Keeping Christmas where ever and however possible!  source: NC Archives/Flicker Snapshot of an unidentified American soldier, Clark, and Floyd Boughner holding a Christmas tree. Photograph taken while Morrison Jr. of Raleigh, N.C., was serving in the U.S. Army during World War II Caption on back of photograph reads: “Cold!” [circa December 1945].   WWII 33.B3.F10.7 ( From Robert R. Morrison Jr. Papers, WWII 33, World War II Papers, Military Collection, State Archives of North Carolina, Raleigh, N.C.) Merry Christmas everyone. Thank you for following along with WCGS! Visit Wake County Genealogical Society's Website  -  Homepage  |  WCGS Events  |  Join WCGS  |  Publications  |  Wake Cemetery Survey Images  | Digital Resources  |  History Resources  |  More Links and Resources  |  Contact

  Merry Christmas to all our members and supporters.  Don't you just love vintage postcards. Ellen Clapsaddle designed some of the very best one for Christmas! Peace, Light and Grace to all. Visit Wake County Genealogical Society's Website  -  Homepage   |  WCGS Events  |  Join WCGS  |  Journal  |  Wake Cemetery Survey Images  |  Society Surnames  |  Digital Resources  |  History Resources  |  More Links and Resources  |  Research Guides  |  Newsletter  |  Blog  |  Contact

I have shared ArcGIS StoryMaps before . I am sharing another today and I think that this iteration is the cleverest use of the technology yet. Take a peek at this wonderful time travel illustration of  Christmas at Oak View: 1850-1950 by Abigail Kellerman. The stories illustrates how Christmas was celebrated and how traditions changed through the various eras with different rooms and structures portraying each.  source source I hope you enjoy this adventure to the past! Merry Christmas. Visit Wake County Genealogical Society's Website  -  Homepage   |  WCGS Events  |  Join WCGS  |  Journal  |  Wake Cemetery Survey Images  |  Society Surnames  |  Digital Resources  |  History Resources  |  More Links and Resources  |  Research Guides  |  Newsletter  |  Blog  |  Contact

Big Move Alert!! We are switching our Facebook page from the business page* format to a regular group page in about a week and a half.  For a while, followers who land at the old page will be directed to the new page link. Since you are here, you can follow the link below or search " wakecogensoc " from the Facebook search field to signup for the new page. All posting will only appear on the new page after November 1, 2024.  You can enjoy all the fresh content, event updates, and interactions that you have come to expect from WCGS at our new page. Come check us out! Join us.   https://www.facebook.com/groups/wakecogensoc search "wakecogensoc" at Facebook *Reasons for move: The FB business page model has evolved over time to a format that no longer suits our needs for events, announcements and interaction. Their storefront focus does not allow easy interaction between followers and pushes posting and business goals on a daily basis. We do not use our page in any bus...

 Caution: Extreme Nostalgia Ahead! Do you remember the Fayeteville Street Christmas lights (before the acorns or snowflakes), a nighttime downtown Christmas parade, Happyland or Cross Family Lights? No matter which of these traditions strike a nostalgic chord in you soul, you will find all these and more in this Wake County Christmas time collection of remembrances from various sources.  A Ghost of Christmas Past - the late Karl Larrson shares his memories of downtown Raleigh at Christmas. source Then and now: Scenes of Raleigh at Christmas since the 1930s  by Heather Leah of WRAL. Enjoy this nostalgic look at Fayetteville Street as the hub of holiday cheer from the 1930s forward. I love the many wonderful retro photos from the State Archives of NC. It is my hope that your memories spark the urge to tell the stories to your younger kin creating new family traditions and a hunger for more family stories. Keep the stories flowing and Christmas memories alive.  Visit W...

Here is a Wake County Christmas nostalgia post to jumpstart your holiday cheer. How many of these event/traditions do you remember?  Do you have other favorites not mentioned in this WRAL segment from Heather Leah? Let us know. This does not go back very far, but it is sure to push your nostalgia buttons! Enjoy. View Heather's full post here . The 50th annual WRAL Tower Lighting took place on Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2009. Visit Wake County Genealogical Society's Website  -  Homepage   |  WCGS Events  |  Join WCGS  |  Journal  |  Wake Cemetery Survey Images  |  Society Surnames  |  Digital Resources  |  History Resources  |  More Links and Resources  |  Research Guides  |  Newsletter  |  Blog  |  Contact

