Good Bye to 2020

 

And so, the weeks turned into months and the year drew to a close, and a vaccine arrived on the scene...

No, blogging has not been my top priority during the pandemic. It seemed like there was lots of time to get things done. I did some of the writing I had intended to do, but it is a slow process. I presented a good group of genealogy topics virtually to several societies. Another handful got cancelled and the impetus to finish the research went with them. There were a few small engineering projects, but when the opportunity to go back to Saipan with FEMA came around, it seemed like the right thing to do. 

Being on a remote island during a pandemic has brought back my sense of well-being. The government restrictions have made this a relatively comfortable place to be. Masks are universally worn. Restaurants and churches take temperatures, and names and phone numbers for contact tracing. Everyone quarantines for 5 days in a designated hotel upon arrival, and doesn't join the general population without a negative screening test. As a result, we passed the 100-case milestone only a few weeks ago, with the majority of those caught at the airport. Nearly as important as the safety is the social contact available working with other people every day. Sure, being alone for most of six months wasn't as hard on me as it was on some people, but it feels good to banter with co-workers. And living on the 8th floor of a beach-front apartment is pretty sweet. Now, Zoom is working in reverse as I keep in touch with friends on the mainland. 

Feeling grateful, and a little guilty. And hopeful.

May Day

What has happened in a month? We remain apart. There are more masks in use, in fact, the Governor of Massachusetts has required them in public places. School will not come back in session this spring. The deaths continue at an alarming pace, though slower in some of the cities like New York than they were a month ago. Deaths in nursing homes and Veterans' homes are shocking, and nearly 50% of the total locally. The Governors continue to show leadership that isn't coming from DC. The practice of the Feds. stealing (appropriating?) protective equipment from the states isn't making it easy for them.

I know of people who have recovered. I know of people who have died, primarily the elderly. There are protesters, even here in Northampton, who use their rage to put their own needs above others'. It is so wrong. We have to look out for each other.

Carolyn is able to sit on her beach in NC, as long as people do not crowd together. She continues to work from home and do virtual therapy. Brian converses with his students online as well. Jamie is at the end of his 2 week quarantine in a motel in Juneau, and will rotate to the island to the mine for the next two weeks. Alaska has fared pretty well so far, as have many less-populated areas.

The Senate is going back to DC, but the House, with four times the population, is not. It looks like the unemployment program for self-employed individuals applies to me. I have several projects on hold in Whately, Northampton, Greenfield, and Amherst.

This weekend the sun came back and the windows were open for 2 days. Cooler temps are predicted next week. Some days are more productive than others. I miss company, but we video conference, telephone, sit in our cars to eat together apart. I can't fathom what it is like for extroverts.

Another Week Gone

How is that "writing every day" thing working out?

The COVID 19 virus is looming on the horizon. We have gone from people in nursing homes getting sick, to deaths of musical figures (also elderly), to one degree of separation with people posting about their relatives of any age in hospitals. It is going to get worse.

I accomplished quite a bit in the past few days. I reorganized the yarn stash and got it out of my room. I made moves toward organizing the spare room and Carolyn's room by getting a few unnecessary things into the trash. I went through a very old pile of fabric and sewing history, and spent Wednesday making fabric masks for the family. I still have scraps from the balloons I made for Jamie's infant room, his Halloween costumes, two skirts that were cut out and never sewn. I was happy to find some non-woven interfacing to line the masks and bias tape for straps. It was a whole day coaxing the old black singer to do more or less what I wanted it to do, but it is done. Two went to Alaska and two to NC. Brian says he won't wear it, but he got one too.

I video-conferenced with friends, family, and a committee in Sunderland. Looks like I will be doing more sidewalk design. I also recorded my Historic Maps talk for the MGC conference this weekend, and presented the same talk live via Zoom for WMGS. Last weekend I had planned on presenting at the Eastham Library (cancelled) and meeting with PGSMA Tuesday (also cancelled). The grand opening of our library was cancelled.

Except for a short trip to the grocery store, I didn't go out for food. There are still lots of options for take-out. I spent one entire day in a book. That hasn't happened in a while.

FEMA put out a call for workers via Dewberry. I did not check the box for working anywhere in a suit and mask. We will see if they have any at-home work to offer.

I feel very blessed to have three kids still on the payroll. None of them have to go out to work. I don't have to go out either. The cats are good company. I'm eating my own cooking. Except for milk, I could go a long time without needing more food, if I had to. On we go.

TGIF

Sunny days make all the difference. It would feel much different if we were going into winter in isolation. I can only pray that in six months we won't be having a resurgence.

I had an actual business meeting yesterday with the South Deerfield Fire Dept. to plan for repaving their parking lot. No hand-shaking. I went out today to get a burrito at Mesa Verde. Supporting local restaurants is something I can do. Hand sanitizer is prominent on the counter

My contract with the City of Northampton for doing their paving inspection this summer has no start date yet, but I got a message today just to say that everything is uncertain.

Another small job in Whately is pending "when the Town can conduct business again."

I recorded a webinar this morning about historic maps for the Mass. Gen. Council, whose April conference will now be virtual. Paid work!

