The Loars and the Eckharts

We traveled to Blocher Cemetery in Garrett County Md. searching for gravesites of our 3^rd great grandparents, Susanna (Loar) and Jesse Wesley Chaney. The cold and the wind on the mountaintop was humbling and while we could not locate markers for them, we found a corner lot with a Loar and “JOC” which may have been kin with space for unmarked graves. Susanna is the daughter of Sarah (Eckhart) and Jacob Loar.

Jacob immigrated to America on the ship “Union” in 1774. On board was Sara’s brother George Adam Eckhart. Jacob served in the Revolutionary War and was awarded land to settle in Loartown of Allegany County. Jacob and Sarah married in 1787 and had 11 kids. In 1793, Jacob was on record as being a shoemaker. In 1812 Jacob was one of the founders of the First Lutheran Church in Frostburg.

Sarah Eckhart was born in Frederick County Md. She married in Allegany County. The Loar and Eckhart families were associated with life in Western Maryland since 1780. The village of Eckhart Mines is named for Sarah’s Dad George. George immigrated to American from Germany in 1750 on the ship “Patience”.

 

 

 

 

 

In the air

We traveled to Newark a few days after Chris' 29th birthday. He's lived and worked there two months now and likes to take us to some places he's discovered and others he thinks we all might enjoy. One of the neat places he took us was on the Upper Chesapeake Bay in a little tourist town called North East. The sun was out and we walked in the park and the many shops. We enjoyed coffee and donuts on a picnic table outside the bakery.

At Chris' apartment, Bob helped him put together a bookcase. Hank the Labrador gave us both lots of love. Chris smiled as he watched Hank lay across my lap to lick Bob's hand.

Back home on Valentine's Day, Bob and I exchanged Valentines and a floral tribute. The day after he placed a sweet note by the flowers, announcing "love was in the air".

I sewed a pocket on the page to enclose the Valentines. The ephemera and frame were removed from the card he gave me.

2022
 

Bill

 

I met Bill Bonney at the Senior Center when I took Mom for lunch on my weekly visits home. He was one of the kindest gentlemen I ever met. Mom called him West Virginia, as he was an avid WVU fan. Today they are both angels.

This is a pocket page with the funeral home bulletin placed inside.

Herold

 

This page is a tribute to Herold Berthy, who passed away in September at age 86. The journaling is by Bob:

"Herold Berthy was a true maverick of the modern world. He came from humble beginnings but attained a law degree and was an innovator in the transportation safety and heavy haul industries. He operated what was at one time the largest oversize escort company in America. Herold had a lifelong love of firefighting apparatus and took pride in his fire truck collection. He always helped the underdog and gave hundreds of people the chance to work without judging them. He was a good man with a good heart and the world was better with him in it. I consider an honor to have called him a friend." 

I made a pocket to hold some of the items Herold gave his clients over the years. There is an Oversize Load key chain that everyone wanted, a Vote for Herold SPAAMFAA (an organization of fire enthusiasts) Vice President emery board and more.

The picture is from the 4th of July parade some 5 years ago when Herold let us ride with him in the front of an antique firetruck. In the back were many kids-children of folks he helped throughout his life. 

Toby & Hank

 

Chris' move to Newark, DE came fast. In just 3 weeks, we helped him pack, find a place to live and stay strong. Chris left behind his toy dog Toby. Bob and I moved Hank, the Labrador Retriever, into his spacious apartment 2 days after the move. We've kept contact by texting pictures of Toby in our daily activities. Chris in turn sent us pictures of Hank and places he discovered.

From Bob & Cindy:

Toby let's Santa know what he wants for Christmas.

Toby knows that sometimes you just have to stop and smell the flowers.

Toby stops for a drink at the Frostburg hippie store. 

Toby joins in the family tradition watching Bad Santa (& Bad Santa 2) on Christmas Eve.

From Chris:

Made to order pizza place on Main Street.

Hank likes the new couch.

Christmas pig ear from Cabela's. 

The Quiet Zone

Reading "The Quiet Zone" gave us a good excuse to get back to Pocahontas County, the home of the Green Bank Observatory built in 1958 to search for extraterrestrial life. We stopped in Trent's Store where Governor Jay Rockefeller once had a charge account. The weather was perfect for a fall ride and picnic at Gaudineer Knob in the Monongahela National Forest.

October 2021
 

Legacy

 

We made our reservations for Holly River-Cabin 1-when checking out September of 2020. We've been staying at Holly River every summer since retiring and last year we stayed in the fall too. We love the woods surrounding the 1 room cabin, the wildlife and seclusion of rural West Virginia. 

June and September, 2021