Letters 4/21/2019

SEE YOU Sept 12,-16, 2019 in KENTUCKY!
Thursday through Saturday at the Kentucky State University, Harold R. Benson Ag building, 1525 Mills Ln, Frankfort, KY 40601. 
Sunday and Monday at Harrodsburg for the Old Mud Meetinghouse and the Harrodsburg Historical Research Library.——————————————————————

SENT BY: Janice Cozine (DUTCH COUSINS TREASURER -and general organizer!)
I’m so excited about our venue this year thanks to Rod Dempsey’s influence and connections. This large facility has everything we need, also has floor to ceiling windows overlooking the farm/property. Several hotels nearby give you some variety on where to stay. Most are right off I-64 at exit 53B for your convenience and we still have the option to stay at The Capital Plaza Hotel farther into town.
NOTE: **We are not endorsing any of these hotels, just sharing contact information.The information on hotel contact for reservations is on our website: www.DutchCousins.org
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SENT BY: Vice President Tamara Fulkerson
We still have 2 open committee chair positions for our 2019 Low Dutch Cousins Gathering in Frankfort, KY. Please let me know if you would be willing to fill one of these volunteer roles:  Dutch T-Shirts Fundraiser or Book Displays. Send email to CarolynLeonard@me.com  The list of officers and chairpersons for the 2019 Gathering is posted on our website: www.DutchCousins.org.  This is a great group to work with and be related to!
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SENT BY: Charlie Westerfield
Great News,
After determining that the “Westerfield Massacre” marker would be located in Bullitt Co., the committee asked Eddie Cozine if he would meet with the Bullitt Co. Historical Society and work with them about the exact location of the marker and the verbiage on their side of the marker. Ed met with that society and determined that the marker would be located next to the Hester Store. He met with Mr. Hester, who was glad to accommodate the marker and agreed to pay for the Bullitt Co. side of the marker.
Great job Mr. Ed!
More to Come.
Charlie   ——————————————————————

SENT BY: Charlie Westerfield, president of Dutch Cousins
Time is running out for raising funds for the markers. I’ve created a flow chart to stimulate interest.if you could send it out to all the cousins along with a message encouraging them to act on it right away I’d really appreciate it. Any other suggestions you may have would be welcome.

Background:
We are going to dedicate two markers: 
Marker One: The Low Dutch Station Marker that is located at Brown Park near Baptist East Hospital will become the “Low Dutch Station” marker on side one, and the “Beginning of the Westerfield journey” (verbiage to be decided) on side two. 
Marker Two: Location to be decided, in concert with the Bullitt Co Historical Society, “Westerfield Massacre” on side one, and “Floyd’s Death” (verbiage to be decided) on side two.
Marker Three: To be dedicated at the 2021 gathering and located in The Parklands to feature the “Travels and Massacre of the Westerfields” on side one, and side two to feature the establishment of the park. 
One marker is already paid for and funds to be raised will cover the second marker. All the verbiage and funds will have to be completed by June 1, 2019.
Any comments or suggestions will be appreciated. Please send donations, questions or comments to Charlie Westerfield, email: charlie (at) charliewesterfield (dot) com, phone ‭(502) 649-0600

‬Make the checks out to “Future Fund Endowment” and send to Charlie Westerfield
3913 Jenica Way
Louisville, KY 40241
“Future Fund Endowment” is the group that Steve Henry represents, if we make the checks out to them we want be taxed (save $180.00 per sign). The fund will pay the Historical Society for all three signs (one sign is already paid for).——————————————————————

SENT BY: Judy Cassidy
Please let Ruby Ingram know that OKEY was originally AUKE OR AUKEY IN NY AND NJ, but as with so many names, got changed over the years. ——————————————————————

