The sign of the times..............

Karen's family had a large farm in Weldon Springs, just outside of St. Louis. Today its condos. Long story of course, but it is becoming rare in this world for anyone to be born, live, and die on a piece of family land or in a family home.

My grandparents on my mom's side were the last to grow up and live on the family "Homeplace." Most of it is now under a lake. They came to this country from the Isle of Wight in the early 1800's and settled in the Tuscarawas River valley around Deersville in 1845. family members built close to each other but the homes of almost all have now been lost either to the greed of coal, who owned the mineral rights, or to "progress" and flood control.

We have often camped at a State Park where I can look across the lake and see the old stone road leading now to nowhere as it comes out of the lake and into the woods. My grandfather and his brother built that road between their home and their uncle's. Strange to sit there and think about Pop those many years ago, building that road. He and I would go fishing there and I spent many days listening to stories. Wish I remembered more......At least I remember a few.

Spaw