Pulaski County Daily Article Dec 31, 2009

***Special Thanks to Darrell Todd Maurina of Pulaski County Daily for allowing us to reprint his article.

Commissioners OK effort to research history of Pulaski County Poor Farm
By: Darrell Todd Maurina


PULASKI COUNTY, Mo. (Dec. 31, 2009) — In one of their last actions for 2009, Pulaski County Commissioners voted Thursday to approve a request by Laura Huffman and Marge Scott to do research in the county archives for the history of what was once the Pulaski County Poor Farm.

Located on Superior Road, the low-level bottomland road between Waynesville and Saint Robert that parallels the higher-level ridge road that later became Route 66, the Pulaski County Poor Farm was a place where indigent residents went to earn a living if they couldn’t do so on their own. Developed prior to Depression-era concepts of welfare and public assistance, most counties once had poor farms so people would have a place to live while working to support themselves.

Located near what’s now the Laughlin family farm, the Pulaski County Poor Farm also had a cemetery for its residents; Huffman and Scott said many of the cemetery graves are in disrepair and others aren’t marked with headstones or their locations aren’t known at all.

Laura Huffman & Marge Scott at the Dec 31, 2009 Pulaski County Commissioner's Meeting. Photo courtesy of Darrell Todd Maurina of Pulaski County Daily

County Clerk Diana Linnenbringer told commissioners at Monday’s meeting that she had received a request to look through the old county records and minutes beginning in 1903 for the poor farm; commissioners were receptive to the request but wanted more details.

Commissioner Bill Farnham questioned how much would be in the official county records.

“They probably ought to go find one of the elderly citizens of this county, such as my aunt Maxine, who knows the history of this county. They’d probably find more detailed information from her than they’d find in the official records of the county,” Farnham said.

“It is a matter of public record, isn’t it?” asked Commissioner Ricky Zweerink.

That’s not necessarily the case under the Missouri State Sunshine Law, which allows government agencies to withhold records involving “welfare cases of identifiable individuals.” That’s not a commonly known exception on the local government level, but it’s currently being used by the Pulaski County Sewer District and by the utility boards of some local cities when residents appeal their utility bills.

When commissioners met again on Thursday, they discussed the matter directly with Huffman and Scott, noting that while most and possibly all of the Pulaski County Poor Farm residents are no longer alive, some of their children or grandchildren still live in the area.

“If you see anything that would embarrass any of the descendants, please be sensitive,” asked Presiding Commission Don McCulloch.

“Oh, we will,” Huffman assured the commissioners.

“This is mostly so we can document those cemetery plots and know where they are,” Scott said. “We just need to see the books and if after those two days she feels she needs more time, we’ll get back with you and schedule a day.”

“We wish you well and if there is anything we can do to help, let us know,” McCulloch said.

Superintendent's Contract (1933)

The following is a transcription of the contract between Pulaski County and John W. Ichord concerning his tenure as Superintendent of the Pulaski County Poor Farm. The contract is recorded in full in the 1933 County Court Minutes Ledger, and was located by Melissa Bushley during a research session January 6, 2010.

Contract with John W. Ichord, Superintendent of the County Farm

This agreement made and entered in _____ by and between the County of Pulaski, State of Missouri, under order of the County Court of said Pulaski County, Missouri made at the regular August term of said County Court, and the same bring on the 10th day of August, 1933, and fourth day of said term
party of the first part, and John W. Ichord, of the County of Pulaski, State of Missouri, party of the second part. Witnesseth, that the party of the first part for and in consideration of the terms herein after expressed has on the 10th day of August, 1933 leased and rented to the party of the second part the following real estate in the County of Pulaski, State of Missouri, for a term
beginning on the first day of January, 1934 and ending on the 31st
day of December, 1937. The northwest quarter of the northeast quarter lot one of the northwest quarter, the north half of lot two of the northeast quarter, and part of the north, and part of lot one of the southwest quarter of section 31, Township 36, of Range 11, containing in all 278 acres and known as the (County Farm) and the party of the first part does hereby hire and employ the part of the second part as Superintendent of said County Farm, and as Superintendent and caretaker of the inmates on said farm or that may be on said farm at any time during the term of this contract. Party of the first part agrees to furnish any needed beds or bedding for the rest and comfort of the inmates on said farm, and also furnish stores needed and fixtures for the same in the houses and buildings used and occupied by the inmates on said farm.