So many people don't have savings. It feels strange to draw on my retirement account (how did we become "the elderly?"), but good to have savings. Not to panic. My kids are secure for now. All are still on the payroll. The funding bill passed the Congress.

Every day we hear about the heroic actions of hospital workers who don't have the equipment they need to help the suffering and to protect themselves. Being at home, making my own schedule most of the time is my usual state of being. My life hasn't changed so much, but I am thankful for my choices to life a rural life. The space between me and crowds of people. We start to know that every morning we wake up and face the fear. It is a lot like the feeling of unease that started in November of 2016 when knew it would be a long time until things were put right.

A little writing, a little knitting, too much TV. I was going to wait out the warmer temperatures expected and not deal with the snow, but I decided to go out and get a sandwich so I had to push it off the windshield. Supporting local business - the Black Cow Burger joint. I pulled a few articles about the 1918 flu pandemic from old newspapers. So many obituaries. I think that's where I'm at, less fear for now than dread about what's to come. Greenfield Savings bank announced an interest holiday for mortgages. I will have to follow that up.

Carolyn started conducting speech therapy by video screen. I'm glad that keeps her employed. She says her father took a warehouse job. He's not in the best shape for that.

I had one video chat with genealogy friends. I'm not sure how positive that is. They're more worried than I am.

Just Another Manic Monday

Not really manic. It is going to be as hard to title these posts as it is to write them.

Today was the first time I washed off the groceries I brought home before I put them away. Just a soapy sponge on the plastic containers: a gallon of milk, orange juice, and onion dip. Oh, and grape soda. It tastes like my fourth grade picnic. The empty paper aisle at Food City is striking, and there are signs posted to limit all purchases to two of any item. There's plenty of meat, but I don't feel that I need any beyond a few portions I have frozen.

And snow! This is not what I wanted at this point of the month. I was hoping to take a walk in the Federal Street cemetery in Greenfield. I guess I'll go back to researching, but I like to visit these people when I get to "know" them better. When I start writing when I wake up, I don't break for breakfast until later. I made it until noon before I turned on the TV today.

Zoom Time

I'm thankful for new technologies that let me video chat with my family. We had a Zoom meeting last night. I could see their faces in Alaska and North Carolina yesterday (and, Brian, local.) My nephew Brendan also chimed in. I hope they are willing to do this weekly. We got to see the baby wiggling in real time for 40 minutes. Brian put the dogs on screen for Linda to see. There's nothing better for a mother than witnessing the natural interactions between her children.

Although I'm not good with too much structure, I'm going to make a point of getting my body moving. I took a walk across the river this afternoon. It's not enough, but I want to be conscious of it. It has felt like a weekend after all.

Saturday

As I said, I mostly work from home, but I really feel like I have to remind myself it is Saturday today. Or, as I was reminded of what the Dowager Countess said in Downton Abbey, "What is a weekend?" My schedule is flexible. Some people I know who have brought their work home have a better sense of time off today. 

The sun is shining, and that makes all the difference to me. The Income Tax filing deadline has been extended to July, but that's still on my To Do list. 

The medical profession is feeling the stress in the more populated areas. The shortages of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is a crisis that the federal government isn't prepared to solve. That is a crime. Articles are circulating with instructions on how to sew face masks, but I don't understand how that will help. Old T shirts don't stop germs. Calling retired doctors and nurses out of retirement will only put them at extreme risk. They can't say no. 

Cases of COVID 19 are confirmed at the Buckley Nursing home in Greenfield. I am relieved that I don't have to worry about elderly family members. I am it. Cousin Val just returned from a Panama Canal cruise. I hope she and her family are safe. It has been a rough month for death even before the pandemic kicked in. There will be too many obituaries to be written in the next months. This week Julie Burns Mangione was taken by pancreatic cancer. It was a couple of years ago we got together in EMass. but I'm glad I had that contact. Last week it was Ed Jeronczy, 94, prostate cancer. I will see if I can finish writing his war stories for him. I was asked to be a pall bearer for Denise Lundgren's husband, Nate (blood infection). It was an honor. Funerals are no longer being held.

That's today's update. Let's see if I can do this daily.

Genealogy in the Time of Coronavirus

Preserving personal experiences for history, that's what any good genealogist should do, right? I'm going to let the next series of posts go from research-based to stream of consciousness.

Someone asked yesterday, "When was your last normal day?" I know today was my most abnormal day yet. I got up early to grocery shop and found the parking lot at Market Basket as full at 7 am as any afternoon when I have been there. As I thanked the employees who served me, I realized I was about to break into tears. The stress has been building and I wasn't aware how close to the surface it is.

My shopping list was somewhat changed from previous weeks. I don't usually buy dried beans, but I figured it wouldn't hurt to have some on hand. I got milk in 1/2 gallon containers to freeze, just in case. There was no flour. Is everybody learning to bake bread? There was, however, plenty of bread. I stocked up on cat food and litter. I don't want to do without that.

