband, Walter Henry Campbell.  His land is listed in section 14, plot 80 (with the yellow highlight).

Walter Henry Campbell was born 31 May 1845 in Almena, Van Buren, Michigan, the son of Henry Campbell (1821 – 1873) and Ruth Newcombe (1823 – 1905).

He married Harriet Adela Fuller on 23 December 1869. Together, the couple had seven children: Shruid Grant Campbell (1871 – 1925), Willard De Forrest Campbell (1872 – ?), Herbert Henry Campbell (1875 – ?), Birdie Campbell (1882 – ?), Lee Campbell (1883 – 1961), Frank A. Campbell (1886 – 1902) and my husband’s great-grandmother, Wava Cecil Campbell (1888 – 1957).

We are proud to share that Walter Henry Campbell served our country as a Union Soldier in the Civil War.  He was part of the 13th Michigan Infantry, Company G.

Walter is buried in Kendall Cemetery in Pine Grove Township.You can see his headstone on his Find a Grave Memorial.  He died 14 January 1917 in Pine Grove, Van Buren, Michigan.

Be aware that if you click on this map to make it bigger, it will be MUCH bigger!  You might have to scroll around a bit to close the image.  I wanted to upload it here in high resolution in case you are searching for your own family on it.

Good luck in your research, and may you find many treasures of your own!

I would like to thank my friend Sarah for locating this map on microfiche for me at the Family History Library in Saline, Michigan.

In an effort to document my family treasures which cannot be scanned in, I am publishing this series of pictures as part of the Treasure Chest Thursday theme at Geneabloggers.  Someday in the future, I hope to shed some light on these treasures for my family who might inherit them.  What were they for?  Who did they come from? Why were they considered treasures?  Let’s find out.

Grandma's Toy from Mexico

This wooden ball and cup toy was a gift from my grandmother, Mary Rose (Stroik, Kasper, Karpuk, Dreffs) Romaine.  She took a trip to Mexico in the early 1980’s and brought this back for me.

It’s a simple concept, really,  The wooden ball is tied onto the handle by a piece of string.  The goal is to flip the ball into the cup with a flick of the wrist.  I used to play with this for hours on end, perfecting exactly the speed and angle at which to flick it to land the ball inside the cup.

I love this toy.  It’s simple, it’s fun, and it’s a tangible reminder of Grandma Romaine.

In an effort to document my family treasures which cannot be scanned in, I am publishing this series of pictures as part of the Treasure Chest Thursday theme at Geneabloggers.  Someday in the future, I hope to shed some light on these treasures for my family who might inherit them.  What were they for?  Who did they come from? Why were they considered treasures?  Let’s find out.

Jessica's Starter Earring

Here it is – my “starter” earring.  This gold and sapphire stud was the one I had installed in my ears at Claire’s Boutique in the Saginaw Fashion Square Mall, sometime around 1990.  A starter earring is a stud that is thicker than most earrings to help keep your ear hole opened up.  They punch it through your ear with a little gun after rubbing alcohol on the ear lobe.  You have to keep it in your ear for six weeks, twisting and turning it every day and cleaning the area with peroxide.

Interestingly, I gave the other earring to my high school boyfriend, Corey Sundquist.  He used to wear it on the pocket of his flannel shirts while we were dating.  I’m guessing it has long since gone into the trash heap since we broke up in 1995 when I went to college.

In an effort to document my family treasures which cannot be scanned in, I am publishing this series of pictures as part of the Treasure Chest Thursday theme at Geneabloggers.  Someday in the future, I hope to shed some light on these treasures for my family who might inherit them.  What were they for?  Who did they come from? Why were they considered treasures?  Let’s find out.

Rose Pin

This pretty red rose brooch pin was given to me during my senior year of High School by my good friend, Deidra (Eickholt, Penny) Moitzheim.  It’s about three inches tall and is gold plated.

I tried wearing it a few times but it’s too large and heavy to fit nicely on most sweaters.  I’ve kept it in my jewelry box and enjoyed looking at it all these years.  It’s a nice reminder of our friendship.

In an effort to document my family treasures which cannot be scanned in, I am publishing this series of pictures as part of the Treasure Chest Thursday theme at Geneabloggers.  Someday in the future, I hope to shed some light on these treasures for my family who might inherit them.  What were they for?  Who did they come from? Why were they considered treasures?  Let’s find out.

