NovaNewsNow.com has an interesting story and video about the mysterious deeds of an unknown genealogist in Kings County, Nova Scotia. It seems that someone is typing short genealogical reports of deceased individuals, including census citations and other genealogical facts. The information is then placed in plastic sleeves and attached to sticks inserted in the ground adjacent to the tombstones of the individuals named. Visitors to the cemetery can easily read the information contained in the weatherproof sleeves.
This year, messages have appeared in the Elm Grove Cemetery in Steam Mill; the Oak Grove and St. Joseph's cemeteries in Kentville; and the Cambridge, Billtown, Lakeview, Centreville and old Wolfville cemeteries.
Kings County Museum curator Bria Stokesbury said she thinks it's great that this individual, who is known to her but wants to remain anonymous, is leaving these messages. She said it's being done on a volunteer basis and shows the enthusiasm the individual has for genealogy.
She said the messages have generated lots of public attention and they're keeping a list of where messages are known to have appeared. Stokesbury said the individual wants to make people aware of genealogy, generate interest and get people excited about it.
You can read more about this story and even watch a video interview of
Kings County Museum librarian and researcher Crystal Merrett at http://tinyurl.com/3y5ksd.
Let's see… if every genealogist would go out and do the same for 50 deceased individuals in their area… times several million genealogists… That adds up to a large number of records easily available to cemetery visitors!
