In the historic heart of Greenlawn Cemetery in Portsmouth, Ohio, stands a monument both grand in scale and rich in symbolism. The sandstone marker of Elijah P. Noel (1819–1870) and Amanda M. Noel (1825–1887) rises above the surrounding stones, etched with the grief and faith of a 19th-century Appalachian family. Continue Reading
Thing
Garbanzo Bean Skillet
Prep Time: 5 mins | Cook Time: 15 mins | Servings: Servings: 4 calories: 315.1kcal Ingredients:2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil½ onion diced4 cloves garlic minced or grated1 teaspoon cumin1 teaspoon ground coriander1 teaspoon Trader Joe’s Multipurpose Umami Seasoning see notes for substitutions½ cup vegetable broth or water1 14 oz Continue Reading
Reading the Headstone of Margaret Burris
At Friendship Cemetery in Nile Township, Scioto County, Ohio, stands a weathered siltstone marker—its hand-carved inscription a fading testament to a woman named Margaret Burris. She died on May 1, 1843, in her 60th year. Born Margaret Rankins, she was the daughter of Moses Rankins. In 1802, she married Ignatius Continue Reading
Words Left Behind: The Monument of Hannah Spangler Waring
In Brick Union Cemetery in Lloyd, Greenup County, Kentucky, not far from the banks of the Ohio River, rests Hannah E. Spangler Waring. She was born April 26, 1833, to Christian Spangler and Cassandra Rigg, and later married James Lawrence Waring. Hannah died on July 8, 1865, at just 32 Continue Reading
Preserving History in 3D: The Kinney-Briggs Cemetery Gravemarker Scan
Over the past year, we’ve been quietly exploring new ways to enhance our documentation and preservation of Scioto County’s historic cemeteries. One tool that’s proven invaluable is Polycam, a 3D scanning app that allows us to capture high-resolution, interactive scans of gravemarkers. These scans have helped us in a number Continue Reading
From Dirty Red to Gilded Glory: The Scioto Valley Railroad’s Elegant Makeover
“The Scioto Valley Railroad Company are changing the color of their passenger cars from their former dirty red to a beautiful olive, with gilt ornamentation. A train of cars of the new color will soon be ready. In the shops are three cars undergoing the transition, No. 8 first-class, No. Continue Reading
Streich Pictures for Marty Scott
At the February meeting of the Scioto County Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society, we had the opportunity to speak with life-member Marty Scott. She shared with us her story and how it connects to the Streich family of Portsmouth, Ohio, offering valuable insights into the area’s history and her Continue Reading
A Debt to Nature
Death is a debt to nature due,Which we have paid & so must you.
Ephemera Friday #23: A 1918 Letter from the Portsmouth Golf Club
This 1918 letter, written by Charles M. Mitchell of The Portsmouth Golf Club, was addressed to Mr. Philo Clark of Portsmouth, Ohio. It provides a unique window into the challenges faced by social clubs during wartime. In the letter, the club acknowledges Clark’s lack of participation that season and his Continue Reading
Ephemera Friday #22: Glimpses of Life in a Southeastern Ohio Railroad Town
In this faded photograph, purchased from a vendor at Southbound Flea Market in Pike County, Ohio, we see a small gathering of young women outside a modest wooden building in a southeastern Ohio town, likely during the early 20th century. The three young women stand in the foreground, dressed in Continue Reading