Rock from the Park

This rock was picked up at a park in Saginaw, Michigan by my best friend, Jennifer (Strachan) Peck.  She knew I liked rocks and she happened across this shiny piece, so she picked it up and gave it to me the next time she saw me.  That was back in the summer of 1989.

It has chunks of quartz that shimmer in the light.  There’s no particular reason that I kept it – I just liked it.  Jennie gave it to me so it’s a symbol of our friendship.

In an effort to document my family treasures which cannot be scanned in, I am publishing this series of pictures as part of the Treasure Chest Thursday theme at Geneabloggers.  Someday in the future, I hope to shed some light on these treasures for my family who might inherit them.  What were they for?  Who did they come from? Why were they considered treasures?  Let’s find out.

Ring Monster From Aunt Colleen

My Aunt Colleen (Cole) Zana made this little ceramic ring holder.  I received it as a gift in 1983.  My sister Kathleen has it’s sibling – a matching red one.  I really treasure this fragile little piece of art.  My Aunt Colleen made it – and I LOVE it because of that!

For years, my sister used hers to store her rings at the sink when she did the dishes.  Mine has held little treasures over the years but I never used it for ring storage.  I keep him stored in a clear display box so it doesn’t get dusty or broken.

In an effort to document my family treasures which cannot be scanned in, I am publishing this series of pictures as part of the Treasure Chest Thursday theme at Geneabloggers.  Someday in the future, I hope to shed some light on these treasures for my family who might inherit them.  What were they for?  Who did they come from? Why were they considered treasures?  Let’s find out.

Rainbow Caterpillar

Rainbow Caterpillar

Meet Mr. Rainbow Caterpillar.  Mom made him out of rainbow yarn, a pair of googly eyes and a top hat for a nose.  He has magnets glued on his back so he sticks to the refrigerator.

I previously talked about my mother’s craft projects, such as the Jessica Cross-Stitch Magnet and the Golf Ball Dog, which she sold at the school art fairs.  This is another one of those little projects.

I keep him stored safely away because my cats like to chew on him.

In an effort to document my family treasures which cannot be scanned in, I am publishing this series of pictures as part of the Treasure Chest Thursday theme at Geneabloggers.  Someday in the future, I hope to shed some light on these treasures for my family who might inherit them.  What were they for?  Who did they come from? Why were they considered treasures?  Let’s find out.

My Prom Garter

Corey and Jessica, HHS Prom 1995

Well lookie what we have here!  This one is a treasure, for sure.  It is significant on several levels.

First of all, what is it? This is my garter belt from my High School Senior Prom, worn on the big night in May 1995.  My date for the evening at the Heritage High School prom was my boyfriend, Corey Sundquist.

Why is it significant?  It has a Black Rose.  That was my nickname in high school.  I instantly fell in love with this garter and HAD to have it.  I bought it at the mall a few weeks before prom and wore it under my prom dress.

Incidentally, my hunter green velvet prom dress is also a family treasure.  It’s stored in my closet.  I had it handmade by a local tailor in Saginaw, Michigan.  I picked out the fabric at Jo-Ann’s and picked out the pattern, and commissioned the tailor to make it for me.  I wanted a dress that wasn’t like anybody else’s dress, and that’s precisely what I got.  I felt like a princess in that dress.

In an effort to document my family treasures which cannot be scanned in, I am publishing this series of pictures as part of the Treasure Chest Thursday theme at Geneabloggers.  Someday in the future, I hope to shed some light on these treasures for my family who might inherit them.  What were they for?  Who did they come from? Why were they considered treasures?  Let’s find out.

Pottery made by Kathleen Cole (1992)

This is another treasure, hidden away in my kitchen cupboard.  It looks like any other small piece of pottery, but this one is special.  This one was handmade by my sister, Kathleen Cole, in 1992.

Pottery made by Kathleen Cole (1992)

I bet she probably forgot that she gave it to me.  I treasure it, and always will.  I have used it for a candy dish now and then, but generally I keep it safe in the closet.  Someday I hope to pass it down to her children.  Unfortunately she has three children and there is only one bowl, so we might have to roll the die to see who gets it.