Thanks much Ann. I have fully perused the information on your site - and
have linked to it from the St. Clair County web site (hope you don't mind).
I really appreciate your preservation efforts. And thanks for the info on
the material at the park and twp offices. Unfortunately, when I was there
they were closed and locked up tight. I live in California and was there for
just a week = several trips out to the park they were not open at all. I
have to admit I felt quite a bit of consternation at finding nothing of the
poor farm history - those people were 'our' people and deserve to be
remembered as much as any others of us. There but for the grace of God ...
I'm glad to hear there is something of the history somewhere. I would love
to be able to access it and post it on the St. Clair County site. I did
locate the cemetery - it's a lovely spot in a clearing under a copse of very
large, old trees. There is just one headstone to mark a grave. The others
are just marked by depressions in the ground. It would be a wonderful thing
if 'we' could come up with a monument listing the names of all interments
there, fix up the fence, maybe a bench or two. I though about suggesting a
scout project - that's the kind of thing they can do to earn their eagle
status.
Heck, I drove up and down Castor Rd. quite a lot, looking for traces of the
cemetery. Perhaps you saw me, a silver 4-Runner with CA plates. I was up and
down those roads so much I got worried someone might call the police to
check out what I was doing there! Lol.
I was so sad when reading your Goodells book to find a page missing - and
one that had more info on the Poor Farm!!!! :-(
Thanks again for the information. I wish I could live there once again and
be a part of the volunteer effort.
Kathleen
-----Original Message-----
From: wales-township-goodells-michigan@googlegroups.com
[mailto:wales-township-goodells-michigan@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of
stang
Sent: Sunday, April 12, 2009 7:48 PM
To: Wales Township and Goodells Michigan History
Subject: Wales Township and Goodells Michigan History
Kathleen,
The Farm Museum is run by volunteers and houses TONS of historical
information. Did you get a chance to go inside the Farm Museum? Our
township, Wales Township, does have a historical society and they are trying
to preserve the history of the area - but again, it's all volunteer. There
is information about the Poor Farm at the township hall on Wales Center Rd.,
and in the Farm Museum.
Don't quote me on this, but I have heard "they" (whoever "they" are) don't
want people traipsing through the cemetery and destroying the little bit
that is left there. The last time I was up there (I live on Castor Rd., 1/8
of a mile away), there was little indication where the graves were, and no
headstones to speak of.
This is what I have regarding Goodells/Wales township history online:
http://dns.advnet.net/stang/hobbies/history/history.php
Click Wales Township History and Goodells History.
Many people wrote the content, I merely came across it and made it available
to others.
Ann
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