Party of the first part gives party of the second part the right to cut timber on said farm, except on that part herein reserved, for the ______ to be used in the repairing of fencing on said farm.

Party of the first part agrees to pay party of the second part the sum of ten dollars per month for each person on said farm as an inmate of said farm and sent there by an order of the County Court of said Pulaski County, for boarding, clothing and taking care of each of said persons in a humane
and suitable manner, and the settlement thereof to be made at each Regular term of the County Court of said County after the party of the second part takes charge as said Superintendent, Party of the first part agrees to furnish said party of the second part any lumber, wire, hardware, or other material needed for the repair of the buildings or fencing on said farm. Party of the first part reserves the right enter upon the north half of the northwest quarter of Section 33. Township 36 of Range 11, for the purpose of cutting and hauling away any timber needed for road or bridge repairs, as to the party of the first shall deem necessary. Party of the first part agrees to furnish the inmates of said farm with the care of physician when needed and to furnish all medicine needed in the judgment of the party of the first part and it's physician. Party of the first part does hereby restrict and prohibit party of the second part from subletting any part of said farm, or any other duties developing upon party of the second part under this contract.

That he will use all ordinary care in protecting and ____ all buildings, fencing, and other _____________ on said farm, that he will pay said party of the first part for the use of said buildings that he occupies and of the said farm the sum of $15 each year in cash, and that he will pay said amount in four equal installments during the year, said payments to be made at each regular term of the County Court of said County.

Party of the second part agrees that he will and cultivate said farm in a suitable manner for the raising of good crops and at the same time to maintain and improve the fertility of the thereon, that he will keep all fencing and other improvements in good repair, when material is furnished by party of the first part, except that the party of the second part is to make all _____ needed for fencing on said land and any other fencing____ that may be needed and that can be made from the timber on said farm, in the making and using said _____ timber, party of the second part shall use such judgment in the cutting thereof, so that the best timber shall be conserved for commercial purposes, party pf the second part also ______ that he will haul away any and all material that may __________________________ furnished for the said farm by the party of the first part.

The party of the second part agrees that he will give his personal attention to the care and keeping of all the persons on said farm when he enters thereon, or that may thereafter be placed on said farm as county charges by order of the County Court of said County, for the price and sum of $10.00 per month for each, and for said sum, he will board, clothe, keep and treat in a suitable and humane manner each and all of said inmates, and that he will carefully look after their wants and needs, and that he will see that in their illness they are properly taken care of, and that in all things party of the second part shall use such care and treatment of said unfortunates as shall be their just and right under the premises.

Party of the second part shall have the right to accept any work or labor that any of the inmates may be able to perform on said farm, or about the premises therein, without injury or inconvenience to said inmates. It is understood by and between the parties hereto that in the event that party of the second part, or his wife, should die during the term of this contract, then this contract may be terminated at that time. Party of the second part agrees to keep strict account of all expenses and bills.

In witness whereof the parties hereto have on this the 5th day of September, 1933, set their hands and seals, John S Zumwalt, Lee Hobbs, G.W. Berry, Judges of the County Court.

Attest
Herbert Still
Clerk of the County Court

John W. Ichord
Party of the second part

Pulaski County Farm Article (1987)

Following is the article that was published in "History Pulaski County Missouri, Volume II"



Pulaski County Farm

The “Poor Farm” was owned by Pulaski County. Purchased in the 1800's it was consisted, originally, of some 100 acres of land. It was established for the care of those in the county who were not mentally, physically, or financially able to care for themselves. Times were hard and many people were destitute. Some were feeble-minded. Some were old and weak and senile. Some were crippled physically. Some were blind, and some deaf. Occasionally an abandoned child would be taken in. One young girl was taken in to relieve a bad moral situation. A few children were taken from their parents and placed there because of neglect. A lot of the resident's were just old and couldn't care for themselves and had no folks to help them.

The place was located about a mile up on the Roubidoux River above Waynesville. It was farmland. Had several large buildings; a large residents home, a home for the caretaker and his family and shelter for the farm animals. Large fields and a garden plot.

A “pitcher pump” on a concrete floor supplied their water. A “pitcher pump” is the kind you pump with a long handle, but first you had to prime it with water that had (Hopefully) been left in a pitcher nearby. If someone neglected to leave sufficient water in the pitcher for priming, there was a problem.