I found this interesting tidbit of history on the UNC Libraries' NC Miscellany blog . The post outlines the details of Richard Caswell's Day of Thanksgiving Proclamation  published in the North Carolina Gazette on Nov.14,1799. Now at that time, Caswell was more thankful for a victory over Generals Burgoyne and Gates and their British forces than he was for turkey and stuffing. Read the original post with a link to Caswell's original proclamation in his own words.  Thanksgiving In North Carolina, 1777 source Visit Wake County Genealogical Society's Website  -  Homepage  |  WCGS Events  |  Join WCGS  |  Publications  |  Wake Cemetery Survey Images  | Digital Resources  |  History Resources  |  More Links and Resources  |  Contact

Did you know that an ad hoc farmers market auction sprang up at the fall tobacco auction in Durham in 1939? Enjoy more Thanksgiving trivia and traditions in this article posted from Our State Magazine. A North Carolina Thanksgiving, Revisited - Our State Magazine PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF LIBRARY OF CONGRESS, LC-USF33-030733-M4 Visit Wake County Genealogical Society's Website  -  Homepage  |  WCGS Events  |  Join WCGS  |  Publications  |  Wake Cemetery Survey Images  | Digital Resources  |  History Resources  |  More Links and Resources  |  Contact

After the Civil War and for several years to come, Confederate veterans returned home where readjustments to daily life were many. Many soldiers suffered debilitating injuries, returning home without limbs or losing them later due to complications of old injuries. Did you know that North Carolina was the first state to provide artificial limbs to its Confederate amputees after the Civil War? This was in response to a similar Federal program. The state provided limbs at no charge and also offered a $70 allowance to those who wanted to choose their own leg or go without one. Arms were priced at $50. Jewett's Patent Leg Company set up manufacturing at the site of the Raleigh bayonet factory near the R&G railroad on Salisbury Street, between North and Johnson Streets, in 1866-7. A more extensive description of this early social program can be found at the website for the historical marker that was placed near the former bayonet factory/leg company. View here . See information about...

This painful and incendiary moment in Wilmington's history has impact far beyond the bounds of her city limits. A Raleigh news outlet was instrumental in the event. The 1898 coup d'etat in Wilmington - the only successful overthrow of a domestic government in Americha history - is examined in a new documentary.   Watch American Experience  on PBS this coming Tuesday at 9pm.   American Coup: Wilmington 1898 Description from PBS: American Coup: Wilmington 1898 tells the little-known story of a deadly race massacre and carefully orchestrated insurrection in North Carolina's largest city in 1898 -- the only coup d'etat in the history of the US. Stoking fears of "Negro Rule," self-described white supremacists used intimidation and violence to destroy Black political and economic power and overthrow Wilmington's democratically-elected, multi-racial government. Dozens of Black residents were murdered, and thousands were banished. The story of what happened in Wi...

The cemetery in question sat deep in entangled woods near Holland Rd. and Judd Parkway in Fuquay-Varina.  So deep, that even the most recent land owners were not aware of its existance. The sacred ground only came to light after the land had been sold to developers who had started the process of clearing the land. Two casual walkers out for a stroll saw it and brought the cemetery to the attention of Fuquay-Varina Museum staff who did not recognize the names which were not similar to any that were known in the area.  The developer's crew was careful to work around the cemetery and has added a permanent, heavy iron fence to protect the area. Within the fence there is one marked grave and several unmarked ones. Clues to who might rest in the cemetery were meager, yet the Fuquay-Varina Museum staff rose to the challenge to discover the family's identity and connections to the community and beyond.  Their search resulted in an article in the Museum's blog that brings life to ...

The OLLI (Osher Livelong Learning Institute)* newsletter for October features their Family History Special Interest Group in honor of  Family History Month. In addition, they spotlight the upcoming presentation of Ed Webb who is one of our own! The group is lead by WCGS President, Barbara McGeachy. Message from OLLI -    Beyond the classroom…. OLLI’s Special Interest Groups (SIGs) are formed and led by members who want to connect with other OLLI members who share a common interest outside of the classroom setting. Since October is Family History Month, we’re spotlighting our Family History SIG. The Family History Special Interest Group is one of OLLI’s biggest Special Interest Groups with 75 members and 25 - 30 members regularly attending meetings both in-person and via Zoom. Barbara McGeachy has been coordinator of the group for the last twelve years. Barbara describes her interest in the group as a calling for sharing stories. She shares, “My grandmother shared sto...