Paul, I can't find a way to comment on your blog entry on its website, so I'll comment here. Love that entry. I'm a member of the Society for One-Place Studies, and you describe what the SfOPS is out to accomplish: to discover and write about the history of our places. My OPS is Jacksonville, Florida, where I grew up. Most OPS blogs and sites are about small villages like yours. Jacksonville is a large city, over one million in population. You describe your village so well, I want to visit there! Thank you for your comments on history; they warm this old historian's heart.
Focusing on a city of over one million for an OPS sound like quite the challenge! Are you focusing on a particular time period to narrow things down a bit?
I'm a glutton for punishment. Hadn't really decided to focus on a time period. Jacksonville settlement actually began during the brief British period (1763-1784), as a small village called "Cow Ford" (or Cowford), because it was located at a shallow point in the St. Johns River where cattle were herded from one side to the other. In 1822, Jacksonville got its start as a town and a new name. I have studied the Second Spanish Period (1784-1821), and may even have some posts discussing events during that period. But the thing about Jacksonville is that the city and county are consolidated, with one government -- the City of Jacksonville -- for the entire area, with four small exceptions. I grew up here, and my husband is a Jacksonville native, so we have a lot of knowledge about the area already.
I know what you mean about the trees. I only they could talk. We live in a house in Berlin that has an amazing history. You have reminded me that I need to write about it.
That's a great post Paul. I am really enjoying working on my one-place study and gradually finding out more and more about the places and people there. I haven't posted on my Kyeburn Diggings OPS Substack Publication for a while but I will be as soon as I have finished sorting out some stuff I am currently researching. The closest I have come to doing a house history is my post on Beacon Lodge in my main Substack publication - https://bjnlsgenealogy.substack.com/p/beacon-lodge?r=1n71wo
I have been posting to Geneabloggers on Facebook for years so it’s great to do it here now. Sharing the latest post in my 50 Day Family History Blogging Challenge
Thanks for the prompt @geneabloggers! This week I have posted Part #6 in my series about Richard Lang. In this week's post the disaffection which was building across parts #4 and #5 (particularly Part #5) has turned to rebellion - https://bjnlsgenealogy.substack.com/p/richard-lang-6-rebel-leader?r=1n71wo
A few weeks ago I had the honor of attending my Uncle Buck's celebration of life. If you're like me and have never been to one, you might enjoy reading about this very special event put on by his daughters.
When someone passes there’s usually a solemn funeral. By contrast, it’s refreshing to hear how Uncle Buck’s family created a true celebration of his life by sharing not just food and photos, but playing that game to spark sharing memories of happy times together. 🤗
The family had both actually. The funeral followed fairly quickly after he passed, but in order for family who live further away to attend they opted to do the celebration as well. Really glad they did.
I happy to find a new community here to share family history! here is the first installment of a series about the Morin family of Acadia, who were expelled from their village in 1688. It's a twisted tale of French squatters, a massive earthworks, a scheming feudal lord, a village sex pest, a witch trial, and a forbidden love.
Firstly it's great to see you here!! Let me share with you one of my recent Blog posts which I hope you enjoy:
https://chiddicksfamilytree.com/2025/02/14/touching-the-past/
Paul, I can't find a way to comment on your blog entry on its website, so I'll comment here. Love that entry. I'm a member of the Society for One-Place Studies, and you describe what the SfOPS is out to accomplish: to discover and write about the history of our places. My OPS is Jacksonville, Florida, where I grew up. Most OPS blogs and sites are about small villages like yours. Jacksonville is a large city, over one million in population. You describe your village so well, I want to visit there! Thank you for your comments on history; they warm this old historian's heart.
Focusing on a city of over one million for an OPS sound like quite the challenge! Are you focusing on a particular time period to narrow things down a bit?