Until the latest years all laundry was done on a washboard. The water for washing must be pumped, carried out into the yard and emptied into a large iron kettle with afire under it. The laundry was placed in the hot water, then rubbed with good strong soap, vigorously scrubbed on the washboard (a backbreaking job) wrung out by hand again and hung on the clothesline outdoors to dry. That was just the first part- next they had to be repaired, and then almost everything had to be ironed. Sometimes the caretakers wife had a hired girl but mostly she did the washing and ironing all by herself.

That's not all! She also had the cooking of three meals everyday, the cleaning of all the houses, and the caring for all the residents. I don't know what she got paid but I know whatever it was was not enough!

The man of the family was usually outside farming.

From conversations with people who knew about the County Farm, it must have been a labor of love. Everyone who knew these old folks seemed to be very attached to them, and to have loved them very dearly. It has been my happy experience to hear some of the stories about those good old folks. One old gentleman thought he could tell fortunes and always had a prediction for anyone who asked. Children often went there and took candy, nuts, cakes, and cookies. Even though they enjoyed the goodies, they loved the presence of the children even more. The caretakers wife bought large bolts of material and made all the clothing the old folks wore. This was a good time too. The old ones always had lots of stories to tell and they told them over and over again. Some had dreams of someday living somewhere else. “Aunt Teen” always said she wanted to buried at Flea Holler near Swedeborg. It was done. Alma and Bert Williams were good neighbors to the Farm. She always came to help when someone was sick and if one passed away she always had a short service for them by reading from the Word and singing.

There is a large cemetery on the grounds where there are about 100 people buried. Even though there are few markers on the graves, there is one who knows where they are.

I'm not certain of the date the Farm was disbanded but the land was divided up and sold in 1947.

I have been able to establish that these are at least some of the caretakers; Mr. and Mrs. J.H. Burchard, John J. York, Alice and Barton Sparks, Myrtle and Harry Martin, Nannie and Frank Long, Mr. and Mrs. George Sanders, John and Lola Ichord, James and Gladys Laughlin, Elmer and Gladys Carter, and Fred and Ruby York. There were, no doubt, others, but records are not available.

These are a few of the people I have been able to find lived there: Christa Skaggs, Julina Cobert, Lee Adams, Oma Labarga, Thomas Page, Taylor Curtis, John Williams, Lulu Eaton, Thomas Jones, Grandpa and Grandma Admire, Cap Peal, Calvin H. Stroup, Rebecca Ellen Stroup, Sarah Bryant, William, Hendershot, Hezekiah Pummel, Mary Curley, Mr. and Mrs, Ballard, Mr. Rickerson, Bill Malone, Lola Wagner, Edmond Lynch, Jay Scapps, Johnny Moles, Richard McCullogh, John McCullogh, Mr. Zumwalt, Mr. Buehl, Aunt “Teen”, a lady named Effie, and another named Ida (a school teacher).

There were ever so many more. The people I talked with about this said they could remember these old folks so well. How they looked and some of the things they said and done, but could not remember all their names.

Several people helped with this article, and I am grateful to them all.

Submitted by
Adlyn Shelden Willits

Daily Guide Article Jan 8, 2010

Search for Poor Farm's history starts

Group starts effort to cleanup, preserve cemetery's history

By Myriam Nicodemus
For The Daily Guide

WAYNESVILLE- Poor Farm Cemetery was introduced to Laura Huffman by an old ledger she once came across. Inside, she discovered, were the names of those buried at the cemetery located just south of Waynesville.

Established around 1874, Poor Farm, which was also known as County Farm, housed and cared for Pulaski County residents who were unable to provide for themselves.

Residents who were able performed the physical work of the farming operation. Those who could not watched the world pass.

The facility operated until 1947 and during the that time around 100 residents were buried in a nearby cemetery.

The ledger and the stories behind the names captivated Huffman, who has partnered with Project Preservation and the Pulaski County Historical Society to clean up and restore the cemetery.

"They more than likely didn't get a whole lot of respect and dignity in their lifetime and we want to make sure that happens for them now by honoring their memory and their history," Huffman said.

After receiving permission from the Pulaski County Commission, Huffman and other members of Project Preservation have been going through an overwhelming amount of documents to find answers to a hidden history.

Currently, only 24 burials of approxiamtely 100 have been confirmed.

Huffman and the Project Preservation team are calling for help from local residents and anyone who is interested in the project. Donations, supplies, and information about the Poor Farm's history are being sought, as well as volunteers for cleaning up the overgrown cemetery.