SENT BY: Dr. Ed Westerfield
I’m watching the news, of the Notre Dame Cathedral burning.  It’s stood a 1000 years….but it’s roof and supporting structure are from 1000 year old forests.  The wood was exposed and dry.  The entrances are small and few.  The church had no fire suppression and was in a almost impossible to reach location in the center of Paris.  That it burned was not a surprise, but inevitable. This brings us to the Old Mud Meeting House.  While we don’t have the provenance of a 1000 year cathedral, but we are part of a history that is old for our country.  We have similar issues of an all wood structure in a remote location. We need to protect Old Mud. If Old Mud caught fire, it would burn to the ground before anyone could respond.  Frankly, I’m amazed it wasn’t torched by the locals, over the last 170 years. I’m not proposing any one solution, but I would like to start the conversation on how we can convey Old Mud forward to future generations…intact and as original as is possible.  The restoration work that has been done over the last 25 years is nothing short of a miracle.  There is so much thanks to give to so many people.  We need to protect Old Mud from a fate similar to what happened today in Paris to the Notre Dame Cathedral.  Our church is no less important. ——————————————————————

SENT BY: Charles Vanorsdale
Hi Carolyn, It’s been a long time since I posted anything here, but I needed to respond to Ruby Bishop Ingram’s message about the Van Arsdale lineage. Her listing of Sijmon Jansz’ grandfather and beyond actually came from my research some 20 years ago, but I cannot authenticate those individuals (Pauwel Pauwelsz, Pauwel Joostensz, and Joosten). I listed them on a website I had back then, based on some old census data in the Flanders towns of Nukerke, Oudenaarde, and vicinity. However, the corroborating evidence never came so I pulled the information from my site. I knew the longer the information was on the web, the more likely it would be for it to spread, so without definitive proof, I subsequently stopped listing anyone beyond Sijmon’s father. Sorry about that, Ruby; I hope one day to prove up the lineage. ——————————————————————

SENT BY: Judy K. McKee
Our cousin, Julia (Judy) Banta Presnell passed away on Monday 15, April in Gainsville, GA. She was the daughter of James and Christine Banta. Many ofyou knew James from his research days. He’s mentioned in several books by cousins. Judy is survived by her two sons, David and Pax and many, many cousins. (NOTE: PLEASE ACCEPT our deepest sympathy in your loss and thank you Judy McKee for letting us know)————————————————————————————————

SENT BY: Sherron Westerfield
I was speaking today with someone at the “Kentucky Explorer” magazine in Jackson, KY. I wonder if you are familiar with that popular Kentucky publication. They’ve been around for 33 years and are for sale either by subscription or at groceries and drugstores throughout KY. I can send you a copy to review or they might even send you a complimentary edition.They suggested that we Dutch Cousins provide them with information about our September biennial reunion. There is no fee involved. They are also very interested in knowing about the dedication of the Westerfield Massacre plaque. Their phone is: 606-666-5060 and mailing address is: P. O. Box 227, Jackson, KY 41339. A follow-up article replete with photos of the event(s) would also be welcome. That’s 3 items of free-publicity for our group. Let me know what you think.My brother Logan and I look forward to seeing you and all the others in September.
 

NOTE:  Thank you for that suggestion Sherron. My plate has been very full this year but it is looking better, My latest book is finally at the publishers and the income tax is filed. Jon’s and my health is improving and we enjoyed the housefull of family for our annual family Easter egg hunt. Next on my list is the biennial DUTCH COUSINS newsletter and getting the registration form out. -SO I NEED A PARAGRAPH for the NL from every chairman and board member about your plans for the big event, and any suggestions, comments and complaints about the registration form ASAP.  
THEN…if no one else volunteers, I will contact the magazine. I promise. ————————————————————————————————

SENT BY:  To stay in touch, we mainly use our official website, www.DutchCousins.org, and the weekly or so Dutch Letters email. The email goes out to almost 1,000 addresses – and I know it is passed on to others who do not use computers, and is posted at some libraries.  The letters are also archived on the website. 

SENT BY: Carolyn Leonard
Editor, Dutch cousins of Kentucky
E-mail me: Editor234 (at) gmail.com
On my web page www.CarolynBLeonard.com
Dutch letters are archived on our official webpage, www.DutchCousins.org by Pam Ellingson
Barbara Whiteside has a facebook page that you may find interesting, Dutch Cousins in Kentucky