The Ride

 

"Love doesn't make the world go 'round. Love is what makes the ride worthwhile."

The quote is from a card Bob gave me on Independence Day "to my road-trip partner". This summer we took a ride one day a week-mostly on the back roads. Bob compared our back road adventures to that we did in college-the exception being this time we're on the road by 10am.

Some of the places we visited 2022 include: Manheim WV, Confluence Pa., Bruceton back roads to Frostburg, Lancaster, Newark, Elkins, Thomas, Harrisville, Holly River and Moundsville. That day was always something to look forward to.

 

Wings

 

We gave them wings so they could fly and roots to come back home. Here's Greg and Michelle in a Copenhagen butterfly sanctuary and the butterfly bush in our West Virginia yard.

 2022

The River

 

The first night of our June 2022 Holly River stay the park superintendent came to our cabin to warn of the upcoming storm. After loosing power, we played cards by lantern light and fell asleep listening to the rain. Each day we traveled to a favorite spot-the upper falls, the Mollohan Mill and Webster Springs. We loved our evening walks and dinner cooked over the fire.

Twin Spruce

 

We were so happy that Greg and Michelle came to the U.S. for a conference and tucked on a few days to visit home. To top off the visit, we walked the trail at Uffington, where Michelle's Dad Doug built his Mining Engineering office and the marina. She reminisced about her time there swimming, boating, growing up.

2022

Reunion

 

When our 50th High School reunion was postponed due to COVID, we combined with the class of '72 to celebrate a year later. I was thrilled to see my classmate Eva as we entered the old school building. Eva & I went through all 12 years together. When we found the kitchen, we talked about the tasty lunches. Our favorite teacher was Mrs. DiGioia (4th grade). Linda (center right) also was in all 12 grades with us. We were the Bruce High "Bulldogs".

Gift of Love

Easter, yard work, Mother's Day . . . while we seemed to be grounded-all was good. Chris sold his house and came home for the sale. We watched Hank. My lifelong friend Vicki gave me the bunny earrings. Bob's homemade gift coupon is a keeper!

Another one of my pocket pages with cards enclosed. I sew the pocket onto the background paper with my sewing machine!

2022 
 

George Adam Eckhart

George Adam Eckhart immigrated to America from Germany in 1750 aboard the ship “Patience”. Arriving in Philadelphia, he entered into indentured servitude for 4 years to the Pennsylvanian who paid his fare.

George married “Mary” Anna Maria Wittmeyer, also from Germany, in 1755. Daughter Sarah, my 4^th Great Grandmother, was born in 1770 in the Philadelphia area.

George Adam purchased 100 acres of land in Frederick County, Maryland. In the early 1780s, George moved to Alleghany County, Maryland and planted crops. George Adam and sons John and George received patent rights to 50 acres of land here in 1800.

The little village where George and Mary raised their family and died is known as Eckhart Mines. (The rich beds of coal were not discovered until the National Road was built in 1811.)

The Eckhart family cemetery is still located in the fields not far from the original homestead. (Just down the hill from Weis Market on Old National Pike, Frostburg-we parked at the laundromat behind the market)

George’s daughter Sarah married Jacob Loar, who immigrated to America from Germany in 1774. Jacob served in the Revolutionary War and was awarded land near Eckhart. Old Loartown Road is just 3 miles from Eckhart.