The first cleanup effort, scheduled for 9 a.m. Saturday, was cancelled due to cold weather and a new date has not been announced.

Volunteers will help remove undergrowth, dead limbs and other material to help return the cemetery to a respectable condition.

To donate to the restoration efforts, send a check to:

Pulaski County Historical Society
Poor Farm Cemetery Fund
PO Box 144
Waynesville, MO 65583

For questions, contact Marge Scott 573-774-5368 or visit the following web sites:

http://www,facebook.com/pulaskicountypoorfarm
http://www.facebook.com/pulaskicountyhistoricalsociety

By The Numbers: Poor Farm Cemetery

1874 The year the Poor Farm, also known as County Farm, started operations.

100 The number of people thought to be buried in the old cemetery.

24 The number of people buried in the cemetery who have been identified.

Laura Huffman has teamed up with the Pulaski County Historical Society and Project Preservation to restore the Poor Farm Cemetery. Part of her effort includes finding out who's buried there by sifting through pages and pages of historical documents at the Pulaski County Courthouse. PHOTO BY MYRIAM NICODEMUS/FOR THE DAILY GUIDE

Portion of the article published on the front page of the Daily Guide January 8, 2010. Article written by Myriam Nicodemus. Click on image to make text larger.

Continuation on Page 2 of the January 8, 2010 article wriiten by Myriam Nicodemus and published in the Daily Guide. Click on image to make text larger.

***The old ledger entries date the closing of the Poor Farm as being in 1957, not in 1947. This was my mistake, not Mrs.Nicodemus' or The Daily Guide's.

Daily Guide Article Jan 5, 2010

Group looks for cemetery info.

By Matthew Kent
Waynesville Daily Guide


WAYNESVILLE- In an effort to seek further information about individuals buried at the Poor Farm Cemetery in Pulaski County, four individuals appeared before the Pulaski County Commission Thursday morning asking for permission to go into the county's vault to look at old records.

Laura Huffman, project coordinator, said there are approximately 100 graves at the cemetery, but only 24 have been identified.

Commissioners agreed to let Huffman and other members of the project to look at old county records.

Huffman said the goal is to educate the public about history.

"We're behind you 100 percent," Presiding Commissioner Don McCulloch said. "We wish you well."

Marge Scott of the Pulaski County Historical Society told commissioners that "we are doing this in good faith" and that it's an effort to honor the memories of those who are buried at the cemetery.

Huffman elaborated on the project after the meeting and said it's one of importance.

"It's a piece of history in Pulaski County that's largely overlooked," she said.

She added a reverend and his wife who died within a week of each other are buried there, in addition to a Civil War veteran.

"These people have stories to tell," Huffman said. "They deserve some dignity."

Further information will be provided at noon on Thursday at a Pulaski County Historical Society meeting held at 415 W. Historic Route 66 in Waynesville.



***The four people who attended the meeting of the Pulaski County Commission were: Marge Scott, Betty Atterberry, Dawnmarie Cecora, and Laura Huffman. The Historical Society Meeting mentioned in the article had to be cancelled due to inclement weather.

Locating the Pulaski County Poor Farm Cemetery (November 2009)

After locating the site of the Poor Farm Resident's Building, the hunt was on for the Poor Farm Cemetery. We assumed that it had to be somewhere on the original acreage of the farm, and our gut told us that it was located near the main buildings of the farm. Betty Pritchett Atterberry told me that it was located alongside the bluff in that area. Terrie and I took many trips down the dirt road past the Resident's Building looking off the side scanning for what we thought would be a suitable location to bury the dead. Most of these trips happened during the late summer, when the leaves were still on the trees, so it was hard to see through the foilage. Imagining the landscape as it would have been 50 years ago also was not as easy an task as we had assumed.



While we searching for the exact location of the cemetery itself, I approached the Pulaski County Historical Society & Museum about trying to save the old property. I had visions of the restoration of the Old Stagecoach Stop in my head, but did not have the pocketbook to back my plan up. Heck, I did not even have a plan, because I had never even dreamed of taking on a restoration project, especially one of this magnitude. After a brief discussion with the members present at August meetimg it was decided that we would at least check into the possibility of restoring the cemetery. Which at that time, was still lost, at least to me. I also became a member of the Historical Society at that meeting, and after talking to their President, Mrs. Marge Scott, I offered to construct a fan page on Facebook.com to help draw more interest from the community to the Historical Society and the things that they do in the community.



