Hi to everyone, here is the first newsletter of the BHP.

Because of the scope of this project, we would like to send out regular reports to all. In order to do so we would like to hear from a representative from each group. We would like to see progress, status, milestones, even requests for additional help. What do you have and what do you need. How are you going about getting organized.

BHP PRIVACY POLICY

In order to respect everyone and their privacy, we will not publish anyone's email address on the web page or in the newsletter without permission of that person. All is private unless you indicate otherwise.

PROJECT ORGANIZATION

As we understand it at this point, these are the people and their areas of responsibilities and interest. This is the list Darin sent out in his email. If there are any changes please let us know.

Project Manager:

Gordon and Joan Wright

Interim logistics coordinator:

Don P. Wright

Long Term logistics coordinator:

Gordon and Joan Wright

Census Records:

Kevin Raatz

Terry Shoultes

Don P. Wright

Fred Swart

Sally Haverly

Kathleen Reamer Michalski

Cemetery Records

Barb Bolster-Barrett

Gordon and Joan Wright

Obituaries

Paul Nance

Wills and Testaments

Darin Flansburg

Maps and Programming

Darin Flansburg

Database Owner/Coordinator

Ralph Miller, Berne Historian

Land Records

Harold Miller

BHP WEB PAGE

The domain name bernehistory.org has been registered for the Berne Historical Society and hosting has been arranged through earthlink. We hope to have the web site up by next weekend and we are currently requesting submissions from the different project areas. For now we will be putting up a description of the different aspects of the project until specific information is available. Please send any information to gordon@travelinggene.com <mailto:gordon@travelinggene.com>.

One item we would like to get before we put the page up is feedback on a possible Berne Historical Society seal or Town seal if one exists. In addition, if anyone has any thoughts about a logo or seal that would be representative of the project please let us know. Joan is currently playing with different ideas and would appreciate any thoughts or input you may have. What do people associate with Berne? For example the Mill is an item associated with the history of Berne, should an image of the Mill be included on the seal?

CEMETERIES

Barbara Bolster-Barrett did some research at the town library this week and found a great source that references virtually every cemetery in the township. This is exciting news for our group and I've included her email below:

Very good news! The old Berne Conservation Board of 1984 (wow, was I wrong on the date!) did a very good job of locating virtually every cemetery and small family burial ground in the township. Each of these is keyed onto a section of USGS topographical quadrangle. I'm sending each of you photocopies of the maps, the master list of cemeteries and burial grounds, and a copy of the inventory sheet they used.

I have a list of Board members and their definitions of cemeteries vs. burial grounds (basically, public vs. private). I think we should use their definitions on the web site and post the list of committee members with not just credit, but our gratitude, as well. (Sadly, their chairman died a couple years back.) I spoke with committee member, Chuck Gardner, who is a neighbor of mine, and he is supportive. There should be no opposition to our using their hard work as a starting point.

There are photos, at the volition of the individual inventor takers. Most need some restoration of color & hue. (God, color film doesn't age well!) Many don't have visible inscriptions. It certainly isn't stone-by-stone. I have to think about whether it is worth my while to weed out the good ones, and/or play with PhotoDeluxe, or whether we should just take an entirely new batch.

I know that the maps (the Beers 1866 map & the USGS sections) are two entirely different scales, but the main roads are the same. You should be able to consolidate the two. The "great lots" were 160 acres, I believe, if this helps.

FINAL THOUGHT

We all know that a project of this size will be a long term endeavor. It's important for everyone involved that we have fun doing it. Share your successes and frustrations. Ask for help if you need it. Have fun!

OPT OUT

If anyone has received this newsletter and would prefer not to receive any further notices please send a note to gordon@travelinggene.com <mailto:gordon@travelinggene.com>.