Family Connections

I have said that if I could spend a half hour with one person in all history, that person would be Elizabeth "Lizzie" Nunn Siebert. Although I know that will not happen, this week I received a second best when the wife of Elizabeth's grandson contacted me. And this was only days after I had posted the blog about this family!  I am so excited!!! 


I hope family stories and photos can be shared and I can't wait to share all the information I have gathered on Elizabeth and her siblings, one of which is my grandfather Harry Nunn.


In learning about Regina and Nicholas Eberhard, I will know more about Elizabeth's life and possibly learn what happened to her other siblings.  

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Taughannock Boulevard House

The house I grew up in was situated on the ridge of Cayuga Lake along Route 89 eight miles north of Ithaca, New York.

A slate sidewalk brought visitors to the front porch where they entered a wide front hall. A landing to the right began the staircase to the second floor. To the left was a large double living room with stone fireplace. Straight ahead the large farm kitchen provided warmth in winter, and was a favorite family gathering spot year round.  The screened porch off the kitchen served as a sitting area.  The kitchen had two large windows around which cabinets were built. Those windows afforded a view out onto the circular driveway and the pear trees that grew within the circle.

Off the kitchen was a long narrow room with a floor that slanted and served as our TV room. Another door went into the living/dining room area. The house had three large bedrooms upstairs, one bath, and a large walk-in attic. Closets were at a minimum.  The bathroom was small; six of us lived in the house over the summer, and we made do.  

Every house has its “quirks” and ours certainly did. Houses on the ledge of the lake did not have a great water supply. We had a tiny well out back that provided the minimum amount of undrinkable water.  For years we brought jugs of water from the restaurant (Taughannock Farms Inn) to provide water for drinking and cooking.  Baths were taken with barely an inch of water, and laundry was done with an old wringer washer with clothes hung on outside clotheslines or inside clothes racks.

Wringer Washer
Photo from irememberjfk.com

The house had lightning rods installed along the roofline to protect against lightning strikes, but electrical current inside the house, however, was a problem. When you plugged an appliance in and something else was running off the same circuit a fuse would blow. Sometimes life at the Boulevard house was a challenge. 

During the 1950s a small silver metal box sat next to the front door.  Twice a week the Dairy Lea milkman left milk products ordered from a list, usually made up by my grandmother (pictured below), left in the box. 

Mary "Nana" Nunn - Aug. 1963

The black wall telephone was located behind the door in the dining room. We were on a party line, so you had to listen for the ring to know if the call was for you. During the 1960s the phone was moved into the kitchen.

My parents sold our family home in 1976 and moved to their Florida home to live full time. The house continues to provide happiness as the family living there now loves the house as much as we did.  I am very thankful got for that.

Those Places Thursday - Fremont, Michigan - 1884

 In the process of cleaning out, my mother-in-law came upon three tiny Fremont News Letters from June and July 1884. The recipient’s name, Hiram Dudley, is written at the top.  The News Letters contain “Town Talk,” “Puzzledom,” and “Editorial.” The Fremont News Letters were “published every Tuesday,” and cost 15 cents per year.

Some noteworthy news items from the Fremont News Letters:

Fremont News Letter, June 17, 1884:

Splendid weather for corn.

Fremont Lake will have a steam-boat

While Mr. and Mrs. A. Faught were driving over the track, near the depot, their horse became frightened and ran away, throwing them both out; injuring Mr. Faught so badly that it is feared he will not recover. 

Samual J. Tiden was 70 years old last February.

Tilden says he will not be a candidate at the democratic convention.

The Disciple society will give a lawn social at James H Darling’s June 17^th, strawberries and ice cream. Every body is invited.

Fremont News Letter, July 8, 1884

Quite a cyclone Saturday.

No accidents in town on the 4^th.

Frank Smith started for Chicago today.

No better point in Northern Michigan than Fremont for a cheese factory.

No fights in town the 4^th; but there were two marriages.

James Curtice of Morely is visiting in Fremont this week.

While Mr. Wolford was driving through Main Street the 4^th, at the discharge of the cannon his horse fell dead.

John Kelly goes to Chicago with 700 uniformed men, with which he calculates to rule the democratic convention. Kelly is for Flower.

Fremont News Letter, July 29, 1884

The Evening News thinks that our townsman Hon. Ed. E. Edwards would make a good senitor (sic). We agree with the News exactly.

We were behind with our paper last week, but we assure our readers that it will not happen again.

The fire-fiend gave N.B. Clark’s residence a call last Tuesday evening. Loss about $250.

Charles Forman and wife are visiting with their parents near South Ridley.

Wordless Wednesday - Woodbury Family

George and Bertha Woodbury
and family about 1900

On the back of this photo Jessie Agard wrote:

Woodbury Family

He - Baptist Minister – Enfield.

Mrs. – Practical nurse was with me when Merritt was born.

(Merritt Agard is my grandfather.)

Being a genealogist I needed to verify the information. According to the 1900 Federal Census this family consisted of: George F. Woodbury (Minister); his wife, Bertha, and their daughters, Mabel, age 8, Grace, age 5, and Marion age 1.  Also in the household is George’s mother, Diane Woodbury.  They are living in Enfield, Tompkins County, New York.  My Wordless Wednesday entry turned out to be not so “wordless,” but I am happy to put names to the faces and to see the nurse who helped bring my grandfather into this world.

Sunday's Obituary - Nicholas J. Eberhard, Jr.

Last night’s disappointment turned into happiness this morning when I found the obituary for Regina’s husband, Nicholas. That obit provided me the information I needed – their children.  Below is the obituary for Nicholas J. Eberhard, Jr.

Eberhard – Nicholas J. Jr. beloved husband of Regina (nee Seibert), father of Nicholas J., Marion and Gerard, beloved son of former County Clerk Nicholas J. Eberhard Sr., brother of Virginia M. Nelson and Catherine A. Howard. He served in World War II and was Vice Commander of Bronx Borough Post, No. 1284, American Legion; he was a Vice President of the New York Society for the City of New York. Funeral from the John R. Myers Funeral Home, Morris Ave. at East 163d St. Monday, 9:30 a.m. Requiem Mass St. Angela R.C. Church 10 a.m. Interment Long Island National Cemetery.

[Nicholas and Regina are buried in the Long Island National Cemetery, Section H. Site 11987]

Regina Siebert Eberhard - Disappointed!

In my January 6 blog told I explained how I found an important member of my Nunn family through her bride card. I mentioned I immediately sent off a request and a check to the Queens Public Library for her obituary.  I received the response today with the dreaded words – not found.  Sigh.  Now to develop a Plan B.

Thankful Thursday - Carol Louise Agard Nunn

My mother passed away three years ago today. Sometimes it seems like a long time ago; other times it seems like it was just, well, yesterday.


Wasn't it just "yesterday" when she was a young mother with her full life ahead of her?

Carol Nunn with Mary and Skip
abt: 1948

Every day I thank my parents for providing me with a safe and happy childhood.  And every day I appreciate that my mother, who was not allowed to finish high school because she married, was one of the smartest people I have ever known. Her sayings and advice continue to be “right-on,” like, “The root of all evil is power and greed,” and, “Paper never refused print,” and, “If you can’t say anything nice; don’t say anything at all.”

She also had whimsical sayings such as, “You know it is going to rain if the cows are lying down.”



Thank you, Mom, for your love, protection and for your down to earth wisdom.