I'm a glutton for punishment. Hadn't really decided to focus on a time period. Jacksonville settlement actually began during the brief British period (1763-1784), as a small village called "Cow Ford" (or Cowford), because it was located at a shallow point in the St. Johns River where cattle were herded from one side to the other. In 1822, Jacksonville got its start as a town and a new name. I have studied the Second Spanish Period (1784-1821), and may even have some posts discussing events during that period. But the thing about Jacksonville is that the city and county are consolidated, with one government -- the City of Jacksonville -- for the entire area, with four small exceptions. I grew up here, and my husband is a Jacksonville native, so we have a lot of knowledge about the area already.
Thanks so much Karen I really appreciate your kind words and I am so pleased to hear that you enjoyed my post
I know what you mean about the trees. I only they could talk. We live in a house in Berlin that has an amazing history. You have reminded me that I need to write about it.
Xanthe, I'd love to read about it! I've been working on the story about the home I grew up in, but I doubt it's history is as exciting as yours!
Thank you for encouraging us to take a look around at the history of a home, a town, the old oak tree — and discover its place in history.
Great idea for putting an ancestor’s life in perspective!
And as a writer, it would be intriguing to tell an ancestor’s story where the old oak tree is the narrator. 🤗
Thank you so much for your kind words - and now there’s a thought…….an old oak tree telling a story 🤔🤔🤔
That's a great post Paul. I am really enjoying working on my one-place study and gradually finding out more and more about the places and people there. I haven't posted on my Kyeburn Diggings OPS Substack Publication for a while but I will be as soon as I have finished sorting out some stuff I am currently researching. The closest I have come to doing a house history is my post on Beacon Lodge in my main Substack publication - https://bjnlsgenealogy.substack.com/p/beacon-lodge?r=1n71wo
Great piece of research on Beacon Lodge Jane. One day I might get to start one!
Thanks Paul
Now that sounds like an interesting story Xanthe
Thanks Jane so much. I keep promising myself that one day I will do a OPS but there’s always another piece of research or another story to tell!
I have been posting to Geneabloggers on Facebook for years so it’s great to do it here now. Sharing the latest post in my 50 Day Family History Blogging Challenge
We are certainly seeing more traffic than in our Facebook Group, even though this Substack community is barely a month old.
My next in Jennifer Jones's 50-day Family History Blogging Challenge. I missed two days. Sorry. I been sick, but I'm much better now.
https://karenaboutgenealogy.blogspot.com/2025/06/50-day-family-history-blogging_17.html
I can barely see to type from giggling so hard! 🤣
Karen, for not sewing, you did a great job. What a wonderful story.
Welcome! And thank you for this post. Here is one of my recent posts. https://open.substack.com/pub/lyndaheines/p/her-words-our-story?
Looking forward to more!
Amazing. And oh, so precious. 🤗
Loved that you could discover how much of yourself you would find in your mother’s words.
It is so special to have an artefact like this
Thanks for the prompt @geneabloggers! This week I have posted Part #6 in my series about Richard Lang. In this week's post the disaffection which was building across parts #4 and #5 (particularly Part #5) has turned to rebellion - https://bjnlsgenealogy.substack.com/p/richard-lang-6-rebel-leader?r=1n71wo
Fascinating to read how Stephen acted on his beliefs to suppress the Spanish military rule in East Florida during the late 1700s.
Richard?
A few weeks ago I had the honor of attending my Uncle Buck's celebration of life. If you're like me and have never been to one, you might enjoy reading about this very special event put on by his daughters.
https://myleavesonthetree.blogspot.com/.../celebrating...
When someone passes there’s usually a solemn funeral. By contrast, it’s refreshing to hear how Uncle Buck’s family created a true celebration of his life by sharing not just food and photos, but playing that game to spark sharing memories of happy times together. 🤗
The family had both actually. The funeral followed fairly quickly after he passed, but in order for family who live further away to attend they opted to do the celebration as well. Really glad they did.
I happy to find a new community here to share family history! here is the first installment of a series about the Morin family of Acadia, who were expelled from their village in 1688. It's a twisted tale of French squatters, a massive earthworks, a scheming feudal lord, a village sex pest, a witch trial, and a forbidden love.
https://open.substack.com/pub/ancestory/p/beaubassin-1671-part-1-the-sluice?r=hhkn6&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false