While working on uploading pictures to the fan page, I hesitated on adding a picture of the Resident's Building. My concern was that since the building was vacant that vandals may try to tamper with it. After wavering back and forth with myself about it, I did decide to post a photo, and I am glad that I did. As a result of the picture being posted, Tammy Moreau messaged me that she knew exactly where the cemetery was located and offered to lead me to it. We met the following weekend.

Tammy and her mother led me directly into the cemetery. Ironically, Terrie and I, had been in this very spot before, but the cemetery is in such poor condition, and the absence of visible markers, made us think that we were looking on the wrong spot. We were unable to find the tombstone that Tammy recalled. However, we did find one for William Hendershot. Finding his tombstone brought our confirmed burial total up to 24. His death certificate only states that he was buried in Waynesville, Missouri, it does not specify the Poor Farm Cemetery.

Pulaski County Poor Farm Resident's Building (August 2009)

Pulaski County Poor Farm Resident's Building. Picture by Laura Huffman, Summer 2009

The resident's building of the Poor Farm is still standing, although vacant. After the Poor Farm was disbanded, the last Superintendent, Frank Farris, purchased the property from Pulaski County.

The Poor Farm was in operation from about 1874 until 1957. 83 years of operation farming and providing aid to Pulaski County's less fortunate. At one time the farm had considerable acreage, 200+ acres that needed to be tended, cultivated, and the crops turned into useful items for the residents and the caretakers family.

While the Poor Farm was in operation, the caretaker and his family lived in separate quarters nearby, although the exact location of the caretakers house has not yet been determined.

Frank moved his family into the larger home, the resident's building and made a few modifications. The second story veranda was removed sometime after 1987. A new screen door with the initial "F" stamped the building as belonging to the Farris Family. Frank and his second wife, Sandy, made this building their home until his death in March of 2007. Frank's widow, Sandy still has belongings in the house and still stops by the place every day to feed the stray cats that have been dumped in the area.

There are some outbuildings on the land, whose age makes one wonder if these buildings were on the property when it was still on the property.

One of Frank and Sandy's granddaughters told me that she would spend summers there as a child and loved playing on the property. She mentioned that they would play near the cemetery and one can imagine that the former residents who are buried there would have enjoyed the company and the sound of children's laughter.

Her grandfather did not talk much about the history of the home, just said that it was a place where people used to live. Maybe he was trying to save his grandchildren from thinking about some of the sad, sometimes tragic stories, that had taken place here. Maybe he did not really want to discuss it, much like a combat veteran does not wish to speak of the action that they had seen. Or maybe he just simply wanted the building to simply become a home for he and his family and not what it used to be.

The Search for Pulaski County's Poor Farm (August 2009)

During one of the transcription sessions, I saw an entry that was made for the purchase of two coffins for the price of $6. I also saw numerous entries of persons who had died while residents of the farm. Causes of death ran the gamut of old age, paralysis, pneumonia, dropsy of the heart, consumption, stillborn, just to name a few. Then it became important to me know where these people's final resting place was. Terrie Runion and I had located the Poor Farm resident's building, which is still standing, in August 2009. Locating the Poor Farm was largely based off this clue:

"The turn of the century map shows the old Houston Road leading south from
Waynesville following the Roubidoux before turning east to the uplands.The road passes many of the small hamlets that developed during the late nineteenth century that will be discussed further below. It actually crosses Roubidoux Creek twice; once at Kerr’s Mill and again further south.The Spring Creek Road, that runs east and west across the plateau, dead ends into the Houston Road north of Kerr’s Mill. At that intersection was the county farm or Poor Farm."

Another clue was that the Poor Farm was located two miles south of Waynesville. On a hunch, Terrie and I decided to go down Spring Road, also known as Superior Road. It was one of the few old roads that would have went South from Waynesville. We set the trip odometer and almost as soon as we reached our two mile point, we saw the Resident's building of the Poor Farm, still standing, a sentential to the crossroads of two of Pulaski County's most traveled roads in their time, Spring Creek Road and Houston Road. It was a strange, yet familiar discovery. Just as many other residents of Pulaski County have done throughout the years, we had traveled this road on many occasions as a way to avoid traffic up Waynesville Hill and down the Fort Leonard Spur. The house with all the peacocks had stood silently, waiting for the dust from our passing car to settle, as we continued into St. Robert, without a clue as to the history of this old, weathered structure.

