Trains in the Family

My basement has a problem: Me. For years I’ve embraced the role of Archiver in Chief for family materials, amassing more books, letters, photos and ephemera than I can ever hope to properly organize and digest. And as I settle into this latest phase of life, I’m realizing it’s time to take care of jettisoning … Read more

Fernald Byrne’s deadly roller coaster ride

Giant Dipper Santa Cruz 1923

Families are chock full of colorful characters, legends and tragedies. In our family, we have a famous science fiction writer, a skyjacker, Mayflower passengers, Revolutionary and Civil War soldiers, the founder of Brooklyn and many others. Genealogy research has its quotient of humble-bragging, and famous relatives and/or salacious tales are simply grist for the mill. As … Read more