On March 4th I flew back from seeing Carolyn in North Carolina. Was that a normal day? My seat-mate swabbed down the seat belt and tray table before sitting down. Do some people do that all the time? I wondered if the plane was less full than usual, but that can vary.

On March 7th I went into Boston for a NEAPG meeting. I was more conscious than usual about not touching anything in the shuttle bus from Alewife and the train into Park Street. Don't touch your face. Don't touch your face. I went straight to the bathroom at the Congregational Library where the meeting was held and used soap to wash my hands.

Since then I've been to the grocery store, take-out food places. Not much else.

I live alone. I mostly work from home. My quiet days are not unusual. Having nothing on the calendar is unusual. I shouldn't watch so much TV, but I like to get my news live. I have confidence in the governors and their infrastructure planning. No faith in the administration in Washington.

I have plenty of writing, researching (cleaning?) to do here. I have cats wrapped around my legs. I have started to draw on my 401K, but that was done in anticipation of summer construction work replenishing it. We shall see. Social media keeps us in contact, but video chat is better. Genealogical friends have embraced it immediately. Let's see if I can get the family to sit down and try that.

Keep praying. Watch out for each other.

Intersecting Lives in Greenfield's Black Community

In 1860 the census recorded 0.7% of the Massachusetts population as "Black." We can do the math, but I would expect an even smaller number in rural western Massachusetts. While researching Smead family descendants for another project, I found a record of two young girls noted as black in the household of Solomon Smead and Desire Wheeler in Greenfield, Franklin County, one in 1855 and one in 1860. That is the kind of information that can send me down a rabbit hole, wanting to know more. This post can serve as a place-holder to remind me to look a little farther, while I share what is easily accessible regarding these individuals.

State censuses, where available, help us bridge the gap between the decennial federal census. Massachusetts took a census in 1855. Solomon Wheeler's household that year consisted of himself at age 38, giving his occupation as a mechanic, his wife Desire, 40, Anna (elsewhere Louisa), age 9, and Hannah Taylor, 14. The "B" is prominent in the column listing color for Hannah.

Paging through the 41 sheets of names recorded in Greenfield there are other members of Hannah's family listed, but very few other people of color. John Putnam's family includes his wife and seven children. He is listed as a barber, as are John and William Dorsey who are the only individuals marked with an "M" for mulatto. H. Green was a grocer. One more family unit, the family of James White, appears to have one daughter living at home and one with a Caucasian family. This totals 22 individuals of color among the approximately 3,300 residents of Greenfield in 1855.

Birth records of Hannah and her siblings are listed in the Greenfield vital records. Her parents were Charles and Sarah Frances (Wells) Taylor. Hannah was the first born 22 April 1841. Her sister Mary Jinsey was born 21 November 1842, followed by another girl, Sarah Frances named after her mother on 14 July 1844. The next was a boy was named after their father: Charles Henry born 25 January 1846. Joseph Willard was the last born on 18 November 1848. The family lost its mother soon after on 22 February 1849. Charles was left with five children under eight.

In 1850 the Taylor family was enumerated in Deerfield as paupers. Charles said he was a laborer. Neither his wife nor daughter Sarah were listed, so the death record found could be either one of them. Another woman was living with them, possibly helping with the children, Louisa Jackson, age 55.

In 1855, when Hannah was living with the Wheelers, Mary (12) lived with the family of Clarissa Williams, and Charles (10) lived with Elizabeth Alvord. Charles died in a fire at the Alvord house on 10 January 1856. A news article said that he was initially thought to be safe, but may have gone back into the building. He is buried in the Federal Street cemetery.

Charles and Mary Jinsey's graves are worn and hard to read

Hannah died of consumption at 16, as did her sister, Mary, in 1866. Records of the Federal Street cemetery in Greenfield have young Charles and Mary, but not Hannah.

Charles Taylor had remarried by 1860 to Jane who had been born in Virginia. In 1870 Joseph was still living with them at 21. Joseph Willard Taylor married in Halifax, Vermont 17 November 1874 to Julia Wells Church. It was his first marriage at 26, but her second. Joseph's next move is unknown. Charles was still living in Greenfield in 1880. At 65 he said he was a basket maker. A Charles Taylor received $91.59 from the pauper account in Greenfield, as listed in the 1880 Annual Town Report.

Abbie Todd lived with the Wheeler family in 1860. Both she and their daughter, Louisa, were reported to be 14. A year later, Mary Abbie Todd was married to Samuel Sugland, jr. when she stated that she was 18 and had been born in Williamstown. Their race on the Greenfield marriage register was marked "A" for African? Samuel was a cook, born in Westhampton. In 1865 Massachusetts again took a census. At that time, Abbie and Samuel were living in his mother, Lucy's, household with their two daughters, Eliza and Lucy. Abbie was recorded as 20, indicating she may have exaggerated her age at marriage. By 1870, they had two sons, Lorenzo and William. Samuel was a farm laborer, and in both 1865 and 1870 he was listed as a voter. In 1880 they were in Deerfield and had a third son, Lewis.

As I stated above, I'm posting this to get a few facts in sentences and hope to follow up in the future.