The Old Ledger (Summer 2008)

Every story worth telling, and repeating has a beginning, a middle and an ending. Some great stories include foreshadowing, and almost story has a conflict that needs to be resolved. The ending aims to leave the readers with a sense of closure with the story having an ending that satisfying and wraps up all loose ends that came about in the body of the story. I am not an author, but I do hope to present the story of the Pulaski County Poor Farm in a sensible way that brings the stories of the people who lived, and died there to life. It is assumed that "inmates" as they were often referred to, most likely did not live with much dignity and respect during their lifetimes. It is my intention that piecing together and telling their stories, with my limited writing skills, will honor their memory and their history.

The quest for knowledge about Pulaski County Poor Farm's history began simply enough. During the summer of 2008, a visit to the 1903 Pulaski County Courthouse Museum, Laura Huffman saw an old ledger at the top of the staircase that leads to the upstairs courtroom. Beside the ledger was a typewritten piece of paper with basic information about the County Farm, as it was also known. The display also contained a photocopied article, written by Adlyn Shelden White, which was published in History Pulaski County Missouri Volume II, which was published in 1987. Another item in the display was an old typewritten, faded, yellowed sheet of paper, entitled "Suggestions as to Sanitation & Management of County Almshouses". And of course, the featured item, the old Pulaski County Poor Farm ledger.

The Old Pulaski County Poor Farm Ledger. Photo by Laura Huffman, Summer 2009


The old ledger looked innocent enough, it was just lying there opened with two pages exposed for the visitors to see. Terrie Runion-Elmer and I admired the lettering in the ledger, commented on how handwriting styles had changed throughout the years, and then went about our business looking at the other exhibits that the museum has to offer.

Images of the old ledger took up residence in my mind and I just could not seem to shake it. I had previous experience with looking through old Masonic ledgers that had been in Grandpa Cletus Cato's possession. When my grandfather allowed me to read them I became engrossed in the entries and the glimpses in to the past that the entries provided. In the Masonic ledgers I was particularly struck by the penmanship of the man who recorded the entries. I could almost picture him dipping his quill in an inkwell as he made his marks in the journal. To my dismay, the handwriting changed, and as I feared the previous entry maker had indeed passed away. I kept on reading and my fears of his death were confirmed. This was not the end of the dated entries however, so I kept on reading. I learned that the widow of the deceased did not have enough money to pay for a headstone for her departed husband. I learned how the Masons had teamed together to raise funds to provide this gentleman with a tombstone that reflected his stature as a contributing person to the frontier settlement along the banks of the Castor River in Southeast Missouri. I read that a member of the Masons donated a horse to be sold at auction to raise funds for his stone. The entries in the Masonic ledger regarding the deceased described in great detail the stone that was purchased for him by his Masonic brothers. The description and detail of the headstone, including the Masonic emblem that was included on his marker led me straight to his grave site at Zalma City Cemetery in Zalma, Missouri. It was quite a feeling to be led directly to a spot by words that were written a hundred years before.

From the experience with the old Masonic journals, I knew that there were stories to be told in the old Poor Farm ledger as well. I returned to the 1903 Old Courthouse Museum during the summer of 2009 and explained to Museum Curator, Marge Scott, that I needed to look at the old ledger. I could see in her eyes that she was very concerned about letting someone, off the street, come in an handle a book that is approximately 135 years old, and the only copy in existence. I also think that she saw in my eyes that was something that I really felt that I had to do. Thankfully, and perhaps against her better judgement, but based on a gut a feeling, she allowed me to take the old ledger downstairs into the old vault room and start transcribing the names that were recorded in the old ledger. I was unable to transcribe all the entries my first day in the vault but as I was leaving, I promised to return the following Saturday and continue the work. As I walked out the museum that day, I am sure that Mrs. Scott had her doubts as to whether I would return. But return I did. For the next three Saturday mornings in August , I returned to the vault with the ledger, my notebook, a pen, and my cell phone camera until the basics of every entry had been recorded. Saturday, August 22, 2009 I returned to the Museum and presented a typewritten list, in chronological order and presented it to the Museum, Mrs. Scott, and Betty Atterberry. The list was by no means accurate. A lot of the entries were recorded in pencil that had faded through the years, and due to changes in writing styles sometimes I was unable to record the correct spelling of the names and had to haphazard a guess. Not the best research style, but being new at this, it was the best that I could do at the time.