Another Year; Another Countdown

It's that time of year again for the annual

New Years Eve countdown Ball drop!

New Year’s Eve Ball, 1978; (The New York Times)

The Times Square Ball is dropped each year during the New Year’s Eve celebration in New York City. The Ball was first lowered in 1907, and has continued to do so every New Year’s Eve with the exceptions of 1942 and 1943, when the ceremony was suspended due to the wartime “dimout” of lights in New York City.

So dust off those flute glasses have a New Year's Eve toast:

Ring out the old, ring in the new, Ring, happy bells, across the snow: The year is going, let him go; Ring out the false, ring in the true.  ~ Alfred,  Lord Tennyson

Cheers!

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NARA is ready. Are you?

It's coming....
             The National Archives will release the 1940 Census on April 2, 2012, making it available for online searching - free of charge. 
Are you prepared to dive in?

What you need to know in order to begin research in the 1940 census:

 NARA's Preparing for the opening of the 1940 Census

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Merry Christmas from Tangled Trees

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A Christmas Eve Sighting

 

Merry Christmas to all

 

 

and to all a Good Night!

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Behind Window #3: It's a Brand New Car!!

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1675 Will extract of Cornelius Bom

1675 Will extract of our 8th G-Grandfather Cornelius Bom of Rotterdam > Philadelphia.

Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine; vol 1, pg 86
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Have A Holly Jolly Christmas with this Tradional Eggnog

 A Classic 1936 Eggnog recipe from Four Roses distillery (not for the kiddies):

Four Roses Eggnog Recipe
   
1) Beat separately yolks and whites of 6 eggs.
2) Add 1/2 cup of sugar to yolks while beating.
3) Add 1/4 cup of sugar to whites after they have been beaten very stiff.
4) Mix egg whites with yolks.
5) Stir in 1 pint of cream and 1 pint of milk.
6) Add a pint of Four Roses Bourbon and 1 oz. Jamaican rum. Stir thoroughly and serve very cold.

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Make it a Hoover Christmas

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1690 Death Record for Simon Chapacou

Although I do not have a tombstone image for Simon, locating his death record is pretty exciting.
    

1690 Death Record from Saint-Antoine-de-Longueuil, Quebec,

of our ancestor, Simon Chapacou.

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This Date in History: "THIS IS NO DRILL"

    

                                        

"AIR RAID ON PEARL HARBOR. THIS IS NO DRILL"

                   
--Telegram from Commander in Chief of the Pacific Fleet (CINCPAC) to all ships in Hawaiian area - December 7, 1941

                      

(source: NARA)

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WWII Draft Registration Cards - Check both sides

Tuesday's Tip:   Remember to check the backside of the draft registration card.

Note that the reverse side of the registration card gives a decent physical description of the individual in addition to the date of filing.

U.S. World War II Draft Registration Card

for Andrew Kolbush dated 4/27/1942.

Andrew listed his younger brother, Joseph, as his contact. Joseph soon after enlisted on 23 Jun 1942 at the age of 41 yrs.
It is interesting to me that nowhere on this card is there an indication that Andrew served in WW1 and was disabled.

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Pearl Harbor survivors share stories of attack

World War II Navy veteran Clarence Pfundheller

Many veterans did not talk too much about their experiences after World War II, but this week four Pearl Harbor survivors are visiting the historic site on this 70th anniversary to recall and record their memories of the event as part of an effort to ensure these stories will survive to be shared with future generations.

Read full story here: Pearl Harbor survivors share stories of attack

Holiday Shopping Saturday: Where else but Macy's

In 1862, Macy established an in-store Santa at Christmas time. Soon after, he began decorating his large windows with themed, illuminated displays to attract the attention of passers-by and pull in customers.
     
The Macy's Star, which has been present since the very beginning, comes from a tattoo that Rowland H. Macy got as a teenager when he worked on a Nantucket whaling ship, the Emily Morgan.

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Family Recipe Friday: Plum Pudding

This 1723 recipe by John Nott is one of the earliest recipes written down for Plum Pudding, later known as Christmas Pudding.

The cooks and confectioners dictionary; or, The accomplish'd housewife's companion; John Nott; 1723

                                             

           

Thrifty Thursday: 55¢ to $1 per Pair

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