Happy Anniversary!

Today would have been my grandparents 70th Wedding Anniversary. William Hood and Karin Nordstrom were married in East Cleveland on 20 May 1944. Isn't her dress fabulous!

Happy Birthday Grandpa!

Today, 26 March 2014, my grandfather, William Keir Hood, would have been 100 years old. According to his elder sister, my Aunt Annie, his birth occurred on a was a dark and stormy Thursday night. His family left Cowie and came to America nine years later, under the regulations set by the 1921 Emergency Quota Act.

This picture was taken in 1939. Being a piper and being a Scot were important parts of his identity. And he was finally able to return to the land of his birth in 1969. Happy Birthday Grandpa!

Happy Burns Night

Burns Night, 1947

This article about the United Scottish Societies dinner honoring Robert Burns is dated 1947. At the far left is my grandpa's oldest brother, David Hood. I recently learned (or relearned) that my Uncle David came to America 100 years ago this month. He arrived on the Furnessia on January 4th, 1911. I wonder if would have been so keen on haggis and toasting the immortal memory if he had remained in Scotland.

I never attended Burns' Night growing up. In fact, I probably would have been hard pressed to tell you who he was.  My first Burns' Night was in Scotland. I went to the Research Club at Glasgow University with my roommates. We were served tiny wee scoops of haggis, neeps and tatties.  I have to admit, it wasn't bad.  Although, my opinion might be different if the scoops had been bigger.

I have no idea how the scan of this clipping appeared on my computer. It is in fact, only one of two pictures my mom and I have of  Unicle David. The second is of him (in a kilt), his wife and their daughter.  If you have pictures of David Hood that you would be willing to scan and send to me, I would greatly appreciate it.

Meet the Historian's Family

I would like to introduce to you the four main branches of my family tree: the Hoods, the Nordstroms, the Eldridges and the Eppersons.

Each branch is represented in this photograph of my parents on their wedding day. From left to right are William Keir Hood, Karin Nordstrom Hood, my parents, Bennie Eldridge Epperson and Joseph Bolen Epperson.
 
Both sides of my family knew each other for decades - they lived in the same town and attended the same church. However, this wedding photo is the only one I know of that has all four of my grandparents in it.  Go figure...