Those Places Thursday ~ Jordahl Residence


Here is a "new to me" picture. I have recently been scanning a pile of documents, pictures and such that I borrowed from my aunt and uncle. I knew there was a box of items at their home that belonged to my great grandparents. I had been waiting patiently for my aunts to go through and separate the items between them. Upon doing this, I was hoping to be a part of exploring the boxes contents with them. I knew there were items I would want to scan.

I was aware of this box for about a year to a year and a half. I finally got a bug in me and called my aunts to ask if I could scan the items. It was a prompt for them to get together and go through the box as well. I got the show on the road and we finally spent a day looking through the boxes goodies. (Yes, there actually is more than one box!) By the end of the day my aunts hadn't accomplished much, they were so intrigued they spent all of their time just looking at everything. I scanned as quickly as I could in order to get as many copies of things as possible, not knowing when I would be returning to do any more.

I was fortunate, my aunts decided at the end of the day to allow me to bring home a pile of items and a scrapbook to scan. I think they realized how interested I really was with these, and there was just so much to scan. I scanned at home until my scanner (and my back) started squealing. Thankfully, I finished all items, a total of about 800 scans in about a week and a half. This included the scanning I had done at my aunts house also.

I wanted the family to know I would be honest and speedy scanning and returning each item just as soon as possible. Certainly I didn't want them worrying that they may never see those items again. I wanted them to trust me. Two weeks to the day, I returned the first batch, and now I have a second batch to scan. I did explain I will probably be a little longer with this batch, as summer was coming and I was getting busier. The only request, was that I make sure in case something were to happen to me, someone would know where these items needed to be returned to. This was a very reasonable request because in the last couple years or so there have been a couple unexpected deaths in this family. Today, I plan to label the bag showing who owns the items, along with a phone number. 

This brings me to this photo, one of the many that I scanned. I know... finally, you say. I was very pleased to have this scan of the house with all of the flowers! But...I had no idea who the house belonged to! I needed assistance uncovering this information as neither of my aunts had a clue whose house it was. Luckily, I was in contact with someone who did know! A cousin, Betty, who I found and met online, knew this was the home of Olga and Herman Jordahl. She informed me that Olga loved flowers and she (Betty) had a picture of her grandmother, my great grandmother, sitting in front of this house. I must remember to ask Betty for a copy of that picture with my great grandma! Betty, if you are reading this, I thank you so very much for all of your assistance, support and help you have given me! You have shared so much! I can only hope that now I can share more with you!

Olga (Westby) Jordahl is my grand aunt, my grandmother's sister. Perhaps one day I will be able to make a journey to Minnesota to explore the areas where my family settled and even see Olga's home. Olga and her sister, my grandmother, were very close even though they lived miles apart.

I am very grateful I started this scanning process while I am fortunate enough to have a few people I can ask information from regarding those photos that are not labeled. With that, there still could be photos that many never be identified. At this point, there are only eighteen photos that I am trying to identify, not bad out of 800 scans!

Thanks for stopping by!

Wishing you success in all of your genealogical treasure hunts! 


Copyright © 2010 By Cheryl Palmer

Comments

  1. I love that cute little house Cheryl...and I love your "Those Places Thursday's"!

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  2. Boy oh Boy...I would love to get a look at some of my aunt's picture boxes. What lies in their closets and under the beds in the way of pictures would greatly enhance my geneology experience.

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  3. You are doing exactly what I should be doing.... Gotta get a good scanner this summer for sure.

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  4. Greaty story. I'd be thrilled to only have 18 unknown photos. I am about to embark on a big project to identify a bunch of my grandparent's photos and I'm terribly afraid I'll only be able to identify 18 out of 800!

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  5. You are so lucky to be able to identify so many of the photos! I have so many that I'm afraid I'll never be able to identify.

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  6. Hi Gini,

    I think it is a cute house too! Those places Thursday give me an opportunity to share pictures that I may not otherwise choose to share.

    Hi Glenda,

    I can totally relate. This part of the family is "new" to me in the last few years so I feel very honored they will allow me to bring home these items! It is a treasure trove for my addiction, for sure!

    Hi Greta,

    I have been scanning quite a bit over the last year or so, totaling I would imagine around 3000 scans. My poor scanner is hanging in there, but I have no idea for how long. When I abuse her she does squeal!

    Hi Tracy,

    The 18 unknown photos come through just the items I have been recently working with. I am sure there are more unknowns in my closet and piles waiting to be scanned. I have been working hard for a few years now trying to scan so much and make sure they are labeled.

    Thank you all for your comments!

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